The original Archie Bunker resembles Abe Vigoda and is a quiet meek man with a trophy girlfriend being used by her and a group of heavy-hitting thieves to take part in a somewhat confusing "parking scam" that takes the entire episode to figure out. That's because on this show, we know what the cops know, and they know very little as it goes, obviously, which is why they investigate. This can make some of the episodes a bit thick and hard to follow, but they usually pan out in the 11th hour. This one is intriguing with good acting and a cool car chase to boot.
4 Reviews
Alf Garnett And Heavy Handed Symbolism
Theo Robertson3 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
THE SWEENEY is a show that very often has two distinctive types of episode - one humorous and the other gritty . This episode entitled Big Spender written by Allan Prior tries to mix the two and it;s not all that successful in coherence . Put it like this you can remember THAT scene featuring Warren Mitchell and perhaps the scene at the end featuring the demise of the villain but your memory might tell you they were from two entirely different episodes when in fact they weren't . In other words it's a slightly incoherent episodein tone
The plot involves around Regen and Carter trying to bring to book a trio of hardened criminal brothers who have moved in to the world of parking fine fraud . Yeah instead of using shooters to hijack a van they're diversifying before such a concept became fashionable and I guess the writers wanted to put a new spin on the cops and robbers theme . This doesn't stop the episode being action packed as a car chase takes place that ends with the bad guy crashing not in to boxes but a trailer containing milk urns . During this the laws of physics are broken and the bad guy's briefcase flies out the car on to road and spills pound notes everywhere giving a classic example of symbolism . The episode ends on another example of symbolic irony where the chief villain gets in to a shoot out in his scrapyard and gets crushed to death by one of his vehicles . How's that for irony ?
There is a character subplot where an accountant Willie Wardle is laundering the brothers' money. Wardle is played by Warren Mitchell best known for playing Alf Gernett a legendary television character . Due to the Flying Squad staking out the flat of his mistress Willie has to find a way to get home so disguises himself as a woman and a fat lot of good it does him as Regan and Cater are all ready waiting for him which leads to some darkly funny dead pan dialogue " Why didn't you just cut and run ? " " What in those heels ? "
The plot involves around Regen and Carter trying to bring to book a trio of hardened criminal brothers who have moved in to the world of parking fine fraud . Yeah instead of using shooters to hijack a van they're diversifying before such a concept became fashionable and I guess the writers wanted to put a new spin on the cops and robbers theme . This doesn't stop the episode being action packed as a car chase takes place that ends with the bad guy crashing not in to boxes but a trailer containing milk urns . During this the laws of physics are broken and the bad guy's briefcase flies out the car on to road and spills pound notes everywhere giving a classic example of symbolism . The episode ends on another example of symbolic irony where the chief villain gets in to a shoot out in his scrapyard and gets crushed to death by one of his vehicles . How's that for irony ?
There is a character subplot where an accountant Willie Wardle is laundering the brothers' money. Wardle is played by Warren Mitchell best known for playing Alf Gernett a legendary television character . Due to the Flying Squad staking out the flat of his mistress Willie has to find a way to get home so disguises himself as a woman and a fat lot of good it does him as Regan and Cater are all ready waiting for him which leads to some darkly funny dead pan dialogue " Why didn't you just cut and run ? " " What in those heels ? "
Big Spender
Prismark1011 February 2020
An episode where you need memory bleach. Warren Mitchell in drag. Just who do you look like? Ken Dodd, that's who!
Mitchell plays meek accountant Wardle who has become associated with the notorious Smith brothers in a fake parking ticket scam and money laundering.
The Smiths keep Wardle in tow by giving him a mistress.
Haskins has ordered the Regan to keep around the clock tabs on the Smiths. They have been hijacking lorries carrying high value cargo.
Big Spender is a hybrid of tough action and humour. The Smiths can get very nasty. There is a high speed car chase and some rumble in a scrapyard.
Peter Glaze pops up as a racecourse bookmaker. I expected him to shout Crackerjack!
Mitchell plays meek accountant Wardle who has become associated with the notorious Smith brothers in a fake parking ticket scam and money laundering.
The Smiths keep Wardle in tow by giving him a mistress.
Haskins has ordered the Regan to keep around the clock tabs on the Smiths. They have been hijacking lorries carrying high value cargo.
Big Spender is a hybrid of tough action and humour. The Smiths can get very nasty. There is a high speed car chase and some rumble in a scrapyard.
Peter Glaze pops up as a racecourse bookmaker. I expected him to shout Crackerjack!
Palatable
Leofwine_draca20 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A middling episode about a parking machine scam, of all things. It doesn't sound very interesting but there are some good characters here, including some gorgeous women in the cast, and the presence of heavyweights like Warren Mitchell and Julian Holloway helps to make it more palatable.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
