Ep 1. The Rock, Part 1

Following the success of the previous nine seasons, New Tricks returned to screens for its tenth series. This new season saw the return of the show's beloved characters: Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman (played by Amanda Redman), Detective Chief Inspector Steve McAndrew (played by Denis Lawson), Detective Inspector Danny Griffin (played by Nicholas Lyndhurst), and Detective Sergeant Ted Case (played by Larry Lamb). The show's tagline 'Old Cops. Cold Cases. New Tricks.' encapsulates the premise of New Tricks, which follows this group of retired police officers who come out of retirement to help the Metropolitan Police's Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad.

The season opener, 'The Rock, Part 1,' opens with the team being called into action when a body is found on a building site in Bermondsey. The case is particularly challenging as the body has been buried for over twenty years and the site is now being developed by a high-end property company. The team's initial investigations reveal that the body belonged to an environmental activist, Neil Cutler, who disappeared in 1983. Upon further investigation, the team uncovers a link between Neil Cutler and a rock band called The Wild Echos.

The episode then explores the world of 1980s music as the team tries to get to the bottom of Neil Cutler's murder. They speak to former members of The Wild Echos, including lead singer Marty Parish (played by Sean Blowers), who is now wheelchair-bound after a stroke. The team discovers that Marty suffers from early-onset Alzheimer's and cannot remember anything from the time Neil disappeared. However, the other band members recount the night Neil went missing, and their testimony makes it clear that Neil and Marty had an argument the night he disappeared.

The team's forensic pathologist, Dr. Fiona Kennedy (played by Angela Griffin), conducts a post-mortem on Neil's body and discovers that he died from a blow to the head. It quickly becomes apparent that a member of The Wild Echos killed Neil, and the team must work to determine who is responsible. Alongside this investigation, the team also has to contend with the current property development on the site, which threatens to destroy any evidence that could solve the case.

As with all previous seasons, New Tricks delivers a mixture of drama, humour, and nostalgia. Fans of the show will delight in seeing the interactions between the four core characters, who have developed a close bond over the years. Each character brings their own unique personality to the show, with Amanda Redman's Sandra being the tough but fair leader of the team, Denis Lawson's Steve being the charming and suave Scot, Nicholas Lyndhurst's Danny being the sensitive and intellectual ex-copper, and Larry Lamb's Ted being the wise-cracking, no-nonsense member of the team.

One element of the show that sets it apart from other police dramas is its focus on cold cases. By taking on cases that have been unsolved for decades, the show has a built-in sense of intrigue and mystery. This is particularly true in 'The Rock, Part 1,' as the team must navigate the challenges of investigating a crime that took place over twenty years ago. It's a difficult task, but the team's expertise, intelligence, and tenacity shine through in their work.

Ultimately, the season opener of New Tricks is a solid and engaging episode. It sets the stage for the rest of the series, giving viewers a glimpse into the cases that the team will tackle and the challenges they will face. With plenty of twists and turns, it's a great episode for fans of the show and newcomers alike.