BBC America series "Whitechapel" stars Phil Davis (left), Rupert Penry-Jones and Steve Pemberton. (carnival film & television
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I often use this column to alert you to new comedies or dramas on cable channels worth your viewing time. I have another one for you: "Whitechapel" on BBC America.
Airing at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on Time Warner Cable digital channels 225 and 1225, the six-part crime drama is set in modern-day East London, where the police force is trying to track down a killer replicating crimes from the city's past, from Jack the Ripper to the Kray twins.
"Whitechapel" is part of BBC America's "Dramaville," which reminds me of the "The NBC Mystery Movie" from the 1970s. NBC used to rotate crime dramas such as "McCloud," "Columbo" and "McMillan& Wife" in a weekly timeslot.
BBC America is doing something similar, except it's running episodes consecutively instead of randomly. "Whitechapel" airs its second episode this week. The series premiere is available free on demand on digital channel 402.
You should have no problem catching up if you haven't seen the first one. The gist is that Rupert Penry-Jones plays a by-the-book detective who takes over a homicide division filled with old-schoolers, including the cantankerous Phil Davis.
Ideals clash as the unit begins to investigate a gruesome murder resembling one committed more than 100 years earlier by Jack the Ripper. A local author and Ripper expert, played by Steve Pemberton, helps send the detectives in the right direction.
The thing I like about BBC shows is their knack for developing compelling characters. From "Dr. Who" to "Misfits" to "Being Human" to "Luther," the network gives us folks to invest in for different reasons.
With "Whitechapel," we have two of them in Penry-Jones and Davis. The premise -- new school vs. old school -- isn't anything new. The fun here is in the execution, watching as the two start to grow on each other. Grade: B
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 402-473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com, or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/LJSjeffkorbelik.
Read more: http://journalstar.com/entertainment/small-screen/television-and-radio/article_2b7aba18-15ab-5a17-951b-0afce250cce4.html#ixzz1cHLwhnbH
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