...and concluding with my "failures"...
More next month... or next Sunday, you never know.
Sunday, 4 May 2025
this week on 100Films.co.uk
I say "week", but these are really monthly updates from 100Films.co.uk nowadays, because all I post are my monthly reviews. And it's time once again for those, beginning with my overall review of April...
...and concluding with my "failures"...
More next month... or next Sunday, you never know.
...and concluding with my "failures"...
More next month... or next Sunday, you never know.
Saturday, 3 May 2025
Comics
Absolute Batman
#5 The Zoo Part Five by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
#6 The Zoo Part Six by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
#5 The Zoo Part Five by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
#6 The Zoo Part Six by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
After the unusual completely-dead week last time, a burst of activity: all the stuff that really should have been here last time, plus some stuff on time for this week. Mind you, some stuff that really should have arrived, didn't; so that more-or-less guarantees more next week. Fun fun fun.
Number of titles in collection: 3,531 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,546 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 466 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 8,518 [up 15]
Number of films: 4,482 [up 11]
Number of additional cuts: 443 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 10,111 [up 10]
Number of short films: 1,229 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
After the unusual completely-dead week last time, a burst of activity: all the stuff that really should have been here last time, plus some stuff on time for this week. Mind you, some stuff that really should have arrived, didn't; so that more-or-less guarantees more next week. Fun fun fun.
Number of titles in collection: 3,531 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,546 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 466 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 8,518 [up 15]
Number of films: 4,482 [up 11]
Number of additional cuts: 443 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 10,111 [up 10]
Number of short films: 1,229 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 2 May 2025
Films
I've been intending to watch the How to Train Your Dragon short films and TV specials for some time, and what better time than slotting them in chronologically while rewatching the film trilogy? These four take place between the first two films; the final two take place after Film 3, so I'll watch them when appropriate.
In chronological order, the first salvo of shorts include...
Legend of the BoneKnapper Dragon (2010)
Book of Dragons (2011)
Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011)
Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014)
In chronological order, the first salvo of shorts include...
Legend of the BoneKnapper Dragon (2010)
Book of Dragons (2011)
Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury (2011)
Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014)
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Films
How to Train Your Dragon 3D (2010)
[3rd watch]
[#41 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
Third watch, but first in 3D — which was spectacular.
[3rd watch]
[#41 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
Third watch, but first in 3D — which was spectacular.
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Films
I had to watch three films over the last three days to meet my monthly goals for 100 Films. I started today with... three still to go. Oops. How'd I get on?
Knight Chills (2001)
Saboteur (1942)
[#40 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2025 #4
Well, that's less than ideal. But the only one I missed was a rewatch, so it's not too bad — I can catch that up easily enough; especially as, overall, I'm ahead of target on my Challenge viewing.
Knight Chills (2001)
Saboteur (1942)
[#40 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2025 #4
Well, that's less than ideal. But the only one I missed was a rewatch, so it's not too bad — I can catch that up easily enough; especially as, overall, I'm ahead of target on my Challenge viewing.
Monday, 28 April 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x100 Hunted at Sea
This was CR's first episode after their four-month Covid hiatus — for me, it's only been 17 days (and only that long because I watched a more recent one-shot in the interim and have been busy with other things). Hurrah for catching up years later. And hurrah for the internet achiving (almost) everything, because it means I can still watch the video announcing their return, and the one of them levelling up before this episode.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x100 Hunted at Sea
This was CR's first episode after their four-month Covid hiatus — for me, it's only been 17 days (and only that long because I watched a more recent one-shot in the interim and have been busy with other things). Hurrah for catching up years later. And hurrah for the internet achiving (almost) everything, because it means I can still watch the video announcing their return, and the one of them levelling up before this episode.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Sunday, 27 April 2025
Comics
Absolute Batman
#4 The Zoo Part Four by Scott Snyder & Gabriel Hernández Walta
Labelled as "part four", but a bit of an aside (with a new artist to boot) going back to the very beginnings of this iteration of Batman. Speaking of which, there's a nice interview with writer Scott Snyder that came out around the same time as this issue, talking about the thought behind and success of Absolute Batman, as well as this issue in particular.
The Uncanny X-Men
#9 Off the Leash by Gail Simone & Andrei Bressan
#10 Off the Leash Part 2 by Gail Simone & Andrei Bressan
#4 The Zoo Part Four by Scott Snyder & Gabriel Hernández Walta
Labelled as "part four", but a bit of an aside (with a new artist to boot) going back to the very beginnings of this iteration of Batman. Speaking of which, there's a nice interview with writer Scott Snyder that came out around the same time as this issue, talking about the thought behind and success of Absolute Batman, as well as this issue in particular.
The Uncanny X-Men
#9 Off the Leash by Gail Simone & Andrei Bressan
#10 Off the Leash Part 2 by Gail Simone & Andrei Bressan
Games
Storyteller
Another puzzle game free with Netflix — which I liked so much, I ended up finishing it today. It's not that long, but I still spent a fair bit of time with it to get through it all so quickly.
I say "all" — it says I'm 78% complete, but the remainder involves going back over completed levels to change the story and gain 'stamps'; but while there's a list of stamps to collect, it doesn't tell you which levels you can get them on, so it's a bit of a pain to second-guess and, frankly, I'm not sure I care that much.
The main game was fun, though. I'd've played more of that.
Another puzzle game free with Netflix — which I liked so much, I ended up finishing it today. It's not that long, but I still spent a fair bit of time with it to get through it all so quickly.
