New Tricks (TV Series) Couldn't Organise One (2008) User Reviews

"Nothing for me I'm an alcoholic"

[ygwerin1 · 8/10 · 14 August 2020]

An old case arrose for UCOS that the lads don't see any merit in until, they realise that it involvs a brewery Felspar which takes them down Old Soakes Lane.

They feel the need to do a product review of different years brews, but they enjoy themselves rather too much for their own good.

Brian's investigations lead him to Felspar's Brewery after hours, to examine matters for himself. But his years of enforced abstinence has dulled, his appreciation of the effects of the brewing process.

Sandra feels the need to unearth a mystery about her Dad, and hope's that her mum may have some answers for her.

What a way to go!

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 11 April 2022]

When DI McAdam is sent down for corruption, his cases are subject to scrutiny. UCOS have to look at the case of a man who drowned in a vat of beer.

An amazing mix of drama and humour, scenes of a drunken Jack and Gerry were absolutely hilarious, I also loved the in joke about Gerry and Sandra being a couple. An engaging story, and every member of the team is involved, it'd great also to see Sandra's mum back, the wonderful Sheila Hancock.

The main point of interest, the astonishing cast, everywhere you look, it just oozes quality, name after name, the standout for me, Donald Sumpter, McAdam was a fascinating character, his scenes with Sandra were terrific.

Terrific production values, the scenes inside the brewery in particular looked terrific.

A time when GM crops were illegal, it's a shame they still aren't still exactly that.

Loved it, 9/10.

Beer and skittles

[safenoe · 9/10 · 24 August 2017]

Here UCOS investigate the suspicious death at a brewery, but Brian can't partake of a drop because of his alcoholism. The death is suspicious because a corrupt cop didn't investigate it adequately.

One impressive part of New Tricks is DAC Strickland, and it's always reassuring when he's on screen, with due respect to the UCOS foursome of course.

Brian has a heart-to-heart talk to a former brewery worker about alcoholism, especially as some Brits love to drink and drink and drink as a matter of norm, which I guess explains why many scenes of popular British shows such as Eastenders, Coronation Street and Midsomer Murders have pub scenes with regularity. Kind of normalizes things.

To make matters worse, Brian is locked in the brewery for the night. Not a chocolate factory, but a brewery.

Also good to see Amanda protecting her UCOS colleagues from chavs on an estate.

A shocking revelation at the end...incest, pregnancy and an abortion.

Man found dead in beer brewery vat

[ctyankee1 · 1 September 2015]

Graham an employee is found dead years ago in a factory that makes beer. He was in the brewing vat, a very deep large tub. The factory is owned and operated by Sir Felspar and his son Julian. Graham was very good at his job.

This story was interesting but hard to understand if you don't know whats involved in making good beer and the competition against other companies.

Sandra the boss is trying to get her mother settled and wants a better relationship with her. Sandra heard that her father a cop now dead killed a man without cause. Sandra wants to find out what happened. She finds out her father was cheating on her mother and was in love with a prostitute who had a child 4 years old. From her search and investigation her father did kill a man but he had cause to that was not brought out. The man he killed was trying to strangle the 4 year old son of the prostitute who was hiding behind a curtain.

The story was good but there are so many character it is hard to remember who is who.

A funny part of the scene is Brian, Jack and Gerry go to the brewery while Jack talks with the owner inside Gerry and Brian sneak in and steal bottles of beer from different years. The were told that one of the years something was done to the beer that no one liked. They take the beer back to the office and start comparing it and in the mean time are getting drunk. They keep opening the bottles and saluting each other and the bottle from 1998 is the one that taste nasty. The are drunk and acting silly.

Brian is still in the brewery locked in and getting sick from the smell that makes him pass out.

It seems part of the plot has to do with genetically modified barley which is illegal to use for beer in England.

Lots of stuff going on. As an aside there are 7 actors that have blue eyes. Sandra, her mother, Jack, Brian, Gerry, Julian and Jacinta. There probably are more but I wanted to see the episode and I was getting distracted. I thought this was a lot of blue eyed characters in one episode.

In the brewery

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 25 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.

"Couldn't Organise One" is an excellent episode with an interesting setting for the crime not seen before on 'New Tricks'. Do agree that there are a few too many characters and that it is not always or immediately clear who is who initially.

There is a great diverting mystery, with enough to keep one guessing, with skeletons in the closet, tension and some fun humour in classic 'New Tricks' fashion.

Visually, "Couldn't Organise One" is slick and stylish as ever. 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. Anthony Calf is a great boss and Sheila Hancock and Donald Sumpter is reliably strong.

Summing up, excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Just wasn't all that interested for whatever reason

[scsaxe · 5/10 · 24 April 2022]

Man died in a vat of beer, UCOs investigates, while also sampling and commenting on said beer (from the company. Not the exact beer the guy dried in. Hopefully.)

The beer scenes were fun, but for whatever reason I didn't get into/didn't care that much about the story, and still don't remember it well. It's a pretty normal case as these things go, but didn't really show off any special skills or insights or investigation techniques. Hard to say more than that or why this was my reaction, it just is what it is.