Ridley Road Review: Episode 3
Ridley Road Episode 3 shows us that Vivien has by now established her alter-ego, Jane, in the world of neo-Nazism and the life of its leader. The deeper she gets, the more she puts her own neck on the line.
The discoveries of both her Hebrew book and place of employment come to bear here, first in a confrontation with her landlady, Nettie, and then when Elise shows up at the salon, missing Vivien but catching a glimpse of her jacket.
These are just some of the hints of the climax we’re approaching. Suspicion toward Jane’s identity is growing just as the 62 Group realizes that the information Vivien brings back tells of a major attack on their community being planned by Jordan’s followers.
It all makes for an anxiety-inducing hour, even if we’ll have to wait until the final installment to see that threat rise and hopefully be defeated. We see more that ever of Vivien’s quick thinking, her rapidly developing skill set—and her rookie mistakes.
Her inexperience and the amateur nature of the 62 Group as a whole help us empathize with these characters and root for them as underdogs. The only thing more satisfying than quashing a Nazi uprising is seeing it happen at the hands of a ragtag group that flies under the radar.
The downside is that we know the odds against the Group, at best to defeat their enemy and at worst to even survive. They also have to convince a dubious public that the threat is real, which proves still more difficult under the pressure to stay anonymous.
By the time they’re able to make headway with the press, Jordan’s men move on an early phase of the attack, crowding outside the local synagogue. It’s a stressful, chaotic scene that calls back to the “white power” protest of the first episode.
This time, this hate is met in near-equal measure by anti-fascists including Stevie, who has already been subject to another assault by white supremacists. As the clash veers dangerously close to violence, the rabbi helps others flee the synagogue, and Colin rushes Jane/Vivien from the scene.
It’s interesting to see these personal interactions of outwardly abhorrent people. Elise anxiously urges her unborn child’s father not to rush to violence that will put them all at risk, and Nettie seems to have real trauma beneath her hate towards Jewish people.
Though these elements can be empathized with, they never serve to dampen our disgust towards these characters and their actions. It’s an important warning that while hate can be born from real fear and pain, there’s never any excuse for it.
On that note, the episode also introduces us to Jordan’s wife, Francois, perhaps the most disconcerting character we’ve met yet, especially as she takes Jane under her wing despite at the very least strongly suspecting the true nature of her relationship with her husband.
Francois is both composed and defiant, defending her own significant influence in their movement when Colin tries to send her away. For just a moment, it’s almost enough to make us admire her. And then, once again, we remember what she and all these people stand for.
We are spared seeing too much of anything romantic between Colin and Jane. Though I have nothing but gratitude for that fact, the need for us to just accept that he’d fall for her so quickly is one of the story’s few weak points.
We do get more time with Vivien’s family, now all aware of her actions and on their way to London themselves. Jack, meanwhile, appears very little, though we are promised he’ll be an important part of what’s to come, and likely in serious danger as well.
It doesn’t help my nerves about these already dire straits that nearly every character we’ve met has the potential to be caught in the middle of them. Assuming every good guy makes it out alive, though, I’m looking forward to a thrilling finale to this miniseries.
What did you think of this episode of Ridley Road? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Ridley Road airs Sundays at 9/8c on PBS.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.