Rating: 
Summary: Real People - Real Places
Review: A breath of fresh air. Plots and sub-plots. People and their strengths and frailities. Real people. The kind of project in its fifth year that could go on forever. I (and my wife) have seen the first four years twice. It grows and changes just like the characters and their relationships. Blood is thicker than water. Love grows. And love and involvements are presented in a natural manner that gives it a PG rating if such were to be applied. After our second trip around we watched Pride and Prejudice (BBC Version) and also the US Version from 1940. The British have a way of telling their stories differently. And delightfully. Enjoy and buy the whole series on DVD when released. The characters only get better. I would consider it an honor to be a part of a series such as this. Taste, I believe is the word to apply. And honesty and integrity.
Rating:
Summary: Only the American edition lets you see the full old glory
Review: Beautiful series. Magical scenery, deeply evocative musical score, characters you can actually care about, and often-sentimental scripts which, even so, are well on the safe side of mawkish or cloying. This is classic "mood" television; even when you become sick of the storylines, the scenery and the music will bring you back to your favourite episodes time and time again. From episode one onwards, it's clear that this is a programme made with heart, as well as style.Whilst it is true that, currently, Series 1-4 are available in the UK on DVD and Series 1 is also available in Australia, this US Region 1 DVD release is the only edition worldwide to give viewers an anamorphic widescreen image. The UK and Australian discs crop/zoom the original 16:9 image to a 4:3 screen, thereby cheating viewers of the full beauty of the cinematography of this series. Even the possible issue of PAL-to-NTSC conversion artefacts with a R1 disc of a BBC series seems a risk well worth taking, and in the event the picture here is beautiful, sharp, clear and very watchable. Nice one, BBC America. Let's see the rest of the show soon on your DVD schedule, because you're the only ones in the world doing it 100% right where it counts. I've paused my "Monarch" collecting to wait for you. :)
Rating:
Summary: The Best British (or American) TV Show - EVER!
Review: Great TV starts here! This show has everything for everyone. The stories make you laugh or cry, and the actors are genuine and talanted, not to mention very good looking, especially Archie. The filming locations are absolutely breath taking, and the show is addicting - literally. Watching it once makes you want to move to the Scottish highlands. This DVD also features, besides all the Season 1 episodes, some amazing special features, like information on the cast.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Program
Review: Having known about this fabulous series program for the last three years I was extremely frustrated to find that it was not shown in the USA until late 2002 and into 2003 by BBC America and then PBS. What a shame it hasn't been promoted more!It's an A-1 production all round.
I bought the VHS tapes as soon as they were available in NTSC format and when the DVD version (US version) came out I bought that too. Unfortunately only Series One is available in the USA.
While the other reviews presented here on Amazon are spot on for describing the show I would only add one thing: A Strong recommenation to BUY! This is a must have DVD for your DVD library!
I sure hope that Amazon will make the rest of the Monarch of The Glen series available to us on DVD very soon! Series 2 through 5 are currently available in the UK and Australia. Come on Amazon, we want them too! Series 6 will be airing in the UK later this year, with the DVD to follow shortly.
Rating:
Summary: An absolute treat
Review: I stumbled across this show on our library's DVD shelf, and I'm hooked. It's a winner in every way. The scenery of the Scottish highlands is unbelievably gorgeous (the first-rate cinematography will do wonders for the Scottish tourism industry!). The characters are layered and REAL ... no cardboard sitcom types in sight. Like all great TV shows, the characters find their way into your heart and stay there, so much so that you feel you know them. Even Justine, Archie's chilly London girlfriend, eventually earned a place in my affection (though not nearly so much as the feisty Katrina and the effervescent Lexie.) Best of all, the scripts are terrific. They can best be described as comedy, though there are moments of real pathos woven throughout (as in the third episode, when a family tragedy from the past is revealed). The parent-child relationship between Archie and his parents, especially his addled and irascible father, is so authentic and well-developed. Some episodes on the DVD are more memorable than others; the episode in which Archie's sister comes home, for example, didn't have quite the same sparkle as the others. But it's all relative, and even the least memorable of the eight episodes is leagues beyond what you'll find when you switch on an American sitcom. I've never laughed so hard at a TV show as I did in Episode Two, when Duncan did his Braveheart-style attack on the banker who was trying to muscle in on his girl ... but I'll stop there. Do yourself a favor, pay a visit to Glenbogle, and see for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable
Review: I was very enthralled with this DVD. Having heard about it, I wanted to watch the show on BBC, but, hate starting in the midst of an on-going program. I used the 2 DVD set to get me started in the series. Now, I can't wait to see the 2nd year. Quirky and intelligent, it does draw you into Archie's dilema of chosing between his set upon course in life, and that thrown to him just as he was getting his dream going. You are also taken by the various cast of characters - some predictable, but all interesting to meet. There is definitely fertile ground for future stories. I may even take a go at the books upon which this series has been based - but, not before I see the rest of the episodes!
