Customer Reviews

Hamish MacBeth: Series 1-3 Collection

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

We purchased this series on a leap of faith, never having seen a single episode, but having enjoyed "Ballykissangel" and "Monarch of the Glen". "Hamish" is different though. For instance, there's usually a mystery that needs to be solved by the main character, and while often humerous and lighthearted, it takes a few darker turns than the other two series I mentioned. If you're expecting the main character to be something of a Barney Fife because of the small town setting, you'll be disappointed. He's actually complex and flawed, which for me adds to the interest. The main characters are very engaging and it's fun watching them evolve. The scenary is beautiful as you'd imagine, but it's really the characters that sucked us in. We had a hard time taking breaks between episodes, always finding an excuse to watch just one more. Even our nine-year old son loves them. It's a shame the series was relatively short-lived, but they did a nice job with character development over the course of three short seasons. A word of caution though - keep the remote handy to play scenes back as the dialogue can be difficult to follow at times due to the accents, and the often complex story lines can be tough to follow if you don't understand some key exchanges. Robert Carlyle fans will enjoy seeing this example of his work prior to his starring roles on the big screen.

A true gem. Robert Carlyle shines as the unassuming constable of Lochdubh village, surrounded by an unknown (at least on this side of the pond) yet very capable cast of richly developed and surprising characters. Quality entertainment with a charming Scottish twist of British humor.

The series is LOOSELY based upon the mystery books by MC Beaton, a few parallels can be drawn but its not a series of sleuthing police mysteries. Quite the opposite: Hamish is well aware of how competent police work brings the wrong sort of attention to his comfortable corner of western Scotland. The sort that would mean notice from the big city departments, promotions, and moving back to the hustle and bustle of urban policing.

And the townsfolk are quite anxious to ensure Hamish gets to stay exactly where he is, they remember too well The Man Before The Man Before MacBeth with the endless nuisances committed upon their fair village, they would much prefer to keep things as they are just now, thank you very much.

From the curious theft of almost a hundred-weight of table salt at the local grocery (and not a drop of whiskey was stolen, how odd) to the football match that empties the entire town (will the last person leaving Lochdubh please switch off the lights) every show is a delightful and smart spotlight on life in a small isolated community at its best.

This charming tv show about the village of Lochdoubh, Scotland is a bit like Brigadoon. If you are a big fan of the books by M.C. Beaton, you will be pleased with Hamish, played by Robert Carlyle. However, many of the characters are new to Lochdoubh and are not in the books. Two new, and quite good ones, are Lachlan McCrae and son.

Season 1: (5 episodes) The Great Lochdubh Salt Robbery, A Pillar of the Community, The Big Freeze, Wee Jock's Lament. and A Bit of an Epic.

Season 2: (6 episodes) A Perfectly Simple Explanation, In Search of a Rose, Isobel Pulls it Off, Radio Lochdubh, No Man is an Island, The Lochdubh Deluxe

Season 3: (8 episodes) The Honorable Policeman, Deferred Sentence, The Lochdubh Assassin, The Good Thief, The Trouble with Rory, More than a Game, Destiny (Part 1), Destiny (Part 2)

I was totally surprised by the quality of the series. Robert Carlyle fits the role of Police Constable Hamish Macbeth. This is one of those series that eclipses its original book series, being M.C. Beatons classic Hamish Macbeth. Though not faithful to the book series, the BBC Scotland production pulls you into the wonderful world of Lochdubh, Scotland. The cast draws from some of the best of British/Scottish actors and actresses. What Doc Martin does for England, Ballykissangel for Ireland, Hamish Macbeth gives you a look Scotland from a Highlander point of view. I highly recommend the series to anyone that loves romantic drama and comedy outside the norm. Cheers

I am so very very glad that this series was finally released on DVD in North America. And while I've just ordered the 3-series set, I've seen many of the episodes courtesy of a friend in Canada who sent me VHS tapes recorded off TV.

The Hamish Macbeth series is not about a law enforcement officer in a small Scottish town. Rather, it's a series about a person who lives in a small Scottish town who "happens" to be a law enforcement officer. In short, the series endeavors to explore Macbeth as a man who lives in a small town and wants to continue living there ... with the ever-present knowledge that his accomplishments as a law enforcement officer, if noticed by "upper" authorities, could lead to a transfer elsewhere.

The series, therefore, does not dwell so much on the mysteries he has to solve (though he does solve them) as much as it does on the eccentricities of small town living and the effect of these eccentricities on the man assigned to keep order there (as well as those he calls his friends and neighbors). It is a rare police-related series that is highly character driven ... with one of the characters being the fictional village, Lochdubh, where the action takes place.

Sadly, it only lasted for 3 seasons ... and even then, encompassed only 20 episodes total. But they are 20 episodes worth seeing over and over again.

My wife and I were introduced to this series by a friend who also has a Westie in her family, and we quickly became addicted. While the dog Jock actually plays a relatively minor part in the series, we became entranced by the characters, the scenery, the humor, and, not least, the love story that gives this series a really special quality. In addition to a great series of performances by Robert Carlyle, Shirley Henderson turns in an outstanding performance as Isobel. The rest of the cast is also excellent. After watching the series, the one M.C. Beaton book I read was quite a disappointment.

Any fan of Hamish MacBeth would delight in this product. The scenery itself is worth it.

