Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere
Whether you view it as an alternate reality or the illusions of demented mind, Neil Gaiman'sNeverwhereis an intriguing place to visit. TheSandmancreator's first TV miniseries suffers from the same traditional shortcomings that plague all British "telefantasy"--namely, micro-budget production values and slapdash direction that betrays a conspicuous shortage of rehearsal time. And yet, within those limitations, Gaiman and director Dewi Humphreys have crafted an ambitious exploration of "London Below," a vast, subterranean capital, far below "London Above," where office drone Richard Mayhew (Gary Bakewell) unwittingly finds himself after rescuing Door (Laura Fraser), an underworld dweller determined to learn why her parents have been killed. Gaiman teases the viewer with hints that Richard may be insane, butNeverwheremaintains its imaginative ambiguity, and presents a dark, dangerous domain of baronies and fiefdoms, bearing familiar British nomenclature but decidedlyunfamiliar landmarks. Once you've visited, youmightprefer to stay.--Jeff Shannon