After re-watching a few episodes that were seen for the first time after 'Taggart' ended, it was good to re-watch one of the episodes watched when first getting into the show in my early teens. That being "Cause and Effect". On first watch, it was a very interesting episode that at least grabbed the attention but it never struck me as a favourite, and in all honesty other episodes made and aired at the same time stuck in the head a lot more.
Re-watching "Cause and Effect" for the fourth time, since it first aired that is, it still isn't one of my favourite 'Taggart' episodes or an episode that has stuck in my head and never left it (not like an episode such as "Compensation" for instance). Either of the Burke period and of the whole show. It is in no way bad, actually like it on the whole, and it has enough (well actually a lot) of what makes me like 'Taggart' so much that overrides the not quite so good. Just wasn't wowed.
Will agree that not all the script is that great, it doesn't always flow and it could have been both bolder and been more tactful with everything to do with the first victim.
Not all the story grips, with the episode feeling on the routine side to begin with.
Once "Cause and Effect" picks up, it becomes a very good episode. It just takes a little time to get to that stage. Enough of the script intrigues and there is some entertaining banter within the team. The team interaction is always cohesive and there is never a disconnect, with some nice banter and also intensity. Burke took a while to get used to when he first appeared in 'Taggart' but he grew on me and while he is stern and authoritative he is not as much of an abrasive bully now. It is a very well acted episode, lead and supporting.
"Cause and Effect", as usual for 'Taggart', is well-made visually, with the usual grit and moodiness in the photography. The scenery is both picturesque and unforgiving. The music matches that perfectly, although it is occasionally intrusive, and the main theme is not one to forget. The story avoids trying to do too much but at the same time it is not too simple either, the tone is suitably disturbingly uncompromising (i.e. the last murder shocked me on first viewing and is still quite disturbing), one is kept guessing right to the end who the killer is and what the motive is and the climax is memorably dramatic without being over-the-top.
All in all, good but has never wowed me. 7/10
Re-watching "Cause and Effect" for the fourth time, since it first aired that is, it still isn't one of my favourite 'Taggart' episodes or an episode that has stuck in my head and never left it (not like an episode such as "Compensation" for instance). Either of the Burke period and of the whole show. It is in no way bad, actually like it on the whole, and it has enough (well actually a lot) of what makes me like 'Taggart' so much that overrides the not quite so good. Just wasn't wowed.
Will agree that not all the script is that great, it doesn't always flow and it could have been both bolder and been more tactful with everything to do with the first victim.
Not all the story grips, with the episode feeling on the routine side to begin with.
Once "Cause and Effect" picks up, it becomes a very good episode. It just takes a little time to get to that stage. Enough of the script intrigues and there is some entertaining banter within the team. The team interaction is always cohesive and there is never a disconnect, with some nice banter and also intensity. Burke took a while to get used to when he first appeared in 'Taggart' but he grew on me and while he is stern and authoritative he is not as much of an abrasive bully now. It is a very well acted episode, lead and supporting.
"Cause and Effect", as usual for 'Taggart', is well-made visually, with the usual grit and moodiness in the photography. The scenery is both picturesque and unforgiving. The music matches that perfectly, although it is occasionally intrusive, and the main theme is not one to forget. The story avoids trying to do too much but at the same time it is not too simple either, the tone is suitably disturbingly uncompromising (i.e. the last murder shocked me on first viewing and is still quite disturbing), one is kept guessing right to the end who the killer is and what the motive is and the climax is memorably dramatic without being over-the-top.
All in all, good but has never wowed me. 7/10
