"A Touch Of Frost" is also a personal favourite of mine, even if it is my fourth time watching an episode, as with this one. Though Cherie Lunghi seemed wasted to me, John Lyons (Sgt Toolin) and especially Bruce Alexander (Chief Superintendent Mullet) are as good as ever. David Jason looks considerably older than his 68 years here. I can't help thinking the producers/writers have fatally compromised the Frost character into a complete muddle. One incongruous aspect is that he keeps making "Del Boy" style jokes -- very childishly. When Mullet asks him who the suspects are for murdering a clown, he answers "Uh, Punch & Judy?" This hardly squares with Frost screaming close up in the faces of people who have come into the station voluntarily, and making all sorts of wild-guess accusations at them. Over the past few episodes he seems to have lost his once-redeeming compassion entirely. He even yells at a highly distraught witness, and then when it's explained to him that she has a severely debilitating phobia about clowns, a condition that is common knowledge, Frost quips casually, "Well, it's not common knowledge around here!" This only points up that Frost has got stupider and more wilfully ignorant with age and more experience -- highly unrealistic. When at the end the sympathetic pastor tells him she's sorry for everyone, not only her "client" who was banged up for years by Frost, but for Frost also. She says she can't imagine how Frost must be feeling now -- still believing the "slow" man is guilty until Frost is knocked over the head by incontrovertible evidence that the man is totally innocent and was actually the friend of the two victims many years before. The look of total confusion on Frost's face in response to this is priceless -- very good acting. And totally out of line with Frost's previous history of going the extra mile for, and getting in trouble for it, those who are intellectually challenged, even a suspected child molester who was "backward" socially.
9 Reviews
Frost as Classic Hero; Doesn't Quite Work
Hitchcoc3 October 2015
For some reason, I could not get involved in this episode. It follows on the heels of one of the better offerings of the year. In this one, a driver and a conductor are kidnapped. He because of revenge; she because she sees the face of the kidnapper. They are put in a place not unlike the victims on "Criminal Minds." They are terrorized by this man and made to believe that their days are numbered. This brings into play the fact that the man had lost control of a bus and ran down members of a family. There is a lot of intrigue involving a band of young punks who are going around flexing their muscles. The conclusion, considering what we know about Frost, seems rather improbable. The other thing that seems really strained is Frost's adversarial interaction with a former partner, who turned on him, betraying him to his superiors. It just comes up a bit short.
A good edition
jamiecostelo587 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A bus driver and his conductress are kidnapped, and a clown is found dead in the street. As well as these cases to solve, Jack is forced to work with a former colleague whom he has a very frosty relationship with, DS Annie Marsh.
There is certainly some great argumentative dialogue between David Jason and Cherie Lunghi as Marsh, but can they put behind their differences and work together to solve these mysteries or will Jack's temper get the better of him?
Dead End arrives at a sensible enough conclusion, where the aspects of revenge and payback for someone's past mistakes comes to the fore. But as viewers will see, Jack and Annie's attempts to save a life will be even more life threatening than they think. 8/10
There is certainly some great argumentative dialogue between David Jason and Cherie Lunghi as Marsh, but can they put behind their differences and work together to solve these mysteries or will Jack's temper get the better of him?
Dead End arrives at a sensible enough conclusion, where the aspects of revenge and payback for someone's past mistakes comes to the fore. But as viewers will see, Jack and Annie's attempts to save a life will be even more life threatening than they think. 8/10
A very intriguing and engaging episode
grantss15 August 2022
An episode with your usual intrigue and Frost hard at work solving the mystery. Mysteries, in this case, as there are two.
More than intriguing, this epsiode is very engaging, and possibly the most engaging of all Frost episodes, due to two characters, both of whom are characters unique to this episode.
The plight of the woman who needed an insulin shot but was stuck in captivity and then out on the street was incredibly riveting and heart-breaking. One could feel her helplessness and despair as she realised the clock was ticking.
The other character was the clown. A bit shady but very amusing and interesting it was sad to see his effect on the one woman and how the more he tried to make things right, the worse things became. Was so hoping he wasn't the fatality, but, alas...
More than intriguing, this epsiode is very engaging, and possibly the most engaging of all Frost episodes, due to two characters, both of whom are characters unique to this episode.
The plight of the woman who needed an insulin shot but was stuck in captivity and then out on the street was incredibly riveting and heart-breaking. One could feel her helplessness and despair as she realised the clock was ticking.
The other character was the clown. A bit shady but very amusing and interesting it was sad to see his effect on the one woman and how the more he tried to make things right, the worse things became. Was so hoping he wasn't the fatality, but, alas...
The case against the death penalty rests.
kindofblue-7822111 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Well here it is. Perfectly wrapped. Even though this story is fiction it clearly illustrates why we can never have the death penalty again in the UK. For if we had had it an innocent man would have died as they have in the past in the real world.
Frost is once again at his best and worst as he first intimidates someone who has a mental impairment and then sees the folly of his ways. Again.
Frost can be a bully and a saint. Just as policeman are in the real world. They love an easy target. And boy do they have one here.
