Doctor Who
2x24 The Wheel of Fortune [3rd watch]
aka The Crusade Part Three. As I mentioned on Part One, I'm fairly certain I watched this episode on both The Hartnell Years VHS and the later The Crusade/The Space Museum VHS, which means this serial has a different 'watch count' for almost every episode. Doesn't really matter, but still feels daft. (Even dafter would be to 'correct' it by rewatching only certain episodes. I might be barmy, but I'm not that barmy.)
Would I Lie To You?
16x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Saturday, 18 March 2023
Podcasts
David Tennant Does a Podcast with…
1x13 Michael Sheen
1x14 Everyone [season finale]
It's been over two years since I last listened to an episode of this! (Actually, I also listened to the James Corden episode at some point, but apparently forgot to log it. Oops!) Never would've guessed it was that long. I didn't stop because I didn't like it — indeed, quite the opposite: I think Tennant is actually quite a good interviewer, creating a casual atmosphere that encourages his interviewee to open up with an honesty you don't usually get on chat shows — I just don't really 'do' podcasts, so only think to listen to it once in a blue moon, when I can't sleep but don't have the awakeness to read or watch anything, or something like that.
Anyway, rather than continue to continue through them in order, I skipped ahead slightly to a particularly interesting-sounding episodes. The interview with Sheen was recorded after Good Omens wrapped filming but before it aired, so long before Staged and the like came along. It's like a little time capsule.
1x13 Michael Sheen
1x14 Everyone [season finale]
It's been over two years since I last listened to an episode of this! (Actually, I also listened to the James Corden episode at some point, but apparently forgot to log it. Oops!) Never would've guessed it was that long. I didn't stop because I didn't like it — indeed, quite the opposite: I think Tennant is actually quite a good interviewer, creating a casual atmosphere that encourages his interviewee to open up with an honesty you don't usually get on chat shows — I just don't really 'do' podcasts, so only think to listen to it once in a blue moon, when I can't sleep but don't have the awakeness to read or watch anything, or something like that.
Anyway, rather than continue to continue through them in order, I skipped ahead slightly to a particularly interesting-sounding episodes. The interview with Sheen was recorded after Good Omens wrapped filming but before it aired, so long before Staged and the like came along. It's like a little time capsule.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's additions include something I've had my eye on for ages: a box set of the 3D films David Attenborough made for Sky, back when they had a 3D channel. Plus two new HK action titles from Eureka. One new release that didn't turn up early: Doctor Who season 9. It'll be here next week, though.
Number of titles in collection: 3,042 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,007 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,503 [up 13]
Number of films: 3,726 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 307 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's additions include something I've had my eye on for ages: a box set of the 3D films David Attenborough made for Sky, back when they had a 3D channel. Plus two new HK action titles from Eureka. One new release that didn't turn up early: Doctor Who season 9. It'll be here next week, though.
Number of titles in collection: 3,042 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,007 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,503 [up 13]
Number of films: 3,726 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 307 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 17 March 2023
TV
Comic Relief 2023
Red Nose Day
The Best of the Best Bits
It's years since I last watched a full Comic Relief (2015, this blog tells me). Indeed, as the best bits segment showed to me, I haven't even watched some of the headline sketches from the last few iterations. But this year promised a few good-looking bits, and I think it mostly delivered. Didn't start well, with a next-to-pointless Doctor Who bit (less a sketch, more a single gag), but at least it recovered with (in particular) Ghosts, The Traitors, Baldrick's bedtime story, the Eurovision auditions, and that musical number about Comic Relief history.
[Watch them (again) on iPlayer.]
Red Nose Day
The Best of the Best Bits
It's years since I last watched a full Comic Relief (2015, this blog tells me). Indeed, as the best bits segment showed to me, I haven't even watched some of the headline sketches from the last few iterations. But this year promised a few good-looking bits, and I think it mostly delivered. Didn't start well, with a next-to-pointless Doctor Who bit (less a sketch, more a single gag), but at least it recovered with (in particular) Ghosts, The Traitors, Baldrick's bedtime story, the Eurovision auditions, and that musical number about Comic Relief history.
