New Tricks (TV Series) Old and Cold (2005) User Reviews

A light story, but an enjoyable episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 15 November 2021]

A Tabloid editor approaches Sandra, with a very big scandal in the making, TV cook, and national treasure Kitty Campbell is accused of murdering her husband forty years before.

It is a good episode, and my score of 7 may seen a little unfair, but I will try to justify it. This second series has so far had me captivated, superb stories, cracking mysteries, gritty, with a degree of humour, this was perhaps a little too light. It's lovely, it's fun, it just doesn't have some of the intensity, it's still a very good watch, and explores some interesting themes, such as being gay in the 1960's.

I did enjoy the side story of Esther's woes, what a lovely actress, and just perfect for the part, her scenes with Brian in particular were terrific. Armstrong here, fabulous, he's a tremendous actor.

Credit here to Honor Blackman, it did make me chuckle this she's supposed to be 65 here, I checked it out, she was 80 here, she looks absolutely incredible.

7/10.

Justine Mitchell excellent in his episode

[safenoe · 9/10 · 23 July 2017]

Justine Mitchell features at the end of this episode as a pharmacy expert, helping UCOS solve the mysterious death of the husband of a celebrity chef played by Honor Blackman. The UCOS team are gelling as we get into season 2, and we also see more about the relationship between Brian and Esther. Esther is played by Susan Jameson, who in real life is the wife of James Bolam, who of course plays Jack Halford!

The ending was a bit ambiguous, and a follow-up episode would have been helpful.

Unusual case to solve, watching UCOS do it is interesting

[scsaxe · 8/10 · 2 May 2022]

UCOs gets to answer a question, was a death accidental, or murder? It's an unusual case in that no physical evidence exists, and many usual sources of evidence like witnesses don't really apply, so instead they must look at circumstances surrounding the death and see if a murder actually took place. Makes for a unique, interesting episode.

Also helping is Brian and Esther's interaction. Esther got injured, and Brian tries to take care of her, but the results show a lot about the characters, and pushes Brian in unexpected ways.

'New Tricks' hasn't gotten old, and there is nothing cold about this episode

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 12 January 2018]

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.

Season 2 up to this early point, as well as 'New Tricks' in general, has been good to great. "Old and Cold" is not quite among my favourite 'New Tricks' episodes but to me it's among the better Season 2 episodes. By this point, 'New Tricks' had fully hit its stride, now fully settled with the familiar mix of humour and serious mystery fully established.

Wasn't crazy about the ambiguity of the ending, but that's all that didn't quite work for me.

Visually, "Old and Cold" looks lovely, with a brighter look but never garish and always slick and stylish. 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. The rapport between Sandra and Chris is classic 'New Tricks' humour.

Story is compelling, with its fair share of surprising twists and skeletons in the closet conflict, and lively, but never rushed, pacing.

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.

Anthony Calf has settled in very nicely, and Stephen Tompkinson, especially in his chemistry with Redman, Susan Jameson (here essential to the solving of the crime) and Honor Blackman are especially good in support.

In summary, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Unbeatable chemistry

[ArtVandelayImporterExporter · 9/10 · 15 February 2024]

Kitty Campbell, Britain's answer to Martha Stewart, is about to be made a dame of the realm. Meanwhile, a scandal rag is working on a story that Kitty murdered her husband. Honor Blackman, still a fetching woman at her age, guest stars.

UCOS is on the case.

The A plot is fairly straightforward, which is a refreshing change for New Tricks. As a bonus, we get Viktor Spinetti in a memorable turn as the ghey lover of the late Mr. Campbell.

But the magic of this episode lies in the chemistry among the UCOS team, not at work, but domestically. You see, Brian's wife Esther cuts her hand washing dishes, faints, konks her head, and ends up in hospital. Sent home to recuperate, she's at the mercy of Brian's bumbling. Alan and Gerry take turns stepping up as grocery shoppers, nurses and cooks. It culminates in a dinner for five in Esther's bedroom, with Esther chipping in with some detective work, so to speak. Might be my favorite scene of the entire series so far. Well, if it's not the dinner scene, it's the one right before it, where Brian confesses he has taken Esther for granted. To say more would wreck it. Except that Susan Jameson as Esther is proving to be the heart and soul of the series at this point. Alun Armstrong as Brian matches her shot for shot in that scene.

If you've never seen a single episode of New Tricks, this would be a decent place to start.

More corruption amongst the police

[fthomas-23110 · 1/10 · 1 December 2023]

I am rewatching this series and can see things I never noticed before. The woman in charge is a bigoted corrupt member of the police, and in this episode we see her leaking information to the press. The woman being investigated tells the policewoman, she is a traitor to female solidarity, and to compete with men see sold out her femininity. I think this encapsulates her perfectly.

Why are we supposed to believe the actors a British favourites: Bolan was a has been for years, Armstrong had a few medium profile parts in films, otherwise nothing, Waterman could never recapture the fame he had in Minder and The Sweeney, in this he is just an embittered old man playing a very embittered old man.