George Oldfield – the always excellent David Morrissey – is convinced that the letter he received (and now letters, and now recorded tapes) are produced by the Ripper himself. And it’s easy to understand why. It’s now three years since the killer claimed his first victim, and things are becoming chaotic – Oldfield’s superiors are starting to squirm and there’s a hint that the general public is beginning to become anxious. The investigation has already ended one career (Dennis Hoban) and almost broken another (Jim Hobson).
So you can understand why Oldfield is clutching at any lead that presents itself, even though the letters are not verified.
It takes a tired Dennis Hoban to spell it out. Ever since he was taken off the case, he’s quietly waged his own investigation. And he tells a visiting Hobson that he thinks the Ripper is as mundane a person as can possibly be, and that after Oldfield’s scatter-gun approach, he’s in no doubt the killer has already been interviewed and likely in the system.
Sadly, later in the episode, Hoban – destroyed, exhausted and ill – passes away, leaving Oldfied and Hobson to pause and reflect.
We also get some other interesting bits and pieces: we return to Marcella Claxton’s life, where she’s battling immigration woes; and an introduction to the Hill family, where 18-year-old Jaqueline is preparing to go to university.
Again, it’s a well-made, compelling watch.
Paul Hirons
READ MORE: OUR EPISODE ONE REVIEW
READ MORE: OUR EPISODE TWO REVIEW
READ MORE: OUR EPISODE THREE REVIEW
READ MORE: OUR EPISODE FOUR REVIEW
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