I say "all" — it says I'm 78% complete, but the remainder involves going back over completed levels to change the story and gain 'stamps'; but while there's a list of stamps to collect, it doesn't tell you which levels you can get them on, so it's a bit of a pain to second-guess and, frankly, I'm not sure I care that much.
The main game was fun, though. I'd've played more of that.
Saturday, 26 April 2025
TV
Doctor Who
41x03 The Well
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Wheel
5x10 Episode 10 [season finale; 2nd watch]
Nope, don't think I remembered a single answer.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
41x03 The Well
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Wheel
5x10 Episode 10 [season finale; 2nd watch]
Nope, don't think I remembered a single answer.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Unusually, there's absolutely nothing to report this week! I did place some orders, but mostly pre-orders. HMV's recent changes to their officially-ended never-ending 20% discount (if you've still got codes, it still works; but not on pre-orders, and not immediately on new releases) means I didn't order any of this week's new releases until Friday. They should turn up in time for next week, at least.
Number of titles in collection: 3,521 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,536 [no change]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 464 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 8,503 [no change]
Number of films: 4,471 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 442 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Unusually, there's absolutely nothing to report this week! I did place some orders, but mostly pre-orders. HMV's recent changes to their officially-ended never-ending 20% discount (if you've still got codes, it still works; but not on pre-orders, and not immediately on new releases) means I didn't order any of this week's new releases until Friday. They should turn up in time for next week, at least.
Number of titles in collection: 3,521 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,536 [no change]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 464 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 8,503 [no change]
Number of films: 4,471 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 442 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 25 April 2025
Games
The Almost Gone
Netflix keeps pushing its "games on TV" beta at me, so I thought I'd give it a go. This seemed the best bet for both being my kinda thing and working with the controller, which is an app on your phone. I played through Act One (of five) and quite enjoyed it.
Firstly, I was right on both counts: this is a "puzzle game", but it's effectively a differently-presented point-and-click adventure game; and the phone-based controller is a little awkward to use, which is fine for a game like this, where you click around at your own pace, but would be a nightmare for something reliant on speed and precision, like a platformer or fighting game. Netflix does offer those too, but I don't think I'll be attempting them anytime soon. Heck, even with this, I'll likely play the rest on my computer (it's also available via browser) rather than have to deal with the controller app again.
Netflix keeps pushing its "games on TV" beta at me, so I thought I'd give it a go. This seemed the best bet for both being my kinda thing and working with the controller, which is an app on your phone. I played through Act One (of five) and quite enjoyed it.
Firstly, I was right on both counts: this is a "puzzle game", but it's effectively a differently-presented point-and-click adventure game; and the phone-based controller is a little awkward to use, which is fine for a game like this, where you click around at your own pace, but would be a nightmare for something reliant on speed and precision, like a platformer or fighting game. Netflix does offer those too, but I don't think I'll be attempting them anytime soon. Heck, even with this, I'll likely play the rest on my computer (it's also available via browser) rather than have to deal with the controller app again.
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Videos
Critical Role
Ménagerie a Trois [2nd half]
The end of the last Menagerie adventure so far, with at least one major plot thread left hanging. You'd think they might pick it back up for the actual release of Daggerheart (coming May 20th), but (as far as I'm aware) they've announced nothing of the sort. Instead, they'll be marking the release with an unconnected Daggerheart miniseries, which sounds fun in its own way, but it would be nice to close this one off.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Ménagerie a Trois [2nd half]
The end of the last Menagerie adventure so far, with at least one major plot thread left hanging. You'd think they might pick it back up for the actual release of Daggerheart (coming May 20th), but (as far as I'm aware) they've announced nothing of the sort. Instead, they'll be marking the release with an unconnected Daggerheart miniseries, which sounds fun in its own way, but it would be nice to close this one off.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Monday, 21 April 2025
Films
The King of Kings (1927)
Streamed free by Flicker Alley for Easter Sunday (I actually started it last night and finished it this morning). Seasonally appropriate, but the first feature I've watched this year that doesn't count towards my challenge.
Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu (2016)
And another that doesn't count! But this sets up two more that will.
Streamed free by Flicker Alley for Easter Sunday (I actually started it last night and finished it this morning). Seasonally appropriate, but the first feature I've watched this year that doesn't count towards my challenge.
Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu (2016)
And another that doesn't count! But this sets up two more that will.
Videos
Critical Role
Ménagerie a Trois [1st hour]
Watch the Menagerie level up to L6 on YouTube or Beacon, which is where they start this third (and, so far, final) adventure, playing the Daggerheart open beta.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Ménagerie a Trois [1st hour]
Watch the Menagerie level up to L6 on YouTube or Beacon, which is where they start this third (and, so far, final) adventure, playing the Daggerheart open beta.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Saturday, 19 April 2025
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Another selection of new releases drop in, just in time for the monthly running time update.
Number of titles in collection: 3,521 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,536 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 464 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 8,503 [up 6]
Number of films: 4,471 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 442 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
597 days, 16 hours, and 53 minutes.
(Up 8 days, 11 hours, and 48 minutes from last month.)
That's a pretty insane increase for just one month. I wondered if I'd done the maths wrong at first. But, thinking back, it includes things like The Saint complete DVD set, which runs well over four days by itself. Just an exceptional month, is all
See you next week, faithful reader.
Another selection of new releases drop in, just in time for the monthly running time update.
Number of titles in collection: 3,521 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,536 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 464 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 8,503 [up 6]
Number of films: 4,471 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 442 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
597 days, 16 hours, and 53 minutes.
(Up 8 days, 11 hours, and 48 minutes from last month.)
