New Tricks (TV Series) Gloves Off (2010) User Reviews

Boxing...The Fix

[safenoe · 8/10 · 22 September 2017]

Sandra and Brian don't like boxing, but Gerry and Jack and even DAC Strickland do, and so does Brian's wife (played by Susan Jameson, the real-life wife of James Bolam who plays Jack). A boxing murder is the focus of this episode.

Johnny Harris is impressive in this episode, and so is Michael Wildman, whose character works in a London cafe. I'd love to know where the cafe is, with its wood paneling and all.

Also there's heaps of shouting in jail cells during the UCOS interrogations.

Also Sandra shouts at Jack for endangering the life of a witness, and Jack has a few words for Sandra.

Another terrific episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 26 July 2021]

Young boxer Eddie Mayfair is shot dead, just as his career is about to take off, favoured suspect, and fellow boxer has an alibi. The team must set aside personal differences to get to the bottom of the case.

This great series produces yet another great episode, the standard of writing and acting is marvellous,I'd you're a boxing fan, it will add extra spice. The team of four are very much at their best, each character adds something to the story.

Jack shows a very tough, sinister side, as others use their fists, he uses his words, I adore Jack, he's such a smart cookie, a real wolf in sheep's clothing.

The fisticuffs between Brian and Gerry were really funny, boxing is polarising, and the opinions we see from both men are the ones you'd expect. As someone who is a big fan of boxing, I respect those that aren't comfortable with it, it can be a brutal sport.

Great episode, 9/10.

Boxing murder

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 9 February 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.

"Gloves Off" is a very good episode if not among one of my favourites from 'New Tricks'. Not because there is much wrong with it, other than that some ideas in the story are not much new, which is true of a good deal of Season 7 episodes and part of me also didn't buy the formality of the clothes worn by those watching the boxing match.

The case still compels though with plenty of entertainment and intrigue if not many surprises.

Visually, "Gloves Off" 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.

Everybody in support is solid.

In conclusion, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Boxing and thrown fights

[ctyankee1 · 24 September 2015]

This is about a boxing star named Eddie that gets shot to death. There are lots of suspects. Some were in gangs with Eddie and also opposite gangs when they were younger with this boxer. Eddie also stabbed someone in the butt when younger so that man is now a suspect. Some of them changed their name to start a new life.

Throughout this episode UCOS members make sarcastic fun at each other. It really is funny. Brian does not like boxing he believes it is barbaric, Gerry makes fun of him. Brian tells Gerry he is brain damaged. Supervisor Strickland is into boxing and likes the sport but Sandra thinks it is brutal. Brian's wife Esther likes to look at the boxing video on Brian's computer and he does not understand how his wife could see them hurt each other, Esther tell Brian the men are handsome. She looks like she is enjoying it.

This is all about Eddie who is supposed to throw a fight and doesn't. His friends bet a lot of money against him and are angry but this does not come out til later. As UCOS watched the last video that Eddie fought in they enhance the sound to find out the man Eddie is boxing against reminds him he is suppose to throw the fight.

The thing I found usual about this boxing match is that the boxing fans in the audience were are all dressed up in suits and white shirts very formal outfits. Who dresses in formal clothes to go to a boxing match?

As I watch series there are so many things that get repeated that you just kind of ignore them until you see it is often. Like this episode and other episodes UCOS members drink in the bar, eat together a couple of times in one episodes, and carry paper coffee cups as they are walking down the street. This is regular behavior in 99% of the episodes. It is a wonder they are not fat.

There is some swearing in this series like "p ss & sh t". The English also use the words "prat" "buttocks, bugger, bloody hell" to express their anger. A woman they are mad at is called an "old cow". So you learn a lot from watching shows made in other countries. Some of it surprising some very funny.

Great episode

[CitizenCairParavel · 10/10 · 6 January 2021]

Loved, loved the standoff between Sandra and Jack at the end. Jack along with Brian is truly my favorite character in the show. Sandra had this one coming for a long time. Her self-righteous attitude deserved the dressing down Jack gave her. Again, loved this episode.

Coulda been a contender...But was shot

[scsaxe · 9/10 · 24 April 2022]

The boxing episode. If you've seen moves or TV shows or know the tropes, you can guess what gets included. In this episode, its done well, as UCOS looks at rivals and friends of the shot boxer, but the case gets much bigger towards the end.

We also see the team react to boxing as a sport, which goes about how you'd expect. Some of these scenes help solve the case, which is fun. Jack interviiewing another criminal makes some good scenes as well, both characters are played effectively.