The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2023
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
The Famous Five
1x01 The Curse of Kirrin Island
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
1x07 The One with the Blackout [many-th watch]
1x08 The One Where Nana Dies Twice [many-th watch]
Ghosts
5x07 A Christmas Gift [series finale]
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Rick Astley Rocks New Year's Eve
Part 1 (of 2)
[Watch it all (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 31 December 2023
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Here we are, then — the final tally of the year! Which means a bunch of bonus stats looking back at the whole of 2023. Fun. A few things that should have turned up before the end of the year didn't, which is irritating, but doesn't make a huge difference to the sheer scale of increases on the whole...
Number of titles in collection: 3,211 [up 4 this week; up 220 in 2023]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [no change this week; down 18 in 2023]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,190 [up 4 this week; up 238 in 2023]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 321 [up 3 this week; up 99 in 2023]
Overall, not as big an increase as the last couple of years (titles went up 241 in 2022 and 240 in 2021), but it's my biggest year for 4Ks yet (vs 81 in 2022, 48 in 2021, 56 in 2020, 28 in 2019, and 9 in 2018). Shame it didn't quite get to the lovely round 100, but there you go (it should have done. Damn Parcelforce...) And in the time that 4Ks have gone from 0 to 321, DVDs have dropped back by 145 — and that's (one of the reasons) why my overall collection stays growing!
Number of discs in collection: 7,835 [up 8 this week; up 438 in 2023]
Number of films: 3,947 [up 4 this week; up 298 in 2023]
Number of additional cuts: 350 [up 1 this week; up 54 in 2023]
Number of TV episodes: 9,668 [no change this week; up 160 in 2023]
Number of short films: 1,109 [no change this week; up 84 in 2023]
Unsurprisingly (given what went on in the first block of stats), most of these are slightly down on last year. The most noteworthy drop is probably TV, where 2022's increase was 282 episodes, up from 2021's all-time low of 244 — so sinking below 200, whew. Proof if proof were needed that a lot less TV gets released on disc nowadays.
Total running time of collection (approx.):
552 days, 7 hours, and 37 minutes.
(Up 20 hours and 32 minutes from last month.)
(Up 24 days, 7 hours, and 51 minutes from last year.)
That's my lowest yearly running time increase since 2019; the past three years have all been over 30 days. I don't know what that tells us, but there it is.
See you next week for a new year to begin, faithful reader.
Here we are, then — the final tally of the year! Which means a bunch of bonus stats looking back at the whole of 2023. Fun. A few things that should have turned up before the end of the year didn't, which is irritating, but doesn't make a huge difference to the sheer scale of increases on the whole...
Number of titles in collection: 3,211 [up 4 this week; up 220 in 2023]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [no change this week; down 18 in 2023]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,190 [up 4 this week; up 238 in 2023]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 321 [up 3 this week; up 99 in 2023]
Overall, not as big an increase as the last couple of years (titles went up 241 in 2022 and 240 in 2021), but it's my biggest year for 4Ks yet (vs 81 in 2022, 48 in 2021, 56 in 2020, 28 in 2019, and 9 in 2018). Shame it didn't quite get to the lovely round 100, but there you go (it should have done. Damn Parcelforce...) And in the time that 4Ks have gone from 0 to 321, DVDs have dropped back by 145 — and that's (one of the reasons) why my overall collection stays growing!
Number of discs in collection: 7,835 [up 8 this week; up 438 in 2023]
Number of films: 3,947 [up 4 this week; up 298 in 2023]
Number of additional cuts: 350 [up 1 this week; up 54 in 2023]
Number of TV episodes: 9,668 [no change this week; up 160 in 2023]
Number of short films: 1,109 [no change this week; up 84 in 2023]
Unsurprisingly (given what went on in the first block of stats), most of these are slightly down on last year. The most noteworthy drop is probably TV, where 2022's increase was 282 episodes, up from 2021's all-time low of 244 — so sinking below 200, whew. Proof if proof were needed that a lot less TV gets released on disc nowadays.
Total running time of collection (approx.):
552 days, 7 hours, and 37 minutes.
(Up 20 hours and 32 minutes from last month.)
(Up 24 days, 7 hours, and 51 minutes from last year.)
That's my lowest yearly running time increase since 2019; the past three years have all been over 30 days. I don't know what that tells us, but there it is.
See you next week for a new year to begin, faithful reader.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
I promised more from 100Films.co.uk this Sunday, to bring 2023 to a close, but... well, I do plenty of "year in review" posts over there, it's just I do them in the first week of January — and that doesn't start 'til tomorrow.
So, nothing this week. Not a jot. But next week... oh, next week...
Yep, more next Sunday. Lots more.
So, nothing this week. Not a jot. But next week... oh, next week...
Yep, more next Sunday. Lots more.
Saturday, 30 December 2023
TV
Friends
1x05 The One with the East German Laundry Detergent [many-th watch]
1x06 The One with the Butt [many-th watch]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x07 Week 2: Tuesday
2x08 Week 2: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x02 Labor Day
1x05 The One with the East German Laundry Detergent [many-th watch]
1x06 The One with the Butt [many-th watch]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x07 Week 2: Tuesday
2x08 Week 2: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x02 Labor Day
Films
Mildred Pierce (1945)
[#92 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #12
And that's almost certainly the last film I'll watch for my 100 Films Challenge this year. It means I complete WDYMYHS, but end the overall challenge eight films short. Still, that's better than last year.
[#92 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #12
And that's almost certainly the last film I'll watch for my 100 Films Challenge this year. It means I complete WDYMYHS, but end the overall challenge eight films short. Still, that's better than last year.
Friday, 29 December 2023
TV
Friends
1x04 The One with George Stephanopoulos [many-th watch]
Ghosts
5x06 Last Resort [season finale]
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 The One with George Stephanopoulos [many-th watch]
Ghosts
5x06 Last Resort [season finale]
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
30–31 December 2021
My copy of the 2024 calender arrived today (complete with all kinds of bonus swag — fun times), so I thought I'd finish this one off, ready to start a brand-new adventure on Monday. It's a slightly underwhelming ending, because (as predicted) it sets up "next year's" (i.e. 2022's) calender, but there you go. (I got 2021's as a discount add-on when I bought 2024's — maybe if they do the same for 2025, I'll get 2022's!)
Overall, it's been fun — I'll kind of miss my character and this world — but that also means I'm excited to experience a new one in the 2024 calendar. That said, playing multiple days at a time felt about right, so I'm slightly worried dropping down to a day-by-day pace will feel a bit slow. On the other hand, having read a little of the forums, it seems they acknowledged some pacing issues with this calendar (their first), so perhaps a couple of years of adjustments will have addressed that. We'll see.
30–31 December 2021
My copy of the 2024 calender arrived today (complete with all kinds of bonus swag — fun times), so I thought I'd finish this one off, ready to start a brand-new adventure on Monday. It's a slightly underwhelming ending, because (as predicted) it sets up "next year's" (i.e. 2022's) calender, but there you go. (I got 2021's as a discount add-on when I bought 2024's — maybe if they do the same for 2025, I'll get 2022's!)
Overall, it's been fun — I'll kind of miss my character and this world — but that also means I'm excited to experience a new one in the 2024 calendar. That said, playing multiple days at a time felt about right, so I'm slightly worried dropping down to a day-by-day pace will feel a bit slow. On the other hand, having read a little of the forums, it seems they acknowledged some pacing issues with this calendar (their first), so perhaps a couple of years of adjustments will have addressed that. We'll see.
Thursday, 28 December 2023
TV
Blankety Blank
3x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
1x03 The One with the Thumb [many-th watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x10 Christmas Special [season finale]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x06 Week 2: Monday
It's called "Monday", but it went out on a Tuesday, and Osman pointedly describes it as "Day One" because they clearly had no idea what day it would air.
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
3x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
1x03 The One with the Thumb [many-th watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x10 Christmas Special [season finale]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x06 Week 2: Monday
It's called "Monday", but it went out on a Tuesday, and Osman pointedly describes it as "Day One" because they clearly had no idea what day it would air.
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Out of the Past (1947)
[#91 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #11
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
[#91 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #11
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
27–29 December 2021
This, more than anything else, is making me realise how close we are to the end of the year! Well, I guess that is part of the purpose of a calendar. (But my 2024 one hasn't arrived yet. Oh no!)
27–29 December 2021
This, more than anything else, is making me realise how close we are to the end of the year! Well, I guess that is part of the purpose of a calendar. (But my 2024 one hasn't arrived yet. Oh no!)
Wednesday, 27 December 2023
TV
Friends
1x01 The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate [many-th watch]
1x02 The One with the Sonogram at the End [many-th watch]
Here we go, off on another rewatch — coming up on four years since I happened to comment I needed to "soon", and over 10 years since I last actually did. No wonder bits were unfamiliar.
