User Reviews

The UCOS team reopen the case of Amy Taskerland, a schoolgirl that died thirty years ago after the end of term dance. The new evidence comes in the form of a newly found time capsule, containing a tape where Amy explains how she had a fear of someone called Alec.

A very enjoyable, complex mystery, it's a well crafted and thought provoking end to the series. It's quite a bleak and dark story, but it's definitely one to get the grey matter in gear. There's also the added interest of Sasha's new relationship, and of course there's a bit of humour provided, the scene at the pub with the boss was great.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this eleventh series, the first few episodes were pretty rocky, but it just picked up, and produced some very fine episodes, this was yet another.

Jack Shepherd and Martin Turner were both particularly good here I thought, the acting in general here was excellent.

8/10.

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.

"The Queen's Speech" is enjoyable and a decent way to end the season. It is though one of the weaker Season 11 episodes and doesn't see 'New Tricks' in its full glory.

Do have to agree with that the ending underwhelms, it just felt contrived and far-fetched and like the writers got sloppy or lost concentration.

Felt too that Gerry's subplot didn't add an awful lot and what should have been funny came over as stale and corny.

The case is a very intriguing and compelling one however, not too simplistic, not too convoluted as well with enough turns to keep one guessing. That the suspect count is not a low one helps, which stops things from being obvious.

Will admit to starting to get used to the new team dynamic and they work pretty well together. It is charming and likeable, if not as sparkling or fresh as the original one and Brian's absence since Season 10 is still lamented (one of the main reasons why the show hasn't been the same since).

Balance between comedy and seriousness is generally well done. The humour standard-wise has been much better in other episodes, but Danny has some of his best, funniest and most intelligent lines here (of the four team members Danny steals the show here) and the seriousness doesn't go overboard.

Visually, "The Queen's Speech" 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.

All four leads are great, Nicholas Lyndhurst coming out on top, and the episode is solidly acted in support too from particularly Jack Shepherd.

On the whole, enjoyable episode but didn't bowl me over. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The reason I found it chilling is because I grew up in this era of the Cold War, I remember Operation Able Archer (Zacharia in the show) and how close we came to Armageddon. I was the same age as Amy at the time and going through the same things. Bought back a lot of memories

Reinvestigating a teenager's death after a tape is found, leads to the usual secrets and twists and turns and such.

The investigation is o.k., but the show is just missing something, and like a lot of season 11 just feels dark and is often at night. The off work scenes are kind of similar, they just are missing something and kind of feel like they are going through the motions (Gerry is old fashioned, Sasha is doing dating things.).

So, for admittedly hard to explain reasons, this episode just doesn't feel that much fun.

I'm a long term watcher of the series. I feel it has been a bit scrappy ever since Jack Halford's character began to get phased out. Loosing Brian was a hard cross to bear. His replacement: Danny Griffin is now the best team member, but he's hardly a laugh a minute. Even Strickland is beginning to look human by comparison to the others.

Standing's jokes and jibes now grate worse than ever, and McAndrew is a totally dull and lifeless character.

I'm amazed the show keeps getting commissioned. There's certainly a niche for less serious crime drama, there's nothing wrong with the show's premise.

The best thing going for New Tricks is, as ever, the well written social commentary and the guest appearances.

I can't say I've really enjoyed watching any of this season. The series has lost most of its charm. I vote to replace some of the cast or bin it.