A body is found hanging from the swing frame in the playground on the recently rejuvenated Allerdykes Estate by a local 'Community Watch' member doing his early morning check.A body is found hanging from the swing frame in the playground on the recently rejuvenated Allerdykes Estate by a local 'Community Watch' member doing his early morning check.A body is found hanging from the swing frame in the playground on the recently rejuvenated Allerdykes Estate by a local 'Community Watch' member doing his early morning check.
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Featured review
Local Hero
Have loved 'Taggart' (another show gotten into during my teenage years) for a long time, although the more deliberate and even grittier Taggart and Jardine periods to me are superior to Burke's. Although it was actually through watching the late afternoon reruns of the Burke period episodes (starting from "Compensation" right up to when the episodes became shorter, too short in my mind) at one point that got me hooked, the Taggart and Jardine episodes were actually seen a lot later.
"Local Hero" was one of the last Burke-period 'Taggart' episodes seen back when it first aired. Even back then, without having any knowledge of how fans felt about the later Burke seasons, the episode left me very mixed. My feelings are pretty much the same thirteen years on. "Local Hero" is worth a look (this reviewer only dislikes about three episodes), but it is indicative of how tired the show generally felt later and how the shorter lengths of the episodes were a detriment rather than an asset.
There are good things here. It is typically slick-looking and it is good that the photography doesn't try to do too much stylistically, without being too clean looking. The grit has definitely not gone and neither has the uncompromising feel that the Glaswegian scenery gives. The theme song is still memorable and has an appealing nostalgic vibe, as well as well suited to the tone of the show. The acting from most of the cast is good, Blythe Duff in fact being excellent and she gets fine support from Phil McKee. They have very nice chemistry together and everything with them is more interesting than the case itself, which was a real surprise having seen many detective shows where the personal lives stories are a weak link.
Had little issue with the investigative work or how the team worked together. The episode does start promisingly and the scripting is gritty and thought provoking.
On the other hand, "Local Hero" is a long way from great. The music still doesn't really fit, feeling 10 plus years out of date (perfect in the 80s and early 90s episodes but very dated in the later Burke period episodes). The episode also suffers from the same two things that spoilt the show when episode lengths were shortened, with it being yet another episode to feel too short and too rushed. Especially towards the rather obvious (and prematurely so) end.
Did feel that the case was too ordinary and could have done with more suspense and twists, the truth about Wallace was not that earth shattering. Also did not care for Burke here, here he is too aggressive and too over hostile towards the end while Alex Norton is in shouty mode and little else throughout which felt really one dimensional and over-acted.
In summary, worth watching but there are far better 'Taggart' episodes around and that is including from the Burke period. 6/10.
"Local Hero" was one of the last Burke-period 'Taggart' episodes seen back when it first aired. Even back then, without having any knowledge of how fans felt about the later Burke seasons, the episode left me very mixed. My feelings are pretty much the same thirteen years on. "Local Hero" is worth a look (this reviewer only dislikes about three episodes), but it is indicative of how tired the show generally felt later and how the shorter lengths of the episodes were a detriment rather than an asset.
There are good things here. It is typically slick-looking and it is good that the photography doesn't try to do too much stylistically, without being too clean looking. The grit has definitely not gone and neither has the uncompromising feel that the Glaswegian scenery gives. The theme song is still memorable and has an appealing nostalgic vibe, as well as well suited to the tone of the show. The acting from most of the cast is good, Blythe Duff in fact being excellent and she gets fine support from Phil McKee. They have very nice chemistry together and everything with them is more interesting than the case itself, which was a real surprise having seen many detective shows where the personal lives stories are a weak link.
Had little issue with the investigative work or how the team worked together. The episode does start promisingly and the scripting is gritty and thought provoking.
On the other hand, "Local Hero" is a long way from great. The music still doesn't really fit, feeling 10 plus years out of date (perfect in the 80s and early 90s episodes but very dated in the later Burke period episodes). The episode also suffers from the same two things that spoilt the show when episode lengths were shortened, with it being yet another episode to feel too short and too rushed. Especially towards the rather obvious (and prematurely so) end.
Did feel that the case was too ordinary and could have done with more suspense and twists, the truth about Wallace was not that earth shattering. Also did not care for Burke here, here he is too aggressive and too over hostile towards the end while Alex Norton is in shouty mode and little else throughout which felt really one dimensional and over-acted.
In summary, worth watching but there are far better 'Taggart' episodes around and that is including from the Burke period. 6/10.
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 28, 2023
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