A Touch of Frost (TV Series) Appendix Man (1999) User Reviews

Great return to form

[jamiecostelo58 · 8/10 · 29 November 2006]

David Jason returns as ever grumpy D.I. Frost after a two year break, although the story carries on only a month or so after Love Me Tender from Series 5. Jack struggles to come to terms with the tragic conclusion from the previous episode, while we also see the return of Hazel Wallace (now a D.S.), whose on the case of an art collector found dead. However, the case is not as simple as Hazel thinks....

This episode is a direct conclusion to Dead Male One from Series 3, but is the Appendix Man's identity finally revealed?

David Jason himself now became one of the Executive Producers of the show, and this episode kicked off new title music. The closing credits too no longer featured the well-known 'Frost trademark' saxophone piece that had been used since the beginning, but the show, as a whole, continues to be strong and believable, with terrific performances from everyone concerned.

Things can only get better

[safenoe · 8/10 · 9 September 2017]

Frost returns after a two year break, and as a reviewer commented, the two year break has been rather condensed in an unrealistic way but I guess that's the way it is. This episode acknowledges the beginning of the Blair era, with reference to the Labour PM in the episode.

Anyway, Cheryl Campbell plays Diana Grey, who becomes a focal point in the murder investigation of a homosexual art collector-cum- hospital porter. Interestingly, Frost refrains from making snide politically incorrect comments about the LGBTI community, which surprised me given Frost is politically incorrect and all that.

It's good to see Frost back, and the show went on for another 10 more seasons. Also wonderful to see Caroline Harker as Detective Sergeant Wallace. Caroline is married to Anthony Calf, who was excellent as DAC Strickland in New Tricks.

"Arrest Jack Frost"

[ygwerin1 · 8/10 · 10 July 2020]

Jack Frost is still understandably shell shocked after his recent experiences especially with the devastating loss of his fellow officer DS Barnard, and he has handed in his resignation mistakenly handing it to Superintendent Mullet.

Mullet is up for Promotion and after the Police Board Interview he has a chance discussion with a fellow high ranker, who asks after DI Frost and obliquely mentions a "Must Do" of keeping Station Records in order.

DS Wallace returns to Denton Nick and has to meet Mullet in his office, in their conversation Mullet show himself as the Prize Twat he undoubtably is. In his attitude toward DI Frost especially in relation to Frosts response to DS Barnards murder in his "sensitivity". When DS Wallace asks after DI Frost's resignation, Mullet claims he had given Frost extended 'compassionate leave", Mullet couldn't resist complaining of the "state that DI Frost leaves his office in and the problems that causes for the station". Mullet gives DS Wallace use of DI Frosts office, with the stricture that she sorts out the mess DI Frost has left there.

An old murder case crops up and the files relating to it are conspicuous by their absence, such that Mullet puts out the stricture to "Arrest Jack Frost" after all "He has brought the Force into disrepute".

DI Frost returns to Meet Superintendent Mullet who claims he has given DS Frost chance to reconsider his decision to retire, while lambasting DI Frost for his "Ramshackle Ways".

A recent murder of a Lester Bryce Jones turns out to share fingerprints with a dead body from a previous 'Cold Case' that had become known as the 'Appendix Man'.

DI Frost believes he has covered himself in glory by passing on his Records to Superintendent Mullet that he has been plaguing Jack for, in the vain hope that this will help ease Mullet's promotion.

Intriguing episode with an interesting link to a previous episode

[grantss · 9/10 · 28 June 2022]

Quite a lot happening in this episode: Frost's retired, then isn't, WPC Wallace is back (as a DS), an old murder case from 8 years ago, a tie-in with a dead man with no identity from a previous episode and a new murder. It's all very intriguing and the tie-ups between the three deaths is very interesting.

Also good to see Wallace back: one of the ablest uniformed policepersons and deserved a spot as a permanent side-kick to Frost.

Lackluster by Still Entertaining Journey Into Illegal Art

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 21 September 2015]

Jack Frost has retired. Mullett is doing everything he can to get a promotion and a vertical move. The problem is that Frost has left such a mess that the only way to straighten it out is to get him back to work. Knowing Mullett will be leaving if he gets the new job is just about enough motivation. Plus the notorious Appendix Man whose body was found in a pond in a previous episode has "resurfaced." There are impossibilities at work here. The main case has to do with a young gay man being hanged in his apartment. It appears a suicide but there is evidence to the contrary. A supposedly expensive painting has disappeared. This leads Jack into the world of art and the gay community. He is also renting from a gay chef who seems to have designs on him (which leads to a lot of discomfort for the principles). Anyway, this one seems a bit less successful. I've read that the previous episode was to have been the last, but it was brought back.

The case of the murdered art collector

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 2 July 2017]

'A Touch of Frost' is a personal favourite of mine, and one of my favourite shows from the detective/mystery genre. Do have a preference perhaps for the earlier-mid-show episodes over the later ones, but none of the episodes are less than watchable and none do anything to embarrass the show.

So much appeals about 'A Touch of Frost'. Love the mix of comedy (mostly through Frost's snide comments and quips) and dark grit, the tension between rebellious Jack Frost and by-the-book Mullet which has led to some humorous moments, how he interacts with the rest of the staff, the deft mix of one or two cases and Frost's personal life, how Frost solves the cases, the production values, music and of course David Jason in one of his best roles.

