I absolutely adore Touch of Frost, Midsummer Murders and Inspector Morse, but the thing I love about New Tricks is that it is contemporary, funny and still manages to be serious when it needs to be. True, it is a bit corny at times,my only criticism of the series, but it is sterling entertainment for those who want to relax in the evenings. Allun Armstrong is both touching and funny as Brian, a man of intellect and charm, but this is perhaps under-appreciated by his colleagues. James Bolam makes the most out of his character, and one of the main reasons I watch New Tricks in the first place. Jack Halford is seen as quiet and composed, yet there is a certain sadness to him that is quite appealing. Amanda Redman never disappoints in anything she's in, and she gives a thoroughly entertaining and sometimes serious portrayal of Sandra, and Dennis Waterman from The Sweeney and Minder delights with his vocals in the title song(which is quite catchy), and equally delights with his three-times-divorced, heavy-smoking character of Gerry Standing. The episodes allow the four stars to have fun, and the witty and fresh, though sometimes corny, script allows plenty of character development. Standout episodes are when Jack is slowly poisoned by a man played by Richard Briers, and Sandra finding out how and why her father died.(I felt sorry for her then)All in all, an entertaining and often funny series. 9/10 Bethany Cox.
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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. -
Emberweave3 February 2007I 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.
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picturestory26 January 2006What 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. -
tord-116 June 2007Few series about cops - albeit in this case retired, but re-activated - and criminals are as original, thought-provoking and fun as New Tricks! Even if I love 'A Touch of Frost' this series runs rings around it, and even more so compared to another favorite: 'Hetty Wainthropp Investigates'
Excellent plots (every case has to do with an unsolved serious crime, or murder), excellent actors, very good scripts, professional directing, nice twists, and lovely characters, like Gerry (Dennis Waterman), who's has a host of ex-wives, who occasionally wine-and-dine him, but has contacts everywhere, or Brian (Alun Armstrong), who plays an ex-alcoholic, who has a perfect memory about facts and dates, but less perfect when it comes to his wife (lovely played by Susan Jameson) and her likes and dislikes! The third of the retired officers is Jack (played by James Bolam), who's wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident - he spends most of his off-time talking to his dead wife - even have a kind of mausoleum over her in his back garden. But his high rank before retiring, and his knowledge of people and what makes them tick, makes for an excellent interviewer of suspects, and others. Always very well dressed, always well spoken, but aged by sorrow and longing for the wife that's no longer around.
Their boss, Sandra, is a blond, forceful, young officer, who has no husband, but a messy private life, which sometimes affect the stories. Expertly acted by a, to me, totally unknown actress called Amanda Redman.
Can't be beaten, this row of series, and no two installments are alike!
Doff my hat, it's great!
9.4/10
I'd give it a 10/10 if the picture quality in dark scenes were better! -
walsh-2211 June 2007To be truthful, I didn't watch this till my Dad got me interested in it and I have been hooked ever since.
The plot is about three retired detectives who are recruited to help solve cold crimes. They also have to get used to the environment that has changed since they were in the force. The boss is Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman) who is feisty, she can hold her own and gives a good punch. Jack Halford (James Bolam) was Sandra's boss before he retired. He has lost his wife and has a memorial for her out in his garden and talks regularly to her as if she can talk back. Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong is very clever, he can get obsessed over little things and has to take medication for his mental health. Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman) is a ladies man who has three ex-wives, daughters and a grand child.
Amanda, James, Alun and Dennis are the crop of British talent and they make the show the success it is. They have great chemistry together and they have me in floods of laughter at times. The scripts are just brilliant, the way the writing can effortlessly move between laughter and drama is what also makes the show what it is.
I hope they continue to make this show because this is another show on the BBC that keeps me entertained for an hour. Keep up the good work. -
geomac3928 April 2007This series just gets better and better. You cant pick who is the better actor, they are all first class. No stereotyping here, all believable, no suspension of reality required.. its just pure entertainment and the fastest hour on the TV. It remains to be seen how far they can extend the series using the same premise. This is quality viewing from the Brits, the way they do it best. Amanda Redman showed us what she was made of in " At Home with the Braithwaites " another show you cant wait to see the next episode ! She has an unconventional beauty that makes her irresistible to watch, at least to THIS viewer. The male part of the cast work so well together, as they should as they are all veterans of the screen.....the show is smooth, seamless, funny and with real non plastic people who do not look all the same unlike in police dramas from the US, which seem to run to a tired formula, tired dialogue.... and is it just me ....but in US dramas when actors leave through a door....why do they inevitably have to turn and say something ??
