The One That Got Away

Did I mention bleak? Because this episode is bleak and depressing. This doesn't work for me, but you're fine with that sort of thing, the episode would be an 8 or 9.

The rest of the story works well. Sandra investigates a case related to one she'd worked on some time ago, to put the killer away for good, her last case before leaving UCOS. The case itself works well, and takes some psychology to crack, and fits the format very well of older police bring previous experience/unique skills to solving, everyone is involved in some unique way in solving it.

Sandra is given a good sendoff, and makes sense for her to leave. Everyone handles it about as well as expected, Steve and Danny are new enough to not be effected too much, Strickland seems to understand and support it as you'd expect from previous episodes where Sandra was offered new jobs, and Gerry is shocked/unhappy at first, but comes around.

This episode was about a number of young girls that were murdered. Five of the bodies ended up being disfigured and dead. Some were still missing. All of these women had their picture taken by the same man who was also involved in taking pornographic pictures and was stalking them.

A lady in a bookstore sees a picture of her sister walking through the park on the last day her sister was seen alive that was in a book. Her sister went missing many years ago and she turns the picture over to the police. Sandra had worked on this case before and recognizes one of the men in the picture she had talked to and thinks he was involved in some way.

Gerry is working with 2 new guys and his boss Sandra.

So after connecting the dots Sandra feels there is a woman involved that worked with the photographer and the killer. These woman were not involved in porn but were lured by a female who promised them jobs in art etc.

The case is solved in the end.

It has a sad ending though. Sandra is leaving the UCOS for another job. Jack who left awhile back appears to her and tells to leave and her time is up there. Sandra does not know that Jack left because he was spending his last days in a hospital where they treat patients that have end of life cancer.

Sandra tell Gerry and her boss this is her last case. They are sad but happy for her. I am sad because I know she won't be on the show anymore and only one original character is still on. This series had a lot of humor, suspense and good acting. I saw some later episodes with the new people in it and it was not as good as the ones with Brian, Gerry, Jack and Sandra.

Sandra links a new case to an unresolved case from her past, her first as a DC, she also has a big decision to make about her future.

This was a fantastic episode I thought, very much putting Sandra centre stage, we didn't often get much info about her early cases, unlike the guys, in the early years, we were of course aware that she killed a dog, but seeing her first ever case reopened, excellent.

Well paced, intriguing, very bleak, this was a brilliantly written and plotted episode, it ticked every single box. Sandra leaves on a real high note.

I didn't think after Brian and Jack leaving that it would be any good, but this series I've been proven wrong, without Sandra though, I have no idea.

The cameo was a wonderful scene, oh how I missed him. Favourite scene had to be Gerry and Sandra, it was superb.

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

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.

'New Tricks' was past its best by now, with integral characters no longer with us, but was certainly not an unwatchable period.

A large part of me is still lamenting the loss of Brian, with his unique cleverness, quirks, humour and emotional complexity that was such a huge part of the show, and that the lack of Alun Armstrong's presence leaves a large hole.

Danny is not bad a replacement though, not near as memorable, interesting or endearing but he's gelling well, is likeable and is played with subtle charm by Nicholas Lyndhurst.

With a darker, grittier and more sombre tone than there usually is, the case is very compelling with lots of twists and turns, not all surprising but many are, tied up satisfyingly and cleverly. The episode serves as a more than worthy send-off to Sandra, with particularly excellent work from Amanda Redman, in particularly a very touching ending that sees a familiar face offering some tear-jerking words of wisdom.

Visually, "The One that Got Away" 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, with some amusing humour wisely kept at minimum for a serious case.

A huge part of 'New Tricks' appeal is the chemistry, which is so entertaining and charming with some nice tension.

Uniformly great performances from the whole cast, with top honours going to Redman.

In summary, a worthy send off for Sandra and one of the better episodes of Season 10 and of the "not the same" period. 9/10 Bethany Cox