Taggart (TV Series) Love Knot (1990) User Reviews

Taggart and the case of the murdered rock climber.

[bethwilliam · 6/10 · 10 April 2006]

This episode was watched by 12.5 million people when it premiered in Briton on January 1st, 1990. This is the thirteenth episode of Taggart, a series which continued to grow in popularity and quality.

In the opening scene a dredger is working on the River Clyde when the worker discovers a body in one of the buckets. It is the eighth body he has seen this year. In the first few minutes the scene cuts backward and forward to a group of rock climbers scaling a cliff somewhere in Scotland.

In the lab Dr Stephen Andrews, the forensic investigator, tells the detectives the young woman died of terrible injuries. The team conclude an ice pick was used, identical to one used in rock climbing. The knot used to tie up the body and the rope are also used by rock climbers.

Special mention should also be made of Robert Robertson who played Dr Stephen Andrews. This veteran actor dedicated himself almost exclusively to the show and was rewarded with a warm and appreciative following.

This episode introduces John Michie who plays the murder suspect, Robby Meiklejohn. Rumour has it that he impressed Robert Love, the producer so much that he was determined to get him another part in the show. Eight years later he reappears as DI Robbie Ross.

This episode is as good as any of the Taggarts that came before or that followed.

Love Knot

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 10 March 2020]

Love Knot is notable for one thing. The awful B&B that Taggart and Jardine end up in the Scottish Highlands. They really should had gone to the plush country club. A good reason why the British like to holiday abroad.

A body of a young woman is dredged out from the River Clyde. Jardine thinks that the weapon used to kill her was an ice axe and a climbing rope was used to tie her up.

Taggart homes in on a climbing group around Glasgow.

The dead woman was Elizabeth the daughter of a European countess who resides in the Highlands. Elizabeth had come to Glasgow to work as a nanny but the person who placed the vacancy does not exist.

One of the suspects is Robby Meiklejohn (John Michie) a cocky young man who went out with Elizabeth before her mother broke it their relationship up.

This episode features an early appearance from a young Ewen Bremner who plays a rock climber. There is also a young looking Peter Mullan who plays a possible suspect. John Michie would later return to the series to play DI Robbie Ross.

A convoluted case that takes Taggart away from his home turf. Despite some gruesome deaths, there is some humour here. The reveal of the murderer might come as shocking.

Death knot

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 24 August 2018]

Have always adored detective dramas/mystery series. This has been apparent from an early age, half my life even, when getting into Agatha Christie through Joan Hickson's Miss Marple and David Suchet's Poirot and into 'Inspector Morse'.

Whether it's the more complex ones like 'Inspector Morse' (and its prequel series 'Endeavour') and anything Agatha Christie. Whether it's the grittier ones like 'A Touch of Frost' (though that is balanced brilliantly with comedy too). And whether it's the light-hearted ones like 'Murder She Wrote'. 'Taggart' is one of the biggest examples of the grittier ones, especially the Mark McManus years and the earlier James MaPherson episodes.

"Love Knot" is very good. Things feel more settled here, my only complaints being with it dragging slightly occasionally and the back and forth at the start not always clear, but what made 'Taggart' such a good show when it was in its prime is evident here. The characterisation here is meatier than seen previously, therefore more interesting with more development to Taggart.

Really like the slick, gritty look and the Scottish Highlands is like an ominous character on its own, as well as quite picturesque. The music matches the show's tone and has a good amount of atmosphere while the theme song/tune is one that stays in the memory for a long time. Really like Taggart and Jardine's chemistry here as always, which sees some priceless exchanges with them, and it is more interesting and settled than with Taggart and Livingstone.

As to be expected, "Love Knot" is thoughtfully scripted with nothing ridiculous happening and things being taken seriously without being too morose. The story is involving in its complexity with nothing being what it seems, making the most of the long length (have generally found the 2000s episodes too short and rushed) without padding anything out. Some parts are not for the faint hearted but nothing feels gratuitous and the investigations are compelling and with enough twists to stop it from being obvious. One doesn't predict the ending at all, which is clever and not convoluted or far-fetched.

Good acting helps, with Mark McManus being a suitably tough and blunt presence throughout and James MacPherson being every bit his equal. The supporting cast and chemistry don't undermine them in any way and are actually very good, Robert Robertson adds such a lot in every episode he was in and that is the case here. Interesting to see a pre-Robbie Ross John Michie as a suspect.

Altogether, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Love knot shocking ending

[cj-62137 · 10/10 · 16 February 2019]

Shauna Baird who play's Susan Bryant the female rock climber kill's herself