Doctor Who
2x29 The Final Phase
aka The Space Museum Part Four, the finale. On the whole, this serial certainly lives down to its reputation. Potentially interesting concepts are tossed away after being barely discussed, never mind explored, paired with a half-arsed rote revolution plotline and dull, poorly-performed villains. Yawn.
+ Defending the Museum, a nine-minute extra in which Dalek and Big Finish writer Robert Shearman explains his love for the serial, though even he admits it has good bits that are drowned out by poor execution.
Thursday, 23 March 2023
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x28 The Search
aka The Space Museum Part Three. The only group more ineffective than the museum-running Moroks are the native Xeron rebels who would seek to overthrow them, if only they... could be bothered trying? There’s the material here for some kind of satire, or at least a spoof, but nobody’s playing it that way.
2x28 The Search
aka The Space Museum Part Three. The only group more ineffective than the museum-running Moroks are the native Xeron rebels who would seek to overthrow them, if only they... could be bothered trying? There’s the material here for some kind of satire, or at least a spoof, but nobody’s playing it that way.
Tuesday, 21 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x27 The Dimensions of Time
aka The Space Museum Part Two — not to be confused with Dimensions in Time. Neither are Doctor Who at its best, and here the title doesn't even mean anything (it has more to do with the previous episode). The serial's reputation is for a nosedive in quality after the first instalment, so I'm not surprised and only expecting it to get worse...
Would I Lie To You?
15x11 The Best Bits [season finale]
Funny: I don't watch any episodes of this for ages, then get so caught up I've had to jump back to a previously-missed "best of" compilation because there are no new episodes yet. On the bright side, while I remembered most of the stories, I couldn't remember whether they were true or not.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x27 The Dimensions of Time
aka The Space Museum Part Two — not to be confused with Dimensions in Time. Neither are Doctor Who at its best, and here the title doesn't even mean anything (it has more to do with the previous episode). The serial's reputation is for a nosedive in quality after the first instalment, so I'm not surprised and only expecting it to get worse...
Would I Lie To You?
15x11 The Best Bits [season finale]
Funny: I don't watch any episodes of this for ages, then get so caught up I've had to jump back to a previously-missed "best of" compilation because there are no new episodes yet. On the bright side, while I remembered most of the stories, I couldn't remember whether they were true or not.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 20 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x26 The Space Museum [2nd watch]
Being the first part of The Space Museum, obviously. Also, the only episode of the serial I've seen before: back in the day, I watched this first part on VHS, but for reason(s) forgotten by time, never finished it. I don't intend for that to happen again!
2x26 The Space Museum [2nd watch]
Being the first part of The Space Museum, obviously. Also, the only episode of the serial I've seen before: back in the day, I watched this first part on VHS, but for reason(s) forgotten by time, never finished it. I don't intend for that to happen again!
Sunday, 19 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x25 The Warlords
aka The Crusade Part Four — both the serial's finale and the second of its two missing episodes.
As a whole, there's a lot I like about The Crusade, and I enjoy each episode individually. Unfortunately, it doesn’t add up as a whole; primarily, the pace across all four parts is off, and some of the storylines are ultimately too slight or told in a rush. It’s literally less than the sum of its parts.
2x25 The Warlords
aka The Crusade Part Four — both the serial's finale and the second of its two missing episodes.
As a whole, there's a lot I like about The Crusade, and I enjoy each episode individually. Unfortunately, it doesn’t add up as a whole; primarily, the pace across all four parts is off, and some of the storylines are ultimately too slight or told in a rush. It’s literally less than the sum of its parts.
Saturday, 18 March 2023
TV
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.]
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.]
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.
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