I watched the first episode of this show and I was hooked. Since then, I've been careful to watch every episode they've broadcast. (They started showing it here in Australia more than 3 years after it was shown in Britain!) From the very start, I found myself really sympathising with PC "Dangerous" Davies (played brilliantly by Peter Davison). He is still a constable after who knows how many years, he is separated from his wife Julie, he lives in dives and is mocked by the other policemen. But in spite of this, he is an irrepressibly nice guy. This is a welcome change from the utterly unsympathetic detectives that frequently appear on television! There were two other characters who I really liked - the gruff alcoholic Detective Inspector Aspinall (Rob Spendlove), and Dangerous's friend Mod Lewis, a philosophical Irishman who seems to have a great deal of trouble finding decent work or a steady relationship.
The humour is clever but not self-indulgent, and this really appealed to me. This is added to by the tension between the characters, particularly between Dangerous and his colleagues Barrett and Pimnott (a pair of smart-mouthed cockney detectives). Dangerous's relationship with Mod is particularly good to watch, especially when Dangerous is forced to move in with him.
The character development and intriguing plots make the Last Detective a must-see, and Willesden North is a perfect low-key backdrop. I haven't read the books, but I now intend to.
The humour is clever but not self-indulgent, and this really appealed to me. This is added to by the tension between the characters, particularly between Dangerous and his colleagues Barrett and Pimnott (a pair of smart-mouthed cockney detectives). Dangerous's relationship with Mod is particularly good to watch, especially when Dangerous is forced to move in with him.
The character development and intriguing plots make the Last Detective a must-see, and Willesden North is a perfect low-key backdrop. I haven't read the books, but I now intend to.