Robert Carlyle (Stargate Universe, Full Monty, Trainspotting) was always Mr. Gold, even when he played Hamish Macbeth. In one of Carlyle’s early TV series, you see Gold’s savage hints in the small town protagonist. Normally I hate reading an actor’s contemporary performance through his earlier shows. However, I watched the mid-’90s TV series Hamish Macbeth before Once Upon a Time (OUaT) hit ABC’s airwaves. When OUAT premiered, I squeed in noticing similarities between Hamish’s intensity and Mr. Gold’s intimidation. This year I see more parallels between Gold’s love for Belle and Hamish’s love for Isobel. So, if you’re missing Once Upon a Time and love Robert like I do, consider giving HM a chance.

About the Series

M. C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth novel series follows un-ambitious constable Hamish Macbeth in the sleepy Scottish town of Lochdubh. He unfailingly investigates the darkest murders committed by/upon visitors/long-time residents when the strain/quirks of small town isolation overcomes them. The draw of the novel is the seeming placidity of the town contrasted with the utter savagery of the committed crimes.

Similar yet dissimilar, the 1995-1997 TV show stars Robert Carlyle and the amazing Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter, Bridget Jones’ Diary, everything awesome) as Isobel. Like the small town-centric mid-’90s-to-early-’00s BBC series Monarch of the Glen and Ballykissangel, Hamish Macbeth leans towards the lighter side of crime. While the novel surrounds the outer darkness that Hamish fights, the TV series follows the creeping hints of darkness within Hamish himself. Although I felt angry at the producers for stripping out the criminal harshness, Robert Carlyle’s Hamish Macbeth felt so dark, we almost needed a lighter weekly plot as balance.

In fact, Carlyle’s character, outside of his love interests and the father-brother team, is the main draw. After him, Shirley Henderson, as the passionate brunette journalist next door, Isobel, and Valerie Gogan, as the ravishing yet wealthy blonde Alex, stood out. Although their talents and their Betty and Veronica type relationship with Hamish solidified their characters, their alter-egos also had tenets in the original novel. Athough Hamish’s first love, I disliked TV Alex’s impetuous immaturity and her high school style relationship. While lacking Alex’s stunning looks, Hamish appeared more physically attracted to Isobel and as a partner she challenged him.

Once Upon a Time Parallels

As you can tell, there are already similarities between the two shows. Both surround isolated small towns that undergo weekly disturbances and end with the townspeople gathering together. Like Hamish, Mr. Gold is a community figure that wields influence (albeit an evil one). Both he and Hamish are go-to people when the town’s in trouble. And, yes, Alex, like Lacey, is the impetuous, lost, free spirit that Gold/Macbeth bides his time with until he can get his true librarian/journalist love, Belle/Isobel. Although Isobel’s his true heart’s desire, she and Hamish undergo a dance where they briefly reunite before parting under random misunderstandings. How did I not notice earlier both Gold and Macbeth love a woman named “Bel?”

However, if you loved Mr. Gold’s intensely protective desire for Belle and his quietly sinister demeanor, you’ll love Robert Carlyle’s subtle portrayal of Hamish Macbeth. What made me enjoy Hamish, his love for Isobel and his intense darkness, is what draws me to Mr. Gold. In OUaT’s season two finale, Gold’s anguished expression upon restoring Belle’s memory (“I just needed you”), totally reminded me of Macbeth’s amazing facial implosion in the Hamish Macbeth series finale (“We could’ve been at it”) when Isobel returns. On Carlyle’s sheer passion, intensity and tenderness … all I can say is RAWR!

Next, Gold’s underlying menace and overlying calm exterior scare the crap out of me. Likewise Macbeth is one crazy mother-effer. Half the time I freaked whenever he went into intense cop mode. When two drivers pulled a hit and run on his dog, Hamish tracks them to the forest to KILL them. That is some serious crazy-ass Mr. Gold shit. Seriously, you’re going to MURDER TWO HUMANS over a DOG?! In the end, they were criminals who didn’t do it on purpose. They just didn’t notice his tiny body when it ran into the road. Remember when Mr. Gold beat the crap out of any man that looked at Lacey? Well, if you liked that, you’ll enjoy Hamish Macbeth’s gangster stand-off. When an unarmed Macbeth confronts three armed mobsters that tracked Isobel and her friends, I seriously thought he planned on murdering all three and burying their corpses in the trees. He was SO INTENSE, I thought he could do it despite being outnumbered, outgunned and outmuscled. It’s the first time I started screaming at the criminals “RUN THE EFF AWAY!!! He’s going to KILL YOU!!!”  So, if you ever meet Robert Carlyle, don’t kick his dog or hit on his girl, ‘cus he will beat the eff outta you with his cane.

