The Crazy Gang

The UCOS team investigate the death of Greg Collins, a mental health campaigner who was murdered in 1999. Greg leaves behind a daughter, Rose, who now runs his legacy, The Madhouse. Sasha is forced to investigate single handedly.

It's very much a second part of a two parter, you'll need memory do the previous episode for this one to make sense.

It's a strong final episode, it's a shame the show came to an end here, series twelve has been very good on the whole, there was more mileage in my opinion, this final two part story was terrific.

It reminds me of Waking the dead's final episode, Waterloo, in which Boyd's cold case squad is ended, the UCOS bubble really does seem to have been burst.

Very good performances, the regulars are excellent, but Meera Syal and Lorraine Ashbourne are both on point.

There's a nice mention of the previous team members, with the exception of Brian sadly.

I wonder if this format will be picked up in years to come, the formula works, there's plenty of talent, just needs the backing and the writers, you never know.

8/10.

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', after 12 seasons and 107 episodes, comes to an end with "The Crazy Gang". And while it is a decent send-off that feels rounded off rather than incomplete, for a show ending part of me was expecting more. It should have been an episode with lots of punch and be among the best episodes, but while nicely done and that it kept the attention going, the extra oomph was missing.

The case is compelling and keeps one guessing, but is spoilt by the culprit agreed being too obvious far too early.

Despite Ted settling in stronger all the time, being quite amusing and Larry Lamb doing a nice job, he never became a well-developed character and never became as well-developed or interesting as the rest of the three or any member of the original team. "The Crazy Gang" did very little, if at all, to change that.

The team dynamic charms and amuses and feels more natural. Still think it doesn't sparkle anywhere as much as the original team dynamic and doesn't have its freshness.

For a show ending, the side-stories are not too soapy and intrigue. There is a sense of finality and moving forward. The writing amuses and touches.

Visually, "The Crazy Gang" 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.

Good performances from the whole cast. Yeah it would have been nice to have seen Brian and Sasha make appearances no matter how small, but that they didn't is more to do with that Alun Armstrong and Amanda Redman from my understanding didn't like the show's change of pace in the latter seasons and showed no interest in coming back when they left.

In summary, good show ending but not one that sees the show go out with a bang (like it deserved to). 7/10 Bethany Cox

Good episode where office tigers let their ego's prefer. Sorry that New Tricks stops. Was a goid show to watch. Maybe a film can be made with a briljant story line like S12 EP 1-2.