New Tricks (TV Series) London Underground (2014) User Reviews

Following the Fleet

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 19 September 2014]

In the opening scenes a body is found in a London sewer; this isn't a case for UCOS but the officer in charge; Sasha's ex-husband, DAC Ned Hancock thinks there may possibly be a link to the murder of another man twenty years previously. The two had been involved but given the time separation a link between the murders seems tenuous… till Danny points out there is a link. The early victim was drowned in a stream which is the headwater of the River Fleet which disappears under the city where it is a sewer; the sewer where the later victim was found. As the team investigate further they find that the two men were involved in an occult group that believed that the Fleet had some sort of mystical power. The main clue is an old film; however it is incomplete and they believe the missing section will tell them why the crimes took place. The fact that the case was given to UCOS by Sasha's ex-husband leads to confrontation between the two investigations although it is clear that his investigation is going nowhere while UCOS make all the running.

This was an enjoyably episode despite the somewhat unlikely premise… it seems every murder mystery series must have an episode dealing with followers of the occult. Danny's explanations of the history of the Fleet managed to be interesting without feeling like we were being given a history lecture. There aren't too many suspects and I'm sure most viewers will figure out what happened a fair time before the final reveal; that doesn't spoil the enjoyment though it just means the viewer who figures it out can feel a little smug! The tension between Sasha and her ex is a bit of a distraction although it is satisfying each time she gets the better of him. The cast do a pretty good job; I have certainly got used to the newer team members faster than I'd expected. Overall a pretty good episode.

best episode in a while

[prosper1 · 9/10 · 15 September 2014]

this has been a very good series albeit somewhat unbalanced of late. This episode is one of the best. I'm sad this is the last season, yet I'm heartened to see everyone has kept the show up to a high standard. I wish the best of luck to all associated with this series, it has been a great run. If you haven't seen it you'll be surprised at the content, acting, writing and direction. It is hard to lose three major characters in a series with out missing the drama, but the cast and producers have risen to the challenge. This episode, like many, explores the London of the past. These plots come from the 40's 50's 60's 70's and 80's and provide a window to the past. Kudos all round.

London history

[safenoe · 8/10 · 10 November 2017]

I like this episode a lot, as Dan teaches everyone about the history of London and it was quite fascinating. The UCOS team are on the busy London streets and I'm surprised the passerbys didn't look at them and be a distraction!

I like New Tricks even with the new cast and it's a shame it didn't go more than 12 seasons.

An Outstanding Case For The B-Team

[Robinson2511 · 10/10 · 1 July 2020]

While the quality of New Tricks started to take massive hits from season 8 onwards, London Underground proves that even during its final years, the old dogs still had enough bite to provide some really strong and compelling television.

If you were to ask my opinion on what the best episode featuring the B-team was, this is where I'd direct you because while series 11 had some very dull episodes, the majority of its cases featured a fresh, exciting and very compelling sense of gravitas that made the twists and turns feel exciting and impactful in a way we haven't seen since the show's very early days; I'm talking series 3 here.

London Underground not only features a very exciting, immensely compelling plot that perfectly blends an 'out there' supernatural mystery with a grounded, believable case of obsession and superstition, it also presents a beautifully realised character arc alongside it involving Sasha standing up to her cheating ex-husband and her inability to forgive him as they're forced to work together to solve the case. The reason all this works so well is because they're not completely separate parts of the puzzle. Just like in the show's glory days, the cases are intertwined with compelling character work which was always what made New Tricks stand out among the river of generic, tedious, 'copy/paste' crime dramas that riddled the TV schedules.

With a few exceptions, New Tricks had for the most part lost sight of this quality over the past 4 years, and would unfortunately lose sight of it again after this. Simply, it's very refreshing to see the writers take the opportunity to provide a compelling character arc for a character that still feels incredibly underdeveloped. It's written beautifully too with a thrilling sense of back and forth between Sasha and Ned and an incredible satisfaction derived from seeing Sasha put the loathsome cheat in his place. I still think Strickland steals the show however by standing up to Ned for UCOS and Sasha, before putting Sasha back in her place like an absolute boss. It's one of my favourite Strickland moments and a fantastic scene.

The episode is also full of really exciting, some of which just leap off the screen. It makes an excellent change from the thin, generic character-tropes normally seen in the genre, and indeed most of New Tricks' last cases. Here however, the cast of superstitious, obsessive artists and their quirky personalities, wonderfully portrayed by all involved, liven up the narrative and make the case just that little bit more compelling.

