There is a wide range of types of mystery/detective dramas (intellectual, multi-layered, gritty, ones with grit and with doses of comedy and light-hearted). All have worked on the most part, and there are wonderful examples of all of them, which have been mentioned by me quite a number of times. Have been a big fan since for over half my life, my introductions being reading 'And Then There Were None', watching the Agatha Christie adaptations of 'A Murder Is Announced' and 'Sad Cypress' and getting into 'Inspector Morse'.
One of the finest examples for me of the gritty kind is the long-running 'Taggart'. Or at least in its prime years, loved the Mark McManus/Taggart years and a lot of the James MacPherson/Jardine era worked too (can't get enough of the chemistry between Jackie and Jardine). Not so much when Burke was in charge, not because the episodes were bad (some were fine). It just wasn't as gritty or as compelling, some episodes suffered from running out of ideas, not enough grit and surprises as well as later on from too short lengths and feeling rushed and tired. "Long Time Dead" is one of the later episodes of the Jardine era, and among the best ones of the later episodes with him and overall.
Can't really find much to find fault with "Long Time Dead" actually. Perhaps the pace could have been slightly tighter occasionally in the middle.
However, "Long Time Dead's" is never less than absorbing and benefits from some clever plotting, surprising twists and turns and a denouement that was plausible and unexpected. While the pace is less deliberate than the episodes of the Mark McManus period, it doesn't rush through events too much or underdevelop the mystery too much while never feeling dull.
Always get much entertainment and intrigue out of how the team go about solving the crime(s), and the chemistry within the team lifts things even more. The bond between Jackie and Jardine was always a big part of 'Taggart's' success, though would have liked to have seen more of that, and the friendship and conflicts within the whole team are handled well. Robbie is still interesting and has settled well, actually think he settled quicker than Stuart did. The script has grit and provokes though and the murders are suitably not for the faint hearted.
Visually, "Long Time Dead" has style and atmosphere, the scenery not juxtaposing too much with the gritty tone. The music fits well and the theme song is one you hear once and it never leaves the head. The acting is never less than solid, with no complaints to be had with any of the regulars.
In summation, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
One of the finest examples for me of the gritty kind is the long-running 'Taggart'. Or at least in its prime years, loved the Mark McManus/Taggart years and a lot of the James MacPherson/Jardine era worked too (can't get enough of the chemistry between Jackie and Jardine). Not so much when Burke was in charge, not because the episodes were bad (some were fine). It just wasn't as gritty or as compelling, some episodes suffered from running out of ideas, not enough grit and surprises as well as later on from too short lengths and feeling rushed and tired. "Long Time Dead" is one of the later episodes of the Jardine era, and among the best ones of the later episodes with him and overall.
Can't really find much to find fault with "Long Time Dead" actually. Perhaps the pace could have been slightly tighter occasionally in the middle.
However, "Long Time Dead's" is never less than absorbing and benefits from some clever plotting, surprising twists and turns and a denouement that was plausible and unexpected. While the pace is less deliberate than the episodes of the Mark McManus period, it doesn't rush through events too much or underdevelop the mystery too much while never feeling dull.
Always get much entertainment and intrigue out of how the team go about solving the crime(s), and the chemistry within the team lifts things even more. The bond between Jackie and Jardine was always a big part of 'Taggart's' success, though would have liked to have seen more of that, and the friendship and conflicts within the whole team are handled well. Robbie is still interesting and has settled well, actually think he settled quicker than Stuart did. The script has grit and provokes though and the murders are suitably not for the faint hearted.
Visually, "Long Time Dead" has style and atmosphere, the scenery not juxtaposing too much with the gritty tone. The music fits well and the theme song is one you hear once and it never leaves the head. The acting is never less than solid, with no complaints to be had with any of the regulars.
In summation, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
