LONDON — The fifth season of crime drama “Ripper Street” will be its last, Amazon Prime has revealed.
Amazon stepped in to save “Ripper Street” in early 2014, following outcry from fans when the show was cancelled by the BBC after two seasons. The original Tiger Aspect production team was commissioned by Amazon to create season three, which launched exclusively for Prime members in the U.K. in November 2014.
At the same time, seasons one and two were made available for unlimited streaming for Prime members. When season three launched on Prime Video, it was streamed more than any other TV show on the service and was the most popular British drama amongst customers.
In the final season, writer Richard Warlow shows how, as the Victorian age comes to a close, the police officers of H Division attempt to maintain law and order on the streets of Whitechapel. Joseph Mawle (“In the Heart of the Sea”) rejoins the series as the feared Detective Inspector Jedediah Shine, intent on a mission of revenge after last being seen in the season two finale when Inspector Reid (Matthew Macfadyen, “The Enfield Haunting”) plotted with Drake (Jerome Flynn, “Game of Thrones”) to take Shine’s life.
Season four, which launched exclusively for Prime Members in the U.K. in January, saw David Threlfall (“Shameless”), Matthew Lewis (“Happy Valley”) and David Warner (“Titanic,” “Planet of the Apes”) appear alongside series regulars Macfadyen, Flynn, MyAnna Buring (“The Twilight Saga”) and Adam Rothenberg (“The Immigrant”).
Amazon Prime members in the U.K. have access to all seasons of “Ripper Street.”
When Amazon renewed Ripper Street for a fourth and fifth season, it was to be expected that the fifth season would be the last.
Why would you use a picture of a minor character that only appeared in a couple of episodes? Why not use a picture of the three main character? This show is about Reid, Drake and Jackson. Not about Shine.