Whitechapel

Whitechapel Season 4

image I just finished watching the latest season of Whitechapel from the BBC and it was every bit as dark and ominous as the other seasons and then some. The whole crew is back again to face some very nasty foes such as a killer that is mimicking the deaths from the Salem Witch Trials complete with adding more weight until he gets a confession and burning at the stake.

We also have several stories about the teams personal side, such as Kent’s twin sister, Buchan’s new book and the unusual woman he meets at the book signing and multiple instances of DI Chandler in some putrid settings that make his OCD become nearly debilitating. Then again, if I was covered in raw sewage I can’t say my reaction would be much different.

This was a pretty dark series that had some very unusual storylines and some very interesting references to history. We even get the idea that Whitechapel may be sitting on a gate to hell, that’s why so many bad things happen out there. There is a pretty big supernatural element to this season and most of the team finds themselves dealing with their own personal demons in some way.

It was a pretty compelling season. I certainly hope there’s another one coming.

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Whitechapel Season 3

The third season of Whitechapel and what I thought was the final season until a trailer for season 4 popped up, is broken down into 6 – two part episodes.

For the first episode, how is someone murdered in a locked room? With tinges of Edgar Allan Poe, this is quite an eerie storyline.

Second, body parts are showing up in the city and washing up on shore. Do we actually have a Murder Castle in the style of H. H. Holmes or is this a repeat of the Torso Murders?

For the finale, a dangerous patient and former Whitechapel resident escapes from a psychiatric unit around the same time that a babysitter is murdered. Is all the attention focused on the wrong suspect?

Ed, crime historian and Ripperologist joins the team, much to the distress of just about everyone, especially Miles. Tensions are still running high as Chandler and Miles argue over just about everything. Even Kent is arguing with the boss and feels the investigation is taking a wrong turn.

Inspired by a series of real life serial murders, this set is quite bit darker than the original two. Relationships are falling apart and the team is barely able to function together. Fights break out left and right and the horrors of the murder are taking their toll. Tensions are running high for this one.

Again, lots of good stories and acting. The focus is on the police and how they deal with the crimes and conduct their investigations. And for this set, they’re coming unglued. It all seems to be coming apart. Even if they do solve a cast, it’s up in the air as to whether or not they can work together. Team members have been bought off, others have been killed off. They’re all suspicious of each other and keep each other at a distance.

A really interesting season that leaves you guessing as to whether or not they’re coming back. And if they do, who’s had enough of this lifestyle…

Whitechapel – Season 3

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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.

Whitechapel Series 2

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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….?

Whitechapel – Series 1

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