Sassenachs...I am so excited, I dinna know what to do with myself. I FINALLY watched Monarch of the Glen...and I LOVE IT!! My husband and I watched the first two episodes of Season 1 tonight...and we both really enjoyed it. WOW is it a Scots-fest of epic proportions! If you've never been to Scotland...watching this show seems like the next best thing! It's done in the Highlands and - oh my god - you will realize just how much Diana has brought the Scottish countryside and culture to life in her books when you see this show.
A couple interesting points:
* In the first two episodes alone they said "sassenach" once and referred to Culloden FOUR TIMES!
* One of my favorite lines... These two old buggers were setting up a battlefield of small figurines of red coats and Scots on a table; it was supposed to be Culloden...and one says something like "I'll be Bonnie Prince Charlie and you'll be Cumberland". To which the other fellow replies "I want to be Bonnie Prince Charlie!" and the first fellow says "that's because you're rather corpulent and fond of the sauce!" I was HYSTERICAL!
Seriously, it's SUCH a great show! The characters all have their own interesting personalities... and the writing is tremendous. The story sucks you in immediately in episode one. I'm telling you, lads and lassies...this is a show that is not to be missed! It's a little outdated in spots (it's set in the late 90s/early 2000's) but it is so fantastic, you won't even know what year it is. It's very modern in some ways (cell phones) and very old fashioned in others (a town-wide cross-country style race that reminded me of the horse race for the bonnets in "The Quiet Man").
OK I'll stop gushing, but please...do yourself a favor and rent "Monarch of the Glen". You'll feel like someone picked you up and plunked you down in the middle of the Highlands...with a new group of good friends.