That's a pretty insane increase for just one month. I wondered if I'd done the maths wrong at first. But, thinking back, it includes things like The Saint complete DVD set, which runs well over four days by itself. Just an exceptional month, is all
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 18 April 2025
TV
Daredevil: Born Again
1x08 Isle of Joy
1x09 Straight to Hell [season finale]
Glad I had the ending spoiled, otherwise I too might've been expecting a bigger reveal. In the end, this season did feel like what it was: something salvaged from an aborted version, plus the intial act / setup for what's coming next. It'll be worth it if season two pays off.
[Watch the whole series (again) on Disney+.]
1x08 Isle of Joy
1x09 Straight to Hell [season finale]
Glad I had the ending spoiled, otherwise I too might've been expecting a bigger reveal. In the end, this season did feel like what it was: something salvaged from an aborted version, plus the intial act / setup for what's coming next. It'll be worth it if season two pays off.
[Watch the whole series (again) on Disney+.]
Comics
Absolute Batman
#3 The Zoo Part Three by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
Didn't mean to leave it four months between issues, but time seems to be flying this year.
X-Men
#10 Brinkmanship by Jed MacKay & Netho Diaz
#3 The Zoo Part Three by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
Didn't mean to leave it four months between issues, but time seems to be flying this year.
X-Men
#10 Brinkmanship by Jed MacKay & Netho Diaz
Games
The Case of the Golden Idol
Chapter 4, Scenes 1–2
Epilogue
Finished the whole thing in under four hours of playtime. I did perhaps rush it slightly at the end, but I wasn't invested enough to take my time over it.
Chapter 4, Scenes 1–2
Epilogue
Finished the whole thing in under four hours of playtime. I did perhaps rush it slightly at the end, but I wasn't invested enough to take my time over it.
Thursday, 17 April 2025
Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Games
The Case of the Golden Idol
Chapter 1, Scenes 1–3
Chapter 2, Scenes 1–2
I've wanted to play this for a while, but even when it's on sale it's never that cheap (and I've got such a backlog of games to get through, paying a high price seems daft) and I'm aware it's free with a Netflix subscription (but I don't normally have a Netflix subscription). Also, the Netflix version is only on mobile, and I feel like this would be better played on a desktop. But I do currently have a Netflix sub, and it's free, so I thought I may as well give it a go — if it's really good, I can always pay for the desktop version.
Well, so far, it's... fine. It's not that hard to play on a mobile, despite what some people say (I can see why desktop would be even easier, because clicking around with a mouse is quicker than tapping around with a finger, at least for me, but it works just fine). As for the game itself, it feels more like a puzzle game with graphics than a true point-and-click adventure, which it was sort of sold to me as. I mean, fundamentally, it's Murdle but with pictures instead of just words, and a more complicated elimination grid (masked by putting it into sentences).
I'll keep playing it. I'll aim to finish it (possibly very quickly: I've played for about an hour and a half and I'm almost halfway through. Unless it gets a lot harder (which, in fairness, it might), it looks like I could get through it much quicker than the average playtime reports suggest). Unless I get sick of it, I'll probably even go on to the sequel (also free with Netflix). But it's no Monkey Island or Grim Fandango or Broken Sword or whatever.
Chapter 1, Scenes 1–3
Chapter 2, Scenes 1–2
I've wanted to play this for a while, but even when it's on sale it's never that cheap (and I've got such a backlog of games to get through, paying a high price seems daft) and I'm aware it's free with a Netflix subscription (but I don't normally have a Netflix subscription). Also, the Netflix version is only on mobile, and I feel like this would be better played on a desktop. But I do currently have a Netflix sub, and it's free, so I thought I may as well give it a go — if it's really good, I can always pay for the desktop version.
Well, so far, it's... fine. It's not that hard to play on a mobile, despite what some people say (I can see why desktop would be even easier, because clicking around with a mouse is quicker than tapping around with a finger, at least for me, but it works just fine). As for the game itself, it feels more like a puzzle game with graphics than a true point-and-click adventure, which it was sort of sold to me as. I mean, fundamentally, it's Murdle but with pictures instead of just words, and a more complicated elimination grid (masked by putting it into sentences).
I'll keep playing it. I'll aim to finish it (possibly very quickly: I've played for about an hour and a half and I'm almost halfway through. Unless it gets a lot harder (which, in fairness, it might), it looks like I could get through it much quicker than the average playtime reports suggest). Unless I get sick of it, I'll probably even go on to the sequel (also free with Netflix). But it's no Monkey Island or Grim Fandango or Broken Sword or whatever.
Tuesday, 15 April 2025
Monday, 14 April 2025
TV
Friends
6x20 The One with Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. [6th or so watch]
Leverage: Redemption
1x01 The Too Many Rembrandts Job
1x02 The Panamanian Monkey Job
Finally (as in: 16 months after I finished the original series) made a start on this Leverage sequel series. So far it's... admirably like good ol' fashioned TV. Y'know, kinda low-budget-looking and driven by stories of the week, rather than slick and over-budgeted and trying to be "a long movie". We need more TV that just behaves like TV.
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x06 Week 2: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x20 The One with Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. [6th or so watch]
Leverage: Redemption
1x01 The Too Many Rembrandts Job
1x02 The Panamanian Monkey Job
Finally (as in: 16 months after I finished the original series) made a start on this Leverage sequel series. So far it's... admirably like good ol' fashioned TV. Y'know, kinda low-budget-looking and driven by stories of the week, rather than slick and over-budgeted and trying to be "a long movie". We need more TV that just behaves like TV.
