MovieChat Forums > Monarch of the Glen (2001) Discussion > Magic Was Gone When Archie Left

Magic Was Gone When Archie Left

posted 18 years ago by Verenka
42 replies | jump to latest

Once the Archie character left the show really stumbled in my opinion. It was bad enough when Hector died, but Archie moving spoiled the show's original premise. I'm not specifically knocking Paul as he was okay and Golly and Molly were always good, but too many other later characters didn't work (like Golly's long lost daughter). Also, in the later shows without Duncan it was unrecognizable and they lost their sense of humor (Ewan was no replacment and annoying).

One other thing -- Archie and Lexie never acted like they were married. More like brother and sister. Since Season One I always thought Lexie had more of a spark with Duncan, but Archie as the future laird was more of a catch.

"Americans are obsessed with God & money, but they're warm-hearted & energetic"

[–] aturia 18 years ago

I agree. Paul is not very convincing as Laird. What was the reason for Archie leaving?

[–] Kay-29 18 years ago

Alastair Mackenzie, the actor who portrayed Archie, left the series to pursue other projects. Word is that Richard Briers, who left the season before, encouraged him to move on before becoming too identified with the Archie character.

[–] bllrghtz 16 years ago

Paul is just AWFUL. He's mean, rude, sexist, controlling, greedy, arrogant, and disrespectful of everyone and everything. He walks all over people, then at the end of every ep says 'Oh, sorry about that', and expects that to make it right (and then continues to display the exact same attitude and poor judgement the very next encounter he has).

He drives me insane, and his character completely ruined the whole MotG 'vibe'. The decision to bring him, as written, into the show really really sucked.

(lol.....just had to get that off my chest)

[–] monster_31 18 years ago

I agree. But the slide started earlier, when the wrote out Katrina in such a quick way. It made no sense at all to me how that happened, and then in less time than it took for Katrina and archie to get together, He and lexie get together and are set to get married when they bring her back for a one shot appearance. When the bring in his half brother, that kind of killed the magic of the show for me. Lexie leaving was just the end of the line. heck, they even wrote out killwillie, and they never replaced the characters and storylines with anything near as good in my opinion. Still it is one of the best shows i have ever seen, now if only PBS 39(in the lehigh Valley PA area) would quit messing about and play the episodes every week, 8)

[–] smck_82uk 18 years ago

Katrina left because Lorraine Pilkington got pregnant during the hiatus between series 2 & series 3 + as much as I loved Katrina I certainly never looked upon her leaving as the beginning of the end, Series 3 in my opinion is the best series of Monarch period. Series 5 is when it began to get stale & series 6 & 7 are just plain bad.

Its your turn Heather, no Heather its Heathers turn... Heather!!! ~ Heathers

[–] Daisy_M 17 years ago

I've been rewatching the dvds and I was just thinking how it was never the same after Archie left. I mean, he was the Monarch of the Glen - the show was about him. Don't get me wrong, I still really liked series 6 and 7, but they just didn't have the same feel to them as when Archie was in it. Rather selfish to go and leave really when the show revolves around you. Kinda just leaves it hanging. At least Golly and Molly never left. I loved them.

This faithless lady's bound for Hades. Shame, shame, shame.

[–] bllrghtz 15 years ago

"Rather selfish to go and leave really when the show revolves around you."

Couldn't agree more. If you don't want the various responsibilities of being the lead in a series - don't sign on for it.

[–] lima-2 15 years ago

I just got hooked on the series, found out about it quite by accident. It never showed in our PBS market (Orlando, FL). My wife and I are watching the DVD's checked out of the local library system, and not one library has the entire series!! We've just watched series 5, episode 6, where Archie leaves. That's why I chose this thread to post. Anyway, I've tried to sort through a lot of the posts here trying to determine why certain actors left the show. I was wondering if it was driven by the writing and diverging plot lines trying to keep the stories fresh. But alas, no. But I digress, meself. Oh, BTW and IMHO Katrina (Amanda Pilkington) had the best chemistry with Arhcie. But I also think that Lexie grew into the role of the laird's wife until Archie left. But I may change my mind once I view the entire series. Thanks to previous posters for allowing me to read a history of the series.