Ghosts
5x05 Carpe Diem
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Murder Is Easy
Part 1 (of 2)
Part 2 (of 2)
Murder may be easy, but making high-quality Agatha Christie adaptations clearly isn’t. I've seen worse, but, sadly, this could've been better.
[Watch the series (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x09 Episode 9
The Rookie
5x01 Double Down
1x01 The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate [many-th watch]
1x02 The One with the Sonogram at the End [many-th watch]
Here we go, off on another rewatch — coming up on four years since I happened to comment I needed to "soon", and over 10 years since I last actually did. No wonder bits were unfamiliar.
Ghosts
5x05 Carpe Diem
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Murder Is Easy
Part 1 (of 2)
Part 2 (of 2)
Murder may be easy, but making high-quality Agatha Christie adaptations clearly isn’t. I've seen worse, but, sadly, this could've been better.
[Watch the series (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x09 Episode 9
The Rookie
5x01 Double Down
Tuesday, 26 December 2023
TV
Blankety Blank
3x10 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x04 Week 1: Thursday
2x05 Week 1: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
8x04 Episode 4
8x05 Episode 5
8x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch series 8 (again) on iPlayer.]
3x10 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x04 Week 1: Thursday
2x05 Week 1: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
8x04 Episode 4
8x05 Episode 5
8x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch series 8 (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 25 December 2023
TV
Doctor Who
40x00 The Church on Ruby Road [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Not Going Out
13x08 Wilfred [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x03 Week 1: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
40x00 The Church on Ruby Road [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Not Going Out
13x08 Wilfred [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x03 Week 1: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 24 December 2023
TV
Blankety Blank
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Ghosts
5x04 En Français
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x01 Week 1: Monday
2x02 Week 1: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
17x00 At Christmas
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Ghosts
5x04 En Français
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x01 Week 1: Monday
2x02 Week 1: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
17x00 At Christmas
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
this week on 100Films.co.uk
No, your eyes do not deceive you: it's a 100Films.co.uk post that isn't at the start of a month!
Don't get too excited, though — there are no new reviews here. Rather, just a bit of site housekeeping before the end-of-year palaver kicks off.
936 days late, it’s a new Directors banner!
More next Sunday, as 2023 comes to a close.
Don't get too excited, though — there are no new reviews here. Rather, just a bit of site housekeeping before the end-of-year palaver kicks off.
936 days late, it’s a new Directors banner!
the header image at the top of my Reviews by Director listings page features the top 20 directors featured on this blog — not my 20 favourites, but the 20 with the most films I’ve reviewed — pictured in alphabetical order. Obviously, sometimes the lineup changes; but rather than modify the image every time it does, I’ve always intended to update it about once a year. The last time I did was May 2020, so a new one has been overdue for about two-and-a-half years — or 936 daysRead more here.
More next Sunday, as 2023 comes to a close.
Saturday, 23 December 2023
TV
Blankety Blank
3x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
40x0C The Giggle [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x08 Episode 8
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x20 Week 4: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
8x03 Episode 3
[Watch series 8 (again) on iPlayer.]
3x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
40x0C The Giggle [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x08 Episode 8
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x20 Week 4: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
8x03 Episode 3
[Watch series 8 (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
15–19 December 2021
Beginning to suspect this last burst of adventure is going to be a tie-in to the 2022 calendar, which I don't have and didn't intend to get (I'm going on to 2024 next, of course). I might be wrong on that count, but it'll be a little frustrating if I'm right...
15–19 December 2021
Beginning to suspect this last burst of adventure is going to be a tie-in to the 2022 calendar, which I don't have and didn't intend to get (I'm going on to 2024 next, of course). I might be wrong on that count, but it'll be a little frustrating if I'm right...
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
The stars never quite seem to align, do they? This week: the rarity of a new DVD (a free one with a Doctor Who fanzine). And it contains what I'm classing as short films, another infrequently-boosted number. But, despite acquiring quite a few recently, no 4Ks this week. If only a couple of things had moved through the post a bit quicker, there would have been — and then the stars would have aligned and every number in these stats would've gone up. Never mind.
Number of titles in collection: 3,207 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,186 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 318 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,827 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,943 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,668 [up 3]
Number of short films: 1,109 [up 3]
Oh, and as for the "nine new releases" I mentioned were expected last week? The grand total to have now turned up is... two. Will the remaining seven turn up before the end of the year? They bloody well should, but I wouldn't put money on it.
See you next week, faithful reader, for the final tally of the year!
The stars never quite seem to align, do they? This week: the rarity of a new DVD (a free one with a Doctor Who fanzine). And it contains what I'm classing as short films, another infrequently-boosted number. But, despite acquiring quite a few recently, no 4Ks this week. If only a couple of things had moved through the post a bit quicker, there would have been — and then the stars would have aligned and every number in these stats would've gone up. Never mind.
Number of titles in collection: 3,207 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,186 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 318 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,827 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,943 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,668 [up 3]
Number of short films: 1,109 [up 3]
Oh, and as for the "nine new releases" I mentioned were expected last week? The grand total to have now turned up is... two. Will the remaining seven turn up before the end of the year? They bloody well should, but I wouldn't put money on it.
See you next week, faithful reader, for the final tally of the year!
Friday, 22 December 2023
TV
Death in Paradise
12x00 Christmas Special 2022
Catching up with last year's Christmas special just before this year's... except I've got a whole series to go before I can watch that. Maybe I'm destined to be a year behind forever, now...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Ghosts
5x03 Pineapple Day
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x07 Episode 7
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x18 Week 4: Wednesday
7x19 Week 4: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
8x01 Episode 1
8x02 Episode 2
[Watch series 8 (again) on iPlayer.]
12x00 Christmas Special 2022
Catching up with last year's Christmas special just before this year's... except I've got a whole series to go before I can watch that. Maybe I'm destined to be a year behind forever, now...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Ghosts
5x03 Pineapple Day
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x07 Episode 7
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x18 Week 4: Wednesday
7x19 Week 4: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Shetland
8x01 Episode 1
8x02 Episode 2
[Watch series 8 (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
7–14 December 2021
I wanted to get a little ahead, but I didn't mean to play three days' worth! But that's because these days contain the climax to the story and a few quick days of resting and whatnot. And yet, there's still two-and-a-half weeks of the calendar to go. What will happen?!
7–14 December 2021
I wanted to get a little ahead, but I didn't mean to play three days' worth! But that's because these days contain the climax to the story and a few quick days of resting and whatnot. And yet, there's still two-and-a-half weeks of the calendar to go. What will happen?!
Thursday, 21 December 2023
Wednesday, 20 December 2023
TV
Doctor Who: The Bedtime Story
David Tennant reads the Cbeebies Bedtime Story... but in character as the Doctor, which... makes this canon? Hm.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Murder, They Hope
2x02 A Midsummer Night's Scream
2x03 The Unusual Suspects [season finale]
University Challenge
Christmas 2023 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
David Tennant reads the Cbeebies Bedtime Story... but in character as the Doctor, which... makes this canon? Hm.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Murder, They Hope
2x02 A Midsummer Night's Scream
2x03 The Unusual Suspects [season finale]
University Challenge
Christmas 2023 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Monday, 18 December 2023
TV
imagine...
Russell T Davies: The Doctor and Me
This was fantastic. A great reminder of how much important TV RTD has created, and also how important that TV has been. Doctor Who is beyond lucky to have someone of that calibre in charge.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Russell T Davies: The Doctor and Me
This was fantastic. A great reminder of how much important TV RTD has created, and also how important that TV has been. Doctor Who is beyond lucky to have someone of that calibre in charge.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
[#90 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #10
Well, I've managed one better than last year, at least.
[#90 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #10
Well, I've managed one better than last year, at least.
Sunday, 17 December 2023
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
22–24 November 2021
Despite playing ahead to cover my busy weekend, I did have some time after all. I could've just held off, but (like I said) I want to make sure I finish this in December, so playing ahead even further ahead still seems a reasonable idea.
22–24 November 2021
Despite playing ahead to cover my busy weekend, I did have some time after all. I could've just held off, but (like I said) I want to make sure I finish this in December, so playing ahead even further ahead still seems a reasonable idea.
Saturday, 16 December 2023
Fiction
The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories —
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
The Queen's Writing Table by Julie McKuras
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
The Queen's Writing Table by Julie McKuras
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I should have had a fair few titles to add this week — all new releases — but some stuff has got held up with international shipping, other things with old fashioned delays. And when I say "new releases", most were actually out next week, so, really, fair enough.
In the end, out of a possible/predicted nine new additions, only one arrived. And that's one that's technically out on Monday, so, y'know, the others could have managed it too. Ah well, no harm done — it's not like I regularly get round to watching these things...
Number of titles in collection: 3,205 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,020 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,185 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 318 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,823 [up 2]
Number of films: 3,943 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,665 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,106 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
I should have had a fair few titles to add this week — all new releases — but some stuff has got held up with international shipping, other things with old fashioned delays. And when I say "new releases", most were actually out next week, so, really, fair enough.
