Ep 7. The Real Thing

Lovejoy season 1 episode 7, titled "The Real Thing," follows the story of protagonist Lovejoy as he gets involved in a dangerous scheme involving antique counterfeits. The episode starts with Lovejoy getting a call from his friend Eric Catchpole, who informs him about a new counterfeit racket that has surfaced in the town of Felsham. Lovejoy, being an antiques dealer and a connoisseur himself, is immediately intrigued and decides to investigate further.

Lovejoy meets Catchpole in Felsham and learns that a local antique dealer, Harry Catopodis, has been selling high-quality counterfeits of antique furniture to unsuspecting collectors and dealers in the area. Harry, who is an ex-convict and a known troublemaker, has been careful about covering his tracks, and Catchpole suggests that Lovejoy should be careful while dealing with him. However, Lovejoy, being a risk-taker, decides to meet Harry and see if he can strike a deal.

Lovejoy finds Harry in his shop and pretends to be a collector interested in buying one of his fake pieces. Harry is initially suspicious of Lovejoy, but he is impressed by his knowledge of antique furniture and agrees to show him some of his best works. Lovejoy immediately recognizes the workmanship and the quality of the pieces, but he also knows that they are fake. He decides to play along and pretends to be interested in buying one of the pieces.

Harry takes Lovejoy to his workshop to show him how he makes his counterfeits. Lovejoy is amazed by the attention to detail and the skill with which Harry replicates antique pieces. However, he also realizes that Harry is not aware of the legal consequences of his actions and could end up in prison if he gets caught. Lovejoy decides to use this information to his advantage and proposes a deal to Harry.

Lovejoy offers to buy one of Harry's fake pieces for a high price and promises to keep his secret safe. In return, Lovejoy wants Harry to stop making counterfeits and provide him with information on other counterfeiters in the area. Harry, who is desperate for money, agrees to the deal and gives Lovejoy the information he needs.

Lovejoy takes the information to the police and helps them bust a counterfeit ring that has been operating in the area for years. The police arrest the culprits, and the episode ends with Lovejoy getting rewarded for his efforts. He also receives a warning from Eric Catchpole about getting involved in dangerous schemes and decides to be more careful in the future.

Overall, Lovejoy season 1 episode 7 is a thrilling episode that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The episode is well-written, well-acted, and has a great storyline that is both engaging and entertaining. Lovejoy's character is shown to be a smart and resourceful conman who uses his skills to help the authorities catch criminals. The episode also tackles the issue of counterfeit antiques, which is a real problem in the antique industry, and shows the consequences of getting involved in such illegal activities.