#hamish macbeth

Wait! Wait, Rufus Sewell ca. 1995 in an episode of Hamish Macbeth!

Here's my confession: either I have only watched Hamish Macbeth while either under the weather (and thus able to give it only partial attention) or grading (and thus able to give it only partial attention) ...or I feel as though this is the case.

My point is: I have a vague impression that Robert Carlyle is lovely in it, and all I remember of it involves implausibly unhinged shenanigans. There's one where the B-plot involves post office spying and the A-plot involves fake whale tourism? There's one where the possibility of drug dealing is juxtaposed with a surprisingly touching narrative about gendered expectations surrounding fertility and parenting? There's one where Shirley Henderson (postmistress, possibly Up To Something) is also getting ripped at a gym? Possibly my favorite involves -- again, if I recall correctly -- a plot involving a cheerfully sensual neo-pagan, a perpetually timid C of E vicar, and a fire-and-brimstone neo-Puritan in a surprising dénouement.

...The more I try to resurrect my memory of the show, the less I'm convinced I didn't fever-dream all of these plots.

Anyway. Kate Beckinsale as an unflappably cheerful author of travel guides. The locals are torn between trying to angle for the best write-up possible and trying to get her to go away. The latter set of efforts veers into the criminal.

tagged by @carpe-mamilia