User Reviews

Having been dismissed from UCOS, Brian is convinced by Esther to look for her friend Margaret Kirby's lost brother Peter Sale, who vanished six years ago.

Fantastic episode, I have truly been blown away by this series so far, and this is another classic episode. First class mystery, it's essentially a case where Brian and Esther take on The UCOS team. Well paced, it builds well, and the solution wasn't one I'd expected.

Rosalind Ayres and Art Malik were both excellent in their supporting roles, but it really was Alun Armstrong who stole the show here, how fitting that such an awesome character, and indeed actor bows out with such a major story.

I'm truly not sure how this show will carry on without Brian, how can they possibly replace him, and who with, it'll be interesting to see what happens next.

9/10.

This is an episode that doesn't exactly revolve around the Laine's but we do get to see more of Esther as well as Brian than usual.

Esther has previously been seen naturally wondering what Brian has let him in for, well given that it is Brian we are talking about that's common sense.

But here we see Esther not content for Brian to be able to settle into retirement, as she specifically tells a friend from a book club that Brian will help her with her problem.

Esther it is who has drawn Brian into an investigation that she, has no way of knowing what its actually about or what's involved. Here Brian is totally on his tod with no UCOS team behind him to watch his back, until Esther acting as a Miss Marple comes looking for him.

Esther in the end has the brass neck to say of Brian that "he needs me around to see that he doesn't get into trouble". When it was Esther herself who brought the whole trouble, to their door in the first place.

And Esther never seems to learn certainly nothing, from the scrapes she had inadvertently involved Brian in. Esther even looks for problems in the local rag to get her teeth into. Brian, "but I've retired", Esther, "I haven't".

Brian is officially fired, and with free time, is asked to find the missing Brother of a friend of his wife. Simple enough, but the case quickly gets dangerous, and turns out to be mixed with a UCOS investigation.

It's a fun episode, watching Brian follow clues separately from UCOS, and the solving of both cases is unexpected and a bit of a shock: I'll leave out the details to avoid spoiling anything.

If you watch this show in chronological order, this episode is where the feel really changes, it is clear that Brian was a core of the show in many ways, Danny greatly changes the feel of the group and the show from here on out.

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.

Like what was said for "The Sins of the Father", "The Little Brother" is still one of the best Season 10 episodes and one of the last "great" episodes of 'New Tricks' before it started not feeling the same. There is little wrong here, other than that it occasionally got a little over-complicated in places.

As said Jack is much missed and added a huge part to 'New Tricks', but luckily Steve is a nice addition settled in incredibly well, he feels part of the team and it is like he has been there for longer. The dynamic in the team feels more settled and accepting generally and Denis Lawson continues to add a good deal in his own way. Love Brian and Esther's scenes too. This was a sad reminder of how in the rest of the show's run Brian is even more missed than Jack and that the lack of Alun Armstrong left such a huge hole.

The case is never less than intriguing and fun with a surprising denouement.

Visually, "The Little Brother" 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, which is so entertaining and charming with some nice tension.

Denis Lawson, Dennis Waterman and Amanda Redman all give their reliably strong performances, while Susan Jameson is ever splendid as Esther and the support is solid. Alun Armstrong, and his ingenious balance of quirks, funny yet endearing comic timing and poignant pathos, is the star of the episode.

Overall, great episode and a worthy if sad swansong to Brian. 9/10 Bethany Cox

We've followed up and watched the next season...partially. With Jack and now Brian gone from the cast, it all falls to Gerry to carry the storylines, the squad's investigations, and the humor. Too big of a task for just one man. Brian was the spirit of the team, which means they are now left being just another British police procedural. No thanks.

The last few episodes of Brian going off the rails constantly and doing whatever he wants were ponderous. Brian should be in a mental hospital not running spontaneous investigations of people he is too lazy to check out. Not to mention that he spends the entire episode gumming things up, and then giving information to the actual killer who is using Brian like the tool he is.

The UCOS team never think it might be a bad idea to go visit a guy who is in witness protection, and in the middle of testifying in a criminal case? They never consider that keeping Brian in the loop might be a bad idea, considering all the unprofessional things Brian has done in the past few episodes?

In the past seasons Brian's mental illness lead to some issues, but now Brian just does whatever he wants, and he has no consideration for his former colleagues at UCOS. Brian was an eccentric and entertaining character until this season. But now Brian is very selfish, mentally unstable, unpredictable, and dishonest to his wife and to UCOS. Too bad Jack left. He was a classy guy, and he was a lot better team player than Brian.