Taggart: Killer (1983)

One gloomy morning in Maryhill, Glasgow, a passing jogger stumbles upon the body of a young woman found strangled by an embankment with a piece of her hair cut off. For newly graduated DS Livingstone it's a baptism of fire as he is paired with DCI Jim Taggart, a dour, working class copper who has seen it all. But little do they realize that this murder is only the start of things to come, as she is the first of a series of killings to terrorise the deprived area. And with so many suspects to choose from, can they catch the culprit and stop them before they kill again? Starring Mark McManus, Alastair Duncan, Tom Watson, Linda Muchan, Gerard Kelly, Joan Scott, Frank Wylie, Mary MacLeod, Hugh Martin, Gerry Slevin, Vincent Friel, Roy Hanlon, Anne Kidd, Harriet Buchan, Geraldine Alexander, Robert Robertson and Jimmy Yuill. This was the first ever mystery that introduced TV audiences to Jim Taggart, originally titled as Killer, and broadcast on September 6th 1983. It was originally broadcast in 3 parts, but Taggart is rarely shown in original format on TV, and this is the feature length version that pieced all 3 episodes into one. It's remarkably effective as a mystery and of it's era in early 1980's Scotland, and with it's haunting theme tune (different to the usual series music) it makes for an eerie and absorbing mystery thriller. Indeed, one of the interesting points is the fact that at one point it's mentioned that the victim is almost "Buddha like" in her pose, which is a clear red herring meant to point suspicion at the dour counternance of Taggart himself as a suspect. Little did they realize it would run as a series for 28 years! Please note I only have a few of the Taggart mysteries, either from recordings from recent repeats or old video releases, and only from the Mark McManus era. So any glitches or fuzziness are due to it's age, so apologies in advance. Please also note that this contains some swearing and violence.