The Isaand (An t-Eilean)
The Island is a four-part series set on the Isle of Lewis, part of the Outer Hebrides. It’s about a murder of the wife of one of Scotland’s richest men which occurred at their mansion on the island. He was also shot, and the story follows the gradual revelation of what actually happened, including revealing family secrets. And it’s a big family, with lots of children and hangers-on to muddy the works, so there are plenty of secrets to reveal.
The Island does some things very well. In spite of the many characters at different times of their lives, it was easy to follow what was going on., credit to the scriptwriters The series also makes great use of the amazing scenery of Harris and Lewis. (Harris is actually on the same island, but until recent times the topography was too rugged to allow travel between Harris and Lewis by land, so they became de facto separate islands.) In fact, if you took out all the scenes showing cars driving down windy scenic roads beside the Atlantic Ocean, the whole series would have been appreciably shorter, but I would have kept them in too.
There are weaknesses. The lead actress, playing a policewoman who comes back to the place of her birth to help solve the crime after many years away, is woefully miscast. At times, as she swans around like a Goth teenager, it becomes almost funny. And I would have appreciated more time spent on the unique culture of Lewis, e.g. when I visited you didn’t go there on a Sunday because literally nothing was open. I also found it strange that they left out Callanish, the amazing standing stone complex, the equivalent of Stonhenge, where I once spent three wonderful hours without seeing another human being.
I got antsy during the second episode, when the miscasting was most apparent, but I am glad I stuck with it. I think most of you would enjoy it too.
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