I have read several of the Hamish Macbeth books, but I had never heard of
the television series until I found it on Netflix. I liked the book series
so I thought I would give it a try and I have to say that I LOVE it. I am
going slowly because there are only three seasons and I just can't bear to
have it end! In fact, I read one of the books recently, and I found it
irritating because I like the dvd's so much better. Did Ms. Beaton have
anything to do with the script of this production? I would love to know.

I can't remember how I stumbled across this series, but am VERY glad that I did. It is comedy; it is drama. It is thoroughly enjoyable, having great humor, excellent characters and character development.

A small town policeman Hamish Macbeth (Police Constable, or "P.C. Macbeth" in the Scottish vernacular) is set in a small Highland town of fierce loyalties. As capable of bending a law as he is of enforcing it, Hamish is actually quite a sharp detective, but busily hides it because he ardently desires to avoid ANY notice from the higher ups. Credit for his crime-solving abilities would mean unwanted attention. That would eventually mean a transfer out of the BEAUTIFUL Highland community where he has become an essential part of the close-knit fabric of this small town. The antics with which he manages to solve local crimes and do justice for his community--without garnering any credit--is an integral part of this series' humor, though plenty of comedy is also mined elsewhere throughout.

Hamish is also a flawed character, making him seem much more real, more down to earth. He is capable of deeply feeling guilt when his actions, though well intentioned, cause harm. On the whole, his flaws make him much more likeable. These flaws are not overdone, and certainly make him more realistic than the portrayal of an unflawed palladin would have done. We get an intimate look at the eccentricities, integrity and honor of the title character throughout the series, and he measures up as a man of character and honor despite his flaws.

I also loved the townsfolk. This show, like the Canadian series, "Corner Gas," exhibits wonderful local color that is characteristic of ANY small town, regardless of continent and culture. In both of these series, despite having grown up on another continent or in another country--I KNOW and grew up with these people!

I loved pretty much everything in "Hamish Macbeth." I loved the Scottish accents and customs that come through in the Series. I loved the humor and the characters. I loved the strong loyalties of the characters for their town and for each other--especially the steadfast loyalty of Hamish's right-hand man. Of keen interest through the series is a love triangle with a dramatic resolution and double climax. I appreciated the character development, which was pretty good for a short-lived series of only 3 seasons. (Perhaps the best compliment is that I DEARLY wish it could have been longer, but Robert Carlyle, the actor playing the title character, was clearly off to bigger and better things.)

In fact, my ONLY criticisms are for what was left OUT of the DVD set. There is no way to turn captions on from the DVD. The Scottish accents are pretty thick to unaccustomed American ears, and those who have trouble hearing accents will miss large amounts of dialogue. However, if your TV has a Closed Captioning setting, there ARE CC codes within the signal itself, so this defect can be gotten around by turning on Closed Captioning from your TV's settings. My only MAJOR criticism though, is of the DISC SET and NOT of the series itself. An episode, "West Coast Story," which should have been Season 1, episode 4, was left out of the first season's discs. (What were they THINKING?!!) I would normally have wanted to deduct about 1/2 a star for the CC difficulty and TWO stars for the missing episode but I couldn't bear to give it less than 4 stars because I enjoyed the series SO much. The series itself would get a solid 5 stars from me.

I heartily recommend this series. As soon as I am able, I plan to dive into M.C. Beaton's books which inspired it.

I came across this series by accident, while watching a "Monarch of the Glen" DVD. I was intrigued enough not only to invest in the disks, but to read the books as well. I am pleased I did both. Marion Chesney, the Scottish born writer behind the M.C. Beaton pseudonym, has been delighting her readers with the highly addictive Hamish MacBeth mysteries since 1985. Hamish is the likable, but lazy and devoid of ambition bobby in the village of Lochdubh (pron: loch-doo). His keen mind and vast knowledge of local characters make him an effective crime fighter. However, he goes into much trouble hiding the fact from his superiors, in fear he'd be promoted out of the village he loves and considers his home. Whenever I recommend this series to someone, I am often asked these two questions:

-How does the series compare to the books?
Because of time restraints a series puts on a script, it is natural that some adjustments must be made. So, do not expect this to be a faithful adaptation. The huge advantage of the series is the generous inclusion of beautiful Scottish scenery. There is very little prose in the books that refers directly to nature, whereas in the series nature has been elevated almost to a status of a lead character. Smart (and satisfying to the viewer) move! You might find however, that a favourite human character of yours has been eliminated. But, there are a few delightful additions that I think adequately make up for the loss. The treatment of the character of Hamish MacBeth does pain me though. I find him not at all as likable in the series as he is in the books. For that reason alone, I give the series 3.5 stars.

-How does the series compare to "Midsomer Murders"?
Well, for one, it takes place entirely in Scotland, rather then England. It is much more "brow", then "high"; there are no fiscally wealthy characters here. However, when it comes to the wealth of their feelings for their village, Scotland, and one another, the eccentric Lochdubh bunch can give Midsomer inhabitants a run for their money. "Hamish MacBeth" is not only a mytery drama, but a romance as well. There is a lot of attention paid to the love lives of Hamish and the supporting characters. Last, but not least, the body count is decidedly lesser. Sometimes, there are no bodies at all and murders are prevented all together, or are solved before they happen (yep...).

Whether you view the series as a stand alone work, or as a companion to the books, you are bound to appreciate the light entertainment value it provides!

Enjoy!