New Tricks Series 10 Review
New Tricks
Series 10
Reviewed by David Savage
Starring: Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong, Denis Lawson, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tamzin Outhwaite
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 608 minutes
Number of Discs: 3
Format: DVD
Release Date: 14 October 2014
New Tricks is back for its 10th series and the smash hit crime drama about a police unit made up of 3 retired detectives investing cold cases is set for big changes.
In series 9 on New Tricks we saw the beloved Jack Halford (James Bolam) leave UCOS (Unsolved Crime and Opencase Squad) to be replaced by Steve McAndrew (Denis Lawson). In series 10 it is all change again with 2 more of the shows favourite characters leaving: Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong) is fired from UCOS after a couple of separate incidents to be replaced by Dan Griffin (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and DCI Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman) leaves to join an international war crimes unit to be replaced by DCI Sasha Miller (Tamzin Outhwaite).
Series 10 is made up of 10 episodes and starts with a two-part story that sees: UCOS heading off to Gibralter after a gun turns up in the Thames that was used to murder a shipping heir. Other cases in this series see UCOS investigating the wrongful conviction of a man who has just been released from prison after 16 years. Brian, now no longer part of UCOS, is asked to investigate the disappearance of the brother of a woman in Ester’s book club and becomes involved in an active murder enquiry. A missing jogger in Epping Forest to the last episodes with DCI Sasha Miller being put in charge of UCOS and a very reluctant team not trusting her and determined to do things their own way.
Overall, New Tricks is a great police drama. Nicholas Lyndhurst as Brian Lane’s replacement is a good character (once you get past seeing him as Rodney from Only Fools and Horses) as he is reserved but full of information although he doesn’t have Brian obsessive nature. The storylines are good, well-acted and a joy to watch. It did lose a little something with the new characters but that is probably due to 9 years of watching the old favourites so it is just a matter of getting used to the new ones. I hope there is a new series as it is still one of better police dramas and works extremely well without the need for all-action violence, car chases and bad language.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £24.99
Available to buy from Acorn Media here.
