An investigation into the assault of a policeman leads DI Reid and the men of H-Division to the newly emergent Chinatown - where Jackson discovers evidence of a new and devastatingly powerful opiate. Reid fears a new kind of hell is to be released on to his streets.
Jack The Ripper may be fading into memory now, but East London has found no peace; H Division’s beat is more chaotic and lawless than ever.
So when a sergeant from Limehouse’s neighbouring K Division is found, hurled from a Whitechapel tenement window on to the iron railings below, Reid is quick to act. If the police are to be so publicly assaulted on his streets, what hope for law-abiding civilian life?
Investigations into the man’s activities lead them to the newly emergent Chinatown of the Limehouse dockside; and from there into the orbit of K-Division’s Inspector Jedediah Shine.
Shine’s conviction is that his sergeant has fallen victim to a Triad turf-war in this new market, but Jackson discovers evidence of a newly synthesised and devastatingly powerful opiate that leads Reid to different conclusions. And a dread fear that a new kind of hell is to be released on to his streets.
I'm sad that Damo isn't on the Episode 1 list (though right now no one is) and suspect he won't be coming on till Ep 2, unless he's shown at the very end of Episode 1 as sorta the cliffhanger. But as far as I remember RS isn't one for cliffies, it wraps up at the ends. But YAY, not long now!!!!!!!!!
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
So cast list yet, so I can still hold out hope we'll get at least a glimpse, maybe an introduction, of Det. Flight in Ep. 1.
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
Unless perhaps he's sneaking around in the background, similar to the first episode of s4 of Being Human and we weren't introducted to his character properly until episode two?
papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
The episode sounds very interesting and as an aside, around the same time, cousins of my maternal great grandfather moved from Tyneside down to Limehouse and the family history says one of his relatives married into a Chinese family that were well off so the story goes but we don't know very much apart from that so my curiosity was piqued slightly by Limehouse being K Division, i could almost pretend my ancestors were roaming around then.
So...Monday nights...and for once i don't need to do any schedule juggling to fit the show in on my planner, win for me!
Just to mention in this topic as well, it has been confirmed Damien is not appearing until episode 2! We did suspect this due to the IMDB entries and the lack of mention of Flight in episode synopsis. But, still very much looking forward to this episode to catch up with the other characters and the context of Flight's arrival.
How amazing Lisa, thanks for sharing your personal history!
The storyline sounds fascinating to me and the whole writing, characterisation and styling of the drama is utterly compelling.
So, only 3 days until episode 1!
Deeply excited, if this clip is anything to go by we are in for a thrill ride, what a combination of dark themes and humour, I couldn't stop laughing!!
Plus... convinced that there will be some kind of coming next time preview with Damien in at the end..................
It does look like they've injected a bit more dark humour into it, at least in these 2 minutes. From snippets in several interviews it looks like they might concentrate a bit more on the characters themselves. I like that!
So I'll be distracted the whole time I'm watching the episode hoping it hurries up so that I can see the 'next time' trailer. Since it's going to have the Elephant man in it I'm sure they'll concentrate on that, but they MUST show Flight since it's his introductory episode.
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
Lol! I so hope we do get that preview now! BUT the first episode is going to be mega anyway, we will see how the land lies before FLIGHT appears and catch up with all the characters!
I'll kick it off then! The opening episode exceeded all expectations of how good it would be, it was fast paced and richly textured both in terms of character and plot, to pick out different plot strand would do it an injustice because the sum of the whole left me adrenalised and more than a little breathless. But stand out characters/bits for me were Blush Pang, her character as an independent woman in those times, her costume and all the settings we saw her in.. especially that introductory sequence in the heroine den in chinatown... the slow motion, the soundtrack the design, the styling, the atmosphere...it was filmic and utterly spellbinding, loved it!
Adored how we were given glimpses of Reids solitary life, Drakes new married life, Jackson and Long Susan getting along...nothing was given to us on a plate, the script doesn't insult our intelligence we are left to deduce and interpret as we see it. the subplot with long Susan providing even more menace to a plotline already filled with it...corruption of the highest order, the invention of heroine, gore and dark themes. and of course the wonderful Joseph Merrick, gentle spoken, a character who i hope we see again.
I could say more but.....
The last minute or 2 left me practically squeeeeeling, with our first Glimpse of Flight! But Ill leave that for our episode 2 topic!
It hit the ground running didn't it?! I thought the last series was a bit slow getting started.....although I enjoyed it, I didn't really fall in love with it til about ep6. But there was no pause for thought in last nights episode!
I love that there was a fast and furious story-line to the ep, but it was interspersed with little glimpses into the characters personal lives - Drake settled, Jackson and Susan in harmony (for now...), Reid alone - it'll be interesting to see those relationships develop over the series....and to see the return of Rose. And I loved the introduction of Shine - every series needs a man you love to hate...hope he's around for a while - and, yes....John Merrick, as iconic for victorian london as Jack the Ripper himself....excellent!! What Ripper Street does well is characters - no matter how good the story-lines are, it's the characters and their interactions which engage the audience.
I did a bit of a double take with Blush Pang (Kunjue Li) having recently seen her working as a prostitute in Birmingham's Chinatown in the early 20th century (she was in Peaky Blinders!!)
One final thought.....H division seems a bit overrun - stikes me they are in desperate need of some reinforcements.....oh, wait.....!!
muhahahahaha! Flight to the rescue! cocky and shifty, but quick on his feet!
Oh yes Shine.... what an amazingly menacing villain he makes... my god as if H-Division didn't have enough to deal with on the streets of whitechapel....
The introduction of the whole triads and kung fu vibe as well as the beginning of the Jospeh Merrick storyline gave ripper Street a particularly rich flavour...
I did find the episode good fun but, for some reason it just felt a little flat (maybe that's as a result of me watching it at 7.15am though?).
I liked the scenes with the K Division sergeant, especially his interactions with Drake, and I can see Shine being a formidable enemy; very cunning and good at turning things to his advantage, but the Jackson/Susan scenes seemed a little strange although i can't put my finger on why in particular.
But then it's also the first episode and has to spend a lot of time setting everything back up again, so I think episode 2 will be better. Plus the addition of a certain Detective Flight will be a welcome positive...and if there are any scenes such as the one with Jackson and his long johns then we will all be very happy ladies (and gents!)
It did hit the ground running, i agree! A memorable first five minutes indeed (and ouch anyone?)
My main problem with this episode was how hard it was to hear some of the dialogue, especially Jedidiah Shine's. His voice was very low and indistinct in parts and a lot of what went on, i grasped rather than understood. But saying that i found him interesting and he has promise.
It was nice to see Bennet settled with Bella and she seems apparently devoted to him too. Jackson is more settled too, embracing his married man status with Susan but i wonder whether she'll tell him about her problems with Duggan. Methinks probably not until she absolutely has to.
Now i know Reid and am more familiar with Matthew MacFadyen, i do like him a lot more this series (and he has beautifully clear diction)
And we had to wait til the very last moment of the 'next time' trailer to catch our first on screen glimpse of Flight. Was it my imagination or were those lips of his pursed? Looked a bit...strange to me.
I've read rumours that the first episode of this series debuted with approximately 5.1million viewers. Hunting around for official confirmation.