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.
It's hard to imagine a more put-upon cop than "Dangerous" Davies. Not quite financially solvent, Davies (played with wry humanity by the great character actor Peter Davison), still has a (very odd) flat mate, still is trying to jumpstart his marriage to the long-suffering Julie--and still finds himself swimming against the tide when it comes to solving crimes. In this cracking collection of four richly layered episodes, Davies seems to be finally comfortable with his role as odd man out, as he works on murder cases and follows leads that his colleagues and irritated boss can't fathom. Yet like all the great screen detectives, Davies picks up on the tiniest inconsistencies and refuses to tie up cases neatly--despite nearly all evidence to the contrary. In "Friends Reunited," a delicious opportunity presents itself with a school reunion of mates who ended up on very different paths--with resentments that have simmered for decades. When a rich mogul ends up dead, a deadbeat addict is fingered--but it doesn't sit right with Davies. As he tries to crack the case, the assortment of oddballs around him provide the slyest of comic relief; his flat mate, Mod, needs Davies to vacate the apartment so he can entertain the gorgeous Edith, a Norwegian who's "with the circus." Davies: "Ah... trapeze?" Mod: "No, she takes the tickets--and she's got the perfect looks for it, too." Extras include a biography of author Leslie Thomas, who created the novels with Dangerous Davies, and cast filmographies. Here's to living Dangerous-ly. --A.T. Hurley
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The Last Detective - Series 3 Reviews
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. .
He is ably aided by Rob Spendlove as his Detective Inspector and, to a slightly lesser extent, Sean Hughes as his erstwhile friend Mod. 'Dangerous Davis' the Last Detective, is a man out of sync with his working colleagues who, it appears, always choose the 'easy way'. The Last Detective will be enjoyed by all who enjoy a rollicking yarn, decent humour and fine acting. However, that is the only negative thing I have to say about this wonderful Series. The Series deserves the success it is getting. Davis is the quintessential policeman we admired and respected.
I also enjoy the regular appearance of a badly behaved mammoth mutt, but the dog's acting leaves much to be desired. Enjoy.
He has played policemen - of one sort or another - on many occasions and is supremely believable. Davis is a throwback to the pre 1960's when police worked using their brains and their 'local knowledge' which was built by experience.
They worked successfully, without the assistance of abundant technical equipment and scientific devices. The Last Detective is one of the best Detective series although the title, until properly explained, is a sad bad mistake.
Peter Davison is a fine and very competent actor. Would that we had an abundance of them today.
In his investigation, Davies discovers there's a dark underside to glam rock - what a surprise. But he does love his job, and he's surprisingly good at it. Another emotionally satisfying experience. I wasn't there at the time or place, but I rather doubt the underworld was peopled by such gentlemen. The mysteries are reasonably complex and satisfying, too. It certainly hasn't been since the heyday of the Kray brothers, in the late 1950's, 1960s: they were terrifyingly violent psychotics.
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. It stars Peter Davison ("All Creatures Great and Small") as Detective Constable - and it's quite a disgrace to be only a detective constable"Dangerous" Davies. "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. And they've been followed by Jamaican posses, Chinese tongs, and Russian maffias, whom you'd really rather not cross. 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. 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 brokebitter drug addict.
in February 2003, and offers a lighter-hearted, but still high-quality, blend of mystery and comedy similar to that of "Poirot," "Midsomer Murders," and "Hetty Wainthropp." It's based on the "Dangerous Davies" novels of the Welshman Leslie Thomas. But Davies has a feeling it's murder, and arrests a young hoodlum, apparently bent on revenge, for sabotaging Fallon's car. The police procedural/comedy/drama was made by Granada for the United Kingdom's Independent Television (ITV). 2. "Towpaths of Glory." Decorated war veteran Frank Moore is found murdered and dumped in a local rubbish heap. They are:. But Davies insists on believing Dabney's absurd alibi. He also loves his sexy, beautiful blond wife, Julie (Emma Amos), but, in this particular series, they are separated.
Then he turns up murdered. He's an average Joe looks-wise, and a rumpled, galumphing, unassuming sort. This release consists of a two-volume boxed set including four all-new full-length productions. 4. "Willesden Confidential." Champion stockcar driver Geoff "The Duke" Fallon appears to have been killed in a fiery racetrack fire after an accident.
But meanwhile, there are the DVDs. 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. Still, the episode is emotionally satisfying.
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. It debuted in the U.K. Nevertheless, I consider it a lucky find. 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. But he does generally get his man, or, possibly, woman.
It's set in Willesden, a totally unimportant, small, totally out of the way North London precinct, and appears to have been filmed there. This episode allows its makers to visit London's underworld, indulging in what strikes me as faux nostalgia. The frequently seen Ian McNeice guest stars here, and turns in a gratifyingly strong performance. 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.
This one ended on a more upbeat note that the others. The third entry in the series was as good as the ones before.
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. 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. 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. THE LAST DETECTIVE is the perfect mystery series for the modern Anglo-friendly viewer.
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. It sets the exact light, self-deprecating, mildly serious tone the subject matter deserves. 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. Every wrinkle of the middling Everyman with his slyly revealed backbone of steel is brought to life in Davison's performance.
You will not be sorry. 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.
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