My attempt at a review of Damien's debut in Ripper Street.

 

A REVIEW OF DAMIEN MOLONY IN RIPPER STREET 2 EP2 ‘AM I NOT MONSTROUS’

A Review of DC Flight’s journey through Ripper Street 2 Episode 2
by The Damien Molony Forum

A young woman is murdered after giving birth in hospital, with the resulting investigation leading the men of H-Division into the world of the Victorian freak show after discovering she had a vestigial tail. Inspector Reid (Matthew Macfadyen) seeks the advice of Joseph Merrick (Joseph Drake) – introduced in the first episode – who becomes central not only to this investigation but falls victim to the hideous workings of K-Division Inspector Jedediah Shine (Joseph Mawle). New Recruit Detective Constable Flight (Damien Molony) has more of an impact on events than he or his superiors realise.

The second episode of Ripper Street series 2 saw the debut of Damien Molony asDetective Constable Albert Flight, a keen and somewhat arrogant young man with a glowing reputation, brought to H-Division by Chief Inspector Abberline (Clive Russell) as “reinforcements” for the police department struggling under the strain of growing lawlessness on the Whitechapel streets.

Abberline informs an unimpressed Inspector Reid of Albert Flights’ credentials and reveals a glimpse of his back story in the process:

This one, Detective Constable Flight, worked overtime, in uniform, on his own coin, his collar rate in so doing sufficient to push yours and mine into the corner….and now appoint to the CID he wishes to work here, he volunteers for this sink Edmund, for Whitechapel.”

No time is wasted in establishing the dynamic between the new arrival and the three main characters; Reid protests against having “another boy” his employ, young Dick Hobbs still weighing on his mind (and perhaps his conscience) as it becomes clear he is far from happy about the new recruit, whilst Captain Jackson and Sergeant Drake look on with no small measure of amusement at the cockiness of the new recruit.

Not intimidated the frosty reception from his superior, Flight reveals himself to be an ambitious and self assured young man, with a swagger bordering on pomposity – all conveyed dialogue free by Molony with the same compelling nuance of facial expression that he brought to Hal in Being Human and the very effective use of a cigarette as prop – as he waits to be formally introduced to his new employer.
When Flight asks Captain Jackson (Adam Rothenberg) for a light for his cigarette and proceeds to blow smoke into his face, the reaction of Jackson and Sergeant Drake (Jerome Flynn) at his over-confidence marks the beginning of an almost eye-rolling playfulness rather than wariness from the two men.

The first exchange between Reid and Flight sets the scene for the rest of the episode, the cocksure new Detective Constable is challenged to prove himself to a less than convinced inspector:

Inspector Reid. It is an honour, I shan’t let you down. Sir.”

Easily said Constable, harder to prove.”

Flight is given investigative paperwork tasks to do, but far from being on the periphery, the fruits of his research are central to the storyline, his chance to prove he is capable of more than office duties coming soon enough when Reid allows him to go on his first investigation to try and find John Goode (Tom Brooke), identified as the father of the missing child of the murdered Stella (Elva Trill). But his insistence on ignoring the advice of the more experienced Sergeant Drake who accompanies him, puts the two of them in danger and culminates in a black eye for Flight.

This same combination of well meaning keenness and acting upon his initiative, but being naive, lacking in experience and events ending disastrously, repeats itself for Flight with more devastating and heartbreaking consequences later in the episode, this time involving a twisty turny, altogether more emotional set of encounters with Joseph Merrick.

When Joseph makes his way to H-Division with important information for Reid, he becomes victim to a horrible mob attack outside H-Decision headquarters, Flight comes to his rescue, saving his life by helping him up when he falls onto his back on the pavement (which we know from earlier scenes will cause him to suffocate).

We are also given insight into Flight’s true nature when he makes an impromptu and impassioned speech which goes straight to the heart of the episode’s theme:

What is wrong with you? This man is your fellow! You would stone him? You, call him monster? Look on your own sins!”

Albeit a happy accident, Flight is then responsible for Merrick being in the right place at the right time, when he escorts him to the museum where Reid and Drake are in attendance, so he can talk down John Goode from killing himself and his baby in a suicide attempt.

Merrick does not only save two lives, but is also then able to reveal to Reid the important information that he had witnessed Jedediah Shine murdering his sergeant, a crime for which he was trying to implicate Reid himself. Flight earns a further show of trust from Reid, when he is asked to escort Merrick back to the hospital and keep guard outside his room.

