New Tricks Lottery Curse (2003–2015) Online

The UCOS team are called in when the body of a lottery winner is discovered seventeen years after she went missing. It was assumed that she had just left the country as her car was found at Dover and her passport was missing but now it is clear that she was murdered. When she first disappeared her husband was questioned and he is the prime suspect now; although he protests his innocence and shows the team his research into her disappearance; is this proof of his innocence or an elaborate cover? He isn't the only suspect; the dead woman had been having an affair with one man and meeting another in Bristol. Away from the case the UCOS team, along with Danny's girlfriend Fiona, try to set Sasha up with a man… something she doesn't really appreciate.

This was another enjoyable case with a good range of suspects… even if it does ultimately fall for the cliché of having the least obvious of the main guest characters as the guilty party; at least the motive for the crime wasn't too obvious. The suspects are mostly members of the winning lottery syndicate who are also members of a pub quiz team; this leads to an entertaining confrontation between two suspects in a pub as Ted and Steve watch. The guest cast; which includes Jack Deam, as the victim's husband, and Amanda Root, who plays his friend; do a good job keeping their characters believable. The side story with the team trying to find a boyfriend for Sasha doesn't add much to the overall story but it does provide some laughs… especially when we learn that the boys were running a book on how far she'd go with the man Fiona had introduced her to.

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.

While still not one of the best 'New Tricks' episodes, "Lottery Curse" is among the better ones for Season 12. Wasn't bowled over by it, but it was very good on the whole.

Although not as interesting as any member of the original team, Ted is more settled and Larry Lamb plays him well. The team dynamic charms and amuses and feels more natural. Still think it doesn't sparkle anywhere as much as the original team dynamic and doesn't have its freshness.

The case very interesting and twisty, that avoids being too confusing while suitably challenging. The identity of the culprit didn't surprise me hugely though.

Also was not a big fan of the Sasha subplot, that added very little and it was pretty corny. Otherwise the writing is very interesting and amusing.

Visually, "Lottery Curse" 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.

Good performances from the whole cast.

Overall, very good episode and one of the better ones of Season 12. 8/10 Bethany Cox