New Tricks - Season One

Season One of the BBC series, "New Tricks" leads off with the formation of UCOS (unsolved crime unit) with Amanda Redmon portraying Sandra Pullman who has very publicly been disgraced in an undercover operation.   Does that mean heading up this unit is a punishment? She's been saddled with former policemen (who will not officially be policemen again) as advisers to assist her in solving the crimes.
The team is composed of Jack Halford (portrayed by James Bolam) who is a grieving widower -- perhaps getting out of the house will be good for him?  Then there is ex-Inspector Brian Lane (portrayed by Alun Armstrong) who is obsessive/compulsive and has the ability to recall every piece of information from the past but his wife, Esther, worries that returning to solving crimes might do in his fragile mental health.  Last, but not least, is Gerry Standing (portrayed by Dennis Waterman) who has been married three times but has managed to maintain a close relationship with all his ex-wives and his daughters and they with each other -- just one big happy family!

This crew of detectives may not be used to modern day detective work nor the fact that the rules of the game have changed but their ability to solve these "cold" cases is uncanny.  However, the season ends with them "cocking" up their most recent case and possibly enabling a murderer to go free.  The team seems to be coming apart as Sandra's chances of a promotion go by the way side and Jack is ready to hand in his resignation.  Brian, the most unstable mentally of them, is in a good place, though, and Gerry is over the top ecstatic about the recent birth of his first grandchild -- a boy joining him in what is otherwise an all girl family.  We're left hanging about the future of UCOS but with several more seasons to be viewed I think I can safely say they're not going away any time soon.

I thoroughly enjoy these characters and the way they go about solving crimes so I can hardly wait to get my hands on a copy of the second season!  pazt