While on guard duty, in a tragic mirroring scene to when he saved Merrick from suffocating, Flight falls asleep, allowing Jedediah Shine to slip past him unnoticed and end Joseph’s life, by removing his pillows so he lay flat and passed away. Flight is not the perpetrator, and he merely fell asleep because he was up all night working and helping the case, but that all the joy in preceding events had culminated with such bitter, sorrowful irony, is the most heart-wrenching moment of the episode.

By the end of the episode Flight remains somewhat of an enigma, proving himself to be part good-hearted, brave hero; part sharp-minded, incisive maverick; part naively ambitious young man. He has already been instrumental to a major investigation and shown himself to be compassionate with a moral compass pointing towards goodness. The tragedy at the end of the episode – to which we are the only witnesses – also makes him the victim of his own dedication, and how this will effect him in the future we are yet to discover.

For an introductory episode, Damien had significant screen time, Flight playing a crucial part in events and the consequences of his final actions will add a compelling layer of tension for his future relationship with his Inspector as well as us the audience, as we follow his journey.

The first installment, beguiling and heartbreaking, fragile and fierce in equal measure, fast paced and intense, yet tender and subtle, is filled with the darkness of underground London and the light of the human heart. The real monsters have proven themselves to us, and so have those who are pure at heart.
Flight seems to be on the side of the latter, but his introduction was certainly dappled with shade.

Ripper Street series 2 continues at 9pm on BBC One, Monday 11 November withEpisode 3 – ‘Become Man’.

To comment on this review click here

To keep up with Ripper Street Damien news as it happens, join us at the Damien Molony Forum, on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr

You may also enjoy:

INTERROGATION ROOM: DAMIEN MOLONY – Ripper Street Q & A Tuesday 5 November

Damien Molony on Detective Constable Albert Flight – Exclusive Ripper Street Interview

Ripper Street 2 Episode 2 ‘Am I Not Monstrous’ Trailer featuring Damien Molony

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Exclusive Photos of Damien Molony as Detective Constable Flight in Ripper Street 2

Ripper Street Series 2 Trailer – First Look At Damien Molony as Detective Albert Flight

Ripper Street 2 Official Character Profile – Damien Molony as Detective Sergeant Albert Flight

Ripper Street 2 Promo Photo: Damien Molony as Detective Flight

It’s A Wrap For Damien Molony on Ripper Street 2

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Thank you fifi, it took far too long, with not much to show for it, but I had to put the last 3 paragraphs down somewhere.

I would love to hear any feedback from anyone, do you agree/ disagree?

This pretty much sums up my views.  I know I'm looking at Flight somewhat with Damien coloured glasses, but I didn't find his character the blundering, egotistical cockup some people are complaining about.  (I made my feelings clear on Twitter and actually commented on that one article.

Maybe it's the inside info from Damien's interview & Q&A, maybe it's my bias, but I thought he was just inexperienced, misguided and just naive about what life is really like in Whitechapel.  While what happened is tragic, he did not in fact kill Merrick and showed he has a good heart when he saved Merrick from the mob. I think he will do something to prove himself to the others, and perhaps something about his past will explain why he volunteered to this post.  

Having said that, I am a little worried about some theories I've read.  If he ends up being a bad guy, it could be one of those "that's a brilliant turn of events" or "I really hate him now".  Not sure how I'd feel about him actually playing a bad guy that I couldn't sympathize with anymore.  Though Shine IS pure Evil, but brilliant to watch, so I guess I'd still love Flight as a character and I'll always love Damien's performance.

I do love the little details and mannerisms he's imbued him with as well.  The smoking/cigarette use is surprisingly a brilliant play, though I generally frown upon it in RL and most of the time in shows as well.  

One more day to see what is in store for us!

PradaKat wrote:

---

Yes, I think we have to split the "Isn't Damien brilliant playing the character" with the character itself. Sometimes that's why we need to watch things twice, once to get the squeeing out of the way and the second time to actually listen and watch what the character does.

I think it is arrogance in part, but a naive arrogance. He's got this brilliant record and is young enough to still believe he's God's Gift to policing, so the whole episode was about bringing him down a couple of pegs - the dull paperwork, the misguided trip to the doss house - and then the spark of the true man underneath; the kind-hearted guy who joined up to help people like Merrick. He'll blame himself for Merrick's death regardless of whether they find out it was Shine who performed the deed or still believe it was suicide, and it will make him more humble and probably a better Policeman as a result.

---

THIS!!!!  VERY MUCH THIS!!!!

I did mean to add that I thought he is arrogant for sure, but that he's got good intentions.  And the look on his face when they found Merrick - I think this could very well be the "sin" he'll be confessing.  I don't know if they will find out.  History has it that he simply decided to sleep like a normal person, so I'm leaning towards them not finding out.  Oh, another theory just popped into my head... but I get the feeling this isn't the place for those discussions...