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icj-120 April 2007My 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. -
skay_baltimore31 August 2018New Tricks is one of those rare TV shows that is a true gestalt, in which the whole is greater than the sum of its (very good) parts. How so, you ask? Well, as great as the individual performances were through almost 10 full seasons, the ensemble was what made the show really really good. Their individual unique personalities all played off of one another and enhanced the overall effect.
That came to a screeching halt starting with S10E09, when Amanda Redman left the show. She was clearly the glue that held everything together. The show was somewhat able to survive the loss of Alun Armstrong (barely, because he brought so much to the table) and James Bolam, but not Redman. From that point on Dennis Waterman became a whining annoying P.I.T.A., and the show morphed into a veritable train wreck. (When Waterman was kept in check by Redman, Bolam, and Armstrong, he was good for some comic relief. But when asked to carry more of the weight, he sunk like a stone. It was painful to watch. I had to fast forward through most of his adolescent tirades. He became like a one person GRUMPY OLD MAN show, and it was as tiresome as it was tedious to endure.)
But in fairness, the show's failure towards the end of season 10 was the result of more than just the loss of Redman. Denis Lawson (who replaced Bolam) and Nicholas Lyndhurst (who replaced Armstrong) were mere shadows of their predecessors. They were bland, uninteresting, and brought little if anything to the table the way that Armstrong and Bolam had. The final nail in the coffin, however, was Tamzin Outhwaite, who replaced Redman. She was essentially eye candy, with none of the strength, complexity, charm and charisma exhibited by Redman. No wonder the show died an unceremonious death less than 2 years after the cast was gutted.
Up until that time the quirkiness, humanness (i.e. flaws), charm, and exceptional savant skills of the UCOS squad resulted in one of the most entertaining shows on TV. After S10E08, it was preachy at best, and pure torture at worst. It lost its sense of humor, took itself WAY too seriously, and beat the viewers over the head with its incessant, droning PC messages. Worse than that, the great, diverse, interesting, flawed characters turned into one-dimensional clownish caricatures. They had no warmth, or charm, or intelligence. They were mean spirited and nasty.
And the interesting, well written dramatic plots turned into nothing more than nonsensical two-bit melodrama and a weekly (over)dose of histrionics. Sadly, the show became formulaic (i.e. a formula for failure). Do yourselves a favor...watch every episode right up until S10E09, then start watching something else. If you do, you'll be rewarded with one of the best TV shows ever. If you keep on watching after that, you'll regret it. You've been warned. -
Bizarre and fun, New Tricks doesn't take itself too seriously, which is why it doesn't get bogged down in the mire that so many American cop shows do. Nothing against American TV, it's produced some hilarious shows, (Arrested Development and Friends come immediately to mind). But this particular type of gentle comedy / drama can only be done by the Brits. Eccentric, charismatic characters, quirky situations and witty dialogue are the strong points. Erratic pace and stereotypical minor characters are the main weaknesses. I find the problems with this show can be overlooked because it's willing to laugh at itself. I think it's great. The actors are right at home and it's sharp and original. Go for it, watch it, why not.
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rwade-944-56452913 January 2020The show was interesting with its three quirky retired detectives and their supervisor who spent a lot of time handling them rather than working on cases. But with the loss of Brian and Jack and the addition of their replacements, Steve and Danny, the show really went downhill. Steve has no quirks that I've seen, just a problem with a son. Danny is just an arrogant, condescending, know-it-all teacher's pet. There's nothing at all winsome or enjoyable about his character. He ruined the show for me. My rating is for episodes up until Danny came on near the end of season 10.
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dickjan-braggaar25 September 2010It's such a shame I live in Holland. I bought the first, Dutch subtitled, series here, but where's the rest? When they arrive here, I'm sure to buy them all. Yes, sometimes I see the series on the BBC, but without subtitles you miss the subtleties.
