Doctor Who
40x00 The Church on Ruby Road [Christmas special; 2nd watch]
Rewatching before the season-starting double-bill of new episodes at midnight.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: Unleashed
1x04 The Church on Ruby Road [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friday, 10 May 2024
Videos
Talks Machina
#65 'Harvest Close'
Well, here's one series that won't be on Beacon...
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
#65 'Harvest Close'
Well, here's one series that won't be on Beacon...
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
Thursday, 9 May 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x17 Harvest Close [2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Today, Critical Role announced their own membership/streaming service, Beacon. I'm tempted to sign up, though most of the perks aren't relevant to me at this point — for example, exclusive series Critical Role Cooldown doesn't kick in until at least 207 episodes (c.830 hours of viewing) after where I'm currently at. ("At least" because that's not counting one-shots and miniseries and the like that I'll likely watch between Campaigns 2 and 3.) On the other hand, it would mean ad-free viewing from Campaign 2 Episode 20 onwards (Campaign 1 and Campaign 2 Episodes 1–19 remain exclusive to Geek & Sundry's YouTube, I guess for legal reasons).
2x17 Harvest Close [2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Today, Critical Role announced their own membership/streaming service, Beacon. I'm tempted to sign up, though most of the perks aren't relevant to me at this point — for example, exclusive series Critical Role Cooldown doesn't kick in until at least 207 episodes (c.830 hours of viewing) after where I'm currently at. ("At least" because that's not counting one-shots and miniseries and the like that I'll likely watch between Campaigns 2 and 3.) On the other hand, it would mean ad-free viewing from Campaign 2 Episode 20 onwards (Campaign 1 and Campaign 2 Episodes 1–19 remain exclusive to Geek & Sundry's YouTube, I guess for legal reasons).
Wednesday, 8 May 2024
TV
Doctor Who
3x36 Johnny Ringo
3x37 The O.K. Corral
aka The Gunfighters Parts Three and Four
Trivia time! The fourth and final instalment of The Gunfighters is the last episode of Doctor Who to have an individual episode title (excluding one-parters like The Five Doctors) until the new series started doing it again with their two-parters, 39 years later.
[Watch Johnny Ringo and The O.K. Corral (again) on iPlayer.]
3x36 Johnny Ringo
3x37 The O.K. Corral
aka The Gunfighters Parts Three and Four
Trivia time! The fourth and final instalment of The Gunfighters is the last episode of Doctor Who to have an individual episode title (excluding one-parters like The Five Doctors) until the new series started doing it again with their two-parters, 39 years later.
[Watch Johnny Ringo and The O.K. Corral (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 7 May 2024
Monday, 6 May 2024
Comics
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Six: Then, the Immortal Blue… [the end]
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Six: Then, the Immortal Blue… [the end]
Videos
Critical Role
2x16 A Favor in Kind
Matt: "You're now going to lay low for about three days, taking a break from the story, so you can do things like shopping or whatever you want."
Me: Oh, great, an hour-and-a-half of nothing much.
The Mighty Nein: Repeatedly fuck up and almost get caught; wander through the streets on drugs; somehow manage to further the story anyway.
Me: How is this show always gold?!
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x16 A Favor in Kind
Matt: "You're now going to lay low for about three days, taking a break from the story, so you can do things like shopping or whatever you want."
Me: Oh, great, an hour-and-a-half of nothing much.
The Mighty Nein: Repeatedly fuck up and almost get caught; wander through the streets on drugs; somehow manage to further the story anyway.
Me: How is this show always gold?!
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Sunday, 5 May 2024
Comics
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Five: The Fairy-Feller's Master-Stroke
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Five: The Fairy-Feller's Master-Stroke
this week on 100Films.co.uk
No regular reviews on 100Films.co.uk this week, but it was time to review the month just gone...
...and also list all the films I maybe should've, but didn't, watch during it...
More next Sunday.
...and also list all the films I maybe should've, but didn't, watch during it...
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 4 May 2024
Films
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
[#35 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Mazes and Monsters (1982)
[#35 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Mazes and Monsters (1982)
Comics
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Four: If Fictions Fare Not True--
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Four: If Fictions Fare Not True--
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
2–5 May 2024
Once again caught up (not ahead, just that Saturday and Sunday share a page).
2–5 May 2024
Once again caught up (not ahead, just that Saturday and Sunday share a page).