In the end, out of a possible/predicted nine new additions, only one arrived. And that's one that's technically out on Monday, so, y'know, the others could have managed it too. Ah well, no harm done — it's not like I regularly get round to watching these things...
Number of titles in collection: 3,205 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,020 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,185 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 318 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,823 [up 2]
Number of films: 3,943 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,665 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,106 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 15 December 2023
TV
The Graham Norton Show
31x11 (15/12/2023 edition)
With guests including Ncuti Gatwa promoting the Doctor Who Christmas special. Fortunately, Graham wasn't quite as bad about Who as he was last time he had a Doctor (or, then, two) on in a major anniversary year...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
31x11 (15/12/2023 edition)
With guests including Ncuti Gatwa promoting the Doctor Who Christmas special. Fortunately, Graham wasn't quite as bad about Who as he was last time he had a Doctor (or, then, two) on in a major anniversary year...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
16–21 November 2021
Not only playing today, but actually tomorrow too — which is what I originally had scheduled for Sunday, but some things have got muddled along the way! But the reason for playing ahead is that I've got a busy weekend to come. I can always catch up after it, of course, but I also want to make sure I finish the game on (or before) December 31st. (Not that my 2024 calendar has arrived yet...)
16–21 November 2021
Not only playing today, but actually tomorrow too — which is what I originally had scheduled for Sunday, but some things have got muddled along the way! But the reason for playing ahead is that I've got a busy weekend to come. I can always catch up after it, of course, but I also want to make sure I finish the game on (or before) December 31st. (Not that my 2024 calendar has arrived yet...)
Thursday, 14 December 2023
Fiction
The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories —
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
The Case of the Christmas Cracker by John Hall
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
The Case of the Christmas Cracker by John Hall
Wednesday, 13 December 2023
TV
Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle
Part 3 Shadows and Sleuths
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 3 Shadows and Sleuths
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 12 December 2023
TV
Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle
Part 2 Fact and Fiction
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 2 Fact and Fiction
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Audiobook
Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
Introduction to A Study in Scarlet, written & read by Stephen Fry
I bought this yonks ago, because it's exceptionally good value — the entire Holmes canon, lasting almost 72 hours, by an acclaimed reader, for one Audible credit (i.e. £7.99). Big listening commitment, though. Today (prompted, unsurprisingly, by the Lucy Worsley documentary), I loaded up the file to see if I could see the running time of certain stories. I ended up listening to Fry's introduction to the first book. This doesn't necessarily mean I'm about to embark on listening to all of it. It doesn't mean I'm not, though. (But, knowing me, I probably won't.)
Introduction to A Study in Scarlet, written & read by Stephen Fry
I bought this yonks ago, because it's exceptionally good value — the entire Holmes canon, lasting almost 72 hours, by an acclaimed reader, for one Audible credit (i.e. £7.99). Big listening commitment, though. Today (prompted, unsurprisingly, by the Lucy Worsley documentary), I loaded up the file to see if I could see the running time of certain stories. I ended up listening to Fry's introduction to the first book. This doesn't necessarily mean I'm about to embark on listening to all of it. It doesn't mean I'm not, though. (But, knowing me, I probably won't.)
Monday, 11 December 2023
TV
Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle
Part 1 Doctor and Detective
First of a three part series looking at the relationship between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous creation. It's more broad-ranging than the title might suggest, in a good way — this episode ends with Sherlock's death, spending the hour mostly talking about what led Doyle to create him, his influences, and his success in those first two novels and 24 short stories. Hopefully the next two parts continue in this vein of in-depth biography and creative history, because I've found it interesting and very informative so far.
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 1 Doctor and Detective
First of a three part series looking at the relationship between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous creation. It's more broad-ranging than the title might suggest, in a good way — this episode ends with Sherlock's death, spending the hour mostly talking about what led Doyle to create him, his influences, and his success in those first two novels and 24 short stories. Hopefully the next two parts continue in this vein of in-depth biography and creative history, because I've found it interesting and very informative so far.
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Music
The Goblin Song
by Murray Gold
Released today, the musical number from the Doctor Who Christmas special. It's about eating babies. Ridiculous, camp, and marvellous. It's already #1 on some charts; how amazing would it be if it got to be Christmas #1? I doubt it will, but stranger things have happened. And it's raising money for Children in Need, so that's nice too.
[Watch the music video (aka clip from the episode) on YouTube.]
by Murray Gold
Released today, the musical number from the Doctor Who Christmas special. It's about eating babies. Ridiculous, camp, and marvellous. It's already #1 on some charts; how amazing would it be if it got to be Christmas #1? I doubt it will, but stranger things have happened. And it's raising money for Children in Need, so that's nice too.
[Watch the music video (aka clip from the episode) on YouTube.]
Sunday, 10 December 2023
Films
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
[#88 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Blindspot 2023 #9
aka The Greatest Film of All Time, according to Sight and Sound's poll from last year. Unsurprisingly, I don't agree (I never expected to), but it's good to be able to say I've seen it (I've now seen all of the top 25, so that's nice).
[#88 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Blindspot 2023 #9
aka The Greatest Film of All Time, according to Sight and Sound's poll from last year. Unsurprisingly, I don't agree (I never expected to), but it's good to be able to say I've seen it (I've now seen all of the top 25, so that's nice).
Saturday, 9 December 2023
TV
Doctor Who
40x0C The Giggle [60th anniversary special #3]
What a finale! I'd read some of the leaks, but it worked so much better in situ (as I hoped/expected it would). The end was... kinda beautiful. Also watched the video commentary, which is on iPlayer here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x03 The Giggle [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
40x0C The Giggle [60th anniversary special #3]
What a finale! I'd read some of the leaks, but it worked so much better in situ (as I hoped/expected it would). The end was... kinda beautiful. Also watched the video commentary, which is on iPlayer here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x03 The Giggle [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Podcasts
The Official Doctor Who Podcast
60th Anniversary Special 3 - The Giggle
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
60th Anniversary Special 3 - The Giggle
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Five new titles this week, all new releases... more or less. I mean, one of them is The Exorcist on 4K (upgrading from BD), which first came out a little while back, but I was waiting for this 'regular' Steelbook that contains all five discs (the previous releases from a month or two ago either don't contain all the discs or threw in extra tat for an exorbitant price). Alongside that, there's Indiana Jones 5, also on 4K, and three new titles from Radiance, including a box set.
I'd hoped a couple of titles from Australia would be here in time for this update too, but it looks like they'll be next week now. And, even though we're almost at Christmas — which traditionally means things quieten down in anticipation of presents and before labels kick off again in the new year — I've got seven further titles on preorder that should arrive within the next fortnight.
Number of titles in collection: 3,204 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,020 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,184 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 317 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,821 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,942 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,665 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,106 [up 5]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Five new titles this week, all new releases... more or less. I mean, one of them is The Exorcist on 4K (upgrading from BD), which first came out a little while back, but I was waiting for this 'regular' Steelbook that contains all five discs (the previous releases from a month or two ago either don't contain all the discs or threw in extra tat for an exorbitant price). Alongside that, there's Indiana Jones 5, also on 4K, and three new titles from Radiance, including a box set.
I'd hoped a couple of titles from Australia would be here in time for this update too, but it looks like they'll be next week now. And, even though we're almost at Christmas — which traditionally means things quieten down in anticipation of presents and before labels kick off again in the new year — I've got seven further titles on preorder that should arrive within the next fortnight.
Number of titles in collection: 3,204 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,020 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,184 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 317 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,821 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,942 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,665 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,106 [up 5]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 8 December 2023
Fiction
The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories —
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
The Adventure of the Long-Lost Enemy by Marcia Wilson
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
The Adventure of the Long-Lost Enemy by Marcia Wilson
Thursday, 7 December 2023
Podcasts
The Official Doctor Who Podcast
60th Anniversary Special 2 - Wild Blue Yonder
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
60th Anniversary Special 2 - Wild Blue Yonder
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Fiction
The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories —
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
A Christmas Goose by C.H. Dye
This volume was first published in 2016. I did start it then, but only got one story in. Despite my best intentions, I didn’t take another run at it until December 2020, when I only managed another handful of its stories. In total, across the seven years it’s been out, I’ve only made it through six of its 31 pieces (as well as the expected stories, there are also poems and plays and whatnot).
Well, here I go again. There are (as maths may have already told you) 25 stories left — an appropriate number for December… if I’d started on time. Doesn’t look likely that I’ll finish it this December either, does it? But you don’t know unless you try, eh.
Part V: Christmas Adventures edited by David Marcum
A Christmas Goose by C.H. Dye
This volume was first published in 2016. I did start it then, but only got one story in. Despite my best intentions, I didn’t take another run at it until December 2020, when I only managed another handful of its stories. In total, across the seven years it’s been out, I’ve only made it through six of its 31 pieces (as well as the expected stories, there are also poems and plays and whatnot).
