For each episode all the Director had to do was say - This is the bit where you walk on and be angry with the team - this is the bit where you walk in and praise the team - this is the bit in the pub where you walk on and say thank you. Basically that's all the poor actor had to do.
shareIt's always enjoyable to watch the episodes where he was more involved and he does have the advantage of leaving the audience wanting more. If you don't have a lead part, sometimes the next best thing is to be the character we slowly learn more about and want to see more often.
I'm just sorry they couldn't come up with a spin off series, but I suppose his rank would require the same kind of show where he's a small part of it.
Yes a spin off would have been tricky. Where he did have a bigger part I enjoyed him in the barge collision mystery when he eventually became president of the local club.
I was never quite sure what the other characters really thought of him.
I noticed in another post you've recently discovered the series, so I'm not sure if you've seen all of the episodes or not. There are a fair number of them where Strickland is more involved (something to look forward to perhaps?)
We do know the team had to serve under two Deputy Assistant Commissioners who were much worse so I imagine they were very suspicious of Strickland being just another pain the rear. My impression as the show goes on is that they grudgingly start to give him respect, but like any manager level boss he often seems to be working against them (their opinion) so it's hard for them to see him as part of the team.
As viewers we at least get a glimpse of the things he does to help them, and there's the hints of the pressures he's under from higher ups. I really enjoyed the episodes involving Stephen Fisher which are really more about Strickland and Fisher who would be great for a spin off series.
Hi am working through the series but not in exact chronological order. Unfortunately my series link is a bit suspect and it failed to record many of the later series repeats on BBC 1 and two other digital channels (Alibi and Drama) (Thank you Virgin Media for supplying me with a secondhand box)
Another problem is that Alibi are showing each episode in a one hour slot which means that to allow for adverts they must be editing out 15 minutes or so. As a result I am ignoring their transmissions and concentrating on the Drama channel which is allowing one hour and twenty minutes for each episode.
I think I've only seen one episode featuring Stephen Fisher although because he's played by the wonderful Tim McInnerny I might be confusing it with one of his appearances in Spooks.
Yes I think there is some grudging respect - although not perhaps from Standing who always feels free to mouth his opionion.
To be honest I might as well buy the box set and watch them all from the very start. On the subject of box sets I have just received the complete 4 series of Special Branch (1969 - 1974) to keep me occupied during the winter months.
It might be a bit before your time but the last 2 series were made by Euston films who went on to make The Sweeney and Minder - both of course with the enjoyable character actor Dennis Waterman- our Mr Standing.
It's not a bad idea to have the entire series. I did opt for the box set for the same reason - I was catching episodes without knowing what order they were in - being able to watch them in order helped a lot and I consider it one of the series worth watching again.
I always enjoy Tim McInnerny as the buffoon (Black Adder), and appreciate his ability to play drama, although I've only seen him do it in Edge of Darkness and New Tricks. His character in New Tricks is wonderful and fortunately they didn't overuse him (would have changed the premise of the show.)
It's true Standing remained the one to always complain about Strickland, but he complains about a lot of things and sometimes gives the impression he doesn't really mean what he says - if you do buy the set it will be interesting to hear what you think about their relationship at the end.
I do thank you for making me research another series (Special Branch.) My time goes back to when color was not an option for television but I didn't get hooked on British shows/movies until the mid 70s, so there are many good shows I missed (had to rely on PBS back then.)
You're certainly very interested in UK drama to a much deeper extent than I've come across before. I guess having IMDB helps so you can track your favorite actor's career through the years and find out information about old and current series.
I've always liked American TV output. We did have American TV shows in the UK in the 1960's - I remember Casey Jones - Whirlybirds - Ripcord on the children's TV slot - but the widespread invasion didn't really start until the late 1960's - early 70's. Luckily most was of a decent quality which were very slickly made and relatively high budgets compared to our homegrown output.
