New Tricks (TV Series) Fluke of Luck (2005) User Reviews

Good, even if I didn't understand it.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 30 November 2021]

Sandra is concerned that the case the team are working on, namely a twenty year old case involving the abduction of two young boys, may conflict with an active investigation.

It's the first episode of New Tricks that I haven't actually understood, I did thoroughly enjoy it, bit if I'm honest I didn't really know what was going on. Ive watched the ending of this one twice, and I still don't fully understand it.

Once again I loved the humour, we had Gerry's efforts to quit smoking, and we also had Gerry's chase, possibly the slowest chase in history.

Sandra's dance sequences at the beginning were great, she's such an attractive lady, and of course a tough cookie.

It was nice to see more of Esther, and good to see her interact with Sandra.

7/10.

Fishing and kidnapping makes a good show, but simple

[scsaxe · 7/10 · 2 May 2022]

The case itself ends up pretty straightforward, but the individual steps are fun to watch. Gerry gets a chase scene, Brian gets into fishing which leads to other fun stuff, and the culture around fishing has some fun moments.

Season 2's weakest

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 13 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 generally was a great season. While still with a lot of fine things, "Fluke of Luck" is the weakest of the eight episodes that comprise the season. The story isn't so strong here. There are compelling and powerful parts, but there were too many elements and not all of them explained or fully formed enough and it all doesn't join up as an overall whole.

Have to agree too that the ending is not particularly satisfying. It leaves more questions than answers and the motive wasn't clear to me, it feels almost incomplete even.

On the other hand, there are a lot of strengths. Visually, "Fluke of Luck" 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. There are a few neat twists and conflict, while the salad/maggot scene is pretty hilarious.

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, while showing some seriousness at the same time.

Susan Jameson is excellent in support as can be expected and the supporting cast generally (apart from the culprit at the end) are solid if not outstanding.

Concluding, pretty decent episode but considering the high quality if the show at its best pretty decent doesn't seem enough. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Boys get kidnapped and escape

[ctyankee1 · 13 August 2015]

This episode has some funny parts but also things so confusing I don't know if I watched it 10 times I would still get it.

UCOS tries to find out who kidnapped 2 boys, kept them tied up and later escaped.

There are too many crimes that seem to get connected. The only thing that connects them is water. A place that was like a gravel pit that had fish in it is some how connected with the two boys.

Later there is talk about a man that breeds fish and experiments on them. Then there is a story about women being tortured and drowned in water.

Brian takes out all his fishing gear he has stored to hang out at this pit. Esther is wife thinks he is losing it.

There is a very funny scene in this episode. Sandra gets her salad out of the frig at the UCOS center. They are all standing around talking. As she eats her salad she sees all worms on the top and starts spitting her salad out and yelling in fear and disgust. Jerry mentions to them that Brian should not have stored his maggots in the frig. They open the door and a big big bowl of squirming maggots is in the refrigerator. Very funny scene.

New Tricks is a good series. It has lots of humor but endings don't make sense. This episode had the brother of a man explain what happened about the boys being kidnapped. His English was hard to understand. He gave no reason why the boys were kidnapped and held and then he said he left the door partly opened so they could escape.

Between the boys, fish, women drowned and some money dumped in a box in the water I don't know the real story.

Really hitting a stride

[ArtVandelayImporterExporter · 8/10 · 17 February 2024]

What are we up to at this point, 5-6 stellar episodes in a row in Series 2?

Episode opens with Pullman taking dancing lessons. Latin instructor makes a pass. Tell Amanda to turn off her brain and dance from the heart. Be a woman. Let the man be in charge. Pullman doesn't take that too well. And it pays off perfectly at the end. And I mean, perfectly.

In between we get a story about a childhood abduction, a fishing hole, and a guy who got rich desiging (it's implied) psychedelic album covers for British rock bands from the late 60s to the late 70s. Now he owns a massive estate and has invested in fish breeding.

Unlike many episodes from Series 1 or even the Series 2 debut, where the plot gets so far up its own arse you can't follow it without a flow chart, this crime was easy to follow and the villains easy to track. The chemistry among the 4 leads is unmatched.

There are two B plots: Gerry tries to quit smoking, while Alun's wife Esther is worried he's getting obsessed with fishing. Amanda helps them both.

Esther is the heart of this series. She's not just an appendage home-life character. She's a bona fide individual in her own right. Susan Jameson portrays of Esther as somewhat fragile but not weak, resolute but compassionate with her husband. For my money, she is the unsung star of the show.

This episode is also aided by some cinema-level camera and lighting.

The total absence of Anthony Calf as DAC Strickland is a bonus. I think that's 3 episodes in a row where he's only referred to, but not seen. That is an excellent trend, as the character is too much of a pill. They erred in axing Nicholas Day as Bevan.