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Another moderately hefty update this week, which kind of snuck up on me. Okay, almost half of it was another bulk order from the US (a different site for different reasons this time, so not technically connected to the other two... but it's still a pile of US titles all arriving at once, so, y'know); but the rest of it kind of crept in. Three are new releases, one arriving more promptly than its label (Anime Ltd) usually manage, the other two dispatched later than normal and, consequently, arriving a few days late; and one's a new release for next week, arriving uncommonly early (by recent standards); and the final two are a couple of "black market" versions of titles unavailable in official releases (John Woo Hong Kong classics The Killer and Hard Boiled).
Across those there's all kinds of content, meaning every category changes this week — including DVDs edging ever closer to slipping below 1,000 titles.
Number of titles in collection: 3,287 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,004 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,283 [up 12]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 348 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,965 [up 15]
Number of films: 4,047 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 385 [up 6]
Number of TV episodes: 9,716 [up 25]
Number of short films: 1,136 [up 7]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Another moderately hefty update this week, which kind of snuck up on me. Okay, almost half of it was another bulk order from the US (a different site for different reasons this time, so not technically connected to the other two... but it's still a pile of US titles all arriving at once, so, y'know); but the rest of it kind of crept in. Three are new releases, one arriving more promptly than its label (Anime Ltd) usually manage, the other two dispatched later than normal and, consequently, arriving a few days late; and one's a new release for next week, arriving uncommonly early (by recent standards); and the final two are a couple of "black market" versions of titles unavailable in official releases (John Woo Hong Kong classics The Killer and Hard Boiled).
Across those there's all kinds of content, meaning every category changes this week — including DVDs edging ever closer to slipping below 1,000 titles.
Number of titles in collection: 3,287 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,004 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,283 [up 12]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 348 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,965 [up 15]
Number of films: 4,047 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 385 [up 6]
Number of TV episodes: 9,716 [up 25]
Number of short films: 1,136 [up 7]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 3 May 2024
TV
Doctor Who
3x34 A Holiday for the Doctor
aka The Gunfighters Part One. After watching OK Corral-centric movie My Darling Clementine the other month, I was prompted to finally tackle this (shall we say) divisive story, which covers the same events... in its own syle...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x34 A Holiday for the Doctor
aka The Gunfighters Part One. After watching OK Corral-centric movie My Darling Clementine the other month, I was prompted to finally tackle this (shall we say) divisive story, which covers the same events... in its own syle...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Three: Dawn Is But Dark's Endeavour
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Three: Dawn Is But Dark's Endeavour
Thursday, 2 May 2024
TV
Doctor Who
15x04 Horror of Fang Rock Part Four
Sometimes I watch a Who story and think “this is great ‘n’ all, but it would also make a great standalone movie.” Fang Rock is one of those times — it would have so much potential repurposed as a low-budget, creepy, claustrophobic horror movie. That’s partly why it’s perfect for classic Who too — no futile attempts to punch above its weight (though the new effects do help in that regard); just some nicely-done confined lighthouse sets and a bunch of well-sketched and -performed characters. And a total bloodbath of a finale.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
15x04 Horror of Fang Rock Part Four
Sometimes I watch a Who story and think “this is great ‘n’ all, but it would also make a great standalone movie.” Fang Rock is one of those times — it would have so much potential repurposed as a low-budget, creepy, claustrophobic horror movie. That’s partly why it’s perfect for classic Who too — no futile attempts to punch above its weight (though the new effects do help in that regard); just some nicely-done confined lighthouse sets and a bunch of well-sketched and -performed characters. And a total bloodbath of a finale.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Two: And an Age of Giants, Adieu
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Two: And an Age of Giants, Adieu
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
Comics
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
One: Farewell to Forever
This collected edition of the fourth and final LXG miniseries was released in late 2019, and... I think that's when I bought it? I intended to read it quickly, and I've had it ready to go here, templated up behind-the-scenes, all that time — i.e. four-and-a-half years. Jesus. Well, finally, here I go! It took some getting back in to — struggling to remember who everyone was (got there in the end, I think) and what the dangling plot threads were (honestly? Still not really sure) — but it's still good stuff, with striking art from O'Neill and dense storytelling from Moore.