[–] alcw62 15 years ago

Now this makes sense...I always wondered why Katrina and Archie never finished the deal. They had great on screen chemistry and the scripts all pointed toward them being the fun argumentative couple who battle for control. Lexie was a decent side character but she just didn't have the talent to carry the show as a lead actress. She was great as the eccentric housekeeper who would play cat and mouse with Duncan. You could just tell there was no zip whatsoever between her and Archie. The show just died we she had to be the lead actress.

Archie did himself no favours leaving this show. Look at what he's done since. I whole lotta nothing. I'm not sure if he was tied up in another production when the finale was finished but it would have been a nice boost to have him return and turn over the keys in person.

[–] njwelch 17 years ago

I agree. My first disappointment with the show was when Katrina left (the actress was pregnant). Archie belonged with her. Then, the way that he suddenly professed his love for Lexie, it left out the suspense. We never felt the chemistry. Now, without Archie, it isn't the same show. Also, is anyone else distracted by the scar on Paul's chin?

[–] patches67 17 years ago

although he was the nominal "lead" of the show, i never cared much for archie character, and didn't mind his departure at all. i haven't seen past series 5, and so far, the greatest loss for for me was hector, followed by kilwillie. the show lost its off-beat humor, and quirky charm after they were gone. i continue to watch only because molly and golly are so appealing.

"i don't mind a parasite; i object to a cut-rate one." -- rick blaine

[–] Lil_miss_tazzy 15 years ago

I agree that the show started to plummet badly after Archie left, but the beginning of the end for me began when Paul arrived. As for Archie and Lexie, i thought their relationship was the best thing about the show. Series 3 is the best imo due to the final 'get together' and also the stella character: what a legend!
‘I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.’ :P

[–] Midsomerlover 15 years ago

The show should have ended after Series 3 IMO. Richard Briers was legendary as Hector and he was part of the main storyline.

I can understand they wanted to built further on the succes, so my second thought is that they should have stopped after episode 5.6 - Series 6 and 7 were a waste of time and money and spoiled the good memories and good stories from the first five series.

[–] smck_82uk 15 years ago

Richard Briers was legendary as Hector and he was part of the main storyline.

I agree and disagree yes Hector was an integral character but as the show progressed it become more and more about Archie and Lexie who by Series 3 were the main characters not Hector and Molly they were just support like Lexie was in Series 1 and 2. Hectors death was a big dent to the shows popularity and it lost its crankpot but in Series 4 his memory was left intact through his portrait and other storylines such as Paul and "Grace", Hector was never forgotten like many characters are when they depart a long running series. Series 4 is a brilliant series, 5 is also good though heavily tarnished by Archies leaving.

They think we're the demons now - Prue Halliwell ~ All Hell Breaks Loose ~ Charmed

[–] acaciajules 13 years ago

Completely agree. I was all for Lexi and Archie from the moment of their snog on the train back from London. I did miss her quirkiness from the first season. They certainly toned down her character once season 2 started. They must have known they would be pairing him up with her eventually, and wanted to start making her a more appropriate choice for future Lady of Glenbogle.

I'm watching them all via Netflix since we got a Wii for Christmas and it comes with a free month's subscription.

Chase: Wow. Yeah, I get it. House is adorable. I just want to hold him and never let go.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] topkapi56 15 years ago

The show jumped the shark the minute Archie and Lexie got together. She was immature and irritating and annoying. Archie looked on her as a friend at best and then suddenly in one episode he is suddenly in love with her? I did not buy it for a second. Then in the run up to the wedding, she was the most immature, distrustful, and silly creature on earth. Why on earth he would ever marry her in the first place just boggles the mind. They had zero chemistry together. I watched the rest of the series but it was all downhill from that moment.

