American here. I have just finished watching NEW TRICKS all episodes for the 3rd time. Around Christmas for the past 3 years I treat myself. This year I went looking for older things that the cast may have appeared in and I had never seen. I found The Sweeney with Dennis Waterman in it. I began watching and to my delight I had failed to reference John Thaw as a lead character. I could not believe my Good Fortune. I am now in the second season and really enjoying this series. I am glad that I had seen Morse and New Tricks first. These two for the most part are playing the same characters with similar mannerisms. Morse is a wee bit less disgruntled in this series and Jerry/Carter is more subdued as a character. It always takes me a few episodes to really get into the rhythm of a UK show. This series took longer because of the rhyming phrases sprinkled everywhere within the shows. I have had to look up a few phrases more than usual. Being an Artist and a Hippie Chick from The Sixties, I have to admit that I adore The Fashion of the show. I have made my daughter come into see outfits that are simply so lavish and charming I wax nostalgic. My nic-name in college was Velvet, because I wore lots of it and lots of plush wide Wales corduroy to boots! Love it, love it, love it. Amazing are the Velvet Jackets worn to work during the day. You just had to be there. I also miss hair, long beautiful hair, here hair, there hair, everywhere HAIR. I am pleased that I have found this series to indulge my long cold winter here in the Midwest of the US. I am a big Mystery Buff and kudos to you UK Folkes for creating SMART characters and series for the rest of the world. My Favourite Crime/Mystery Series New Tricks, Dalziel & Pascoe, Lewis, Morse, Frost, Midsomer Murders, Lynley, Hetty Wainthrope, Marple (Margaret being the best!) The Last Detective Waking The Dead Jonathan Creek, Hamish Macbeth, Pie In The Sky, Rosemary & Thyme, Poirot Sherlock, Wallander and wish I could get the new Father Brown series!
Review of The Sweeney