Although I'm listing this as if it's one chapter, the collected edition presents it issue by issue — i.e. the bonus back matter, which previous League series have collated and included at the end of the volume, is here scattered throughout, as in its original publication. I'm certain there are good story reasons for that, but it's not worth individually listing every bonus comic and fake letters page and so on. So, take it as read going forward that "One" (etc) isn't really "The Tempest: Part One", it's "The Tempest: Issue One" (if that distinction makes sense).
Volume IV: The Tempest by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
One: Farewell to Forever
This collected edition of the fourth and final LXG miniseries was released in late 2019, and... I think that's when I bought it? I intended to read it quickly, and I've had it ready to go here, templated up behind-the-scenes, all that time — i.e. four-and-a-half years. Jesus. Well, finally, here I go! It took some getting back in to — struggling to remember who everyone was (got there in the end, I think) and what the dangling plot threads were (honestly? Still not really sure) — but it's still good stuff, with striking art from O'Neill and dense storytelling from Moore.
Although I'm listing this as if it's one chapter, the collected edition presents it issue by issue — i.e. the bonus back matter, which previous League series have collated and included at the end of the volume, is here scattered throughout, as in its original publication. I'm certain there are good story reasons for that, but it's not worth individually listing every bonus comic and fake letters page and so on. So, take it as read going forward that "One" (etc) isn't really "The Tempest: Part One", it's "The Tempest: Issue One" (if that distinction makes sense).
Games
Box One
An "escape room in a box"-type game, specifically designed to be attempted by a single player, created by actor/author/magician/etc Neil Patrick Harris (so he's an actual toymaker as well as playing one!)
I've wanted this for a while, finally bought it thanks to a discount code, and it arrived yesterday — which seemed like perfect timing to play it as a birthday treat. (Oh, yes, today's my birthday.) So far, it's lots of fun, with at least one fantastic twist. I had sort of intended to play through it in one sitting, but I started later than intended in the end, and when I reached a point where you're asked to wait 24 hours*, it seemed a good jumping-off point.
* apparently you don't actually have to wait 24 hours (I looked it up on a forum, being careful to avoid spoilers), but, like I said, it was late and so on. I'll continue (and finish?) tomorrow.
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
29 April – 1 May 2024
An "escape room in a box"-type game, specifically designed to be attempted by a single player, created by actor/author/magician/etc Neil Patrick Harris (so he's an actual toymaker as well as playing one!)
I've wanted this for a while, finally bought it thanks to a discount code, and it arrived yesterday — which seemed like perfect timing to play it as a birthday treat. (Oh, yes, today's my birthday.) So far, it's lots of fun, with at least one fantastic twist. I had sort of intended to play through it in one sitting, but I started later than intended in the end, and when I reached a point where you're asked to wait 24 hours*, it seemed a good jumping-off point.
* apparently you don't actually have to wait 24 hours (I looked it up on a forum, being careful to avoid spoilers), but, like I said, it was late and so on. I'll continue (and finish?) tomorrow.
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
29 April – 1 May 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x15 Where the River Goes [1st half]
With this episode, I pass 10% of the way through Campaign 2, both in terms of episode count and running time (worth noting because, although most episodes are a similar length, they range from 3-hours to 7-hours across the campaign. Ok, there's actually only one of the latter, but there are half-a-dozen around the 5-hour mark). So far, I've watched almost 60 hours (not counting Talks Machina) and it's still just beginning!
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x15 Where the River Goes [1st half]
With this episode, I pass 10% of the way through Campaign 2, both in terms of episode count and running time (worth noting because, although most episodes are a similar length, they range from 3-hours to 7-hours across the campaign. Ok, there's actually only one of the latter, but there are half-a-dozen around the 5-hour mark). So far, I've watched almost 60 hours (not counting Talks Machina) and it's still just beginning!
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Films
Where Is the Friend's House? (1987)
[#32 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Blindspot 2024 #4
[#32 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Blindspot 2024 #4
Monday, 29 April 2024
Sunday, 28 April 2024
TV
Doctor Who
6x44 The War Games Episode Ten [season finale]
Endings a-go-go this episode: the end of Jamie and Zoe's time as companions; the end of Patrick Troughton's tenure as the Doctor; the end of the '60s; the end of the show's black-and-white era... And, unusually for this era of TV, it does actually feel like a season finale, with the Doctor and co captured by the Time Lords (in their first appearance) and forced to face their fate. It's also fantasic stuff; a great culmination to an all-round great serial.
