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Rating:  - Dare I Call it Cozy?
I love this series. That's no surprise as I usually love anything Peter Davison is in. I consider this somewhat of a cozy crime series, not as cozy as Murder She Wrote or anything by Agatha Christie, but definitely not dark and gritty.
Davison plays the affable detective Dangerous Davies who can't seem to be taken seriously by anyone. He still plods along though like the every-day man that he is which makes him all the more endearing.
I'm not sure what other reviewers were talking about in needing captioning (maybe they were joking?). Maybe it's because I watch tons of British television, but I understood every word the actors were saying.
All in all, I highly recommend it if you are in the mood for a lighter crime series.
Rating: - VERY GOOD
I started watching this series after being frustrated with the lack of any really GOOD well written TV. It is witty, charming and compelling viewing and a GREAT relief from the mundane shows being offered on the telly.
The casting was brilliantly done as the show is replete w/winsome characters in addition to our hero, Dangerous.
Each mystery is an intelligent journey for your mind to guess who is the guilty party.
All this W/OUT needless explosions and car chases EVERY week as 'fillers' to take up the allotted time. You actually get an intelligent STORY and insights into the cHARACTERS as opposed to bloody gore, explosions etc etc ad nauseum.
I do like action adventure MOVIES but not as weekly series....I like depth
in my weekly shows.This has it
Rating: - In His World, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
"The Last Detective, Series 1"is, of course, the first of the popular British mystery series, a witty police procedural, to find its way here, and how lucky for us. The series is based on the Dangerous Davies novels by Welshman Leslie Thomas; it was produced by the British firm Granada for Britain's Independent Television (ITV).
It stars that affable Everyman Peter Davison ("All Creatures Great and Small," "Campion") as the title character, a lowly detective constable, called "Dangerous" Davies ironically, as he is of hardly any danger to the criminal elements - it's his friends, family, and co-workers who'd better watch out. And called the last detective by his boss, as in "You're the last detective I'd ever put on a case, except a crap one." The decidedly unglamorous Davies even works in an unimportant, out-of-the way North London precinct, Willesden.
Davison is ably supported by Sean Hughes (the guy from Eejit records in "The Commitments") as his eccentric friend Mod; and Emma Amos as his estranged wife Julie. Rob Spendlove gives us a tough supervisor, Detective Inspector Aspinall; Charles De'Ath as DS Pimlott and Billy Geraghty as DC Barrett add greatly to the flavor of the cop shop. The series is certainly character-rich and character-driven.
Davies is a rumpled, clumsy guy, nice even when he's drunk, and unfailingly polite to little old ladies; nevertheless, he does seem always to get his man - or woman. The mysteries in this first series, based directly on the works of Thomas are complex and flavorful, though murder itself is in surprisingly short supply. The episodes are:
1. "The Last Detective." Feature length pilot. Davies discovers the unsolved 1981 murder of a 17 year old girl. As he solves it, he proves once again Clare Booth Luce's useful adage, "No good deed goes unpunished." And gets himself in dutch with his co-workers.
2. "Dangerous By Moonlight." An elderly man has disappeared; his wife, stunningly played by Sian Philips, seems surprisingly unconcerned. This episode takes Davies to a dance club that caters to senior citizens: he and Mod have got to stay light on their feet. And it offers further proof that no good deed goes unpunished.
3. "Tricia." Davies' kindness to demanding women gets him two thankless cases. An old busybody has suspicions of her next-door neighbor. And an attractive young woman seems to be getting unduly involved with him. Once again, no good deed goes unpunished.
4. "Lofty." An eccentric old vagrant (played by popular English comedian Norman Wisdom), whom Davies has befriended in a park, is found dead in a canal. Davies takes on the case because no one else will. And no good deed goes unpunished.
This series is witty, entertaining, and intellectually and emotionally satisfying. But: and here comes the DePue closed captions report: there are none. And the cast spits out rapid-fire North London dialect. You'll have to work for your fun.
Rating:  - Enjoyable
Love this guy. He is kind, sweet and compassionate. Makes you feel like he is on your side. Enjoyable to watch the good guy win.
Rating: - Glad I stuck with it past the pilot!
The pilot episode didn't thrill me. The main character was a bit insipid, uninspiring, and bland. That is supposed to be his personality, I know, but it just didn't click with me. But then I watched the next episode, and I found myself liking him more and more. There was something really appealing about his bumbling, kind ways. Then I watched the third and fourth episodes and was completely hooked.
It is a typical 'nice guys finish last' storyline, and you could say it's a bit trite - but the main character is so well done, and there's such a brilliant supporting cast that it's enjoyable and fun to watch. The mysteries are solid - a little transparent at times, but well thought out and coherent. I started watching for the mysteries, but stayed for the characters. Even the dog is wonderful (as is Davies's devotion to him).
Bottom line: good stories, great characters, and an all-around well-done series - despite the slightly rocky start.
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