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: Charming, Sentimental, Inspiring!
Review: Television shows that can truly warm the heart are hard to find nowadays yet, thanks to the BBC, we now have a stunning example of one that most assuredly can. Monarch of the Glen, whilst probably best described as a drama, is in reality a cleverly constructed blend of drama, romance and, of course, humour. And by humour I do not mean of the American sit-com style (no offence), but rather a charming comedy with formidable wit and an acute sense of irony. This style of comedy is Britain's gift to the world, and it especially suits the British, Irish and Australian sense of humour. Nevertheless, the show is very well written, and its comic undertones should be easily spotted by most viewers. The show itself is centred around Archie MacDonald, Laird of Glenbogle (and, in the 2nd series, Chief of Clan MacDonald), who abandons his London lifestyle to return to his ancestral home in the West Highlands of Scotland. Indeed, it is this conflict that forms the basis of this 1st season and, although Archie ultimately chooses to stay with his family and kinsmen in the glen, he at times appears to yearn for his former life on the Thames. This homesick-whist-at-home contradiction serves to make Archie a complex yet accessible character, at times unsure of where he truly belongs. Add romantic intrigue, and some genuinely lovable supporting characters, and you have in essence the simple brilliance of this show. Of the support characters, for me the standouts must surely be the ever bushy-tailed Lexie, the delightfully dotty Molly (Susan Hampshire at her most winsome), and that dependable old highlander, Golly MacKenzie. As a series, Monarch of the Glen possesses a charm rarely found on modern television and, whilst the mood is for the most part light and funny, many scenes are surprisingly moving. The emphasis on clanship and the bonds of family and homeland are unashamedly sentimental, and the ruggedly beautiful highland landscape is simply breath-taking. Conversation between the characters is superbly constructed and, beneath the pleasantries and somewhat misleading appearance of landed gentry, lays the reality of simple, kind-hearted folk, bound together by loyalty and love for one another. A witty, charming, and heart-warming show, Monarch of the Glen stands as a rare gem in comparison to the formulaic and rigidly structured nature of modern television. It is also presented here on a brilliant DVD, with the widescreen transfer displaying the luscious landscapes of the Scottish Highlands in majestic style. The Dolby Stereo soundtrack is also well mastered and proves more than adequate, as well as being a vast improvement over the audio transfer on the UK Disc.
Rating:
Summary: Can't we go any higher than five?!
Review: There are too few words in the English language to describe this show. The scenery is gorgeous, the cast is top-notch, the plot is engaging, the music is inspiring...and best of all, the show has been recorded to DVD in its entirety, not cut down as it's been to air on BBC America to allow for commercials. If you've ever seen the show on BBCA before, would you believe they hack out about 14 minutes worth of the show ON AVERAGE for commercials? There are many precious scenes -- some essential to your understanding of the storyline, some just plain funny or touching -- that you WILL see if you spend the money on this DVD collection. Disc two has all the extras on it: cast bios, British trailers for the show and a short "Making of Monarch" documentary filmed for British TV. If you even remotely enjoy the show, this set is worth the money. My only complaint is the ENORMOUSLY long waiting period fans have had to endure before the release of the show on DVD...Series One was filmed back in 1999. Over in the UK, they have recently enjoyed the release of series FOUR on DVD this past year. Waiting (not so) patiently for the release of Series Two in May.....
Rating:
Summary: Can't we go any higher than five?!
Review: This is a smart and wonderful TV series. I was hooked from the first episode. Clean, funny and brilliant!
Rating:
Summary: Smart and Wonderful
Review: This is a smart and wonderful TV series. I was hooked from the first episode. Clean, funny and brilliant!
Rating:
Summary: As good a British sitcom as you're likely to see
Review: This is an utterly charming romantic sitcom set in a beautiful old castle in the Scottish highlands. The acting is superb, the characters are mostly extremely likeable (with a couple of jerks thrown in just to make it interesting) and the accents are not impossible to understand as is unfortunately true with some British tv. This show carries on the standards of such wonderful shows as "Good Neighbors" and "To the Manor Born." Actually it's pretty much the same plot as "Manor" except this time it's told from the Laird's point of view. Pretty darn wonderful.
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