Neverwhere

Neverwhere is a distinct, dark, and often sinister urban fantasy thriller steeped in British mythology and traditional folklore. Released by the BBC in 1996, the television series is a six-part odyssey set within London Below, a mysterious shadow-world beneath the city where the rules of our world do not apply. The show features an ensemble cast boasting a plethora of talent, including Tanya Moodie, Laura Fraser, Tamsin Greig, Paterson Joseph, Trevor Peacock, Gary Bakewell, Hywel Bennett, Peter Capaldi, and Clive Russell.

The story revolves around the character of Richard Mayhew (Gary Bakewell), an unassuming and somewhat timid average-Joe living a mundane life within London Above. Richard's life takes an abrupt turn towards the fantastical when he encounters the seemingly incorporeal Door (Laura Fraser), a young woman hailing from the strange and often perilous realm beneath the city. This chance meeting catapults Richard into a world brimming with danger and wonders, where he is perceived to cease to exist by those in the world he comes from. The only way for Richard to reclaim his old life is to help the enigmatic Door on her quest.

The world of Neverwhere is peopled with an assortment of quirky and uncanny characters, each portrayed expertly by a stellar cast. Tanya Moodie stands out as the velvet-voiced Hunter, an impeccable tracker and deadly warrior whose life is pledged to Door's protection. Paterson Joseph portrays the charismatic Marquis de Carabas, a cunning and elusive rogue trader brimming with unpredictability. The ominous and overpowering Croup and Vandemar, two disturbingly macabre and seemingly indestructible adversaries, are inhabited in chilling performances by Hywel Bennett and Clive Russell.

Making notable appearances throughout the series are Tamsin Greig as Lamia, a seductively lethal life-force thief, Trevor Peacock as the eccentric Old Bailey, a sage-like birdman, and a young Peter Capaldi in a brilliantly conceived portrayal of the Angel Islington, a banished yet amiable entity.

Neverwhere is distinguished by its unique storytelling style, invoking an engaging mix of the surreal and the substantial. The tale traverses numerous subterranean locales that take their names from famous London landmarks. Familiar places like Knightsbridge, Earl’s Court, and Blackfriars adopt a forebodingly alternate persona within this parallel universe, serving as the backdrop for the unfolding narrative.

The show does a masterful job of recontextualising these familiar sites, birthing a grim underbelly of the city that corresponds yet contrasts with the world above. In London Below, the Tube stops become dangerous territories, places of residence, asylums, and even creatures. Each scene within these stations unfurls a plethora of the unknown, pushing Richard into unnerving situations that test his mettle.

Cinematically, Neverwhere employs a visual palette and aesthetic reflective of its gothic ambiance. The visual style favoring dimly lit settings and grimy locations, married with unexpected bursts of vibrant colour, adds to the show's mystique, offering viewers a glimpse into an underworld that coalesces the modern and the archaic, the majestic and the grotesque.

True to the style of creator Neil Gaiman, celebrated author of Coraline and American Gods among others, Neverwhere's narrative is laden with intricate and layered storytelling that strikes the perfect balance between dark humour and thrilling adventure. Interwoven within the storyline are questions about perception, existence, and identity, provoking viewers to examine and question their realities.

But Neverwhere is not simply about the wild and eerie. At its heart, the show is about personal evolution. It delves deep into the identity crisis that Richard undergoes as he battles through his unnerving journey, torn between the comforts of a familiar world and the enigmatic allure of a new one.

In sum, Neverwhere is a compelling blend of supernatural adventure and psychological exploration where reality twists and turns in unexpected ways. This hidden gem from 1996 serves as a testament to how far creativity and imagination can take a story, treating viewers to a fantastical journey unlike anything they have experienced before. With a brilliant cast and remarkable storytelling, Neverwhere remains an intriguing and atmospheric jewel within the realm of television fantasy series.