Well, here I go again. There are (as maths may have already told you) 25 stories left — an appropriate number for December… if I’d started on time. Doesn’t look likely that I’ll finish it this December either, does it? But you don’t know unless you try, eh.
Tuesday, 5 December 2023
Monday, 4 December 2023
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
1–8 October 2021
A busy weekend means I've fallen behind again; to the extent that, rather than catch it all up today, I've spread it across today and tomorrow. (All of this is being an interesting insight into how things are likely to go when I try to play 2024's calendar in real time.)
1–8 October 2021
A busy weekend means I've fallen behind again; to the extent that, rather than catch it all up today, I've spread it across today and tomorrow. (All of this is being an interesting insight into how things are likely to go when I try to play 2024's calendar in real time.)
this week on 100Films.co.uk
No new reviews on 100Films.co.uk again, of course, but it's time once more for a look back at the past month...
And I've also held this post back from its usual Sunday slot to allow for my slightly-delayed roundup of last month's "failures"...
More next Sunday? Stranger things have happened.
And I've also held this post back from its usual Sunday slot to allow for my slightly-delayed roundup of last month's "failures"...
More next Sunday? Stranger things have happened.
Sunday, 3 December 2023
TV
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x02 Wild Blue Yonder
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x17 Week 4: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
1x02 Wild Blue Yonder
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x17 Week 4: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
[2nd watch]
[#85 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
You Hurt My Feelings (2023)
[#84 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
[2nd watch]
[#85 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
You Hurt My Feelings (2023)
[#84 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Saturday, 2 December 2023
TV
Blankety Blank
3x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
40x0B Wild Blue Yonder [60th anniversary special #2]
Some fans are disappointed about the lack of cameos or overt anniversary-ness in these specials, which is not a wholly invalid complaint (when the benchmark is the likes of The Three Doctors, The Five Doctors, and The Day of the Doctor) — but, as a counterargument, it's also a celebration of the series to showcase the crazy, original, one-off kinda things it can do.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Ghosts
5x01 Fools
5x02 Home
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Leverage
5x15 The Long Good-bye Job [series finale]
A bit underwhelming as a last-ever episode, to be honest. Good thing the series has been revived, then. I'll move on to that at some point; although it's taken three years to gradually make my way through the five seasons of the original, so I don't feel a huge rush.
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x16 Week 4: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
3x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
40x0B Wild Blue Yonder [60th anniversary special #2]
Some fans are disappointed about the lack of cameos or overt anniversary-ness in these specials, which is not a wholly invalid complaint (when the benchmark is the likes of The Three Doctors, The Five Doctors, and The Day of the Doctor) — but, as a counterargument, it's also a celebration of the series to showcase the crazy, original, one-off kinda things it can do.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Ghosts
5x01 Fools
5x02 Home
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Leverage
5x15 The Long Good-bye Job [series finale]
A bit underwhelming as a last-ever episode, to be honest. Good thing the series has been revived, then. I'll move on to that at some point; although it's taken three years to gradually make my way through the five seasons of the original, so I don't feel a huge rush.
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x16 Week 4: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
There was almost some funny goings on with the numbering this week — totals going down even as new titles poured in — but, eventually, enough new stuff turned up to tip the tide, and now everything just goes up. Except for DVDs. Poor old DVDs.
The biggest culprit was the new remastered Blu-ray box set of Doctor Who series 1-4 + specials, which replaces my Steelbook copies of series 1-4... but not the specials, because the new set leaves out a whole disc from the old set. So close to being a perfect re-release, argh! On the bright side, those Steelbooks go for a small fortune, so I should make some decent money back when I get round to selling them. (Unless their value now drops...) But anyway, as that new set worked out as one Blu-ray replacing four Blu-rays, but still adding to other totals (like disc and TV episode counts), you can perhaps see where things got muddly.
Then, I bought four things on UHD during the Black Friday sales, including a BD-to-4K upgrade and a DVD-to-4K upgrade. Again, various numbers going up and down all over the place. But throw in two titles from Eureka that turned up slighty ahead of their official release dates, and overall everything goes up. Except, as I said, for poor old DVDs.
Number of titles in collection: 3,200 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,020 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,180 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 315 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,811 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,936 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,665 [up 5]
Number of short films: 1,101 [no change]
And all of that occured just in time for the latest monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
551 days, 11 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 1 hour, and 10 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
There was almost some funny goings on with the numbering this week — totals going down even as new titles poured in — but, eventually, enough new stuff turned up to tip the tide, and now everything just goes up. Except for DVDs. Poor old DVDs.
The biggest culprit was the new remastered Blu-ray box set of Doctor Who series 1-4 + specials, which replaces my Steelbook copies of series 1-4... but not the specials, because the new set leaves out a whole disc from the old set. So close to being a perfect re-release, argh! On the bright side, those Steelbooks go for a small fortune, so I should make some decent money back when I get round to selling them. (Unless their value now drops...) But anyway, as that new set worked out as one Blu-ray replacing four Blu-rays, but still adding to other totals (like disc and TV episode counts), you can perhaps see where things got muddly.
Then, I bought four things on UHD during the Black Friday sales, including a BD-to-4K upgrade and a DVD-to-4K upgrade. Again, various numbers going up and down all over the place. But throw in two titles from Eureka that turned up slighty ahead of their official release dates, and overall everything goes up. Except, as I said, for poor old DVDs.
Number of titles in collection: 3,200 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,020 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,180 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 315 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,811 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,936 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 349 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,665 [up 5]
Number of short films: 1,101 [no change]
And all of that occured just in time for the latest monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
551 days, 11 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 1 hour, and 10 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 1 December 2023
TV
Death in Paradise
11x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
It's only taken me all year to get through this series of Death in Paradise. Next: last year's Christmas special — hopefully before this year's is on...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
40x0A The Star Beast [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x15 Week 3: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
11x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
It's only taken me all year to get through this series of Death in Paradise. Next: last year's Christmas special — hopefully before this year's is on...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
40x0A The Star Beast [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x15 Week 3: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 30 November 2023
TV
Blankety Blank
3x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x14 Week 3: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
3x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x14 Week 3: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Monday, 27 November 2023
Fiction
The Spider-Queen by Austin McConnell & Elizabeth McIvor
Chapter 1
So, about 18 months ago, I backed a Kickstarter to produce an animated movie based on a public domain superhero, which may or may not be the beginning of an alternative kind of cinematic universe (learn more about that in this YouTube video; it even has its own unofficial SubReddit). While the Kickstarter movie still hasn't been completed, other related projects — ones expanding the aforementioned universe — have already come to fruition (which I guess means the movie doesn't begin the universe after all). This was the first of them: a novel based on a hero from a four-issue comic published in 1941. Yes, despite the similar name, this arachnoid hero predates Spider-Man by over 20 years.
As well as being available for Kindle and in paperback, there's also an audiobook version on Audible, and a 50-minute motion comic preview thingy on YouTube, if you're interested.
Chapter 1
So, about 18 months ago, I backed a Kickstarter to produce an animated movie based on a public domain superhero, which may or may not be the beginning of an alternative kind of cinematic universe (learn more about that in this YouTube video; it even has its own unofficial SubReddit). While the Kickstarter movie still hasn't been completed, other related projects — ones expanding the aforementioned universe — have already come to fruition (which I guess means the movie doesn't begin the universe after all). This was the first of them: a novel based on a hero from a four-issue comic published in 1941. Yes, despite the similar name, this arachnoid hero predates Spider-Man by over 20 years.
As well as being available for Kindle and in paperback, there's also an audiobook version on Audible, and a 50-minute motion comic preview thingy on YouTube, if you're interested.
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
13–21 September 2021
Accidentally fell behind over the weekend again, so today it's a three-day (nine days in-game!) catchup.
13–21 September 2021
Accidentally fell behind over the weekend again, so today it's a three-day (nine days in-game!) catchup.
Sunday, 26 November 2023
Podcasts
The Official Doctor Who Podcast
60th Anniversary Special 1 - The Star Beast
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts, apparently.]
60th Anniversary Special 1 - The Star Beast
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts, apparently.]
Saturday, 25 November 2023
TV
Doctor Who
40x0A The Star Beast [60th anniversary special #1]
Hurrah, it's finally here! Wasn't quite sure how to number this one (normally specials are attached to a series, but this is a series of specials without a series), but that's the least important thing because... yay, RTD's back! David Tennant's back! And all the fun and joy and excitement and daftness and wonder and thrills of their time are back, too. Magnificent fun. Also watched the in-vision commentary, which is available on iPlayer here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x01 The Star Beast
Ah, the new behind-the-scenes show — I would say "replacing Confidential", but as Confidential has been dead for over a decade, I guess it's connected only in spirit. But it's definitely got the same spirit. I mean, I suppose it is technically a new and modified version (Confidential never had an on-screen, on set presenter), but it feels in-keeping. And that's a good thing.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Secrets & Scandals of Doctor Who
Channel 5 getting in on the 60th in their own particular way. Though I don't think there was anything particularly new here for those up on their Doctor Who history, and it was quite classic series focused — more modern controversies (Chris Eccleston's first season and departure; John Barrowman's behaviour) aren't mentioned. So, kind of an odd duck of a doc, really.