Considering how many Who six-parters have pacing issues (heck, even plenty of four-parters don’t know what to do with episode three), it’s remarkable how well Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke keep this story flowing across ten instalments, with minimal pointless running around or repetition. I’d argue their only major misstep is completely writing Lady Jennifer out halfway through without any kind of resolution.
It helps that the cast are excellent across the board — to be expected of the regulars, of course (the 2nd Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are surely one of the finest TARDIS teams); but there are multiple fantastic supporting performances. Put one of them in almost any other serial and it would probably be remembered as a standout, but here they’re all running side by side, which perhaps makes it easy to overlook just how fantastic they all are.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
6x44 The War Games Episode Ten [season finale]
Endings a-go-go this episode: the end of Jamie and Zoe's time as companions; the end of Patrick Troughton's tenure as the Doctor; the end of the '60s; the end of the show's black-and-white era... And, unusually for this era of TV, it does actually feel like a season finale, with the Doctor and co captured by the Time Lords (in their first appearance) and forced to face their fate. It's also fantasic stuff; a great culmination to an all-round great serial.
Considering how many Who six-parters have pacing issues (heck, even plenty of four-parters don’t know what to do with episode three), it’s remarkable how well Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke keep this story flowing across ten instalments, with minimal pointless running around or repetition. I’d argue their only major misstep is completely writing Lady Jennifer out halfway through without any kind of resolution.
It helps that the cast are excellent across the board — to be expected of the regulars, of course (the 2nd Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are surely one of the finest TARDIS teams); but there are multiple fantastic supporting performances. Put one of them in almost any other serial and it would probably be remembered as a standout, but here they’re all running side by side, which perhaps makes it easy to overlook just how fantastic they all are.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
this week on 100Films.co.uk
It's been a bit of a quiet month, but this week there was 1 new review published on 100Films.co.uk...
I.S.S. (2023)
Join me next Sunday for a look back at April.
I.S.S. (2023)
the film is set in the present day, with the I.S.S. currently crewed by three American and three Russian astronauts... down on Earth, war breaks out between the US and Russia, and each trio’s commander is instructed by their respective ground control to secure the station as a key asset. [It's] an enticing setup; indeed, it’s what sold me on watching the film as soon as I heard about it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have any fresh ideas beyond that inciting incident.Read more here.
Join me next Sunday for a look back at April.
Saturday, 27 April 2024
Films
12th Fail (2023)
[#30 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2024 #4
[#30 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2024 #4
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Four new additions this week, two of which I was certain wouldn't turn up 'til Monday. Oh, the fun of the post! (I had four titles released next Monday on preorder with HMV, all in the same order. Two arrived today, two haven't even dispatched yet.)
Of note, one of the four has so many alternate cuts of the film that "additional cuts" rises by almost as much as "films" this week. (It was more, then those two other titles turned up.)
Number of titles in collection: 3,276 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,005 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,271 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 346 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,950 [up 5]
Number of films: 4,037 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 379 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes: 9,691 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,129 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Four new additions this week, two of which I was certain wouldn't turn up 'til Monday. Oh, the fun of the post! (I had four titles released next Monday on preorder with HMV, all in the same order. Two arrived today, two haven't even dispatched yet.)
Of note, one of the four has so many alternate cuts of the film that "additional cuts" rises by almost as much as "films" this week. (It was more, then those two other titles turned up.)
Number of titles in collection: 3,276 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,005 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,271 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 346 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,950 [up 5]
Number of films: 4,037 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 379 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes: 9,691 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,129 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 26 April 2024
Films
The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971)
aka Satan's Skin (apparently the director's preferred title, and thus the title used onscreen on the Blu-ray I watched)
aka Satan's Skin (apparently the director's preferred title, and thus the title used onscreen on the Blu-ray I watched)
Thursday, 25 April 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x13 Lost & Found
This episode took a little while to really warm up (especially coming after how astonishing the last one was), but it eventually led to some great stuff — including some dialogue/acting so good they used the audio in the teaser trailer for the animated series, so, y'know, iconic stuff.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x13 Lost & Found
This episode took a little while to really warm up (especially coming after how astonishing the last one was), but it eventually led to some great stuff — including some dialogue/acting so good they used the audio in the teaser trailer for the animated series, so, y'know, iconic stuff.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Monday, 22 April 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x12 Midnight Espionage [2nd half]
"Whoa, we're fighting a carpet!"
