'What Use Our Work?' -- Ripper Street 1x08

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Damn it!! I was sure that the little girl that the Warner brothers, and the Warner sister Victor and his sibs had was actually Matilda. ::shakes fist at the writers:: But then, I'm quite sure that's exactly what the writers wanted us to think, getting our hopes up that Emily and Reid would finally be able to be reunited with their daughter. But I suppose that only the first eight episodes of series one would be far too soon to be able to reveal what ever happened to her. If anything, it will be one of those things that we never actually find out about (giving the show as a whole an undercurrent of mystery) ... or maybe once the writers realize that the show is going to be coming to close (whether because the show runners no longer want to work on the show anymore, or the peeps in charge of the BBC decide that they are going to cancel it). I really hope that we do find out what it is that happened to her, and that she is alive somewhere ... even if that seems like it might be a bit unlikely at this point.

I'm really glad that Jackson wasn't labeled as the Ripper (and not just cuz he really isn't). Even though I still don't completely trust him, since I have the feeling that he and Susan both would end up doing whatever it was that they thought was the best thing for them ... even if that meant turning on someone else that they had been allied with before. Yes, he likes Reid, but liking someone doesn't mean that you are always going to be able to be trusted. He's always going to butt heads with Drake, and that's a fact. I get the feeling that what his helping Reid with that bit of information about our baby!Bobby and his body was more out of the fact that he was fond of the baby (just like everyone else was).

Speaking of the baby!Bobby ... he was married!! Oh, his poor wife!! She married such a sweet boy, who had such potential to be a really good inspector if he had been given the chance. And if he had been able to grow up a little bit more, he would have been a good man (he is still too young inside of my mind to be anything other than a sweet boy). ::woobie::

I'm really hoping that things get better between Reid and his wife after this ... even if things are still going to be kind of strained for a while because of their grief for their daughter. I almost expected that they were going to keep Mary for their own, but I wonder if that would have made things even harder for them, since she may have been a little bit too close to Matilda's own age (and may have done nothing more than to remind them of what they had lost). So, maybe it's better that she went to the orphanage? Maybe. That is yet to be seen at this point.

Also, we have now been given at least one of the suspects that they had thought had been the Ripper (and they have now gotten rid of him). I'm wonder if we are also going to be able to see some more of the suspects later on (since there is going to be at least one more series of the show). I don't think that I'll have a problem if they go through a few more of the suspects, but I don't think that I want them to actually settle on any one of them and say that this one suspect really was the Ripper. It seems like it would take away from some of the mystery of who the wo/man actually was.

'A Man of My Company' -- Ripper Street 1x07

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Well, that was a bit of a letdown. I was expecting there to be a bit more when it came to the reason that Jackson and Susan were trying to hide, and why they were pretending to be people that they weren't. The writers kind of made a big deal about why they were hiding, and made it seem like it was something so very, very important that people from America not find out where they were now. But to have the reason be that they were running away from her father, cuz he didn't like Jackson ... disappointing. Very disappointing.

But I was very happy with the fact that Reid was still willing to cover for Jackson (and by extent, for Susan as well). I think that it says quite a deal about him as a man that he is willing to be so very loyal to the people that he considers to be his friends ... and I'm using that term kind of loosly in this respect (since Reid and Jackson's relationship is complicated at best). Also, that he was willing to pretend like he didn't know where Susan was, and tried to get that Pinkerton that was looking for them to think that he had forced Susan to leave the area. Even if dude realized that he was lying for them, good on him for keeping up with the lie (and good on Drake for not saying anything to the contrary, even though he and Jackson don't see eye-to-eye ... and probably never will).

I do have a giant beef with the writers cuz of this episode however. What is that beef? The fact that they killed off Hobbs. He was such a sweet boy, and he was trying to do the right thing, even though he was afraid. And what did he get for his trouble? He got murdered. I don't think that I'm going to be able to forgive them for killing off the baby ... even if it was completely emotional, and it gave them a chance to show that Drake had a gooey center (by having him be shocked and sadned by Hobbs' death), and they had the others in H Division double check with Reid that it would be ok if they killed the guy who killed Hobbs (cuz they were so hurt and angry by the baby's death).

