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Post by Mr Rycott on Nov 19, 2007 10:05:00 GMT
In The Great Depression of 1994, we see a familiar face that has appeared in a previous episode. Remember Mournful Morris in 'If Money Be The Food Of Love, Play On? He's back in this episode, but plays a different character called Bryan, who acts as a depressed uncle of Ray's.
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Post by jno on Feb 19, 2015 12:15:09 GMT
Link to episode on minder.org: www.minder.org/episodeguide/S10E07_TheGreatDepressionOf1994.htm Here is a nice photo of George Cole and actress Daphne Neville taken on set in this episode: 3rd November 1993 (at PERCY VALLINS DRY CLEANERS location: The Campus Building, Maylands Avenue/Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 7TG)
It is clear that this episode is the least favourite of all Minder episodes with pretty much not a lot happening throughout.
What can we find which is good about it? Anything at all? |
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Post by VAT on Mar 15, 2015 20:43:11 GMT
Apart from setting up a minor continuation with James Warrior as D.S. Rogerson (Bring Me the Head of Arthur Daley) and Dave's wig session...not much  |
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myinspiration
Winchester Regular
Now dipping back in and watching any episode I fancy - in any order!! Naughty!
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Post by myinspiration on Mar 24, 2015 23:39:52 GMT
Very odd episode indeed.
The depressed man plotline limps on for about 30 mins to a poor conclusion. Then, suddenly, we're amongst the beer barrels in the backyard of the Winchester dealing with an ex-policeman dealing with dementia!?
It's like two stories glued together....and not too well. We don't even see Ray's mum, do we? And yet she's the cause of the 'depression'? Very odd.
I guess the theme is mental health. A serious subject, not handled too well here, unfortunately.
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Post by auntieali30 on Jun 20, 2015 12:26:19 GMT
Agree with the general opinion that this was a very, very strange Minder episode - and yes maybe if we had seen Ray's Mum and her 'ideas' - but the entire episode just seemed very disjointed. And maybe it's the female in me, but I actually found it a little emotional towards the end with Henry Keys - the best parts of this episode was Arthur and Ray trying to get to grips with 'Depression' from a library book (bi-molar), and Arthur back to normal in the last 20 seconds of the episode.
Loved the scenes shot in the cemetery, the back drop of the head stones and the falling snow!! |
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Post by ltd on Jun 24, 2015 7:38:40 GMT
Even a guest cameo from respected stage actor Robert Stephens can't lift this one. He's not given much of a role and he looks quite ill which only adds to the general despondency. Rather a sad contrast to his sly and witty intelligence chief in Gangsters. Think he died about a year later?
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Post by Celvin on Aug 28, 2015 16:49:37 GMT
The series had almost ground to a halt by this stage hadn't it? I also think it's the worst episode. I never watch it on DVD.
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Post by jno on Aug 28, 2015 17:21:33 GMT
The series had almost ground to a halt by this stage hadn't it? I also think it's the worst episode. I never watch it on DVD. I think the final series had some superb episodes in there and these are some of my absolute favourite Ray episodes: Another Case Of Van Blank, One Flew Over The Parents' Nest, The Immaculate Contraption, All Quiet On The West End Front, On The Autofront and Bring Me The Head Of Arthur Daley. I really don't know how this episode got approved. Sure, it's nice to see Arthur, Ray & Dave doing their thing but apart from a few nice locations and the few things mentioned here - most notably the picturesque snow at the cemetery, this has nothing to offer which is a real shame. |
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Post by Celvin on Aug 28, 2015 20:47:00 GMT
I argue with my Father about the later series - he thinks they are much inferior but whilst I prefer the earlier stuff I think that if Minder started at Series 8 it would still stand alone as a decent series. I like some of the final series episodes too |
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ch
Car Lot Browser
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Post by ch on Apr 17, 2016 2:18:43 GMT
"Here Arthur what was his famous catchphrase?" "Let us take you to the dry cleaners. Way ahead of his time." No matter now much people say this was the worst episode of Minder, in my opinion there wasn't one episode that was bad. George Cole was an absolute joy to watch and he would never have agreed to star in anything if he didn't think it was worthwhile. Rest easy GC, your legacy lives on.
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Post by daz on May 26, 2016 7:25:08 GMT
Whilst not the greatest episode ever made, I quite liked this, I know I am in the minority of one! Just a nice subtle episode, a little different from other episodes where we see another side of Arthur. I thought the scene with the ex cop Henry Keyes, who bought the car off him and then find him in the Winchester a little lost was a little moving, not enough to stop Arthur from fleecing him, but moving from an Arthur point of view.
As posted above, even a poor script does not stop the star of George Cole shining brightly throughout.
I have to say I preferred this to the previous episode!
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Post by I used to think I was a parrot on Jan 20, 2017 22:37:21 GMT
I agree that this one is strange as it looks like it has ended, then has the odd depressed policeman scene at the end. But it is still watchable for the Ray years Minder atmosphere.
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geoffc
Car Lot Browser
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Post by geoffc on Feb 19, 2017 19:51:55 GMT
A poor episode with a totally forgetable plot. Seems to me like some wizz thought of the title first then worked backwards to the plot and storyline. As far as I can see writer ( Arthur Ellis ) only wrote this one episode - so maybe it can be excused as a first effort. 1/5 for sure.
