User Reviews

The high quality of Series 8 continues with yet another high quality episode, the team investigate a cold case with an Albanian flavour, Who killed David Chelan?

A thoroughly enjoyable episode, it is so well written, so imaginative, the whole team are out to good use, Gerry's story is the best part of it for me, his culinary and lovestruck ventures.

The main issue, and it's only a minor one, is the accent of the wonderful Clive Russell, he's a terrific actor, but this one is straight out of Allo Allo, he'd have fitted in well at Cafe René as a Siberian mattress seller.

Wonderful to see Marcia Warren, what a tremendous actress she is, so natural, all with a glint in the eye, she's a national treasure.

8/10.

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.

"Lost in Translation" is not one of my favourite 'New Tricks' episodes, yet it still is very well done. The Gerry and Genevieve subplot seemed mainly there for making Gerry's personal life more interesting, and while it is sweet enough it doesn't add an awful lot to the story and distracts slightly.

The case still compels though with plenty of entertainment and intrigue if not many surprises.

Visually, "Lost in Translation" is slick and stylish as ever. The beautiful landscapes even make one of the show's most visually striking episodes. 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.

Susan Jameson typically is great support, and her chemistry with Armstrong continues to be a lot of fun while showing empathetic shades like any married couple would relate to. Everybody else is solid.

Overall, another very well done episode and doesn't let the consistently high standard set by the previous episodes. To me there has not been a bad episode up to this point, this and all the previous episodes have ranged from decent to outstanding. 8/10 Bethany Cox

An Albanian man is found to be a relative of a police forensics person, and the team reinvestigates the death. Which leads the team through Albanians in London in a number of forms. The story leads to an intense (in a good way) ending, connecting the various threads nicely.