I watched two episodes of this on my Roku Box the other night because I love stories about Scotland. I love the scenery, the accents, the culture, the mythology, you name it. With "Monarch..." the concept intrigued me: A restaurateur heads home to take care of the family estate. And what an estate it is, complete with castle, Land Rovers, pristine mountain lake, snow covered highlands, wildlife, thick forests, dirt roads. The setting itself has kind of a fantasy feel to it, as if it exists outside of modern times.
And that's why the show doesn't get any more than 7 stars from me. In the first two episodes it can't seem to decide whether it wants to be reality-based or fantasy-based. Nor is it completely sure it wants to be a comedy or a drama. It's somewhere in between on both counts. The situations in which the characters find themselves are a bit far-fetched, and the resolutions that follow occur without a great deal of foundation. They just sort of happen, as if on cue.
That said, the show has a great feel and look to it, and the characters are fun to be with.
And that's why the show doesn't get any more than 7 stars from me. In the first two episodes it can't seem to decide whether it wants to be reality-based or fantasy-based. Nor is it completely sure it wants to be a comedy or a drama. It's somewhere in between on both counts. The situations in which the characters find themselves are a bit far-fetched, and the resolutions that follow occur without a great deal of foundation. They just sort of happen, as if on cue.
That said, the show has a great feel and look to it, and the characters are fun to be with.