New Tricks (TV Series) Cry Me a River (2013) User Reviews

Dan's in UCOS

[safenoe · 8/10 · 29 October 2017]

Dan (Nicholas Lyndhurst) is introduced with an inkling of extraordinary physical and mental powers that would make Stan Lee proud.

Dan replaces Brian, who lives on in the opening credits where we see his back during the Rock Part 1 episode.

Anyway, Dan is 52 years old, and swims 2 miles a day.

We meet Dan's daughter Holly played by Storme Toolis, who in real life has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. These disabilities aren't a central part of the story. Storme's real life mother is Dea Birkett who wrote the compelling novel Serpents in Paradise about her time on Pitcairn Island.

Gerry fears being replaced by a younger person and thinks Dan is a "fifth columnist" which Dan kindly explains its historical meaning.

Dan introduces her daughter to the team at a jazz performance dedicated to Sandra. After this Sandra has three more episodes before leaving.

Danny you Plonker!!!!

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 7 November 2022]

The UCOS team reopen the thirty year old case of Jim Hockney, a porn star who was murdered, the team are still coming to terms with Brian's departure, and his replacement.

The story of Jim's murder was decent enough, but it was sidelined in favour of Danny's introduction. I watched one or two episodes at the time, and with Brian gone, I really didn't think he was a good fit, however, his debut episode was really good, I thought Lyndhurst fitted in really well, nice to see him playing a very different role.

I look forward to learning more about Danny, and his daughter especially. I wish they hadn't made him such a massive know it all.

Compared to the first quartet of episodes from this series, this one wasn't in the same league, it's solid, but the crime itself just wasn't that intriguing.

Henry Goodman was great as Gavin Reason, Mad Gav was a great character, a real old school rogue, perhaps the best of the guests.

Solid, 7/10.

Standard case to work, introducing Danny

[scsaxe · 7/10 · 25 April 2022]

After Gibraltar and Brian's adventures, the season has a transition period as the team changes over. Dan's first case works well for a New Tricks episode, as the team investigates music and porn and the people within them. The twists and moves in the case are plausible, and the ending works pretty well.

Dan Griffin: his intro is pretty funny, walking in on the others watching some porn (which is related to the case). Gerry reacts strongly against it, thinking him a spy/plant or such, which gets tiring. Gerry transitions into a more cliched cranky person as his time on the show finishes up, and this reaction starts the process.

Overall, as a character, Danny is a bit flat. He's meant to be eccentric and have lots of interests like Brian, but just does this in a more muted, serious way, rather than a more fleshed out unique character as the other replacements were. We see him in this episode with Holli, which as an out of character storyline isn't as fun as some others. He fits in the team o.k., but I get the sense a different sort of character would have made a better show.

Brian's replacement joins the team

[Tweekums · 27 August 2013]

After Brian's departure from the team and the series it is time for another new ex-copper to join the team… Danny Griffin; a fifty one year old with a disabled daughter. The first case he helps the team with involves the murder of 'Gentleman Jim' a porn star who was killed in the seventies. It was thought he'd been killed by a singer and the police still seem to believe that despite her acquittal. However the case is reopened as his 'daughter' finds out he wasn't really her father and points the finger at her mother. UCOS aren't convinced but as they investigate further suspects appear; including another woman whose DNA was found at the scene and a violent villain who bought the dead man's properties at a reduced price soon after the killing.

