'Taggart' had declined quite a bit by this point. There was a feel of it having run out of ideas and had completely lost its spark. Especially in the later Burke period episodes, that suffered further from the shorter lengths. "Fact and Fiction" was one of the Burke period episodes that had a very interesting premise, love any mystery episode set around literature, and seen quite shortly before getting into the Taggart and Jardine eras (and much preferring them on the whole in all honesty).
"Fact and Fiction" however was proof that 'Taggart' did still have some mileage in it and worth sticking with if given a chance. Not a representation of how great the show was in its prime by all means, but there were episodes in the Burke period that were good and even great. As well as ones that grew on me quite a lot on rewatch, "Fact and Fiction" was one of those due to not being as bothered by the obviousness of some of the truth as on first watch.
It isn't perfect. It is too short in length, the latter Burke episodes really did suffer from the lengths being significantly shorter (over half as long) which was a hindrance when having stories that leant themselves much better to two hours.
Like all the later episodes of 'Taggart', what does distract is now rather out of date and not very well fitting music. It was fine in the 80s and 90s and fitted then, at this point it was at odds with the action and like 10 plus years too late. Also did not care for the abruptness of the outcome.
However, there is a good deal to recommend. The photography is both gritty yet moody, very well suited to the story's style, and the location is striking yet suitably unforgiving. The theme tune is hard to forget and still works, it's the background music that doesn't work and there has been nothing held against the theme tune.
From a writing point of view, "Fact and Fiction" has the right amount of entertainment value (the banter) and grit (in the crime solving it doesn't shy away). The story has some dark suspense, is never too simple, with it being very twisty, or too complicated, neither does it come over as too rushed too much (considering the length that's amazing). The truth wasn't a shock, with the who for me being known pretty much as soon as they were introduced which did dilute some of the suspense, but one is kept guessing when it comes to the motive.
Overall, good but not great. 7/10.
"Fact and Fiction" however was proof that 'Taggart' did still have some mileage in it and worth sticking with if given a chance. Not a representation of how great the show was in its prime by all means, but there were episodes in the Burke period that were good and even great. As well as ones that grew on me quite a lot on rewatch, "Fact and Fiction" was one of those due to not being as bothered by the obviousness of some of the truth as on first watch.
It isn't perfect. It is too short in length, the latter Burke episodes really did suffer from the lengths being significantly shorter (over half as long) which was a hindrance when having stories that leant themselves much better to two hours.
Like all the later episodes of 'Taggart', what does distract is now rather out of date and not very well fitting music. It was fine in the 80s and 90s and fitted then, at this point it was at odds with the action and like 10 plus years too late. Also did not care for the abruptness of the outcome.
However, there is a good deal to recommend. The photography is both gritty yet moody, very well suited to the story's style, and the location is striking yet suitably unforgiving. The theme tune is hard to forget and still works, it's the background music that doesn't work and there has been nothing held against the theme tune.
From a writing point of view, "Fact and Fiction" has the right amount of entertainment value (the banter) and grit (in the crime solving it doesn't shy away). The story has some dark suspense, is never too simple, with it being very twisty, or too complicated, neither does it come over as too rushed too much (considering the length that's amazing). The truth wasn't a shock, with the who for me being known pretty much as soon as they were introduced which did dilute some of the suspense, but one is kept guessing when it comes to the motive.
Overall, good but not great. 7/10.
