Whitechapel Season 2
Right after the nerve wracking events of the first season the team is faced with another set of mysterious deaths. A series of murders is linked with the acts of twin mobsters from decades ago. With plenty of clues and tons of circumstantial evidence the team is able to attribute the murders to the Krays. But they’ve been dead for decades. Or are they?
DI Chandler and his team dig into the archives to understand a new set of murders and go back to the original crime scenes. Everything is happening again, but how can they pin the murder on a suspect when they can tell them apart?
This series has a whole set of interesting twists and turns and brings up crimes from the past to help predict the future. The team is still at odds over the Jack the Ripper copycat and tensions run high as the whole department is put on notice to perform or there will be consequences.
Again, this is a pretty interesting story that makes you wonder how the team is going to catch a suspect. We also see Chandler starting to come unglued as his OCD starts to get the better of him. Crimes scenes make him uneasy and dirty and the rest of the team wonders if he’s still fit to lead. Plus, Ripperologist, Miles is back with historical documentation the team needs to follow or else there will be more bodies. But of course, everyone thinks he a quack, except for Chandler. But everyone thinks he’s a quack too.
If you like a drama that actually focuses on the story and how they solve crimes without computer technology that doesn’t exist (CSI) then you will have fun with this. The story can be a little confusing, but if you pay attention it’s quite thrilling. It’s a slow build. Nothing is solved in the first 45 minutes. And again you have to wonder if some of the cops are working for the other side.
Other Articles of Interest:
- Whitechapel Season 3
- Whitechapel Series 1
- Whitechapel Season 4
- From Hell – Rating 3 out of 5
- The Raven – John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe
- Dr. H. H. Holmes and The Whitechapel Ripper – A Review
- Paranormal Cops Series Finale?
- Lizzie Borden Took An Ax – Prequel to the Lizzie Borden Chronicles
- Haunted History – The Torso Murders – S01E06
- Paranormal Cops- Messages from Beyond – S01E06
Whitechapel Series 1
History is repeating itself as bodies start turning up, murdered in the same style as Jack the Ripper. The local police force is baffled and can’t bring themselves to accept a copycat murder. But they have more problems as they clash with their new Detective Inspector who doesn’t think they look, act or even smell real policemen. How can they solve crimes when they lack discipline and hygiene?
So begins Whitechapel, where Detective Inspector Chandler is put in charge of a group of men who don’t want him around. His obsessive compulsive habits go against their disorder and chaos. But they’re forced to work together as they race to find clues or even a suspect.
Whitechapel is quite interesting in that it focuses on the police force and how they deal with trying to solve the crime. What do they do when they have no evidence? How do they move forward when everyone is saying Jack the Ripper is back?
Going outside the lines they consult a Ripperologist who enlightens them on the crime urges them to take the mythology seriously. What follows is a group of men who can’t work together chasing after a killer they can’t identify.
And it works very well. Everyone comes across as a suspect. So many people seem to have an ulterior motive. Even when it looks like they’re on top of the murders and have the location picked out, it still happens right under their noses. Who’s the mole in the force? Is Jack the Ripper wandering among them?
Even though it’s only three episodes it’s a very well written and well executed story that will make jump up to play the next one in the series. I watched these through Amazon and found it to be very enjoyable. As with most BBC productions, the grim nature of the content is implied and they don’t dwell on the gore at least not visually. They consult the Ripper lore and go into details about the murders, but you want see the streets or the screen running with blood.
The original murders are detailed and the original crime scene photos are put up on the board so they can compare with modern day events. Even the alternate theories are explained and tested. There is plenty of history with modern day drama.
If you have an Amazon Prime account you can watch the series for free or you can pay a mere $2.99 to watch all three episodes. That’s about the cost of a bottle soda these days isn’t it?
Each episode is around 45 minutes and will keep you guessing until the end, because after all, Jack the Ripper was never caught was he….?
Other Articles of Interest:
- Ripper Street – I Need Light – S01E01
- Whitechapel Season 2
- From Hell – Rating 3 out of 5
- Whitechapel Season 3
- Dr. H. H. Holmes and The Whitechapel Ripper – A Review
- Aaron Kosminski Named as Jack the Ripper Through DNA Evidence
- Jack the Ripper ‘was invented to win newspaper war’
- Killer Contact – Jack the Ripper – S01E01
- Murder Maps–Life and Crime in London
- The Hunt for Jack the Ripper
Bates Motel – The Season Finale – S01E10
I just finished watching the last episode of the season and this is one mixed up family. They are so out of control there is no way they put the “fun” in dysfunctional. If you haven’t watched the season or the episode then you better look away now.
This episode was strange, awkward and a wee bit shocking. Not to mention the sexual elements that may or may not be hanging there. It’s the night of the Winter Formal and Emma has all but asked Norman to take her to the dance. We all know he really wants to take Bradley, but more than likely she’ll do something quite naughty with Norman’s brother Dillon before too much longer.
The night is off to a truly bad start as Norma decides to unload her life’s story and discuss her early days of being molested. On the night of the Winter Formal? Gadzooks mom!!!
But as soon as Emma appears, looking quite lovely by the way, Mom is all smiles and rainbows and says they need to go have a good time. Not only does mom interject herself into the night she all but destroys any chance of high school romance between these two. But of course, that was the plan all along.
The night goes poorly as Norman gets dumped by Emma because he can’t stop looking at Bradley and Norman takes a shot to the head by Bradley’s boyfriend because he can’t stop looking at Bradley. Norman isn’t subtle that’s for damn sure.