This week's case was interesting enough but it was of secondary importance compared to introducing us to Danny Griffin. When I read that Nicholas Lyndhurst was joining the team I thought he might be too young but thankfully he seems to be fitting in well. Like all team members, past and present, he has his little idiosyncrasies that make the character interesting… he seems totally unaware when he is inappropriately direct with somebody. Whether his character will be able to replace Brian remains to be seen but I'm cautiously optimistic. While obviously a smaller part, but probably a recurring character, Storme Toolis is a welcome addition as Danny's daughter Holly; she does a fine job and it is good to see a wheelchair bound actress being employed rather than just putting an able-bodied actor in a chair. With any crime show the resolution is important and I must confess when the killer was revealed I was quite shocked as I thought this person was just a minor character! There were quite a few decent laughs although the best was accidental… an on-screen warning appeared alerting viewers to the fact that the episode contained scenes of a sexual nature… in the middle of a scene where the team were already watching a porn video which featured some rather loud acting! Nothing really offensive was seen though; we only heard that scene and a later scene where we see one of the porn films only involves the sight of a lady's back… hardly worth the warning!

Introducing Danny Griffin

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 7 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.

"Cry Me a River" is the first episode of the period when 'New Tricks' was not as good as it was, but it is actually a good example of why the post-Brian Lane era isn't as unwatchable as one would fear.

It is most notable for the introduction of Brian's replacement Danny Griffin, who on first impression is not a bad character at all and Nicholas Lyndhurst portrays him very charmingly (appreciated too that the episode tried to show some of his personal life early on). His problem is that he just isn't Brian, at this stage lacking his unique intelligence (though an intelligent character in himself) and never quite matching Brian's emotional complexity, and Brian and Alun Armstrong no longer with us leaves quite a large hole. Am aware that that is an unfair thing to say, just my feelings.

Gerry's hostility towards a new member of a team is pretty old already, and while it is understandable (with Brian having been such an integral part of the team) it's gotten somewhat stale.

The story does play secondary to Danny's arrival, but it is a fun and intriguing case with a shocking and clever denouement.

Visually, "Cry Me a River" 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.

Writing is intelligent, thought-provoking and classy, while also being very funny and high up in the entertainment value. This is all mixed adeptly with a seriousness without being overly so that it doesn't feel like 'New Tricks'.

A huge part of 'New Tricks' appeal is the chemistry, which is so entertaining and charming with some nice tension.

Denis Lawson, Dennis Waterman and Amanda Redman all give their reliably strong performances, and Lyndhurst is charming. The supporting cast also fare well though no outstanding standouts.

Overall, better than expected but not completely satisfying. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Reasonable if strained episode

[lwio1960 · 7/10 · 31 May 2020]

Introducing Danny who goes from hero to zero to hero or is it the other way round. The case was very confusing with a bit of a rushed murderer reveal. Did seem a bit of a way of introducing Danny and accidentally solving a murder. The reaction of the previous suspect was very odd at the end. Singing and happy whilst her 'best friend' has just confessed to a murder she had almost been jailed for.

The charm is lost

[Johnny_West · 3/10 · 26 March 2024]

Nicholas Lyndhurst has all the charisma of a soggy diaper. He comes into the UCOS office like a big jerk. He is rude and abrasive to Jerry, and arrogant to everyone.

I have seen the entire series a few times, and after the two Gibraltar episodes, New Tricks crashes and burns for the most part.

Lyndhurst / Danny Griffin is a gigantic prima-donna. He does not like or trust the team, especially Jerry. He is constantly taking shots at Jerry and making sarcastic remarks. He is often investigating in a sneaky manner, like he thinks the other guys are idiots. He loves to show them up by springing his findings on them. Griffin is very cut-throat and unpleasant.

The best part of this episode was the introduction of Storme Toolis as the daughter of Griffin. She is a very bright character, and it would have been nice if she could have joined UCOS instead of Griffin.

By contrast, Dennis Lawson / Steve was a positive addition to the team. He supports and gets along with everyone. He does not snipe at his colleagues, show them up, or degrade them.

The worst episode by far up to now

[edk-80581 · 2/10 · 23 May 2020]

Oddly directed or edited with lots of dead air; Danny seemed lost; the story is icky albeit with a surprising twist. The bright spot is Holly who shines bright against an otherwise dull background. Thankfully the next couple of episodes come back to life suggesting that this dud is a one-off.