Review of Murder Maps

I was really looking forward to this series when I saw it on PBS, but was sorely disappointed. I barely managed to get through the Bermondsey Horror, which was a horror for all the wrong reasons. The re-enactment scenes are terrible. When an unexpected guest stays too long, everyone sits around looking all broody and moody and sinister. It's ridiculous and laughable. There is no sense of urgency or tension in the scenes. It's like watching sulky millenials in period clothing. There isn't enough background information at the beginning to set the drama going. I began to have a feeling they were skipping vital exposition in order to dwell on showing the murder itself and I was right. The only thing that keeps me from giving this zero stars is the presence of Donald Rumbelow and other crime experts who attempt to inject actual information and interest into the story, but they are undermined by the terribly written, poorly directed re-enactment scenes. If this is how the series begins, I can't imagine it getting any better. I've taken the Jack the Ripper tour with Mr. Rumbelow and read his book. Both are excellent, so I feel no need to slog through this series until that episode. If you're interested in Marie Manning, better to read the book "The Woman Who Murdered Black Satin: The Bermondsey Horror" by Albert Borowitz and avoid this mess altogether.