"The Last Detective" Three Steps to Hendon (TV Episode 2005) Poster

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8/10
Memory Lane
ygwerin123 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A lead singer of an old 1970's rock band is involved in a bust up in a boozer and died in the process, to the rest of the local nick its merely a matter of a fore gone conclusion.

But not to Dangerous Davies who was never one to simply take matters at face value, to just look for the simple answer and then nip off to pub. Unlike the remainder of his colleagues in the old bill Dangerous actually took his job seriously, much to their chagrin as all they ever looked for was a quiet working life.

Winds of Change blowing through the corridors of Power prospectively raised the prospects of promotion, DS Pimlott and DC Barrett are simply salivating at the merest consideration of it. While DI Aspinall has been proffered the position of heading up a Regional Crime Unit, and he mentioned to Dangerous that he would need a good reliable Bag Man.

But Dangerous is his own worst enemy especially when it comes to his estranged spouse Julie, who deliberately keeps him dangling on her every whim. She loves to trade on his feelings for her, letting him continue to live in hope of a complete reconciliation.
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9/10
Nigel Planer plays a poignant role
safenoe17 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Three Steps to Hendon focuses on the death of a former rock star. Nigel Planer (who rocketed to stardom as Neil in The Young Ones) plays down and out former band member Gerry Jameson, who meets a sad self-inflicted fate, leaving behind his poor dog:( Jameson lamented to Dangerous that he was yesterday's boy.

DI Aspinall and Dangerous bond a bit through their love of the deceased lead singer, and Dangerous has to put up with the drinking habits (even on the job) of Aspinall. In the previous episode, Dangerous discovered Aspinall was attending AA meetings, and had a list of people to say thanks to, etc, and Dangerous was on the list.

Dangerous and Julie attempt to put some spark in their relationship, with Dangerous not immediately answering an emergency call when he visited her. Quite suggestive I guess.

One feature of The Last Detective is its gritty look at London. In Midsomer Murders you don't really come across a tube station. One thing in common that The Last Detective has with Midsomer Murders (and Lewis) is the number of scenes in pubs.

Ian McNeice appears as Billy Wunder, a rock impresario. A year earlier he made his debut as Bert Large in Doc Martin.

The St Bernard is so cute!
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6/10
Three Steps to Hendon
Prismark1020 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Dangerous Davies and DI Aspinall relive their youth after lead singer Teddy O'Connor of 70s rock band Overnight Sensations, is found dead in his flat.

It looks like asphyxiation by alcohol. Nothing too sinister according to Pimlott and Barrett who did not even know that the dad man was once a celebrity.

Davies finds out that Teddy was involved in a punch up in a pub that he was appearing in the night before his death. The post mortem confirms that Teddy might have been murdered.

Davies interviews his former bandmates. The band's manager was a svengali type who wanted sexual favours. Then there were the groupies that band attracted. There was an underage girl whose suicide might be linked to Teddy's death.

The misadventures of a once famous pop/rock group is an old chestnut now in cop shows.

The drink and drug fueled bohemian activities taken place such a long time ago with different acceptable boundaries. It tends to involve murder or a disappearance and the inevitable cover up.

This one has underage sex, a teen pregnancy and a suicide. It points to revenge.

The best bit in this story were the different band members reflecting on their past. For one it was a rocky road to mother's ruin.

Davies also has time to give Aspinall some advice who has an offer of promotion. It might not all be what it seems.
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