User Reviews

This episode sees The UCOS team investigate the bizarre deaths of several dogs, Gerry having worked on the original case, gives the team some insight.

This really is such a unique, original, and different story, I can think of no other show with such an episode, it feels so different.

It is feeling that Brian is almost becoming the central character, he had a huge role in the previous episode, and does so again here, Armstrong is phenomenal, what an actor.

The acting here is A1, Frances de la tour is great, as is Joseph Milson, however the late Richard Briers is awesome, possibly my favourite guest performance on the show.

A favourite, 9/10.

9/10.

After a shaky beginning to Series 3, New Tricks finds its footing in episode 3. The UCOS team re-opens an investigation into a string of dog killings.

They check out the aging head of an animal rescue society, a shifty abbattoir worker, the creepy head of an Egyptian museum, and a studly wine merchant who takes a shine to Amanda Pullman.

Coincidentally, Brian loses his beloved dog, Scruffy, to old age. And Jack goes from coughing to hospitalized.

We get a solid, straightforward "murder" mystery but we also get a sweet story about compassion and friendship. As a bonus, we get a set piece featuring Brian placing himself at the scene of the crime, as he often does. This time, he tries to re-enact what a dog would do, and how far it would get, in a five-minute time frame. It's pretty funny.

Susan Jameson, as Brian's wife Esther, gets solid screen time. Again, she's the actual heart of the show. Love her.

Episode also benefits from having no appearance by DAC Strickland, the pill who brings down every episode he's in. They should have brought Nicholas Day back as Bevan.

Good episode, but I cringe when they talk about "vicious" or "mean" breeds. There's no such thing, it's as ridiculous as racism and how do we expect to overcome prejudices against other humans when we can't even manage it with animals.

There are dogs who haven't been trained properly (or have been intentionally trained badly), dogs who haven't been properly socialized, dogs who are frightened or hurt or feel threatened or cornered, but there are no bad dogs.

The dog nipping & growling at me doesn't scare me nearly as much as the idiot it belongs to, but it'll be the dog who gets put down when it bites someone, not it's owner or series of people in it's life who mistreated it and or were cruel to it. The dog ends up being as much a victim as the person(s) it hurts.

I speak from experience, having been bitten by a couple of dogs with idiots for owners, and having been blessed with many different breeds of dog in my life, all good dogs, none who ever bit me except a 5 lb toy poodle who thought she was a timberwolf: I laughed at her, but she was the closest I ever came to knowing a "vicious" dog & her previous owner spoiled her & didn't socialize her.

A bunch of dogs were killed some time ago. Now, a new, similar death has occurred, and UCOs is put on the case. And Brian's dog also dies, in an unrelated way, which adds a good subplot.

The main investigation is very well done, UCOS follows a number of leads, all a bit weird but plausible, and one of them ends up kind of creepy. In between, we get some good moments, with Brian and his dog, plus some of the suspects, and interactions within the team. Overall a very well done episode.

Have always been a big fan of detective/mystery shows from a fairly young age, well since starting secondary school.

'Inspector Morse', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Midsomer Murders' (in its prime), 'Law and Order', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Criminal Minds', 'Murder She Wrote', you name them to name a few. 'New Tricks' has also been a favourite from the start (despite not being the same without the original cast in recent years). Although it can be corny at times (in an endearing sort of way) it has always been perfect for helping me relax in the evenings. Something that was needed during all the hard times endured in school.

"Old Dogs" is yet another fine episode of 'New Tricks' and one of the best ones. For me, the weak link, and the only criticism, is the identity of the culprit being obvious too early in a case where suspects were too few. The case is still a strong one though, with fun and intriguing case solving, and Jack's mysterious illness is cleverly resolved in what caused it, again though there were no surprises as to the who element being the only one with the opportunity to do it.

Visually, "Old Dogs" looks lovely, with a brighter look but never garish and always slick and stylish. The music is a good fit and the theme song (sung with gusto by none other by Dennis Waterman himself) is one of the catchiest for any detective/mystery show and of any show in the past fifteen years or so.

Writing is intelligent, thought-provoking and classy, while also being very funny and high up in the entertainment value. Brian's subplot is very touching. The story is compelling and well paced with a few nice surprises.

A huge part of 'New Tricks' appeal is the chemistry between the four leads and their performances. The chemistry is so easy going and charming with a little tension.

One of the show's biggest delights is Alun Armstrong, achieves a perfect balance of funny comic timing and touching pathos which was maintained all the way up to his final episode. It is also lovely here to see his role in the team and skills appreciated more all the time. James Bolam's Jack is the quietest, most sensible (mostly) and most composed of the team, with a tragic personal life that Bolam portrays very touchingly without any overwrought-ness.

The only woman on the team, Amanda Redman more than holds her own in what is essentially the boss role of the four. Dennis Waterman brings some nice levity without unbalancing things.

Richard Briers gives one of the show's best guest performances in my view.

In summary, fine episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox