I had been intending to write a blog commemorating the late, great Patrick Macnee and his contribution to popular culture and pretty much the lives of anyone interested in SF or fantasy TV. But then I realised that we’ve already done so with @Phaseshift‘s Rewind TV blog on Too Many Christmas Trees a couple of years back and what with the blog…[Read more]

@Phaseshift

Brenda, eh? What a fan girl!

The excuse in both cases is probably Doctor Who’s sterling contribution to the UK’s balance of payments and overseas profile.

But it does carry a faint flavour of pointed hints during the weekly audience with the PM. 😉

@phaseshift

A double-length episode would certainly explain why they confirmed a full series of thirteen, but do seem to be doing twelve.

Regarding the women – judging by Helen Raynor’s experience I confidently expect them to be blamed for any special effects failures, costume failures, bad performances, the lighting design, the sound levels,…[Read more]

@Phaseshift

Actually I chose Reviewing the Situation as it was a song that was mentioned in an obituary of Ron Moody, where he said how much he gave to it.
Glad you liked the Ornette Coleman – to be honest he’s at the very edge of my jazz listening tastes but this was the one that I heard first and really liked, making me give the rest a chance…[Read more]

@Phaseshift

@whisht has already posted a musical tribute to Ron Moody on the General Music thread, and mentioned that one of his regrets was that he turned down the role of the Third Doctor.

Well, to be honest I wasn’t born at the time the role was being offered, but I’m flattered you think I could have played it.

;¬)

@phaseshift — Yes, I think even if it goes south, s1 of Daredevil can always stand as a damn fine piece of TV and a good example of what the Netflix streaming model can possibly achieve.

Dead right on Gormenghast. A great adaptation too. I remember being quite bemused at the time at all the bad press it got. I thought it was nigh-on perfect with…[Read more]

@nick @jimthefish @lisa @purofilion

Ha! Many thanks for the kind words on the Gallifrey theory. I’m guessing this is an undercurrent of SMs arc about where Gallifrey is, and I do like the thought.

@nick – especially glad to see you about. Hope you have resolved the medical issues.

@JimtheFish – Oh, I agree an explanation isn’t really…[Read more]

@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.

Hi @Phaseshift –

Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow.

That is literally what i said after watching that!

Though midway I thought “hm, rocky horror has a lot to answer for” though thankfull Lee wasn’t made to wear suspenders!
;¬)

so cheers!

or as the Irish toast goes…. “May the road rise with you and the wind be ever at your back, and the Lord God…[Read more]

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]

@PhaseShift– yes, I saw that a while ago on lovefilm, we put it on mostly on account of Nick Frost.

There was a disturbing/interesting moment involving Moses, I think, and his bedroom that was actually quite understated. We watched it in a scraping the bottom of the barrel of the available film collection kind of mood, but it was actually quite good.

@PhaseShift

I too will look forward to your blog.

I watch this fairly recently too (first time for a very long time). I certainly thought it was one of the best ever as a 12 year old first time around, and whilst I think that the story could be improved on today with a remake, I don’t think there is that much you would actually want to change in…[Read more]

Crikey, everybody, I feel as if I’m watching Advanced Acrobatics (any contortion sufficiently advanced — ) at a Cirque du Soleil performance!  Love it.  And now I want that snow globe, please.  Best of all, the reminder — always welcome and always needed, IMO — that yes, this DW is science *fantasy* and will always be too far into fantasy fo…[Read more]

@Phaseshift

Booo. 🙂

The Excel’s always a great venue for me, because it’s close enough to commute. So instead of worrying about travel/hotels etc, it’s simply ‘does it appear interesting, am I free on one of the days?’

Yes, the Q&A session with the writers looks rather good.

Regarding the finale on that weekend: aren’t they having a full…[Read more]

@PhaseShift I really like your ‘where’s Galifrey’ idea a lot! Here I was thinking that
it was stuck possibly in a status cube [maybe one that looks a bit like a snow globe]
and hanging out in the under gallery for safe keeping? I don’t know where I’m getting
that from but it seems to me one can find everything else there. Maybe some future…[Read more]

@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 just had to write that I really like your idea and your description of the egg.

@PhaseShift  @JimTheFish  I’ve heard from others on “League”, and as an old comic book fan I’m not at all dismissive of the idea that the comic was much better.  Where would I find it if I wanted a look now?  I haven’t kept up with the comics world, so I’ve no idea of availability status.

Saw “Dreadful” last night, new series — it looks goo…[Read more]

@PhaseShift   I like this analysis of KtM’s central choice.  And the shout-out to, ah, the other one!  Now I want to go back and start re-reading Pratchett (but there are all these library books here . . . gotta read).   And you’re quite right that for Clara’s decision to be a choice, it has to be acceptable either way she chooses, which is a goo…[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