I have been watching a British cop show called New Tricks. [1] There has been a nearly total (one holdover) substitution of new actors for old. That may be the difference I am noticing. But I also think the writing has gotten better. Certainly I find myself enjoying it more.
I have an example.
In Season 11, Episode 1 there is this exchange between a very unattractive man and a very attractive woman.
This is Tamzin Outhwaite. She is the new head of UCOS, That’s the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad. The very unattractive man she and her colleague Gerry Standing are questioning, expresses a real interest in dating her. She just keeps on being the cop doing her job. He is disappointed. He says,
You know, I was seriously considering asking you out.
Her response was as dry an anyone could wish.
I think I’ll learn to love again.
[1] The joke is that a new unit of police has been invented and they have no personnel budget so they have to use retired cops. Old Dogs, as were.it
The Dilettante's Dilemma 