'Taggart' was at its best during the Taggart/Mark McManus period. The pace was more deliberate but it was highly successful in the suspense and grit departments, Taggart was an interesting character and Dr Stephen Andrews (much missed now) was a bright spot. Like he was in the Jardine/James McPherson period, where one of the joys of that period was the chemistry between Jardine and Reid, where the earlier episodes were generally better than the later ones.
While still watching it, being such a fan of detective/mystery shows and loving it in its prime, 'Taggart' didn't feel the same generally with Burke in charge, and a large part of the problem was that it took quite a while to warm to Burke. The later episodes suffered from their too short length, the increasingly formulaic and sometimes obvious storytelling and too much focus on personal lives (Robbie Ross' unprofessional actions especially). "Watertight" is one of the earliest Burke period episodes, and feel similarly about it than with "Fire, Burn". It is certainly not a bad episode and has a lot of excellent things, but it was another slightly above "left me conflicted" episode.
Starting with the negatives, do think that there was a little too much of Ross and that there could have been more balance with him, the rest of the team and the case. The conclusion didn't have me surprised, let alone floored, and it was another one of those not cooked all the way through ones.
Also feel the team gelled better in the Taggart and Jardine periods, more harmonious and more balanced whereas there could have been more spark here. Some of the pace could have been tighter. Have still not warmed to Burke, still too much of a bully and obnoxious which Alex Norton overacts.
However, "Watertight" has the grittiness and moodiness of the production values just right. It's always great when a town/city/village/house is like a character of its own and it is like that with Glasgow, 'Taggart' never disappointed when it came to that. The moodiness is present in the music and the main theme as always is unforgettable.
Regarding the script, that's intriguing and the case is suitably gritty with enough twists and turns to satisfy. Generally the acting is good, John Michie has the right amount of intensity but Blythe Duff was one of my main reasons for still sticking with 'Taggart' and if there is anything that's difficult to fault here it is she.
In summary, just above average but the quality was generally starting to decline. 6/10
While still watching it, being such a fan of detective/mystery shows and loving it in its prime, 'Taggart' didn't feel the same generally with Burke in charge, and a large part of the problem was that it took quite a while to warm to Burke. The later episodes suffered from their too short length, the increasingly formulaic and sometimes obvious storytelling and too much focus on personal lives (Robbie Ross' unprofessional actions especially). "Watertight" is one of the earliest Burke period episodes, and feel similarly about it than with "Fire, Burn". It is certainly not a bad episode and has a lot of excellent things, but it was another slightly above "left me conflicted" episode.
Starting with the negatives, do think that there was a little too much of Ross and that there could have been more balance with him, the rest of the team and the case. The conclusion didn't have me surprised, let alone floored, and it was another one of those not cooked all the way through ones.
Also feel the team gelled better in the Taggart and Jardine periods, more harmonious and more balanced whereas there could have been more spark here. Some of the pace could have been tighter. Have still not warmed to Burke, still too much of a bully and obnoxious which Alex Norton overacts.
However, "Watertight" has the grittiness and moodiness of the production values just right. It's always great when a town/city/village/house is like a character of its own and it is like that with Glasgow, 'Taggart' never disappointed when it came to that. The moodiness is present in the music and the main theme as always is unforgettable.
Regarding the script, that's intriguing and the case is suitably gritty with enough twists and turns to satisfy. Generally the acting is good, John Michie has the right amount of intensity but Blythe Duff was one of my main reasons for still sticking with 'Taggart' and if there is anything that's difficult to fault here it is she.
In summary, just above average but the quality was generally starting to decline. 6/10