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x06 Week 2: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 13 April 2025
TV
The Diplomat
2x05 Our Lady of Immaculate Deception
2x06 Dreadnought [season finale]
Friends
6x18 The One Where Ross Dates a Student [6th or so watch]
6x19 The One with Joey's Fridge [5th or so watch]
The Rookie
6x08 Punch Card
6x09 The Squeeze
6x10 Escape Plan [season finale]
2x05 Our Lady of Immaculate Deception
2x06 Dreadnought [season finale]
Friends
6x18 The One Where Ross Dates a Student [6th or so watch]
6x19 The One with Joey's Fridge [5th or so watch]
The Rookie
6x08 Punch Card
6x09 The Squeeze
6x10 Escape Plan [season finale]
Saturday, 12 April 2025
TV
The Diplomat
2x03 The Ides of March
2x04 The Other Army
Doctor Who
41x01 The Robot Revolution
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
6x17 The One with Unagi [6th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x03 Week 1: Wednesday
8x04 Week 1: Thursday
8x05 Week 1: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
6x06 Secrets and Lies
6x07 Crushed
2x03 The Ides of March
2x04 The Other Army
Doctor Who
41x01 The Robot Revolution
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
6x17 The One with Unagi [6th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x03 Week 1: Wednesday
8x04 Week 1: Thursday
8x05 Week 1: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
6x06 Secrets and Lies
6x07 Crushed
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A pretty low-key, straightforward update this week: just five new titles, mostly 4K, no upgrades or sidegrades or whatever. It should be like this more often.
Number of titles in collection: 3,517 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,532 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 462 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 8,497 [up 8]
Number of films: 4,467 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 442 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A pretty low-key, straightforward update this week: just five new titles, mostly 4K, no upgrades or sidegrades or whatever. It should be like this more often.
Number of titles in collection: 3,517 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 985 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,532 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 462 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 8,497 [up 8]
Number of films: 4,467 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 442 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 11 April 2025
TV
The Diplomat
2x01 When a Stranger Calls
2x02 St. Paul's
Friends
6x16 The One That Could Have Been Part 2 [5th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x01 Week 1: Monday
8x02 Week 1: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x01 When a Stranger Calls
2x02 St. Paul's
Friends
6x16 The One That Could Have Been Part 2 [5th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x01 Week 1: Monday
8x02 Week 1: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Videos
Critical Role
2x99 High Seas, High Stakes [3rd hour]
When I started this episode, I mentioned it was their last regular live one. It was also the last appearance of this set, because when the show returned from hiatus it was in a new socially-distanced format that lasted until the end of Campaign 2, and they got a shiny new set for Campaign 3. Said hiatus, due to Covid, was announced the Tuesday after this episode aired. There's a Wiki article about it here, but in short: the show eventually returned almost four months later. I don't intend to emulate that with a lengthy pause of my own, although this does feel like it would be an appropriate juncture to go check out some other one-shots and/or miniseries...
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x99 High Seas, High Stakes [3rd hour]
When I started this episode, I mentioned it was their last regular live one. It was also the last appearance of this set, because when the show returned from hiatus it was in a new socially-distanced format that lasted until the end of Campaign 2, and they got a shiny new set for Campaign 3. Said hiatus, due to Covid, was announced the Tuesday after this episode aired. There's a Wiki article about it here, but in short: the show eventually returned almost four months later. I don't intend to emulate that with a lengthy pause of my own, although this does feel like it would be an appropriate juncture to go check out some other one-shots and/or miniseries...
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Thursday, 10 April 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x99 High Seas, High Stakes [2nd hour]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x99 High Seas, High Stakes [2nd hour]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Wednesday, 9 April 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x99 High Seas, High Stakes [1st hour]
Weird beginning to this episode: it's a big ol' party for their fifth anniversary, but they've also finally had to explicity acknowledge there's Something Going On In The World — i.e. Covid. Indeed, although they don't know it yet, this is the last-ever "broadcast live" regular edition of CR. After this they started pre-recording (because of the pandemic) and since have only returned to live broadcasts for one-shots and specials and that kinda thing. (More about their pandemic hiatus when I watch the second half / start the next episode.)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x99 High Seas, High Stakes [1st hour]
Weird beginning to this episode: it's a big ol' party for their fifth anniversary, but they've also finally had to explicity acknowledge there's Something Going On In The World — i.e. Covid. Indeed, although they don't know it yet, this is the last-ever "broadcast live" regular edition of CR. After this they started pre-recording (because of the pandemic) and since have only returned to live broadcasts for one-shots and specials and that kinda thing. (More about their pandemic hiatus when I watch the second half / start the next episode.)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Videos
Talks Machina
#145 'Dark Waters'
This is the last Talks for a while, thanks to a little ol' thing called the pandemic. They did get out one more episode of CR proper though, so more on their break when I watch that.
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
#145 'Dark Waters'
This is the last Talks for a while, thanks to a little ol' thing called the pandemic. They did get out one more episode of CR proper though, so more on their break when I watch that.
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
Monday, 7 April 2025
Comics
The Uncanny X-Men
#7 Raid on Graymalkin, Part Two: No Walls Can Hold Us! by Gail Simone, David Marquez & Edgar Salazar
#8 Raid on Graymalkin, Part Four: Finale by Gail Simone & Javier Garrón
X-Men
#8 Raid on Graymalkin Part 1 by Jed MacKay & Ryan Stegman
#9 Raid on Graymalkin Part 3 by Jed MacKay, Federico Vicentini & Ryan Stegman
Having made an effort to catch up for this crossover, I've now fallen a good few issues behind again. Ho hum, such are my reading habits. Anyway, obviously I read these in the appropriate order, I'm just logging them alphabetically.
