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@thane16

Syzygy the elder (and @whisht) this provides some background to the wonderful Superman poster:

https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2017/08/25/superman-a-classic-message-restored

 

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@whisht

Thoughts of space and hope and striving for something better

This seemed appropriate:

And, although not music, this seemed especially appropriate, both for @whisht and for all of us. It is something that was produced in 1949, and in light of recent events, it qualifies, I think, as an example of “thoughts of space and hope and striving for something better.”

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@thane16

Syzgy, I searched (in vain) for an old Bugs Bunny cartoon set in the medieval period that featured the Duke of Ellington and the Count of Basie.

But I found something even better: Cab Calloway and Betty Boop doing Minnie the Moocher.

 

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Okay, not at all sure about the veracity of this one, but thought I would share:

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1153083/Doctor-Who-season-12-spoilers-Jodie-Whittaker-Cybermen-return-news-latest-BBC-video

 

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@janetteb when I said “all you need” I confess I am not sure how easy it is to acquire a region free player in Australia.

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@janetteb It is available on the Amazon UK site; all you need is a region-free DVD player. It’s an excellent show.

 

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@whisht thanks for posting that. He was a wonderful character actor of great range. It is interesting what sticks in the mind for each of us. For me, it was his Claudius in “The Caesars” back in the late ’60s, and his understated, yet hypnotically effective, villain in the 1974 film “Juggernaut”.

 

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@winston, @janetteb

Thought I would move this conversation over here as it is not really Who related.

Climate change: I have never really understood the opposition to an acceptance of this. It seems like a perverse rejection of countless scientific reports. Then I was thinking back to an episode of the current affairs program on Australian TV from many years back called Four Corners. @janetteb will recall  the show. On one particular episode a group of young people who wanted to draw attention to the fact that pristine public parks were being ruined by the rubbish left behind by holiday makers went into a popular recreation park and retrieved all the rubbish that had been thrown into the bushes and foliage by the holiday makers over the years. What was fascinating was that, instead of being congratulated for cleaning everything up, they were angrily confronted by the holiday makers with accusations such as: “If you hadn’t have found it, no one would have known it was there.”

What the anger was about, of course, was that the holiday makers did not want to accept responsibility for the mess.

I tend to wonder if that is similar to the reasoning behind ordinary people who deny climate change.

And interestingly, I see a similar pattern in both Canada and Australia when it comes to accepting that Indigenous peoples in both countries have suffered. There is, it seems to me, a similar angry resistance by the same cohort of people who deny climate change–to whit: “Don’t blame me!” Or, (like the rubbish in the national park) “If you didn’t draw attention to the problem, no one would know about it.”

late night thoughts…

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Only posted here because you can never be too careful.

News at last!…

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-07-01/doctor-who-could-air-an-extra-episode-before-the-2020-series/

 

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@jimthefish

I should also add that, as a Time Lord, you have been gone for more than five minutes…

 

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@jimthefish

Saw the news this morning. Very sad indeed. Not only was he brilliant as Avon (indeed, his Avon was both magnetic and seductive–in a way perhaps not a million miles away from River Song) but there were other shows I remember him from. In particular, he he was great as Mr. Tallboy in the Lord Peter Wimsey Story–“Murder Must Advertise” from the early 70s. He will, indeed, be missed.

 

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@pedant

OK… actual monsters from the past. Interesting. And given who the monsters are, I get the feeling that there will be a slight change of direction in this upcoming season.

(season…series…? I find this whole growing up with English terms and then getting used to North American terms very confusing.)

 

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@thane16

Hi Syzygy,

well, yes, it’s true, you should always reference (said not in a sing song voice, but a sententious disapproving voice…)

but I am pleased to report the the blenkinsop archival skills revealed the source as the NY Times, Jan 19, 2017. (It’s a good article, as well.)

And if anyone on the right in Australian politics starts arguing against compulsory voting, that is the time to man the barricades, as far as I am concerned.

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@thane16

Hello syzygy! (it is always exciting to be at the birth of a new voice–time will tell whether the views of the new syzygy are different from those of the old Puro and Thane…)

Where does the Waleed Aly quote come from?

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@thane16

Well, that was depressing news to wake up to.

Although, entirely predictable.

Anyway, here are a few thoughts on what are essential to know about to get a handle on what is distinctively Australian. (In light of the election, the following tend to be oriented towards politics in the broadest sense.)

