The UCOS team is assigned to find out what happened
a physics professor who allegedly knew the key to "cold
fusion" and was abducted from a train and disappeared
for years. The trail was cold until mysterious emails claim
that the author of the emails knew what happened to the
professor. Everything thing appears to be an illusion and
lead to very skilled hacker called "ninetails". It will be more
than worth your time to see this episode. (There is no "I" in
team.)
7 Reviews
Keeps you guessing
safenoe5 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Stephen Fisher (Tim McInnerny) is introduced here, and he has a mysterious background who enjoys lunches at exclusive clubs. He's also an acquaintance of DAC Strickland. Rebecca (Lewis) Front is in this episode.
I was very impressed by the filming of the final scenes in the tube. The logistics of this reminded me of The Bourne Supremacy. I wonder how many extras were involved in the production? Also I saw a promotional poster of The Lincoln Lawyer in the tube.
Also one of the compelling characters is Alice Fox who comes across as a feisty supporter of lesbian rights with a major chip on her shoulder, and would prefer to dwell on racial injustices rather to detract from the suppression of LGTBI fights. Alice should have come back for a future episode, but not to be.
I was very impressed by the filming of the final scenes in the tube. The logistics of this reminded me of The Bourne Supremacy. I wonder how many extras were involved in the production? Also I saw a promotional poster of The Lincoln Lawyer in the tube.
Also one of the compelling characters is Alice Fox who comes across as a feisty supporter of lesbian rights with a major chip on her shoulder, and would prefer to dwell on racial injustices rather to detract from the suppression of LGTBI fights. Alice should have come back for a future episode, but not to be.
A classic episode.
Sleepin_Dragon23 August 2021
In 2004 Professor McKenna vanishes off a train, a prominent scientist in possession of some invaluable information.
It's a wonderful episode, as close to a thriller as the show ever got. There is nothing soft or light here, it's a wonderfully clever story, with a very gritty tone, and one very nasty scene. No wonder this is the highest rated episode of this series.
I loved the opening scenes, it only got better from there on in, I genuinely had no clue of the outcome, it does come as a surprise.
Great cast, who are all at the top of their game, Rebecca Front, Shaun Williamson and of course the wonderful Tim McInnerny.
Classic, 10/10.
It's a wonderful episode, as close to a thriller as the show ever got. There is nothing soft or light here, it's a wonderfully clever story, with a very gritty tone, and one very nasty scene. No wonder this is the highest rated episode of this series.
I loved the opening scenes, it only got better from there on in, I genuinely had no clue of the outcome, it does come as a surprise.
Great cast, who are all at the top of their game, Rebecca Front, Shaun Williamson and of course the wonderful Tim McInnerny.
Classic, 10/10.
MOST INTRIGUING & BEST EPISODE EVER!
plasmapilot-9739813 August 2022
My favorite episode of all time! I was especially fascinated by this particular theme because the BBC really knows how to portray the "SPY GENRE" well. Unfortunately the sound volume was erratic & CC was uncharacteristically unavailable. Also couldn't download for easy reviewing . The storyline held my attention thoroughly with it's mysterious details & I'm rewatching now to catch missed details because it's stuffed with plot twists! Love this series.
UCOS tangles with the spy world, comes out well
scsaxe1 May 2022
A man disappears from a train. Sounds weird, but gets weirder: the witnesses never existed, several records have been changed, and there's no trace whatsoever of this man afterwards. Now the man's wife is being sent strange emails. Something seriously spooky is going on here, and UCOS investigates.
UCOs does a plausible job of putting together seemingly thin clues and solving the case. Characters are appropriate for a spooky spy mystery type plot, including Strickland's former something or other Stephen Fisher, who will appear in a couple episodes next season. He story is tied up nicely in an exciting sequence at the end.
UCOs does a plausible job of putting together seemingly thin clues and solving the case. Characters are appropriate for a spooky spy mystery type plot, including Strickland's former something or other Stephen Fisher, who will appear in a couple episodes next season. He story is tied up nicely in an exciting sequence at the end.
The mystery of the vanishing gentleman
TheLittleSongbird16 February 2018
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 Gentleman Vanishes" is a particularly wonderful episode of the eighth season, which continues 'New Tricks' generally very high standard. The story is continually gripping and the intrigue and twists prevent it from being predictable with an unexpected ending.
Visually, "The Gentleman Vanishes" 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 intelligent, thought-provoking and classy, while also being very funny and high up in the entertainment value. This is all mixed adeptly with a seriousness without being overly so that it doesn't feel like 'New Tricks'.
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 is typically great as Strickland and there are particularly solid supporting performances from Tim McInnerny and Rebecca Front.
Overall, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox
'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 Gentleman Vanishes" is a particularly wonderful episode of the eighth season, which continues 'New Tricks' generally very high standard. The story is continually gripping and the intrigue and twists prevent it from being predictable with an unexpected ending.
Visually, "The Gentleman Vanishes" 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 intelligent, thought-provoking and classy, while also being very funny and high up in the entertainment value. This is all mixed adeptly with a seriousness without being overly so that it doesn't feel like 'New Tricks'.
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 is typically great as Strickland and there are particularly solid supporting performances from Tim McInnerny and Rebecca Front.
Overall, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Disappointing, Disjointed, Disrespectful
scottjtepper30 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When the original actors started bailing out after Season 8 the press attributed it to the poor quality of scripts. This script is one of them. The plot is nonsensical, the main events are not explained, and the resolution is idiotic.
What actually happened to the professor? Why was Whitehall involved? In what way was Whitehall involved? Who is A. Fox and what does she have to do with anything? Why is the professor's wife getting emails? What's the purpose of the emails?
None of this is answered. Lazy writing and, possibly, a second episode that didn't get made for some reason. The final scenes tying everything up just left more questions.
When something like this happens it's disappointing. Especially because the previous 60 or so episodes were fairly well written and had actual plots. When there are so many ends that don't get tied up, the script is disjointed. And leaving this steaming unfinished mess as part of the canon is just disrespectful to the audience. No wonder the series fell apart in Season 9.
The 9s and 10 for this episode are puzzling to say the least.
What actually happened to the professor? Why was Whitehall involved? In what way was Whitehall involved? Who is A. Fox and what does she have to do with anything? Why is the professor's wife getting emails? What's the purpose of the emails?
None of this is answered. Lazy writing and, possibly, a second episode that didn't get made for some reason. The final scenes tying everything up just left more questions.
When something like this happens it's disappointing. Especially because the previous 60 or so episodes were fairly well written and had actual plots. When there are so many ends that don't get tied up, the script is disjointed. And leaving this steaming unfinished mess as part of the canon is just disrespectful to the audience. No wonder the series fell apart in Season 9.
The 9s and 10 for this episode are puzzling to say the least.
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