There literally seems to be a brand new Streaming Platform launched daily nowadays. The arrival of Topic was announced by its owners First Look Media last year with a lofty claim that it will be curated for a curious and engaged audience seeking smart, provocative and meaningful entertainment. Hmm we shall see, but in all fairness we are already loving the oddball Brit comedy parody of a Victorian Detective ‘Year Of The Rabbit“that they are screening now.
Made last year by UK Channel 4 TV station and co-produced by IFC Films its the ridiculous story of Inspector Rabbit of Scotland Yard (Matt Berry). Set in London’s grimy East End in 1887, the series follows the often drunk hard-bitten Detective Inspector and his new fresh-from-college young eager partner (Freddie Fox) who has been foisted on him by the Chief to keep a track on him
Making up the trio of mad crime solvers is the Chief’s adopted potty-mouth daughter (Susan Wokoma) desperate to make her way in a man’s world and become the force’s first ever femail officer. Together the trio are determined to fight crime and each of the hilariously and bizarre episodes has them dealing with street gangs, cooked politicians, music hall stars, spiritualists and even The Elephant Man and Bulgarian princes.
None of them however cause as much havoc as Detective Inspector Tanner (Paul Kaye) who is so envious of Rabbit’s success he will do anything to foil his investigations so that he can swoop in and become the hero of the hour.
Its fast and furious, bordering on farce at times, with pitch perfect performances from the three leads. Berry is a consummate comic actor with a penchant for playing wacky oddball characters : he picked up a BAFTA for playing an eccentric middle aged actor with a checkered past in Toast TV Series .
This quintessential British comedy that is a mish-mash caricature of Dickens, Jack The Ripper, Sherlock Holmes and practical every pretentious Victorian crime thriller is such a sheer laugh-out-loud joy right from the opening credits. Its worth checking out what else is on Topic too.
BTW it has already been commissioned for a second season so watch this space
