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Post by daz on Jan 5, 2016 8:12:00 GMT
I watched this last night and had to admit to thoroughly enjoying it. Racing pigeons is not something you would have expected Arthur to be involved in, but he was and I found it to be a very good episode. The part when him and Ray were at Bradford station trying to capture a pigeon was brilliant. Some very good lines in the episode also.
The good thing about Minder is how it likes to stereotype Northerners, the Irish, Welsh, Scots, etc, etc. Don't think you would get away with half of it now without a complaint being made.
I think it benefitted from not having Morley in the episode.
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Post by daz on Jan 4, 2016 19:17:43 GMT
I have enjoyed series 8 in the 6 episodes, but I suppose watching them so close after watching so much of the Terry years recently has made me over critical. I just think if the writers and production crew just thought certain scenes through a little bit more they could have made some of the episodes better.
One thing I am sure of is that the acting of George Cole does help keep the episodes more interesting.
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Post by daz on Jan 4, 2016 12:02:04 GMT
A middle of the road episode if ever there was one. I'm not sure a "headcase" jock builder being sold some dodgy paint and seeking revenge on Arthur makes a decent 50+ minute episode, but try they did. Helped along by the other plot of Arthur laying off the cigars and VAT helped somewhat to make this episode more watchable.
Six episodes in and if I have one major criticism of the series, I would say Morley has taken over from Chisholm in that Daley appears to be the bane of his life and at all costs he is out to get him, just seems a bit unlikely and also feel he over acts at times.
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Post by daz on Jan 4, 2016 11:45:55 GMT
Watched last night and I quite liked it, thought it had a lot of good lines in it. As for the posts above on about promise then ending badly, my interpretation of it was that Arthur was being used, as Hambury was known to use small time villians for his big jobs who would "disappear" afterwards. If they did follow through with this Arthur would have been in big trouble, so it all ended nicely with Hambury "swimming with the fishes" down at Southend Pier. We all know Arthur isn't premier league, so we are left not knowing what the job was, but I agree that I think Arthur was being used to divert the police. I would have liked to have seen the scenes showing Ray being beaten up, you know something is going down in the pub and it would have been good to see it through.
I think on balance they played the comedy card more than the drama one.
Gina McKee, I think is just lovely and still looks great now. I think the change in how females are portrayed in the RD episodes compared to the Terry ones, shows a huge difference in the times.
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Post by daz on Jan 4, 2016 11:29:16 GMT
Watched this last night and I thought it was a very good episode. You know if you are going to rip off Arthur you have to get up very early in the morning, these guys didn't set their alarms early enough.
Loved the scene when they discovered the dog might be homosexual, great to see David Jackson appear in Minder again, playing a rather more upmarket character this time, rather than the down on his luck characters he played twice previously.
A very enjoyable episode showing Ray to be picking up the ropes nicely.
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 21:24:43 GMT
Agreed jno, not the best of episodes, but still quite a good few scenes to keep us amused throughout. I think it is due to the acting talents of George Cole that a weak episode is bearable, the man was a tour de force when it came to acting.
I like the part when Terry is cleaning the carpets of the old lady and she is glad of the company, he might be a tough minder, but he really has a heart of gold.
Dot Cotton of Eastenders fame makes an appearance in this episode.
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 21:09:24 GMT
Great stuff daz - as it happens I also had a red jacket around 1992ish and boy, how much did I think I was as cool as Ray Daley wearing that out and about?! One of the very few episodes where Minder goes outside the UK with shots of Brussels. Every year for the past 15 I have driven right past that spot where Arthur & Ray have a hot dog near the ferry port. I am always in such a hurry I never get chance to stop and get out. I do give it a nod as I drive past though. One day though, with hot dog in hand, ... watch this space. get down to a charity shop, buy a red jacket, style wise circa 1992, and get that hot dog bought, post the selfie on here I've always meant to go for a stroll down Southend pier, but never made it yet. Being a Scotsman though there will be no chance I leave my wallet back at the pub though!
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 15:12:49 GMT
Another lovely episode with the return of Scotch Harry, a legendary Minder character IMO, minus his sidekick Stan.
You just knew that something would go wrong when Arthur was entrusted to stage a robbery and sure enough it did, leaving Harry on the sick list and at the mercy of his ex Wife.
I really enjoyed this episode.
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 14:48:46 GMT
Yes, have to agree with the above a good episode, always lovely to see and hear Arthur taking the moral highground in certain matters relating in him making money or being stopped from making money. Loved the way they referred to "Er Indoors" throughout the whole of Minder but we never actually seen her, no idea where the pinched that idea from...
I also like how the Police are on Arthurs case the whole episode about his Wife disappearing and he seems oblivious to it all, brilliant.
