New Tricks goes X-Files, as the team launch an investigation involving a recently deceased retired police officer, his widow, a deceased journalist and his former girlfriend, government conspiracies, cover-ups, and an alleged crashed alien spacecraft! The story shows influence from some well-known alleged UFO incidents, including Roswell (1947, US) and Rendlesham Forrest (1980, UK). Watching the down-to-earth coppers grappling with the possibility of 'little green men' is funny, and the ever reliable Dennis Waterman, James Bolam, Alun Armstrong, and Amanda Redman get plenty of mileage from it. But there are real stakes here, and things get pretty serious. Nice to see Michael Brandon guesting as the retired US Air Force Base Commander, but the real standout is Mark Williams (The Fast Show, Father Brown) as the absolutely spot-on, stereotypical leader of the local UFO Investigation group! One of the very best episodes 8/10.
Review of The Truth Is Out There