So now to the first series. I still have a little inside laugh when I think about the talks with the soliciting team members in the pilot-episode. I have a little inside weep when I see the old copper talking to his deceased wife. And what a wonderful woman is the boss! If all women were like she is, there would be no glass ceiling (if you know what I mean, or is it a Dutch expression).
They can act, boy, can they all act. Why young actors, when this lot is still going strong? I'm not yet their ages, but it is quite reassuring that there is so much life in the old guys! Conclusion: I will keep looking for the series here in Holland, subtitled and all, and I very much want to thank the BBC for bringing so much quality and joy in the best series I've ever seen. In a word, its most 'uplifting'. A real medicine. -
AMANDA REDMAN is the tough police boss of a squad of discontented officers she has to keep in line in order to solve unsolved murder cases. I've only watched one from this series but intend to watch more because it moves swiftly, has interesting and rather eccentric characters, and the plot took some unpredictable turns before the solution came.
The British do this sort of thing well. Instead of Inspector Morse, we have Redman's female boss dealing with detectives who'd rather not handle some of the cases they're assigned to.
Handsome production values help, as does the intelligent writing. Worth watching if you like your detective stories told in British style. -
rich-7395423 December 2020The first series were great, with Gerry, Jack, and Brian. After Jack left, it lost a little, then Brian, and then Amanda. The last series were no where near the fun and were not as enjoyable. Sasha (Tamzin) doesn't fit in, and it is like the writers are different. We'll watch the rest just to finish it out, but we aren't enjoying this anywhere near what we were beforehand. Disappointing. Adder: We watched it until the last series. It ended up not having any humor and the new characters were not likeable at all and became too preachy. Before the last series, we decided to just shut it down and not watch it. Very disappointing that we really liked the show in the beginning and ended up almost being repulsed by it toward the end. We never came across that before.
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rexw10 August 2004We are just at the conclusion of 5 episodes, the end of the 2003 series I would imagine and therefore hopefully expecting additional episodes to be made available later in the year. This programme, unique in its storyline, tells of a senior Detective Superintendent,a lovely blonde who commences to address older cases, unsolved, with three senior ex Detectives. All have unusual characteristics such as photographic memory for one, excellent detective skills with another and criminal contacts with the third. The scripts are well written, full of humour but are still a serious crime drama series. As good as Dalziel and Pascoe, Taggart etc., and is recommended for scripting, acting and humour. Good English series
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Trellismay6 October 2020We'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. -
I have enjoyed this show for years now; the actors are all excellent veterans of their craft and it's great to see people of a certain age being used well instead of retired or cast as fogeys.
Plots deal with things that are often timely and of interest and push all the right buttons. The writing is fun and seems natural and is not aimed at juveniles like US based writing seems to be. Why can't they make such good programs out of the US ? Even the shows that they 'steal' like Cracker are not done well; the pacing is wrong and they seem dumbed down and acted poorly.
UK and Canadian actors look more natural and 'of the real World' than the too pretty US ones, and the acting is more natural and unforced. They have facial expressions accompanying the reading of the lines too, what a concept ! Thank goodness for some of the good programming out of the UK and Canada, I wish there was a way to keep them going by supporting the good ones. We have a long history here in Canada of the good ones living short lives. Billy Joel wrote "Only the good die young. That's what I said, only the good die young." Prove him wrong, Long live shows like New Tricks!
Just a note to say that after the departure of James Bolam as Jack Halford, I was worried about the future and that the 'chemistry' would be upset but I need not have worried. Denis Lawson seems to have settled in and the expert and professional cast has not seemed to missed a step. We on the 'other side of the pond' will just have to see what happens after learning that others are leaving the fold as well. I hope the writers can pull a few more rabbits out of their hats as there is not much else worth watching these days. -
barebear230 July 2007For a change we have here a police show with: Wit,A good story and actors that make you think they ARE retired police officers.not just playing the part. It is a refreshing change to the US police shows., that are at present being shown in the UK.While one will, I think always remember Morse and compare any police show with the great Inspector Morse. I personally think that "New Tricks" is not only more entertaining but it leaves you with a feeling sad that it is over. I find it hard to wait till the next series is on DVD for me to watch, since I live in Florida. British police shows are of special interest to me as I was before coming to Florida some 50 years ago a police officer with the Metropolitian Police in London.
