Dalziel and Pascoe (TV Series) An Advancement of Learning (1996) User Reviews

A high brow mystery for Dalziel and Pascoe to solve.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 20 November 2020]

An intelligent mystery, a crime that could have easily been given for Inspector Morse vibe, it has that classy, deep, institutional feel, it soon changes in tone when Dalziel begins shouting and farting all over the place.

It's a very good watch, and a good contrast to the gritty first episode, this is a more high brow affair. More humour at play in this one, some good laughs and humorous moments throughout, the best line coming when the pair are on the gold course, that was wonderful. The mystery itself is pretty engaging.

A nice guest cast, led by a brilliant Prunella Scales, who adds a touch of class. So well known as Sybil Fawlty of course, how far away from that part here as the puritan Miss Disney. A young James D'Arcy is also excellent.

It's a very good first series. 7/10.

Good, but villain overwritten

[bosporan · 6/10 · 16 March 2022]

Overarching culture clash class/education provides some interesting interaction throughout. The denouement, however was twee and predictable which is disappointing. Some compare this episode to Morse but if Thaw is to be invoked at all then Reagan might be nearer the mark!

An Advancement of Learning

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 2 January 2023]

The first series of Dalziel and Pascoe only contained two stories. Which might be a good thing as I regard this as very much a work in progress with some flaws.

At least Dalziel demonstrates that he might not have been to university but he is a bright man. A death at a university campus allows Dalziel to show off his sunday school learning.

The body was found after a monument erected in her honour is moved. However she was thought to have died in a coach crash in Austria some years earlier.

Dr Sam Fallowfield, a lecturer who is accused of having a relationship with one of his students becomes the main suspect. Later he is found dead, thought to be suicide. His was the third death, the second one being the student who made the accusations.

It was fun to see Dalziel being a fish out of water at the university campus. Initially it looked like the university staff would be the murderer but suspicions soon turn to some of the unruly students.

Shades of Leopold and Loeb or is it Man and Superman in this mystery. To me the culprit was a damn annoying oink rather than charismatic. Then again I never had a public school education so what do I know.