@purofilion and @phaseshift — Harness wrote all of s3 of the Branagh Wallander and two of the three upcoming ones in the final season this year. What with this, Jonathan Strange and Who, he’s certainly been a busy fellow of late.

This is mostly for @phaseshift, but also anyone who’s watched the Netflix version of Daredevil — and if you haven’t then I heartily recommend that you do. I can safely say is one of the best opening seasons I’ve seen since possibly BSG.

But some random and non-spoilery thoughts.

First of all as much as I’ve enjoyed The Avengers/Days of Future…[Read more]

@purofilion — Haven’t seen the new Mapp and Lucia, although was vaguely aware that it was out there. I also have vague recollections of the version from the 80s, which I’m sure I must have watched at the time but has left no bigger impression on me than a foggy memory of Maggie Smith and Prunella Scales in cloche hats. Never read the books but…[Read more]

@Nick — yeah, that sounds about right. Good to see you back, by the way.

@ichabod — I’m sure the Crow Road thread will be along shortly when @Craig has a chance to take a look at it.

@phaseshift — I love that Gallifrey idea. And I think there’s probably something to it — as you say, I don’t think it’s likely that Missy would tell an outright lie to the Doctor.

The egg theory is nicely elegant too but as I said above I don’t think you need it. Like I said, I think the ‘moon is an egg’ thing is a bit of open defiance on the…[Read more]

@phaseshift — I think a series of Farscape blogs is an excellent idea and I’d be up for communal watch type thing. And just to add, as far as I’m aware the whole series is still available on Netflix UK

@phaseshift — not had the chance to look at Penny Dreadful yet, although Mrs Fish is piling the pressure on to do so.It’s getting a bit tricky these days, what with all the decent stuff that Netflix keeps piling on.

@ichabod — Don’t judge the LoEG based on the film, the original graphic novels are pretty damn excellent, much smarter and…[Read more]

@ichabod—

He was much younger then, of course, so neither the face nor the man was as developed in terms of acting skills, or maybe he was trying to look enigmatic and grave

I think it’s definitely true that Capaldi who’s definitely been learning his trade as he went along and he definitely hit his stride in his later Tucker/Frobisher/Hour years…[Read more]

@scaryb — welcome back!! Been wondering where you’ve been at.

This thread has sadly not seen a a lot of action of late. Hopefully it will pick up a bit after the so-called summer. In the meantime, this year’s Doctor Who Festival at the Excel has just been announced….

@ichabod, @bluesqueakpip @denvaldron—

I don’t believe that the episode is consistent with its own logic.  It sets up its rules, and then it breaks them.  That’s just bad storytelling.

No, it isn’t. Not in this instance. First off, Peter Harness is a seriously established writer who knows what the hell he’s doing. He’s got several episodes of th…[Read more]

@bluesqueakpip‘s observation is spot on. This is an episode of everyone getting it wrong basically. And that’s what makes it interesting. @ichabod is also dead right when this is essentially about the Doctor’s regeneration crisis — the true arc of s8. The Doctor is just not himself here and this is a failure of nerve on his part and essentially…[Read more]

SPOILER, SPOILER, SPOILER...

Missed that quote from @barbaralefty before but it’s pretty damn fine. You win the internetz!!

@purofilion & @denvaldron—

I’m can’t really reply to Den’s thoughts on KtM because I didn’t really read them, only gave them a quick scan for compliance. But I wouldn’t get too exercised by the ‘sound and fury’ business as I’m sure you know it’s a quote from Macbeth being pressed roughly into service by Den.

On which note, however, can we make…[Read more]

@ichabod — RE. s8, absolutely. I was a definitely a little unsure of it at first. Capaldi’s Doctor was not how I imagined he’d play it and it took me a while to get used to him — compared to the instant shine I took to Matt, for instance. But now I think he really works. It was also not really until a second viewing tat I really got just how…[Read more]

@purofilion, @phaseshift and @janetteb —

A pretty spot-on summation from @phaseshift (hereafter known as the Glowing-Arse Argument). I find a little space opera goes a long way for me. I tend towards TOS, find TNG occasionally inspired but tediously humourless and pompous for the most part. Quite liked DS9 — and really do rate episodes like…[Read more]

@phaseshift — I’m about halfway through Daredevil — hence Jonathan Strange getting put on the back-burner and so far I’m really impressed. I’ve been having definite superhero fatigue in terms of movies at the moment but this is really a breath of fresh air. I thought Henson took a couple of episodes to get really comfortable but I’m really…[Read more]

Not got around to JS&MN on TV yet, although it’s definitely on my list. I could never really get into the book, largely for the reasons @bluesqueakpip mentions, largely that Mr Norrell is such a boring old arse. Martin Millar is still my go-to guy for faeries really. Will give it another go soon though and the TV version looks as if it’s really…[Read more]

@purofilion —

War Stories, another great one. But to me, it’s Zoe the gets all the cool stuff. She cuts off Niska in his big villain moment and doesn’t bat an eye when she’s handed Mal’s ear. She’s a scary woman. I also love that the growing bond between Kaylee and River is blown out the water because Kaylee is so freaked by River’s powers –…[Read more]