[Watch it (again) on Channel 5.]
40x0A The Star Beast [60th anniversary special #1]
Hurrah, it's finally here! Wasn't quite sure how to number this one (normally specials are attached to a series, but this is a series of specials without a series), but that's the least important thing because... yay, RTD's back! David Tennant's back! And all the fun and joy and excitement and daftness and wonder and thrills of their time are back, too. Magnificent fun. Also watched the in-vision commentary, which is available on iPlayer here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x01 The Star Beast
Ah, the new behind-the-scenes show — I would say "replacing Confidential", but as Confidential has been dead for over a decade, I guess it's connected only in spirit. But it's definitely got the same spirit. I mean, I suppose it is technically a new and modified version (Confidential never had an on-screen, on set presenter), but it feels in-keeping. And that's a good thing.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Secrets & Scandals of Doctor Who
Channel 5 getting in on the 60th in their own particular way. Though I don't think there was anything particularly new here for those up on their Doctor Who history, and it was quite classic series focused — more modern controversies (Chris Eccleston's first season and departure; John Barrowman's behaviour) aren't mentioned. So, kind of an odd duck of a doc, really.
[Watch it (again) on Channel 5.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I feel like I got a bit carried away this Black Friday weekend... but that's all orders, of course, so they'll turn up next week (or later, as some were preorders; and a lot of what I spent was on LEGO, actually. But still — there's stuff to come).
As for this week, two new 4K titles are joined by a BD-to-4K upgrade and a 4K catalogue title to make an all-4K week. Exciting!
Number of titles in collection: 3,199 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,178 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 315 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,801 [up 7]
Number of films: 3,932 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 347 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,660 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,101 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
I feel like I got a bit carried away this Black Friday weekend... but that's all orders, of course, so they'll turn up next week (or later, as some were preorders; and a lot of what I spent was on LEGO, actually. But still — there's stuff to come).
As for this week, two new 4K titles are joined by a BD-to-4K upgrade and a 4K catalogue title to make an all-4K week. Exciting!
Number of titles in collection: 3,199 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,178 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 315 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,801 [up 7]
Number of films: 3,932 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 347 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,660 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,101 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 24 November 2023
TV
The Graham Norton Show
31x08 (24/11/2023 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News for You
66x07 (24/11/2023 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
31x08 (24/11/2023 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News for You
66x07 (24/11/2023 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 23 November 2023
TV
An Adventure in Space and Time
[2nd watch]
A timely repeat (its first for almost a decade) of this one-off drama made to celebrate Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, which depicts the series' creation and early years. More thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour
Doctor Who's second-ever serial, which introduced his long-standing nemeses, here re-edited into a brisk 75-minute movie version and, most strikingly, with its original black-and-white footage painstakingly colourised (hence the "in Colour" of the title). More thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
[2nd watch]
A timely repeat (its first for almost a decade) of this one-off drama made to celebrate Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, which depicts the series' creation and early years. More thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: The Daleks in Colour
Doctor Who's second-ever serial, which introduced his long-standing nemeses, here re-edited into a brisk 75-minute movie version and, most strikingly, with its original black-and-white footage painstakingly colourised (hence the "in Colour" of the title). More thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Radio
Zoe Ball and Friends
Zoe’s Doctor Who Special… with David Tennant and Russell T Davies
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Zoe’s Doctor Who Special… with David Tennant and Russell T Davies
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Radio
Radio 2 Celebrates Doctor Who at 60
The Modern Era...
I suppose I need to slightly take back a comment I made last time — about documentaries like this always being unfairly balanced towards nuWho — because, actually, where Part One left off at the end of 1989, 26 years into Doctor Who's story, this episode begins in... 1990, by covering the Wildness Years and TV Movie, rather than diving straight into the 2005 revival. Maybe that 'non-era' is finally getting its due...
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
The Modern Era...
I suppose I need to slightly take back a comment I made last time — about documentaries like this always being unfairly balanced towards nuWho — because, actually, where Part One left off at the end of 1989, 26 years into Doctor Who's story, this episode begins in... 1990, by covering the Wildness Years and TV Movie, rather than diving straight into the 2005 revival. Maybe that 'non-era' is finally getting its due...
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Tuesday, 21 November 2023
Radio
Radio 2 Celebrates Doctor Who at 60
The Classic Years...
BBC Radio's celebration of Doctor Who's 60th continues with this two-part history, in which host Jo Whiley links together a series of interview clips and whatnot to create an oral history. Each hour-long half focuses on one of the two major eras, Classic Who and nuWho. Once upon a time that would've seemed like pandering to the modern, but at this point, while they're not yet equal, we're comparing 26 years to 18, so, y'know, getting there.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
The Classic Years...
BBC Radio's celebration of Doctor Who's 60th continues with this two-part history, in which host Jo Whiley links together a series of interview clips and whatnot to create an oral history. Each hour-long half focuses on one of the two major eras, Classic Who and nuWho. Once upon a time that would've seemed like pandering to the modern, but at this point, while they're not yet equal, we're comparing 26 years to 18, so, y'know, getting there.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Monday, 20 November 2023
TV
The One Show
20/11/2023 edition
With guests David Tennant and Russell T Davies. Yep, more Doctor Who.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
20/11/2023 edition
With guests David Tennant and Russell T Davies. Yep, more Doctor Who.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Radio
Surviving Doctor Who: An A-Z
Part 1 (of 2)
Part 2 (of 2)
My personal Doctor Who 60th celebration may have reached its end, but that's just in time for there to be lots of official celebratory shenanigans on TV and radio — mostly the latter this time round, it feels like (the 50th brought varied documentaries and whatnot to our goggleboxes, whereas the 60th is quite a bit lighter in that department).
Here's something that's likely to remain a highlight: professional Whovian Toby Hadoke provides a whistlestop alphabetical guide to what life is like as a fan of Doctor Who. Die-hard fans will recognise everything he brings up, so casuals or newcomers may find it a worthwhile primer. Either way, it's done with a fun wink-and-nod that characterises the best of Who fandom: we take it all terribly seriously, but know how to poke fun at ourselves, too.
[Listen to both parts (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Part 1 (of 2)
Part 2 (of 2)
My personal Doctor Who 60th celebration may have reached its end, but that's just in time for there to be lots of official celebratory shenanigans on TV and radio — mostly the latter this time round, it feels like (the 50th brought varied documentaries and whatnot to our goggleboxes, whereas the 60th is quite a bit lighter in that department).
Here's something that's likely to remain a highlight: professional Whovian Toby Hadoke provides a whistlestop alphabetical guide to what life is like as a fan of Doctor Who. Die-hard fans will recognise everything he brings up, so casuals or newcomers may find it a worthwhile primer. Either way, it's done with a fun wink-and-nod that characterises the best of Who fandom: we take it all terribly seriously, but know how to poke fun at ourselves, too.
[Listen to both parts (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Sunday, 19 November 2023
TV
K-9 and Company
A Girl's Best Friend
Modern Who has given rise to multiple spin-offs — Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and Class, plus a couple of animations, not to mention all the behind-the-scenes-type series. And Big Finish have made a cottage industry out of producing entire ranges of the things. And in the Wilderness Years when proper Doctor Who was off the telly, fans took all sorts of elements and produced their own films and whatnot. But in the classic era, while various ideas were discussed from time to time, only one ever actually made it to screen: this one-off special from Christmas 1981. (It was produced as a pilot. Its ratings were strong (better than Who's at the time, in fact), but a change of channel controller meant the intended series was scrapped.) I'd never seen it... so what better pick for my 60th anniversary celebratory marathon, to honour all those other spin-offs, than the original?
And you know what, I really rather liked it. It's not perfect, but it's quite fun, with a nice Christmassy folk horror — but for kids — vibe. (Also, that means it's quite appropriate viewing for this time of year; or for next month, if you're a stickler about when to watch Christmas stuff.) I don't know whether they would've kept up that style for the full series or mixed it around more, but it's such a shame it was canned and we'll never know.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Oh, and, incidentally, this is officially the end of my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon! Well, Origins sort of was, as this technically isn't directly Doctor Who, but I've only watched it because of the marathon, so... Anyway, what seemed like a huge undertaking at the start has absolutely flown by in the end. So glad I did it — and it's left me with a tonne of stuff I want to go back to and dig into more, so I hope I keep that effort up.
Also watched today...