As previously expressed, I love this show; but dang, it's hard to fit four-hour episodes into my schedule. So, I planned to abandon this episode for another day with about an hour to go... but it's so good that I just kept watching to the end (and what an ending it was!) Who needs sleep?
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x12 Midnight Espionage [2nd half]
"Whoa, we're fighting a carpet!"
As previously expressed, I love this show; but dang, it's hard to fit four-hour episodes into my schedule. So, I planned to abandon this episode for another day with about an hour to go... but it's so good that I just kept watching to the end (and what an ending it was!) Who needs sleep?
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Sunday, 21 April 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x12 Midnight Espionage [1st half]
"He took an hour to cosplay his dick!"
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x12 Midnight Espionage [1st half]
"He took an hour to cosplay his dick!"
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Saturday, 20 April 2024
Comics
2000 AD #2370–2371
I don't like to — indeed, I don't think I actually have before — but I've just given up on one of the current strips. I read through its last (half-)run and didn't enjoy it, it's just a pointless chore, so I'm just not gonna read the rest of it. Not ideal — it makes a fifth of each issue a waste of space and money — but at least I'm not also wasting my time on it.
I don't like to — indeed, I don't think I actually have before — but I've just given up on one of the current strips. I read through its last (half-)run and didn't enjoy it, it's just a pointless chore, so I'm just not gonna read the rest of it. Not ideal — it makes a fifth of each issue a waste of space and money — but at least I'm not also wasting my time on it.
Videos
Critical Role
2x11 Zemnian Nights [2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Talks Machina
#59 Live from WonderCon 2018
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
2x11 Zemnian Nights [2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Talks Machina
#59 Live from WonderCon 2018
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
After last week's epic, this week is almost the polar opposite: just one new addition. But it is time for the monthly running time update!
Number of titles in collection: 3,272 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,005 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,267 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 344 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,945 [up 1]
Number of films: 4,032 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 375 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,691 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,129 [no change]
Now, here's a funny one: despite the mass of new additions, the running time has gone down. What?! To be honest, I don't understand either. Did I do some maths wrong? Possibly. There were some upgrades this past month, so maybe that's fucked with things too. But to lose over two whole days... Yeah, worried this has gone wrong somewhere down the line. (Of course, it could've been wrong before and this is the course-correct. Let's hope it's that.)
Total running time of collection (approx.):
553 days, 6 hours, and 39 minutes.
(Down 2 days, 9 hours, and 32 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
After last week's epic, this week is almost the polar opposite: just one new addition. But it is time for the monthly running time update!
Number of titles in collection: 3,272 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,005 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,267 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 344 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,945 [up 1]
Number of films: 4,032 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 375 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,691 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,129 [no change]
Now, here's a funny one: despite the mass of new additions, the running time has gone down. What?! To be honest, I don't understand either. Did I do some maths wrong? Possibly. There were some upgrades this past month, so maybe that's fucked with things too. But to lose over two whole days... Yeah, worried this has gone wrong somewhere down the line. (Of course, it could've been wrong before and this is the course-correct. Let's hope it's that.)
Total running time of collection (approx.):
553 days, 6 hours, and 39 minutes.
(Down 2 days, 9 hours, and 32 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 19 April 2024
TV
Doctor Who
6x35 The War Games Episode One
I always intend to watch more Classic Who, then sort of forget to and just... don't. Well (spoilers for a 30-year-old niche TV tie-in book incoming), after it turned out that Timewyrm: Exodus was a sequel to this TV story, I decided it was about time I got round to watching it. I read the novelisation decades ago, and enjoyed it a lot, which I think is part of why I've put off watching it — sometimes the actual episodes struggle to live up to their book counterparts; and, having read it, this was a story I'd 'experienced', whereas there are so many (many) others that I haven't 'experienced' in any form. (Saying I've "experienced" it sounds a bit wanky (hence the speechmarks), but what other catch-all term is there for something I might have watched, read, or listened to?) Anyway, let's hope it lives up to all those expectations...
Also: this is the first Classic Who I've watched since it's all been available on iPlayer. (Well, except for K-9 and Company, which is a spin-off, and a random accidental rewatch of the TV Movie, which isn't really Classic Who, is it? So, yay iPlayer! Of course, I actually watched my DVD copy.)
