Bernice Summerfield: Death and the Daleks
Nov. 7th, 2024 01:07 pmOn to the extra long final audio in season 4 of Big Finish's Benny audios. And this one is rather unusual, starting in media res, following a dramatic setup only covered in print in the Big Finish book of short stories Life During Wartime.
( big spoilers ... )
Overall a really strong audio, though I think the book/audio mix wasn't fully effective, even if it was far less of a problem for me than I expected it to be.

Overall a really strong audio, though I think the book/audio mix wasn't fully effective, even if it was far less of a problem for me than I expected it to be.

Rewatching Doctor Who: The Crimson Horror
Oct. 21st, 2024 11:54 amContinuing my Matt Smith rewatch, and going to discuss
( spoilers ... )
Continuing my rewatch, with this late-era Matt Smith story. Going to go into
( spoilers again )
So yup, disappointing for me. Even more so on rewatch. And I know we still have at least one rough Matt Smith episode to come. But hey, the next one should be better for me. Hopefully!
So yup, disappointing for me. Even more so on rewatch. And I know we still have at least one rough Matt Smith episode to come. But hey, the next one should be better for me. Hopefully!
Onto the first in the fourth series of Benny Big Finish audios. And this one sees the return of Doctor Who monsters the Rutans. Who work surprisingly well on audio. Less good is that the audio feels very slow and overlong, especially in the first half.
Benny has been called in to advise on an archaeological site in the middle of the Sontaran/Rutan war. So the stakes are high. But it's just _so_ leisurely. On plus Benny is paired with a wry space commander, who sparks well with her. I'd like to have heard more of that pairing. Though his acting is somewhat dodgy in places. Also surprisingly reminiscent voice-wise of Miles Richardson who plays Benny's employer Irving Braxiatel.
The last third of the audio is very zippy, with the addition of another spin-off Doctor Who character Bev Tarrant, who will play a more prominent role in the Benny audios to come. This section is fun. But it feels like 20 minutes of goodness at the end after nearly 50 minutes of oh so slow.
There is a contentious element in the audio that will annoy some, but I was ok with:
( big spoiler ). But yes, it could easily annoy some folks.
Benny continues to delight. She's a remarkably effective character for a spin-off scifi series of her own. And she is always superbly acted by Lisa Bowerman.
First trial for my new Beats earbud headphones too. Worked very well! Very pleased with them.

Benny has been called in to advise on an archaeological site in the middle of the Sontaran/Rutan war. So the stakes are high. But it's just _so_ leisurely. On plus Benny is paired with a wry space commander, who sparks well with her. I'd like to have heard more of that pairing. Though his acting is somewhat dodgy in places. Also surprisingly reminiscent voice-wise of Miles Richardson who plays Benny's employer Irving Braxiatel.
The last third of the audio is very zippy, with the addition of another spin-off Doctor Who character Bev Tarrant, who will play a more prominent role in the Benny audios to come. This section is fun. But it feels like 20 minutes of goodness at the end after nearly 50 minutes of oh so slow.
There is a contentious element in the audio that will annoy some, but I was ok with:
Benny continues to delight. She's a remarkably effective character for a spin-off scifi series of her own. And she is always superbly acted by Lisa Bowerman.
First trial for my new Beats earbud headphones too. Worked very well! Very pleased with them.

