Customer Reviews

Monarch of the Glen - Series Six

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Okay, I have been a Monarch fan for some time and I must tell you up front I love the original Monarch characters. I really miss Hector and Killwillie. Weren't you getting tired of Lexi in Series 5? They had done everything they could do with her character and if they were smart they would have shipped her and Archie off together to live happily ever after and raise some baby lairds. Unfortunately, the writers turned our beloved Lexi into a harpie by having her make out with her brother in law, Paul, as Molly watches. This scene really made my skin crawl. How about a little honor in the Highlands? This really sullied the characters of Lexi and Paul. Anyway, this season pretty well purges the old Monarch cast with the exception of Golly and Molly. It still didn't make sense to get rid of Duncan. And the way they did it was awful. He didn't even have a heart to heart with Jess before he left. The real Duncan could never do that to a pal. If they would have kept Duncan around at least Golly would have had someone to talk too. Keep in mind that this is not the Old Monarch that we are used to. There are plenty of new characters and it gives us a chance to see Glenbogle in a new light. I know I was getting bored with the bitter, business woman/laird Lexi. They sucked all the fun out of her character once she got married. Anyway, this season is a refreshing change and Uncle Donald (from Dr. Who) is every bit as eccentric as his brother Hector. If you are a die hard Monarch fan I would purchase this item. Keep in mind this isn't like any of the past series and all your old friends have left. But the new tenants of Glenbogle did keep me watching. Hey BBC, how about a Christmas at Glenbogle with all our old pals returning for a family friendly holiday season?

When Monarch was in its earlier seasons, or series as the British call them, the characters were warm, funny, and endearing. As the series progressed, we grew to love the zany antics of Duncan and Hector, watched Archie come to grips with his family and their situation, and all were very entertaining. Slowly, each of the principles took their leave, and new characters were introduced to fill the gaps. The problem with this was that by the time they reached Series Six, there were only a couple of original characters left and the magic was gone. I knew it was over for me when they showed the phoney glint off Lexie's diamond wedding ring at the end of Series Four, while she was sweetly dancing with Archie. Then and there the shark was being jumped...too bad. It was great while it lasted, but when the main characters left, they should have stopped production.

I have been a fan of 'Monarch' for many years and still am. However, like many I prefer the earlier episodes. Why? Well, for me there are not enough cheerful Scots in the present series. At times 'Monarch' could be set in the Lake district! Lloyd Owen is excellent but he is very English both in accent and attitude, fair enough but the surrounding cast are universally mournful and the only one with any flair is Tom Baker, also English! Where is the enjoyable sparring of Hector and Kilwillie, the earthy attraction of Lexy, the sheer unbridled enthusiasm of Duncan? If a series is set in Scotland, particullarly one which plays up the romance of the Highlands, then lets have some tartan happiness and daftness and less English melancholy. The presence of Alexander Morton and Susan Hampshire ensure some continuity but the happy eccentricities of Hector, Duncan and Lexy are sorely missed. Still a wonderfully entertaining series but not as enjoyable.

I've been watchig Monach of the Glen on BBCA but would only get to see bits and pieces. By ordering the seasons of the show, I was able to see how the charactors I knew and how they evolve. I just loved the story lines and the history and the conpanionship of the entire group.
By season six, some of the charactors had moved on, some new ones had been introduced and people like "Golly" are forever part of the show.
Love the show, but knowing I have only one more season makes me sad.

Series 6 had some negative reports largely based on the changing charactors and themes. I found that it did indeed lack some of the spark from the original cast we had all grown to love, however the new charactors offered some additionl flavor. The elements of the series that have made it great remain. New scenes and locations were introduced and we see different sides to the old charactors that are consistent with the ageing process. As Americans we may not have the patience for reality seeping into our ideal world - but I appreciate a series with the courage to deal with these subjects. I found the DVD quality of series one through three poor but this has been corrected in the Series six copy.

With series 6, the show continues what I feel is a gradual slide downward. Gone is the good natured humor and sense of "place" that made the first few seasons so special. Now, we're subjected to an hour of bickering and all-too-predictable misunderstandings and jealousy on top of continual romantic musical chairs.

Is there any place in the world that really has only unmarried people on the lookout for love? EVERYONE in the series now is single (and most are young and trim: no middle aged or heavy set people -- except those who serve as the comic relief and buffoons -- no happily married couples, no children, no community life.

And people sure do get over lost loves REAL fast! I thought Archie was fickle, but fist Golly is deeply dedicated and in love with Molly, then --in two episodes -- it's Meg. Paul loves Lex, then Isabel, then Susan. Jess forgets Duncan real fast when someone new appears.

Everytime a new character is introduced, you can spot immediately that he/she will be someone's love interest! Remember the show Hamish MacBeth? The variety of characters there was so much more interesting and 'real.'

Also, there is a complete lack of logic in the storylines. This HUGE estate, which is apparently involved in everything from raising wolves to offering an 'activity center', has almost no staff and no one seems to work!

Finally, the show has become, for the most part, "generic" in locale. Gone is the glimpse into Scottish clan life and history (hardly anyone even wears a kilt anymore!). Gone are the pipes and the "feel" of the country. Change their names from MacDonald to O'Reilly or Le Clerc and you'd never tell the difference.

Still, the show has its moments and I continue to watch in hopes that it will regain some of its past allure. And of course, I watch to see glorious shots of beautiful country and to listen to the most marvelous accents!

I fell in love with this show from the first time I saw it. I have to admit the transition from Archie to Paul was hard for me, but after watching a few episodes where Paul was the main lead, he began to grow on me. Now that this is the last series, I will miss both Archie AND Paul. This is a great show, and one not to me missed. Don't believe the reviews that tell you Series 6-7 are not as good as the first ones. It just takes a little adjustment, but everything that you loved about the first 5 series is still in 6-7.

My wife and I got hooked on this BBC series whilst living in England for a couple of years. Now we, and our daughter, are devout viewers and anxiously await Series Seven.

The final season of Monarch of The Glen isn't as good as the first three when Hector was still alive, but it is still better than most anything available on broadcast TV.

Not as good as the first five series, but it still has the same humor. I would recommend getting these series to anyone. I prefer Lloyd Owen in the title role, and I didn't see the point of having Lexie randomly in a few episodes.