#7 Raid on Graymalkin, Part Two: No Walls Can Hold Us! by Gail Simone, David Marquez & Edgar Salazar
#8 Raid on Graymalkin, Part Four: Finale by Gail Simone & Javier Garrón
X-Men
#8 Raid on Graymalkin Part 1 by Jed MacKay & Ryan Stegman
#9 Raid on Graymalkin Part 3 by Jed MacKay, Federico Vicentini & Ryan Stegman
Having made an effort to catch up for this crossover, I've now fallen a good few issues behind again. Ho hum, such are my reading habits. Anyway, obviously I read these in the appropriate order, I'm just logging them alphabetically.
Videos
Critical Role
2x98 Dark Waters [2nd half's 2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x98 Dark Waters [2nd half's 2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Sunday, 6 April 2025
Films
The Black Watch (1929)
[#35 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
aka King of the Khyber Rifles
[#35 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
aka King of the Khyber Rifles
Fiction
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
Pages 1–37
This epistolary novel is split into chapter-like sections (it alternates between the two characters, Red and Blue, finding letters they've left for each other, followed by said letter), but as they're not numbered or anything it's easier to track this with page numbers (never my favourite, because pages can differ between editions, but needs must).
Pages 1–37
This epistolary novel is split into chapter-like sections (it alternates between the two characters, Red and Blue, finding letters they've left for each other, followed by said letter), but as they're not numbered or anything it's easier to track this with page numbers (never my favourite, because pages can differ between editions, but needs must).
this week on 100Films.co.uk
Another quiet month at 100Films.co.uk — oops. But this week did bring the one thing I have stuck at: a monthly review...
...as well as its accompanying list of failures...
More next Sunday? One day there will be...
...as well as its accompanying list of failures...
More next Sunday? One day there will be...
Saturday, 5 April 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x98 Dark Waters [2nd half's 1st half]
I use "half" with CR episodes for convenient shorthand — what I mean, broadly, is either side of the ad break — but the "halves" are rarely equal. This is a particularly egregious example of that, in an unusual direction: normally the first 'half' is longer, but this time the first 'half' was about 90 minutes and the second is about 3 hours. I watched about half of that 'half' today, so... yeah...
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x98 Dark Waters [2nd half's 1st half]
I use "half" with CR episodes for convenient shorthand — what I mean, broadly, is either side of the ad break — but the "halves" are rarely equal. This is a particularly egregious example of that, in an unusual direction: normally the first 'half' is longer, but this time the first 'half' was about 90 minutes and the second is about 3 hours. I watched about half of that 'half' today, so... yeah...
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I hadn't expected this week to be so jam-packed — just a few pre-orders — but then sales cropped up and, well, I got a little carried away. The fact many of these are box sets has just made it feel like an even bigger week, especially on the back of multiple other larger sets recently.
Of note amongst this batch: the DVD that was gained last week goes back down, and takes another with it for good measure; and look how many additions are 4K again! They may only account for 13% of my collection vs regular Blu-ray at almost 59%, but I feel like they're beginning to consistently outnumber regular BDs as new purchases. The artsier boutique labels continue to keep 1080p well fuelled, though.
Number of titles in collection: 3,512 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 985 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,527 [up 13]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 458 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 8,489 [up 23]
Number of films: 4,462 [up 20]
Number of additional cuts: 440 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
I hadn't expected this week to be so jam-packed — just a few pre-orders — but then sales cropped up and, well, I got a little carried away. The fact many of these are box sets has just made it feel like an even bigger week, especially on the back of multiple other larger sets recently.
Of note amongst this batch: the DVD that was gained last week goes back down, and takes another with it for good measure; and look how many additions are 4K again! They may only account for 13% of my collection vs regular Blu-ray at almost 59%, but I feel like they're beginning to consistently outnumber regular BDs as new purchases. The artsier boutique labels continue to keep 1080p well fuelled, though.
Number of titles in collection: 3,512 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 985 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,527 [up 13]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 458 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 8,489 [up 23]
Number of films: 4,462 [up 20]
Number of additional cuts: 440 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,227 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 4 April 2025
Thursday, 3 April 2025
Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x97 The Fancy and the Fooled [2nd half]
I don't know if Matt adjusts his plans to make sure something major happens at live shows, but good golly, it's a fantastic payoff when that does happen — the energy brought by playing in front of (and playing up to) a live audience is something else.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x97 The Fancy and the Fooled [2nd half]
I don't know if Matt adjusts his plans to make sure something major happens at live shows, but good golly, it's a fantastic payoff when that does happen — the energy brought by playing in front of (and playing up to) a live audience is something else.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x97 The Fancy and the Fooled [1st half]
Live show! Yay!
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x97 The Fancy and the Fooled [1st half]
Live show! Yay!
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Monday, 31 March 2025
TV
Daredevil: Born Again
1x05 With Interest
1x06 Excessive Force
[Watch these episodes (again) on Disney+.]
1x05 With Interest
1x06 Excessive Force
[Watch these episodes (again) on Disney+.]
Sunday, 30 March 2025
Saturday, 29 March 2025
TV
Friends
6x10 The One with the Routine [6th or so watch]
6x11 The One with the Apothecary Table [5th or so watch]
6x12 The One with the Joke [5th or so watch]
Unforgotten
6x03 Episode 3
6x04 Episode 4
6x05 Episode 5
6x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
6x10 The One with the Routine [6th or so watch]
6x11 The One with the Apothecary Table [5th or so watch]
6x12 The One with the Joke [5th or so watch]
Unforgotten
6x03 Episode 3
6x04 Episode 4
6x05 Episode 5
6x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
It's a somewhat momentous week, as a flood of new titles (not a record-breaker, but still a big one) push my total collection past 3,500 titles. Eesh!