The case itself is fascinating with the incomplete film clips being the key to solving two murders with a sea of superstition and confusion surrounding the whole case, and a list of suspects believing that a subterranean river is running the city and their lives, it's just fantastic. I'd go as far as to say inspired which isn't a word I use lightly.

On a final note, I think the location filming around London deserves a mention. How the production team on this episode were able to book out and film in such huge locations is beyond me, and the visit to the London sewers was a fantastic decision that adds great atmosphere to the episode. It's probably one of the show's most ambitious episodes in terms of location-work (if you don't count travelling to Gibraltar last season), and the shots are choreographed to take full advantage of the setting. It's very well directed and the editing of the episode keeps the narrative and pace steadily ramping up to the conclusion. Just ignore the awful visual effect on the laptop at the end.

London Underground is one of New Tricks' strongest episodes, especially of its later years, and one that proves that had the writing team been putting this much effort into the show on a weekly basis, the show might've had a future beyond Waterman's impending departure.

An excellent episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 27 January 2023]

The body of film critic Oliver Houghton is found dead in a sewer, Sasha is convinced it's linked to the twenty year old case of the death of David Straka.

They certainly pulled this one out of the bag, arguably the best episode for quite some time. A story that had the quality of the earliest episodes, it was very original, well paced, and featured great characters.

The previous episode was very good, it seems as though this penultimate series is starting to turn a corner. I always enjoy a cold case, this mixes new and old, it works incredibly well.

The acting was on point, I enjoyed Nicola Stephenson, Benjamin Whitrow, and loved Adèle Anderson's excellent performance.

Lyndhurst is pretty good here, Dan is still a little too clever for his own food, but here at least it was convincing, I'm sure everyone rolled their eyes when he started rattling on about The Fleet.

Sasha is definitely learning how to manipulate Ned, you'll wonder why on Earth she ever got with him, the pair shared some very good scenes.

Excellent, 9/10.

Unique, Spooky episode

[scsaxe · 9/10 · 21 October 2021]

Unlike many people, I've been watching new tricks from the finals seasons backwards, and I can see some of the change as the seasons went on and team members were swapped.

This is the standout episode of the final seasons, ironically possibly because the characters don't interact as much, which felt more tacked on in these later season than a central part of the show. This lets Danny's unusual knowledge shine as he recognizes how the Fleet river is related to the case, and starts the unit on the path to solving the crime. The atmosphere is set early by some strange film clips, and several spooky scenarios follow. The story of these artists and strange characters and the Fleet river drew my in: I wanted to look at some of the writing and videos mentioned in the episode, only to remember it was all fictional. I did look at the fleet river and its history, which was pretty interesting, including the locations shown in the show. Though I did realize the film clips early on didn't make much sense, reordering them the way the characters described wouldn't produce anything sensible. Oh well.

If you are checking out the later seasons of this shwo, make sure you see this episode.

London Underground

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 18 March 2018]

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.

"London Underground" is one of the best episodes of Season 11 and one of the better episodes of the post-prime period and since "The Rock".

There is a lot more right than there is wrong. It is agreed that suspects are too few that the reveal are not surprising and actually obvious too early. Same with that the whole Sasha and Ned plot line distracts a little and doesn't contribute enormously.

It is an interesting case though, an odd one but still very engaging and actually am slowly getting used to the new team dynamic. It is charming and likeable, if not as sparkling or fresh as the original one and none of the characters are as strong as Brian. Sorry to keep mentioning this, just my stance.

Visually, "London Underground" 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.

The writing is thoughtful and classy and Sasha has settled well and her confidence is growing all the time.

All four leads are never less than very good and the support is solid.

Concluding, well done episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Occultism and gays

[ctyankee1 · 6 June 2015]

A man is found drowned in water. He was a homosexual. Lots of talk of art and homosexual lovers and secret stuff and occult sacrifice of blood in the water.

Could not stand this episode. The people from UCOS are always arguing, having different opinions and giving them. There is too much discussion and shop talk. Gerry is always mad and too much family stuff going on behind this and in other episodes.

New Tricks has changed a lot, no humor, more swearing, more violent killings etc.

Glad it is ending. Strickland is not in this too offend either and Sasha has gotten more bossy.

I may watch to the end of the series of the episodes I have. I won't re-watch at any of this series accept the ones with the original characters and writers.

In this episode as in others no one pays for their crime. The ones that can go to jail kill themselves and the ones that did the crime are now considered mentally unstable so no justice in many of these episodes with Sasha as the boss. Only her fighting with her x-husband who is also a boss at this police station.