Vienna

#2.02. Underworld ~ 4/10

◆ An Introduction

A Sherlock is nothing without his Watson: someone who complements a detective’s natural skills, counterbalances their fatal flaws, and isn’t afraid to call them out when they cross a line.

Patrons of a restaurant have turned violent; baying for the blood of a small time criminal, who was previously star-witness in a case against a local mob family. Detective Guy Wilkes lost his life during the case, and his partner’s life changed forever.

Lieutenant Reagan now finds herself paired up with Crime Corps latest security consultant: the impossibly glamorous Vienna Salvatori. Unfortunately, they’re about to uncover a conspiracy surrounding the supposedly deceased Wilkes…

◆ Publisher’s Summary

Something bad is lurking down in the Undercity. Innocent citizens are turning on each other, baying for blood. Vienna must team up with jaded cop Lieutenant Jexie Reagan.

She’s never had a partner – but will either of them make it through the night alive?

◆ Vienna Salvatori

Our faithful bounty hunter spends this episode spouting reams of exposition, and almost all of it is devoid of personality! I never want to appear like I’ve got a vendetta against a writer, but everything I’ve heard from Cavan Scott lately has been underwhelming, and this is no different. Vienna has always been one of the most charismatic characters in the BigFinish roster: if you manage to make her boring, then something is seriously wrong.

Aside from a scene where she goes on a rampage with a chainsaw, Chase Masterson sounded bored throughout ‘Underworld’. This range has never been lacking in excitement, so I’m really disappointed that we’ve finally reached a dud.

Since they’re working together, Jexie can call her Vienna; she wont get killed for it.

◆ Jexie Reagan

‘Underworld’ spends its runtime establishing a backstory for our new sidekick, but immediately starts ripping it to shreds by showing that her dead former partner has actually been alive and well in the Undercity. Jexie then discovers that said former partner was a crooked cop: getting over that betrayal could’ve been used as a key element of the character, but Scott doesn’t seem interested in having us empathise with her. Put simply, I cannot bring myself to care about Jexie, because she currently has no personality.

I was pleased as punch to discover that Sam Béart became a main member of the ‘Vienna’ cast from this episode onwards, but was incredibly let down when I heard THAT accent: she manages to sound like every New Yorker stereotype melded into one! Deeply disappointed, because I know what this amazing actress is capable of, having heard her performances as Orr in the Torchwood audio adventures.

◆ Thin Blue Line

‘Ashes to Ashes’ is one of my favourite shows, so it would be fair to say that I’m partial to the odd police procedural. One of the reasons that show works is the dynamic between the two regulars: Alex is constantly butting heads with Gene, because she tries to be logical, whilst he charges in like a bull in a china shop. They develop a great rapport over the course of three series, that blossoms into a beautiful friendship by the final episode. Even when the human embodiment of Satan tries to tear them apart – that seriously happens, just look up DCI Jim Keats – they bounce back stronger than before.

The dynamic between our two regulars in ‘Underworld’ is very different. I genuinely don’t feel a connection between Vienna and Jexie; it would be like if two complete strangers got trapped in a lift with each other. They’ve got nothing in common, which generates an excruciatingly awkward atmosphere.

I’m sure you’re all expecting me to discuss the plot of this episode now, but it’s basically just your generic “bent copper” storyline, so why should I actually bother?

◆ Sound Design

It’s common knowledge that the wealthy build their cities on the backs of the poor, so I had hoped that Nigel Fairs would provide a vivid cyberpunk soundscape for the Undercity. I really shouldn’t have got my hopes up.

I fully expected to be immersed in a warren of squalid alleyways; somewhere the criminal classes cause unabated chaos, and ordinary people will do anything just to survive. Unfortunately, the sound design for this episode is painfully generic.

◆ Music

A previous reviewer has already mentioned the obnoxious bass drum which routinely interrupts the episode: it sounds like it was played through a megaphone at times, easily drowning out the dialogue.

I would say the atrocious mixing is what ruined the score for me, but it was honestly just bland! I’m really starting to miss those grandiose musical numbers Howard Carter did for the first series.

◆ Conclusion

“Lieutenant, I’m standing in a cupboard!”

A police procedural with a wafer thin plot, concerning police corruption in a seedy part of town. I don’t think anybody will be surprised if I said Cavan Scott had delivered the first major dud in this range.

I suppose you could argue that the whole purpose of this episode was to expand on the relationship between Vienna and her new partner, but it failed at that too. Jexie is severely lacking a personality, and Béart decided to make her into every possible New Yorker stereotype: I half expected to hear her shout “Hey! I’m walkin’ here!”

I can only praise ‘Underworld’ for one thing: it allowed me to speak about my favourite police procedural.