Whereas in the 1960's UK series 'The Saint' - with Roger Moore - going on location to the South of France meant sticking a palm tree and a French signpost outside a UK hotel on the seaside - US shows actually went to where the episode was set (except in Star Trek of course)
If you do see any episodes of Special Branch they really are a passport into the past. When they were made - 1969 - 1974 there was no internet - no home computers - mobile phones. This meant that the plots could hinge on a moment where - for example - a public telephone box is out of order - so a vital call cannot be made. Modern series have to rely on the mobile phone being out of charge or the network being mysteriously down.
I wonder what TV series (if they exist as the young might all be living their lives in virtual reality) in 30 years time will be like.
There will certainly be human like A.I around and human like robots. Reality shows of life on Mars could be being beamed to us.
As for the older generation (like me - if I haven't snuffed it) I will probably be in a care home. Sounds boring but by then superfast quantum computers will be able to create a type of holodeck experience where you can actually step into any of your favourite TV shows of the past and become a passive character within them.
You could share a laugh with Standing or even go planet hoping with Kirk and co. Of course with totally life like graphics new episodes of any old show could be created so New Tricks could go on forever. Standing would probably complain though,
When I recommend any show to others it is generally British. Over here our shows are flashier, but if not copies of other shows, they are usually predictable (drama) or the humor is based on demeaning others - including supposed friends (British shows sometimes lean that way I guess.)
I have to admit I first got hooked by British comedies - had to go with what PBS offered. The few exceptions offered that I did enjoy were things like Blake's 7, I, Claudius, Connections and All Things Great and Small (I'd read the books, the show was perfect.) Edge of Darkness came later, but by that time I was seeking out British shows/movies.
Life on Mars probably describes my taste best - the American version had more recognizable references (some poorly done), but the British original was better once I searched some of the references and had a much better ending.
It seems probable we will both be in care homes before the major breakthroughs arrive but maybe we will have a chance to see continuations of our favorites. I'd probably want to edit some of New Tricks minor continuity errors, but they don't detract from the episodes so it would be wasting precious time.
I will up the ante and suggest we could go planet hopping with Pullman and co - at least in the virtual world. I'm not sure I'd want Bryan to handle the teleport though.
It's interesting that you mention 'Friends' and demeaning humour. I've never actually found 'Friends' at all funny - it just comes across as self satisfied with each character taking it turn to be put down.
I hope you watched the British version of 'The Office' which is cruelly funny.
On some of the shows you've mentioned - although the budgets may have been limited (or in the case of Blake's 7 there was no budget) they were all a triumph of acting and intelligent scripts.
Regarding 'Connections' I guess you're referring to the technology mini series presented by James Burke. This was a must in my household when I was growing up as my Dad had originally trained to be a scientist before joining the patent office (no his surname wasn't Einstein)
Life in Mars was excellent - I haven't seen the American version for a comparison - but it brought back memories of the era of when I was a teenager. Having ridden in some of the cars featured I can confirm they were awful compared to modern vehicles - but they did have charm. I guess the huge gas guzzlers that would have been featured in your version might hold equal charm?
Regarding continuity errors -you'll always get a few. About a year or so ago a digital channel actually created one by mixing up the segments of an episode of ST TNG. To be honest many fans might not have even noticed.
Byran would be an interesting choice the teleport operator. Everything would have to be 'just so' (not sure you have this expression in the States) - however if he had one of his turns - I'm not sure where the team's atoms would end up.
Yes, I did mean James Burke and I do wish the schools had teachers like him. I was hooked as soon as he explained the great northeast loss of power wasn't a malfunction and that it happened because everything worked exactly as it was expected to - and that was just the beginning of his amazing connections.
I actually saw our Life on Mars first and as the first version you see will usually remain the favorite, when I saw the original I knew this side of the pond had done a poor imitation (good, but not great.) I was really glad when attempt to redo Red Dwarf failed - watching the pilot episode, it would have been terrible.
Maybe Blake's 7 is the best example of why British shows are so good. The show had some really bad scripts and even then the actors made it worth watching - the good scripts made the show a must watch.
I've favored British shows so much even I don't know if 'just so' is an expression here - it is for me, but maybe not for others. The nicest thing about IMDB is when a phrase is confusing and the net doesn't give an answer, there are always people here who can (such as yourself.)
