One of Your Own

THE SWEENEY would sometimes go outside the crowded and bickering New Scotland Yard box as Regan played by John Thaw and Dennis Waterman's Carter would be sent undercover (which is actually unrealistic given how prominent they are to villains)...

And Season Four's ONE OF OUR OWN has Carter pulling an Edmond O'Brien from WHITE HEAT, impersonating a prisoner to befriend a newly-arrested career criminal in Michael Elphick's Jimmy Fleet...

There's also a touch of KISS OF DEATH since Carter only spends one night in lockup, resulting mostly in a gangland barroom with dark surrounding alleyways, and, donning glasses and a new haircut, Waterman does all the work while womanizing Regan has all the fun...

In particular with gorgeous bartender Sheridan Fitzgerald, originally paired with Carter and who, it turns out in a comedic twist, has the entire Sweeney on her cop-groupie hit list...

But given the forty-five minute run-time she only conquers three cops while the gangster throwback story drags with too much dialogue, making the promiscuous peripheral shine more brightly than the gritty (but not gritty enough) noirish mainline.

It starts with a simple jewel heist by Jimmy Fleet (Michael Elphick) who cons a diamond merchant.

However Fleet is about to be released from prison as he is on the verge of winning his appeal for the crime. Haskins sends Carter undercover to Wormwood Scrubs to try and find out just where the diamonds were hidden.

Both Carter and Fleet strike up a bond. When both are released, both of them are abducted and beaten up by a gangster called Kearney. He also wants the diamonds.

Meanwhile Fleet's girlfriend Tina seems to know more about the whereabouts of the diamonds.

Another episode with a more humorous approach. There is a subplot where Carter's latest girlfriend, a barmaid sleeps with his colleagues, both Regan and Daniels.

There is some menace from Kearney though who is a thorough nasty.

Good rapport between Waterman and Elphick in this. John Alkin has more to do as Daniels.