New Tricks: Series Three Review

New Tricks: Series Three

"Buy New Tricks: Series Three" Overview

"Excellent crime series" --Daily Mail (U.K.)
"Enjoyably mischievous" --The Sunday Times (U.K.)
"Cutting-edge Brit TV" --The Guardian (U.K.)

Retired cops solve cold cases in this hit British series

Sexy, ambitious Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman, Sexy Beast) leads the unsolved crimes unit of the Metropolitan Police in this fresh and funny British drama. Her team includes three aging former detectives lured out of retirement. Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman, The Sweeney) is a womanizer, Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong, Bleak House) is clinically depressed, and Jack Halford (James Bolam, The Beiderbecke Affair) has conversations with his dead wife. Can this curmudgeonly trio of crime busters learn new tricks to crack tough crimes? Or are old-fashioned hunches and footwork still best?

The masterful performances and top-tier guest stars make this long-running, award-winning British series an "unstoppable ratings monster" (The Sunday Telegraph, U.K.). A drama with tongue firmly in cheek, deftly written and perfectly cast, it’s "the crime show to watch" (Liverpool Daily Post). You will not be disappointed with New Tricks: Series Three

New Tricks: Series Three Specifications

In an ocean of police shows competing for screen space, New Tricks has one heck of a trump card. For while its plotlines aren’t particularly radical, and while the pace is perhaps gentler than you may expect, its cast greedily devour the material and lift a good show into something really quite special.

The premise behind New Tricks is that three retired detectives are called in to work as a mismatched team of sorts to solve crimes. So far, so routine. But those three detectives are played by Dennis Waterman, James Bolam and Alun Armstrong, a trio who can not only act, but are also capable of maximising the comedy potential on offer. Then, there’s the juicy inclusion of Amanda Redman, who brought the three of them back together in the first place. Combined, these four are clearly having a terrific time with the show, and it’s fun we’re all invited to share in.

The third season of New Tricks, presented in this DVD set, features eight varied episodes and the obligatory end-of-season cliffhanger, along with some welcome guest stars. The stories cover ice cream, witchcraft, dogs and school, and it’s to the show’s credit that it does balance the serious moments with its plentiful humour exceptionally well.

In short, New Tricks is a real treat, putting core values ahead of gimmicks and letting us all enjoy the rewards of its approach. Cracking stuff. --Jon Foster

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Sunday, August 12, 2012