Taggart (TV Series) Do or Die (2005) User Reviews

The case of the murdered soldier.

[bethwilliam · 6/10 · 15 June 2007]

This is a case of Taggart joins the army. A young private is found dead on an army base - an apparent suicide. Robbie Ross believes there is more to it and asks to go undercover. He soon finds himself at the mercy of a sadistic drill Sergeant, Bill Kent.

Meanwhile two more deaths occur. Both are linked to the army and both victims have a reputation for using brutal training methods. This leads to the team to a female private who was the victim of a gang rape.

This is a fairly predictable episode of Taggart. Unfortunately I saw the end coming long before the credits rolled. That would never have happened in the earlier days when Mark McManus was at the helm.

Perhaps the only point of interest is that the storyline is set against the backdrop of the war in Iraq with the troops seen leaving to serve Queen and country.

Undercover

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 6 July 2021]

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 that didn't do much for me on first or second viewings. One of them being "Do or Die". 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, the only memorable aspect on first watch was the setting which was quite different for 'Taggart'.

Re-watching "Do or Die" for the third 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 "Compensation" or "A Death Foretold"). Either of the Burke period and of the whole show. It is in no way bad, actually like it on the whole now and it has grown on me, and it has enough (well actually a lot) of what makes me like 'Taggart' so much. It has just never bowled me over.

Not all the script is that great, it doesn't always flow and it could have been both bolder. The music at this point had gone down in my estimations, the theme song is good and memorable but the incidental music is too stuck in the 80s.

The story doesn't always grip, with the episode feeling on the routine side to begin with and it is very predictable at times. Was not surprised by the identity of the killer at all, actually the whole reveal was obvious though grippingly staged enough.

Once "Do or Die" picks up, it becomes good enough. It just takes a little time to get to that stage. Enough of the script intrigues and the army setting is put to very good use. 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. John Michie is very good here and Peter Blake is chillingly sadistic

"Do or Die", 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 main theme is not one to forget. The story avoids trying to do too much but at the same time it is not too simplistic either, the tone is suitably disturbingly uncompromising.

All in all, pretty good but not great. 7/10.

I'm in this!

[emailowen · 7/10 · 12 August 2009]

I walk up and into the police station (as a beat cop) behind DI Robbie Ross and DS Jackie Reid as they talk about victim giving evidence, Ross coming out of the station and Reid walking towards it before they chat. You can see me on other occasions too, but only if you're good with a pause button! Because of the Deepcut barracks story that was in the news here in the UK, the episode was rescheduled in the TV listings for another week or two so I missed the original episode's transmission, but STV were really good to me for giving me the extra part in the first place (for my help in the realms of IT) and for giving me a DVD of the finished (edited) episode.

Awful

[tstrawhorne-91652 · 20 May 2021]

Talk about temporary suspension of disbelief!

This has to be the most ludicrous episode of Taggart ever.

We all know that every detective series has a run in with military stonewalling, but this is just silly!!!!!!!

Forced myself to watch to the end and just got more and more annoyed.

Spare yourself, don't watch!

It's a very fine episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 4 July 2023]

A young soldier called Alan Matheson dies by falling off a building whilst out on a training exercise, The Army believe it's suicide, until another Army member, James Docherty is shot through the head, Robbie goes undercover to investigate.

When you think of an army episode on the show, you tend to think of A few bad men, which was of course Robbie's first episode. Do or Die isn't perhaps quite as memorable, but it definitely has some moments, and it does feel like a follow up to that story, with Robbie once again the central figure.

I liked the needle that existed between Burke and Robbie, he really does seem to have some beef with him here.

It's actually pretty good storyline, you may well need to suspend your disbelief, it is quite hard to think Robbie would just walk straight into his temporary role, but it does make for some interesting and amusing moments.

It's flawed, but definitely has some excellent moments, that opening sequence is great, the shooting was such an unexpected moment. It's definitely well paced.

It's funny, I'd given up on the show by this point during its original run, but now, all these years on, I'm really enjoying them.

8/10.

Robbie joins the Army!

[Wirefan122 · 5/10 · 18 January 2016]

Soldiers and ex-soldiers start getting killed and no one wants to talk about. Even the ex-soldiers do not want to say anything...they are obviously (not necessarily) scared or bound by a previous oath, commitment, etc.

So Robbie goes undercover at the Army base! The 49 year old figures he can just hop in and all the recruits will talk to him. They don't which is not surprising at all. Did I mention he is 49 (or 48 or so) and wants to try and keep up with the 18-year-olds? Sad and funny at the same time. It is really, really hard to take the whole plot line involving Robbie getting info from his 'fellow' recruits seriously.

Not one of the better episodes.