Ripper Street season 5

And so the end has come on another series that I started writing about early on when starting this blog. The first was the short lived Hannibal (which may return) and now it is BBC/Amazon's Ripper Street.

Despite some shake-up around the third season when Amazon saved the show from cancellation, Ripper Street has generally gone from strength to strength and pushed its characters into new places. Season four changed the format around and shifted the dynamic by placing Drake in charge of H Division who was then (minor spoiler) killed off at the end. It was a very bold move and left Reid, Jackson and Susan to pick-up the pieces while on the run. Meanwhile H Division is taken over by the ruthless Jedediah Shine while under the watchful eyes of the corrupt Commissioner Augustus Dove.

There's a lot of drama packed into only six episodes but, with each being a full hour long, the show returns firing on all cylinders without wasting a second. That's not to say season five is perfect as it lacks Jerome Flynn's charismatic performance as Drake but it still makes for a satisfying experience for those who've stuck with the show. Since it began, Ripper Street has boasted strong visuals, production values and a creative screenplay with flowery dialogue that could only work here, and the final season does not disappoint. Matthew Macfadyen, Myanna Burning and Adam Rothenberg also return on fine form along with the other cast members, but it was also great to see Joseph Mawle carve up the scenery as Shine once more.

In some ways season five is rather straightforward as it wraps up any remaining strands from four but the show writers go one step further in the final episode which ranks among the series' best with an excellent conclusion. I am concerned that some of my current shows will fall flat at the end but Ripper Street finds a way to come full circle and end on a satisfying note.

With that said, there really isn't a lot more to say about season five. While season two may remain my favourite, this is by no means a disappointment and I'm glad Amazon were able to save it, and end this series on a high.