God's Gift to policing!  You should tweet Damien that! 

The reviews are coming in for Ripper Street 2 Episode 4!



Damien Molony and Charlie Murphy light up the screen in Ripper Street | The Metro - 19 November 2013

I have replied to the Den of Geek review to the effect that the tension was palpable and the acting superb. The writer also gets Jackson's name incorrect! She calls him "Johnson" at one point.

Good job Pearl and well said!

fifi i guess investing in a character is as much to do with the 'investor' as the character, it is about as subjective a thing as it gets. But... the review basically implied his storyline was lacklustre which simply isn't true and as several people have mentioned, including Jamie Chricton (the writer of the episode) who tweeted me, Damien shone in this!
His performance in those tender scenes was so beautifully gentle, it was not in your face emoting but my god it was powerfully touching.

Yes, I enjoyed our discussion about Flights character arc in the Flight Chat last night, it is as if his cocky self assuredness has been deflated by his reception at H Division, largely by Reid, and after the latest ep and glimpses of his background I am beginning to feel that veneer was a need to prove himself perhaps, over compensation for the possible worthlessness he may feel due to his background.

Agree with you, this series has been about the characters and I am really enjoying the interpretation of historical fact!

here is my belated review of Ripper Street2.04, it is very long and any feedback, edits, comments welcome!

 

 

 

A REVIEW OF DAMIEN MOLONY IN RIPPER STREET 2 EP4 ‘DYNAMITE AND A WOMAN’

A Review of DC Flight’s journey through Ripper Street 2 Episode 4
by The Damien Molony Forum

When a former Irish terrorist escapes custody and takes the opportunity to return to his old ways with explosive consequences, the resulting investigation leads the men of H Division down an unexpected route and takes DC Flight on an undercover mission into the heart of the Irish community, in more ways than one.

Damien Molony delivers a beautifully understated yet intensely conveyed performance as a young detective going undercover in the heart of the Irish community in the fourth installment of Ripper Street Series 2.

Since the first glimpse of him in a confessional in the Series 2 trailer and with our questions about any aftermath of the tragic events of episode 2 still unanswered, the tension and intrigue around the character ofDetective Albert Flighthas grown week to week. Episode 4 lets us in a little more, but the mystery surrounding this“man of secrets”only deepens and evolves in tandem with his story.

In the pre-credit scene, the appearance of Flight’s fraught face in the shadowy confessional box hints that we will have our questions answered about the nature of his confession – “Bless me Father for I have sinned, it has been three months since my last confession” – but as he looks up in response to the priest’s question, his expression is impossible to read, the line and delivery laced with ambiguity and possibilities, which we are left to interpret for ourselves.

“I am a liar”

 

 

But it quickly becomes clear this opener is an open ended cliffhanger, as the episode begins proper with the escape of former Irish dynamiter Aiden Galvin (Stanley Townsend) while in prison transit, soon followed by a bomb attack on an anti-Irish xenophobic politician. Inspector Reid (Matthew Macfadyen), Sergeant Drake (Jerome Flynn) and Captain Jackson (Adam Rothenberg) begin their investigation into the whereabouts and means of the suspected culprit, while Chief Inspector Abberline (Clive Russell) has his own methods for extracting information out of a known Irish Republican Brotherhood member, Michael Donovan (Martin McCann), resulting in the discovery that Galvin has a daughter, Evelyn Foley (Charlie Murphy), with whom it is suspected he will try to make contact.

Reid is reluctant when the Chief Inspector pulls rank and informs him that the young (and Irish) DC Flight is the perfect man to go undercover, “his face his right, his voice is right”, to try and glean some information from her, but Flight is delighted to be given something more to do than research in the archives.

“If you’ve the chops for it son”
“yes sir I have!”

 

 

From here on, there are two intertwining investigations, the one exposing the real reason for Galvin’s actions as a partnership with Charlie Broadwick, a man in competition for contracts between electricity providers, and Flight’s undercover mission where he discovers more about Evelyn’s father and critical information that prevents a further attack. But it is the magical storyline and performances of Charlie Murphy and Damien Molony in what emerges to be nothing less than a beautifully brief, tense and tragic love story that outshines the other, the three leading men becoming the players in a somewhat less than electric subplot.

Wearing civvies and with a new identity as ‘Bertrand Doyle’, Flight begins his covert study of Evelyn at the Black Rose pub in the Irish quarter of London Whitechapel, where she works as a barmaid.