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DuffyShort13 April 2010New Tricks is a wonderful Brit cop show. After you get used to BBC shows it hard to go back to the crap that American TV produces. The characters are stable throughout the multi year run and they have great chemistry. This show is one of many that I recommend, including Murphy's Law, Murder City, Life on Mars, MI-5, Dr. Who, Torchwood and Primeval. US shows like Numb3rs and NCIS may rival them, but we can learn a lot from the Brits. I've just ordered my second multi-region DVD player because the last four years of Tricks has not come out in the US. The good thing is the episodes are usually fuller and richer on the international DVDS. Come on BBC, give us some more good stuff.
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eamonnh-8946925 July 2022Never watched this show till recently and was very funny till they brought in del boy's brother as Alun Armstrongs replacement, and it started to take itself way too serious, never thought Rodney the Plonker would ruin a show for me after only fools n horses. You could see Ms Redman wanted out from season 9 onwards, and it suffered.
Speaking of her couldn't stop laughing at a reviewer's comment, tord-116 June 2007, claiming she was an unknown actress here, she had been lead actress in 11 shows and 2 miniseries prior to this since 1982 and was even granted permission to be the main lead in another show (Honest) on a different channel while in this, something unheard of back in the noughties such was the competition between the BBC and ITV and the respect the BBC had for her. -
WelshFilmCraze23 July 2009BBC TV Series which follows the work of (UCOS) Or the 'Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad' It's led by Feisty Det.Super. Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman) and a trio of Eccentric Retired Police Officers, Jack Halford (James Bolam) Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman) & Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong). All three have personal problems, Jack's wife was Murdered by a Criminal out to get him, Gerry has a complicated Family life and Brian is a Alcoholic.
It's just started it's 5th Series in the UK...and is a hugely successful and Enjoyable Series...It's Funny,Sad & Thrilling in Equal measure and just goes to show you don't need Whizzbang CSI type Investigations to Enjoy a very well Written and Acted Series.
***** out of ***** -
a_mellors21 January 2007New Tricks is not the best of the British crime genre. In fact, it is closer to Fawlty Towers than to Prime Suspect. However, I appreciate it for its light touch and its ability to use British women actors "of a certain age". British TV and movies make good use of their talent pool of women over 40. If Hollywood needs a mature woman actor, they usually take a gorgeous twenty-something and make her spend two hours in the make-up trailer prior to shooting. Think Charlize Theron in "Monster". In "New Tricks" we have seen some splendid faces from the past, most of whom have been making a steady living in British theater and TV since their glory days on the screen. Guest actors have included Honor Blackman, Jane Asher, Harriet Walter and Rita Tushingham. Long may they grace our TV screens.
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bkoganbing30 April 2011The police series New Tricks which has been on for almost a decade in Great Britain is finally making it across the pond via our Public Broadcasting System and it's a nice import. The British have updated our old TV western classic The Over The Hill Gang to modern times.
Amanda Redman is a modern police inspector who has mastered all the latest in crime fighting techniques, but can't master the prejudices still there about women in positions of authority. They're promoting here, but she's in charge of the Cold Case Squad in London and not getting any real help, nor is she really expected to solve these long cold homicides.
What to do, but recruit her own help in the persons of three retired detectives Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, and Dennis Waterman who are wasting away in retirement. They may not be up to date and you can't teach the old dogs New Tricks at times, but they're still pretty good at what they do.
What's nice about all these people is that they're quite three dimensional and even ordinary somewhat. But they have a work ethic and they get the job done.
Hopefully this show will run in the United Kingdom for several more years and we'll have lots of episodes to look forward to. -
bbewnylorac9 April 2013If you look at this show as lightweight, relaxing entertainment you won't go wrong. It's not believable in any way that a team of old fogeys would be left alone, for years, to do what they like with major cold cases. And they certainly, in real life, would not solve one case a week! Many of the plots are completely over the top (the witch episode, for example) and in some seasons the scripts have got too sluggish and boring. But at its best, this is top TV. The best thing is probably the cast. They all look like they're having a ball, and when the quips and teasing are flying thick and fast between them, it's a pleasure. Especially Amanda Redman and Dennis Waterman. Each character has a distinct personality and their strengths and failings are explored to good effect.
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pedersen-1334714 March 2021I think the writers changed as well as the actors. Brian and Jack are missed but I think the writers must have changed. It went from a great show to less than mediocre