Bergerac (TV Series) Second Time Around (1989) User Reviews

Jersey Vice

[lawrenceconwayvulcan · 9/10 · 23 April 2017]

Second Time Around was the 1989 Christmas Special and it is certainly one of the most atypical episodes of Bergerac. It starts off with a crook killing one of his former associates by handcuffing him to a metal ornamental bench and throwing him into a swimming pool to drown. Shot during an obviously warm summer the episode feels like it has a budget to compete with Hollywood Movies like Lethal Weapon in particular there is a car chase (featuring that old standby of a car going through empty boxes) come speedboat chase with the crook being picked up by helicopter and all set to synthesizer and electric guitar score. Featuring guest appearances by David Schofield, Donald Sumpter, (in a rare dramatic role) Chris Langham and an unrecognisable Andrew Sachs Second Time is a fast paced tale that keeps you glued to the screen. One wonders that if made today how viewers would to take to it when most UK TV crime drama tends to be either grim and gritty (Luther, Line of Duty, Broadchurch) or cosy (Grantchester)with something made such gloss the brings to US shows like Miami Vice (at certain points John Nettles as Jim Bergerac is dressed in a manner not dissimilar to Don Johnson's Sonny Crockett) than the type of shows I have described. To sum up Second Time Around is a fast paced tale of revenge, robbery and deception.

Charlie Saves the Day

[dimipivo · 9/10 · 29 April 2024]

Charlie's character is stretched in this episode. He has an attractive, young female companion. He engages in a violent act that disables the major bad guy allowing Jim and his two sidekicks to round up the theives. And Charlie survives a heart attack and sneaks out of the hospital to protect himself from losing money on stolen antiques. In one nice exchange with his girlfriend Sally he admits with a smile that he is risking his life for money. I liked seeing Jim without the usual romantic troubles. The episode is enhanced by the absence of both Susan and Deborah. I felt sorry for the actor who played Crozier. He has been promoted but says the same things he has been saying for years about Jim's hunches.