Taggart (TV Series) Fire, Burn (2002) User Reviews

Taggart blows up a factory.

[bethwilliam · 6/10 · 19 March 2008]

In the opening scene we see an arsonist setting fire to a clothing factory late at night. The prime suspect soon becomes the manufacturer's competitor - Scott Dewar.

However, the main story line centers on Jackie Reid's crumbling marriage to DCS Brian Holmes. Jackie is still coming to terms with Michael Jardine's death and she is starting to question her commitment to the job. It doesn't help that her new boss, DCI Matt Burke, is a bully and completely insensitive to her needs.

Meanwhile Maureen Wishart asks her friend, Det. Supt. Valerie Patterson, for assistance in finding her husband. By coincidence he works for Scott Dewar and has a background in explosives. We spend much of the episode wondering if the body found in the burnt out building is that of the missing man.

This is a reasonable episode of Taggart. However, I do wonder if the producers understand how difficult it is to hold onto a title long after the leading character has gone to his maker. Added to that we have also lost Dr. Stephen Andrews without so much as a "thank you mother for the rabbits." Blythe Duff puts in a brilliant performance. This girl can act! However Kate Donnelly is really quite appalling as the scheming bitch. I have seen park benches act better.

One fire burn that doesn't blaze enough

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 10 July 2019]

For years now, 'Taggart' has been one of the shows frequently watched and re-visited by me. Not all the episodes do it for me, and the Taggart and Jardine episodes are better by quite some way than most of the Burke ones (especially the later ones). But when 'Taggart' was good, which it was for primarily the Taggart period, it was brilliant. If being introduced to the show, it's the Taggart period especially that should be your introduction as it is a much better indicator of its appeal than the more frequently aired Burke episodes.

This, "Fire, Burn", is the first episode to properly show Burke in charge and the first one to not feature Jardine after his death in the previous episode "Death Trap". There are a lot of things to like about it, and its best qualities are excellently done, but my thoughts on it overall are only just above mixed and part of me did feel like it could have been much better. Considering the new teaming, major changes to anything always intrigue on paper, and that the idea for the story was so good.

Will start with "Fire, Burn's" good things. It looks great, the show's grit and style hasn't been lost. Have always loved the gritty, like-a-character-of-its-own Scottish setting, the moody colour palette that adds to the grit and the slick photography. The music fits well and doesn't intrude or feel dull, while the theme song is not one to forget. The script is crisp and intriguing enough, while the case generally absorbs and has the right amount of grit and tautness and the team work has intriguing moments. Jackie's subplot is heartfelt and while it is focused on a fair bit it didn't feel like it dominated too much, it balances with the case well.

Blythe Duff is agreed absolutely terrific, was never disappointed by her in previous and succeeding episodes either and have always found her one of the consistent great things about 'Taggart'. Really did feel for her. Generally was fine with the acting, though nobody else to me was in the same ball park as Duff.

Did feel that "Fire, Burn" had its (quite big) issues. Still think very negatively of Burke, his insensitive attitude is taken too far and he comes over as too much of an abrasive, obnoxious bully portrayed with no sense of subtlety or nuance by Alex Norton. Agree as well as Kate Donnelly is a complete dead-weight as a character one dislikes from the start with that feeling increasing.

Case grips generally, but it could have gotten going quicker and the conclusion was on the under-cooked side. The team work doesn't have the same spark or as much cohesion as before, with the animosity between Jackie and Burke being focused on a little too much. It is sad too that Dr Andrews' absence is noticed and deeply felt, with no sense of acknowledgement (with him being a show bright spot it's rather criminal).

Overall, a bit mixed here. 6/10