I was digging around on Amazon a month or so ago and ran across this British series which is described as a serious cold case detective series with a lot of comedy. At first I was not really sold on the idea. Then I looked at some reviews and people were raving about it. Well, at least for the first nine seasons. After that the cast changes completely and it apparently looses some of its humor. Which is probably to be expected in a series so heavily dependent on the personalities of the stars. Fans are simply not always receptive to their favorite actors leaving a show no matter how good the replacements are.
Knowing that, though, I started watching it and was hooked. Really hooked. In just the last month, I’ve managed to watch the first nine seasons. So I thought I’d talk about it before I started the dreaded tenth season when the remainder of the original stars leave. And it still went on for a full 12 seasons.
Basically, New Tricks is about a police cold case unit that uses retired cops to review old cases. Saves money and accesses their experience and knowledge of the past. An innovative idea or a crazy one depending on how things go. And things go both good and bad. They are very successful at solving the cases but their methods can sometimes be, well, slightly old school. But they ain’t worried about that because technically they are no longer police officers. They are simply having a ball.
Which is where a lot of the comedy comes in. Although, to be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t call it comedy so much as real life humor that’s solidly based in who these characters are.
And who are they?
Det. Supt. Sandra Pullman
Det. Supt. Sandra Pullman is a tough as nails detective who is tasked with heading up the new unit. At first she is not sold on the idea. At all. Over time, however, she realizes just how good they are at solving the cases. As annoying as they can be at times, they are really good. They truly are rather uncontrollable at times, however, which sometimes makes it seem like she is stuck in the role of herding cats. Which she gets very good at.
Jack Halford
Jack Halford is her nominal second in command and a former mentor. He is a straight arrow and highly respected former detective. So much so that at one point he is asked if he would be interested in training new police recruits. He is also deeply grieving the death of his wife several years earlier from a hit-and-run. So much so that he talks to her (the dead wife) constantly. Which is both charming and at times so very sad.
Gerry Standing
Gerry Standing is the aging Romeo of the bunch. But in an oddly endearing way. While being interested in anything female that crosses his line of sight, he also regularly gets together with all of his four ex-wives and his two daughters for very loud family dinners. The man just loves women.
Brian Lane
Brian Lane is the real eccentric of the bunch, though. His nickname is The Memory because he remembers details of anything he has ever read. Or heard. Which comes in handy in going over evidence and cases. But he’s also a former alcoholic and quirky as all get out. He is also on a lot of medications. Not sure if he’s OCD or just downright neurotic but as a result his behavior can get… interesting at times.
The selling point for me
I think the scene that totally hooked me on the direction the series was going was at the end of the first episode. They’ve solved the case and are ready to arrest the suspect at this fancy dinner party. A brawl breaks out between the suspect’s family and the police, which includes Sandra. The retired and no longer officially police Jack, Gerry and Brian somehow manage to completely avoid getting caught up in the fight. They simply move to the sidelines and commence amusing themselves by giving play-by-play commentary on the action. It was hilarious and completely in character.
Yeah, this one is a keeper. I may even eventually watch the rest of it, too.