I'm actually surprised no one else has joined the conversation. I assume New Tricks was popular over there. Here I guess it depends on how many caught it on PBS which has always aired British television but recently they seem to focus on a limited number of shows - they used to play anything they could get their hands on - but I can't complain, they alerted me to this show, Foyle's War, Death in Paradise and Luther (even if the show probably should have been called Alice.)
And New Tricks allowed me to see Cherie Lunghi as she is now, plus it's a good episode.
I've looked on wiki about the powercut. Everything did function as it should except where man himself intervened bu putting an incorrect setting on a power relay. 30.000.000 people in the dark - but not nearly as many who are in the 'dark' now about what Clinton and Trump actually intended to do if either of them get into power.
Regarding Life on Mars versions - there was a dreadful Hollywood remake of an excellent film called 'The Vanishing' Now people who had never seen the 1988 version thought the 1993 remake was really good. I suppose my biggest fear would be if any of them went and watched the 88 version and still thought the remake was better.
Blakes 7 was blessed with colourful character actors who could transcend poor scripts and cardboard spaceships.
Having good characters appears to be something that has been forgotten about by some film makers. Take Total Recall. The 1990 version almost looked like a comic strip at times with garish colours - action - and standout characters (I loved the performance by Roy Baker as the shifty Bob McClane in the Recall office).
Flash forward to 2012 and we just got a generic hero and dull washed out 'futuristic' looking sets with dull (also washed out) people.
Normally when IMDB users see a long conversation they jump in to express their own views
but not so the case here as yet.
If you want to see a really good performance by a then young Cherie Lunghi 1983's 'Praying Mantis' or 1981's Excalibur.
The two examples that always come to my mind are the original Time Machine, which given a romantic angle was required, was almost as good as the book, with a remake that makes me wonder why they bothered. Then there was Bedazzled where once again we messed up a British (cult?) classic.
Somewhat related to New Tricks, I'm wondering if living over there you've seen more of Tamzin Outhwaite - so far I've only watched her in Paradox and New Tricks and am having trouble figuring out why I dislike her in both. In Tricks she seemed fine in one episode (no spoiler - you'll know it when you see it.)
In Paradox I can't place all the blame on her - for me Emun Elliott was the only main character who was interesting.
The remake of The Time machine was very poor especially with the tacked on 'Hollywood' time blast at the end which defied all known laws of physics. The original had charm - and despite the basic special effects - portrayed time travel more interestingly.
The time machine in the original of course did not break the laws of physics :)
I haven't seen much of Tamzin Outhwaite but she did perform very well in her fist appearance in New Tricks as a tennis obsessed mother. I think buy the time she took over on the lead role the magic of the series had already gone. 2003 - 2015 is a long run for any series though.
I never watched Paradox - probably because I was working on an extremely tough project at the time the series was shown - and was getting home late in the evening with my main concern being getting some sleep.
Interestingly when I first typed in Paradox a feature film came up - but it's been hammered by most user reviews.
Yes, the tennis obsessed mother was the exception and because she did play it so well it makes me wonder even more why she seems wrong (to me) in the other roles. Paradox was a great premise the writers didn't seem to be prepared to work with - instead they wasted time piling bad moods on the police team (including Tamzin), which might have worked if we found out the team was made up of incompetent police the higher ups didn't know what to do with. The scientist held it together through the few episodes, but then he was the one we had to be interested in since he was the only one who might solve the mystery.
Her seasons in New Tricks I'd blame on the writers but the scripts really don't seem to be the problem - the cases are still interesting, the characters much less so. They seem somewhat interesting as individuals, not at all as a team plus she seems to have magic shoes that transform into whatever she needs to be wearing for a scene (something I could have accepted in Paradox.)
You're right on the Time Machine. I thought the relationship with Weena in the book was more probable, but in casting Yvette Mimieux they really couldn't stick to the book, and the movie did add in the mystery of the books he took with him.
How nice it was when special effects were something to be tacked on, not the focus of a movie.
Some roles just do not work out even for good actors. Tamzin is a good actor but her predecessor had made the role her own in New Tricks - as had the others - so she just didn't feel right for the part.