I was really glad that Jackson cheated in the fight with dude that killed Hobbs ... and the fact that he had the ok from Reid to do it made it a little bit better. I completely admit that I wanted there to be a bit of revenge for what happened to Hobbs, and I am not sad that it happened ... or that Jackson was able to walk away from it afterward without anyone blinking an eye (even though there were police everywhere). But I really want to know who it was that gave the commissioner the information that Jackson supposedly killed the prostitute that Emily was trying to help. It seems like it might be significant to know who it was that was trying to make trouble for Jackson ... though, I wouldn't be surprised to find out if it was the Pinkerton that Jackson had the beef with ... or Susan's father ... and neither of them can/could be trusted when it comes to Jackson.

'Tournament of Shadows' -- Ripper Street 1x06

Warning: Spoiler Alert

So, now we finally have a bit of information about what happened with Reid and Emily's daughter (as well as now having her name). And I'm glad to now know why it is that he throws himself into his work: he blames himself for what happened to his daughter and to everyone else that happened to that day (and thinks that everyone else blames him as well ... I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that Emily really does blame him as much as he blames himself for what happened, even if I'm not convinced yet that what happened was actually his fault). And the fact that he thinks that Matilda is actually alive, I think maybe says as much about him as the fact that Emily thinks that she is dead. It seems like he needs to believe that she is still alive (even if it means that she's out in the world without the people that are most likely to protect and love her, and that she is possibly being forced to do things that no child should ever be forced to do).

But if she is alive, it makes me wonder what happened to her ... wonder like whoa. Could someone have taken her after finding her? Could she have wondered off after coming out of the water, perhaps with no memory of who she was? And if Reid ever finds her again (providing that she is still alive), what state will she be in? Will she be glad to be back with Reid and Emily again? It's possible that she might not be found again for several years, and she may have changed a great deal in the time that she has been away from her family. But it's also completely possible that she really is dead, but her body wasn't in the proper place to be found (maybe it was moved by someone, or by the water). Gah!! I need to know what happened to her and where she is now!! Cuz I'm sure that not knowing is going to drive me a bit bonkers ... which probably means that we aren't going to be told this series, or even next series (since it provides an underlying mystery to the show).

But WTH with Reid kissing Miss Goren? Yeah, I get that Emily is pushing him away (cuz she apparently blames him for what happened to Matilda), but still ... YOU'RE MARRIED, MAN!! She was nice to him, yes, but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be loyal to his wife, yo.

Finding out that Homer Jackson isn't actually Jackson's real name wasn't really much of a revelation (since I didn't suspect that it actually was, nor do I think that anyone suspected that it was at this point). Still, it would be nice to know what he and Susan are trying to run away from, since it is super clear that the two of them have something that they really don't want finding either of them from when they were still in America (and it pretty clear that it's something pretty serious). And from the preview for next week, it looks like there is probably going to be something about what is actually going on with the two of them going on, and we might actually find out what it is that they are running away from.

'The Weight of One Man's Heart' -- Ripper Street 1x05

Warning: Spoiler Alert

I'll admit to feeling bad for Drake with the whole thing with Rose (he just wants to have someone to love, and have someone love him), but I'm glad that she was at least honest enough with him that she made it quick and didn't draw it out. Things could have been far worse if she hadn't been willing to let him know right then (when he was telling her that he wanted the two of them to be together) that she didn't see them being together like that. I'm not overly fond of her (what with her seeming to be trying to take advantage of him before that point with the lovebirds), but I think that I would have liked her even less if she hadn't been willing to be truthful with him in that moment. But seeing that he has the ability to be more than just the bulldog (and that he has a gooey center) makes me want him to be able to find someone that he can be happy with (and who will be happy with him).

And at least we've finally gotten some additional information about his past, and what happened in Egypt. True, it wasn't all that much, but at least it was something, and that's better than nothing, right? And I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that there was a whole hell of a lot of PTSD involved with his time in Egypt, since he seemed to have been showing some signs when he was having his mini-flashback.

I'm really glad that he was willing to tell the colonel that his loyalties where with Reid now, cuz it was looking kind of iffy there for a second. Ok, there probably wasn't going to be much of a chance that Drake was really going to not go back to Reid after he came back to his senses, but he did seem like he was questioning and doubting a lot there for a second. And very cool that Reid was willing to accept that Drake had been pulled into what was going on against his will (even though he probably knew exactly what was going on with all of that). It makes me like Reid a little bit more that he is so loyal, and is willing to over-look things that the people he cares about may have done (especially when it looks like they are having a bit of trouble when it happened).

