User Reviews

Well I had to watch a box set so why not this?

This is light-hearted - rather than just played for laughs, episode .

It stars Reagan and Carter who are pitted against the formidable Mrs Rix (Diana Dors). That she could act is clear. A sparkling acting performance is illustrated when John and Di go head to head in the local nick! I loved this episode and dined in on the remaining programmes. Denis Waterman should be knighted me thinks, too late now for Thaw and Dors. Enjoy!

A large quantity of mercury has been stolen and one of Carter's informants puts Lukey Sparrow, a small-time crook, in the frame. Regan and Carter haul him in but don't make any headway: his alibis check out. In addition, Lukey is about to get married and his being hauled in means an encounter with his fearsome mother-in-law-to-be, Mrs Rix.

Probably the best episode of the show. This one has it all: an investigation based on a tip-off, the procedural aspect, the race against time as the cops and the head villain are out to find someone, some great action scenes, some very colourful characters and some great humour.

The perfect Sweeney episode.

Although THE SWEENEY final season's kickoff episode MESSENGER OF THE GODS is basically an outlet for former British Marilyn Monroe blonde bombshell Diana Dors to guest star in her then-present-time overweight boisterous persona, and the central guest star looks like a brat teenager who'd hang out with Leif Garrett in a disco, it's probably the best episode from the final run that had pretty much run its course...

By season/series four, THE SWEENEY got noticeably cheaper, taking place mostly indoors (and in more noticeable-looking sets) compared to the authentic exterior action of the earlier seasons; but MESSENGER belongs again to the gritty streets, and of John Thaw's Inspector Regan and his young protege sergeant Carter played by Dennis Waterman, the latter takes the most risks...

The best sequence involves Carter chasing a villain through the gritty London streets, back alleys and a dilapidated building while Regan does what he does best: threatening other culprits (including silent Droogie from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE Michael "Pete" Tarn) for enough evidence to sustain the ever-thickening plot-line...

Which involves that flaky kid about to marry the daughter of Diana Dors, his loud, tough and formidable mother-in-law while being implicated for a theft that occurred the same time he was cheating on his future wife, providing a pickle for both this token villain and THE SWEENEY itself, all running around in a ferociously addictive frenzy in another (and perhaps the last) theatrical-like episode.

The Sweeney was known for its hard edged violence and grittiness.

The start of the fourth series has a new title sequence and fans might be shocked by the comedy.

It opens with Regan practising a speech with some bad jokes. Regan should stick to nabbing villains.

One of them is lothario lucky Lukey Sparrow. He has been involved in the theft of thousands of pounds of mercury. Regan knows Lukey is involved but he has an alibi and no one can crack it.

Regan finds himself under pressure from Mrs Rix (Diana Dors) whose daughter is about to get married to Lukey. She blames Regan for ruining their big day.

There are also some other villains after Lukey, but somehow Lukey always ends up lucky.

It is Carter who gets some action, there is a moody scene as he looks for a thug that is trying to escape him. Regan seems to be scared of the fearsome Mrs Rix.

However it is not that good an episode. It feels like a Sweeney bloopers reel made for their Christmas party. Especially given the host of familiar names, most of them who seemed to have later turned up in Eastenders.