Broken Frontier

On November 15th, 2011, the BBC releases the 15th Anniversary Edition of Neverwhere, the TV miniseries from the mind of fantasy author Neil Gaiman. First created in 1996, the series was later adapted into a novel, a comic book miniseries from DC/Vertigo, and multiple stage productions.

Neverwhere tells the story of London businessman Richard Mayhew (Gary Bakewell). When he helps a wounded street person named Door (Laura Fraser), he is drawn into a world he never knew existed: London Below, a shadowy double of the city constructed in sewers, tunnels, and subway systems. Assisted by the roguish Marquis de Carabas (Patterson Joseph) and a warrior woman known as Hunter (Tanya Moodie), Richard must help Door discover who had her family murdered. But as he is drawn further into this strange new landscape, the world of London Above begins to forget him.

Looking at the series all these years later, it’s clear why Neverwhere has been one of Gaiman’s most popular creations. While there are a few dated touches like large, clunky mobile phones (which Gaiman gleefully points out in the commentary), the story itself remains as fresh and creative as ever. London Below is a mesmerizing setting filled with Rat-Speakers, warriors, cutthroats, Sewer People, and King Lear-style royalty holding court on subway trains. We are given mostly surface-level glimpses of these elements. The details of how this world came to be and where the magical gifts of the characters and places derive from are never spelled out. This keeps Neverwhere forever intriguing and mysterious. We discover this world along with Richard and are heartened to see his growth as a character throughout the series, going from befuddled outsider to a true citizen of the Underside.

The supporting cast also gives strong performances throughout. Laura Fraser is wonderful as Door, at turns sweet, compassionate, distant, and tortured. As the Marquis, Patterson Joseph is a classic trickster—dynamic, foppish, sly, and as untrustworthy as he’s brilliant. The assassins Mr. Croup (Hywel Bennett) and Mr. Vandemar (Clive Russell) are both hilarious and terrifying with their peculiar affectations and lack of regard for any living thing. This barely touches on the many bizarre faces we meet over the course of the series. Neverwhere is a patchwork of compelling characters and fascinating yet familiar settings.

For the 15th anniversary, a new commentary track has been created by Neil Gaiman, producer and co-creator Lenny Henry, and producer Clive Brill. This offers many behind-the-scenes details for fans of the series. Among the topics discussed is the series’ biggest flaw (or quirk if you prefer), the fact that it was shot on video rather than film. This gives it a rather flat, garish lighting that has been criticized. On the commentary, we learn that the intention was to add a film filter later but due to budget constraints and failed test footage, this was never done.

The series’ limited budget led to certain advantages however. Being unable to construct many sets, the crew was forced to scout unique locations in London. This adds to the reality of the story and the feeling that London Below has been built piecemeal in, under, and around the city. As the series predated many of Britain’s health and safety laws, the production was able to be filmed on rooftops and in condemned areas, leading to astonishing shots like the view from a roof across from St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Gaiman, it seems, has remained friends with many of the actors. Throughout the commentary, he names them as they first appear and shares anecdotes of where they are now and who became romantically involved during the production. This becomes a little tedious at times but also leads to amusing stories about the unusual characters and locations. In one such story, Gaiman discusses travelers on the London tube system that caught glimpses of Serpentine’s Victorian dining room. Many became convinced they’d seen a haunted train station. Gaiman and the producers also share special effects secrets about the Angel Islington’s glowing robes and the Tang Dynasty artwork consumed by Mr. Croup.

The new commentary proves to be an entertaining experience, not only for these production details but the humorous goofiness of it. Lenny Henry seems to be a very excitable person, often shifting from professional producer to passionate Neil Gaiman fanboy to gifted voice actor riffing on a scene in faux hip-hop slang. The trio seemed to be having a great time recording the track.

In addition to the new commentary, the DVD includes Gaiman’s original commentary, an interview with the author, photo galleries, character descriptions, and an insert map of London Below. Overall, the Neverwhere 15th Anniversary Edition is a worthwhile purchase for fans of Gaiman or of British television.

The DVD can be ordered at the BBC’s official store.

Clips from the series can be viewed on the BBC’s YouTube channel.