The Last Detective: Series 1

The Last Detective is a fabulous show that is steeped in charm and class. Peter Davison unobtrusively holds the show together as the decent but overlooked PC 'Dangerous' Daviies who, through unflashy police work and dogged determination reveals important truths in the overlooked and seemingly unimportant.

Davison is assisted in his task by a superlative supporting cast, most notably Sean Hughs as his drinking buddy Mod and Rob Spendlove as his dyspepsic boss.

The production quality of this programme is high and the script and performances sincere and humourous. The dark side of crime is not avoided in this programme and it can enter some dark territory but, like Dangerous himself, you never loose faith in human nature. The enormous affection and popularity of this show in the UK may have much to do with the affection held for the underdog and while this programme plays to this affection you never loose respect for Dangerous. Davison magnificently pulls off the task of portraying a characher who is professionally overlooked, unlucky in love but stubbonly loyal - to the truth, and to people and cases, who, like him, are sidlined in life.

As an aside I would also like to make an honourable mention to the soundtrack of this show. The composer should be proud as it is unobtrusive but sets the secene perfectly. Its minor key conveys the tragedy of crime and the lugubrious nature of Davies' plodding with a lighter harmony that refelcts the comic flourishes of the show.

In conclusion this series is a gem which I highly recommend. Buy it and be rewarded by gentle but honest stories about not so gentle and not always so honest people.

I enjoyed this series very much. On the surface it's just another detective show. But it has a wry British twist to it. Based on Leslie Thomas' 4 novels about "Dangerous Davies", a good-natured, comically unfortunate detective, this new Granada/ITV production is a welcome respite from the hardnosed, grimy detective shows which we have become accustomed to of late. DC (Detective Constable) Davies is a very ordinary fellow, middle-aged, unlucky in life and unlucky in love. But he has a ready smile, a friendly word for everyone and most importantly, a kind heart. With Peter Davison at the helm, this makes for a very amiable series, much like its lead character and the actor portraying him. It is as much Davies' interaction with the people around him, his ex-wife, friends, colleagues and witnesses, as the mysteries that he stumbles upon, that make this series so enjoyable. Mostly it appeals to the British sense of cheering on the underdog.

Peter Davison, who for many will forever be the rascally Tristan Farnon from the beloved BBC production of "All Creatures Great and Small," has aged very gracefully and made a new name for himself as the downtrodden, though always lovable, DC Davies. One British newspaper reviewer even referred to him as "the cuddly detective".

It is already into its fourth season in the UK. Unlike American series, each season consists of just 4 episodes. Each episode is about 70-75 minutes long. The pilot episode runs for 95 minutes. Of the four episodes in this first season, three are based on the original novels. Only Episode 3, "Tricia," is new material. The plot of the fourth and last novel is only televised at the end of Season 2. The fourth novel sees Davies retiring from the force and setting up his own detective agency. In the TV series however, Davies never retires but goes plodding along in his dead-end job as a superannuated detective constable.

The series was shot in high defintion widescreen. The DVD presents it in its original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 (Anamorphic). Picture quality is good with rich vibrant colours and deep inky blacks. Sound is in the original 2.0 Dolby Surround. No subtitles are provided. There are no extras save for some unrelated trailers.

I did not even know that Leslie Thomas' mysteries had been made into a television series, much less one with Peter Davison. When I found this set though I bought it at once and do not regret in in the least.

Like Inspector Barnaby in the Midsomer Mysteries, the detective played by Davison in this series is incredibly decent, while there is also a good amount of both pathos and humor in his interaction with the public, his ex-wife and his fellows in the police. His wife observes that she loves a man in uniform and their marriage was over when he made CID. His boss states that if he had his way Davies would be back in uniform and visiting schools to offer safety tips. Davies refuses to ask for a transfer out of the CID office of Willesden, probably because he knows it would be refused. Between a rock and a hard place seems to be home to Davies, but he is still a very good detective, sometimes to his own dismay when things work out very black indeed.

Now for the thing that fascinates me about this series and other British series I have watched in the past-- Davison doesn't make any effort to cover up the fact that he is going bald. In fact it's rather endearing. Having had male colleagues who have gone to outrageous lengths to look a little less bald-- spray on scalp paint, anyone? A combover? A weave? Hair transplant???? No, no, just a natural look and a fine disposition will do, thank you very much.

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