Ep 1. The Chinese Job

New Tricks is a British police procedural series that follows the investigations of the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS) composed of retired police officers. In season 1 episode 1, titled "The Chinese Job," the episode starts with the introduction of the main characters, UCOS members: Jack Halford (James Bolam), Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong), and Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman).

The story begins when the body of a Chinese man is found in a river, and it is discovered that he drowned in 1990. UCOS is tasked with investigating the case, and they soon find out that the man, called Jin Li, was part of a gang responsible for smuggling people from China to the UK. UCOS discovers that Jin Li was working with a woman called Mei Li Zhou, who is now the head of the biggest criminal gang in Chinatown. Mei Li Zhou, also known as Madam Lee, had ties to the Triads, a notorious Chinese criminal syndicate.

UCOS starts to investigate Madam Lee and her associates, believing that the criminals may have something to do with Jin Li's death. As they delve deeper into the case, the team uncovers a web of corruption that leads to high-ranking officials in the government. Madam Lee sends her thugs to intimidate UCOS and warn them off the case, but the retired detectives are unfazed and determined to solve the case.

Meanwhile, Jack Halford goes undercover as a member of a Chinese gang to gather information on the case. He meets a woman named Li Mei, who he believes is a member of the smugglers gang. Jack starts to feel a connection with Li Mei, and he is torn between his duty to solve the case and his growing feelings for her.

As the investigation progresses, UCOS finds a clue that points them towards a shipping container that was used to transport the smuggled people. They discover that the container is still in use and board it to try and find more evidence. However, things go wrong, and they end up trapped inside the container with no means of escape.

The tension rises as UCOS members struggle to survive in the container. Their lives are in grave danger, and they need to use their skills and experience to find a way out before it's too late. Meanwhile, back at UCOS HQ, the rest of the team does everything they can to help their fellow detectives and solve the case.

In the end, the UCOS team manages to escape the container and solve the case. They uncover a criminal conspiracy that goes all the way to the top, and Madam Lee's criminal empire is brought down. Jack also discovers the truth about Li Mei, which leaves him with a difficult decision to make.

"The Chinese Job" is an exciting and suspenseful episode that sets the tone for the rest of the series. It introduces the characters and their dynamic, as well as the overarching theme of retired detectives investigating cold cases. The episode also tackles issues such as immigration, organized crime, corruption, and personal relationships. With solid performances from the cast, sharp writing, and engaging storytelling, "The Chinese Job" is a must-watch for crime drama fans.