Kidnapped

What fun! I wasn't expecting to watch or like this show, not being a huge Robert Louis Stevenson, but I was wonderfully surprised! Iain Glen (Alan Breck) was awesome and captivating. He was the reason I started watching. I was flipping channels and when it landed on Kidnapped it stayed there. Its hard to find that level of believability. (This is the guy in Lara Croft?! What the...) It was also fun to find out that James Pearson (David Balfour) could not only act just as well, but could play off of Alan Breck perfectly! I discovered that was the best, and most important, thing about the book. Even with whatever script changes they needed to make to fit the book into two hours, they captured David and Alan's relationship perfectly. I picked up the book after watching Part 1 and finished it before Part 2 aired. The only disappointment was that PBS didn't have the funds or time to fully expand the story longer than two hours. I loved the cast but its sad to think that they could have done even more if they'd had the means. They had to cut some corners around the book to finish off the story in an hour. I'll regret what they could have done but the cast was perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Except for that wig the son of James wears. Ahhh. Kidnapped, who knew?

The BBC Sunday tea time classic serial has been away a long time; in case anyone was feeling nostalgic this is a typical example of the amateurish, patronising fare considered appropriate for the slot. This is a far from faithful adaptation; which would be acceptable if the changes had been effective in replicating the excitement of the book in another medium. Unfortunately this was very, very dull. Precious little of the tension of the novel survives, but there is a lot of running around. The expanded role given to the cabin boy does nothing to advance the plot, and the young actor playing him is rather irritating. In another major plot change Catriona, the eponymous heroine of the sequel, appears a book early as the feisty daughter of the noble James of the Glens (rather than of the villainous James More MacGregor). On the plus side, Iain Glenn makes quite a decent Alan Breck, and New Zealand puts in a perfectly adequate performance as Scotland.

This is by far and away the best historical drama aired by British television since Sharpe. Brilliant performances from the two leading males, with veteran actor Iain Glen vividly portraying the charismatic Alan Breck, and relative newcomer James Pearson giving a commendable performance as his somewhat unwitting side-kick Davie Balfour. Characters are developed sufficiently enough for one to actually care whether or not they survive the English occupation, whilst the script allows for some genuinely funny moments to emerge periodically, lightening the overall tone of the play whilst still maintaining the desperation of Alan, Davie and Catroina's plight. McGann plays the quintessential English villain as the ruthless Colonel McNabb, (fans of "The Patriot", if any exist, will recognize a similar character to that of William Tavington played by Jason Isaacs) and acquits himself very well as the villain everyone loves to hate.

Stunning settings, a rousing script and almost flawless performances make this an extremely watchable three-part drama, and one which I highly recommend.

I remember being fairly disappointed with the early 1970s adaptation of KIDNAPPED starring Michael Caine . Perhaps the fact that I saw this three part TV series had everything to do with it ?

What I liked about this adaptation is that some thought seems to have gone into the story structure . Episode one introduces the characters then concentrates on Alan Breck and Davie Balfour being cornered on the boat which sets up a cliffhanger for episode two which sees them on the run in the Highlands being pursued setting up another cliffhanger episode for the final part where everything is resolved

It's certainly exciting epic stuff and I'm sorry that at least one reviewer on this page wasn't too happy with it . Iain Glen makes a flamboyant hero far better than Michael Caine was and perhaps my only criticism is that it's fairly obvious the locations resemble Middle Earth rather than the Scottish Highlands . A pity the production team felt the need to travel to the other side o the world to make this very Scottish drama

A rollicking good yarn that starts a bit slowly but once it hits its stride, carries you through at a good clip. I found James Anthony Pearson (Davy Balfour) a bit flat initially, in an otherwise stellar cast. Thank goodness Davy Balfour is rescued and the whole show as well, by the ever captivating Iain Glen (Alan Breck) or the whole thing might have sunk without a ripple into the briny waves as just another rehashing of a well told tale. Once Alan Breck literally hops on board, the whole thing lifts measurably and is propelled forward as the story rapidly picks up momentum. What fun it is watching Davy and Alan match wits with the devious Col.Mac Nab (played with great relish by Paul McGann)and the other host of baddies scattered throughout. The character who comes closest to matching Alan both intellectually and in her daring escapades is Catriona Stewart (excitingly played by Kirsten Coulter Smith.) Too bad the main character was a male role. Kirsten Coulter Smith shows the right combination of intelligence, righteous anger and fearless daring with the full range of emotions associated with these feelings, to have made a perfect lead. She's someone to watch for in future productions. (On a small but fun side note, Iain Glen had the opportunity to display some of his impressive fencing skills. While a student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts he and fellow school chum, Ralph Fiennes spent two years perfecting their swordsmanship so they could win the prize awarded at the end of their last term. Mr. Glen says that most students spent a couple of weeks at it, but he and Ralph turned it into a personal quest. They wanted that prize over some of the more esoteric such as "Best Hand Gestures" or "Best Silly Walk" (not really prizes but you get the picture.) Thankfully they won, or as Mr. Glen asserts it would have been pretty sad because they had spent so much time at it.)