Behind the Sofa
18x08 K9 and Company [season finale]
For this edition of “Doctor Who Gogglebox”, they’ve chosen to only include three stars of the story itself, which leads to some nice reminisces, but it would’ve been fun to see some reactions from other Who alumni. At 36 minutes for a 49-minute episode, it’s almost a commentary track; but also, with only the three contributors throughout, a little thinner than it needs to be. It’s not bad, but it feels like a missed opportunity.
A Girl's Best Friend
Modern Who has given rise to multiple spin-offs — Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and Class, plus a couple of animations, not to mention all the behind-the-scenes-type series. And Big Finish have made a cottage industry out of producing entire ranges of the things. And in the Wilderness Years when proper Doctor Who was off the telly, fans took all sorts of elements and produced their own films and whatnot. But in the classic era, while various ideas were discussed from time to time, only one ever actually made it to screen: this one-off special from Christmas 1981. (It was produced as a pilot. Its ratings were strong (better than Who's at the time, in fact), but a change of channel controller meant the intended series was scrapped.) I'd never seen it... so what better pick for my 60th anniversary celebratory marathon, to honour all those other spin-offs, than the original?
And you know what, I really rather liked it. It's not perfect, but it's quite fun, with a nice Christmassy folk horror — but for kids — vibe. (Also, that means it's quite appropriate viewing for this time of year; or for next month, if you're a stickler about when to watch Christmas stuff.) I don't know whether they would've kept up that style for the full series or mixed it around more, but it's such a shame it was canned and we'll never know.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Oh, and, incidentally, this is officially the end of my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon! Well, Origins sort of was, as this technically isn't directly Doctor Who, but I've only watched it because of the marathon, so... Anyway, what seemed like a huge undertaking at the start has absolutely flown by in the end. So glad I did it — and it's left me with a tonne of stuff I want to go back to and dig into more, so I hope I keep that effort up.
Also watched today...
Behind the Sofa
18x08 K9 and Company [season finale]
For this edition of “Doctor Who Gogglebox”, they’ve chosen to only include three stars of the story itself, which leads to some nice reminisces, but it would’ve been fun to see some reactions from other Who alumni. At 36 minutes for a 49-minute episode, it’s almost a commentary track; but also, with only the three contributors throughout, a little thinner than it needs to be. It’s not bad, but it feels like a missed opportunity.
Radio
Doctor Who: The Wilderness Years
Matthew Sweet hosts this look at the so-called Wilderness Years — the period between Doctor Who's cancellation in 1989 and its return in 2005 when (apart from one night in 1996) it wasn't around. Except, as most Whovians know, it very much was around. I think this doc is hoping to redress that perception somewhat by highlighting the mass of fan creativity from that era, but the problem is, with only half-an-hour to work with, it can only be a whistlestop tour of just some of what was going on.
Partly that's because it wastes a load of time rehashing the story of the cancellation. Then there's a bit about the New Adventures, a bit about Audio Visuals and how that led to Big Finish, a minute or two with McGann chatting about the TVM, an acknowledgement of fan straight-to-video productions... and then we're done. Where be DWM and its comic strip? What about the webcasts? What about the stories those different media told, not just that they existed? There's not enough time for any of that. So, it's nice, but the definitive documentary is still waiting to be made.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Matthew Sweet hosts this look at the so-called Wilderness Years — the period between Doctor Who's cancellation in 1989 and its return in 2005 when (apart from one night in 1996) it wasn't around. Except, as most Whovians know, it very much was around. I think this doc is hoping to redress that perception somewhat by highlighting the mass of fan creativity from that era, but the problem is, with only half-an-hour to work with, it can only be a whistlestop tour of just some of what was going on.
Partly that's because it wastes a load of time rehashing the story of the cancellation. Then there's a bit about the New Adventures, a bit about Audio Visuals and how that led to Big Finish, a minute or two with McGann chatting about the TVM, an acknowledgement of fan straight-to-video productions... and then we're done. Where be DWM and its comic strip? What about the webcasts? What about the stories those different media told, not just that they existed? There's not enough time for any of that. So, it's nice, but the definitive documentary is still waiting to be made.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Saturday, 18 November 2023
Comics
Doctor Who: Origins by Jody Houser & Roberta Ingranata
Here we are, then: the final official Doctor for my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon — the Fugitive Doctor. There's even less to go on for her than there is for the War Doctor. Other than her couple of TV episodes, this four-part Titan comic miniseries is about it (Big Finish did announce some audios starring her ages ago, but there's no sign of their release. Rumour has it the launching of new era(s) on TV may've set them back somewhat). It does have the benefit of allowing me to tick one further type of media off my list: "Titan Comics" (differing from "DWM comics" that I did for the Fourth Doctor).
As a story in itself, it's... fine. The blurb and pullquotes on the cover do overhype it somewhat — "an essential read", things like that. It's not really essential. I mean, its depiction of the Fugitive Doctor is fine, but it doesn't really reveal any more about her character, nor give her any more memorable moments, or anything like that. If you're feeling starved of Fugitive content, it's considerably better than nothing, but the definitive story of this incarnation remains untold.
Here we are, then: the final official Doctor for my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon — the Fugitive Doctor. There's even less to go on for her than there is for the War Doctor. Other than her couple of TV episodes, this four-part Titan comic miniseries is about it (Big Finish did announce some audios starring her ages ago, but there's no sign of their release. Rumour has it the launching of new era(s) on TV may've set them back somewhat). It does have the benefit of allowing me to tick one further type of media off my list: "Titan Comics" (differing from "DWM comics" that I did for the Fourth Doctor).
As a story in itself, it's... fine. The blurb and pullquotes on the cover do overhype it somewhat — "an essential read", things like that. It's not really essential. I mean, its depiction of the Fugitive Doctor is fine, but it doesn't really reveal any more about her character, nor give her any more memorable moments, or anything like that. If you're feeling starved of Fugitive content, it's considerably better than nothing, but the definitive story of this incarnation remains untold.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
All TV additions this week; in fact, all animated. First, the latest animated missing Doctor Who story, The Underwater Menace, which replaces the DVD release from a few years ago. Second, anime series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water in 4K.
Number of titles in collection: 3,196 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,175 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 311 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,794 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,929 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 347 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,660 [up 39]
Number of short films: 1,101 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
All TV additions this week; in fact, all animated. First, the latest animated missing Doctor Who story, The Underwater Menace, which replaces the DVD release from a few years ago. Second, anime series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water in 4K.
Number of titles in collection: 3,196 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,175 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 311 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,794 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,929 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 347 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,660 [up 39]
Number of short films: 1,101 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 17 November 2023
TV
Children in Need 2023
Apparently I haven't watched Children in Need since 2020. I knew I wasn't as dedicated to these charity-athons as I used to be (I watched them religiously in my childhood, through my teens, and I guess most of my twenties too), but I thought I'd watched it more regularly than that of late. Obviously not. (I checked out the intro to last year's show while it was still on iPlayer and realised, yeah, I'd only watched the reveal of Millie Gibson as the new Who companion on social media.)
Frankly, I can't really say I watched this year's either: I dipped in and out, primarily waiting for the Doctor Who sketch. That took the form of a brand-new scene, possibly titled Destination: Skaro (per RTD on Instagram), starring David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor in an encounter (sort of) with the Daleks. You can watch it by itself on iPlayer or YouTube, as well as the whole charity event (linked below). More thoughts on Letterboxd.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x00 Children in Need
Who's new behind-the-scenes show begins (sort of — I mean, it's the first "episode" of Unleashed that's been released, but it's not full-length, is it?) with a look at the making of that Children in Need scene.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Last Leg
29x02 (17/11/2023 edition)
More Doctor Who-inspired viewing, sort of, in the sense that David Tennant was a guest tonight and I was still around my TV so ended up tuning in. I used to watch The Last Leg regularly, of course, and it was funny to see how little it's changed over the numerous years I've not been a viewer.
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
Apparently I haven't watched Children in Need since 2020. I knew I wasn't as dedicated to these charity-athons as I used to be (I watched them religiously in my childhood, through my teens, and I guess most of my twenties too), but I thought I'd watched it more regularly than that of late. Obviously not. (I checked out the intro to last year's show while it was still on iPlayer and realised, yeah, I'd only watched the reveal of Millie Gibson as the new Who companion on social media.)
Frankly, I can't really say I watched this year's either: I dipped in and out, primarily waiting for the Doctor Who sketch. That took the form of a brand-new scene, possibly titled Destination: Skaro (per RTD on Instagram), starring David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor in an encounter (sort of) with the Daleks. You can watch it by itself on iPlayer or YouTube, as well as the whole charity event (linked below). More thoughts on Letterboxd.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x00 Children in Need
Who's new behind-the-scenes show begins (sort of — I mean, it's the first "episode" of Unleashed that's been released, but it's not full-length, is it?) with a look at the making of that Children in Need scene.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Last Leg
29x02 (17/11/2023 edition)
More Doctor Who-inspired viewing, sort of, in the sense that David Tennant was a guest tonight and I was still around my TV so ended up tuning in. I used to watch The Last Leg regularly, of course, and it was funny to see how little it's changed over the numerous years I've not been a viewer.
