The Trouble with Rory had plenty of quirky Lochdubhians, which was entertaining enough for portions of the episode, but there was too much convoluted subplot and not enough of the heart of Hamish. It was not romance that was lacking (though Hamish has been on quite a dry spell), but the heart that makes Hamish the protector of his beloved home. It the episodes that let us in on his emotional journey through the adventures, and around the people, of his village that make for the best episodes. So while the episode wasn't a poor one, it wasn't a great one either. Can be easily missed.
2 Reviews
It's not just Rory
keysam-0261030 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
OK, in this episode Rory is acting out of character and actually not behaving very well but...
The bit that seemed odd to me was how the rest of the village behaved *before* finding out about the situation with the school. It has never before been suggested that Rory is treated as a figure of ridicule, with the other villagers recounting funny stories about him (the one about the sheep) behind his back. Yes, everyone took a little pleasure in gently teasing him and Esme about their 'secret' relationship back before they went public, but it wasn't like the scene in the bar in the early minutes of this episode. That seems like a mis-step by the writer.
Watching on DVD, and in the knowledge that a whole episode isn't included in the box set due to problems over music rights, I can't help but wonder if the scene when the villagers are prepping for the stake out actually featured the real Mission Impossible music. On the DVD it's a sort of knock-off version.
The story as a whole is pretty good, featuring a genuine police mystery and some real jeopardy. Plus it has a happy ending both for Esme, Rory and the school. It's just the part near the beginning in the bar that definitely strikes me as an error.
The bit that seemed odd to me was how the rest of the village behaved *before* finding out about the situation with the school. It has never before been suggested that Rory is treated as a figure of ridicule, with the other villagers recounting funny stories about him (the one about the sheep) behind his back. Yes, everyone took a little pleasure in gently teasing him and Esme about their 'secret' relationship back before they went public, but it wasn't like the scene in the bar in the early minutes of this episode. That seems like a mis-step by the writer.
Watching on DVD, and in the knowledge that a whole episode isn't included in the box set due to problems over music rights, I can't help but wonder if the scene when the villagers are prepping for the stake out actually featured the real Mission Impossible music. On the DVD it's a sort of knock-off version.
The story as a whole is pretty good, featuring a genuine police mystery and some real jeopardy. Plus it has a happy ending both for Esme, Rory and the school. It's just the part near the beginning in the bar that definitely strikes me as an error.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