Number of titles in collection: 3,501 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 987 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,514 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 450 [up 4]
That includes a real rarity nowadays: a DVD. Though calling it "a DVD" is an understandment: it's a 34-disc set; the complete series of The Saint, to be precise. So there's a huge boost to TV episode numbers, too — and at 118 episodes, it single-handedly pushes me past the 10,000 episodes mark!
But that's not all, because one of the Blu-rays I got is a box set of classic cinema serials, which I count as TV episodes (as discussed previously), so it's a mind-boggling TV episode increase — more than the whole of 2024! Whew! Maybe I should start counting "cinema serial episodes" as its own stat...
Number of discs in collection: 8,466 [up 58]
Number of films: 4,442 [up 17]
Number of additional cuts: 439 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [up 218]
Number of short films: 1,225 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
It's a somewhat momentous week, as a flood of new titles (not a record-breaker, but still a big one) push my total collection past 3,500 titles. Eesh!
Number of titles in collection: 3,501 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 987 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,514 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 450 [up 4]
That includes a real rarity nowadays: a DVD. Though calling it "a DVD" is an understandment: it's a 34-disc set; the complete series of The Saint, to be precise. So there's a huge boost to TV episode numbers, too — and at 118 episodes, it single-handedly pushes me past the 10,000 episodes mark!
But that's not all, because one of the Blu-rays I got is a box set of classic cinema serials, which I count as TV episodes (as discussed previously), so it's a mind-boggling TV episode increase — more than the whole of 2024! Whew! Maybe I should start counting "cinema serial episodes" as its own stat...
Number of discs in collection: 8,466 [up 58]
Number of films: 4,442 [up 17]
Number of additional cuts: 439 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 10,101 [up 218]
Number of short films: 1,225 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 28 March 2025
TV
Friends
6x08 The One with Ross's Teeth [5th or so watch]
6x09 The One Where Ross Got High [5th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x59 Week 12: Thursday
8x60 Week 12: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Unforgotten
6x01 Episode 1
6x02 Episode 2
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
6x08 The One with Ross's Teeth [5th or so watch]
6x09 The One Where Ross Got High [5th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x59 Week 12: Thursday
8x60 Week 12: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Unforgotten
6x01 Episode 1
6x02 Episode 2
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Thursday, 27 March 2025
TV
Friends
6x06 The One on the Last Night [6th or so watch]
6x07 The One Where Phoebe Runs [5th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x58 Week 12: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x06 The One on the Last Night [6th or so watch]
6x07 The One Where Phoebe Runs [5th or so watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
8x58 Week 12: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Monday, 24 March 2025
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Fiction
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
12 The Adventure of the Copper Beeches [the end]
Far from the end of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, of course, but the end of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
12 The Adventure of the Copper Beeches [the end]
Far from the end of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, of course, but the end of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Comics
Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli
#231 Saved
#232 God and Country
#233 Armageddon [the end]
I didn't intend to binge my way through this, but it was so good I didn't want to stop reading. A deserved classic.
#231 Saved
#232 God and Country
#233 Armageddon [the end]
I didn't intend to binge my way through this, but it was so good I didn't want to stop reading. A deserved classic.
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I mentioned last time that this week would be an average one, provided all my preorders for the 24th turned up early, and most of them did. That's six new titles this week, then, but two are upgrades, so it sits at four — and my weekly average for 2024* was 4.5, so there you go.
* calculated as the increase to "number of titles" in the year-end tallies, divided by 52.
Number of titles in collection: 3,490 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 986 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,504 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 446 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 8,408 [up 9]
Number of films: 4,425 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 439 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,883 [up 4]
Number of short films: 1,225 [no change]
It's also time once again for a monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
589 days, 5 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 14 hours, and 18 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader, which might be twice the size of this one...
I mentioned last time that this week would be an average one, provided all my preorders for the 24th turned up early, and most of them did. That's six new titles this week, then, but two are upgrades, so it sits at four — and my weekly average for 2024* was 4.5, so there you go.
* calculated as the increase to "number of titles" in the year-end tallies, divided by 52.
Number of titles in collection: 3,490 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 986 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,504 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 446 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 8,408 [up 9]
Number of films: 4,425 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 439 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,883 [up 4]
Number of short films: 1,225 [no change]
It's also time once again for a monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
589 days, 5 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 14 hours, and 18 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader, which might be twice the size of this one...
Friday, 21 March 2025
Films
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
[4th or so watch]
[#32 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
Continuing my chronological James Bond rewatch — you know, the one I last touched on in 2020 and that’s been going since 2012. Will I complete it before they manage to release a new Bond film? At this point, maybe.
(I also put "four or so" for my watch count last time I saw TMwtGG, but I now think I probably overestimated that.)
[4th or so watch]
[#32 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
Continuing my chronological James Bond rewatch — you know, the one I last touched on in 2020 and that’s been going since 2012. Will I complete it before they manage to release a new Bond film? At this point, maybe.
(I also put "four or so" for my watch count last time I saw TMwtGG, but I now think I probably overestimated that.)