[Watch them (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
A semi-random (they were prompted by rankings on Letterboxd) selection of silent shorts, all watched on YouTube.
The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (1897)
[rewatch]
The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)
[rewatch]
Grandma's Reading Glass (1900)
The Kiss in the Tunnel (1899)
The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (1897)
[rewatch]
The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)
[rewatch]
Grandma's Reading Glass (1900)
The Kiss in the Tunnel (1899)
Articles
Ben Affleck on Air, New CEO Gig and Those Memes: “I Am Who I Am”
by Rebecca Keegan (from The Hollywood Reporter)
Only clicked through to read in full what he had to say about working on Justice League, but turned out to be an interesting interview all-round.
by Rebecca Keegan (from The Hollywood Reporter)
Only clicked through to read in full what he had to say about working on Justice League, but turned out to be an interesting interview all-round.
Thursday, 16 March 2023
Wednesday, 15 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x23 The Knight of Jaffa
aka The Crusade Part Two, the first of the serial's two missing episodes. The VHS release came with a CD of the soundtracks for those two episodes, so it's possible I've listened to this before; but I've certainly never watched it in any way, so I don't think this can count as a rewatch. Which is kinda weird — to be able to say I've seen half a serial, but mean alternating parts rather than, say, only the first half — but, eh, that's the crazy world of Doctor Who for you.
Would I Lie To You?
16x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x23 The Knight of Jaffa
aka The Crusade Part Two, the first of the serial's two missing episodes. The VHS release came with a CD of the soundtracks for those two episodes, so it's possible I've listened to this before; but I've certainly never watched it in any way, so I don't think this can count as a rewatch. Which is kinda weird — to be able to say I've seen half a serial, but mean alternating parts rather than, say, only the first half — but, eh, that's the crazy world of Doctor Who for you.
Would I Lie To You?
16x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Adventures of Bryan Scott (demo)
Short demo for a Broken Sword-style point-and-click adventure game that's currently running a Kickstarter. The demo all takes place in the hero's apartment, which is hardly the stuff of high adventure, but hey, that's demoes for you. The production values (i.e. art style and gameplay) and plot setup seem promising enough that I've backed the crowdfunding. (Assuming it's successful, the full game isn't scheduled to release until the end of 2025, so don't expect to see me playing it soon.)
Short demo for a Broken Sword-style point-and-click adventure game that's currently running a Kickstarter. The demo all takes place in the hero's apartment, which is hardly the stuff of high adventure, but hey, that's demoes for you. The production values (i.e. art style and gameplay) and plot setup seem promising enough that I've backed the crowdfunding. (Assuming it's successful, the full game isn't scheduled to release until the end of 2025, so don't expect to see me playing it soon.)
Tuesday, 14 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x22 The Lion [2nd watch]
aka The Crusade Part One.
I've long been uncertain whether I've seen The Crusade or not, but (looking into it before starting the serial on the season 2 Blu-ray set) I've concluded I almost certainly watched the version released on VHS in 1999. That included the then-recently-recovered Part 1, the already-held Part 3 (which I'm fairly certain I'd already seen on the Hartnell Years VHS), and narration by William Russell, in character as Ian, to fill us in on Parts 2 and 4.
Anyway, personal admin aside, I rather enjoyed this. Clearly pure historicals aren't popular with a lot of people, otherwise we'd have seen their revival by now (I still find it a little remarkable that, 17 years and over 140 stories into nuWho, they've not even tried the format once), but I find I tend to enjoy them, and this first instalment sets out the serial's stall with all the usual fun: a conflict in progress, the TARDIS team separated, a spot of fighting, a dash of comedy, and cod-Shakespearean dialogue. Lovely.
2x22 The Lion [2nd watch]
aka The Crusade Part One.
I've long been uncertain whether I've seen The Crusade or not, but (looking into it before starting the serial on the season 2 Blu-ray set) I've concluded I almost certainly watched the version released on VHS in 1999. That included the then-recently-recovered Part 1, the already-held Part 3 (which I'm fairly certain I'd already seen on the Hartnell Years VHS), and narration by William Russell, in character as Ian, to fill us in on Parts 2 and 4.