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
Thursday, 16 November 2023
TV
Doctor Who (1996)
[6th watch]
[#83 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
aka The TV Movie. I didn’t actually intend to watch this this evening — I just put it on because I like the opening, and I was going to leave it playing because I like the idea of it notching up views on the iPlayer charts; but then I got sucked in because I genuinely love it. Also, does it count as a film? Well, that's the kind of thing I've debated on and off down the years on my other blog. But I've counted TV movies there before, so why shouldn't it?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Taskmaster
4x08 Tony Three Pies [season finale]
Completely forgot that I never finished this series of Taskmaster, which I started exactly six months ago and last watched four months ago. Oops! Normally that would be a revealing insight into what I actually think of it, but I do enjoy Taskmaster, I just kinda forgot that I’d never finished this run.
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
[6th watch]
[#83 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
aka The TV Movie. I didn’t actually intend to watch this this evening — I just put it on because I like the opening, and I was going to leave it playing because I like the idea of it notching up views on the iPlayer charts; but then I got sucked in because I genuinely love it. Also, does it count as a film? Well, that's the kind of thing I've debated on and off down the years on my other blog. But I've counted TV movies there before, so why shouldn't it?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Taskmaster
4x08 Tony Three Pies [season finale]
Completely forgot that I never finished this series of Taskmaster, which I started exactly six months ago and last watched four months ago. Oops! Normally that would be a revealing insight into what I actually think of it, but I do enjoy Taskmaster, I just kinda forgot that I’d never finished this run.
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
Fiction
Doctor Who: Time Lapse by Naomi Alderman
So, as you may or may not remember, the project that began as 11 Doctors 11 Stories in 2013 was extended to 12 Doctors 12 Stories in 2014 after the Twelfth Doctor came along. Five years later, there was a Thirteenth Doctor too, and so they took the chance torepublish the whole thing yet again be sure to cover all the Doctors, even the newest (except for the War Doctor, anyway) — and so now we have 13 Doctors, 13 Stories. Maybe they'll expand it again in 2024 for the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors. If they do, it would be nice if they went back and plugged the gaps of the War and Fugitive Doctors, wouldn't it? Though I guess 15 Doctors, 17 Stories sounds a bit weird; as does 17 Doctors, 17 Stories when we're only up to the Fifteenth Doctor.
Anyway, as this is the final story in the series for now, that makes it the end of my celebratory 60th anniversary marathon! ...right? Well, actually, I've got a couple of other things to cover first...
So, as you may or may not remember, the project that began as 11 Doctors 11 Stories in 2013 was extended to 12 Doctors 12 Stories in 2014 after the Twelfth Doctor came along. Five years later, there was a Thirteenth Doctor too, and so they took the chance to
Anyway, as this is the final story in the series for now, that makes it the end of my celebratory 60th anniversary marathon! ...right? Well, actually, I've got a couple of other things to cover first...
Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Tuesday, 14 November 2023
Monday, 13 November 2023
Sunday, 12 November 2023
Radio
My Sounds
Russell T Davies
Radio 2 and 4 and 4 Extra — and, by extension, BBC Sounds — are airing a bunch of stuff around Doctor Who's 60th anniversary; a mixture of documentaries and drama and music; much of it repeats, but new stuff too. I don't know which of those this is — it says on the app that it was released on 5th September, which could just be a repeat date, but I suspect it's that new. Anyway, it's an hour of RTD choosing music that he listens to and talking about it and stuff. Hardly essential listening, but interesting enough to have on in the background, especially if you share in the person's musical taste.
Russell T Davies
Radio 2 and 4 and 4 Extra — and, by extension, BBC Sounds — are airing a bunch of stuff around Doctor Who's 60th anniversary; a mixture of documentaries and drama and music; much of it repeats, but new stuff too. I don't know which of those this is — it says on the app that it was released on 5th September, which could just be a repeat date, but I suspect it's that new. Anyway, it's an hour of RTD choosing music that he listens to and talking about it and stuff. Hardly essential listening, but interesting enough to have on in the background, especially if you share in the person's musical taste.
Saturday, 11 November 2023
Films
Hammer A.D. 2023 (2023)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Quiz Lady (2023)
[#81 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Quiz Lady (2023)
[#81 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A grand total of seven new purchases this week, although two of them were BD-to-4K upgrades and so don't register in the headline stats (they did add some discs and short films, though). All-in, my 4K UHD collection swells by four titles and six films this week, landing on 310 titles. How many of those have I watched? Or, more accurately, how few? I dread to think...
Number of titles in collection: 3,195 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,173 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 310 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,784 [up 12]
Number of films: 3,929 [up 7]
Number of additional cuts: 347 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,101 [up 13]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A grand total of seven new purchases this week, although two of them were BD-to-4K upgrades and so don't register in the headline stats (they did add some discs and short films, though). All-in, my 4K UHD collection swells by four titles and six films this week, landing on 310 titles. How many of those have I watched? Or, more accurately, how few? I dread to think...
Number of titles in collection: 3,195 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,173 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 310 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,784 [up 12]
Number of films: 3,929 [up 7]
Number of additional cuts: 347 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,101 [up 13]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 10 November 2023
Fiction
Doctor Who: The Wonderful Doctor of Oz by Jacqueline Rayner
Chapters 1–6
My Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon reaches the final (numbered) Doctor now. For the Thirteenth Doctor, I've chosen something that's actually quite atypical for her era (not that "typical" has been my guiding motive for any other Doctor): a novel. Tie-in novels were published regularly since the TV series came back in 2005 until the end of the Twelfth Doctor era — presumably a legacy of the BBC taking over the Doctor Who fiction mini-empire Virgin had kickstarted with the New Adventures. Personally, I stopped buying them towards the end of the Tenth Doctor's time (because I wasn't actually reading them), and the number published seemed to thin out during Capaldi's era (I believe there was only one novel starring the full Series 10 TARDIS team of the Doctor, Bill and Nardole). Original fiction was published for the Thirteenth Doctor, but I think they abandoned the familiar cover style they'd been using for a decade, and seemed to get more experimental with target audience and visual identity — although, as I say, I wasn't following it closely anymore by that point, so maybe I missed something.
One range that did start during her era, and is still going (at least, they published a new one recently, but I don't think more have been announced yet), is a series that sees various Doctors encounter characters and scenarios from classics of children's literature. The Wonderful Doctor of Oz was one of the first books in the range (the other debut title featured the ever-popular Tenth Doctor, since when they've done ones starring the Fourth, Third, and Eleventh. Wouldn't it be lovely if they kept going and included all the Doctors?) Anyway, as my marathon pick for the Thirteenth Doctor presented the perennial nuWho problem of no unseen TV episodes, and as it's far too early for her to have joined Big Finish, this one novel I'd already bought was... well, virtually the only choice, to be honest (certainly without buying anything new, or digging up old DWMs for the comic strip. I have heard the Titan comics were quite good for the Thirteenth Doctor, but I haven't sorted out buying any yet).
So far, this reads just like a real Thirteenth Doctor episode. I can’t tell if it's being a (straight-faced) parody of Chibnall-era storytelling, or if it simply emulates their style so well that it feels like a parody because that style is inherently laughable. It's accuracy is a mixed blessing, then.
Chapters 1–6
My Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon reaches the final (numbered) Doctor now. For the Thirteenth Doctor, I've chosen something that's actually quite atypical for her era (not that "typical" has been my guiding motive for any other Doctor): a novel. Tie-in novels were published regularly since the TV series came back in 2005 until the end of the Twelfth Doctor era — presumably a legacy of the BBC taking over the Doctor Who fiction mini-empire Virgin had kickstarted with the New Adventures. Personally, I stopped buying them towards the end of the Tenth Doctor's time (because I wasn't actually reading them), and the number published seemed to thin out during Capaldi's era (I believe there was only one novel starring the full Series 10 TARDIS team of the Doctor, Bill and Nardole). Original fiction was published for the Thirteenth Doctor, but I think they abandoned the familiar cover style they'd been using for a decade, and seemed to get more experimental with target audience and visual identity — although, as I say, I wasn't following it closely anymore by that point, so maybe I missed something.
One range that did start during her era, and is still going (at least, they published a new one recently, but I don't think more have been announced yet), is a series that sees various Doctors encounter characters and scenarios from classics of children's literature. The Wonderful Doctor of Oz was one of the first books in the range (the other debut title featured the ever-popular Tenth Doctor, since when they've done ones starring the Fourth, Third, and Eleventh. Wouldn't it be lovely if they kept going and included all the Doctors?) Anyway, as my marathon pick for the Thirteenth Doctor presented the perennial nuWho problem of no unseen TV episodes, and as it's far too early for her to have joined Big Finish, this one novel I'd already bought was... well, virtually the only choice, to be honest (certainly without buying anything new, or digging up old DWMs for the comic strip. I have heard the Titan comics were quite good for the Thirteenth Doctor, but I haven't sorted out buying any yet).
