You won't be disappointed!

Why so much hype?

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

What started as a rather risky and quirky show about retired cops dredging up old unsolved cases that ended up lasting 12 series with phenomenal ratings.The quality kept up until series 11 when the rapid cast turnover took its toll in the writing and the new characters did not gel quite like James Bolam, Alun Armstrong, Dennis Waterman and Amanda Redman.New Tricks was a phenomenal show for the BBC which started during the reign of Greg Dyke as Director General of the BBC and under his watch the corporation had a renaissance of successful and populist dramas.New Tricks rather reminded me of those Euston Film serials that ITV had in the 1970s and 1980s. A series with a healthy mix of drama and comedy such as Minder and featured a lot of location shooting.Apart from their office, each episode would showcase some part of London, it had a great cast of actors that certainly blended well and the mysteries were enough to keep you entertained. It really was a special show.It is just a shame the wheels fell off a bit when many of the original cast left in quick succession. The final series was a mild return to form but all good things have to end.

How that man is allowed to eat with such disgusting table manners is beyond me. I simply fast forward and miss his parts as he has a fist full of food in his mouth as his yammers on. But, other than his disgusting table manners, it's a very delightful show. You can't miss with this cast, even Alun Armstrong if he never ate. You can do a show without so many meals or at least have him dub over his lines with no food in his mouth. Sorry to go on about it, but it really turns the stomach and gets so ingrained in the ear, it is tempting to just break the telly. But I love his acting, so wish this could be corrected with the eating.Not just to pick on British actors, I could do without the gum smacking of Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and it's such a shame because they are great actors, but it's unbearable to watch. Everyone is probably thinking this, I simply have the nerve to say it. For them to do this to create an unlikable persona is totally wasted since I am betting most people fast forward through these disgusting sounds.But, New Tricks is great in spite of these things and I do recommend it. I love Amanda Redmond, Dennis Waterman and the rest. It is really a great cast, great writing, let's just keep the little buggers starved while they are filming. I have seen people pull off good table manners and they can still seem like lower class through dress and speech if that is what they are trying to portray through their eating habits, except Alun Armstrong has done this in every show he's been in, so it must be him and not the directing. Keep that man away from the food. I hate to have to miss parts of this great show due to the unbearable smacking and slurping coming out of his mouth. Please don't cheat us out of the entire episode due to having to avoid Alun while he eats. He is such a fine actor.How about some lessons in table etiquette for these fine actors. I would definitely rate it a 9 or 10 without the slurping.This is mainly a message to the creators of the show if they want to know how to attract all viewers. I can find nothing wrong with this show except the table manners. I really look forward to the show, but wish I did not have to fast-forward through certain parts.

I have enjoyed this show for years now; the actors are all excellent veterans of their craft and it's great to see people of a certain age being used well instead of retired or cast as fogeys. Plots deal with things that are often timely and of interest and push all the right buttons. The writing is fun and seems natural and is not aimed at juveniles like US based writing seems to be. Why can't they make such good programs out of the US ? Even the shows that they 'steal' like Cracker are not done well; the pacing is wrong and they seem dumbed down and acted poorly. UK and Canadian actors look more natural and 'of the real World' than the too pretty US ones, and the acting is more natural and unforced. They have facial expressions accompanying the reading of the lines too, what a concept ! Thank goodness for some of the good programming out of the UK and Canada, I wish there was a way to keep them going by supporting the good ones. We have a long history here in Canada of the good ones living short lives. Billy Joel wrote "Only the good die young. That's what I said, only the good die young." Prove him wrong, Long live shows like New Tricks!Just a note to say that after the departure of James Bolam as Jack Halford, I was worried about the future and that the 'chemistry' would be upset but I need not have worried. Denis Lawson seems to have settled in and the expert and professional cast has not seemed to missed a step. We on the 'other side of the pond' will just have to see what happens after learning that others are leaving the fold as well. I hope the writers can pull a few more rabbits out of their hats as there is not much else worth watching these days.

It's such a shame I live in Holland. I bought the first, Dutch subtitled, series here, but where's the rest? When they arrive here, I'm sure to buy them all. Yes, sometimes I see the series on the BBC, but without subtitles you miss the subtleties.So now to the first series. I still have a little inside laugh when I think about the talks with the soliciting team members in the pilot-episode. I have a little inside weep when I see the old copper talking to his deceased wife. And what a wonderful woman is the boss! If all women were like she is, there would be no glass ceiling (if you know what I mean, or is it a Dutch expression).They can act, boy, can they all act. Why young actors, when this lot is still going strong? I'm not yet their ages, but it is quite reassuring that there is so much life in the old guys! Conclusion: I will keep looking for the series here in Holland, subtitled and all, and I very much want to thank the BBC for bringing so much quality and joy in the best series I've ever seen. In a word, its most 'uplifting'. A real medicine.