By series 10 Minder had finally run out of steam but i can't help thinking they missed a great opportunity to bring down the curtain on this wonderful show in style. It would've been nice to see some fond reminiscing, one or two faces from the past (especially Terry McCann or Des), and maybe even finally get to see 'er indoors' at the end; instead we get a really lame hostage-themed story featuring some tiresome histrionics from two of the most annoying characters i've ever seen on the show. Minder started out with a hostage situation so i suppose they wanted to end with one too, it was just a shame to see this all time classic bow out on such a bum note.
3 Reviews
So this was the end?
ArtVandelayImporterExporter2 February 2024
Who rearranged the order of Series 10 episodes? There's no way this inert, overly serious clunker was originally supposed to be the Minder finale.
We get two Italian stereotypes as restaurant proprietors. The wife is reminiscent of the SCTV character Perrini Scleroso, an Italian-immigrant wash woman played by the brilliant Andrea Martin.
We get two new obnoxious coppers with blow-dried hair, like they were fresh off the set of Law & Order: Willesden.
The guest villain pulls a gun, which I'm not sure we've seen on Minder since the pilot episode. That's another thing that made Minder so charming. No matter what kind of corners Arthur Daley found himself in, or the villains Terry McCann faced, it was always solved with cunning linguistics or a right good punch-up. Guns were for American shows.
It devolves into a hostage-taking in Daley's lights-out lockup. These claustrophobic, underlit episodes popped up too often during the Gary Webster era of Minder, particular the middle of Series 9. I assumed it was lack of budget to produce a proper 10-12 episodes with extensive location shooting, of the kind that made the Dennis Waterman era so memorable.
As a lifelong Canadian fan of Minder (I only ever knew about the Terry McCann era) I have enjoyed the Ray Daley era now that I've binge-watched the entire series. But I will consider Bring Me The Head of Arthur Daley the bona fide finale.
We get two Italian stereotypes as restaurant proprietors. The wife is reminiscent of the SCTV character Perrini Scleroso, an Italian-immigrant wash woman played by the brilliant Andrea Martin.
We get two new obnoxious coppers with blow-dried hair, like they were fresh off the set of Law & Order: Willesden.
The guest villain pulls a gun, which I'm not sure we've seen on Minder since the pilot episode. That's another thing that made Minder so charming. No matter what kind of corners Arthur Daley found himself in, or the villains Terry McCann faced, it was always solved with cunning linguistics or a right good punch-up. Guns were for American shows.
It devolves into a hostage-taking in Daley's lights-out lockup. These claustrophobic, underlit episodes popped up too often during the Gary Webster era of Minder, particular the middle of Series 9. I assumed it was lack of budget to produce a proper 10-12 episodes with extensive location shooting, of the kind that made the Dennis Waterman era so memorable.
As a lifelong Canadian fan of Minder (I only ever knew about the Terry McCann era) I have enjoyed the Ray Daley era now that I've binge-watched the entire series. But I will consider Bring Me The Head of Arthur Daley the bona fide finale.
End of Minder - Leaves You Wanting More
michael-11518 December 2022
This 1994 episode is the last in the series, one of ITV's best comedy/dramas with George Cole (Arthur Daley) becoming a household name - although he was well-known from numerous performances spanning a 60 year career. This episode features Dennis Waterman's replacement, Ray, Glynn Edwards behind the bar of the Winchester and 'Crankie Franky', a former employee, who escapes from prison, takes Arthur hostage and tries to find out if it's true his wife, Rosie, has been playing away.
In a nice twist, it transpires that she has indeed been unfaithful - with Luigi, who Daley is about to open an new restaurant with.
Mostly played seriously, with Arthur looking distinctly miffed being locked up in his lock-up instead of enjoying a roast with 'her indoors'. Like Captain Mainwaring's wife in Dad's Army, we never get to see her.
The histrionics of Luigi's wife are rather over the top - more suited to farce than comedy drama, otherwise, the episode carries on a tradition; Daley, doing his best for the black economy, whilst continually ruing his bad luck.
It's strange how in the generation since this was made, Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses has grown in stature, whilst Arthur Daley has somewhat diminished status in the iconography of late twentieth century television.
George Cole played the role immaculately and even if this episode might, as has been said, benefitted from some reminiscing with Terry (Waterman) and some others from earlier series appearing, it still left me wanting more - though not, necessarily, from Arthur's lock-up!
In a nice twist, it transpires that she has indeed been unfaithful - with Luigi, who Daley is about to open an new restaurant with.
Mostly played seriously, with Arthur looking distinctly miffed being locked up in his lock-up instead of enjoying a roast with 'her indoors'. Like Captain Mainwaring's wife in Dad's Army, we never get to see her.
The histrionics of Luigi's wife are rather over the top - more suited to farce than comedy drama, otherwise, the episode carries on a tradition; Daley, doing his best for the black economy, whilst continually ruing his bad luck.
It's strange how in the generation since this was made, Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses has grown in stature, whilst Arthur Daley has somewhat diminished status in the iconography of late twentieth century television.
George Cole played the role immaculately and even if this episode might, as has been said, benefitted from some reminiscing with Terry (Waterman) and some others from earlier series appearing, it still left me wanting more - though not, necessarily, from Arthur's lock-up!
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