Matt Berry has been the most influential actor of the 21st Century. At first he was a notable supporting actor in Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, The Mighty Boosh and Man To Man with Dean Learner. He then teamed up with Rich Fulcher for the brilliantly bizarre Snuff Box. He completely struck comedy gold in Toast of London. In 2019, Berry had two big shows appear on the cable box (which we still had in 2019). First was the vampire comedy What We Do In the Shadows. He also scored a hit with Year of the Rabbit as a Victorian detective who plays by his own rules on the nasty streets of Olde London.
“Pilot” introduces us to Rabbit as he gives his brand of interrogation to what we believe is a suspect. But it turns out to be a classroom situation. Chief Inspector Hugh Wisbech (Braveheart‘s Alun Armstrong) isn’t happy about the reports of abuse. He assigns Detective Sergeant Wilbur Strauss (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare‘s Freddie Fox) to keep him in check. Rabbit doesn’t want a partner. He gets a second partner in Inspector Hugh’s daughter Mabel (Enola Holmes‘ Susan Wokoma). She’s wants to be the first female police officer in London. She has her chance with a murderer on the loose attacking women. Rabbit doesn’t want either partner of this early Mod Squad. Even worse is when he has to deal with Detective Inspector Tanner (Game of Thrones‘ Paul Kaye) trying to crack the case and steal the glory. “Brick Man” has Tanner proving his desire to beat Rabbit to a clue has dangerous consequences. In the aftermath, Rabbit and his crew must track down an urban myth of the Brick Man. Which seems mostly known by the locals. “Gangs” has Mabel getting to go undercover to expose the criminal enterprises of a youth gang. Rabbit gets stuck investigating suspicious doings at an old age home. The detective feels close to retirement.
“Sniper” has Rabbit and his crew protecting visiting royalty. He begins to suspect that someone he knows might be an aspiring assassin. “Hostage” has Rabbit forced to deal with a criminal who has grabbed a group of workers as his hostages. Can he get everyone freed or will he settle for a good percentage of them? “Framed Rabbit” is the final episode. The police detective finds himself being the accused killer. Can Mabel and Wilbur save his neck from the hangman’s noose?
A second season of Year of the Rabbit had been announced, but things fell apart thanks to the Pandemic. The lack of a sophomore outing didn’t hurt Matt Berry’s career as he had more seasons of What We Do In The Shadows to sink his teeth into. Rabbit is a great character for him since he’s both gruff, pompous and not incompetent. He gets to visit numerous figures from this era including John Merrick, better known as The Elephant Man. The 25-minute episodes build off each other, so it is like watching a 2-and-a-half-hour detective comedy. The sixth episode plays like a third act. It’s a twisted Masterpiece Theater production. Berry brings the humor to the impoverished, destitute and deadly parts of London. Year of the Rabbit is a scrumptious one season wonder.
The Video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. The 1080p transfer brings out the wonder production design and wardrobe of the era. The Audio is LPCM 2.0 stereo. You’ll hear Matt Berry’s rich tones from both speakers. The episodes are subtitled in English.
Trailer (0:59) sends Rabbit off to find a murderer in London.
All3Media and MVD Visual presents Year of the Rabbit. Directed by Ben Taylor. Screenplays by Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley. Starring Matt Berry, Alun Armstrong, Freddie Fox, Susan Wokoma, Paul Kaye, Ann Mitchell & Keeley Hawes. Boxset Contents: 6 episodes on 1 Blu-ray Disc. Rating: Not Rated. Release Date: March 10, 2026.
