User Reviews

One of the better TAGGART episodes with Mark McManus on form as the detective who is confronted with a strange case of a former hit man who was once a friend coming out of jail and finding his trademark crimes are starting all over again. Has Jimmy Catto (an excellent turn by Shakespearean actor Ian Hogg) got up to his old tricks or is this a frameup? The only thing that lets this episode down (which is why the low score) is one of the performers plays the whole thing like a stage performance, shouting every line as if to a gallery and enunciating every vowel. The director should have been more forceful or the part should have been recast. I won't say who it is, but watch it for 10 minutes and you'll notice.

Have always adored detective dramas/mystery series. This has been apparent from an early age, half my life even, when getting into Agatha Christie through Joan Hickson's Miss Marple and David Suchet's Poirot and into 'Inspector Morse'.

Whether it's the more complex ones like 'Inspector Morse' (and its prequel series 'Endeavour') and anything Agatha Christie. Whether it's the grittier ones like 'A Touch of Frost' (though that is balanced brilliantly with comedy too). And whether it's the light-hearted ones like 'Murder She Wrote'. 'Taggart' is one of the biggest examples of the grittier ones, especially the Mark McManus years and the earlier James MaPherson episodes.

"The Hit Man" is a wonderful episode, for me it's one of the show's best. What made 'Taggart' such a good show when it was in its prime is evident here. The characterisation here is meatier than seen pre-Jardine era, therefore more interesting with more development to Taggart and everything here just works.

Really like the slick, gritty look and Glasgow is like an ominous character on its own. The music matches the show's tone and has a good amount of atmosphere while the theme song/tune is one that stays in the memory for a long time. Really like Taggart and Jardine's chemistry here, which sees some priceless exchanges with them, and have always found it more interesting and settled than with Taggart and Livingstone. The relationship between Jardine and Reid is also blossoming nicely, showing promising signs as to why it was one of the best things about the era when Jardine was in charge.

As to be expected, "The Hit Man" is thoughtfully scripted with nothing ridiculous happening and things being taken seriously without being too morose. The story is involving in its complexity and intricacy with nothing being what it seems, making the most of the long length (have generally found the 2000s episodes too short and rushed) without padding anything out. Some parts are not for the faint hearted, but nothing feels gratuitous and the investigations are compelling and with enough twists to stop it from being obvious. The ending is one of the show's cleverest and most tense, one doesn't expect it, and and there is a constant sense of unease.

Good acting helps, with Mark McManus being a suitably tough and blunt presence throughout and James MacPherson being every bit his equal. Blythe Duff continues to impress and a softened Iain Anders indeed comes into his own. Robert Robertson as ever steals scenes. Ian Hogg agreed is indeed brilliant.

Overall, one of the best 'Taggart' episodes. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Somewhat promising story which was stretched out far too long with some loose ends. Actually we find the later, shorter series much more believable and we'll written. The Hit Man ending was very silly and unrealistic. One wonders if the writer and director watch the finished product. As an aside, how would a person imprisoned for four murders be released from prison?