Monarch of the Glen: The Complete Series One

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.

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.....

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.