Flics toujours

For us Brits, it's always nice to see familiar faces back where they belong, and this show does that for both Dennis Waterman and James Bolam. While not quite reaching the heights that 'Minder' did for Waterman, it's nevertheless highly entertaining - and he does get to sing the title theme...AGAIN.

The real star though, is Alun Armstrong, whose portrayal of obsessive alcoholic savant Brian is both funny and touching; and the storybase of a "cold case" police unit made up of retired ex-coppers allows plenty of latitude for self-deprecating humour. Amanda Redman is always good value too, and she doesn't disappoint here as the no-nonsense boss of this team of superannuated mavericks.

Yes, there are lots of clichés and several improbable situations, but overall it's a good-natured romp with a bunch of old pros. I always try to watch it if I'm in.

My wife got me watching this as she is into Detective/Crime Drama and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised for several reasons. The use of actors who probably had their heyday twenty years ago was one and the stories are very well written. The show is classed as Drama but there is fun and games in there too.

James Bolam is an actor I have long rated highly and this shows he has not lost his touch. In fact the range of acting skills these people bring to the show make younger actors in the same show look shallow. The team knit well together. They make great use of the fact that they are all retired police officers who can and do ignore rules and protocols to solve supposedly dead cases.

It makes a refreshing change compared to some American shows of the same genre. I strongly recommend it.

I agree that the Brits seem to be able to produce well written shows that can make you laugh out loud one minute and then be tearing up at the sincere drama of the next minute. This is a unique and entertaining crime drama with good humor and great actors. I became a fan of Amanda Redman in spite of first seeing her in a terribly crap TV movie called "Suspicion". She was clearly working hard to make that script interesting and I knew an actress that determined must be good. Now that I'm seeing her in a decent show I am not in the least disappointed. She is great (and getting more beautiful with each year). She's completely believable as the tough policewoman in charge of this motley crew of men, and the guarded, reluctantly vulnerable woman sort of dating a younger man. The entire cast is superb. Alun Armstrong has never disappointed in anything I've ever seen him in and he is hysterical as the cop on multiple meds in this show. It's nice to see real looking people rather than bimbos & himbos. These are talented actors having a good time and creating something extremely entertaining.

What is it about British crime drama that makes them so good? While Americans produce one run of the mill series after the other that centers on fancy technique and the minds of killers the Brits constantly come up with new concepts and interesting character line ups.

New Tricks is probably the best of the current breed closely followed by my personal favourite, "55 Degrees North". I pity the so called young and hip series which feel the need to give identification figures to every focus group the entertainment industry cares about - "New Tricks" manages to make you care about the characters because they simply feel real and because it uses their genuine faults and quirks to propel exquisite and hilariously entertaining story lines.

The actor all are veterans of crime drama and the fun they are having with this one is palpable. These old dogs having plenty of new tricks up their sleeve to make he viewer eagerly ask for more.

We've watched George Gently, Janet King, The Paradise, A Place to Call Home, and the list goes on. UK/British TV series are great for interesting plot, good casting, beautiful locales and of course superb actors. Our most pleasant surprise is this years-old series "New Tricks." COVID-19 isolation has expanded our viewing beyond the usual PBS/US TV dramas. In signing on to several British outlets we've seen UK shows that have increased our appreciation of the wit/culture that are hallmarks of Brit shows. "New Tricks" is a winner, night after night. There's sufficient salty language and sophisticated sexy innuendo to move the stories quickly forward, no Hallmark syrup here. Plots are unlike any other crime shows we've seen, no spoilers; just watch, you'll see.

The premise of "New Tricks" is based on three retired police officers whose investigative expertise and often cynical approach to crime solving build believable characters. Dialogue is clever, with references that are subtle but still current. Alun Armstrong is brilliant as an alcoholic savant. Amanda Redman is a perfect feminist Guv directing three older men; she's got a complicated past, but builds her team. Dennis Waterman and James Bolam complete the excellent leads. There are frequent cameos by outstanding actors seen more recently from Downton, Grantchester, Doc Martin, and Masterpiece. There's Sheila Hancock, Nicola Walker, Ian McNeice, Claire Bloom, Patrick Malahide and more.

Settle in, you'll watch and watch and miss them when they're gone.