The production company behind surprise Emmy winner "Downton Abbey" also produced new BBC America drama "Whitechapel." But the similarities end there, because "Whitechapel" has a lot more in common with "Dexter" and "The Walking Dead" than with "Abbey."
And by that, we're talking gore, and lots of it. Rookie detective Joseph Chandler ("MI-5" star Rupert Penry-Jones) won't be the only one slapping his hand to his mouth after getting a look at his first murder victim, a brutally butchered woman who appears to have had her final row with her abusive husband (who happens to be a butcher).
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But as politically-connected, educated Chandler tries to whip into shape his crew of rebellious Whitechapel officers and get them working the case, he also comes across "Ripperologist" Edward Buchan, a man obsessed with the unsolved crimes of Jack the Ripper.
Chandler begins to suspect his killer is a Ripper knock-off, a theory that's mocked by his policemen. They're so immune to his ideas, in fact, that they answer his demand for a more professional appearance by wearing cartoon-ish ties.
Chandler's sure, though, that a Ripper clone is on the loose and ready to strike again, and he's bloody well going to solve the case and win over his team of reports, or die trying.
Well, someone's going to die trying.
"Whitechapel" premieres tonight at 10/9c p.m. on BBC America.
