This episode concerns flashy gangster Gerald Bishop (with a great performance from Alfred Marks) whom Regan has been trying to nail for years... just as he's about to get his man, Bishop sneaks out of the country on a boat to his French Riviera retreat.
But Bishop does have a weak spot - his love for his beloved dog Archimedes, who he's left behind in kennels with the hope of a flunkey covertly delivering him back to his master.
This story is probably my least favourite of all (even including the Morecambe & Wise episode), and stands out like a sore thumb in what was a very strong first season, packed with classic stories.
It's almost as if the scriptwriter hasn't fully grasped the concept of the show, and it's played mostly for laughs.
Brian Glover does well as Bishop's hapless flunkey, but it all feels a bit laboured and unbelievable.
The best part for me was the running gag concerning Haskins' expensive 'listening device' - the banter between he and Regan being genuinely funny and in keeping with the show.
There's quite an unpleasant event though towards the end (off-camera) that that would leave even the most hardcore Sweeney viewer feeling pretty disgusted - it certainly did for me.
All in all, a pretty tame episode that is in no way representative of what this great show could do.
But Bishop does have a weak spot - his love for his beloved dog Archimedes, who he's left behind in kennels with the hope of a flunkey covertly delivering him back to his master.
This story is probably my least favourite of all (even including the Morecambe & Wise episode), and stands out like a sore thumb in what was a very strong first season, packed with classic stories.
It's almost as if the scriptwriter hasn't fully grasped the concept of the show, and it's played mostly for laughs.
Brian Glover does well as Bishop's hapless flunkey, but it all feels a bit laboured and unbelievable.
The best part for me was the running gag concerning Haskins' expensive 'listening device' - the banter between he and Regan being genuinely funny and in keeping with the show.
There's quite an unpleasant event though towards the end (off-camera) that that would leave even the most hardcore Sweeney viewer feeling pretty disgusted - it certainly did for me.
All in all, a pretty tame episode that is in no way representative of what this great show could do.