User Reviews

A wanted man arrives in The UK, and gives Gerry a lead on a vicious shooting that occured back in 1987.

I thought this was a cracking episode, a really great character driven story. A strong mystery, where you're left wondering the outcome until the very end, plenty of suspects to consider.

It of course has some funny moments, that scene where Sandra is hosting the award is hilarious, it's a smashing mix of drama and comedy.

Amanda Redman looks stunning in that purple dress, a great episode for her, I love seeing her throw a punch.

An awesome cast here, it's hard to pick a standout, when you have Steven Berkoff, Gareth Hunt and Anton Lesser, you are spoilt for choice With talent.

Great episode, 9/10.

UCOS opens the file on an unsolved bank robbery that resulted in the death of the bank's chief of security.

That story's been told a million times. But in the previous tellings, we didn't get the quality of guest stars to play it out.

First comes wirey firecracker Anton Lesser as a convict on the lam. Busted out to attend his boy's 18th birthday party. He leads Gerry (Dennis Waterman) to some key evidence.

Then we get the charismatic Steven Berkoff as a former bank robber turned celebrity author and animal welfare activist. Supt Pullman takes the boys round to grill Berkoff and he barely flinches. That scene alone should have bagged Berkoff a BAFTA.

And finally.soft-spoken, elegent Gareth Hunt as the original investigating officer, in what appears to be his second-last screen appearance before succumbing to pancreatic cancer much too young.

Three very different actors, all blended together to enliven an age-old story. Not to be forgotten, the regulars also get some revealing moments. Standing's interactions with the guests imply he was, before UCOS, a good cop and a standup guy. Brian has a funny set piece illustrating how MP3 files can be cleaned up for better listening. Jack gets in an ironic memory about his late wife. And Ol' Pinch Face makes a presentation at The Heroes banquest, where police unironically self-gloss themselves for, um, doing the job they're paid to do.

Excellent episode all around. But re-watchable for the standout guest appearances, esp Berkoff.

This was a great episode since it was the first one I saw in full and it was so tits.

When police informant Pete MacKintyre returns to the UK for his son's 18th birthday after 17 years on the run, he leads Gerry to fresh evidence about an unsolved armed robbery in which a bank cashier was shot and killed. The police have long suspected the man behind the robbery to be known criminal Ray Cook, now a C-list celebrity and angry to be in UCOS's radar.

With MacKintyre's help, Gerry recovers a shotgun which Brian discovers is the audio of the robbery. The gun is a link to Ray Cook – but with a watertight alibi of being at his mother's deathbed on the day of the robbery, Cook is proving difficult to nail and even more difficult to track down to interview. Jack and Brian interview Geoff Lyons, a former security guard for the bank at the time of the robbery and an ex-copper. While Lyons is keen to point the finger at Cook, it becomes clear that this was not a one man operation.

Elsewhere, suspicious that Sandra is going on a date with DAC Strickland, the team follow her to the Hero of the Year awards. There, Gerry is confronted by an old colleague, Rob Petty and can barely disguise his disgust that Petty is attending as a nominated hero. There is clearly history between the two men but how will Gerry feel when his boss invites Petty to contribute to the case?

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.

"Bank Robbery" is yet another fine episode of 'New Tricks' and one of the best ones. The denouement, concerning who was responsible, was not a huge shock to me, suspected them once the team figured out how the crime could have been done and that more than one person was involved. The ending though was still well executed. case is still a strong one though, with fun and intriguing case solving, and Brian's subplot is very amusing.

Visually, "Bank Robbery" looks lovely, with a brighter look but never garish and always slick and stylish. 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. The Hero of the Year award scene is one of my favourite 'New Tricks' scenes. The story is fun, diverting and twisty.

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.

Anthony Calf has fully settled in, while Anton Lesser, Steven Berkoff and Gareth Hunt are strong in support.

Concluding, a fine episode and among Season 3's better ones. 9/10 Bethany Cox

One of Gerry's contacts comes back to England and gives him a stash of stuff, reopening the case of a bank robbery. The investigation is quite good, plus we get some funny moments between Gerry and another police commander..scratch that, we get lots of funny moments from Gerry. The case has a logical progression and is quite good to watch, with a hack of an ending.