Oh, and today is the 55th anniversary of this episode’s original broadcast. Not at all why I decided to watch it, so what a coincidence! It’s a ten-parter, so back in 1969 it would carry on until late June. I’m aiming to finish it before May begins.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
6x35 The War Games Episode One
I always intend to watch more Classic Who, then sort of forget to and just... don't. Well (spoilers for a 30-year-old niche TV tie-in book incoming), after it turned out that Timewyrm: Exodus was a sequel to this TV story, I decided it was about time I got round to watching it. I read the novelisation decades ago, and enjoyed it a lot, which I think is part of why I've put off watching it — sometimes the actual episodes struggle to live up to their book counterparts; and, having read it, this was a story I'd 'experienced', whereas there are so many (many) others that I haven't 'experienced' in any form. (Saying I've "experienced" it sounds a bit wanky (hence the speechmarks), but what other catch-all term is there for something I might have watched, read, or listened to?) Anyway, let's hope it lives up to all those expectations...
Also: this is the first Classic Who I've watched since it's all been available on iPlayer. (Well, except for K-9 and Company, which is a spin-off, and a random accidental rewatch of the TV Movie, which isn't really Classic Who, is it? So, yay iPlayer! Of course, I actually watched my DVD copy.)
Oh, and today is the 55th anniversary of this episode’s original broadcast. Not at all why I decided to watch it, so what a coincidence! It’s a ten-parter, so back in 1969 it would carry on until late June. I’m aiming to finish it before May begins.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Videos
Critical Role
2x11 Zemnian Nights [1st half]
"Some... unique excursions into the city today."
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x11 Zemnian Nights [1st half]
"Some... unique excursions into the city today."
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Comics
Spawn: Origins Collection, Vol.1 by Todd McFarlane
#6 Payback Part 1 [the end]
As mentioned when I read #5, my very next issue of Spawn is also an ending, because I've switched to a different series of graphic novel collections (a digital one). Yes, they chose to end the volume on a "Part One". I guess nothing says "all of the books in this series will contain the same number of issues and we're assuming you're just gonna buy them all" more than that.
Spawn: Origins Collection, Vol.2 by Todd McFarlane
#7 Payback Part 2
Feels kinda silly splitting a two-parter that I read in one sitting like this, but this is technically how I read 'em, so that's how I list 'em.
#6 Payback Part 1 [the end]
As mentioned when I read #5, my very next issue of Spawn is also an ending, because I've switched to a different series of graphic novel collections (a digital one). Yes, they chose to end the volume on a "Part One". I guess nothing says "all of the books in this series will contain the same number of issues and we're assuming you're just gonna buy them all" more than that.
Spawn: Origins Collection, Vol.2 by Todd McFarlane
#7 Payback Part 2
Feels kinda silly splitting a two-parter that I read in one sitting like this, but this is technically how I read 'em, so that's how I list 'em.
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Fiction
Doctor Who: The New Adventures
Timewyrm: Exodus by Terrance Dicks
Part 3, Chapters 11–15
Part 4, Chapters 1–2
Epilogue + Coda [the end]
Far be it from me to criticise the wonderful Terrance Dicks, but that epilogue... it's not an epilogue, it's a chapter; a proper, concluding part of the story. It bugs me a bit whenever books do that. Especially as then there's a "coda" too, for a bit which is an epilogue.
Ah well. It's an enjoyable read overall, and a small bit of misnaming at the end can't undermine that too much.
Timewyrm: Exodus by Terrance Dicks
Part 3, Chapters 11–15
Part 4, Chapters 1–2
Epilogue + Coda [the end]
Far be it from me to criticise the wonderful Terrance Dicks, but that epilogue... it's not an epilogue, it's a chapter; a proper, concluding part of the story. It bugs me a bit whenever books do that. Especially as then there's a "coda" too, for a bit which is an epilogue.
Ah well. It's an enjoyable read overall, and a small bit of misnaming at the end can't undermine that too much.
Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Monday, 15 April 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x10 Waste and Webs [1st half]
At some point maybe I'll tire of watching this relentlessly and get back to a greater mix of viewing; but right now, I just want to spend most of my time watching Critical Role, so...
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Talks Machina
#57 'Steam and Conversation'
Watched this first, obv, but still listing things alphbetically.
