Old Dog New Tricks - Thirty Years Ago Today

[byslantedlight]

Yeay! Nine o clock! Pros!

Ah, the Turkel brothers... there's something about the colour of this ep actually, it looks very... brown? Or grainy perhaps? Very seventies somehow! (non-remastered version, I'm watching)

Bloke with stocking on his head... bored squaddie... not so bored now. Shoots pointlessly at truck - that worries me more than the thought of the police with guns in some ways...

And a disused warehouse - ah, the baddies are Irish... The other baddies have bigger guns - oh and ew, bad moustaches. That blond looks kind of like Hutch... Bang. Eep. Many bangs.

And yeay! The car through the window and our lads running - now we're into it! I wonder when they took these credit shots, Doyle's hair is at the loose-curly stage...

Eep - many bodies, and sometime now... any moment... Cowley! "Bod-ay! Doyle!"


Oh dead blokes everywhere! Bodie's first line - very posh accent... second and third lines a bit more normal... eep, Valentine's day line posh again... "Yeah, didn't they though" - nice line, very... tough. Cynical. That's our lads. But they're very... acting. Aren't they acting? Bless 'em...

Stuff with young feller-me-lad, whotsis-who and his grenades and guns...

Oh, look at those cars!

Doyle asking Bodie if he was in Belfast... hmmn! Doyle wanting to know "Whose peace?" - he's a bit sympathetic to the IRA? Or..? Anti-British army? Anyway, Bodie pokes him in the back as he goes past - yeay touching lads!


Ah - Cowley and his lecture. You throw that chalk, dust those hands... Better yet, here come the lads, sneaking in... oh yeay. I like them sneaking in. Sort of sidling. There's our Bisto Kids... "One whiff of anything and you're there..." *g* Actually I quite like that this was the third ep in a way - sounds less like exposition, knowing that. Though the "Bod-ay! Doyle!" line would have been a good opener.


Ah, Cowley's fascist overtones... hmmn - maybe Bodie was playing up to Doyle, who'd sort of accused him of being fascist in Belfast? Ah... now that kind of makes sense. Trying to redeem himself, but getting it wrong. Bless!


There's our Pamela - sorry, Nurse Bolding. And yes, that's what you do when your friend has been taken by a bloke with a gun, you go running towards them, cos that'll be helpful...

Bodie looking peeved at Doyle arguing with him... Cowley agreeing with Doyle - Bodie convinced it's more terrorists. I wonder why..?

Ooh, music! Not the usual tune! They really do not come over as extra-cool in that brown... Rover? Whatever it is.

Hee - Doyle laughing at Bodie's joke about appendix. Bodie being all joke-y in general... the lads both knowing procedure well enough to tell the police they've done it wrong. Ever so confident they are...

Ooh, Doyle with a gun on his back - now why is that... somehow quite... good? And just look at Bodie's arms when he crosses them! Nice... Like the green vests too. Bodie's got a pla-an...


Aw, cute in the glasses too.


Approving Doyle. They are working together well here, for all they're not always in total agreement. Bodie knows more about grenades etc. Ooh, Doyle with those bullets in his mouth as he reloads...

They're half-teasing each other, half snapping at each other, aren't they... And Bodie's wearing a gold bracelet! In the first ep! So much for Doyle-wears-all-the-jewellery... *g*


Doyle knows the exact moment it changes... underarm lob, Bodie?! Ah, all sorted, well done our lads.

Ooh, Doyle looking very grumpy at young Billy! Strange angle to shoot him actually, not his most flattering! All down-turned lips he is... Bodie just looking hard.


Ah, Bodie teasing Doyle about art classes - small smile on Doyle's face though now. Doyle very serious in some ways though, compared to Bodie's attitude! Doyle's shirts by F.U.S. - his jeans in Slush Fund were F.U.S. as well...


Cowley and his leg, and his whisky... I can never quite decide whether Doyle says "He coughed" or "He gobbed" - sounds like the latter, but I think it's the former! Doyle challenging Bodie... Cowley actually collapsing with his leg. He must have had the bullet out in a later ep, only way to explain the lack of bad turns later on! Doyle looks after Cowley though, handing over his drink.

"Rules, sir?" - see how rebellious they are... Doyle smiling at Bodie's play with Cowley as they leave the room...


Ooh, Doyle on tiptoe in the cellar, reaching upwards... *is shallow*


Bodie not liking police any more than Doyle seemed to like soldiers. Hmmn - Doyle's not the one outraged at the idea of a "bent top cop" though.


Here's Betty, blouse and nice print skirt today. Very chatty she is with Cowley. Never quite sure where fanfic writers got the impression that she was so efficient and collected, she never seems that way to me!