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 14:36:08 GMT
2nd episode in and I liked this, had a lot of the gritiness in this episode that made the Terry years so brilliant, probably helped with the location of Herbies warehouse. I think we see a lot more of Dave in the Ray episodes, which is a good thing in my opinion.
I loved the line about milk teeth the dentist used when Ray was trying to chat her up and as usual the cap was doffed to GC for his scenes after Arthur left the dentist after some happy juice.
Frightening to think it is 25 years this year since they first aired, where does the time go...
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 14:22:37 GMT
After completing the Terry years I have just finished watching the first three Ray Daley episodes, for some reason I have never caught them much on ITV4, so virtually watching for the first time since original transmission.
I thought this opening episode was very good, I loved the way Arthur was holding court at the wedding like some big mafia boss. We find out what happened to Terry and see young Raymond coming into the series, two very tricky storylines which I thought were done very well. Even though I remember this episode very well and know he doesn't appear, I was still hoping for a final scene with Arthur and Terry, but the part where Arthur pushes the money through the letterbox, but removes some from the bundle first was classic Minder and sort of tidies things up from the Terry years and you sympathise with how Terry had to go to Australia to escape the clutches of Arthur.
The Ray Daley years really got me hooked on Minder and I have no issue with these episodes at all and looking forward to watching them again.
I even bought a red jacket similar to the one Ray wears in the series back in 91, I was a dapper dresser back in the days when I still had some hair.
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 9:48:12 GMT
Gave this a watch in the early hours of this morning and I thoroughly enjoyed, even Billy Connolly, who I normally switch off when I see on TV, was good, wasn't his usual overbearing self and hamming up the Glasgow accent. You know when you have a character called Larchlap Riley that you are going to get good comedy moments and sure enough we did. The story was daft, but that's Minder, expect the unexpected, sit back and enjoy. The other running theme of Terry being the first stop once again for a woman in need, just took us away from the daftness of the Larchlap storyline, but you can see in this series that Arthur and Terrys time together was coming to an end. Terry was just getting to old to carry on as a Minder and I would also say you could see in DWs performaces in this series that his heart wasn't in it. Arthur having a word with Mr Marsden to ensure Terry got the job was a nice touch also
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Post by daz on Jan 3, 2016 9:28:28 GMT
Watched this last night, nearly finished off the Terry McCann years on my boxset now. I had seen it previously as I remember Rula Lenska in it and for some reason I don't like her as an actress.
Anyway, I did enjoy this episode upon this viewing. Arthurs nephew Nigel was something else, only Minder could take a character like this and make him a figure of ridicule, the sticker over the swastika had me in stitches also his aspiration to join the police due to being handy with the boots also had a ring of truth in it. Arthur in the bank trying to exchange the Roubles was priceless and also his dedication to socialism!
Who was the actress who played Lillian, Nigels Mum? She looked familiar, but hasn't got a credit on IMDB.
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Post by daz on Jan 2, 2016 17:51:26 GMT
Gave this a watch today, not a bad episode just feels a little disjointed at places, but held together by some decent acting. Some cracking lines in it. Loved the one where Arthur told Terry he was wanting a TV for the Kitchen as "Er Indoors, is looking for a bit of mental stimulation whilst waiting for the duck a l'orange to defrost". Norman Eshley appeared to be in a few things throughout the 70s and 80s and just fell off the radar. James Booth is a very good character actor and usually adds a touch of quality to whatever he appears in, I thought he played Godfrey well, a very shifty character.
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Post by daz on Dec 31, 2015 17:16:06 GMT
Well, after reading all the obituaries on-line and in the newspapers, what I couldn't believe was the obvious statement from Bono. Whenever someone checks out in the music scene, Bono always chips in with a dubious anecdote for us to embrace/savour/dissect* * Bono has a habit of getting his facts wrong but still gives us an opinion Aye, gets on my nerves Bono and his statements when someone famous dies are cringeworthy. I am sure these comments must be tax deductable.... He wrote a tribute to my favourite singer, Billy MacKenzie of The Associates, who took his own life back in 97 and it was included in the posthumous release of Billys latest album...Spoiled an otherwise perfect album for me. The good thing about Lemmy is most of the tributes are genuine, as I posted I don't like the music of Motorhead, but the guy himself is a proper legend and deserves respect.
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Post by daz on Dec 30, 2015 10:19:47 GMT
Since Lennon & McCartney will probably romp this one I will go with Ray Davies. I posted on another thread a while back that I believe he is probably one of the most underrated songwriters ever, probably not helped by the strong competition back in the 60s.
Like MIAS above I like all three groups and own most of their albums, but just a little something extra for me with The Kinks/Ray Davies.
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Post by daz on Dec 29, 2015 18:18:50 GMT
Yup, a very sad day. John Bradbury probably isn't as well known as Lemmy, but an excellent drummer in a group full of great musicians. To complete the 3, Paul Walden, aka Guru Josh, the guy behind the early 90s hit "Infinity" has also died aged 52. Infinity was a tune which most people of a certain vintage adore. A great tune to end a night out back in the day.
