The Last Detective: Complete Collection

"The Last Detective: The Complete Collection," comprising all 17 episodes of this superior British television mystery series, is now becoming available in the United States for the first time. The series, a subversive police procedural, was made by Granada for the United Kingdom's Independent Television (ITV). It made its debut on British broadcast television in February 2003, and has never been seen on broadcast TV here, which is our loss, as it is an excellent, character-driven production that offers a light-hearted blend of mystery and comedy similar to that of Poirot Investigates: Eleven Complete Mysteries;Blue Murder: Set 3; or Rosemary & Thyme - The Complete Series. The collection comes at a value-packed price, and offers as a bonus, the 1981 treatment, starring Bernard Cribbins, that tells the same story as this series' pilot.

It's based on the "Dangerous Davies" novels of Leslie Thomas. The veteran, highly thought of, everyman looking Peter Davison (Tristan in All Creatures Great & Small - The Complete Series 1 Collection), stars as the title character, Detective Constable Davies (and it's quite a disgrace for an older man to be only a constable!) He works in the totally unimportant, out of the way, North London precinct of Willesden. And he's only the last detective in that he's the last detective his boss would assign to any case, had he his choice in the matter. So Davies gets the least promising cases: yet, in his plodding fashion, he generally does get his man - or woman, as the case may be.

Emma Amos plays his sexy wife, Julie: in the complete collection you will see their relationship go through some changes, as she first throws him out, then takes him back. Sean Hughes, (the guy from Eejit Records in The Commitments (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), plays his freeloading, quirky chum, Mod: we see him go through quite a few career changes in the complete collection, too. Rob Spendlove plays Detective Inspector Aspinall, the station house's tough supervisor. Charles De'Ath as DS Pimlott and Billy Geraghty as DS Barrett add greatly to the flavor of the cop shop; and we get to see the three of them going through changes too. Various well-known actors, such as Sian Philips, Norman Wisdom,David Threlfall and Susan Woordridge, guest star in supporting, but still meaty, roles.

The series manages to be witty and entertaining, yet still intellectually satisfying, with a minimum of onscreen violence. Cinematography is fine, and it's firmly grounded in its North London location. For better or worse, its actors have been encouraged to use that locale's flavorful accent: some may have trouble with it. But it really is a pleasure getting to see all the episodes in sequence, and seeing the characters develop. British mystery lovers: this one's for you.

This is an outstanding series! I'm not alone in this feeling, as the waiting list at the library was a month long . . .

I can't say enough great things about this show - starting with Peter Davison. With just a look he can convey a host of emotions. He plays his character, "Dangerous", with such an understated elegance - he is such a fine and watchable actor.

I also enjoyed his goofy best friend, "Mod". Really - all of the characters in this series are just top flight actors.

I am just so sad to hear that apparently there are no more episodes to be made. I know it is wildly popular show, so maybe this will be reconsidered in the future.

The LAST DETECTIVE series is best watched in proper order, as there is a gentle story arc to follow. It won't kill the stories for you if you watch them randomly, but in order is best. This series, amazingly, has never aired in the USA. That is our loss! With wit and terrific mysteries, the writers put together 17 episodes about "Dangerous Davies," a milque toast detective whose nickname makes him the butt of yet another joke from his cronies. And yet, Davis is a terrific detective, a truly inquisitive man whose gentle demeanor and insatiable need to make every piece fit have molded him into an unlikely sleuth and yet a brilliant one. Davies' bumbling, perennially unemployed best friend, Mod, and his on-again, off-again sometimes-wife often contribute to the wit and comedy of this non-violent police procedural (which actually turns police procedurals on their head). The mysteries are gripping in that they are engaging rather than violent or suspenseful. You end up intrigued, and it is a joy to watch Davies pick up on tiny details and work them out. Throughout the series, he does earn the grudging respect of at least some of his colleagues, and overall it is a very rewarding series to watch. The end bit of each story, in which he and Mod reflect on things, is always priceless!

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