Ooh, look at Doyle up those stairs! It's Bodie's flat... the furry bedspread. Dark walls. Pic of a fly on the wall?! And Doyle all... antagonistic to "Betty"... *g* And "Come on, handsome." *g*


You know, a Rover squealing tyres isn't quite as cool as a Capri... or... hmmn, I think even a Lada squealing tyres might be cooler, in fact...

Doyle looking taller than either Cowley or Bodie there - hmmn, must watch out to see what shoes he's wearing! Or what shoes Bodie isn't wearing... *g* Bodie's turn to wear tight trousers though. *g*

More brown... Lovely old building though, that "police station"

Lads driving something yellow now. Ooh - Doyle's sitting behind Bodie - yes!, hand on his arm, and a bit of a squeeze! *g*


Doyle knows what the police station procedure etc. Ooh, look at the way Doyle's looking at Bodie when Bodie can't answer him, and then when Bodie's answering Cowley. Just... I like it when they look at each other. *g*

I like Doyle's dark brown - cords? Hee - it's the Moo Rover! *vbg*

Can't quite believe that the baddies don't know what the home secretary looks like...

Bodie being frisked... Should be Doyle doing that... *g* Speaking of which - he's wearing a long chain today, silver. And he's got a... a sort of twist at the hips as he walks. Bendy, that's our Doyle.


Doyle very confidently in charge already. Ooh, he's squirming at the idea of the rank he used to hold, being forced to say it out loud at least. Not cowed though - "I'm sorry sir, but you're not."

Okay, Dapper (whatever his name is) has got a very pretty face - and the 'tache really doesn't change that fact!

Doyle manages to lean against the open van door - very nice. Ooh, and he's ever so good at catching rifles.


Bodie looking up at the bad guys - Cowley looking very fondly at him, with a smile!


Ah, the Doyle roar. He's got such a voice, hasn't he?!

Cowley's looking so smug about Bodie!

Doyle being all ruthless with Henry Turkel. I dunno why Charlie doesn't just shoot Cowley, mind - I mean, he's got hostages, no matter who they are. Doyle being more ruthless. Ah,he's just realised he's still got hostages - guess Charlie does believe that his brother's had it. Well, Doyle is looking pretty hard, actually. I'd believe he might shoot!

And there, it's all over... the baddies taken away, Bodie holding Cowley's hat... Doyle doesn't get to keep the gun. And neither of them get a lift home. Nice light on... erm... Doyle's bum as they walk away. *still shallow*


And aww - over again! Fifty minutes of our lads... Okay, not my favourite ep, but... they were wearing good trousers. And I like the by-play between them, a bit not-sure, you know. I'd want to say this wasn't long after they were partnered, but that'd mean playing about with timings like the ones Doyle gives in Close Quarters - it'd mean a season couldn't possibly be a year. But then maybe it shouldn't be, particularly... Hmmn!

Right - bed! To sleep, perchance to dream of our lads... *g*

ETA 26th April 2009 to add images!

Comments

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I do like these 'real-time' resumes of yours...

there's something about the colour of this ep actually, it looks very... brown? Or grainy perhaps?

It's not the visuals that hit me so much as the sound. Not only Charlie's dubbing (and Pam S's too, I noticed for the first time tonight) but the general feeling that they're all talking through a layer of cotton wool.

Ah - Cowley and his lecture. You throw that chalk, dust those hands...

Ah yes, why do I think of that thing with the chalk as being typically Cowley? Whenever I'm writing the man I always picture him doing stuff like that.

Doyle being all ruthless with Henry Turkel.

Sorry, but I can never see 'Enery without thinking "Ooh, it's Carlos from Crossroads!" Always expecting him to knock up a Spanish omelette for Amy Turtle or Mr Lovejoy... Showing my age now, I know...

Cowley's looking so smug about Bodie!

Oh, isn't he just! I've been reading too much Jane Carnall, just ignore me...

And y'know, it wasn't half as bad as I'd remembered it. And it was the first (the real first, I mean) after all. I must admit that I do get a bit of a bizarre kick out of the fact that the first time we were really meant to see Bodie was when he was stuffing his face. *g*

So - are we doing it all again next Sunday?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ack - could I be more late in responding to this? Well yeah, I know I could, but still... Sorry!

the general feeling that they're all talking through a layer of cotton wool.
Ooh, d'you know, I've noticed this. Mind you, could be cos I hear everything accompanied by the bells and whistles of tinnitus anyway... *g*

I didn't watch Crossroads, so I've never seen 'en-er-y anywhere else... but I do have summat similar going on with Arfur, in Purging...

And yes! We're doing it all again next Sunday! Aren't we? Well I am, I've told 'em that the house meeting has to be over by nine, or else I'm out of there..!

