User Reviews

Like other episodes this season, has an all right mystery and some out of work stuff, but is missing a little bit from the better episodes, might be a personal thing where the lookalike story just doesn't grab me for whatever reason. Steve going a little gaga for celebrity is kind of fun, but otherwise this doesn't have as memorable character work as some others.

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.

'New Tricks', as indicated a fair number of times, was past its prime/glory days by Season 12, when there was a whole new team that were charming enough but didn't sparkle anywhere near as much. Season 12 was still watchable enough though but it took some getting used to. "The Fame Game" is a decent episode, albeit not a great one.

While not as interesting as any member of the original team, Ted is more settled and Larry Lamb plays him well. The team dynamic charms and amuses and feels more natural, again though it doesn't sparkle and feels a touch stale.

The case holds one's attention and is interesting and not confusing or simplistic. The solution didn't quite add up for me for the main reason mentioned in the previous review, some suspension of disbelief is needed. The personal stories are nicely done on their own but not all of them add much, Sasha's is a bit soapy and it is one of those situations that while relatable has been portrayed better elsewhere.

"The Fame Game" is not without its amusing moments and also enjoyed Steve's role in the episode.

Visually, "The Fame Game" 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 thought-provoking and amusing enough, if somewhat stale by now.

Good performances from the whole cast, whatever reservations to be had about the chemistry it's not the fault of the actors but the writing.

On the whole, decent but not great episode. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The chemistry between the 3 current old heads is far superior than the chemistry between the 3 originals. I thought this show would become garbage when Gerry left, but it has markedly improved with Ted as the new addition. The addition of an oddball type was sorely needed since the departure of Brian Lane. I like these three. If the show continued with this combination, I think it would have grown to be as popular as the original inception.

The UCOS team look into the murder of married couple Anna and Jim Briggs, a couple that worked for a look alike agency, and were found dead back in 2002.

I think this is one of the better later episodes, it's a very clever plot, it's well acted, and for the first time you see some real chemistry between the three team members, the wardrobe assembly scene was great.

Lawson is excellent, and you really get a sense of Steve's financial woes, it's been a common thread throughout, well played.

I'm a fan of Eva Pope and Michael Higgs, we soon as I saw the names, I shouted one of those will be the killer, they're both great villains, question is, was one of them guilty?

I don't know why, but I kept hearing Gerry, Larry Lamb sounds so much like him it's unreal, it would have really worked so well if it had been a Gerry story, you could imagine him being football player dazzled.

8/10.