Dalziel & Pascoe, Season Four
BBC’s DALZIEL & PASCOE had a long run, from 1996-2007. Season four has just been released on DVD and one may hope that the DVD format will last long enough to get all 61 episodes for one’s collection.
Somewhat formulaic (two partners, one older and irascible, the other younger, better educated and long-suffering), it has worn well, although as is true of all series that have to find new storylines every season that haven’t been done to death by others before them, sometimes the writers stumble.
But because of the quality of British actors, the show never falters in engrossing performances. Starring British stalwart Warren Clarke as Andy Dalziel (and, as these characters are from the north of England, his name is pronounced Dey-ell) and Colin Buchanan as the younger Peter Pascoe, it also features a fine supporting cast, especially David Royle as Detective Sergeant Edgar Wield.
In the four episodes that make up Season Four, ON BEULAH HEIGHT, RECALLED TO LIFE, TIME TO GO, and THE BRITISH GRENADIER, only the latter called attention to itself with gaping holes in the plot of a crazed British war veteran who takes a group of customers in their small pub hostage, including DSI Dalziel. It’s irritating that writers and director didn’t think it through, considering how few are produced each year (unlike the 22+ in American TV shows). Still, the stories hold attention and, as stated before, watching good acting is its own reward: Susannah Corbett as Ellie, the long-suffering, free-spirited wife of Pascoe and mother of his daughter; Ronald Pickup in ON BEULAH HEIGHT; the ultra-cute siblings, Andrew Lee Potts and Sarah-Jane Potts (he, late of PRIMEVAL) in TIME TO GO; Dennis Waterman and Patricia Kerrigan of BRITISH GRENADIER and Shirley Anne Field and Simon Williams in RECALLED TO LIFE, among others, really do make any show exciting.
Directors Suri Krishnamma and Maurice Phillips divided the four shows and writers Michael Chaplin (twice), Timothy Prager, and David Ashton write as well as can be expected, which is to say, actually, quite well.
The four stories at least are watchable and entertaining and while we don’t quite learn enough about British police law, watching Dalziel bend (and occasionally break) the fragile line between the theory of law and its practical application, is quite fun. The series can continue to hold its head up high. If you are a fan, you’ll remain one with this season.