New Tricks : Complete BBC Series 6 [DVD]

Although New Tricks remains the best tv show of its kind, for the first time it shows signs of running out of steam in a series of two halves. The series starts with a conclusion to series 5's cliff-hanger in which Brian confronts his alcoholism. This excellent episode provides the traditional seemingly effortless mixture of mystery, comedy, believable characters and emotion. Sadly that proves to be the highlight of the first half as the next three episodes are of a lower standard than usual.There's an X-files style investigation that has some amusing in-jokes, but which doesn't work, a downbeat and confusing investigation into a missing person, and an oddball and contrived story involving an old film. The main problem is the amendment to the format, presumably deliberate, that has worked well for 5 years that results in the characters' private lives being ignored. This has been gradually happening for a while, but now Sandra, Jack and Gerry no longer exist outside office hours and Brian only enjoys comic relief with Esther.In addition, although it's understandable that in an episodic drama Brian's personal problems would be resolved and never mentioned again after being addressed in episode 1, the show has made story arcs work before. So this is lazy and removes the show's special feel, making it into a generic tv cop show. Adding to the problem is the introduction of serious political sub-plots and social commentary about migrant workers that feels out of place in a light-hearted show.This is not to say the first half is poor, just that compared to the previous high standard the drop in quality is sad, but before it can become a trend the series picks up massively in the second half. Suddenly the characters have private lives again, leading to an excellent continuation to the long-running Ricky Hanson saga. By picking up on a story arc that started in the pilot episode while still providing a standalone tale that's entertaining even if you've not seen the show before, the makers demonstrate their excellent writing skills.With the show back to its confident old form the final episodes have the usual mix of character and plot, private lives and public investigation. All the strengths are employed fully for the final episode which uncovers surprising revelations about two of the characters, one comic, one tragic, and both relevant to the story and excellently acted.With the majority of the episodes being as good as ever, and the three that didn't work so well perhaps being one-off experiments with the format, there's no doubt that the series can run on for a while yet.

Really enjoyed this series, couldn’t fault the product or service.

Great bunch of great actors and all work well together

As an ex-police officer I can only admire the Tricks that are being employed by this brilliant team of actors. They go 'up', they go 'down' but the results are always there in a big way.We had our own Tricks in my time, although I think we all had to be a little less adventerous. We wouldn't have got away with some of the Tricks engaged in in this DVD - I only wish!!I wouldn't have needed to know anything prior to purchase as I had already viewed it on TV.I have several other DVDs involving New Tricks - are we likely to get any new ones?

It's true that it wasn't as funny as the previous series. I have them all, but I nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed the sixth series. It has a good cast and each one is a great actor. We saw less of Brian's wife, she really was only present in the first episode. Shame really as she is wonderful. But it is really admirable that a series after several series is still going strong. I can't wait for the 7th series to come out. Of what I read it is back to it's old form.

Since buying Series 1 on spec (we don't get the BBC where I live and I'm too miserable to fork out for digital), I've become hooked. Why? Mainly because of the characters and the actors who play them. The stories are occasionally thin and unconvincing, but the actors carry them off with such aplomb and wit that they usually effectively paper over the cracks. Final episodes with unresolved questions are the norm (as a tempter for the next season, no doubt), and so it is here, with the question of Sandra's father, which bobs to the surface every now and again, taking a startling (if somewhat implausible) turn. As someone else once said at a police station, "Ah'll be back..."

I had looked forward to this series coming out for nearly a year and was not disappointed at all. You can not beat a team of actors (or so it seems policemen) with the experience these guys have. Superlatives are often overused but I would use them all for this series.Living outside of the UK means I do not get to see the general programs available to most people, so I do not get put off by other programs that may try to copy New Tricks. To me it therefore remains 'New' and never becomes boring.Please keep this series going as they just get better and better.

Don't know why but New Tricks is one of those series that my teenage girls are happy to watch with us on a Friday night in. Maybe it reminds them of their bumbling and slightly nerdy parents. They are slightly annoyed that the theme tune has been cut short because they like to sing along and harmonise to it. Ah well, you can't have everything.

Mittlerweile haben wir alle 8 bisher erschienenen Staffeln gekauft und gesehen. Bis auf makulative Schwächen in der einen oder anderen Folge zeichnen sich "New Tricks" durch einen ansprechenden, durchdachten Plot aus, die Schauspieler überzeugen in ihren Rollen und die Mischung zwischen Krimihandlung und humorvoller Auflockerung wird einem typisch britischen Erscheinungsbild gerecht. Besonders auch der Umstand, dass Schwächen nicht kaschiert werden und die Charakteren dadurch so menschlich dargestellt werden, macht die Serie umso sympathischer.

Eine der besten Krimiserien überhaupt. Spannende Fälle, ausgezeichnete Besetzung. Läuft leider im deutschen Fernsehen zu unmöglichen Zeiten.