 

 

Removing his hat and approaching the bar, in just a few moments Molony manages to convey Flight’s immediate attraction to Evelyn, as well as the determination and nervousness of his youth, with the subtlest shades of dialogue-free expression. Ordering lemonade to drink to the amusement of Evelyn, and appearing to be affected by the Irish singer and fiddler’s wistful version of ‘Leaving Skibberdeen’ – we are also given a touching moment leaving us wondering if it is Flight’s intriguing whisper of a reaction is patriotism and a connection with his Irish roots, his background – about which we know nothing – or something more.

 

Oh father dear,
I oft-times hear
You speak of Erin’s isle
Her lofty hills, her valleys green,
Her mountains rude and wild
They say she is a lovely land
Wherein a saint might dwell
So why did you abandon her, the reason to me tell?
Oh well do I remember that bleak December day
The landlord and the sheriff came to take us all away
They set my roof on fire with their cursed English spleen
I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibbereen
And you were only two years old and feeble was your frame
I could not let you with my friends
You would bore your fathers name
I wrapped you in my old plaid coat
The night of death unseen
And that’s on other reason why I left old Skibbereen
Oh father dear, the day will come when in answer to the call
All Irish men of freedom stern will rally one and all
I’ll be the man to lead the band beneath the flag of green
And loud and clear we’ll raise the cheer,
Revenge for Skibbereen!

 

 

When Michael appears, bruised and beaten by Abberline and demanding to speak to Evelyn outside, we learn that the IRB at large are not engaged with terrorism, and are as keen as Reid and his men to find the dynamiter to ensure the peace. Having looked out for Evelyn in the absence of her father, Michael insists she tells him of his whereabouts if he tries to find her. Flight follows them, appearing to want to protect Evelyn as much as he does find information.

“This the way you London boys hope to charm a lady is it, bring your boys to stand in threat, then bully her?”

 

 

It is a brave move on his part, but his attempt to help is rebuffed and so retreats to H-Division, much to the bemusement of his colleagues – Abberline commands him to “get back on her” and Captain Jackson gives him a lesson in the art of charm, seduction and how to “penetrate that frosty exterior and melt the fruitful vine within”, advising Flight “You need to make her start wondering after you, feel the twinge of intrigue, fellow feelings of vulnerability…you need to build yourself a story, tragic loss, destitution, it’s gotta be perfect, it’s gotta be detailed and most important it’s got to be felt, right here, in your heart, with your own secrets when you lie, you lie with you own hidden truth.”

 

 

The scene is playful, delivering a welcome counterpoint humour to the episode, also serving to show how the the dynamic between Reid, Drake, Jackson and Flight appears to have moved on to more friendly teasing, even if it does end with the young constable receiving a black eye from a “brutal policeman” (Drake) in order to give him a story to gain sympathy from Evelyn, which the other three delight in perhaps a little too much.

 

 

The next morning Flight returns to the Black Rose, sporting his new shiner and working his charms on Evelyn as he stands James Dean-esque smoking in a doorway, asking for whisky instead of lemonade.
“I’ll take whisky from you now miss, if you’re offering?”

 

 

Once inside Evelyn tends to his wounds, asking him what brings him to London. Flight responds “money, food in my belly” and reveals he doesn’t have a home, “My mother was taken by typhus when I was five, Father taken by drink soon after” and we suspect this is not part of his undercover plan but a first glimpse into Flight’s background.
Nevertheless, he had gained Evelyn’s trust and sympathy and is invited upstairs to her room to wash his face, rest and eat. Once alone, Flight searches for clues on Galvin only to find letters from a man, Holland, claiming to be her father.

 

When Evelyn returns she speaks of the absence of both her father and the man claiming to be her father. In a revealing moment, Flight reciprocates, (with Molony giving us perhaps the most moving speech of the episode) giving us an insight into who he is, the irony of Jackson’s earlier advice being that he didn’t need to create a story of tragic loss to create intrigue and mirror hers as he already has one that fulfills all the requirements.
“The idea, the way other folks say it is I mean, it’s our family instruct us, is it not? to tell us who we are how we should be? without that instruction it’s hard sometimes I find to make sense of ourselves, what we want, what is right..”

 

The resulting kiss from Evelyn feels to be more than the fruits of Flights’ undercover skills, as does his pulling away stunned, then reciprocating, equally seduced perhaps by the parallels in their young and troubled lives.