This episode of Frost is outstanding. The story is tragically compelling.
One of the best.
Frost is once again at his best and worst as he first intimidates someone who has a mental impairment and then sees the folly of his ways. Again.
Frost can be a bully and a saint. Just as policeman are in the real world. They love an easy target. And boy do they have one here.
This episode of Frost is outstanding. The story is tragically compelling.
One of the best.
Very middle of the road
Schweizer857 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Like the previous episode of the series, this episode has two plots running simultaneously which doesn't always work, it often feels like the episode is just being padded out to fill the time. This one involves a double kidnapping and the death of a clown. This episode has elements of that but to a much lesser extent than the previous episode ''Mind Games''.
The relationship between Frost and DS Marsh works really well, an excellent performance by Cheri Lunghi who I also liked in Midsomer Murders. We're kept guessing on the motives behind the kidnapping and which of the victims was the target, I was hoping for a red herring or some kind of plot twist, the lack of this meant the conclusion was rather predictable.
The relationship between Frost and DS Marsh works really well, an excellent performance by Cheri Lunghi who I also liked in Midsomer Murders. We're kept guessing on the motives behind the kidnapping and which of the victims was the target, I was hoping for a red herring or some kind of plot twist, the lack of this meant the conclusion was rather predictable.
Retribution
safenoe31 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The beautiful Cherie Lunghi guest stars in Dead End, and you can sense Frost is ending. After this episode we get very close to this down-to-earth cop procedural show wrapping up for good. If Frost was to be rebooted, I'd nominated Danny Dyer to play Frost for sure. Anyway, Dead End deals with retribution and a justice system run amok at the expense of victims.
Julia St. John also guest stars.
Julia St. John also guest stars.
Frost as Classic Hero; Doesn't Quite Work
Hitchcoc3 October 2015
For some reason, I could not get involved in this episode. It follows on the heels of one of the better offerings of the year. In this one, a driver and a conductor are kidnapped. He, because of revenge; she, because she sees the face of the kidnapper. They are put in a place not unlike the victims on "Criminal Minds." They are terrorized by this man and made to believe that their days are numbered. This brings into play the fact that the man had lost control of a bus and ran down members of a family. There is a lot of intrigue involving a band of young punks who are going around flexing their muscles. The conclusion, considering what we know about Frost, seems rather improbable. The other thing that seems really strained is Frost's adversarial interaction with a former partner, who turned on him, betraying him to his superiors. It just comes up a bit short.
You can't win them all... not every case.
TheLittleSongbird7 July 2017
As has been said by me numerous times already, 'A Touch of Frost' is a personal favourite of mine, and one of my favourite shows from the detective/mystery genre. Do have a preference perhaps for the earlier-mid-show episodes over the later ones, but none of the episodes are less than watchable and none do anything to embarrass the show.
So much appeals about 'A Touch of Frost'. Love the mix of comedy (mostly through Frost's snide comments and quips) and dark grit, the tension between rebellious Jack Frost and by-the-book Mullet which has led to some humorous moments, how he interacts with the rest of the staff, the deft mix of one or two cases and Frost's personal life, how Frost solves the cases, the production values, music and of course David Jason in one of his best roles.
There may have been people initially sceptical about whether the show would work, and with Jason (a mainly comedic actor) in a departure from usual in the lead role. Scepticism very quickly evaporated, the first six seasons were top notch with a few not-quite-outstanding-but-still-very-good episodes but most of them being near-perfect to masterpiece. Was not sure initially as to whether the Seasons 7-9 two parters would work, having seen two parters not quite work with 'Lewis' for example, but all three worked brilliantly.
Most of Season 10 was of a very high standard, "Held in Trust" was my personal favourite of the episodes but Jim Sturgess' performance in "Close Encounters" is one of the show's best supporting turns. Was a little let down however by "Hidden Truth", which was still decent and much better than a lot of weaker episodes from other shows but considering the high quality of Seasons 1-9 decent didn't seem quite enough. "Another Life" and "Dancing in the Dark" were very good episodes for Season 11, though neither high points. "Near Death Experience" was one of my favourite latter season episodes, while the next episode "Endangered Species", while a long way from bad (pretty decent still) is one of my least favourites of the series.
"Mind Games" was a great return for 'A Touch of Frost' after a two year absence, so hopes were high were "Dead End". Always did think, even when viewing it when it first aired, that it was a couple of steps down after "Mind Games" and still do. It's still a decent episode, but when you see a show that a vast majority of the time does very good to brilliant ones decent, like was said for "Hidden Truth", doesn't quite seem enough. It is one of my least favourite episodes of the show overall, but even 'A Touch of Frost' at its weakest was much better than most shows at its weakest (in a list that includes other favourites like 'Criminal Minds' and 'Midsomer Murders').
To me it was just too obvious who the real intended target was all along. Even when they had parts suggesting that the other victim was the intended victim, from what we found out about them such a treatment was just far too extreme, whereas it was easy to see from the beginning why the actual intended victim was targeted.
