39 of 42 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
better and better, May 26 2007
By Chicago to DC to the boonies "pcbryan4" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Last Detective Series 3 (DVD)
I wrote a review for this set previously, but as I'd already gushed about season 2, I felt that was enough and I deleted my review (thanks Amazon for this feature). However, I've decided to re-post a review. This show started as a light detective series about a put-upon detective who was the last detective his boss would assign to an important case. The show has progressed nicely, though, to the point where, in season 3, Dangerous Davies, the Last Detective, is now the backbone of his department. His antagonistic co-workers and goofy buddy Mod have slid to the side, his boss is facing personal demons, and his wife is beginning, perhaps?, to see the strength in Peter Davison's character. No longer really a laughingstock, Dangerous in this season shows himself a capable detective and a strong character upon whom others may rely. Good shows keep getting better in their early years, and the Last Detective is such a show. It is a gratifying tonic to the increased violence and explicit nature of cop and detective shows now appearing in both the USA and Britain. Great stuff, and on my short list of favorites, along with Rumpole, Due South (seasons 1 & 2), Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Briscoe County, and Yes (Prime) Minister. Shows about good people doing the right thing and finding strength inside their fallible selves.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The perfect modern British detective series, Jan 29 2008
By T. Neff - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Last Detective Series 3 (DVD)
I am not the smoothest reviewer on the Internets but since there were only six reviews of TLD3, one of them a splenetic one-star for mention of the "diety"[sic], I feel I must weigh in.
THE LAST DETECTIVE is the perfect mystery series for the modern Anglo-friendly viewer. It sets the exact light, self-deprecating, mildly serious tone the subject matter deserves. From the score and title to the acting of the leads, character roles and guest stars, we are given a gift of a visit to Dangerous Davies's world: bracing, bittersweet, rich in detail and fully alive with modern drama.
I suppose there are other actors (Britain is certainly rich with them) who could have filled out the title role, but what Peter Davison has done with it is a landmark realisation on the order of Columbo or THE SWEENEY'S Regan. Every wrinkle of the middling Everyman with his slyly revealed backbone of steel is brought to life in Davison's performance. You genuinely care about this man and his relationship with his sneering colleagues, his daft buddies, his admiring subordinates and his Fellini-elf of a not quite ex wife. You'd like to have a pint at the pub with him, and you'd love him to look into your missing Bentley while he was at it.
I strongly urge US and world viewers who enjoyed, for example, the superb LIFE ON MARS (UK) and, going back, Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect, to start at series 1 and get to know Dangerous, his whisky- and magnesia-swilling Gov, and his whole crew. You will not be sorry.
15 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining Series....Hooray for BBC!, Jun 8 2007
By Mrs. Ra Hedderich "Rhonda A. Hedderich" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Last Detective Series 3 (DVD)
The Last Detective is very entertaining. The storylines are good, the acting is wonderful as is the entire production. No one does the "cozies" like the BBC. I highly recommend this entire series.