Jack Frost is a gritty, dogged and unconventional detective with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice who attracts trouble like a magnet. Despite some animosity with his superintendent, Norman “Horn-rimmed Harry” Mullett, Frost and his ever-changing roster of assistants manage to solve cases via his clever mind, good heart, and cool touch.
I have now watched the entire run of A Touch of Frost, stretching over 15 seasons and twenty years, which is quite an achievement for any drama show. To be honest, I never really connected with the lead character in the way I did Vera or Jimmy Perez on Shetland. It was the storylines that impressed me more, I suppose, except for a few clunkers where I napped in the middle and didn’t bother rewinding to catch up (Perhaps I shouldn’t watch TV in my comfy recliner!).
There are a few elements you can expect in every episode; he is going to yell at someone about the injustices against the downtrodden or victimized; he will mock his boss and usually be one step ahead of him (though Mullett scores points just often enough to keep it interesting); he will be hard on his assistants, often a new one for each new show as they don’t have much longevity. At least good old George hangs around to provide continuity.
I wouldn’t say there is a lot of character growth in DI Frost over the years: what you see is what you get. He will always bend rules and rush headlong into danger. Although near the end of the show’s run, he does start to value allowing personal space in his life for women, who seemed to be as short-lived as his assistants much of the time. And why wouldn’t he appreciate them more? Although he never attracts women half his age, they are always very attractive women, never a gray-haired grizzled veteran of life as he is. But hey, it is television, not real life.