Compulsory voting: the single most civilized thing about the Australian political system, in my opinion.

The idea that no matter what the outcome of an election, Australians “abide by the umpire’s decision”: the single most civilized thing about Australian political culture.

And now for the bad:

The White Australia Policy: it may be gone, but it continues to hang, like the ghost of Hamlet’s father, over every aspect of Australian life. As far as I am concerned, it is impossible to understand what modern Australia is without understanding the role that policy has played in Australian history.

Time for another coffee, to wash away the taste in my mouth in light of this morning’s election news.

 

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@thane16 and @janetteb

Oh, crikey. Where to start?

I started writing, but realized (a) it required a lot more thought, and (b) it is close to midnight where I am. So I will respond properly when…well, when we might know who  is the new government.

But before I go to bed I do want to say that in my lifetime, three Prime Ministers changed Australia for the better: Whitlam, Hawke and Keating. What followed was part of the reason I am now living in Canada.

 

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@winston Totally agree that this was very enjoyable. In fact, this two parter (and my lips are sealed on the second part until next week) remains one of my favourite AG Who stories. I know it has received some flack but I find it quintessentially Who. The Doctor’s admonition that we have to be “the best of humanity”, the seamless juxtaposition of humour and scares (I love the idea that the Doctor and Rory can capture the Silurian in a Meals-on-Wheels van), and the final revelation of the underground Silurian city–it all just works for me.

Knowing that it is a Chibnall story, One can see links to his other work–the child under threat, the potential conflict between mother and father, and the fact that none of the adults (not even the Doctor) can protect the child from abduction–has clear parallels with Broadchurch.

Watching it again last night I also wondered about the extent to which a Chibnall authored story like this is actually rather collaborative. The scene of Amy and Rory waving at themselves, Rory placing the engagement ring back in the Tardis–they are linked to a wider season-length arc that goes beyond this particular Silurian episode. It would be interesting to know how a writer like Chibnall (or any guest writer) works around those expectations.

Anyway, a thoroughly enjoyable episode, and looking forward to next week!

 

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Welcome back @craig!

And you return bearing treats! You are a beneficent Emperor indeed.

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@craig, @bluesqueakpip, or anyone who can solve the issue, I suspect that I am not the only person to receive an email from Elizabeth who wants to share her fortune…

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@scaryb

After reading the Rachel Talalay notes you uploaded, I watched Heaven Sent again last night. Fascinating to compare the notes with the way it was realized. The whole was very effective, yet I wonder if the TV monitors clashed a bit with the dream-like quality of the castle? For me, perhaps they did. But it was still a damned effective episode, and the insight her notes gave into the way it was conceived and realized was very, very interesting.

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@scaryb That material from Rachel Talalay is absolutely fascinating. Thanks for posting.

I will have some reflections, but it is coming up to 5pm Pacific time in Canada which means…off to the pub!

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@scaryb (waves!)

It is hard to think of a Who story more relevant to today’s headlines than “The Crusade”. And I really do mean today’s headlines.

 

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Just reporting back on a re-watch of one of the partial stories contained in the disc “Lost in Time”.

the story is the brilliant “The Crusade” from 1965. Scripted by David Whitaker, and directed by Douglas Camfield (perhaps the best writer and best director of the early years–although they have contenders) it is a fourt-part story set in Palestine involving the Crusade led by King Richard (played by Julian Glover) against Saladin (played by the wonderful Bernard Kay). It really is one of the very best early Who stories.

it also features the incomparable Jean Marsh as Richard’s sister Joanna. It is a story of palace intrigue and those that suffer when warriors thirst for war. The comparison between Richard and Saladin is really interesting–Richard is not portrayed as all that likeable, expecting his sister to offer herself to Saladin as a bride, for example, while Saladin is the wise, but weary ruler surrounded (as is Richard) by military leaders who thirst for battle.

The picture it presents of Palestine is a cosmopolitan one, where the futility of war is obvious to the viewer. At a time (the late 50s, early 60s) when Britain had engaged in some less than admirable military ventures (the Mau Mau Rebellion, For example) the story is both complex and yet still able to be understood by children. It remains a family show about time travel, and yet the story is making a serious political point about war and imperialism. Now, who would have thought Doctor Who ever did that…?

If you can, watch it (two episodes remain intact, the other two are audio only).

