The Ripper

This is a very powerful, very factual documentary series detailing the five year killing spree of The Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe.

Lots of interviews, new and old, you will hear from The Police, Journalists, families, and more shockingly, survivors.

It's very well produced, and doesn't at any point jar, it focuses on the case, but also gives you glimpses of life at the time for people.

It's hard to imagine how he got away with his crimes for so long, the final part gives a good insight into the actual investigation.

The only thing I would have liked a little more information on, was just how he was caught, what exactly happened etc.

Chilling, 8/10.

Very informative and detailed show with Netflix's typical high standard but it does get derailed by a diatribe in episode 3 that took away from the following of the criminal case

The Ripper (2020) is a 4-part Netflix docuseries that I recently wrapped up. The storyline follows the infamous Yorkshire Ripper's killing spree in the late 70s/early 80s that plagued England and went unsolved for 5 years as the killing spree reached the 20s and the authorities could seemingly do nothing about it.

This series was cocreated by Jesse Vile (Gypsy's Revenge) and Ellena Wood (First Cut). This series does a great job of depicting this era in England and the perception of women in society. There's also a strong message on how men controlled access to certain roles and positions at the time and how that narrow mindness impacted the case, the search and the events. The meticulous details of the events and how the killer covered his tracks was smart. It was also interesting how details were right in front of the police and audience and you completely miss it until the reveal at the end, even with subtle hints throughout the series.

Overall, this is a very smart docuseries with a fascinating killer but even more fascinating circumstances around the investigation and era. I would score this series an 8/10 and strongly recommend it.

A lot of reviewers have noted there was too much reference to the feminist movement during this series. To my mind, this was an integral part of the programme. I didn't see this as male bashing, but more about the incompetence of the police at the time, their use of derogative language to describe the victims, while highlighting their preconcieved notions about the women from the outset of the murders. These dated and, frankly, mysoginist views hampered the investigation. Well worth the watch.

New 4 part documentary on Netflix which has frustratingly accurate footage of the police's disregard for the victims. It was their arrogance which blinkered their investigation for far too long before he was finally caught. Not by the extent of their police work, but by officers arresting him for a completely unrelated offence, which the bigwigs happily took the praise for. Although I've seen something very similar before, it's still a very worthy watch.