It is agreed too that while Frost and Marsh's argumentative banter was entertaining to begin with it did start feeling very overdone and credibility straining. The climax was definitely a tense one and did have my heart in my mouth, though Frost in the role he was in did seem out of the character and the outcome was just too easily foreseeable, at least to me.
However, the production values still look great. It matches the dark, gritty tone of the episode beautifully with atmospheric lighting and the stylish way it's shot. The music is haunting without being over-bearing, the theme tune still iconic.
Good deal of the script is taut and thought-provoking, with the most amusing lines coming when investigating the "Charlie the Chuckling Clown" case. Marsh's line about not winning them all sums things up very well. The story does have tension and suspense on the most part, if let down by some predictability in some parts. The abduction case is compelling and one does root for the victims, especially when one sees how they're treated (which is 'Criminal Minds'-like agreed). The clown case balanced well and was interesting too, if not quite as memorable as the other case.
Frost is remarkably well established as a character, with his faults but also good qualities. Even with a more conflicted side, he is closer to the old Frost than the unnecessarily rude and acrimonious character seen in "Endangered Species". The supporting characters are well drawn.
Can't fault Jason as Frost, he is simply brilliant in the role as always with not one foot put wrong. All the supporting cast are on point, Bruce Alexander and John Lyons don't disappoint and Cherie Lunghi is a breath of fresh air.
Overall, one of my least favourite 'Frost' episodes but still decent. 7/10 Bethany Cox
So much appeals about 'A Touch of Frost'. Love the mix of comedy (mostly through Frost's snide comments and quips) and dark grit, the tension between rebellious Jack Frost and by-the-book Mullet which has led to some humorous moments, how he interacts with the rest of the staff, the deft mix of one or two cases and Frost's personal life, how Frost solves the cases, the production values, music and of course David Jason in one of his best roles.
There may have been people initially sceptical about whether the show would work, and with Jason (a mainly comedic actor) in a departure from usual in the lead role. Scepticism very quickly evaporated, the first six seasons were top notch with a few not-quite-outstanding-but-still-very-good episodes but most of them being near-perfect to masterpiece. Was not sure initially as to whether the Seasons 7-9 two parters would work, having seen two parters not quite work with 'Lewis' for example, but all three worked brilliantly.
Most of Season 10 was of a very high standard, "Held in Trust" was my personal favourite of the episodes but Jim Sturgess' performance in "Close Encounters" is one of the show's best supporting turns. Was a little let down however by "Hidden Truth", which was still decent and much better than a lot of weaker episodes from other shows but considering the high quality of Seasons 1-9 decent didn't seem quite enough. "Another Life" and "Dancing in the Dark" were very good episodes for Season 11, though neither high points. "Near Death Experience" was one of my favourite latter season episodes, while the next episode "Endangered Species", while a long way from bad (pretty decent still) is one of my least favourites of the series.
"Mind Games" was a great return for 'A Touch of Frost' after a two year absence, so hopes were high were "Dead End". Always did think, even when viewing it when it first aired, that it was a couple of steps down after "Mind Games" and still do. It's still a decent episode, but when you see a show that a vast majority of the time does very good to brilliant ones decent, like was said for "Hidden Truth", doesn't quite seem enough. It is one of my least favourite episodes of the show overall, but even 'A Touch of Frost' at its weakest was much better than most shows at its weakest (in a list that includes other favourites like 'Criminal Minds' and 'Midsomer Murders').
To me it was just too obvious who the real intended target was all along. Even when they had parts suggesting that the other victim was the intended victim, from what we found out about them such a treatment was just far too extreme, whereas it was easy to see from the beginning why the actual intended victim was targeted.
It is agreed too that while Frost and Marsh's argumentative banter was entertaining to begin with it did start feeling very overdone and credibility straining. The climax was definitely a tense one and did have my heart in my mouth, though Frost in the role he was in did seem out of the character and the outcome was just too easily foreseeable, at least to me.
However, the production values still look great. It matches the dark, gritty tone of the episode beautifully with atmospheric lighting and the stylish way it's shot. The music is haunting without being over-bearing, the theme tune still iconic.
Good deal of the script is taut and thought-provoking, with the most amusing lines coming when investigating the "Charlie the Chuckling Clown" case. Marsh's line about not winning them all sums things up very well. The story does have tension and suspense on the most part, if let down by some predictability in some parts. The abduction case is compelling and one does root for the victims, especially when one sees how they're treated (which is 'Criminal Minds'-like agreed). The clown case balanced well and was interesting too, if not quite as memorable as the other case.
Frost is remarkably well established as a character, with his faults but also good qualities. Even with a more conflicted side, he is closer to the old Frost than the unnecessarily rude and acrimonious character seen in "Endangered Species". The supporting characters are well drawn.
Can't fault Jason as Frost, he is simply brilliant in the role as always with not one foot put wrong. All the supporting cast are on point, Bruce Alexander and John Lyons don't disappoint and Cherie Lunghi is a breath of fresh air.
Overall, one of my least favourite 'Frost' episodes but still decent. 7/10 Bethany Cox
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