 

But Flight is not so lost in Evelyn that when they are disturbed by Galvin while in the throes of passion on her bed he doesn’t have his wits about him, soon back in undercover mode he listens at the door as Galvin tells Evelyn he is leaving soon and offers her a way out of London, and deftly follows him to Broadwick’s workshop where he overhears their conversation that the two are plotting another bombing to destroy a rival electrical company competing for the same contract as Broadwick, as well as witnessing the argument between the two as Broadwick tells Galvin he is in fact Evelyn’s father.

 

 

In a reversal of roles with Flight who is out in the field, Reid, Drake and Jackson in the meantime have been doing their own research and discovered that Broadwick was in fact ex IRB sympathiser Holland, who changed his name when he returned from the US to London. When their investigations lead them to Broadwick’s workshop, they come face to face with Flight kicking the front door down from the inside.

Galvin and Broadwick’s plan scuppered, the bombing is successfully intercepted and Galvin flees, only to meet his fate at the end of Michael’s gun, who shoots him in the name of keeping the peace.

The heart wrenching final scene between Evelyn and Flight as she leaves for America and reveals that she knew he was not really who he claimed to be, showed both a more experienced yet vulnerable Flight, as he tried to resist being overwhelmed by emotion yet forcing her to leave and perhaps avoiding further self exposure.

 

 

In terms of his work, his former arrogance and cockiness appearing deflated at the outset by the lack of trust Reid has shown him, Flight had much to prove in this episode, and he delivered the goods, but perhaps became too dangerously close to blowing his cover. There is a sense that this applies not only to this mission but to his bigger secrets as well.

The episode allows Flight’s character arc to develop in a multidimensional way, his increasing mystery adding to the already heightened intrigue surrounding his arrival. Damien gives a powerfully naunced and refined performance to great effect, drawing us in so that we find ourselves investing in the brief moments of brightness for him – the jewel of a love story shining in the grime of the Whitechapel streets, the light in his eyes at being trusted with an important task, the temporary lifting of the increasingly apparent weight he carries, too heavy for his few years – and with such subtlety that by the end of the episode Flight’s backstory is bubbling away in our awareness, with his big secret as yet undisclosed, the glimpses into the heart of Flight no less enigmatic.

As the episode closes, Jackson’s earlier words “with your own secrets when you lie, you lie with you own hidden truth” ringing in our ears, we become the detectives, examining the different strands of Flight’s background and character, with no resolution to his confession or any clue to the chronology of it, appearing as a self-contained moment, we are left wondering if it relates to the events of this episode, the tragic events at the end of episode 2 or to something else entirely, perhaps in connection with his past, all adding to the longer term tension not only relating to his character and the overall storyline, but to the fate of DC Flight in H-Division.

Ripper Street series 2 continues at 9pm on BBC One, Monday 25 November with Episode 5- ‘Threads of Silk and Gold’.

 

To comment on this review click here

 

To keep up with Ripper Street Damien news as it happens, join us at the Damien Molony Forum, on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr

 

 

 

You may also enjoy:

 

Damien Molony goes undercover in Ripper Street 2 Episode 4

 

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INTERROGATION ROOM: DAMIEN MOLONY – Ripper Street Q & A Tuesday 5 November

 

Damien Molony on Detective Constable Albert Flight – Exclusive Ripper Street Interview

 

Ripper Street 2 Episode 2 ‘Am I Not Monstrous’ Trailer featuring Damien Molony

 

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Exclusive Photos of Damien Molony as Detective Constable Flight in Ripper Street 2

 

Ripper Street Series 2 Trailer – First Look At Damien Molony as Detective Albert Flight

 

Ripper Street 2 Official Character Profile – Damien Molony as Detective Sergeant Albert Flight

 

Ripper Street 2 Promo Photo: Damien Molony as Detective Flight

 

It’s A Wrap For Damien Molony on Ripper Street 2

 

Damien Molony is New Detective Constable in Ripper Street

 

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Damien Molony Acting Credits

 

You're welcome. Oh awesome! Def looking forward to that then! 

Thank you fifi, glad you got through it! lol!
Apologies to all for initial errors in formatting when i first posted it, all edited now.

thank you Kat and fifi for proofreading... "the fruitful VEIN within" has to be the best typo ever!


is this review how you all experienced the episode? feel free to disagree!

domino - believe me I tried really hard to find something more....constructive to say - but the sad fact is that, as far as i can remember, I pretty much agree with everything you've written!  I'll have another proper read later, and see if I can come up with something a bit more controversial! lol!!

Must admit the 'vein' thing made me s******.....I've also realised that things format differently on my pc than on my tablet - and it looked fine on the fansite (it looks GREAT on the fansite!) - although I don't know if you'd already tinkered with it there before I saw it?

Lol!  I've been censored! 

....I was only saying that it made me giggle in a snickery sort of way!!