The Last Detective - Series 2
As disrespected, disheveled, and endearingly dedicated as ever, Detective Constable "Dangerous" Davies (Peter Davison, Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small) returns to solve four new, full-length mysteries. His wife left him, his coworkers sarcastically dubbed him "Dangerous," and his boss called him the "last detective" expected to crack a big case. He even listens to advice from his kooky chum Mod (Sean Hughes, The Commitments). Still, Dangerous manages to make connections that slicker chaps in the North London constabulary miss. Whether investigating the mysterious deaths of a would-be artist, a medical researcher, an unknown victim under a high-speed train, or a pretty Kosovan refugee, Davies shows that underdogs do have their day. "Witty and well-plotted" ?TV Times
Peter Davison is one of Britain's finest, most versatile actors, and creates a complex, counterintuitively compelling lead character in the British mystery series The Last Detective. The second series finds our unassuming detective inspector, "Dangerous" Davies (the nickname's ironic, blokes), quietly piecing together mysteries that the rest of the police force can hardly be bothered with. Davison makes Davies one of TV's unlikeliest heroes, and one of its most appealing: we see his self-doubts, personal pains (a not-quite-ex-wife whom he still loves dearly), and detective thought processes all expressed fleetingly across his craggy face. In one of the four excellent episodes here, "Dangerous and the Lonely Hearts," for instance, the case begins with the inconsequential incident of a child's shoplifting--but because of Davies' dogged investigation, layers of malice and intrigue are pulled back, revealing immigrant desperation, a shady matchmaking agency, and murder. As Dangerous methodically explores the case, his coworkers affectionately deride him and he struggles with his own demons. Yet almost obliquely, Davies manages to home in on the human weaknesses that inevitably lead to bad behavior--sometimes, his own included. Davison, whose storied British career includes standout roles in All Creatures Great and Small and Dr. Who, only gets better as an actor over the years, and this offbeat but oddly endearing series is a knockout showcase for his acting talents. Extras include a biography and bibliography for Leslie Thomas, author and creator of the Dangerous Davies mystery novels; a photo gallery, and filmographies of the impressive cast. --A.T. Hurley
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The Last Detective - Series 2 Reviews
This is really a great series. I had a little trouble getting into the very first episode, but once I did I was hooked. I recommend you give it a try if you like British mysteries ( low on special effects, great on story line) It has good plots and great characters.
4. "Dangerous and the Lonely Hearts." A waifish Eastern European girl is brought to the station for shoplifting. Even the newly widowed Christine doesn't seem too upset at her husband's death. The mysteries in this second of the series, some of them based directly on the works of Thomas are complex and flavorful. This episode guest stars the greatly admired actor David Threlfall, who starred as Smike in "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby." Frankly; he seems wasted in his part here.
It also co-stars Susan Wooldridge, who starred as Daphne Manners in "The Jewel in the Crown.". All clues seem to lead to a video dating service, where Davies finds some surprising suspects. Davies, who's nice even when he's drunk, is unfailingly polite to all. The series, a witty police procedural that we've never had a chance to see televised on this side of the Atlantic, is light-hearted, in the vein of "Poirot," "Midsomer Murders," or "Rosemary and Thyme." As released here, it consists of four new, full-length puzzlers.
2. "The Long Bank Holiday." It's Easter, and Davies had plans. They are:. The beautiful, and voluptuous Emma Amos does well as Davison's estranged wife Julie; Davison, a born nice guy who doesn't very often come in first, frequently finds himself mending her fences, or plunging her toilets, while she takes off for sunny foreign places with her beau of the minute. The series is certainly character-rich and character-driven. It is based on the Dangerous Davies novels by Welshman Leslie Thomas; was produced by the British firm Granada for Britain's Independent Television (ITV). He seems an open-and shut suicide, with a history of depression, a booze-filled bloodstream, and a high-pressure job in big bucks medical research. Peter Davison ("All Creatures Great and Small,) plays the title character, a rumpled, clumsy, lowly detective constable.
In addition, the series is chock-full of enjoyable characters, expressing themselves in the typical North London accent, to add to the enjoyable "local," but foreign, flavor. Davison gets great support from Sean Hughes (the guy from Eejit records in "The Commitments"), playing his eccentric friend Mod. He is called "Dangerous" Davies ironically, as he is of hardly any danger to society's criminal elements - he's much more dangerous to his friends, family, and co-workers. But Davies has a feeling about SwanMed, Winton's employer, particularly when Winton's pretty young coworker goes missing. So you're going to have to work at it.
3. "Benefit to Mankind." Henry Winton's body is found in a canal. So Davies, with many possible candidates for the perpetrator among the unpopular man's acquaintance and family, faces the classic "locked door" mystery. Nevertheless, working in his plodding fashion, he generally gets his man, or woman, succeeding where his slicker co-workers fail. Furthermore, his boss has labeled him the last detective, as in "You're the last detective I'd ever put on a case, except a crap one." And, as if to emphasize his light weight in the greater scheme of things, Davies works in Willesden, an unimportant, out-of-the- way North London precinct. The second of the sleeper hit British television mystery series, "The Last Detective, Series 2,"now finds its way here. Hughes brings a lot to the character, and makes Mod much more than just a sounding board. Charles De'Ath as DS Pimlott and Billy Geraghty as DC Barrett contribute a great deal to the particular flavor of Willesden's police station. But: and now presents the De Pue closed captions report: there are none, and they are needed.
Davies soon finds her pretty mother strangled. Rob Spendlove gives us a fully-inhabited, full of tics, tough supervisor, Detective Inspector Aspinall. You'll find that the cast does rapid-fire North London dialect, without regard for us country cousins over here. This series is a great find: it's witty, entertaining, and intellectually and emotionally satisfying. 1. "Christine." Wealthy would-be painter Maurice Leyman dies drunk in a fire while shut up in his studio. But some computer thefts from government offices, a possible suicide at the rail yards, an absconded lifer on the loose, and a grisly find of human bones in a suburban garden all conspire to ruin the detective's holiday.
Keep on putting Mr. His partner and dawg are perfect. The scripting template is a perfect match for him. Davison's work on dvd.
The only character I want to dislike is his wife, and somehow I can't even manage that. In season two we get further into Davies's personal life. He's such an interesting, loveable character (c'mon, don't you just want to feed him tea and cookies). Even the side characters (his landlady, his best friend, his dog) are just so unique and interesting, though not in a completely unbelievable, over-the-top way. This isn't to say they aren't good - they are well-paced and would work even without such a good cast - but they just can't compare with the characters.
that the mysteries take a back seat. In the case of a lot of mystery shows I'd say this would take away from it, but this show has always seemed more about Davies than the mysteries. My only complaint is that each season is only four episodes long. You just know there's a lot of storyline left unsaid, and it's going to keep me coming back for more.
Peter Davison, who starred as the elegantly proper Campion in an earlier detectives series does a complete 180 to play Detective Davies. Dangerous Davies is a nickname applied to this ill dressed character who does not command the respect of his coworkers. He does not so much suffer from a lack of self esteem as he simply doesnt care about the glory. Not as gritty as say Cracker, or Wire in the Blood and not as dated as The British RM He does care about his estranged wife and his dog and his quirky friend 'Mod". "Dangerous" manages to solve all the cases with out getting any of the credit. Another one of those series where the characters feel like old friends.You can watch this with your family, very clean cut.
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