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Hee, I do like your real-time comments. Y'know I quite enjoyed this not-the-best ep, enjoyed their ... struggles to find their voices and their dynamic. "There's so much in it!" as the TV Times ad used to go. Villains and military stuff and derelict warehouses, Doyle as good cop, Bodie as off-the-wall womanizer. Coo, and that jolly brutal opening sequence ... that echoey gunshot bit with the camera moving away (or is it towards?!) the warehouse door.

they're very... acting. Aren't they acting? Bless 'em... they so are! "You'll know him by - his- white - coat .." *giggle*

Yup, I had some shallow moments too. Like when Cowley is just saying that bit about kicking them in the goolies and all you can see in the background is Doyle leaning against the door and his .... ahem *g* Oooh, and Bodie in a black polo with holster ... yum! But generally prefer Doyle with longer hair and Bodie less of a ... well, a Beatle gone wrong! But he has such loooovely hands that man ... yummy yummy must write something about his loooovely hands.

Ray's quite a roughy-toughy with the shotgun under Turkel's chin isn't he? Like Roughy-Toughy Ray, 'sgood!

But it was all good, I liked it a lot *claps hands*

'Night!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm so rude, I can't believe I've not replied yet, I'm sorry!

Like when Cowley is just saying that bit about kicking them in the goolies and all you can see in the background is Doyle leaning against the door and his .... ahem
I haven't checked this out yet either, and I've totally meant to! *happy sigh* I love that no matter how many times I watch the eps, there's always someone somewhere who's got a "did-you-see" moment that I haven't seen... *g*

And just heeee for Roughy-Toughy Ray - he really is, isn't he! So many different Rays - roughy-toughy, and out-of-control-angry, and can't-take-the-pain, and my-god-someone's-breathing-on-my-neck, and... and they're all our Bodie's Doyle... *vbg*

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I only watch this one if I'm doing a full run. Otherwise, I wouldn't pick it unless I had reason. The bad guys are pathetic. The kid is annoyingly stupid. But the lads look great, there are some wonderful scenes of them together, and I still wouldn't give up a second of the ep since there won't be any more.

I admit, I'm actually watching MS doing Deed and crying over his daughter. But I also admit that when I hear "Doyle" I still picture Bodie off somewhere waiting for him to come home! Wouldn't MS be irritated over that!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Late to my own thread again - sorry! I tend not to watch this one either, but I do like it for the first-time effect... I love that the guys are so self-conscious around each other, of the fact that they're both agents, and have to prove themselves... *g*

I can actually watch all of MS's stuff separately from thinking about Doyle (which at least might please MS!), although I do always wish there was more B/D, or at least another version of MS/LC acting together - I'd love to see them in different personas completely. I have this fantasy about them doing an English version of something like "The Odd Couple", I think they'd be fab together in it! Be nice to see MS being less serious for a while too - although I quite like that about him too, that he's not afraid to be serious about what he sees as important. He seems to stand up for himself, doesn't let the opinion of the media, or the audience change what he believes in, and how he behaves...

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Yay, managed to watch at the right time tonight, so I was with you, girls! And, like most of you, it seems, this isn't a favourite ep for me so I haven't watched it for ages. And I'd quite forgotten quite how much of the script find its way into fanfic, and how often that shot of Bodie's back finds its way into vids! I suppose it's the ultimate canon - the founding episode with all the background setting. Did they originally intend to show this one first? Feels like it, anyhow.
Love the
I'm rather enjoying the communal watching, y'know and the commentary afterwards! What's on next week? *bg*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late - sorry...

This one was the first to be filmed - though who knows how, or even who, decided to show it later in the series instead of first. It looks like the writers meant it to be first, what with the introduction to the characters, and to CI5 etc all there.

Next week is Killer With A Long Arm - another one that's not one of my favourites, but I bet we can find lots of lovely lush bits... *g*

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

Your running comments are just priceless. And yes, the eps is rather brown *shudder* Bodie's checkered shirt looks almost worse than the pink one. But I must admit it was fun too watch even if it's still the worst eps for me (compared to the others). Anyway, I'll be back her come next Sunday.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

So late answering - sorry! I figured that if I did a sort of "commentary" as I was watching, that it'd be more like watching with everyone at the same time. Although really, if I'm not gonna talk back to you for almost a week, then... *headdesk* I shall be better next week!

I quite like the checked shirt actually - very seventies too, I always think! *g* In fact, I kind of think I had one... *vbg*

[magenta-blue.livejournal.com]

Here, have a Turkel!

I cannot believe in the end I was out and missed this. However I was thinking of Old Dogs, and you guys, and switching on the TV at 9 and finding Pros... *g*

I love your commentry, it is fab seeing what different things you spot! Yes, this ep is so grey - it feels more 70s than the others for some odd reason. And they *are* acting, aren't they? I think esp in this ep it feels like watching actors, rather than the characters, although that isn't all the way through, in some places it does feel more natural. I wonder if it was the order of which the ep was filmed (as I tend to think everything is shot as we see it on screen, when perhaps the ending was filmed first etc!).