Final Thoughts

I’m not going to lie, the series is hokey. The earlier episodes aren’t as well-written as the later ones. Like OUaT, the show’s community-driven. However, the supporting villagers, excluding the McRae men, lack the strong personalities of OUaT’s Jiminy Crickett, Little Red Riding Hood, and Dwarf fellowship. If you’re a Beaton fan, keep in mind Beaton’s early novels didn’t feature fully solidified supporting characters. All the same, I don’t know why the HM producers created their own village characters which were watered down personalities (I STILL can’t remember the names of the tavern keepers, the schoolteacher, or the hot doctor). But, if you’re missing OUaT, love small town BBC mysteries, and have a crazy Robert Carlyle crush, then you might want to check out Hamish Macbeth, available on Netflix (or, possibly, your local library).

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• The Prisoner: The Complete Series ($17.99)
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Is Once Upon a Time’s Belle the most anti-feminist character ever? Last season she walked out on Rumpel when he wouldn’t declare his love. But, this season, she keeps forgiving Rumpelstiltskin‘s inconceivably hugeass whoppers. She is clearly a woman who loves too much. First off, if I’ve been separated from my lover for twenty-plus years while incarcerated in an old school loony bin and then freed during a local Armageddon, I’d hope my lover would move me to safety, not say “hey, nice to see you, but do you mind if I loot the town and do a major power grab?” After that, Rumpel continued on his lie-blazing, truth-withholding, promise-breaking path by attempting to murder Regina, snapping at Belle (a woman recovering from schizophrenia), continuing to practice black magic and pretending he’s a changed man while holding Smee hostage in his basement.

Belle needs to sit down and watch every single made for TV movie shown on Lifetime starting with the Burning Bed. Would I have fallen for Robert Carlyle’s gentle accent, his gray streaked chestnut colored hair and his sincere, sentimental eyes? Maybe once or thrice. But, considering Rumpel’s blatant lies come within DAYS — or HOURS — of each other, after the third or fourth lie I might re-think hanging out with him. Does Storybrooke Belle do that? Temporarily. Does she ever stick her guns? No.

Clearly, Belle has a father complex. Rumpel’s biggest problem didn’t surround his cowardice, but his refusal to listen to his loved ones. His wife clearly voiced her unhappiness multiple times, but he consistently refused to move or explore other alternatives. And, call me crazy, but killing the mother of your child while looking for your son to show him you’ve changed, doesn’t exactly line up. Likewise, Belle’s father refused to listen to her needs in Storybrooke and let her sacrifice her body for his kingdom back in Fairy Tale Land. At this point, Belle’s showing all the classic abused woman symptoms. Woman, if he keeps promising to change, but doesn’t; refuses to seek help; continues committing violent acts against those around you; cares more about power than love; has a past history of violence and consistently lies yet apologizes ONLY when caught, it’s time to go.

Although Belle joked she was a kept woman, in a way she is considering her current relationship with Rumpel which revolves around his jewelry and gifts. Don’t get me started on Belle’s clothes. Seriously, Rumpel, you could only find baby doll skirts and three-inch heels for your girlfriend who NEVER wore heels before? REALLY? Those shoes are NOT made for Nancy Sinatra style walking.

While the little girl in me wants to see Beauty and the Beast together, the adult woman in me feels squeamish at how frequently Belle forgives Rumpel for his continuing infractions. If I had a daughter, I might want to explain Belle’s actions and not make her think “well, Belle forgave Mr. Gold for lying and he seemed so sincere, so when I grow up, I’ll always forgive MY boyfriend if he seems sad.” Am I blowing things out of proportion? Possibly. But, did anyone get the squeamish feeling that I did this season and wonder what happened Belle’s Fairy Tale Land spunk?

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