It is safe to say that the small kilt was not evolved by the common highlander nor used as typical highland wear. Many of the clan chiefs were in all but name English or sucking up to the English during the period the episode covers.

I do not think it is by pure chance that in a 10 hour series about Scotland that kilts are seen for about 2 minutes. A few seconds on soldiers putting down an uprising, a pipe band playing Bruce's address (30 seconds), modern footage of the gathering of the clans on the Royal Mile , and by the host when covering the period around King George's visit and Sir Walter Scott's creation of the highland myth.

The small kilt is now seen as a highland garment - something it was not pre King George's visit. This is not a bad thing because the kilt has become a symbol of Scotland and the Highlands . May be in some way this is the golden era of the small kilt. I like the thought that the small kilt is not a musty old relic of bare legged Highlanders running around with an 8 yard knife pleat to the sett but rather a way to make a statement relevant today.

As for tartans - some have a longer linage that most. Many of today's tartans have at best very week connections to a clan. Then there is the issue of what a clan was - but will leave that subject for another time.

As stated in the intro to the series it set out to tell a history of Scotland while cutting through the myth and flights of fancy. I feel the series succeeded in doing so. I am not a formally trained historian of Scottish history but did spend too many years hanging out in campus pubs with the likes of Scottish historian, Ted Cowan. The series rings true to the historians' view of Scotland.

Too often I have seen folks overly worry as to what clan they belonged to - or if they could wear a given tartan. This is sad given how the history of both is so much more complicated. The series has a fitting end. It takes the history in stride - but more importantly it looks forward.