Two Scottish actors. One camper van. And a whole lot of banter.
This doc follows them as they dive into their heritage with equal parts history lesson, cultural deep-dive, and buddy comedy road trip.
Trailer for “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Graham legally needs glasses to drive. Sam forces him to get behind the wheel once, and he nearly crashes.
Watch “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham”
You can watch “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham” on Prime, Starz, and Apple TV.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 82/100 (Users); 88/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: The series is co-created and fronted by actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish (both known from “Outlander”). It plays less like a stiff doc and more like a travel-adventure diary with the duo driving, eating, and arguing their way through heritage sites, cultural landmarks, and quirky adventures.
Release Date: February 14, 2021 (Starz, Season 1); August 11, 2023 (Season 2)
My Review of “Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham”
The Setup
It’s two actors, both Scottish and both hilarious in different ways, hitting the open road in a camper van. Sam Heughan plays the excitable tour guide. Graham McTavish is the grumpy-but-game passenger who’d rather have a dram by the fire.
Together, they zigzag across Scotland (castles, Highland Games, whisky distilleries, battlefields).
Then they surprise fans by taking the second season all the way to New Zealand(tracing the Scottish-Maori connection).
More Highlights from the Doc
- In the Highland Games episode, locals crush centuries-old strength challenges. Sam and Graham can barely lift the ancient stones. Watching two action stars fail at medieval feats is peak Scottish comedy.
- Sam drags Graham into a freezing loch for “wild swimming”—Graham lasts about 10 seconds.
- They sample haggis in Edinburgh, whisky in Islay, and seafood along the coast—turning every food stop into another round of ribbing each other.
- History lessons sneak in: Culloden battlefield, Jacobite uprisings, clan rivalries, and Scotland’s role in global migration.
- In New Zealand, they learn about Highland pipe bands that formed in Auckland in the 19th century and how Scottish settlers built towns like Dunedin (named after Edinburgh).
- Season two shifts gears entirely. Sam convinces Graham to fly to New Zealand, where they’re suddenly learning Maori haka, rolling down Rotorua hills, and sipping wine in Queenstown. This is all while tying it back to Scottish migration history.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Much of the series is unscripted—the constant ribbing and mock-arguments weren’t planned, they just left the cameras rolling.
- Sam often pranks Graham by springing physical challenges on him without warning—like suddenly suggesting bungee jumping in Queenstown.
- The camper van itself becomes a recurring “character”—from arguments over bed space to Sam’s obsession with playlists Graham hates.
Wrap Up:
If you like history, comedy, or just watching two friends roast each other in kilts, this one’s a joyride. Think “Top Gear” meets “Outlander”—with whisky. I loved this one even more since I also have Scottish heritage.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc