Final appearance of Dennis Waterman as Terry and a well done episode although there is a feel of past storylines with this one.
By series seven the show was becoming a little tired which is highlighted with the generally poor series of 5 and 6.
By series 7 they are most certainly running out of new ideas so this episode along with some of the others from this series has a feel of regurgitated past storylines from earlier instalments.
This story has a dodgy property transaction involving local masons and involving Arthur's car lot and business for a price well under market value.
A feel of an earlier episode in series 5 ' the car lot baggers ' which also involves dodgy property transactions and the local police.
Some really good comedy moments and a well written story despite the feeling we have been here before.
It all has a feel of previous old school Minder episodes and rather than the central pair arguing in bitter fashion we get a very heart warming end scene which highlights the marvellous partnership between the Waterman and Cole .
9/10
2 Reviews
A Fitting Goodbye
ArtVandelayImporterExporter5 December 2023
Arthur Daley: "I am here to formally announce that I am going to retire."
Justin: "You just got here!"
Having said goodbye to George Cole (2015), Glynn Edwards (2018), Dennis Waterman (2022), as well as Rycott (Peter Childs,1989), it stills feels like this memorable, exemplary, unique television show "just got here."
I've read elsewhere that Dennis Waterman didn't announce his plan to leave the show until after Season 7 concluded. That's hard to believe since this episode has all the earmarks of a farewell episode for everyone concerned.
Arthur Daley finds himself owing so many people that when he gets an offer to buy his entire operation he jumps at it. And then starts flashing the money around. Of course, this is Minder, so there are plenty of complications.
The producers get most of the old band back together to help untangle matters: Peter Childs (Rycott), Michael Troughton (Melish), and Michael Povey (Jones to his former boss, DS Chisholm; Taffy to the locals on the estate) and even latter-day semi-recurring Mark Farmer (Justin) and Royce Mills (Arthur's accountant).
Daley clears his slate with Glynn Edwards (Dave) at The Winchester. Sells some dodgy merchandise to a guy in Leeds. And has the local bailliff trying to seize the car lot and lockup. Classic stuff.
The writers finally gave Jones his due as a diligent copper, as he works with Terry McCann to find a detective's resolution to Arthur's financial challenge (harkening back to Waterman's work on The Sweeney in the 70s).
Contrary to some of the reviewers, who clearly enjoyed the earlier series as much as I did, I feel the show actually got stronger over the years. Yes, it lost the swearing, partial nudity, and lots of the grit, but it never lost the story-telling and it gained a lot of comedy.
It was my favorite show since I first watched it as a teenager on a tiny B&W television on latenight Canadian TV in the early 80s. And it remains on top as I watch Series 1-7 on my Firestick as a nearly retired person.
Cole and Waterman even go out singing. I doff my trilby hat to anyone who ever had a hand in this remarkable television show.
Justin: "You just got here!"
Having said goodbye to George Cole (2015), Glynn Edwards (2018), Dennis Waterman (2022), as well as Rycott (Peter Childs,1989), it stills feels like this memorable, exemplary, unique television show "just got here."
I've read elsewhere that Dennis Waterman didn't announce his plan to leave the show until after Season 7 concluded. That's hard to believe since this episode has all the earmarks of a farewell episode for everyone concerned.
Arthur Daley finds himself owing so many people that when he gets an offer to buy his entire operation he jumps at it. And then starts flashing the money around. Of course, this is Minder, so there are plenty of complications.
The producers get most of the old band back together to help untangle matters: Peter Childs (Rycott), Michael Troughton (Melish), and Michael Povey (Jones to his former boss, DS Chisholm; Taffy to the locals on the estate) and even latter-day semi-recurring Mark Farmer (Justin) and Royce Mills (Arthur's accountant).
Daley clears his slate with Glynn Edwards (Dave) at The Winchester. Sells some dodgy merchandise to a guy in Leeds. And has the local bailliff trying to seize the car lot and lockup. Classic stuff.
The writers finally gave Jones his due as a diligent copper, as he works with Terry McCann to find a detective's resolution to Arthur's financial challenge (harkening back to Waterman's work on The Sweeney in the 70s).
Contrary to some of the reviewers, who clearly enjoyed the earlier series as much as I did, I feel the show actually got stronger over the years. Yes, it lost the swearing, partial nudity, and lots of the grit, but it never lost the story-telling and it gained a lot of comedy.
It was my favorite show since I first watched it as a teenager on a tiny B&W television on latenight Canadian TV in the early 80s. And it remains on top as I watch Series 1-7 on my Firestick as a nearly retired person.
Cole and Waterman even go out singing. I doff my trilby hat to anyone who ever had a hand in this remarkable television show.
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