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
2x10 Waste and Webs [1st half]
At some point maybe I'll tire of watching this relentlessly and get back to a greater mix of viewing; but right now, I just want to spend most of my time watching Critical Role, so...
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Talks Machina
#57 'Steam and Conversation'
Watched this first, obv, but still listing things alphbetically.
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
Sunday, 14 April 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x09 Steam and Conversation
Yay, a Doctor Who reference! (Yes, that fleeting moment is my primary takeaway from this near-four-hour episode. Would you expect anything else?)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x09 Steam and Conversation
Yay, a Doctor Who reference! (Yes, that fleeting moment is my primary takeaway from this near-four-hour episode. Would you expect anything else?)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Saturday, 13 April 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x08 The Gates of Zadash [2nd half]
This was a bit of an "eh, fine" transitional/travel episode (with one killer joke; although a joke where the cultural reference doesn't travel to the UK, but the cast's reaction is hilarious) — that is, until Pumat Sol turns up, at which point it becomes sublime.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Talks Machina
#56 'The Gates of Zadash'
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
2x08 The Gates of Zadash [2nd half]
This was a bit of an "eh, fine" transitional/travel episode (with one killer joke; although a joke where the cultural reference doesn't travel to the UK, but the cast's reaction is hilarious) — that is, until Pumat Sol turns up, at which point it becomes sublime.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Talks Machina
#56 'The Gates of Zadash'
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
At the end of last month I mentioned there might be a record-breaking week on the way due to a couple of large orders from the US I'd just placed. Well, they arrived this week, alongside a few UK orders, and... it didn't quite make it!
I say that — it depends how you count these things. Because I acquired 21 new titles this week, which is a tie for the previous record; but, because so many were upgrades (mostly DVD straight to 4K, plus a swap of one Blu-ray edition for another), the net increase is only +15, whereas the previous record was +17. So, in one respect it's a tie, and in another it's a couple short. (In case you were wondering (I certainly did), the 8 increase for UHD is a lot, but the record is 10 from last September.)
Number of titles in collection: 3,271 [up 15]
Of which DVDs: 1,005 [down 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,266 [up 18]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 344 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 7,944 [up 33]
Number of films: 4,031 [up 20]
Number of additional cuts: 375 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes: 9,691 [up 18]
Number of short films: 1,129 [no change]
Aside from getting carried away with US orders (I placed one postage-spreading large order, then discovered a title I'd wanted that I'd missed, and ended up finding enough more for another postage-spreading large order; and my willpower was too weak to resist just ordering them all), the other main news this week comes from my UK purchases: I now own a truly ridiculous number of copies of Enter the Dragon — especially as it's the only Bruce Lee film I've actually seen (watched on TV many moons ago) and I didn't care for it that much (I've always assumed I'll 'get it' when I go back to it, I just haven't yet). So, I own it on a DVD I've never watched, which I've kept because it has an exclusive feature-length documentary; then it was part of Criterion's Bruce Lee Blu-ray set; then I also bought Arrow's Bruce Lee 4K UHD set, which again includes it on Blu-ray; and now I've bought the standalone 4K copy. And, for special features / "it's part of a box set" reasons, I'll be keeping all of those, even though I'll only ever watch the new 4K disc now. Collecting physical media gets silly sometimes...
See you next week, faithful reader.
At the end of last month I mentioned there might be a record-breaking week on the way due to a couple of large orders from the US I'd just placed. Well, they arrived this week, alongside a few UK orders, and... it didn't quite make it!
I say that — it depends how you count these things. Because I acquired 21 new titles this week, which is a tie for the previous record; but, because so many were upgrades (mostly DVD straight to 4K, plus a swap of one Blu-ray edition for another), the net increase is only +15, whereas the previous record was +17. So, in one respect it's a tie, and in another it's a couple short. (In case you were wondering (I certainly did), the 8 increase for UHD is a lot, but the record is 10 from last September.)
