The show uses authentic historical research to tell the story of the two men battling to create a police force, 75 years before Robert Peel founded the Metropolitan Police. Henry Fielding’s memoirs and contemporary sources such as the Old Bailey Sessions Papers have been used to provide historical accuracy to the series. The series uses innovative mapping sequences to follow the narrative and characters' progress, wherein John Rocque's map of 1746 is seen from above, becomes firstly 3D and ultimately merges with film sequences of the next scene to pick up the narrative tale. The series won the Royal Television Society Judges' Award, 2008.
Episodes
Episode One The Fielding brothers investigate an attempted murder of a prostitute found raped and horrifically mutilated in a bagnio. Episode Two The Reverend Erasmus Cavendish is found murdered and the evidence leads to an infamous Molly house on Saffron Hill, a brothel and rendezvous for London's gay men, where William Flynn is named as the prime suspect. It also turns out that Mr. Daniel Conn, one of the Bow Street Runners, is a closet homosexual and sodomite. Mr. Conn must choose between sin and redemption. Mr. Conn is eventually discovered to be with his lover who also turns out to be the Reverend's killer. Daniel is summarily relieved of his duties as one of the Bow Street Runners. Tom is found guilty and hanged. Episode Three The Bow Street Runners investigate a burglary in Mayfair, the search leading to the shanty towns of Covent Garden, known as the Seven Dials, and a gang of Irish immigrant criminals. Episode Four The gang leader, ironically named Tom Jones, is broken out of jail by his Irish gang, who shoot several prison guards in the process. The Bow Street Runners then travel to the Seven Dials to re-arrest Jones. Henry Fielding accompanies them to make sure Jones is apprehended, but is taken hostage by the gang. The Runners must decide if they're prepared to make a deal with the criminal elements of London to ensure his release. We also learn of how John Fielding, the Magistrate's half-brother became blind Episode Five Henry's narrative returns to the situation before the creation of the Runners. While lobbying the Duke of Newcastle to obtain his support for the venture, Henry investigates a secretive trade in child prostitutes. The UKDVD release of the series has this as the first episode.
Reception
City of Vice launched with 2.7 million viewers and an 11% share in the 9pm hour on Channel 4. The first episode of City of Vice was relatively well received in the British press, The Times describing it as "an antidote to the current spate of twee costume dramas" and "more likely to resonate with cynical modern audiences". The Guardian described it as looking "gravelled for cash" but compensating with "documentary direction and Ian McDairmid's voice, as rich as a liqueur."
Bow Street Runner was an online game in five parts to accompany the series. Like the television series the game attempts to be historically accurate. The player takes control of a "Bow Street Runner" and has to solve several crimes by collecting clues, consulting witnesses and visiting several places in Georgian London. Each character is played by an actor. The game itself is accompanied by several minigames which simulate various activities like picking locks or shooting. The game was produced by Brighton-based company Littleloud, and won a BAFTA in November 2008.
