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Go on patrol with the Metropolitan Police's vice unit, based
in the heart of London's West End. Prostitution, pornography
and murder are all part of the workload for the vice team
as they investigate the capital's darker secrets...
Series
one of The Vice consists of three two-part episodes
that portrays a city of extraordinary social contrasts, moving
swiftly from the back streets of King's Cross to the bars
of Park Lane hotels.
When
investigating the case of a murdered prostitute and a turf
war between two pimps, inspector Chappel becomes personally
involved when he tries to protect a high class hooker from
her violent pimp...
The
first two-part episode, Daughters, sets the tone well
for the rest of the series. Thankfully there is no dull introduction
of the characters, and very little back story to give us an
insight into their characters. Inspector Pat Chappel seems
like a bit of a sad case, falling for a prostitute - everyone
knows you shouldn't mix business and pleasure.
The
drama is gripping and the acting is strong which leads to
a satisfactory opening story. This episode also sees the introduction
of Dr Christina Weir (Four Weddings and a Funeral),
who becomes Chappel's love interest in the first series.
Vice Squad officer Cheryl Hutchins takes on more than she
can handle while working under cover, when she discovers that
a nightclub boss has a sideline in S&M films...
Tim
McInnery stars in the two-part episode Sons. This episode
is more harrowing than the first story, mainly as it involves
minors who are forced to perform acts against their will.
This
episode also sees Dougie Raymond unable to separate his work
and home life as he tries to convince his girlfriend to try
a little S&M - a plot device that could have provided
a little light relief to this rather sombre series. Instead
the outcome only drags the series deeper into despair.
There
are some bleak, yet powerful performances in this story and
the fact that the locations in London are very familiar to
me (not the Red Light district though, I hasten to add) helped
to create more of an impression. A fantastic story.
Inspector
Chappel's Vice Squad is seconded by the Drugs Squad to crack
an escort agency that is working as a cover for drugs trafficking
and prostitution...
Dabbling
sees Raymond more desperate to try a bit of the action he
sees on display on a day to day basis. Marc Warren's acting
in this episode is incredibly moving and I actually felt for
his character - which is saying a lot as I thought he was
a bit of an arrogant individual in the previous two stories.
One
nitpick though, the Internet pages that Raymond was looking
at seemed to display their pictures a little too quickly -
which would be great in an ideal world, but in reality this
just doesn't happen. But then I suppose the drama would have
been hampered if he had been sat there for 10 minutes while
the images downloaded.
Julian
Nott's (most noted for composing the music for the Wallace
& Gromit animated shorts) music stands out in this
last episode and really helps to enhance the drama.
Another
wonderful story from an incredibly well conceived and executed
series.
Pete
Boomer
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