"In Camera" was another one of the Burke-period 'Taggart' episodes seen somehow a little later than most of the others. When getting into the show, most of my first episodes were the latter Burke-period episodes late into the show's run. Which, upon seeing more of 'Taggart' overtime, didn't see the show at its best. That this episode was centered a lot around Robbie didn't bother me and he and Eve are good characters together, which one can see here.
To me there are better 'Taggart' episodes than "In Camera", but it is almost on par with the excellent "The Wages of Sin" if not as great as "The Ties that Bind". The comparison is being made, as these were the three 'Taggart' episodes re-watched recently. Again the truth, meaning the identity of the murderer and the motive, didn't leave me completely floored (though it wasn't obvious too early either) and Robbie shouldn't have been as heavily involved as he was (the episode didn't get too excessive on this front though).
So much to love about "In Camera" however. The photography is both gritty yet moody, very well suited to the story's style, and the location is striking yet suitably unforgiving. The music matches that perfectly and the main theme is not one to forget.
From a writing point of view, it has the right amount of entertainment value (the banter) and grit (in the crime solving it doesn't shy away). The story is neither too simple, the whole truth about Eve (though there is little question from early on that there was more to her than seemed) is as shocking to the viewer as it is to Robbie, or confusing and the team interaction has cohesion and the right amount of tension.
Moreover, the acting is strong from all the regulars (at this point of this period Burke had grown on me). John Michie has a good amount of intensity to his acting and a big part of me did feel for him when it came to learning the truth. It is a shame that Jenny Ryan didn't play a bigger role in the show, she and Michie had great chemistry together and she was appealing.
Overall, very, very good though not classic 'Taggart'. 8/10
To me there are better 'Taggart' episodes than "In Camera", but it is almost on par with the excellent "The Wages of Sin" if not as great as "The Ties that Bind". The comparison is being made, as these were the three 'Taggart' episodes re-watched recently. Again the truth, meaning the identity of the murderer and the motive, didn't leave me completely floored (though it wasn't obvious too early either) and Robbie shouldn't have been as heavily involved as he was (the episode didn't get too excessive on this front though).
So much to love about "In Camera" however. The photography is both gritty yet moody, very well suited to the story's style, and the location is striking yet suitably unforgiving. The music matches that perfectly and the main theme is not one to forget.
From a writing point of view, it has the right amount of entertainment value (the banter) and grit (in the crime solving it doesn't shy away). The story is neither too simple, the whole truth about Eve (though there is little question from early on that there was more to her than seemed) is as shocking to the viewer as it is to Robbie, or confusing and the team interaction has cohesion and the right amount of tension.
Moreover, the acting is strong from all the regulars (at this point of this period Burke had grown on me). John Michie has a good amount of intensity to his acting and a big part of me did feel for him when it came to learning the truth. It is a shame that Jenny Ryan didn't play a bigger role in the show, she and Michie had great chemistry together and she was appealing.
Overall, very, very good though not classic 'Taggart'. 8/10