R2OK!

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I don't know if anyone else here watches this, I like it as it has a great cast and good storylines.

I think Alun Armstrong is one of the best actors around, his portrayal as a recovering alcoholic eventually falling off the wagon was both moving and powerful.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

My wife and I both watch and enjoy it (she'll watch all the repeats on UK Gold as well, no matter how many times they're on - like blokes do with Monty Python sketches, she'll know the scripts off by heart before long).

Experienced British cast who work well together, stories which, while sometimes quite ludicrous, are sufficiently intricate and occasionally quite dark, so that it is more than just another comedy-drama.

This series did go off the boil a bit while James Bolam and his character took a sabbatical (80s DJ and 70s rock guitarist) but last night's was back up to speed. Not the first time we've had an "Army closing ranks" plot in a detective drama, but Brian's falling off the wagon was as powerful as it was unexpected. Injecting oranges with alcohol never occured to me before - hope it doesn't give people ideas.

Downing a pint like that (even if it is cold tea) must be a skill in itself; takes me half an hour.
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Ron

Heloise · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 237

I've just caught up with last nights episode on iPlayer. I will also watch this show time and time again. It has two of my favourite actors in it in James Bolam and Alun Armstrong. All four of the lead characters gel really well together, great chemistry. This was a good story this week agree a some of this series have been a bit weaker than in previous runs.
Alun Armstrong (saw him as Tenardier in Les Miserables) has been the highlight of almost every episode he's been in.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I see that DVDs of Series 4 and 5 are due out Sept 1 and 15 respectively. Series 1-4 have age 15 classification, series 5 only 12, which I find slightly surprising given the subject matter, but then, no sex or violence.
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Ron

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I should think most viewers were thinking that Gerry or Jack would come in and stop Brian or that he would pour the drink away.
The fact that he dumped the vodka shot into the pint and downed it in one really hit home.

It should make for an interesting next series anway.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I don't often see New Tricks but caught this week's.

The acting was superb and I love some of the one-liners but the part of the storyline where the group continued to investigate a case in defiance of orders from above to drop it must be one of the biggest cliches in TV drama.

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I think all these series have a ticklist of storylines, and the "Army closing ranks" is high up on there.

Next series we must be due for Sandra Pulman to be suspended, as a suspect in a case, or even demoted for some minor cutting of a corner.

Of course the Jack Halford / Ricky Hanson story has yet to come to a satisfactory conclusion.
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Ron

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Perhaps one of the male leads could then discover previously unknown offspring--or maybe that's happened already.

What other plot boxes could be ticked?

Ian.

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

Didn't Gerry find that he had another daughter though she actually turned out to be not his in the end.

Ricky Hanson just has to get his just desserts and I expect he will (hopefully)

By the way we never did find out what happens when Gerry hears Baker Street Laughing

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

UKTV Drama showed the very first episode from 2003 last night. Compared to the last of series 5 which we've just seen all of them seem to have aged quite a lot, certainly more than five years, but at least Amanda Redman no longer sports those painted eyebrows that made her look a bit like Mr Spock.
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Ron