A modern day ripper at large!!! (Whitechapel)

Member Name: dove3066

Product:	Whitechapel
Date:	01/04/09 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good acting, good story

Disadvantages: Only a mini series

I really enjoyed this mini series when it was shown on ITV1 a few weeks ago. It filled in that Monday night blues feeling.

The acting was really good - I usually like the dramas that Phil Davies stars in - he doesn't seem to be on our screens that often so I think he must pick his roles carefully. I had seen Rupert Penry-Jones in Spooks and had enjoyed his style of acting there also. I didn't see his version of the 39 steps over Christmas so not sure how he was in that. I did find that his character Joseph Chandler was played in a similar style to Adam in spooks.

The premise of the series is that there is a copy cat Ripper murderer on the loose in London, Chandler is a career policeman and is destined for very high things - he is given this case as it is believed to be a simple domestic issue that will dealt with quickly. However it soon dawns on Chandler that this is not the case.

There are loads of the usual police drama cliches in this series but Chandler trys to put these right - he gets them to clear desks and turn up in suits. The charcter has OCD but I don't think it really adds anything to the story other than the endless shot of him applying Tiger balm to his temples and re-arranging his desk.

The scariest character I felt was the ripperologist Edward Buchan, played by Steve Pemberton - those eyes are just frightening.

I won't spoil the conclusion for you just in case it is repeated or you see it on DVD but I was a bit disappointed with the ending it all seemed to be over too quickly - and whilst I wasn't happy with it - it did make sense.

This was a good drama for Monday nights, not sure if they will make any more - they did leave it so the majority of characters could return

Summary: Good Drama series