As a season finale, “London,” which re-creates the London riots, is everything someone who has been following Babylon could want in a final episode. The plotting reaches its heights in true climactic form while some of the best character work is reserved here for big effect.
Following last week’s superb turn in the wake of Richard Miller’s departure, Babylon returns firing on all cylinders while finding new areas to explore and develop.
Following a surprising turn of events, both for the plot of Babylon and in the context of it being a young series, “Victoria Park” shows more depth and heart than could possibly be expected of a semi-satire comedy of this type.
To this point in its short run, the series has excelled during moments of quick-witted comedy. The writing in that department shows experience and understanding of natural humor as well as command over punchlines. But “Thameside Center,” while still containing pieces of that comedic know-how, is actually more powerful as blunt piece of dramatic work.
It’s much more clear from “Maze Hill” where Babylon’s interests lie in terms of form and tone. This is, refreshingly, a 45-minute comedy that doesn’t feel stretched or unnatural.
Unlike most series in the saturated the genre, however, Babylon is not a dark, gritty procedural or whodunnit but a refreshing satirical dramedy from a network that could use a bit of lightening up.