User Reviews

Actually like 'Taggart' very, very much indeed. Loved it even at its best. If more the earlier episodes (so the Taggart and early Jardine years) than the later years, when the lengths became shorter in particular the show felt well past its sell date unfortunately. "Safer" was not one of my first 'Taggart' episodes watched when first getting into the show (back when the later Burke episodes aired in two parts on weekday afternoons), instead it was seen a couple of years after the show ended.

In a period where 'Taggart' was really starting to run out of ideas, "Safer" is not half bad at all. It is not perfect, or great, or one of the best episodes of the show or from this period, but for very late 'Taggart' the episode is better than most of the other shorter episodes. It turned out to not be too tired or soap operatic and Ross' role is written better than expected. Just wish that it took more risks, was longer and that the music had a revamping of some kind.

"Safer" has a lot that is good. It is well-made visually, with the usual grit and moodiness in the photography. The scenery is both picturesque and unforgiving, The script intrigues, pulls no punches and there is some entertaining banter within the team. The team interaction is always cohesive and there is never a disconnect, with some nice banter and also intensity.

There are some nicely executed twists and turns with the denouement not being foreseeable or obvious too soon. The story does engage enough and doesn't feel too thin. Ross' character writing is interesting, and while his behaviour is unprofessional within the context of his job one doesn't feel that sorry for the rather loathsome person on the receiving end of it. The acting is fine, with a good performance from John Michie.

Did feel however that "Safer" was too short, this was the period where 'Taggart' episode length were a good deal shorter, meaning that nearly all the episodes applicable to this felt too short and rushed and some felt rather tired and predictable.

Perhaps it is a bit too ordinary, as there is not much new here. The music is again, apart from the main theme, at odds with what goes on and sounds twenty years out of date.

On the whole, good if not great. 7/10.