Walking home from the dance in the rain, Norman is picked up by his English teacher in her sassy Fiat 500. Oddly, she is wearing quite the revealing red dress and he makes no qualms about staring at her cleavage. Things are heading toward a newspaper headline of sexual scandal when Norman’s mother appears and shames him for staring at his teacher in the mirror of her bedroom as she undresses.
Next thing we know, Norman is running home and everything seems to be fine. Or is it?
This show is so uncomfortable it’s damn near funny. Norman has a thing for his mom as well as for Bradley. I think he’s actually torn over which one of them he wants to sleep with more. Emma is looking to have some experiences in her life and have some good times despite her condition. Too bad Norman won’t play along. Bradley felt sorry for Norman, or at least that’s the story she tells for why she slept with him, but oh there is so much more to that story. She plays coy, but she’s pulling strings to no end. And Norma can’t seem to have a decent relationship. The men she has sex with all end up dead. And it’s pretty obvious her relationship with Norman is a Psychological field day!
Honestly, I’m not sure what more they could throw into this show. We have Asian sex slaves, Oedipus complex, corrupt cops, a mysterious broker of human cargo, a massive drug cartel right in the middle of the city, a teacher who is perhaps one step away from becoming indecent with her student, several counts of murder and a hotel that people simply refuse to check into.
This show has it all! It’s creepy and it’s kooky. I think for something on A&E, this is pretty damn good back story. I hope there is another season coming. They really have the makings of something deliciously creepy here. Between this and Hannibal, I’m having fun.
Anyone else? Been watching Bates Motel? How do you think it went? Where do you think we’ll go from here?
Other Articles of Interest:
- The Bates Motel – Season 2 Coming March 3rd
- Bates Motel – Season 2 Premiere
- Bates Motel – Caleb – S02E03
- Bates Motel – The Series
- Bates Motel – Season 2 Finale
- Bates Motel – Kicking and Screaming to the Season Finale
- American Horror Story – Freakshow – S01E01
- The Lizzie Borden Chronicles – Season 1
- Hannibal – S01E08
- Ghost Adventures Season 2 Available Today
Hannibal – S01E08
NBC is staying the course and each episode of Hannibal is darker than the last. The visuals are especially taking on a darker and more grisly tone. This last episode of the exposed vocal chords of a human instrument drives that point home. And the intestines drying in the sinks. The jars of who knows what down in the cellar.
It’s interesting to see NBC keeping with the dark atmosphere of the show and not shying away from some of the shocking imagery (especially after episode 4 seemed to rub people the wrong way). This is after all the story of a serial killer. I don’t know how long they will keep this up or if it will alienate the viewing public. People are easily offended these days and since this is broadcast TV they are taking a pretty big risk. I checked and Hannibal hasn’t been renewed for a second season yet.
I’m not sure where we’re headed with this story, but I’m quite willing to play along. I feel we’re still at the stage of defining characters and their relationship with each other. Even within the story, Hannibal is "considering" having Will as a friend. It’s an unusual thing to hear someone say they have to consider making someone their friend. Unfortunately, this slow pace is why shows get cancelled. They don’t get a chance to build and create depth any more.
We’ve now seen Hannibal commit two murders and we know he’s done several others. What is the motive? What drives him? Is it quite literally a hunger? That seems too simple and shallow for this type of character. Is he experimenting? Like Tobias, is he just trying to see how far he can go before he gets caught? Is it the game of staying ahead of the police that he wants to play? Is he trying to see how far he can push Will before he breaks? We know he has tragic events in his past, how do those fit in. Was he responsible?
With Dexter, we know he’s a serial killer, but that’s not what he wants to be. He channels the Dark Passenger into something "good" and tries to be normal in other aspects. This makes him likable and we accept people being brought to justice. We’re willing to overlook this slight character flaw…
Hannibal is a serial killer and blends in to society with his psychiatric practice (which is just a way to find victims by the look of it), his dinners (a vicarious thrill to know what everyone is eating and thus make them a part of the crime) and high society cultural events. So is he with the high elite because they are so boring and daft they’ll never catch on to who he is? Does he regret the way he is? Does he embrace it? Is there something greater that Hannibal wants from life? The sympathetic part hasn’t come out yet. Will it? Can Hannibal be likable or will this turn to cat and mouse and we watch Hannibal do his best to keep the police at bay until the ultimately fails?
I had hoped for more an interaction between Hannibal and Tobias. There is so much we could have learned about Hannibal. He was certainly forthcoming who he was, but did he want to be friends with Tobias up to the point where Tobias revealed he’d seen Hannibal out on the lonely road doing what he does so well? Since Hannibal didn’t have the upper hand did he have to get rid of Tobias? Is Hannibal a teacher perhaps? Can he give shelter and guidance to others like him?
I guess that is where we go from here, to learn about Hannibal and how he views people. He seems quite taken with Will and how Will can assume his point of view, which is then followed up with Will can see the point of view of a psychopath.
I’m intrigued by this show and when the tipping point will come. There is so much to explain and reveal. When does the house of cards come tumbling down? When does the mask of Hannibal come off?
Were to go from here, that is indeed the question.
Other Articles of Interest:
- Hannibal – Season 2 Premiere
- Exorcist III – Ranking 3 out of 5
- Kevin Bacon comes to the small screen in The Following
- Hannibal – Takiawase – S02E04
- Hannibal Revealed
- Hannibal – The Series
- Hannibal – Tome-Wan – S02E12
- Hannibal – Season 4 not on the books, but could it be?
- Hannibal Season 2 Finale
- Hannibal – Coming back for another Season February 28th
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