New Tricks (TV Series) Fresh Starts (2009) User Reviews

It's fleeting

[safenoe · 9/10 · 4 September 2017]

This episode of New Tricks has many twists and turns as the wrongful identity of a car accident victim comes to light. This is a somber episode that covers domestic violence and illegal migrants. This episode was ahead of its time with the Home Office and all and Brexit and all that.

Georgina Leonidas plays a sassy and feisty Kiraz, and she sort of repents at the end.

This is New Tricks at its peak before we reach the break-up of UCOS come the start of season 8.

Emotional episode

[Wisewoman62 · 9/10 · 2 April 2020]

I have greatly enjoyed this show, part cold case solving, part drama, and part comedy. They've had an excellent balance of all of it. I haven't been emotional over any of the episodes, but when the young girl found out how her mother had died and was sobbing, I had tears in my eyes. Very good acting by Georgina Leonidas as the teenager. This episode covers domestic abuse and illegal immigration without losing the plot.

Reappearing dead person leads to interesting case

[scsaxe · 8/10 · 2 May 2022]

The case starts in a somewhat strange way, with a lawyer who is sure he's seen his supposedly dead wife getting UCOS to reinvestigate everything. The result is an unusual case as UCOS figures out whether she is actually dead or not, than explaining everything else going on, such as the sightings and how events really played out. Investigating these threads makes an interesting episode.

Such a well written episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 3 June 2022]

Gerry meets David Fleeting in a peculiar way, he learns that David is trying to get answers about his wife, UCOS investigate.

This was a very good, solid episode, it has a good storyline, great set of characters, and a definite degree of originality.

I really enjoyed the storyline, and the way the two strands linked together, very cleverly written.

I loved the sequences with Brian, Esther and The Builder, there does seem to be an assumption in The UK that any Eastern European is Polish, he was a cracking character.

Very good acting here as always, I particularly enjoyed Hugh Dennis as The Vicar. Samuel West brilliant as always.

Very good episode, 8/10.

Starting afresh

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 31 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 6 started off terrifically with "The War Against Drugs" while the next episode "The Truth is Out There" was an interesting heavier change of pace if somewhat strange. "Fresh Starts" may lack the emotion and heart of "The War Against Drugs", but still satisfies immensely. It is another heavier-toned, sombre episode, while also having some levity to balance the sombre-ness out so things aren't taken too seriously.

The case is a compelling one, with its fair share of intrigue and surprises.

Visually, "Fresh Starts" 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. The supporting cast are uniformly solid with the most well-known name (to me) being Samuel West.

Overall, while not a favourite 'New Tricks' episode of mine it is a very fine one all the same. 9/10 Bethany Cox