Old Fossils

A man died in a museum and the case is re-opened because they think he was murdered. UCOS "Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad" investigates.

The investigators consist of retired cops. Jack, Jerry and Brian are working on the case. This episode like others has many people in it and many circumstances often confusing to understand but interesting.

Brian is brilliant, has a great memory and is a recovering alcoholic who will not use a car. Jerry is a x-cop. He is like a womanizer and has a few x-wives, multiple kids but pretty honest. Jack is a widower who is more of a loner and very serious about his job. They all work together with Sandra their boss and solve old closed crimes but re-opened for some reason.

The people involved in this are stealing fossils worth a lot of money and selling them by another man who once worked at the museum.

There are a lot of partners in crime. One of the funny parts of this episode is that Jerry breaks into one of his x-wives houses with a key and is with Brian who is scared. Jerry is after an old fossil he left with his x and thinks it might be worth money. He has a museum administrator who knows about fossils examine it. She tells him it is not worth much and he gets mad and swears. Then she tells him what it is. It looks like a stone, it is fossilized animal dung. Lots of laughs.

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.

"Old Fossils" is a very good episode and worthy start for Season 8, if not among one of my favourites from 'New Tricks'. Not because there is much wrong with it, other than that some ideas in the story are not much new.

The case still compels though with plenty of entertainment and intrigue if not many surprises.

Visually, "Old Fossils" is slick and stylish as ever. 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. One of the funnier 'New Tricks' episodes around this period of the show. This is all mixed adeptly with a seriousness without being overly so that it doesn't feel like 'New Tricks'.

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.

Everybody in support is solid.

All in all, very, very good. 9/10 Bethany Cox

The case of Bernard Fletcher, a prominent palaeontologist, who died in 2002 is reopened, as are other cases of retired Pathologist, Buxton, as played by the wonderful Trevor Bannister of Are you being Served.

It's very good, a very fine start to series eight, the final series where the show would have its original lineup. It's another skilfully written story, it's very imaginative, very visual, and very well acted.

Lots of dinosaurs to interest, and some wonderful items displayed, it really is a feast for the eyes.

I love the sarcasm in this episode, the subject matter naturally animates Brian, his enthusiasm is naturally not felt elsewhere in the team. Sandra's irritations are funny.

An absolute dream of a cast, there aren't many better lineups than this, Nicholas Farrell, Natasha Little and Trevor Bannister to name just a few, Vicki Pepperdine is terrific here as Madeline, what a versatile talent she is, nothing she doesn't excel at.

Very enjoyable, 8/10.

Season 8 opener, forensics guy being rechecked, case reinvestigated at a museum.

This is a solid opener with a solid case and good character interaction. The case is somewhat predictable, but still fun to follow, and seeing lots of fossils at a museum adds atmosphere. There's less outside of work stuff here than otherwise, but character interactions are still fun.

Season 8 as a whole is my favorite season, ironically since the actors were getting bored from what I have read and would start leaving over the next few seasons. It combines the great character interactions of the original team with some excellent, intense cases involving various subcultures and situations, combining the best parts of later and earlier seasons well. Old Fossils starts the series off well, with later episodes of even better quality.