When Doyle is grumpy at Billy - I hate that angle! It is really not that flattering, very harsh light and shadows! Perhaps to make them seem more menacing...

Here's Betty, blouse and nice print skirt today. Very chatty she is with Cowley. Never quite sure where fanfic writers got the impression that she was so efficient and collected, she never seems that way to me!

Interesting! As yes, from the eps she is more chatty than collected... maybe 'efficient' comes from fanfic writers thinking CI5 have to have efficient support somewhere, and since she is there at least for a few eps then that makes her the one. And she always seems to know when to come in with a cuppa - efficient with the kettle, perhaps?!

I too like the way B and D look at eachother in Cowley's car outside the police station. And Bodie's glance down at himself when Cowley tells him he is dressed wrong!

Doyle manages to lean against the open van door - very nice. Ooh, and he's ever so good at catching rifles.

Hahahahaha, I read that last comment as catching flies!

Yes he has got a good projection with his voice. Here it suits, but in the beginning when he shouts across the carpark 'Billy? Billy Turner?' etc it sounds a bit out of place to me, again an 'acting' moment! Same with LC saying 'Doctor Brooks is here!'

This ep I think feels a bit clunky to me, but yes, they do wear ever so nice trousers *g*, and I like how slim-hipped MS is, and LC with the glasses is pretty gorgeous, so lots of nice moments for basking in shallow waters!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Here, have a Turkel!
Oh, no thanks, I'm trying to give them up... *g*

Yes, yes and yes to everything you just said! And sorry I'm days and days late saying it back... *headdesk*

But you will be in this Sunday night, right? *looks threatening in manner of Doyle, but not with that really unflattering angle, with more shadow and slimming lighting effects, and... just grrrr, alright?*

[andreathelion.livejournal.com]

Lol, I like the way you comment the eps, it's very entertaining and amusing :)
But still, this one is not one of my fave eps ...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's kind of fun imagining that I'm actually chatting to everyone at the time (although I can see how alot of people would be quite scared if I confessed that out loud... *g*) but it'd help if I could reply to people in a timely manner... sorry... "See" you this Sunday?!

[andreathelion.livejournal.com]

"See" you this Sunday?!

Of course, how could I miss it!!
And I'm already looking forward to your report afterwards *g*

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Oh dead blokes everywhere! Bodie's first line - very posh accent... second and third lines a bit more normal... eep, Valentine's day line posh again... That's our lads. But they're very... acting. Aren't they acting? Bless 'em... Hit me the same way when I watched this scene - they're just so.. tense. They're speaking slowly, each waiting patiently for the other to finish, and it's all a bit excruciating. Just the difference a few eps on - say in 'Annie' with that relaxed give and take in the car as they discuss Cowley and Annie, and thankfully it's a different world.

Thanks for this blow by blow account, much fun!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, they really are tense, aren't they... wonder what specifically caused that, and when it got bettr... gonna have to watch in Production order now too, to see when they're properly "easy" with each other... oh, darn it!

(And sorry for the late reply - again!)

[sunray45.livejournal.com]

It does make a difference by adding the screencaps. Even my supposedly digitally enhanced DVD of this is very dark and browny/sepia. I suppose the film was not looked after properly and some of the colours have faded out or darkened with age.

I think I read on Dave Matthew's site that all the voices were dubbed in the studio, which made them sound very actory. In later episodes the cast wore mikes, so that their voices sound more natural.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Wow - studio dubbing would seem like a desperately difficult job to get right! I shall have to watch their lips more closely to see if they match up! *g*

[jj-minerva.livejournal.com]

Is it just me, or is there a reason why B&D change outfits between finding the dead Irish in the warehouse and reporting back to Cowley in the 'classroom'? I just presumed that this was later the same day but am I wrong? If it is the same day, why did they change their clothes? Any ideas? Is there a fic that explains this?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, well spotted! And surely it must be later the same day - and not much later - cos of the urgency about the grenades!

I've not read a fic that explains it, but then if we had a fic for every clothes-change they make... *g* The most changes of clothes in one ep, according to Professional Insight is something like 16! *g*

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

not my favourite ep, but... they were wearing good trousers.
Could be the epitaph of the whole show, really:
"There were some poor episodes, but they were wearing good trousers."
Ah well that's all right then! *grin* Nice tight trousers can overcome any number of plot holes (well to me at least!)

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

not my favourite ep, but... they were wearing good trousers.

LOL - I love the way you stick to the important things *g*

Lovely looking at these all over again, thank you.