[–] chips76309 14 years ago

We discovered this series thru Netflix and have been watching it thru our Instant Queue, which means we can watch as many episodes as we like at a time. We loved Seasons 1 and 2 but now we're not sure if we want to continue.

It made no sense to us that Archie would marry LEXIE in the end. We liked her as the eccentric housekeeper but since we both favor Duncan we disliked the way she blew hot and cold with him, playing him like a fish while she flirted with any other men who caught her fancy.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] thesecretgarden_24 14 years ago

I found Archie-Lexie out of place as well. Honestly in season one I thought Lexie's story would be to outgrow her crush for Archie as she grew up and matured and found real love. She felt like little sister to him but I got over and went with it for the story.

The thing that really ruined the whole Archie/Lexie thing is the almost affair Lexie had with Archie's half brother Paul when she returned for those few episodes without Archie. Maybe because I had such little good will towards the pairing to start with.

[–] Andrew_S_Hatton 14 years ago

For me the magic was almost used up when the new laird waited around a week to phone his restaurant, total nonsense.

It was gone to the point of switching off in episode two when the twit from the Bank was perambulating with a Wellington Boot on one leg and a conventional shoe on the other.

That sort of thing is OK for an out and out slapstick of the Mr pastry variety for children, but not in a so called mature comedy drama.

It is nonsense, a waste of fantastic sets, good actors and film crew but a rubbish script.

[–] Lola_Bedworthy 7 years ago

Apparently, whimsy isn't your thing. Nothing wrong with that, there seems to be a lot of things about MOTG that entertained a variety of viewers.

[–] dan.adams 12 years ago

T'was a tale of hot women and slow men.What a saddo Archie was,what a pratt his old man was! Over-acting characterises this implausible series.Sorry,but that is the way I see it.

[–] kathyjoyb 14 years ago

I just finished the first 5 seasons on Netflix (ready to watch) and have to agree. The magic was gone after Archie left. I read ahead on the Netflix site to see if he came back and was so disappointed I'm not even going to watch the next two seasons - I cancelled the videos being mailed to me. What a shame. I absolutely LOVED the series. I almost quit watching when Hector died, but a least there was Archie. Any suggestion for a similar series.

[–] filmboom 11 years ago

Well, THANK YOU ALL for warning me about the plot lines of the seasons! I mean it! Spoiler alerts be damned...I really needed to read all those posts about the story.

I'm in the middle of season 2 and will let that be IT. I'm done.
I know; actors move on, screenwriters write characters out but THIS series had a SEVERE MELTDOWN and lost my respect and viewership.

Again, thank you!

[–] IanDSmith 11 years ago

I do agree Alastair Mackenzie's departure was very poorly handled. So often I find writers seem to take it on the chin when actors leave and they aren't particularly charitable when it comes to writing them out - often to the detriment of loyal fans.
The only new addition to the show that amused me was Tom Baker's Donald MacDonald, but the show was sputtering by then.

[–] pennstatepenny-551-858531 9 years ago

Have loved every min of this show until season 6. Almost turned it off but keep pushing thru to see how it ends. Lexie leaving is the nail in the dramatic coffin - but that only came to be w Archie leaving. One by one having the original actors leave - would be like watching your favorite band replace members one by one. Really tough for writers to come up w compelling drama.

[–] call_me_zara 14 years ago

Actually, I like it so much better WITHOUT Archie. I like Paul better. But I do miss Duncan.

[–] tex5108 14 years ago

The show definitely lost something everytime someone left. It was tough when Archie left. I watched all the way to the end, and I never grew to like Paul, or any of the new characters they introduced, especially Ewan and Donald. For me, the show ended when Lexie and Duncan left. Lexie was my favorite, then Duncan. I agree that Archie and Lexie didn't have much of a spark, but I was glad that their relationship gave Lexie more screen time.