Nick was the early 1990s

[Stewarts Point]

His character seemed to represent this period, for good or for bad.

It seems many here are slightly indifferent about the early 90s. For me the character that comes first to mind that embodies 91-94 is Nick. At one utterly forgetable, yet with another look, totemic as a central character (the love triangle/Shane's brother). 

Bob Barnett was the beer bellied 80's cop. Was Nick some kinda sharp minded 90s andidote, yet subtler version of Chris Hale? Did he mitigate Chris Hale, or ultimately lead to him?

[cymbaline]

I would rather have seen Chris Hale being given a more prominent role in the 90's, rather than Nick. He was far more believable as a policeman than Nick ever was, and he wasn't too hard on the eyes either. That isn't to say that Bruce Roberts wasn't likeable or good at what he was given. Equally, he could just have easily been a teacher or a mechanic or whatever other jobs were going around in those years. Maybe I found him less policeman-like because he was the first police officer to become a main character. We saw more of him off-duty than we did with his uniform on. 

Like Dee Smart's Lucinda, they under-used Nick and saddled him with that dreadful love triangle. He was more interesting before and after Lucinda. His relationship with Shane was a highlight of his time on the show and it's a pity that Bruce left when he did. It might have partially stopped Shangel cannibalizing the show for the next couple of years.