Whitechapel Series 1 [DVD]

WHITECHAPEL recently aired on ITV as a three-part crime drama. Essentially, at the centre of the story is the question of whether in today's world with forensic science and improved criminal investigation, could Jack the Ripper be caught?

In order to put this idea across, the story revolves around the 'ultimate' fan of Jack copying his infamous murders, 120 years on. Penry-Jones stars as the detective put in charge of the case and he truly puts in a fantastic performance. It is he who first accepts that history is repeating itself - but of course, this realisation then brings him to the knowledge that it is he who is now responsible for trying to solve the unsolveable.

I won't give any more away than that. All I will say is that this drama succeeds on many levels. Ripperologists should find much to like but even just fans of drama and crime should take something from it. The cast are all very good, making it not just about Jack and the murders but also about the people on the police force.
Another great drama from ITV - highly recommended.

As somewhat of an amateur Ripperologist myself (though I am a Maybrickite and most Ripperologists will tell you that this doesn't count HA HA) I was looking forward to and dreading watching 'Whitechapel' in equal measure. Looking forward because I was interested to see just how a modern film maker would get on with so difficult a task of recreating the most infamous series of murders of all time and dreading because I feared just how inaccurate, overblown or ridiculous the eventual plot may turn out to be (to say nothing of the standard of acting!).

It is with enormous joy then that I can thoroughly recommend 'Whitechapel' to you. Be you a seasoned Ripperologist, a beginner or someone with a casual interest in Jack The Ripper (or in fact just great drama) you WILL enjoy this. The standard of acting throughout is exceptional. Phil Davies is the epitomy of the abrasive, seasoned and experienced copper fed up with 'fast tracked' DI's taking command of 'his boys'. Rupert Penry-Jones is equally impressive as the 'never got his hands dirty before' out of his depth DI that eventually 'gets the taste' for the job he at first saw as a way of 'ticking a career box'. Best of all however is Steve Pemberton's Ripperologist character. Pemberton is simply magical as the incredibly knowledgeable, 'Buchann' whose apparent reveling in, and public performance of (via his 'Ripper Walks') the gory details of the case make him both creepy and unnerving.

For hardcore Ripperologists, the character names and suspect descriptions will ring many bells and help to truly bring the past to life. I am not going to spoil things here and tell all about the in's and outs of who the programme makers eventually point the finger at as their idea of who the ripper was but I will say that their opinion does at least work out to be a sensible one, something that should appease most that already know a lot about the case. As an extra for DVD, there is also a 20 odd minute 'Making Of' featurette including interviews with the cast, the director and the production crew. It is well worth watching and serves to advertise just how much thought and research went into the making of the programme. Some of the actors thoughts on their particular characters roles are also enlightening and a few of the 'subtle touches' that are revealed will ensure you will want to watch the main feature again more than once.

A triumph all round!

As the two reviewers who have already written that they are, I will make no bones about me NOT being a Ripperologist. Admittedly I know who was killed when and how, and I know the usual suspects including the more outrageous claims. But indeed how could I not, because over the years Jack the Ripper still fascinates people and has become a legend.

It is present day Whitechapel and it would seem that the police have a Jack the Ripper copycat killer on their hands. But if that wasn't bad enough the detectives who have to deal with the crimes have a fast-track university graduate to lead them. In todays modern world it should be relatively easy to catch the psychopath you would think, but alas no, as history starts to repeat itself. The forensic reports start to read exactly the same as from the original cases and the desriptions of the killer start to seem the same as back then, also you have the nutters who claim that they did it coming out of the woodwork, as they did back then. It seems that the ghost of Jack is back repeating his crimes as the police bash their heads against the wall following one misleading clue and suspect after another. Is it a copycat killer or has the real Jack returned? And can the police catch him? I'm not going to spoil it if you haven't already seen it, but it is well worth watching.

The production team have really done their research for this, the acting is brilliant and the whole thing gels together beautifully. Rupert Penry-Jones as the fast-track officer is convincing as all the characters are. Phil Davies is brilliant as the hardened copper who starts off undermining the leader of the group but comes to liking, respecting and helping the poor bloke. Steve Pemberton as the Ripperologist who tries to help the police plays his strongest and most powerful role that I have seen him in. If you loved Messiah you will definitely love this, and there isn't a criminal psychologist to get in the way anywhere.