Endangered Species

I'm a long-time fan of the Frost series, but this episode just didn't agree with me.

My main complaint (as actor David Jason himself agreed with at the close of the series) is that Frost is simply getting to old to be going after younger women, in this case a lithe aerobics instructor. Frost is now easily into his 60s, while the instructor looks be be no older than late 30s. In earlier episodes, Frost has occasionally had more than a protective, parental eye for the ladies (including ex-madams with hearts of gold), but this is definitely pushing things.

Another criticism: rare species trafficking is and was a serious problem, but it should have been addressed as a background crime issue, not the continuous public service announcement as it appears in this episode. In previous installments, the series adeptly handled more serious (even heartbreaking) issues like child sexual abuse and endangerment without becoming maudlin or preachy in their treatment.

Lastly, having conclusively identified the real mastermind behind the trafficking and murders, Frost normally would have read him his rights, cuffed him and had him hauled off straightaway. Instead, he chats at length with the criminal and allows himself to be led into a situation involving a dangerous wild animal. In the ensuing showdown, it is all too obvious that Jason's stuntman is doing the wild-animal taming act.

In this episode, which focuses on people transporting exotic animals for profit, Inspector Frost becomes and advocate for animal rights. Once again, he is politically incorrect in his day to day interactions. He uses words like "Chinaman" and uses racial stereotypes. I'm sure the writers weren't stupid enough to not notice this. Stereotyping is done constantly in prime time television, here in the 21st century. It's primarily related to people of color, most specifically blacks. Frost is not a role model; he never has been. He fixates on whatever case he is on and often steps on toes. That's why Mullett is so frequently at odds with him. What he is is an interesting character, warts and all. He can be cruel and he can be kind. There is a secondary case involving a beautiful young teacher who has an affair with a student. It isn't all that interesting. Frost understands but there is the law. If every detective on TV were squeaky clean, it would be incredibly dull.

This episode was undermined by awkward comedy relief by the writers, and David Jason looked uncharacteristically awkward delivering some lines. Generally, I rate Jason's drama better than his comedy. I also found his offsider "Presley" less than engaging compared with his other younger proteges. And this is a generation gap too far this time for Frost's love interest. Don't know how old Julie is supposed to be -- but she looks younger than the 30 years old of the actress. David Jason was 65 and looking older. Don't know how this can possibly be justified as being realistic. The two of them walking together look like a fit young thing leading her grandad along.

The detective show clichés and grotesque violence aren't worth discussing. What took me aback was that the characters and dialogue don't seem to be from 2006, but 1946. As part of a plot about animals smuggled from Asia, a man of Asian descent is brutally murdered. When white females are killed, TV cops have been known to spend a little *too* much time lingering over their corpses and staring wistfully at the crime scene photos. For this victim, Inspector Frost instead makes offhand references to "the Chinaman" over and over. What, did the screenwriters dust off a pulp novel from 70 years ago?

It gets worse. The body is found with a notebook of writing in a language Frost assumes is Chinese. "It is, in fact, a notebook, and not a menu," he tells his all-white police squad. Finally, they identify the victim as Lahn Loc, a smuggler with a Vietnamese background working with another man named Flanagan. Superintendent Mullett struggles to discuss the two crooks "Flanagan and that man called, er... The Vietnamese." Right, 'cause Lahn Loc is soooo hard to pronounce. Worse, even after they learn he's Vietnamese, Frost *still* calls him "the Chinaman."

Sounds like "Midsomer Murders" wasn't the only British detective show that needed to get past some racism. This 2006 TV movie was called "Endangered Species," and I hope that in the 9 years since, this outdated treatment of Asians has gotten more "endangered" too.

I am so glad I was not the only one to notice the diabolical flaw in this episode (as if there were no diabolical flaws in the rest of the series).

In real life David Jason is 35 years older than Claire Cox who plays the Julie Brown character. He was born in 1940 she was born in 1975.

The makeup artists tried to make her look older with some highlights and shadows here and there on her face, but I don't think it fooled the majority of the contributors here and that includes me.

So basically putting the traffickin od endangered species angle aside, there were two elements to this episode: 1 - An old man perverting after a woman being old enough to be his daughter.

2 - The idea of a pure love story between a 24 year old very attractive music teacher and a 15 year old student who is shy of being sixteen in two weeks. The way the teacher was defending their so-called love and saying but I'm only 24, and the way Frost spoke very softly and gently with her, as if it was just a sad story, whereas in the eyes of the law in the majority of the First World countries until the age of 18 they are minors.

It was what it was, child sexual abuse, and this episode tried to make it look innocent.

I am wondering one thing. Did David Jason have any leeway and say in episode scripts? Because I certainly would not have accepted the huge age gap scenario for him and Julie, and also the predator teacher child sexual abuse scenario.

No this episode was disgusting on so many levels. But the ending saved face when Karen announced that she was going to try and work it out with her ex-husband Frank.