User Reviews

UCOS investigate an old crime, where a criminal villain, and three of his staff died in a fire.

Series seven is full of great episodes, this is one of them, a great story, great set of characters, and some big laughs.

I love how the three chaps are constantly rambling, leaving Sandra dining, the scene where they discuss Gerry's golf swing is hilarious. The chemist scene is also a scream. Is it just me or are there a few double entendres here?

There is a cracking cast here, Colin Tierney as always is terrific, credit to the makeup department for the job they did with him. Martin Marquez always plays a villain incredibly well, despite perhaps being best known as a Policeman on The Bill.

Final word, the wonderful Roy Marsden, I had always hoped he would have been one of the potential new recruits for UCOS, a big, big personality, he'd have fitted in well, it's easy to see what he brought to a role here, great talent.

Great, 9/10.

Have always been a big fan of detective/mystery shows from a fairly young age, well since starting secondary school.

'Inspector Morse', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Midsomer Murders' (in its prime), 'Law and Order', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Criminal Minds', 'Murder She Wrote', you name them to name a few. 'New Tricks' has also been a favourite from the start (despite not being the same without the original cast in recent years). Although it can be corny at times (in an endearing sort of way) it has always been perfect for helping me relax in the evenings. Something that was needed during all the hard times endured in school.

All the Season 7 episodes up to this point ranged from very good to brilliant, sure "Good Morning Lemmings" was brought down by a very bad performance in a crucial role but was very good otherwise. "Where There's Smoke" is not an exceptions, with an absorbing and twisty story and one of the season's, and show's, most surprising and cleverest twists in the arsonist's reveal.

Visually, "Where There's Smoke" is slick and stylish as ever. The music is a good fit and the theme song (sung with gusto by none other by Dennis Waterman himself) is one of the catchiest for any detective/mystery show and of any show in the past fifteen years or so.

Writing is intelligent, thought-provoking and classy, while also being very funny and high up in the entertainment value. This is all mixed adeptly with a seriousness without being overly so that it doesn't feel like 'New Tricks'.

A huge part of 'New Tricks' appeal is the chemistry between the four leads and their performances. The chemistry is so easy going and charming with a little tension.

One of the show's biggest delights is Alun Armstrong, achieves a perfect balance of funny comic timing and touching pathos which was maintained all the way up to his final episode. It is also lovely here to see his role in the team and skills appreciated more all the time. James Bolam's Jack is the quietest, most sensible (mostly) and most composed of the team, with a tragic personal life that Bolam portrays very touchingly without any overwrought-ness.

The only woman on the team, Amanda Redman more than holds her own in what is essentially the boss role of the four. Dennis Waterman brings some nice levity without unbalancing things.

Supporting cast are uniformly solid.

In summary, great once again. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A pub was burned down, a witness suggests the originally reported cause was wrong, UCOS investigates. The first part of the episode isn't too interesting, on its own would be among the lower rated New tricks episodes rather than the higher rated ones, with not too interesting character interaction and meandering story. But the writers were clearly focused on the second half, building towards the ending, which is quite good.

Put the space filling earlier part with the good ending, and it ends up an average rated episode.