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.]
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