Customer Reviews

The Last Detective - Series 3

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wrote a review for this set previously, but as I'd already gushed about season 2, I felt that was enough and I deleted my review (thanks Amazon for this feature). However, I've decided to re-post a review. This show started as a light detective series about a put-upon detective who was the last detective his boss would assign to an important case. The show has progressed nicely, though, to the point where, in season 3, Dangerous Davies, the Last Detective, is now the backbone of his department. His antagonistic co-workers and goofy buddy Mod have slid to the side, his boss is facing personal demons, and his wife is beginning, perhaps?, to see the strength in Peter Davison's character. No longer really a laughingstock, Dangerous in this season shows himself a capable detective and a strong character upon whom others may rely. Good shows keep getting better in their early years, and the Last Detective is such a show. It is a gratifying tonic to the increased violence and explicit nature of cop and detective shows now appearing in both the USA and Britain. Great stuff, and on my short list of favorites, along with Rumpole, Due South (seasons 1 & 2), Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Briscoe County, and Yes (Prime) Minister. Shows about good people doing the right thing and finding strength inside their fallible selves.

I am not the smoothest reviewer on the Internets but since there were only six reviews of TLD3, one of them a splenetic one-star for mention of the "diety"[sic], I feel I must weigh in.

THE LAST DETECTIVE is the perfect mystery series for the modern Anglo-friendly viewer. It sets the exact light, self-deprecating, mildly serious tone the subject matter deserves. From the score and title to the acting of the leads, character roles and guest stars, we are given a gift of a visit to Dangerous Davies's world: bracing, bittersweet, rich in detail and fully alive with modern drama.

I suppose there are other actors (Britain is certainly rich with them) who could have filled out the title role, but what Peter Davison has done with it is a landmark realisation on the order of Columbo or THE SWEENEY'S Regan. Every wrinkle of the middling Everyman with his slyly revealed backbone of steel is brought to life in Davison's performance. You genuinely care about this man and his relationship with his sneering colleagues, his daft buddies, his admiring subordinates and his Fellini-elf of a not quite ex wife. You'd like to have a pint at the pub with him, and you'd love him to look into your missing Bentley while he was at it.

I strongly urge US and world viewers who enjoyed, for example, the superb LIFE ON MARS (UK) and, going back, Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect, to start at series 1 and get to know Dangerous, his whisky- and magnesia-swilling Gov, and his whole crew. You will not be sorry.

The Last Detective is very entertaining. The storylines are good, the acting is wonderful as is the entire production. No one does the "cozies" like the BBC. I highly recommend this entire series.

Not much to say beyond my title. The character developement is key in all mysteries in my opinion. It is done so well in this series. I enjoy the change from some of the usual fastidious detectives to find a dogged but highly ordinary/flawed detective. A detective that does not have a spotless record or a razor sharp mind. I can just hope they make many more!

The Last Detective....Peter Davison....should be the First Detective!
He plays this without effort...you want this man to be your new best friend.
I only hope the series is not at an end...

The Last Detective series caught me by surprise. I generally like the PBS Mysteries and Super Sleuths series. This one however, is somewhat unique in that it focuses more on the characters than the actual crime itself. Peter Davies, who plays the lead role (also played Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small)seems at first unambitious, a little lazy or complacent, becomes likeable as you watch how he turns ordinary, mundane moments into opportunity to solve a piece if the crime puzzle. I feel as if I have been "reeled into my own life and am left to ponder my own outcome."I began ordering the series, loved it and think you will too.

All 3 series of The Last Detective are very good. Have liked Peter Davison ever since his Campion series. He is very good at what he does,and throughout this series you become very in tuned to his character. The change in all the characters from beginning to end,has been fun,and he is a pleasure to watch. Wish there had been more.

This is a really good detective series. The characters are all very interesting and they evolve throughout the series. Mod, the detective's friend, is very funny. Dangerous is clearly the most competent detective in his precinct, but he is too nice a guy and he always gets put down even with his many successes. The stories are also very entertaining, and they are not as complicated as some British mysteries.

Can't help but love this guy. I've gotten several people hooked on this series. He's a lovable detective who always gets a bad rap.

The Last Detective - Series 4 I really like this show. Dangerous is a great character and I like the interaction with Maud his wayward friend.