Ripper Street Recap: “What Use Our Work”
Original Air Date (BBC): Sunday March 9, 2013
Series 1 Episode 8
by C.S. Kane:
The final installment of BBC’s Ripper Street dealt primarily with exploring story leads left throughout previous episodes. The topics covered included Reid’s (Matthew Macfayden) missing daughter, Jackson’s (Adam Rothenberg) requirement to get out of the police cell prove his worth and finally Drake’s (Jerome Flynn) unrequited love for Rose (Charlene McKenna). The subjects are all tied together through a human trafficking plot thread which was surprising and intriguing.
Rose has managed to secure lodgings with Emily (Amanda Hale). A visit from Long Susan (MyAnna Buring) asking her to come back ends in a refusal allowing us to truly believe that she is on the cusp of turning her life around. She is trying to leave the world of prostitution behind and find love. It is through this endeavor however that she meets the creepy Victor Silver (David Oakes) who drugs her, abducts her and holds her against her will in a strange house. The surprising element in the house is the presence of a little girl particularly after we discover that Silver was on the boat the day Reid’s daughter went missing.
In a particular moving scene we see Reid finally open up to his wife properly. He tells her how he was following Silver, a Ripper suspect, when the fire broke out on the boat. He tells her that if Silver survived there was a chance his daughter had too. This scene was wonderfully acted with emotion from both Macfayden and Hale.
In a dramatic stakeout and setup the scope of the Silver’s plan is exposed and we see some unusual coercion tactics employed by our boys. Scalping, beating and the threat of castration all ensue but ultimately the trio are lead to the house and rescue both Rose and the young girl.
The end of the series seemed very positive. Our gang are back together and focused on their work thanks to seeing exactly how useful it is. The BBC have presented an interesting and alternative Sunday night program and the announcement that a second season has been commissioned is welcome news.
C.S. Kane is a writer of horror fiction and a DarkMedia contributor. Kane has a penchant for the paranormal and is a true a sucker for Sci-fi. Interests include reading, writing, watching movies and enjoying good food. Keep up with the darker side of life by following Kane on Twitter at @CS_Kane and via the blog: www.cskaneofficial.blogspot.co.uk
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