Casualty

Have always been a big fan of detective/mystery shows from a fairly young age, well since starting secondary school.

'Inspector Morse', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Midsomer Murders' (in its prime), 'Law and Order', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Criminal Minds', 'Murder She Wrote', you name them to name a few. 'New Tricks' has also been a favourite from the start (despite not being the same without the original cast in recent years). Although it can be corny at times (in an endearing sort of way) it has always been perfect for helping me relax in the evenings. Something that was needed during all the hard times endured in school.

"Casualty", following on from the cliff-hanger ending of the previous season, is a terrific start to Season 4, a non-casualty of an episode in quality. It may not have been the most humorous of episodes, then again it is a serious situation, but there is evidence of it with Gerry.

The classic rapport between the team is there, as is the fun case solving, a diverting mystery and the whole Jack and Ricky Hanson situation that could have over-shadowed too much but has a good deal of tension and balanced just about right with the mystery.

Visually, "Casualty" looks lovely, with a brighter look but never garish and always slick and stylish. The music is a good fit and the theme song (sung with gusto by none other by Dennis Waterman himself) is one of the catchiest for any detective/mystery show and of any show in the past fifteen years or so.

Writing is intelligent, thought-provoking and classy, while also being very funny and high up in the entertainment value. The story is fun, diverting and twisty. Ricky Hanson continues to be a nasty piece of work.

A huge part of 'New Tricks' appeal is the chemistry between the four leads and their performances. The chemistry is so easy going and charming with a little tension.

One of the show's biggest delights is Alun Armstrong, achieves a perfect balance of funny comic timing and touching pathos which was maintained all the way up to his final episode. It is also lovely here to see his role in the team and skills appreciated more all the time. James Bolam's Jack is the quietest, most sensible (mostly) and most composed of the team, with a tragic personal life that Bolam portrays very touchingly without any overwrought-ness.

The only woman on the team, Amanda Redman more than holds her own in what is essentially the boss role of the four. Dennis Waterman brings some nice levity without unbalancing things.

Lynda Bellingham plays a purposefully irritating character perfectly and Anthony Calf and Susan Jameson are as excellent as ever. David Troughton is suitably loathsome.

Overall, terrific. 10/10 Bethany Cox

The team investigate an unsolved murder at a Hospital. Jack is once again made to face up to the death of his beloved Mary.

This was an awesome episode, a terrific watch, and a cracking, imaginative piece of scheduling. This could have easily been the conclusion of the third series, bold to kick off the forth series with such an epic episode. This would have had viewers gripped, and desperate for more.

I loved the variety here, it offers up a bit of everything, it's a mystery, it's dramatic, it's also very funny, the touches of humour throughout were joyous.

I loved Jack's take on the story, and I loved The Mary story.

How wonderful would it have been if Linda Bellingham had become a permanent member of The UCOS team, she was terrific here, what a lovely actress she was. I absolute loved the character of Sophie, how good a performance was that!

One of the show's best, 10/10.

OMG, this was a well bad episode, I mean, what the hell was Ricky Hanson thinking trying to kill Jack and Brian and if it were up to me, they should have replaced it about one with David Mitchell and Robert Webb as counterfieters.

Hell-bent on avenging his wife's death, Jack is prepared to risk everything to kill the man responsible, Ricky Hanson. As Sandra becomes aware of the dangerous situation Jack has put himself in, she has to act fast to prevent him confronting his nemesis resulting in a crash that jeopardises the future of the entire team.

With Gerry, Brian and Jack hospitalised, Sandra is forced to accept temporary help at UCOS from the super efficient DCI Karen Hardwick, a woman who irritates Pullman on every level. Threatened by a new face in the office and desperate to prove that they are still a crack team even from a hospital bed, the boys need a case. So when their consultant Dr Finlay McKenzie mentions the suspicious death of a patient on their ward ten years ago, they seize the opportunity to reinvestigate hoping it will hold the team together.

Casualty, that is well bad

The ending of last episode puts the team in the hospital, but the team still find a case to solve. And do a good, entertaining job of it. The case is a good one, as is the team's hospital interactions, as well as their distant interactions with the super organized, fast working character Strickland brought in to cover for them during that time.

All the parts of the episode come together well, it is a good start to season 4.

When last we saw the UCOS crew, in Series 3, villain Ricky Hanson, memorably portrayed by David Troughton, had revealed to Jack that he had been the driver of the car that killed Jack's beloved wife, Mary. Seeking retribution outside the pub, Jack guns his car toward Hanson to try mowing him down.

Describing the plot would give away too much, so I will stick to the performances.

The regulars are back, of course. They've set up fresh digs in what we usually think of as a fully functioning modern office, instead of the dark bowels of the boiler room, or wherever they started.

But the first episode of Series 4 really belongs to the guest actors.

Actor/comedian John Sessions shows up as a doctor. His wry line deliveries lighten the mood a bit in what otherwise would be a very dark episode on several levels.

Noma Dumazweni plays a nurse fired after three patients died in a single night on her ward. The suspicion of foul play was enough to end her career. She has, what, two scenes? Totally captivating. And once again the writers, while not forgetting Gerry's reputation as a lady's man, also let him show a compassionate side that we began to see with the Series 3 finale. Waterman is up to the task.

Mark Womack plays the son of one of the men who died on the ward that night. His quiet, intense characterization really nails home the theme.

Lynda Bellingham, as soon-to-retire Det. Sept. Hardwick, sets Pullman's alarm bells off. She was so charming, and a personality foil to Pullman, that I was kind of hoping she'd stick around for more episodes.