So far, this reads just like a real Thirteenth Doctor episode. I can’t tell if it's being a (straight-faced) parody of Chibnall-era storytelling, or if it simply emulates their style so well that it feels like a parody because that style is inherently laughable. It's accuracy is a mixed blessing, then.
Thursday, 9 November 2023
Fiction
Doctor Who: Lights Out by Holly Black
Chapters 1–5 [the end]
Getting back into my Doctor Who marathon after a couple of accidental days off. So, as you may or may not remember, the 11 Doctors 11 Stories series of novellas/ebooks was originally published throughout 2013 to mark Doctor Who's 50th anniversary. But then, almost straight away, a new Doctor turned up! (Two, in fact, but they obviously decided not to worry about the War Doctor.) So, a year later, another story was added so they couldrepublish the entire thing be sure to cover all the Doctors. Here's that 12th story, then; starring the Twelfth Doctor, obv. It's not bad, but perhaps suffers from this Doctor being so new at the time — the Twelfth is a very interesting incarnation, but primarily when viewed in totality. There are also certain similarities to previous stories in the range, which is possibly an inevitable side effect of going 12th.
Chapters 1–5 [the end]
Getting back into my Doctor Who marathon after a couple of accidental days off. So, as you may or may not remember, the 11 Doctors 11 Stories series of novellas/ebooks was originally published throughout 2013 to mark Doctor Who's 50th anniversary. But then, almost straight away, a new Doctor turned up! (Two, in fact, but they obviously decided not to worry about the War Doctor.) So, a year later, another story was added so they could
Wednesday, 8 November 2023
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
27 July – 1 August 2021
Having not played yesterday, I was going to use today to catch up... but literally nothing happens on the first three days (it's a catalogue of people you can hire, but I don't have enough gold to hire anyone even if I wanted to), and then the fourth day was a shop too — so saying I "played" these is a bit of a stretch. So, I played to the end of the month (where I would've been today, which is ahead of where I should be overall anyway) and called it a day.
27 July – 1 August 2021
Having not played yesterday, I was going to use today to catch up... but literally nothing happens on the first three days (it's a catalogue of people you can hire, but I don't have enough gold to hire anyone even if I wanted to), and then the fourth day was a shop too — so saying I "played" these is a bit of a stretch. So, I played to the end of the month (where I would've been today, which is ahead of where I should be overall anyway) and called it a day.
Monday, 6 November 2023
TV
Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven 3D
A bonus bit of content for my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon, here (the main Twelfth Doctor entry is also today, under Audio Drama). Of course I've seen these episodes before (although not since they first aired in 2014), but I've never seen them... in 3D!
They weren't shot in 3D, of course, but post-converted for a theatrical release off the back of what a hit Day of the Doctor was theatrically. Said theatrical release never reached the UK, for some reason, instead taking place in the US, Canada, Russia and Denmark, of all places. But it was released on disc (again, only in the US), so a while ago I imported it, and enjoying Day in 3D the other day this has finally spurred me to watch it.
So, because this edits the two episodes together, and was primarily released theatrically in this form... does that make it a film? Oh, I can't be bothered to ponder that one too much! Although, as you can see, I've listed it in a more film-like fashion here, because... well, like I said, it's edited together so it's not "two episodes", it's a movie... sort of.
Also watched the 40-minute-ish interview with Peter and Jenna that's included as a special feature. It was ok, but has the disadvantage of taking place in the run-up to series 9, so that's what interviewer Wil Wheaton mainly wants to ask about, but of course the two stars can't actually say very much about it. (In the UK, the same interview was included on the Series 9 box set.)
[Watch Dark Water and Death in Heaven (again) — as individual episodes, in 2D — on iPlayer.]
A bonus bit of content for my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon, here (the main Twelfth Doctor entry is also today, under Audio Drama). Of course I've seen these episodes before (although not since they first aired in 2014), but I've never seen them... in 3D!
They weren't shot in 3D, of course, but post-converted for a theatrical release off the back of what a hit Day of the Doctor was theatrically. Said theatrical release never reached the UK, for some reason, instead taking place in the US, Canada, Russia and Denmark, of all places. But it was released on disc (again, only in the US), so a while ago I imported it, and enjoying Day in 3D the other day this has finally spurred me to watch it.
So, because this edits the two episodes together, and was primarily released theatrically in this form... does that make it a film? Oh, I can't be bothered to ponder that one too much! Although, as you can see, I've listed it in a more film-like fashion here, because... well, like I said, it's edited together so it's not "two episodes", it's a movie... sort of.
Also watched the 40-minute-ish interview with Peter and Jenna that's included as a special feature. It was ok, but has the disadvantage of taking place in the run-up to series 9, so that's what interviewer Wil Wheaton mainly wants to ask about, but of course the two stars can't actually say very much about it. (In the UK, the same interview was included on the Series 9 box set.)
[Watch Dark Water and Death in Heaven (again) — as individual episodes, in 2D — on iPlayer.]
Audio Drama
Doctor Who: Short Trips
10x05 Regeneration Impossible
I'm blurring lines all over the place at the minute when it comes to my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon, first because I've been accidentally mixing together different Doctors on the same days (when my original intention was to keep each era cordoned off), and now somewhat deliberately, because my pick for the Twelfth Doctor also stars the Eleventh Doctor. Well, my War Doctor pick technically primarily starred the Eleventh, and also the Tenth, so I guess there's precedent.
In terms of including as much different media as possible, this is a Big Finish production — but wait! I already did them! Ah, but this represents their non-full-cast, non-original-actor output, something I personally consider quite distinct to when they have the original cast reprising their TV roles in a fully dramatised production. Even within that style, they do several different things (including, nowadays, full cast plays with impressionists/recasts where original actors can't or won't appear). So, Short Trips are shorter tales (this only runs 30 minutes), and usually (I believe) dramatised readings — i.e. it's a prose story, not a play, read... dramatically. Would that make it an audio drama or an audiobook? (I never had that distinction before the Eighth Doctor one last month, so this is the first time I've had to consider it.) Normally I'd say the latter, because of the narration, but this one doesn't actually have narration, and is instead performed as if it were a full-cast drama, albeit with one actor doing all the roles.
That's because the peformer in question is Jacob Dudman, renowned for his amazingly accurate impressions of the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors (only the latter in this particular tale), and here has a crack at the Twelfth too. I've... heard worse. It'd pass muster in an audiobook (like how Dan Starkey does a solid-but-not-exact Eighth Doctor in that one I just mentioned, for example), but I'm not sure it's good enough to be a fullblown stand-in. Still, it's good enough that you get used to it as the play goes on. It's never as much fun as a real meeting between two Doctors (i.e. between the two actors) would be, but it has its moments.
This was going to be it for the Twelfth Doctor in my marathon (other than his novella, of course), but the extra time afforded by my incorrectly guessing the broadcast date of The Star Beast got me thinking — see today's TV post for what happened next...
10x05 Regeneration Impossible
I'm blurring lines all over the place at the minute when it comes to my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory marathon, first because I've been accidentally mixing together different Doctors on the same days (when my original intention was to keep each era cordoned off), and now somewhat deliberately, because my pick for the Twelfth Doctor also stars the Eleventh Doctor. Well, my War Doctor pick technically primarily starred the Eleventh, and also the Tenth, so I guess there's precedent.
In terms of including as much different media as possible, this is a Big Finish production — but wait! I already did them! Ah, but this represents their non-full-cast, non-original-actor output, something I personally consider quite distinct to when they have the original cast reprising their TV roles in a fully dramatised production. Even within that style, they do several different things (including, nowadays, full cast plays with impressionists/recasts where original actors can't or won't appear). So, Short Trips are shorter tales (this only runs 30 minutes), and usually (I believe) dramatised readings — i.e. it's a prose story, not a play, read... dramatically. Would that make it an audio drama or an audiobook? (I never had that distinction before the Eighth Doctor one last month, so this is the first time I've had to consider it.) Normally I'd say the latter, because of the narration, but this one doesn't actually have narration, and is instead performed as if it were a full-cast drama, albeit with one actor doing all the roles.
That's because the peformer in question is Jacob Dudman, renowned for his amazingly accurate impressions of the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors (only the latter in this particular tale), and here has a crack at the Twelfth too. I've... heard worse. It'd pass muster in an audiobook (like how Dan Starkey does a solid-but-not-exact Eighth Doctor in that one I just mentioned, for example), but I'm not sure it's good enough to be a fullblown stand-in. Still, it's good enough that you get used to it as the play goes on. It's never as much fun as a real meeting between two Doctors (i.e. between the two actors) would be, but it has its moments.
This was going to be it for the Twelfth Doctor in my marathon (other than his novella, of course), but the extra time afforded by my incorrectly guessing the broadcast date of The Star Beast got me thinking — see today's TV post for what happened next...
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