Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 19
 Series five and still five stars July 27, 2009
Blackhorse47 (Moray, Scotland)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
Although the show continues to provide its sublime mixture of intriguing mysteries, comedy, and brilliant character portrayals, the tone this year is more serious than in previous years, but this is welcome. Usually by the time a show has been running for 5 years the formula has been nailed down to a slick routine, but also there's often a feeling of winding down, of having exhausted all the possibilities, of repetition. That's not the case here and the slight change of focus gives me great hopes that the show can continue running with a high quality for several more years.
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br /The show starts as the last season did with a continuation of the arc story involving Jack's nemesis Ricky Hanson, chilling played by David Troughton. The systematic destruction of the water-tight case against him by a ruthless barrister is fascinating to watch, even if the end result is a sombre one. Ultimately this leads to Jack taking a 2 episode sabbatical (I presume James Bolam had personal reasons for taking a break).
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br /For those two episodes the rest of the cast work hard to fill the void and these stories are fun and entertaining, but I think they prove that the show works best as an ensemble piece and so if any of the cast wishes to leave, then I hope they end the show rather than recasting.
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br /Jack's return leads to several entertaining fun shows featuring good running gags about Gerry's singing, and the hypnosis episode manages to be spooky while still having some good laughs. Increasingly though a darker tone overcomes the show as Brian toys with the dark side. This is hinted at from the start when he eyes bottles of liquor with interest, but his inevitable descent is traumatic to watch after becoming fond of his character over the years and after becoming used to the fact that no matter what Brian does wrong, he always manages to avoid losing control. Not this time though.
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br /The ending is a deeply moving one and well-acted. The moment when Brian finally reaches his moment of truth is perhaps the single best scene in the whole series. The ending sets up the next season perfectly and the decision not to have the jaunty theme playing over the end credits was the right one.
New Tricks May 23, 2009
Mr Mark Ralston
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
New Tricks : Complete BBC Series 5 [DVD].
br /This series just gets better the characters and story lines are superb. If you have never seen New Tricks then what planet are you living on. I own all the series to date and have watched them a number of times. The cast is second to none and i hope it goes on for another five series. The BBC have got this so right.
5th series and still GREAT entertainment September 12, 2009
John Armitt (Stavanger, Norway)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have just finished watching series 5 half expecting the standard to have dropped from the five star entertainment provided in the first four series, but no, messrs Armstrong, Bolem, Waterman et al... just keep getting better. Every episode is a different story, but all are superbly written, acted and directed. I just love the blend of comedy, drama, mystery and action. The chemistry between ALL the components of this wonderful series is evident in the finished product. I just hope that this standard of entertainment can continue into Series 6 which is not due for release on DVD until autumn 2010. I just cannot recommend highly enough.
Still a lot of fun August 25, 2008
Cazanya (Sweden)
29 out of 38 found this review helpful
I know theres like one ep left, however I doubt it'd change my mind on this show....I still find this to be one of my all time fav shows. Mainly because I really love the four main characters so much! I also love Esther (FINALLY a "cop wife" thats fun to watch with a personality!)
br /They tied up a lot of loose ends in series 5 so Im guessing this could be the last but I hope not cus Id love to see much much more!
The best series going September 18, 2009
E. Hecht (Paris, France)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have followed Sandra, the gov, and her old boys for 5 seasons now and have come to love the lot of them. I look forward to season 6, which has to follow because we can't leave Brian as he is at the end.
br /The BBC should have more programs like this one with really original characters, belivable and, though funny, not slapstick.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 19
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