Monarch of the Glen - Series Six (2001)

Still has its moments, but no longer great

With series 6, the show continues what I feel is a gradual slide downward. Gone is the good natured humor and sense of "place" that made the first few seasons so special. Now, we're subjected to an hour of bickering and all-too-predictable misunderstandings and jealousy on top of continual romantic musical chairs.

Is there any place in the world that really has only unmarried people on the lookout for love? EVERYONE in the series now is single (and most are young and trim: no middle aged or heavy set people -- except those who serve as the comic relief and buffoons -- no happily married couples, no children, no community life.

And people sure do get over lost loves REAL fast! I thought Archie was fickle, but fist Golly is deeply dedicated and in love with Molly, then --in two episodes -- it's Meg. Paul loves Lex, then Isabel, then Susan. Jess forgets Duncan real fast when someone new appears.

Everytime a new character is introduced, you can spot immediately that he/she will be someone's love interest! Remember the show Hamish MacBeth? The variety of characters there was so much more interesting and 'real.'

Also, there is a complete lack of logic in the storylines. This HUGE estate, which is apparently involved in everything from raising wolves to offering an 'activity center', has almost no staff and no one seems to work!

Finally, the show has become, for the most part, "generic" in locale. Gone is the glimpse into Scottish clan life and history (hardly anyone even wears a kilt anymore!). Gone are the pipes and the "feel" of the country. Change their names from MacDonald to O'Reilly or Le Clerc and you'd never tell the difference.

Still, the show has its moments and I continue to watch in hopes that it will regain some of its past allure. And of course, I watch to see glorious shots of beautiful country and to listen to the most marvelous accents! May 29, 2008

We have come to expect a lot from the writers, and in my opinion they are delivering nicely.

I love this show. My husband and I found that we had spent thousands of dollars buying DVDs and CDs and books last year and thought we should subscribe to Netflix. This is not a commercial for Netflix. I know how gratifying it can be to spend money on Amazon, but we've decided to bank a little more and spend less.

Having said that we just watched the first DVD of Monarch of the Glen
Season Six and we are expecting the second to arrive in a few days. The show is still fantastic. Old characters have left, but new ones have filled the void. And the writers are creating several sub-plots per episode. In the one we just watched Molly had some heart problems...I won't tell you how serious they were...but we were on the edge of our seats wondering how sick she would become. Another sub-plot contained a riveting story about a WWII German pilot who long ago crashed in the loch. Plus Jess needed a friend and was abandoned by her mate Ewan as he pursued a brunette at the pub.

I think the scenery is a major character. The music is also stirring. My husband and I look forward to TV time and Monarch is one of the few things we still watch. We just rec'd As Time Goes By and plan to give that a try, but I doubt it can top Monarch...if it is seventy-five percent as good I'll be happy!
April 20, 2008

Don't be fooled - This is just as good as the Series 1-5

I fell in love with this show from the first time I saw it. I have to admit the transition from Archie to Paul was hard for me, but after watching a few episodes where Paul was the main lead, he began to grow on me. Now that this is the last series, I will miss both Archie AND Paul. This is a great show, and one not to me missed. Don't believe the reviews that tell you Series 6-7 are not as good as the first ones. It just takes a little adjustment, but everything that you loved about the first 5 series is still in 6-7. November 8, 2007

Not enough cheerful Scots!

I have been a fan of 'Monarch' for many years and still am. However, like many I prefer the earlier episodes. Why? Well, for me there are not enough cheerful Scots in the present series. At times 'Monarch' could be set in the Lake district! Lloyd Owen is excellent but he is very English both in accent and attitude, fair enough but the surrounding cast are universally mournful and the only one with any flair is Tom Baker, also English! Where is the enjoyable sparring of Hector and Kilwillie, the earthy attraction of Lexy, the sheer unbridled enthusiasm of Duncan? If a series is set in Scotland, particullarly one which plays up the romance of the Highlands, then lets have some tartan happiness and daftness and less English melancholy. The presence of Alexander Morton and Susan Hampshire ensure some continuity but the happy eccentricities of Hector, Duncan and Lexy are sorely missed. Still a wonderfully entertaining series but not as enjoyable. October 21, 2007

Monarch of the Glen Series 6

I purchased this product after reading (negative) reviews only for the sake of completeness of my library. I was really taken with this program, initially on PBS, and PBS screwed it all up by mixing episodes, unnecessary reruns of previous series and never completing the series. So instead of donating to PBS, I bought the series. Previous reviewers are correct. The original charm was lost in the end with the gradual removal of key characters and some really contrived story lines. Plus they had to screw around with the morals of Lexi, who was the one true solid character. Too bad, but it was great while it lasted. October 9, 2007

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