This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Great Film overall

Good concept, poorly executed.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

We managed to watch four episodes and put the rest aside. We might continue to watch the others at a later date, when we get desperate, but for now, it is a no go. The only good thing about it was the shots of the windmill - which is absolutely beautiful! The solutions to the crimes are over the top. The Wrestler's Tomb - Girl uses her feet to shot this guy. Come on now! And the Jack In The Box - this guy takes down a brick wall, kills this man to make it look like suicide and then bricks himself up behind a wall - way over the top! What are the chances this would or could happen in real life. Why is it that fat women in series - (Caroline Quentin in this one) have to eat in practically every scene. My theory is that it is a ploy to keep the view's eyes on that person - this is call scene stealing - very cheap. The main characters are not that interesting and rather dull. This is what I call mindless entertainment, but we have not reached that point in our lives to want to waste our time with them. Most series start out good and gradually get bad, but this one goes right to the bad.

I loved this series with Carolyn Quentin as Maddy. However, after she left, it simply wasn't as charming. Maddy provided comic relief and believability in her character as unique and "real folkes". I watched the entire series. I am American and we seldom see really Smart TV series. Unlike most UK Series that I watch repeatedly, (on my 5th viewing of New Tricks & Dalziel) for their character driven shows, JC sold out after Maddy was replaced with a different type of female lead. Maddy and Jonathan were quirky and unique. As the show progressed it became "a sell-out" to American type-casting, pretty blondes all in a row. The following UK Series illustrate the wonderful beauty of realistic, "non-blonde stereotyping" and/or "pretty people" characters that I love. You can't beat Warren Clarke as Andy Dalziel in Dalziel & Pascoe, truly rare and beautiful in my eyes. Alum Armstrong as Brian in New Tricks. New Tricks, an older mature character driven series gives us a real Blonde role model. (America has only come close in The Closer and Major Crimes). Blonde Amanda Redman as Sandra was not at all typical, she was a real tough, non apologetic, non whinning, non flirting, character. Endeavor, Morse, Lewis, Frost, George Gently and more...all of these intelligent series have flawed real people as characters as real people. Jonathan Creek lost that when Maddy left the show. Jonathan turned into an odd unrealistic sham of a character after that and the show suffered. I finished the series only in hope that Maddy would return and Jonathan would return to his original "nerdiness" Maddy made the series and required me to research her SWEET choices in life.

I was hooked on this programme when it first came out and now I have it on DVD, I can see just how fantastic this series is. Its a completely different take on the usual crime solving programme and the solutions to puzzles are absolutely amazing. I was constantly baffled and thought it was very clever the way Jonathan worked out some of the clues. Alan Davies and Caroline Quentin were absolutely fantastic in their parts, and I thought perfect for their roles. When Julia Sawahla replaced Caroline, I was dubious at first but she too was great in her role, despite not being the ultimate replacement for Caroline. I did not think any of the mysteries were at all daft, just very very clever and the chemistry between Alan and Caroline was fantastic.The guest stars were great in their roles, Annette Crosbie was particularly good in the House of Monkeys episode and it was a joy to see Bill Bailey pop up in the later series. I think, providing the mysteries keep coming, this programme can continue for maybe one or two series more.

Great settings (windmills, castles) and premise. Lovely hero. This would be an excellent series if they concentrated on telling a story and presenting us with a puzzle to solve. Those bits are great. Unfortunately its creators feel the need to clutter up the narrative with "humour" and "character traits" and some female called Maddie. I just don't get Caroline Quentin. I don't see where she is funny. She's overweight, and she stands around with her mouth hanging open. And?And? Would someone explain the joke to me? I was disappointed when I sawan episode after Julia Sawalha took over and she was doing exactly the same - being overweight and never shutting her mouth. She can gain weight if shelikes, she looks fine, but Julia - it isn't funny! There was a whole double episode where the "comic relief" was provided by awoman who was not only (slightly) overweight, but was also - wait for it! - over 50!!!! Wa ha ha ha ha ha! And - you know what? She wasn't particularlyattractive!!!! Actually the actress playing Kitty was reasonably nice-looking, but her character was dressed as a woman 20 years older in no make-up andfrumpy woollen hats. And she had a Scottish accent! I just can't start laughing.