Games
Dark Tomb: Crypts of Aurelian
I backed the latest instalment of this series of games on Kickstarter, choosing all three editions so far as my reward. They're pocket-sized dungeon crawlers, presented in a neat little tin containing a stack of different types of gameplay cards, a d20, and a variety of cubes to track stats, etc. The presentation is gorgeous by being simple and compact, but also tactile and detailed. Like, I'm sure there are ways this could have been rendered as just a deck of cards, but the die and cubes add something.
It's a 1-5 player game; really 1-4 with a five-player mode. There are three levels, and listed playtime is 15–40 minutes (presumably meant to depend on how many levels you play). I played for 90 minutes... which, in fairness, was five levels' worth: level one once, and level two four times, as I kept failing. It's a fun game, but that was a bit frustrating. Having a couple of attempts, ok, fair enough — if it were too much of a walkover, it's not a game you'd return to (and the game is designed to be replayable, with a choice of characters and each level having a randomised map) — but not making significant headway after four playthroughs... ugh. Either I need to entirely reassess my strategy (possible), or the game isn't that well balanced for one player (maybe this a bit too).
The enemies do have reduced hit points with fewer players, but there's no other compensation for difficulty. To complete a level, you have to reveal the whole map (it starts mostly hidden) and kill all the enemies; on the game's turn, the enemies move towards the nearest player. So, with one player, you've got to get to every hidden square yourself, while all the enemies converge on you. Even with two, you could head in two different directions — I feel a 'divide and conquer' approach would work well with a map where you begin in the middle, like the second level here. Of course, as a single player, there's really nothing to stop me running multiple characters, so I might try that next time.
I backed the latest instalment of this series of games on Kickstarter, choosing all three editions so far as my reward. They're pocket-sized dungeon crawlers, presented in a neat little tin containing a stack of different types of gameplay cards, a d20, and a variety of cubes to track stats, etc. The presentation is gorgeous by being simple and compact, but also tactile and detailed. Like, I'm sure there are ways this could have been rendered as just a deck of cards, but the die and cubes add something.
It's a 1-5 player game; really 1-4 with a five-player mode. There are three levels, and listed playtime is 15–40 minutes (presumably meant to depend on how many levels you play). I played for 90 minutes... which, in fairness, was five levels' worth: level one once, and level two four times, as I kept failing. It's a fun game, but that was a bit frustrating. Having a couple of attempts, ok, fair enough — if it were too much of a walkover, it's not a game you'd return to (and the game is designed to be replayable, with a choice of characters and each level having a randomised map) — but not making significant headway after four playthroughs... ugh. Either I need to entirely reassess my strategy (possible), or the game isn't that well balanced for one player (maybe this a bit too).
The enemies do have reduced hit points with fewer players, but there's no other compensation for difficulty. To complete a level, you have to reveal the whole map (it starts mostly hidden) and kill all the enemies; on the game's turn, the enemies move towards the nearest player. So, with one player, you've got to get to every hidden square yourself, while all the enemies converge on you. Even with two, you could head in two different directions — I feel a 'divide and conquer' approach would work well with a map where you begin in the middle, like the second level here. Of course, as a single player, there's really nothing to stop me running multiple characters, so I might try that next time.
Videos
Critical Role
2x95 Blessing in Disguise [2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x95 Blessing in Disguise [2nd half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Films
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)
[#31 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
Blindspot 2025 #3
[#31 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2025]
Blindspot 2025 #3
Comics
Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli
#227 Apocalypse
I’ve been intending to read this classic Daredevil storyline for a while — I bought my copy before the character rights had even reverted to Marvel, meaning the entirety of Daredevil: The TV Series’s conception, production, popularity, cancellation, and Disney+ revival (which, of course, borrows its subtitle from here) has occurred since this was put on my shelf. Yes, that’s ridiculous. Even worse: there are dozens, possibly hundreds, of other books that it’s just as true for. (Comics in particular: I bought this as part of Hachette’s The Ultimate Marvel Graphic Novel Collection, from which I own 50 volumes, and before this I’d read… one. I’m terrible.)
Anyway, it's off to a strong start. They sure did make comics bleak in the ’80s!
#227 Apocalypse
I’ve been intending to read this classic Daredevil storyline for a while — I bought my copy before the character rights had even reverted to Marvel, meaning the entirety of Daredevil: The TV Series’s conception, production, popularity, cancellation, and Disney+ revival (which, of course, borrows its subtitle from here) has occurred since this was put on my shelf. Yes, that’s ridiculous. Even worse: there are dozens, possibly hundreds, of other books that it’s just as true for. (Comics in particular: I bought this as part of Hachette’s The Ultimate Marvel Graphic Novel Collection, from which I own 50 volumes, and before this I’d read… one. I’m terrible.)
Anyway, it's off to a strong start. They sure did make comics bleak in the ’80s!
