The Last Detective - Series 3
by Matthew Evans (III), Douglas Mackinnon, Ferdinand Fairfax, Nick Hurran, Gavin Millar
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DVD details
Actor: Emma Amos, Peter Davison, Sean HughesDirector: Douglas Mackinnon, Ferdinand Fairfax, Gavin Millar, Matthew Evans (III), Nick Hurran
Brand: Acorn
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 276 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ACORN MEDIA
DVD Reviews of The Last Detective - Series 3
DVD Review: It's a Lucky Find
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Last Detective, Series 3,"another in the hit British mystery television series, is now becoming available in the United States for the first time. The police procedural/comedy/drama was made by Granada for the United Kingdom's Independent Television (ITV). It debuted in the U.K. in February 2003, and offers a lighter-hearted, but still high-quality, blend of mystery and comedy similar to that of Midsomer Murders: Set 13; and Hetty Wainthropp Investigates - Complete Collection. It's based on the "Dangerous Davies" novels of the Welshman Leslie Thomas. This release consists of a two-volume boxed set including four all-new full-length productions. Unfortunately, it does not come with subtitles, so the viewer is in for rather a struggle with the North London accents the actors have been encouraged to use, logically enough, as it is set in North London. Nevertheless, I consider it a lucky find.
It's set in Willesden, a totally unimportant, small, totally out of the way North London precinct, and appears to have been filmed there. It stars Peter Davison (All Creatures Great & Small: The Complete Series 1 Collection; Campion - The Complete First Season) as Detective Constable - and it's quite a disgrace to be only a detective constable--"Dangerous" Davies. His chances of promotion are nil; he's the eponymous last detective his supervisor would ever willingly assign to a case, and he gets the least promising ones. But he does generally get his man, or, possibly, woman. He's an average Joe looks-wise, and a rumpled, galumphing, unassuming sort. But he does love his job, and he's surprisingly good at it. He also loves his sexy, beautiful blond wife, Julie (Emma Amos), but, in this particular series, they are separated. And he's rooming with his wild and crazy friend Mod (Sean Hughes, The Commitments). Hughes brings a lot to his part, but so do the other leads, and, in fact, the series is consistently well-acted and directed. The mysteries are reasonably complex and satisfying, too. They are:
1. "Friends Reunited." Wealthy mobile phone magnate Nick Roberts is stabbed to death at his college reunion; all evidence seems to point to Simon Dabney, Nick's best friend in school days, now a broken - and broke--bitter drug addict. But Davies insists on believing Dabney's absurd alibi. This episode allows its makers to visit London's underworld, indulging in what strikes me as faux nostalgia. I wasn't there at the time or place, but I rather doubt the underworld was peopled by such gentlemen. It certainly hasn't been since the heyday of the Kray brothers, in the late 1950's, 1960s: they were terrifyingly violent psychotics. And they've been followed by Jamaican posses, Chinese tongs, and Russian maffias, whom you'd really rather not cross. Still, the episode is emotionally satisfying.
2. "Towpaths of Glory." Decorated war veteran Frank Moore is found murdered and dumped in a local rubbish heap. Upon investigation, Davies finds that his domestic life was less than blissful; and that his former army comrades may know more than they're saying. Another emotionally satisfying experience.
3. "Three Steps to Hendon." The Overnight Sensations supposedly topped the pop charts back in the 1970's with their smash single, "Yesterday's Boy." But time has rolled on, and their former lead singer Teddy O'Connor, has been feeling a lot like "Yesterday's Boy," himself. Then he turns up murdered. In his investigation, Davies discovers there's a dark underside to glam rock - what a surprise. The frequently seen Ian McNeice (Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes) guest stars here, and turns in a gratifyingly strong performance.
4. "Willesden Confidential." Champion stockcar driver Geoff "The Duke" Fallon appears to have been killed in a fiery racetrack fire after an accident. But Davies has a feeling it's murder, and arrests a young hoodlum, apparently bent on revenge, for sabotaging Fallon's car. But Davies has a further feeling, and keeps looking.
These shows are really well-done, and deserve to be seen on broadcast TV over here. But meanwhile, there are the DVDs.
Description of The Last Detective - Series 3
Beleaguered by life and belittled by his colleagues, "Dangerous" Davies (Peter Davison, Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small) cracks four all-new cases in the detective series that has delighted legions of loyal fans. These newest full-length mysteries find Davies still slogging along in the Willesden constabulary, with promotion no more than a pipe dream. He?s still sharing a flat with Mod (Sean Hughes, The Commitments), the oddest of odd ducks. And he?s still trying to rekindle a romantic spark with his estranged wife, Julie (Emma Amos). On the job, Dangerous always gets the cases no one else wants?and no one notices when he eventually succeeds. You?ll surely notice, though, as you chuckle at the foibles of the screen?s most endearingly disrespected detective.DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE Leslie Thomas bio and booklist, and cast filmographies.
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