So. This is what started the mini-series trend on MZP. Having finally read the series, it's not that hard to see why.
What Adam Scott has written is a well-crafted supernatural thriller done with wonderful style but keeping the theme of family close to heart. He's got a cracking cast lined up and it helps me visualize a sort-of
Buffy meets
Cracker.
The biggest thing is no act breaks, which is different to every other VS I've read (excluding the movies). It makes for different pacing and one the series usually manages to keep steady, and only rarely slackens. It does, however, mean much information is left behind in the earlier parts, to be revealed in the thick wealth of knowledge in Part Five.
The character of Rowan, at first, appeared far too convenient, but her role in the overarching scheme became clearer, which I was happy with. I wasn't happy with the way the series was rounded up - it seemed far too sudden for something that's taken six episodes to build up.
Major pros? The writing evokes a very creepy style. The action is in short bursts, making it that much more effective. Plus, the whole Jack the Ripper angle was artfully done - not knowing much about Ripper lore outside of
From Hell, this was a pleasant surprise and easily made the series much more enjoyable.
Major cons? Only that Helen seemed to have been forgotten through much of it, and is brought in at the end to try and wrap things up nicely. I would have liked to see more done with her. There were also the occasional grammatical errors but they weren't that serious.
So, in conclusion: While the odd error in pacing or spelling may drag an episode down, on the whole it is a sinister and satisfying miniseries that was over far too soon.
