Monarch Of The Glen – Series Seven (BBC Home Video DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Episodes: C+

 

 

The lively, melodramatic Monarch Of The Glen finally ended its hit run after five years in 2005.  Series Seven wraps up the show with six final hour-long time-slotted shows led by the great Tom Baker (Dr. Who) on this double DVD set.  Set in Scotland, the show is pretty good, but still an upscale soap opera.

 

To its advantage, it is smarter and more energetic than most of its counterparts on either side of the Atlantic and that is part of its appeal.  The Michael Chaplin-created series plays up its locales almost to the extent of making it a character too, though not enough to eclipse the work of the ensemble cast.  However, it is best to begin with the first shows or you will be cheated out of the story arch.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is very soft, motion blur-filled, has some aliasing issues and could be much better for a recent production.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds, but is well recorded.  Extras include text cast bios and a behind the scenes farewell featurette.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo