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Being in America I only found this show by accident. There are only a few shows that I wish would never end, most of them British. New Tricks is on the top of that list. The original cast had the perfect chemistry and each of the 4 main characters, along with the addition of Susan Jameson and Anthony Calf drew you in to who they were and why you liked them. Alun Armstrong, James Bolum, Dennis Waterman, and Amanda Redmon had the best chemisrtry I have ever seen in a cast. Brain Lane is quite possibly my favorite character on a modern TV show. I would rank Alun Armstrong as Brian Lane with Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and David Suchet as Poirot as characters that could not easily be played by anyone else. Brian Lane is tormented and flawed with OCD and social disorders but is such a compelling neurotic memory savant.
From season 1 through season 8 the original cast kept me entertained and made me want to know and see more from the characters. Jack's (James Bolum) relationship and talks with his dead wife, Brian's (Alun Armstrong) phenominal memory for police files and his neurotic behavior, Gerry's (Dennis Waterman) wonderful political incorrectness, his desire to still be a womanizer, and his relationship with his ex-wives, Sandra's (Amanda Redmon) fall from a carefully crafted rise in the police to having to baby sit 3 retired, old style coppers, and Esther, Brian's wife, (Susan Jameson) who is constantly neglected and given second place to anything Brian is focused on, rarely, OK never, her, but without her he cannot be sane.
As the main cast left the show it changed. When James Bolum left after season 8 his replacement Dennis Lawson was a good fit but he was still not Jack. When Alun Armstrong left in season 10 the character of the show left with him. When Amanda Redmon left at the end of season 10 it was obviously not the same show anymore. Dennis Waterman was great and the new cast members were good but the chemistry just wasn't what it was with the original cast. Also the story lines changed around season 6 and began losing the idiosyncrasies of the characters. Jack's hard no nonsense attitude and his need to converse with his dead wife, Brian's amazing memory and OCD, Gerry's general attitude but likableness and Sandra's need to keep proving herself seemed to slowly ebb away as the series went on.
This show was brilliant. If there was any way to get the original cast back together for several more seasons I am sure they would find a vast audience that would be very happy. I for one would love to have more time with these characters. It is rare that this kind of cast chemistry happens but New Tricks is an amazing show.
score 10/10
dji-95804 11 December 2018
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4506976/ |
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22-11-2019 12:29:22