Rating:
Summary: Utterly charming
Review: Monarch of the Glen is an utterly charming, if no doubt somewhat fanciful, depiction of modern life in the Highlands. Each actor plays his/her role to perfection with never a wrong note. While poking fun at Scottish life and customs, it is never mean. The scenery, both natural and human is quite lovely, indeed. My only complaint is that we are unable to get the other seasons in the US at this time! Bring on more Monarch of the Glen.
Rating:
Summary: Winning television-program on a finely produced DVD...
Review: Monarch of the Glen is one of the more charming television series to come out of the UK. It follows the troubles and tribulations of the MacDonald clan, who's young laird, Archie, has been put in charge of leading the family estate out of debt. It's not as easy as it sounds, as Archie not only tries to balance the wishes of his mother and father with the agendas of the the estate's workers, but most also choose between his life in London with restaurateur business partner Justine, or live in Glenbogle with the mysterious Katrina. The locations are beautiful, the writing top-notch, and the performances are a delight to watch. Alastair Mackenzie is the center of the ensemble as Laird Archie, but is nicely rounded out by the other performers, the most outstanding in this first series being Dawn Steele as the feisty cook, Lexie, and Hamish Clark as the bumbling handyman, Duncan. The 2-Disc DVD presentation of the first series is just as well-produced as the program the discs hold. The picture is spot-less with little noticeable PAL-to-NTSC conversion artifacts, and is presented in 16x9 enhanced wide-screen looking far better than the show has aired on BBC America or PBS. The 2.0 sound mix is clear and dialogue is always intelligible. There is little in the way of extras, simply cast biographies and a six minute excerpt from BBC series "Holiday" about the locations that Monarch uses and brief interviews with the actors. If you're looking for an American program to compare this to the closest that I could point you to is "Ed," but even then, Ed is never as good-natured and beautifully produced as this fine Scottish gem. Most definitely recommended.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best TV series ever
Review: Okay, I always find it amusing how only a complete synopsis "review" is deemed as "helpful to you". Fine. Anyone can summarise. But what does that art MEAN to you? This series means much to me and my partner. I have been Anglophilic for much of my life. I've never experienced such a combination of subtly complex acting, photography, and script. The product is a thing of beauty that, as usual, American television has no idea how to produce. I gave up on our TV years ago. Beautiful DVD copy, nice clear picture and sound. And this is one series where I couldn't care less about the "extras"- it's that good. No one has mentioned the music. This has to be one of the many elements that glues this series together, yet stands completely on its own. I can't wait to own the soundtrack as well as the series. If you enjoy anything Scottish/Irish, you'll certainly find the music immensely satisfying. Perfectly blended with the action. I've seen 3 of the 5 years available, and it only gets better! Unfortunately, this is all we have so far, series 1.
One has to get BBC America, typically, to see the series. Our local station has discontinued running it. Alas, I now feel the same way I did when I had to finish "Lord of the Rings", and say goodbye to characters I had grown to know and love deeply. In the meantime, go join your local PBS television station, and support these programs being here in the U.S. You'll no doubt find even more than "Monarch" that you'll love.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best TV series ever
Review: Okay, I always find it amusing how only a complete synopsis "review" is deemed as "helpful to you". Fine. Anyone can summarise. But what does that art MEAN to you? This series means much to me and my partner. I have been Anglophilic for much of my life. I've never experienced such a combination of subtly complex acting, photography, and script. The product is a thing of beauty that, as usual, American television has no idea how to produce. I gave up on our TV years ago. Beautiful DVD copy, nice clear picture and sound. And this is one series where I couldn't care less about the "extras"- it's that good. No one has mentioned the music. This has to be one of the many elements that glues this series together, yet stands completely on its own. I can't wait to own the soundtrack as well as the series. If you enjoy anything Scottish/Irish, you'll certainly find the music immensely satisfying. Perfectly blended with the action. I've seen 3 of the 5 years available, and it only gets better! Unfortunately, this is all we have so far, series 1.
One has to get BBC America, typically, to see the series. Our local station has discontinued running it. Alas, I now feel the same way I did when I had to finish "Lord of the Rings", and say goodbye to characters I had grown to know and love deeply. In the meantime, go join your local PBS television station, and support these programs being here in the U.S. You'll no doubt find even more than "Monarch" that you'll love.
| 