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@bluesqueakpip, @winston, @janetteb By golly, we did discuss it back then. Of course, I have entered the phase of life when what I did yesterday is often a mystery to me…

Until @craig is back on deck (best wishes) might I suggest that if you can find a copy on a streaming service or online (particularly those who might not have seen much early Who) that you try and find the box entitled “Lost in Time” that includes some of the existing episodes from shows that are otherwise lost due to the BBC policy of wiping tapes back in the mid sixties. There are some fascinating glimpses of shows from the Hartnell/Troughton years.

On the other hand, @bluesqueakpip may remind us that we discussed that as well back in the mists of time, and lost to the Blenkinsop memory…

 

 

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@craig, @bluesqueakpip, @thane16, @winston, @janetteb, @cathannabel, and, well, everybody

I mentioned this before, but, I think it would be a great idea if we could have a discussion about Dr Who again. After all, that is why we are here.

So @craig, (and everyone) what about “The Meddling Monk”?

 

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https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/05/doctor-who-whoopi-goldberg-reveals-she-wanted-to-be-the-first-female-doctor

Sometimes, it seems, the BBC suits make the right decision…I mean, yes, she’s funny, but…

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@janetteb

I saw your avatar on the page, and thought: “Brilliant! She has survived the 48 degree heat.” A few days ago Mrs Blenkinsop flew over to Toronto to visit family. It was minus 18 degrees. What a crazy world.

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I was just reading about the Trump administration’s NSA advisor John Bolton apparently revealing  (because he was holding his notepad in full view of the cameras) that they may be sending 5000 troops to Columbia, presumably because of what’s happening in Venezuela) and I was reminded (because of the rank stupidity involved) of the bit in the Woody Allen movie “Bananas”:

 

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@winston

You must watch it! It is lots of fun, and it is the first time a renegade Time Lord is introduced. And it is about 1066!

Here is a brief clip (approved by the BBC!):

 

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Hi @craig

Since we have a very long wait for new Who, do you think we might revisit some old Who to discuss?

And I mean really old Who. Specifically, “The Meddling Monk”.

 

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Hullo…apparently I do know how to embed a twitter announcement…

Very mysterious.

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BBC America has announced the start of production of series 12.

Wasn’t sure how to embed a twitter announcement, so:

Filming Begins On “Doctor Who” Series 12

p.s. just saw my post above again. Well, I got that one wrong!

 

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@thane16 and @janetteb

My commiserations over the weather. 40 degrees? 46  degrees?!!! It sounds awful. But as a citizen (albeit an expatriate) I am sure we all feel confident knowing that the country is governed by idiots who do not believe in climate change. And whenever they deny it, they always conflate climate with weather. That level of scientific perspicacity reminds me of the opposition to the introduction of daylight saving back in the day…”The extra hour of sunlight will fade the curtains!”

I hope there is some relief in sight.

 

 

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@winston

Absolutely! The Eleventh Hour has to be one of the most perfect episodes they did. It has everything. Wonder, magic, hope, excitement, adventure…Like you, I loved it. And even out here on the relatively balmy west coast, Doctor Who isn’t complete–at this time of the year–without a blanket.

 

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Just reading a new book on the history of citizenship and African Americans in the 19th century (as one does) that arrived in the mail today. The author is Martha Jones (no, I know what you are thinking because it occurred to me as well). So I looked her up on google, and when I found her website, I thought it was great that she had thought about it as well, as you will discover when you get to the end of her web page:

esse quam videri

And, as we are in the pub, it is a really interesting book…

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@scaryb

How brilliant that you are back!

I am currently sitting in front of the fire looking at one of the cats (who has, of course, far better access to the fire than I do) and I am thinking that you may well be right…they may indeed be aliens masquerading as earth-bound felines. They have, for example, turned us into their servants, who are currently categorized as Food Dispensor #1 and Food Dispensor #2.

In fact, I am wondering if I have been misinterpreting the whining in front of the empty food dishes. Perhaps it really was: “Take me to your leader”.

As for “Resolution”, in our far-flung outpost of empire we have to wait until tomorrow.

 

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2019. Looking out the kitchen window this morning it seems strangely similar to 2018. Time will tell.

@janetteb Well, fortunately, it is a surprisingly mild winter out here this year. No snow so far. As for the two cats, they are indoor cats, who at the moment get to lie around in front of the fire. In fact, the biggest decision they have to make each day is along the lines of: Do I lie on my left side, or do I lie on my right side?

So they lead a very pampered life, structured by only one golden rule: Never, ever, think outside the box.