'The Good of This City' -- Ripper Street 1x04

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Good on Erin for calling the fact that it was a fire that killed Reid and Emily's daughter. And now that we have a reason that is canon (and not just hinted at), I want to know what it was that happened with the fire. It's obvious that Reid ran back into whatever building was on fire that his daughter was stuck in (hence the burn scar that is on his neck and shoulder), but where was it? What led to the fire in the first place? I'm still leaning toward it having to do with Jack somehow (whether it being Jack himself that started the fire, or it was a copycat of some kind), but I would love to find out through canon what the details of it were.

I'm also becoming more curious as to what it was that led to Jackson and Susan hiding out in London. The two of them have no problem causing harm (or killing) other people, that's become more than obvious now that we know that Susan killed a man for Lucy's benefit. Not that this wasn't something that could have been guessed at before (their willingness to do things to other people that is), and that's probably what it was that they're running from. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that the two of them got mixed up in something that they shouldn't have been, and one (or both) of them was involved in a murder somehow ... one that they wouldn't be able to talk their way out of (the way that Susan seems to have talked her way out of this one).

Is it wrong that I really wanted something horrible to happen to that doctor? What a horrible man. I don't feel sorry for any kind of awful things that may have happened to him through the course of his life ... not after what he did to Lucy. Sure, he may have helped other people, but it was obvious that he was willing to do some truly awful things (whether it was in the name of science, or just in the name of covering up so that he didn't get caught for the things that he had done). And really, I wasn't surprised that he was willing to do something to Lucy, especially after I saw that one random patient with the scars all over her head (like the douche had operated on her brain for some reason ... but it was probably to get rid of any pesky kind of memories that he didn't want to have to deal with later on). I'm still cringing at the idea of that jerk almost hammering metal into Lucy's eye to mess with her brain. Ick. I'm so glad that Drake is the bulldog that he is, and clubbed the guy over the head before he could do anything.

I'm also not sorry at all that Bone was electrocuted by his own railway. Screw that guy. After what he had done to Lucy over the past couple of years, and then, him knowing exactly what was going to happen to her, but still not making any kind of protest about it ... I don't feel sorry that karma came and bit him as hard as it did.

'The King Came Calling' -- Ripper Street 1x03

Warning: Spoiler Alert

I'm so very glad that Emily didn't die from the poison that dude was putting into the flour. Not only cuz it seems like Reid has been through enough lately (when it comes to the death of loved ones), but also cuz she seems like she really wants to do some good in the world (and that she might actually accomplish it). Also, hizzah! on her for being someone who genuinely wants to help, and who is willing to not judge the people that she is trying to help (as well as not trying to force them into a religion that they may not want, and which will probably only turn away the people that she is trying to help. As she said, they may not for the help that they so desperately need, if they think that they are going to be judged, converted, and forced into feeling even worse about mistakes that they may have made in the past).

I was glad that the Mrs. Gable was able to see that she may have been wrong in her attitudes, and that she may have been placing blame on the wrong people as far as her resentment for her husband was concerned. After all, only he can be blamed for the things that he decided to do (since no one forced him to sleep with prostitutes). And the fact that she realized the errors that she was making, and she was willing to bankroll Emily's efforts to help other people makes me happy inside of my happy place (since the change in her attitude seemed genuine).

They had a daughter that died!! Ok, I have to admit that I felt rather pleased with myself when they revealed that it was their daughter that was gone, since I guessed that that was what was going on. But now that we know for sure that it was their daughter, I am wondering even more what happened to her, cuz I still get the feeling like Reid is throwing himself into work cuz of her death ... that he feels like since he wasn't able to save her, that he is going to do everything that he can to try to save as many other people as he can. I don't think that Emily understands that about him, but hopefully, he will be able to explain it to her so that she knows why he is the way that he is.

I really didn't dig the fact that after they had caught the baddie, Reid made a point of telling him that Jackson was American, cuz the implication he was making with that statement was that Americans (as a general rule) are violent people and that we are the only ones who are capable of such things. This may not have been what was intended by the writers, but this isn't the first time that I've come across this particular blanket statement on a British television show. And the fact that this particular show is dealing with the aftermath of a British serial killer, I think should probably come into play when trying to say such a thing (since violent people aren't excluded from any culture).

'In My Protection' -- Ripper Street 1x02

Warning: Spoiler Alert

So, Reid and Emily are both grieving for someone. Why do I get the feeling that part of the problem that Emily has is the fact that Reid as thrown himself into his work? She's made it clear that he is distant with her (though I get the feeling that that isn't from lack of emotion or empathy (after all, he did say that he would take away all of her pain and suffer it himself if he were able), but is just how he copes with his own pain), and he does seem to spend quite a bit of time at work (far more than he spends with her).

