Endangered Species

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 has such a lot going for it... The storyline is brilliant with the idea of illegally imported animals, who are easily the stars of the show, although this might be because there isn't anything else like it. There is also a secondary case involving a school teacher which is rather interesting. Overall, the two plots compliment each other well and there is hardly a dull moment. There are a few jokes as with most things involving David Jason and DC Presley is a good character who ought to be used more often than just this episode. The reason why it didn't get 10 and instead 9 is because I felt Frost was a bit too racist towards Asia - I appreciate this skepticism exists but it was mentioned too often in the script although with a character like Frost it is quite believable. Well worth watching - you are very unlikely to be disappointed.

I have always loved this series for its beautiful characterizations (and characters) but, as it ages along with Sir David Jason, I find the dialogues are less believable and Frost himself is becoming rather tiresome and querulous in his old age; the character is less endearing. To be blunt, he is being played as a bit of a clown and there is a heavy-handedness in presenting him that makes me cringe. For example the interplay between Frost and Mullett was once exquisitely amusing - you could see the point of view of each man as they clashed - but now Frost treats Mullett with such open contempt and rudeness that it no longer works for me. The series seems to have bowed to the current style of packing in more action at the expense of ambiance and character development and I find myself turning to the newer Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) series now on American TV (of all places) to conjure back a similar style to the old Frost episodes.

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.

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.