Anyway, personal admin aside, I rather enjoyed this. Clearly pure historicals aren't popular with a lot of people, otherwise we'd have seen their revival by now (I still find it a little remarkable that, 17 years and over 140 stories into nuWho, they've not even tried the format once), but I find I tend to enjoy them, and this first instalment sets out the serial's stall with all the usual fun: a conflict in progress, the TARDIS team separated, a spot of fighting, a dash of comedy, and cod-Shakespearean dialogue. Lovely.
Monday, 13 March 2023
TV
The 95th Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars. It was a good one this year, I thought: kept to the point, with an almost-unwavering focus on the awards and nominees; just an opening monologue and a couple of stand-up-ish interludes from host Jimmy Kimmel, rather than extraneous sketches no one wants, which I think is the perfect balance (the "no host" ceremonies often feel like they lack something). Plus, an abundance of good and memorable speeches; and even the dull "just a list of thanks" ones were mostly brief and focused, rather than the never-ending sprawl of pulled-from-thin-air names they can degenerate into.
Leverage
5x02 The Blue Line Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x35 Week 7: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
aka the Oscars. It was a good one this year, I thought: kept to the point, with an almost-unwavering focus on the awards and nominees; just an opening monologue and a couple of stand-up-ish interludes from host Jimmy Kimmel, rather than extraneous sketches no one wants, which I think is the perfect balance (the "no host" ceremonies often feel like they lack something). Plus, an abundance of good and memorable speeches; and even the dull "just a list of thanks" ones were mostly brief and focused, rather than the never-ending sprawl of pulled-from-thin-air names they can degenerate into.
Leverage
5x02 The Blue Line Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x35 Week 7: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 12 March 2023
TV
The Oscars 2023: Who Will Win?
No pre-show or red carpet coverage of the Oscars this year (I think there is some of the latter on Sky Showcase, but I don't get that channel). Instead, here's a preview/predictions show that Sky released a week or so ago, which I've watched as a stand-in. This is usually the kind of stuff they do in the hour before the main show begins anyway, so seemed fitting.
Unforgotten
5x03 Episode 3
5x04 Episode 4
5x05 Episode 5
5x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
No pre-show or red carpet coverage of the Oscars this year (I think there is some of the latter on Sky Showcase, but I don't get that channel). Instead, here's a preview/predictions show that Sky released a week or so ago, which I've watched as a stand-in. This is usually the kind of stuff they do in the hour before the main show begins anyway, so seemed fitting.
Unforgotten
5x03 Episode 3
5x04 Episode 4
5x05 Episode 5
5x06 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.
Nothing huge to report this week, just a couple of new titles — the never-ceasing drip, drip, drip of new acquistions that has slowly made my collection the ridiculous size it is.
Number of titles in collection: 3,038 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,003 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,490 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,713 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 306 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Nothing huge to report this week, just a couple of new titles — the never-ceasing drip, drip, drip of new acquistions that has slowly made my collection the ridiculous size it is.
Number of titles in collection: 3,038 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,003 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,490 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,713 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 306 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Saturday, 11 March 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x34 Week 7: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Unforgotten
5x01 Episode 1
5x02 Episode 2
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
6x34 Week 7: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Unforgotten
5x01 Episode 1
5x02 Episode 2
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Friday, 10 March 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x32 Week 7: Tuesday
6x33 Week 7: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x32 Week 7: Tuesday
6x33 Week 7: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 9 March 2023
TV
Leverage
5x01 The (Very) Big Bird Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x31 Week 7: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
5x01 The (Very) Big Bird Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x31 Week 7: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 8 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x21 The Centre
aka The Web Planet Part Six, the finale. This serial might commonly be criticised for its over-ambitious low-rent staging, but I think the production achieved an admirable amount with so little. That it’s all in aid of such a dull story is what makes that effort feel like a waste.
Our Flag Means Death
1x10 Wherever You Go, There You Are [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
2x21 The Centre
aka The Web Planet Part Six, the finale. This serial might commonly be criticised for its over-ambitious low-rent staging, but I think the production achieved an admirable amount with so little. That it’s all in aid of such a dull story is what makes that effort feel like a waste.
Our Flag Means Death
1x10 Wherever You Go, There You Are [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)