I'm beginning to wonder if the two of them are grieving for a close family member. At first, I thought that maybe it might have been an elder sister of Emily's ... that perhaps Reid was originally in love with (and going to marry) her, but that she was killed (or died through some sickness that they didn't have the proper medicines for at the time), and so he married Emily instead. But the fact is that the pain seems like it is far too new for that, and it seems like it is rather significant that we learned that they were grieving for someone in an episode where children took such a prominent role in the episode. So, now, I'm thinking that maybe what we are seeing here is the grief of parents who have lost a child. I think that maybe she might have been murdered (perhaps as a result of the Ripper's actions, but probably not by him directly ... but perhaps by someone who fancied himself a fan of the Ripper) and that is why Reid has thrown himself into his work (body and soul) to make sure that the Ripper doesn't come back (and that there aren't any copycats of his crimes). It's true that Reid may have taken the Ripper's crimes kind of personally anyway, seeing as he seems to be the type of man who wants to protect those who can't protect themselves from such things, and he seems to think that there should be order and peace (even if it's hard to come by ... and maybe even more because their hard to come by), but he seems to be taking the Ripper's crimes a bit more personally than that (as well as the crimes of Rudy Carmichael, which seem kind of despicable since children were involved ... even if what he did gave them a small amount of security on the streets by banding together).

And the thing with the ring and the owner of it being "dead" ... yeah, I don't believe for a second that the owner is actually dead. It seemed far too much like we were being given a nod and a wink where that was concerned, and that the real owner of the ring was actually Jackson. We already know that something happened in America that Jackson and Susan are trying to get away from; so, what if they resorted to taking someone else's identities to do so? Ok, so maybe this theory isn't as plausible as the one about the possibility that Reid and Emily may have lost a child through murder, since Jackson's medical expertise would give him away if someone was really wanting to find him ... but they are trying to hide from something ... and the fact that they are helping the police (even if it's the police in another country) seems like it's something that will come back to bite them in the asses (since Reid doesn't seem the type to just let something go. He's not the obvious bulldog that Drake is, but I get the impression that once something starts to eat at his mind, he's going to want to figure out what the solution is so that his mind can rest). There is definitely something there with the ring; too much of a big deal was made about it for it not to turn out to be significant later on).

I kind of think that the writers want us to believe that the reason why Drake was having trouble sleeping was because of his military service (and that maybe the reason why he is such a bulldog is cuz he is trying to protect himself, or at least give the impression that he doesn't have a heart ... but the way that he was trying to reassure Thomas makes me think that he may be kind of a softie on the inside), but I'm wondering if it isn't more than that. I got the impression that he may have seen (and perhaps done) things that were particularly awful, and he wasn't able to shake it. It couldn't have been what he saw in Whitechapel, since he got the tat in Egypt (and the implication was that he got it when he was still in the military). Maybe he was somehow involved with torturing someone for information? Or maybe he saw killings that he couldn't justify? I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that there is something significant there.

'I Need Light' -- Ripper Street 1x01

Warning: Spoiler Alert

Oh, I have a feeling that I'm going to adore this show. Yes, it kind of reminded me of "Copper," but I don't see how it couldn't have (what with the two of them both having the same kind of visual feel to them, and both of them being about police detectives). And because of the fact that they reminded me of each other, I kept wondering if Erin had seen the episode (since we have had some fannish moments over "Copper").

I want to know what the heck is going on with Jackson and Long Susan, cuz there is obviously something going on with the two of them. But it was only the first episode after all, so we probably aren't going to find out what is going on with them for a while. I can't even think of what it is that they might be hiding from at this point, unless it has something to do with him as a doctor. I really hope that we don't find out that he is Jack (and that she knows all about it), cuz that would seem kind of like a cheap way out for the mystery of who Jack is/was (and to have him be Jack, and to have him be there in Whitechapel, helping the police, doesn't seem like it would be entirely smart on his part)

There seems to be a bit of tension between Inspector Reid and his wife, and I get the feeling that it might have something to do with all of the hours that he's probably put in at his job (and maybe even more specifically with the ripper case). I would imagine that she would love having him home far more than what he actually is. There may be more to it than that, but that is the feeling that I'm getting at this point about it.

I'm still not sure what I think of Drake at the moment, other than to think that the man is a complete bulldog. I have a suspicion that he is going to be the muscle of the show, but I'm kind of hoping that they don't keep putting him in bare-knuckle boxing matches. That would get rather old pretty quickly.