There may have been people initially sceptical about whether the show would work, and with Jason (a mainly comedic actor) in a departure from usual in the lead role. Scepticism very quickly evaporated, with the first season containing three consistently great episodes, even with the darker and grittier approach with less humour, that established the tone and characterisation so brilliantly so early on with no signs of finding-their-feet. Seasons 2 and 3 continued that high standard, "Appropriate Adults" and "Stranger in House" particularly being show highlights. Season 4 was also very good, particularly "Paying the Price" and "Deep Waters", the weakest "Unknown Soldiers" still being pretty good. All four episodes of Season 5 were brilliant, especially "Penny for the Guy" and "No Other Love".

"Appendix Man" is not a bad episode at all, far from it, and is a well above average start for Season 6. Just that it is a disappointment after such a consistently brilliant previous season and being so floored by "No Other Love".

Pacing does plod at times, and while the story is diverting and clever it does take somewhat of a convoluted turn once things get complicated and there is a rather unsurprising final solution, having suspected the murderer fairly early on. And yes, there are some sloppy continuity gaffes that one tries to ignore but struggles.

On the other hand, "Appendix Man" is very well made visually. It matches the dark, gritty tone of the episode beautifully with atmospheric lighting and the stylish way it's shot. The music is haunting without being over-bearing.

The script is well written, with a few very amusing quips from Frost, and thought-provoking, while the direction is solid. The story is absorbing and mostly is tautly paced.

Frost is a remarkably well-established character , and one cannot help love his interaction with the rest of the officers and his chemistry with Bruce Alexander's stern and by-the-book Mullet, who constantly despairs of Frost's unconventional approach. Frost's chemistry with Barnard is one of the best developed and written of the show. Hazel Wallace, played by a sincere Caroline Harker, makes a welcome return to the show.

Jason is brilliant, then again he always was as Frost, while Harker, Bruce Alexander and John Lyons are similarly strong. As is the support acting from Cheryl Campbell.

In conclusion, well above average but a couple of steps down in quality from the previous season. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The Rot Sets in with a Catalogue of Continuity Disasters.

[pablo-taylor · 5/10 · 10 March 2008]

*******CONTAINS SPOILERS*******

D.I Jack Frost originally disappeared from our screens in March 1997; going out on a dramatic and emotional high with the unexpected death of a much liked regular supporting character and Frost himself apparently turning his back on policing once and for all. At the time both it's star David Jason and the programme makers stated that this was to be the end of the regular series but that they hadn't totally discounted the possibility of resurrecting it for the occasional special in a few years time (a similar approach had recently helped the once ailing but later reinvigorated "Inspector Morse"). Both parties then moved on to espionage drama "March in Windy City" the intended replacement for Frost; when the pilot for this production failed miserably with both critics and audiences, the network took the rash step of immediately recommissioning the detective series full time instead - and I'm sorry to say; I really wish they hadn't.

Before I go on I'd just like to state that I'm not normally a continuity junkie; I don't spend sleepless nights worrying about James Bond's age, the correct order of the Sherlock Holmes stories or whether or not "Doctor Who" is half human. I make allowances for the fact that it's all fiction and that mistakes do creep in; however I feel there does have to be some kind of internal logic so as not to totally insult the audience's intelligence, not so according to the makers of "A Touch of Frost":- this episode is the sequel to one broadcast some four years earlier (Season three, episode three: "Dead Male One"), however the events of that episode are here described as taking place "one year ago" during a "late summer football match". Fair enough you might think but not only has Hazel Wallace rose from being a WPC to a DS in that year (totally impossible under any circumstances) but the later episode clearly takes place during winter/early spring - meaning this is either actually eighteen months later or only six (in which case the above mentioned career advancement even more unlikely). This is further confused by Frost saying his house burnt down, also "a year ago" (three years in broadcast time) and the unnamed man's coffin having his DOD as January 1997, not only conflicting with the "late summer football match" but meaning all earlier episodes of the series took place in their own future; despite plot lines, newspapers, tax disks etc all indicating to the contrary!!!! Oh and whilst I'm at it; in the "few short months" since Frost's resignation, the Chief Constable seems to have forgotten that DS Barnard, killed in the line of duty was in fact his own nephew. Must be stress related......

Otherwise this is a rather ploddingly obvious and unspectacular return for the show; one of the villains actually turns out to be an already established recurring character, a neat idea but viewers are alerted to this early on due to the fact the role has been recast using a much more well-known actress, totally killing the plot twist. The only real boon here is the star himself; Jason is still truly inhabiting the role at this point, this sadly wasn't to remain the case for much longer, not only would his advancing years stop him from being anything like a credible police officer age wise, but he would soon tire of the part drifting through latter episodes apparently on auto-pilot. As with another of his major successes ("Only Fools and Horses"); this once great series long out-stayed it's welcome.

Does anyone know the music here?

[josephemeryprank · 11 October 2019]

Does anybody know what the choral piece is in the background of the scene beginning around 10.33 and what the Lydian string quartet are playing at 17.38? Many thanks.