The Last Detective

Like a previous poster, I too thought of Dixon of Dock Green (which I remember from about 1956 - it was on every Saturday night) as I first watched "The Last Detective", which I just recently discovered. However, as I watched more of the series I began to realize that it's really quite different.

Firstly, Dixon was respected by his colleagues and bosses, whereas Dangerous is definitely not. Secondly, he lived with his daughter's family (his son-in-law was a detective in the same police station) and had a comfortable home life with people who loved him...again, totally different from poor Dangerous. Thirdly, Dixon refused promotion because he just wanted to be "an ordinary copper". I'm sure Dangerous would be delighted to be promoted, but because no one really realizes what a good job he does, it will never happen!

"Dixon of Dock Green" was made and broadcast on the BBC in the 50s up to the 70s, and certainly the ones I remember (50s and early 60s) featured cozy stories with happy endings and nothing really nasty. There were sad things, of course (like when the young policeman was killed) but mostly everything was all right in the end. "The Last Detective", while not wallowing in the nasty stuff, could certainly not be described as "cozy". Dangerous (wonderfully played by Peter Davison, a favourite since his Tristan days) is a very nice man, if a bit too ready to take all the abuse his colleagues heap on him. I would like to see him stand up for himself a bit more!

I am enjoying "The Last Detective" every bit as much as I enjoyed "Dixon of Dock Green" all those years ago and can't wait to see Series 4 on DVD.

Peter Davison is just right for this role. He plays Dangerous as a real person, who is actually clever and strong at the same time as being a soft touch, basically because of sheer niceness. This could easily be cloying or sentimental, but Davison avoids this pitfall with seeming ease.

As with so many detective series, our hero (who solves every case, while his colleagues and superior are getting things wrong) is seriously undervalued by the police force, so much so that he is still a detective constable when he must be close the the police retiring age. This is as unbelievable here as it always is.

His friend, played by Sean Hughes, is a handicap to the series in my opinion. He is supposed to be there for quirky comic relief, but I just find him irritating.

On the other hand, Dangerous' bossy hot-and-cold wife is a definite asset.

The excuse for this gem of a series that it was losing viewers just doesn't ring true. From 1990 onwards every single programme was losing viewers due to sky TV, I'd like to think that many were videoing this and it never lost many viewers at all.

Anyway to the important stuff. Peter Davison is as ever brilliant. I watched him when I was a lad in "all creatures" and having read all the books thought he brought Tristan to life exactly the way Herriot wanted. Sean Hughes is a great foil, I also remember him as a young comedian and his show. The rest of the cast are top notch and you believe every character....even the daft ones. The cast progression through the series is paced very well letting you into each one a bit more, Emma Amos in particular.

All good things must end and people move on to new projects so this series must be remembered for what it was, classic British comedy drama which is done better here than anywhere else. A must see.

I'm currently watching the latest series on ITV1 in the UK. This show works for me because of its treatment of the 'everyman' character of Dangerous Davies.

This is a man who you'll usually find in every workplace: the chap who just doesn't fit in. But that doesn't mean that he's not good at his job, only that his colleagues assume that he can't be very good at it because he's not 'one of the lads' at work.

He doesn't have the 'nasty' qualities (nor the ambition) that would help him to rise above the rank of detective constable in the CID. And it's this niceness that seems to be the reason why his marriage has failed.

Peter Davison does a great job of showing that 'nice guys finish last' most of the time, but not all of the time. Meanwhile the script has an appropriate balance of humour and drama. Sean Hughes, as Mod, is also a good character, not only laying on the comedy, but also as a device that allows us to see a bit more of Dangerous's character through their conversations.

I plan to read the books (although they were published a long while back), and will have a look at the Bernard Cribbins film version from the early 80s. But please, please keep this version going for at least another series ITV!!

I don't like violence or sudden nasty surprises in my watching, but I do like well-written drama/comedies/series and so have taken to this to the extent that I'm binge watching the whole lot at the moment - about to start season 4. I love that authenticity of the settings, the characters (there really isn't anyone who doesn't stand scrutiny) and the dialogue. It's very well written, in that while you know the good will out and a solution will be found (usually by Dangerous) , you are not spoon fed the answer and have to try and work it out yourself. I agree with the other reviewers, it's a pity there were only four series, but best to leave us wanting more. Excellent. I must try and find the books. Did they change the dog?