Differences with the Terry and Ray Daley years

I have noticed some people comparing and criticising the two different periods in Minder, involving Terry McCann and Ray Daley. I think the series is more enjoyable when you dont compare the two, even going so far as to look at the Ray Daley years as a type of 'spin off series' (which it was not by the way).

The Ray Daley years are markedly different from the Terry McCann years in tone and style. Dennis Waterman criticised his last couple of series of Minder in his autobiography as becoming too soft, which after recently viewing his final series, I agree with. I think the Ray Daley years were a concious decision to take the show in a different direction, which it indeed did. The first thing that strikes you is the eerie use of incidental music which is missing from the Terry McCann years. Another more literal reason for it's darker tone in my opinion was that all the Dennis Waterman episodes were filmed in summer where as the Ray Daley episodes were filmed in winter, giving it a more darker overcast effect. I also think the show had to change as Television dramas had become more tough and gritty.

The relationship is different too between Arthur and his new minder. As Ray is family, the realtionship is different, more intimate and we get to see a lot more about Arthurs life and past then we ever did with Terry McCann (no, we still dont get to see er'indoors).

Although I much prefer the early Terry McCann years, the Ray Daley years are not bad by any means.