The funniest radio panel game ever in the history of very funny radio panel games is back! (Well, ok, yes it was actually back last week, but I didn’t get around to posting then.)
In case you haven’t guessed, it’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue – and if you haven’t heard it, do listen again (although not while you’re driving – it really ought to come with a Health & Safety warning to prevent accidents – and laughing out loud on the train often provokes strange looks from your fellow commuters).
Doctor Who – The Idiot's Lantern 7pm BBC1
[WARNING - MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS]
Having not had chance to write my thoughts on the last two episodes (They were both great and brought back proper Doctor Who), I thought I'd skip straight to the latest one.
I loved this episode – it's my favourite of the series so far. It had everything; humour, excitement, scariness, adventure and a great chase up a transmitter (now where have we seen that before?). The Doctor and Rose are attempting to go and see Elvis in 1957 in New York, but end up in 1953, in London. This gives a great excuse for Billie to wear a fabulous 50s pink skirt and shoes, a real contrast to the drabness of post-war London. This episode gave us what is possibly the coolest Doctor Who moment ever – the Doctor finds a scooter in the TARDIS and rides out on it!
This week's scariness was a thing called the Wire, which lived in the televisions and fed off the brain activity of the people watching. This caused their faces to be sucked off, which had no reasonable explanation as to why, but made the faceless people very scary. Maureen Lipman gave a fantastic performance as the announcer/Wire and struck just the right balance between believable and over the top villain. There were some great comedy moments too, with Rose and the flags and the Doctor being interviewed by the detective (especially the policemen's elbow). All great fun.
Well, I've handed in my last assignment, so I've finished!!
I just have to wait for the marks now. How long will that be? I don't know, but I'm not holding my breath just yet. There's still no sign of the dispute being resolved any time soon.
On a cheerier note, I now have more time for this blogging thing (and working, if someone will give me a job!)
After a very hectic couple of weeks, I've almost finished my degree course. I have one assignment left to hand in next week and then it's all over, from my point of view. (Of course I've still got to wait for the industrial action by lecturers to be resolved)
Maybe once I've finished I'll have more time for this blogging thing. There's so much I keep meaning to write about, but just don't seem to have had the time recently. But then I have jobs to apply for ….
Does it ever end??
Top Gear 8pm BBC2
It's back!
It seems so long since the last series of Top Gear was on before Christmas (not counting the Olympic Special). And it seems its been worth the wait – a bigger studio, with more audience, a new car for the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car feature, a new round stagey bit for the news and who knows what else.
The show kicked off with Jeremy and Richard introducing the new member of the team – a labradoodle dog, which they have imaginatively called 'Top Gear Dog'. They then started proper with Richard driving the new Nissan Micra C+C in what is probably the worst car colour ever seen – shocking pink (I think it could have been made worse by the filters used on the film). Fortunately it quickly went away and the next film investigated why there aren't any convertible people carriers. After watching this, we all know now. I really like these films with all three presenters doing something silly together, whether it be driving across Europe or buying a car for a pound. They're funny, and I love good comedy!
There wasn't a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car this week, as the new car had a new board. So they'd invited some people to come and drive it to get some times on the board. Trevor Eve clocked the fastest time, and Jimmy Carr the slowest (revenge for his previous attempt?) and some other people in between.
There were also films of the space-old-age Honda Civic and the Koenigsegg CCX, possibly the scariest car in the world, which set a Stig lap time of not-quite-as-fast-as-you'd-think.
Doctor Who – The Girl in the Fireplace 7pm BBC1
[WARNING - MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS]
I'm not entirely sure what to write for this episode. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I am struggling for thoughts as to why.
I liked the Historical Drama meets Sci-Fi idea. The clockwork men were fabulous; scary and beautiful at the same time. I didn't have a problem with the kiss, as it seemed to fit in the story. The acting was good, the costumes, set and lighting were good, the graphics were up to their usual standards. And yet I felt very flat after watching the episode. I didn't enjoy it as much as I normally do.
Maybe I was expecting too much. The writer, Steven Moffat, wrote what, for me, were last series best episodes – The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances. I was hoping for something that would live up to these, but for me the Girl in the Fireplace didn't hit the right notes.
The two things I really did enjoy about the episode were the pay off at the end, where we see the name of the ship, and the commentary with Moffat and Noel Clarke. I was far more interested in their chatting than in following the episode again during the Sunday repeat (BBC3).
But, hey, the Cybermen are back next week!!
I've worked out why no one was leaving me any comments. I'd inadvertantly ticked a box which required people to be registered before they could comment. It's now unticked!
Of course it could be that no one wants to make any comments.
It's my birthday today!
I was thinking about when I was younger, I clearly remember waking up on my birthday and feeling older. I can't really explain how. This doesn't happen now (thank goodness), but I can't remember when it stopped. I must be getting old!
Doctor Who – School Reunion 7.15pm BBC1
[WARNING - MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS]
The long-awaited return of Sarah Jane and K9! I did have some concerns about how this would be handled, but I needn't have had. Both returning characters were there for a purpose within the story, not just as a cameo for all the old fans. And Sarah finally got her goodbye from the Doctor – a beautiful moment, which had me in tears. She explained how she never really met anyone else who lived up to the Doctor, but now, hopefully, she can finally get on with her life. The story also made some development for Rose, as she realised that she wasn't the only one to have travelled with the Doctor and that she won't be forever. After her initial jealousies of Sarah, they realised how similar they were; each trying to better the other with a hilarious showdown of what they'd seen, followed by a comparison of the Doctor's habits. Sarah's parting offer to Rose – 'come and find me' – showed how difficult it would be to readjust to life after traveling with the Doctor (although Rose has, to a certain extent, got her Mum and Mickey to talk to).
The episode's 'villain' of the Krillitain Headmaster was wonderfully played by Anthony Head and, hopefully, we haven't seen the last of him (His demise was left ambiguous). To watch him and David Tennant in their confrontation around the school swimming pool was mesmerising. The plot of the school children being used to work the computer reminded me a little of the Children's drama, Dark Season, with a similar plot (which was written by Russell T Davies). I really liked the idea that it was the chips in the school canteen which were giving the children accelerated learning powers. I'm sure this will help the government's healthy eating scheme!
Overall it was a great episode. The most enjoyable of the series so far, although I would be interested to know how much new fans who didn't know the history of Sarah Jane enjoyed it.
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