Whitechapel

[A Cousin]

Just finished series 3 on BBC America last night. I have to say, I am fan of this programme. I really dig the combination of horror and suspense genres. It's pretty gruesome, but it's really well done. It can scare me enough to think twice about going into my basement alone at night! After the first two series (the copycat series) I did wonder how it was going to perpetuate itself, but I liked the change in format for series 3 to using history as a blueprint.

The cast is great. Our Spooks connection in RPJ is really good in this different role for him. He doesn't overplay Chandler's OCD. Love Phil Davis as DC Miles. It's a gift of a role. There is just something about the crusty old cop with a heart of gold that I can't resist. I was really glad when they brought Buchan in permanently. He's kind of the eyes of the viewer which, again, Steve Pemberton handles really well. It's one thing to have encyclopedic knowledge of the history of crime and quite another to have to live in the middle of it 24/7. The overall character development is very well handled - it's present but not distracting from the plot and, most of the time, is tied to the plot.

And on a feminist note, I do like that the two regular female cast members (Dr. Llewellyn and DC Riley) are *normal* looking, intelligent, gutsy, professional women. Clare Rushbrook in particular is someone who sits on my radar whose work I always seem to enjoy.

Has anyone heard anything about it being recommissioned for a 4th series?