New Tricks - Series 7 [DVD]

Series 7 provides a welcome return to top form. I'd felt in series 6 that the format was running out of steam, as it featured several confusing and overly political episodes along with a worrying trend of removing all references to the main characters' private lives. This gave the show a feeling of being just another generic cop show. Thankfully this series addresses those problems. There are still serious elements, but they aren't dealt with in a lecturing manner as they were last year. Even better, we get to see more of the characters outside work hours and even the regular meeting place of the pub is re-introduced after being missing for a while. For the first time the series also features 10 episodes rather than the usual 8 with no loss of quality.

For such a strong season only the first episode is weak with its routine clairvoyant plot, which series 1 did so much better, along with providing an unsatisfactory low-key conclusion to last series' cliffhanger. Episode 2 picks things up well with a great tale involving Brian delving obsessively into books and coming up against several excellent guest stars. From then on the series manages its perfect mixture of well-written plots, interesting characters and gentle comedy. Included are tales of death at a chocolate factory, the fashion industry, graffiti artists (featuring a very bad actor doing his RADA version of a streetwise punk) and the boxing industry, along with the return of several faces from earlier seasons and many familiar actors. Highlights are Jack's declaration that he can sum up what Brian has achieved on twitter in five words (I could do it in two) along with one of the strongest dramatic moments in the whole seven year run where Jack breaks every rule in the book to get his man.

But all the main characters get at least one dramatic highlight with only Strickland getting little to do. I assume his long absences are because the actor was working elsewhere at the time. He does play a full part though in the excellent final episode, which deals with corruption at the highest level (although I'd have welcomed such a strong plot being the series arc for the whole year). This corruption is so bad, it leads to the possibility that UCOS could be wound up. If you haven't seen what happens, I won't spoil it by talking about this terrible possibility other than to say that series 8 is back in 2011! And very welcome it will be too.

Series 7 has come back with a bang. Things slowed down a bit in series 6 but now better than ever, the stories were gripping the actors as usual brilliant. Would have liked a bit more info on Sandra's brother situation was he charged with anything, it was never mentioned again he just appeared.Has her mother, the wonderful Sheila Hancock disapeared? Looking forward to 8 hope they can keep up the same standard. Best show on the box.

I'm so pleased to see the group back in top form. Many thanks to the actors, directors, writers and crew for returning the programme to what I think is its unique niche: mysteries and drama with humorous antics along the way. Series 7 brings back those higher energy levels, and once again we get to experience more about each character. I loved the scuffle between Gerry and Brian in the earlier series, and there's another presented this time round. Jack and Sandra are back to being perfect - sometimes sarcastic, sometimes tolerant, always up for bending the rules with a smile. Happy to see Strickland get in on the act in one episode.

Bring on Series 8, 9, 10... We'll be buying if it continues at this level!