Number of titles in collection: 3,271 [up 15]
Of which DVDs: 1,005 [down 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,266 [up 18]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 344 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 7,944 [up 33]
Number of films: 4,031 [up 20]
Number of additional cuts: 375 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes: 9,691 [up 18]
Number of short films: 1,129 [no change]
Aside from getting carried away with US orders (I placed one postage-spreading large order, then discovered a title I'd wanted that I'd missed, and ended up finding enough more for another postage-spreading large order; and my willpower was too weak to resist just ordering them all), the other main news this week comes from my UK purchases: I now own a truly ridiculous number of copies of Enter the Dragon — especially as it's the only Bruce Lee film I've actually seen (watched on TV many moons ago) and I didn't care for it that much (I've always assumed I'll 'get it' when I go back to it, I just haven't yet). So, I own it on a DVD I've never watched, which I've kept because it has an exclusive feature-length documentary; then it was part of Criterion's Bruce Lee Blu-ray set; then I also bought Arrow's Bruce Lee 4K UHD set, which again includes it on Blu-ray; and now I've bought the standalone 4K copy. And, for special features / "it's part of a box set" reasons, I'll be keeping all of those, even though I'll only ever watch the new 4K disc now. Collecting physical media gets silly sometimes...
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 11 April 2024
TV
X-Men
2x01 Till Death Do Us Part Part 1 [2nd watch]
2x02 Till Death Do Us Part Part 2 [2nd watch]
I didn't remember season one vividly, but most of it felt familiar. This... much less so. Is it possible I only ever saw the first 13 episodes?! That feels so unlikely! I do sort of rememember 'evil Morph' from this two-parter, though, so for now I'm assuming I did at least see season two. (You know, it was 30-odd years ago and I was under the age of ten at the time — it's very possible I watched it and just don't recall the specifics.)
2x01 Till Death Do Us Part Part 1 [2nd watch]
2x02 Till Death Do Us Part Part 2 [2nd watch]
I didn't remember season one vividly, but most of it felt familiar. This... much less so. Is it possible I only ever saw the first 13 episodes?! That feels so unlikely! I do sort of rememember 'evil Morph' from this two-parter, though, so for now I'm assuming I did at least see season two. (You know, it was 30-odd years ago and I was under the age of ten at the time — it's very possible I watched it and just don't recall the specifics.)
Fiction
Doctor Who: The New Adventures
Timewyrm: Exodus by Terrance Dicks
Part 1, Chapters 2–10
Part 2, Chapters 1–2
Part 3, Chapters 1–3
Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? That's because it is. I'm racing through this one — part of the magic of Terrance Dicks.
Timewyrm: Exodus by Terrance Dicks
Part 1, Chapters 2–10
Part 2, Chapters 1–2
Part 3, Chapters 1–3
Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? That's because it is. I'm racing through this one — part of the magic of Terrance Dicks.
Wednesday, 10 April 2024
Fiction
Doctor Who: The New Adventures
Timewyrm: Exodus by Terrance Dicks
Prologue
Part 1, Chapter 1
Finally picking back up on something I started as part of my Doctor Who 60th celebrations last October — so, it's been six months (eek!) So much for "promptly continuing" it. The "it" in question is Virgin's New Adventures novels; in particular, the linked quartet that began the series in 1991. This is book two of that series-within-a-series.
It's also notable for being the first original novel by Terrance Dicks, who was a staple of the Target novelisations range (writing 67 of the 156 titles). Indeed, my first proper experience of Who was reading one of his novelisations, borrowed from my primary school library, so there's always a certain significance to his work for me. And, based on the opening chapter, he remains one of the best to ever do it. He just captures the 7th Doctor and Ace, and the tone and style of their era, so effortlessly.
Timewyrm: Exodus by Terrance Dicks
Prologue
Part 1, Chapter 1
Finally picking back up on something I started as part of my Doctor Who 60th celebrations last October — so, it's been six months (eek!) So much for "promptly continuing" it. The "it" in question is Virgin's New Adventures novels; in particular, the linked quartet that began the series in 1991. This is book two of that series-within-a-series.
It's also notable for being the first original novel by Terrance Dicks, who was a staple of the Target novelisations range (writing 67 of the 156 titles). Indeed, my first proper experience of Who was reading one of his novelisations, borrowed from my primary school library, so there's always a certain significance to his work for me. And, based on the opening chapter, he remains one of the best to ever do it. He just captures the 7th Doctor and Ace, and the tone and style of their era, so effortlessly.
Videos
Critical Role
2x07 Hush [2nd half]
Absolute banger of an episode, even at 4½ hours long. This show is so much fun.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
2x07 Hush [2nd half]
Absolute banger of an episode, even at 4½ hours long. This show is so much fun.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
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