The Vice

A grim, morally murky procedural that lingers in seedy corners and leaves you uneasy rather than satisfied.

Created by

Barry Simner, Rob Pursey

Genres

Crime, Drama

Starring

Caroline Catz, David Harewood, Ken Stott

Overview

The Vice is an ITV police drama about the Metropolitan Police Vice Unit. Spanning five short series from 1999 and 2003, it follows the London Metropolitan police force's vice squad, where prostitution, underage sex, and such organised crime are regular occurrences. Most episodes end where the main villain is caught but often not in a 'naturally' concluded way expected from other TV dramas, and often ending with more unanswered questions than answered. Leader DI Pat Chappel struggles to manage the balance between his private and professional lives — as do the rest of the team. Working in the seedy underworld leads to a continual dilemma — the tension between the Vice Squad and vice-related crimes runs throughout the series and gives the show a rich viewing experience. The line of the team staying on the right side of the law is often blurred, as almost every member at different points submits briefly or permanently to the dubious temptations, sometimes with drastic consequences.

How it feels

Slow-burning and needs your attention.

About

Crime, corruption, morality, addiction

Content

Strong sexual content and language. Mild violence. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)