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Post by daz on Dec 29, 2015 8:14:49 GMT
Not my cup of tea music wise, but had nothing but admiration for Lemmy.
Rock in Peace
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Post by daz on Dec 23, 2015 8:11:44 GMT
When I saw this post I thought old Norman was up to his old shenanigans of avoiding the tax man again. Reminds me of a post on an Aberdeen FC forum a few years ago when one guy posted about Kirsty MacColl, about 8 years after she actually went
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Post by daz on Dec 20, 2015 9:38:20 GMT
whilst in Dundee yesterday a piper was playing Xmas songs on his pipes. Nothing sounds as bad as bagpipes, but hearing Xmas songs played on them is adding insult to injury. 5 more days and these songs will be locked away for another year.
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Post by daz on Dec 19, 2015 23:15:53 GMT
He wasn't much loved in Scotland, they had a great wee song for him which I won't repeat on this threa at this time.
I dinna bear grudges though, so RIP.
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Post by daz on Dec 16, 2015 8:15:28 GMT
I am the Genesis voter. A bit disappointed CLiff wasn't on the list, but more than made up for by the including of BA Robertson and Kenny Rogers. BA RObertson was a grade A ****. The interview with the singer from Bow Wow Wow, is classic TV and showed him for the smug git he really is.
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Post by daz on Dec 13, 2015 21:28:42 GMT
Sesame Street - Could never get used to them saying Zeeee for Z on that show though. I was discouraged from watching that program as a child for that very reason! Some of my older siblings said it was too Americanised and that it annoyed them, so they would turn it off! They still watched Charlie's Angels and The Love Boat though! Hypocrites! As a result I was aged 26 before I learnt how to count to 12 and tell the time!! Is 26 not quite early down your neck of the woods for learning these skills?
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Post by daz on Dec 12, 2015 18:23:39 GMT
Oooo... still fancy Ms. Wilde. That's two of us then. Make that three
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Post by daz on Dec 11, 2015 12:26:43 GMT
Difficult decision to be made, but Animal made it along with Waldorf and Statler, who IMO were the best characters from the Muppets.
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Post by daz on Dec 8, 2015 19:34:46 GMT
The guy who hassles Arthur about his parking is played by Michael Ripper who starred in many Hammer horror films, often as an innkeeper in the obligatory creepy small village. He also played a good role in the Sweeney episode "Stay Lucky Eh?", the one where the robbers get robbed and a load of really good actors appear in it, Peter Vaughan, John Challis, Alun Armstrong, to name just a few.
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Post by daz on Dec 8, 2015 8:02:26 GMT
I was 7 and can remember wondering what all the fuss was about. I appreciate it more now though.
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Post by daz on Dec 7, 2015 21:25:14 GMT
Watched this last night and was going to write a brief summary, but Albert Wendell captures it so well above I will leave it at that. Thankyou, would still like to hear your comments and thoughts on the episode. LIke yourself I became very familiar with this episode years ago when I bought it on video and played it to death. For me it is full of good characters, along with superb actors playing them, which is nothing new for Minder, but coupled with an excellent script which just keeps it nicely between gritty drama and comedy and you have a classic episode. For me, Minder is at its best when it gets the balance right between comedy and drama. Albert Wendell, like you say is not a nice man, but you cannot put your finger on why. I am sure back in his younger days he might have been a right evil b**tard, and is still living off his reputation in his reclusive state. Just a very, very good episode and made all the better with some of the dialogue in the hospital between Arthur and the character Dunning. A little sidenote, I got this Minder video on the back of an Our Price promotion where you bought a video and got a stamp on a card and with 6 stamps you got a free one, the Minder one was the free one.
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Post by daz on Dec 7, 2015 20:46:21 GMT
I used to like AYBS when I was a kid, remember him well. Did a voiceover part in the Wallace and Gromit film around 10 years ago.
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Post by daz on Dec 6, 2015 19:33:54 GMT
Gave this a watch tonight to conclude series 4, and a nice little episode to wrap the series up with. For starters I liked the characters Billy (played superbly by the underrated Chris Fulford)and Nige, just something very appealing about them. Ronnie Shyvers is played brilliantly by Stanley Meadows, an actor well known for appearing in other forum favourites The Professionals and Sweeney. I loved the fight scene in the "Irish" pub, especially the end where the band leader says straight faced to Terry about the tune they played always gets them going. To top it off we get to see Arthur minding the shop, where George Cole comes into his own playing Arthur superbly, the part where he walks into the dummy and puts his hands up is priceless, the bus stop scene was good also, the inner snob came right out of Arthur. If I had one complain it would be Zoes accent did grate a bit.
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