Videos
Critical Role
2x95 Blessing in Disguise [1st half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x95 Blessing in Disguise [1st half]
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x94 With Great Power... [2nd half]
With this episode, I'm two-thirds of the way through Campaign 2. It took me 6 months to reach one-third, and another 6½ to reach two-thirds, which suggests a fairly consistent pace overall (I slowed down towards the end of last year, explaining why it's taken slightly longer, but I've picked up again in 2025). So, assuming that continues, I should finish Campaign 2 around September or October. Will that be before they start Campaign 4? Seems doubtful, but (for various reasons) I do think it's going to be a while away yet, so maaaaybe. That said, do I even need to finish C2 before starting C4? With Campaign 3 being such a major "end of an era" piece, C4 is certain to be some kind of fresh start, so perhaps I'll just watch it alongside finishing C2. I'm sure I can manage to follow multiple campaigns at once. Whatever — it's all just speculation for now; I'll make a decision when the time arrives.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x94 With Great Power... [2nd half]
With this episode, I'm two-thirds of the way through Campaign 2. It took me 6 months to reach one-third, and another 6½ to reach two-thirds, which suggests a fairly consistent pace overall (I slowed down towards the end of last year, explaining why it's taken slightly longer, but I've picked up again in 2025). So, assuming that continues, I should finish Campaign 2 around September or October. Will that be before they start Campaign 4? Seems doubtful, but (for various reasons) I do think it's going to be a while away yet, so maaaaybe. That said, do I even need to finish C2 before starting C4? With Campaign 3 being such a major "end of an era" piece, C4 is certain to be some kind of fresh start, so perhaps I'll just watch it alongside finishing C2. I'm sure I can manage to follow multiple campaigns at once. Whatever — it's all just speculation for now; I'll make a decision when the time arrives.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Monday, 17 March 2025
Sunday, 16 March 2025
Fiction
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
3 A Case of Identity
Following the first two novels (A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four), Adventures is the first collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories; it's also the one I've read most of, but not completed. So, rather than return to jumping around through the canon's highlights, I thought I'd polish this off first. (After this book is done, I'll see how I feel about where I go next.)
3 A Case of Identity
Following the first two novels (A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four), Adventures is the first collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories; it's also the one I've read most of, but not completed. So, rather than return to jumping around through the canon's highlights, I thought I'd polish this off first. (After this book is done, I'll see how I feel about where I go next.)
Comics
Exceptional X-Men
#4 by Eve L. Ewing & Carmen Carnero
#5 by Eve L. Ewing & Carmen Carnero
Swords: The Adventures of Quest Sprout
by Matthew J. Wills
I discovered Swords when I joined Bluesky. It's a free online comic, but I bought this zine that compiles (some of) the adventures of Quest Sprout because (a) support creators, and (b) Quest Sprout is adorable.
#4 by Eve L. Ewing & Carmen Carnero
#5 by Eve L. Ewing & Carmen Carnero
Swords: The Adventures of Quest Sprout
by Matthew J. Wills
I discovered Swords when I joined Bluesky. It's a free online comic, but I bought this zine that compiles (some of) the adventures of Quest Sprout because (a) support creators, and (b) Quest Sprout is adorable.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Fiction
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Chapters 43–53
Epilogue [the end]
The final twist strays a little too far into the realm of coincidence for my taste, but it's a solid read overall. Would I have seen all the other twists coming if I hadn't had it flagged to me as having an incredible, makes-you-want-to-reread-it twist? Maybe not, and maybe it would've been better for that. Such is the risk when you tell someone "this has a great twist!"
Chapters 43–53
Epilogue [the end]
The final twist strays a little too far into the realm of coincidence for my taste, but it's a solid read overall. Would I have seen all the other twists coming if I hadn't had it flagged to me as having an incredible, makes-you-want-to-reread-it twist? Maybe not, and maybe it would've been better for that. Such is the risk when you tell someone "this has a great twist!"
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
It's the second quiet week in a row, this one even quieter than the last. Next week, however, should be fairly busy (not close to a record-breaker, just averagely excessive), assuming all my preorders due on Monday 24th arrive early (this week, one did and one did not).
Number of titles in collection: 3,486 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 987 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,499 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 443 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 8,399 [up 3]
Number of films: 4,420 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 439 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,879 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,225 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
It's the second quiet week in a row, this one even quieter than the last. Next week, however, should be fairly busy (not close to a record-breaker, just averagely excessive), assuming all my preorders due on Monday 24th arrive early (this week, one did and one did not).
Number of titles in collection: 3,486 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 987 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,499 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 443 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 8,399 [up 3]
Number of films: 4,420 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 439 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,879 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,225 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 14 March 2025
Thursday, 13 March 2025
Videos
Critical Role
2x93 Misery Loves Company [2nd half]
"Laura. Fucking. Bailey." This episode climaxes with one of the things everyone talks about from Campaign 2: Jester vs the hag. Often, when you reach famous moments like that in a series, they struggle to live up to expectations. This one is still brilliant, in part thanks to the reactions of the other eight people at the table (as Liam says, "so obviously, in the moment, a legendary moment of this campaign." And Taliesin's face, in particular, is all over the place throughout.) Even beyond Laura's stuff, everyone's interviews with the hag are fantastic and character-revealing, which makes this a great episode.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Talks Machina
#140 'Misery Loves Company'
After an episode that really showcased Laura, Marisha, and Matt, we get... Taliesin and Ashley. I love 'em, but c'mon. (They did have Laura and Marisha last time which, with hindsight, feels like a Big Mistake.)
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
2x93 Misery Loves Company [2nd half]
"Laura. Fucking. Bailey." This episode climaxes with one of the things everyone talks about from Campaign 2: Jester vs the hag. Often, when you reach famous moments like that in a series, they struggle to live up to expectations. This one is still brilliant, in part thanks to the reactions of the other eight people at the table (as Liam says, "so obviously, in the moment, a legendary moment of this campaign." And Taliesin's face, in particular, is all over the place throughout.) Even beyond Laura's stuff, everyone's interviews with the hag are fantastic and character-revealing, which makes this a great episode.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
Talks Machina
#140 'Misery Loves Company'
After an episode that really showcased Laura, Marisha, and Matt, we get... Taliesin and Ashley. I love 'em, but c'mon. (They did have Laura and Marisha last time which, with hindsight, feels like a Big Mistake.)
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
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