Common Sense Media Review
By Matt Springer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark, bloody, but excellent British crime drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Whitechapel
What's the Story?
As WHITECHAPEL opens, London police detective Joseph Chandler (Rupert Penry-Jones) is on a fast track to maneuver through the politics of the agency and occupy a high-profile job. All he has to do is lead a single murder investigation. That investigation becomes a gruesome battle against a brilliant serial killer who is attempting to emulate the work of Jack the Ripper from 120 years before. With the help of fellow detective Miles (Phil Davis) and eccentric "Ripperologist" Edward Bunchan (Steve Pemberton), Chandler must stop the murders before the killer finishes what the Ripper began.
Is It Any Good?
There's an atmosphere and thoughtfulness in modern British drama television that is often absent from U.S. series. While an hour-long cop drama based on the Jack the Ripper murders might seem highly exploitative and sensational from a U.S.-based creative team, the same concept as handled by the Brits on Whitechapel is full of spooky shadows and artful glimpses of gory doings.
The characters on Whitechapel draw in the viewer as well, pairing street-level gritty detectives with an academy-polished and ambitious cop and a quirky Ripper expert who brings an irreplaceable expertise to the investigation. It's compelling to watch these disparate men clash and collaborate, even as the suspense level quickly ratchets up with the pursuit of the Ripper copycat. Perhaps best of all, Whitechapel is designed as a short-form drama, with each storyline lasting only three hour-long episodes. This means you can enjoy a high quality and compelling series without investing 22 hours of your valuable time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's violence. Is it disturbing to see so much graphic detail? Would the drama be as effective without so much graphic imagery?
What did you learn about the Jack the Ripper murders from this series? What are some other ways you can learn more about this historical character?
How do you think this show would have been handled differently in the United States? What distinguishes British television from its U.S. counterpart?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 26, 2011
- Cast : Phil Davis , Rupert Penry-Jones , Steve Pemberton
- Network : BBC America
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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