Ripper Street

Set in London's Whitechapel district, circa 1889—less than a year after the last recorded killing by Jack the Ripper—this dark BBC historical crime drama opens with the discovery of a fresh corpse. Since the Ripper was never captured, everyone is convinced that the reign of terror has resumed, except for detective inspector Edmund Reid (Matthew Macfadyen), who believes that the slaying is a copycat incident. Reid and his crew—loyal, rough-and-tumble detective sergeant Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn) and American surgeon/captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg), who is essentially a 19th-century version of a modern pathologist—commit to finding the real killer. The first episode sets the atmosphere of corruption, petty bureaucratic politics, rampant poverty, and pervasive prejudice. Also quickly established are ex-pat Jackson's shady past and questionable present—including a relationship with a brothel madam named Long Susan (MyAnna Buring)—and the fact that Reid's partners don't trust each other. While the setting and style are reminiscent of Copper (the BBC America co-production set in the Five Points slum of 1860s New York City), this is the better show, with superior writing, more interesting stories, and impressive production values. But it also slips formulaic devices in between the social commentary during episodes dealing with pornography, street-kid crime, anti-Semitism, and the white slave trade (Downton Abbey it ain't). Compiling all eight episodes from the 2012–13 debut season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, a segment on the real Ripper, a location tour, and character profiles. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)