Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
True-crime docu features graphic violence, sexual abuse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Ripper
What's the Story?
THE RIPPER is a documentary series about a serial killer who terrorized Northern England in the 1970s. Police quickly made a connection between the various murders of sex workers in economically depressed areas of Britain. The killings seemed to have a lot in common with Jack the Ripper's notorious crime spree in the late-1800s, inspiring fear and paranoia in the communities where they'd taken place. After a five-year investigation, the police finally arrested a suspect.
Is It Any Good?
A good true crime documentary does more than just relay facts from the past -- it also reveals something about the present. The series of killings featured in The Ripper may have been fascinating at the time, but the series lacks a point-of-view that makes them feel relevant today. As a result, the series is simply a rote retelling of the investigation, which makes for faily forgettable viewing, though true crime junkies will likely be entertained.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the crime. How did police know the murders were connected? What made them suspect a serial killer? How did they go about finding the murderer?
How did the murders affect the communities of the victims? How were they portrayed in the media? Could things have been handled better? How?
What did the police discover about the killer? How did the investigation lead them to their conclusions? Were the police able to uncover any motive?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 16, 2020
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Educational
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 5, 2021
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