As for the two human inhabitants of the Blenkinsop pile, it is…onward to “Resolution”!

 

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@janetteb

I wish I was able to show you a photo of the two cats lounging in front of the fire as I type this (keeping in mind it is a Canadian winter).

Of course they came from Brisbane, so they were used to extraordinary Australian summers and Christmases. (Is “Christmases” a word? It doesn’t sound quite right.)

ps. totally agree on Babylon 5.

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@fatmaninabox

In short, Doctor Who has been ‘fundamentally changing’ since it was first broadcast and I dare say it will continue to do so for as long as it continues being made.

An absolutely brilliant post where every example you used was perfect.

Good to see you again.

 

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Greeting from a somewhat groggy, post-Christmas state of being.

@devilishrobby

I am with @pedant. I think the juxtaposition of the Doctor’s statement: “This is the DNA of…” etc, followed by THAT word, is a misdirection. I suspect there is another big bad out there. Or perhaps, in my groggy, but optimistic, post-Christmas state, I hope there is a bigger surprise in store.

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@thane16, @winston, @craig, @pedant, @cathannabel, @jimthefish, @janetteb, and @everyone

Ok, The Christmas TV setting is being arranged, and yes, there is “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and, as indicated earlier, “Die Hard”.

But the truth is that the the main events are the two all-time Christmas favourites in the Blenkinsop household.  (I confess that we have been watching these two movies each Christmas for years.) First, “The Miracle at Morgan’s Creek”

And second (but really first, if you understand me), “The Man Who Came to Dinner”

See you all on the other side of Christmas.

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@winston

Apparently, when it was released in Japan, it had the title: “The Reluctant Hero”, and the catchphrase to the movie was, apparently, “the detective who has no shoes!”

It sort of captures the movie perfectly.

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As we all start to prepare for the festive season, it raises the question of which Christmas movie we should decide on watching.

Should it be Jimmy Stewart in  “It’s a Wonderful Life”?

Should it be Edmund Gwenn in “Miracle on 34th Street”?

Should it be Alistair Sim in “Scrooge”?

No. There is only one possible movie it could be:

 

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As one who loved the TV series “Deadwood” (at some point I might ramble on about how the show was a brilliant allegory for the rise of civil society from a Hobbesian universe that was “nasty, brutal and short”) the following article is a Christmas present come early:

https://www.slashfilm.com/deadwood-movie-photos/

 

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@craig

I know we are at the end of a series, when contributions slow down, but it does seem that the activity on the site has slowed down considerably in comparison to what it used to be like.

I am not entirely sure why this should be so, but this site has been running for a number of years, and we have had so many regular contributors who, alas, are no longer contributing.

I do not think it is the current season, as those that used to be part of the regular community were united, not simply by a particular response to a given Doctor or series, but by a love and quite often a prodigious knowledge of the show from its origins on.

Let me just say, in the hope that they are still online, that it would be wonderful to hear again from

@phaseshift

@scaryb

@wolfweed

@fatmaninabox

@whohar

and so many others that the Blenkinsop brain is failing (for so many reasons) to remember.

And to others, still active, who can add to the list, please do. It would be great to hear from the lost (or perhaps just resting) voices.

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@craig – Third the motion.

 

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@pedant

That is a great reflection by Lisa Morton.

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@nerys, @ichabod, @craig

I suppose this discussion really should be over on the Films thread, but I also suppose spoilers are less of an issue when it comes to Blade Runner, as it seems unlikely than there is anyone with internet access who is not aware of the film.

For me, it will always be the original theatrical version with the voice-over. I saw it when it came out and it was simply overwhelming. The voice-over worked precisely because of the noir-ish feel it conveyed. I have always felt the subsequent directorial tinkering actually diminished the film as implanting a suggestion that Deckard was a replicant undercut what was surely part of the powerful message of the original theatrical version–that Deckard, as a human, actually contained less “humanity” that the replicant/slave Roy Batty, played so mesmerisingly by Rutger Hauer.

 

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A short piece t’other place with an extract from an Observer article from December 1966, on the place of the Daleks in Who. Some great photos from behind the scenes of “The Power of the Daleks”.

https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2018/dec/15/observer-archive-the-daleks-18-december-1966

 

 

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We are getting close to the festive season where we become warm and fuzzy, and in that spirit I offer the following clip.

Heart on sleeve, I find this incredibly inspirational:

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p06l4h3h/is-this-italy-s-smallest-library-

 

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