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Post by pr1 on Feb 19, 2017 21:53:56 GMT
After three strong episodes the faults in this one really stand out. It feels like it loses it's way before it thankfully ends. The plot (?) is a mess and meanders. It feels like it was being made up as they went along. Depression and mental health are serious issues and hardly topics for an episode of a series like Minder. It is well acted which is impressive because the script is terrible. That kept me from voting it as Rubbish. Even George Cole can't save this fiasco.
Arthur's line about mail order syrups did make me laugh.
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Post by glazbury on Mar 28, 2017 15:10:53 GMT
I only recently realised James Warrior (D.S. Rogerson) was D.C. Jellyneck in The Sweeney!
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Post by jno on Mar 31, 2017 4:25:29 GMT
Surely when they were filming this someone must have thought 'Hang on, this surely isn't working?'
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Post by syrupapplesnpears on Mar 31, 2017 18:32:43 GMT
Just finished my Terry box-set and I'm considering dipping my toe into the (fanfare) 'Ray Years'!
There are quite a few on YouTube SO! Can anyone recommend the best episodes to watch?
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Post by daz on Mar 31, 2017 19:20:30 GMT
Just finished my Terry box-set and I'm considering dipping my toe into the (fanfare) 'Ray Years'! There are quite a few on YouTube SO! Can anyone recommend the best episodes to watch? I would certainly give the first RD episode a view firstly, see how it sets Ray up as the new 'Minder'. There are a few weak episodes, but overall the series is very good with some episodes more than holding their own against anything in the Terry years, the next RD series is top notch stuff. Just watch it with an open mind and enjoy. The second RD series would be my favourite. |
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Post by jno on Mar 31, 2017 19:36:22 GMT
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Post by swainy on Mar 31, 2017 22:19:25 GMT
I dunno, I watched this one again recently and I think that there's a few good lines in it. I like the way that Brian clears out the Winchester quicker than Dave's lasagne and we learn that Arthur can't con honest people plus Dave wearing the toupee raises a smile but it doesn't wrap up well and leaves you feeling depressed.
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rjc77
One Of Your Own
Posts: 117
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Post by rjc77 on Apr 19, 2017 21:55:52 GMT
This is probably one of my least favourite episodes as it seems so sombre and poignant (hence the title). By coincidence, I was personally going through a very bad patch at the time of this episode's original airdate (at the age of 16 and 3/4) with severe anxiety and depression, but have thankfully long since recovered!!
Anyone notice the 'chicken tiles' from the 70s era on the walls of the bathroom where the depressed bloke locks himself into ? I have always found those creepy and sinister from a very young child, as we had those in our bathroom!!
RJC.
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alf
One Of Your Own
The World is your Lobster!
Posts: 161
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Post by alf on May 23, 2017 22:48:26 GMT
I like the snowy cemetery scenes and Peter Jones cameo keeps your attention.Probably the weakest episode from the last season but even this isn't that bad.
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Post by westldner on Mar 19, 2018 1:36:49 GMT
I was expecting alot at the end but I was let down by it. Tried to keep the humour with Ray stealing the giant book and not sure if I can laugh at Arthur not giving back the money towards the end.
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Post by thewoodster on May 14, 2018 10:59:06 GMT
A bit of a disappointment.
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Post by dcjones1 on Apr 10, 2019 18:21:26 GMT
Even a guest cameo from respected stage actor Robert Stephens can't lift this one. He's not given much of a role and he looks quite ill which only adds to the general despondency. Rather a sad contrast to his sly and witty intelligence chief in Gangsters. Think he died about a year later? Yeah, he died in 1995. The episode might of worked as a stand alone educational spin-off like ‘A Little Give and Take.’ I think the budget for Series 10 was cut, this feels like a filler episode. If the producers knew for definite the series was finishing, they weren’t trying to go out with a bang. |
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Post by VAT on Aug 17, 2019 22:56:01 GMT
Having just watched this one again..its just bizarre...even including Dave in a wig...how on earth could a writer write this?? I mean who ever read the script and said yes lets film this....
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Post by harryshand on Jun 30, 2020 14:51:04 GMT
Watching for the first time on ITV4 and reading the reviews not expecting a classic. It'll be nice to see James Warrior playing a different role though.
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Post by harryshand on Jun 30, 2020 15:12:40 GMT
30 mins in and this is very Un Minder Like, it comes over more as a clunky attempt at a mental health education video so far.
Serious topic but not suitable for Minder.
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Post by harryshand on Jun 30, 2020 15:48:59 GMT
Made it to the end and what a strange episode. Totally baffling and surely doing someone in the business a favour.
Being generous, maybe it was a brave attempt to tackle a serious subject (even then) with the Minder characters guesting in a training video which then got absorbed into the series. It's longer than usual as well so there must have been a back story to this production.
That's 70 mins I won't get back.
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c79
On Wages
Posts: 72
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Post by c79 on Jun 30, 2020 15:50:14 GMT
Very odd episode indeed. The depressed man plotline limps on for about 30 mins to a poor conclusion. Then, suddenly, we're amongst the beer barrels in the backyard of the Winchester dealing with an ex-policeman dealing with dementia!? It's like two stories glued together....and not too well. We don't even see Ray's mum, do we? And yet she's the cause of the 'depression'? Very odd. I guess the theme is mental health. A serious subject, not handled too well here, unfortunately. I saw this episode for the first time today and I agree entirely. The episode is almost redeemed by Arthur's lovely little summing up at the end, but it is not a convincing story. |
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