It would have been interesting to see how the series would have fared with the final season actors starting out in season one. I think it would have failed because - as mooted by your post - there was no team chemistry.
I don't think the effects in the original Time Machine film were tacked on as such - it's that they were actually part of - and added to - the story. I felt a real sense of wonder as the machine travelled through time.
In the remake - the effects were just perfunctory - so as to say 'look how clever we can be with a computer'
I would like to see another version of this H G Wells classic with charm - an intelligent script and a truly creative time travel sequence.
Tamzin's performance as the tennis mom was excellent, so I'm probably being too harsh on her second try playing a police officer.
It was a shame the writers didn't seem to get something going - they really should have treated the later shows as a reboot. The first team has the chemistry, the back stories and aside from a few odd moments the show was very close to perfect. There were a few episodes where I had to wonder if the script writer had ever watched the show, but as stand alone episodes they were fine.
The new team seemed let down by the attempts at a back stories. In the case of Steve his was just dropped. Danny had a perfect one to explain his constantly pained look, but they reworked it in a way that made him seem a bit less sympathetic. Ted's point of interest was telegraphed so when it came out it wasn't a surprise. Note: I am avoiding spoilers.
But then I wasn't happy with what the writers did to Sandra - lots of issues with the way she left. The premise was plausible enough, yet it had serious issues for the future (not that we need to care since she's gone, but we still do.)
A well done Time Machine would be nice, but then we already have one, so they'd probably have to do the whole book to make it worthwhile. Maybe they could film The Time Ships - the book started and ended in the same style as the original story, so all they would need to do is cut out some of the unnecessary stuff from the middle. At least it was the sequel authorized by Wells' estate.
And now a question I believe you can answer: there have been several British shows that show or refer to pub trivia quizzes (including New Tricks.) Is it something many or all pubs do, or is it something you need to find the right one?
It seems like a great way to increase profits, but I don't think we have them here, not even in the British themed taverns. I could be wrong since I don't frequent them.
To answer your question on pub quizzes first - they were very popular in the 1990's when pubs were pubs. By this I mean that many pubs or 'locals' - to use the colloquial term -nowadays concentrate more on food because there is more money to be made.
I can't say how many held them - but if it was a pub that was supported by drinkers from the local community then there's a good chance they would have held quiz nights to encourage patronage.
My local during the 90's was the pub outside my bank - it was a bit of a dive (another colloquial term) but it held quiz evenings and Karaoke nights (I'm once did and impersonation of Tom Jones to 'It's not unusual - my reward? A wet teatowel was thrown at me)
I know of Stephen Baxter because I read his joint novel 'The light of other days' written with Arthur C Clarke but certainly haven't read this book 'The Time Ships' . I've looked it up on Wiki and it does appear to be somewhat convoluted. I don't think it would make a good film despite its connection with the Well's novel.
Going back to New Tricks - as mentioned - my series link failed so I have seen much of the final two series and certainly not the episode where Pullmann is written out. Once they're repeated I will catch up with them as I still enjoyment in old cases being cracked even if the new team's faces look as though they've been frozen with cocain.
Pub quizzes seem like a good idea even if the focus is on food, but maybe they aren't quite what I'm imagining. I go to a dive bar at least once a week for the food and while there are times when others join me, there's no pressure to have a group. Of course we don't have the quizzes so maybe the effort to form a team wouldn't increase business enough. I did notice the shows that include them do make it seem like there is a quiz fan base, yet as you indicate, I don't recall any episodes of any show that showed the teams eating meals.
At least it was only a wet tea towel - can't imagine the kinds of things people would throw at me if I attempted Karaoke.
The Time Ships would either have to be a series or have the majority of the books omitted (preferably the middle.) The beginning reads a lot like the original and the end wouldn't really work with fans of the original movie. For those who only read the original book they might like the ending which I believe is well done (predictable though.)
Good point about the new team. The same can probably be said of the original team. For me the difference is the cases are interesting, the new characters, not at all - they have their moments, but from one episode to the next I never really cared how things were going to work out for them. Steve was initially, then it was like they replaced him with the clone of Steve - the personality changed, the back story dropped in favor of a new one.