On to another Sherlock Holmes short story, and again I'm going to discuss this with big spoilers.
( spoiler text )
Rewatching Doctor Who: Hide
Sep. 18th, 2024 06:37 amContinuing my (oh so nearly finished) Matt Smith era rewatch, and it's on to this spooky thriller.
( spoilers )
This is a story I like a lot. A working-class man, notable for his brightly coloured red hair, gets caught up in a strange Red-Headed League, and mysteries unfold.
( spoilers )
A strong story, well worth reading.
A strong story, well worth reading.
Finally getting to this, though it will take us at least two watches to get through it, given how sedated I am. Eyes were peeled for Leaderfoot Viaduct near Melrose near the start! There was much excitement there when the filming happened.
Impressions so far, halfway through, are positive. Though if anything it seems over hectic: too many prolonged action sequences, not enough calmer bits. I don’t remember earlier Indy films leaning so heavily towards the former, but that may just be my bad memory!
I’m impressed by how well the de aging of Harrison Ford and Mads Mikkelsen worked. I expected it to be more jarring. I only found some bits when Indy’s face turned side on to look badly fake. I found the horse and bike race visual effects more dodgy. Amused to see a pipe band, in a bit filmed in city centre Glasgow.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is doing a good job, and Helena is suitably unreliable and hard to pin down. Nice to see John Rhys-Davies again. Though he’s toned the accent down! And Toby Jones was fab.
Impressions so far, halfway through, are positive. Though if anything it seems over hectic: too many prolonged action sequences, not enough calmer bits. I don’t remember earlier Indy films leaning so heavily towards the former, but that may just be my bad memory!
I’m impressed by how well the de aging of Harrison Ford and Mads Mikkelsen worked. I expected it to be more jarring. I only found some bits when Indy’s face turned side on to look badly fake. I found the horse and bike race visual effects more dodgy. Amused to see a pipe band, in a bit filmed in city centre Glasgow.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is doing a good job, and Helena is suitably unreliable and hard to pin down. Nice to see John Rhys-Davies again. Though he’s toned the accent down! And Toby Jones was fab.
Continuing Robin of Sherwood rewatching
Aug. 19th, 2024 01:17 amI am continuing to watch these on ITVX. Though generally in spread out spurts, rather than more steadily.
Tonight I was watching the latter half of "Lord of the Trees", all of "The Enchantment", and starting on the first half of "The Swords of Wayland". All episodes from season 2.
One thing that's striking me a lot is how sanitised it is, both in violence, but also in sexual relations. The fight scenes - heavily signposted by the start of the "fight music" each time - are pantomime like a lot. Older me fast forwards through many of them. They also often go on for a very long time. But they're also rarely too gory (*). Nor is there anything like as much sexual violence or menace as you would expect for the time, and would be shown in a more adult aiming programme. Even Lilith's seduction (of a sort) of Robin is remarkably asexual, especially from Robin. And as for Robin and Marion, well that's minimal too.
Against that mythology is heavily used throughout. And it's often very dark. As are the frequently threatening visuals. I've just got to the start of "The Swords of Wayland" two-parter. The images at the start of riders on horseback and menacing people is very visceral and scary. Not in a light Hammer way. Watching "Lord of the Trees" tonight I wondered what Mary Whitehouse would have made of it all! Checking on Wikipedia it seems that she did have views, and "objected to the [show's] relentless slaughter and blasphemous religious elements". No big surprises there!
Women frequently have very strong roles in the series, which is nice to see. Though not so much Marion, even if her agency improves in season 2 over season 1. But I'm thinking especially of villainesses, such as Lilith and Morgwyn. Though quite what that says, that it's generally the evil women who get the strong female roles, I'm not so sure. To be fair, this is set in medieval times, when things were even more limited than today.
It is a bit exasperating how certain storylines are left unfinished though. I'm thinking in particular of what happened to Gisburne at the end of season 1, the story of Baron de Belleme, and of course, and most sadly, the unfinished storylines after the series was cancelled after season 3.
The guest cast is often astonishing though. I've been marvelling at that throughout. I am looking forward to next season, and Richard O'Brien's repeated appearances. Though I'm less excited about an upcoming major cast change. On plus we will have other great guest stars to enjoy. I am especially looking forward to seeing William Russell.
Anyway yes, very happy rewatching these. A marvellous series, that first aired 40 years ago this year. And still well worth making time for.
* I know that ITVX has cut some of the violence. But I've seen enough of the series on DVD before to remember that even in the original uncut form it's not as violent as you might expect for the time. Very impressive, albeit a bit overlong for me now. But remarkably non "eek!" inducing.
Tonight I was watching the latter half of "Lord of the Trees", all of "The Enchantment", and starting on the first half of "The Swords of Wayland". All episodes from season 2.
One thing that's striking me a lot is how sanitised it is, both in violence, but also in sexual relations. The fight scenes - heavily signposted by the start of the "fight music" each time - are pantomime like a lot. Older me fast forwards through many of them. They also often go on for a very long time. But they're also rarely too gory (*). Nor is there anything like as much sexual violence or menace as you would expect for the time, and would be shown in a more adult aiming programme. Even Lilith's seduction (of a sort) of Robin is remarkably asexual, especially from Robin. And as for Robin and Marion, well that's minimal too.
Against that mythology is heavily used throughout. And it's often very dark. As are the frequently threatening visuals. I've just got to the start of "The Swords of Wayland" two-parter. The images at the start of riders on horseback and menacing people is very visceral and scary. Not in a light Hammer way. Watching "Lord of the Trees" tonight I wondered what Mary Whitehouse would have made of it all! Checking on Wikipedia it seems that she did have views, and "objected to the [show's] relentless slaughter and blasphemous religious elements". No big surprises there!
Women frequently have very strong roles in the series, which is nice to see. Though not so much Marion, even if her agency improves in season 2 over season 1. But I'm thinking especially of villainesses, such as Lilith and Morgwyn. Though quite what that says, that it's generally the evil women who get the strong female roles, I'm not so sure. To be fair, this is set in medieval times, when things were even more limited than today.
It is a bit exasperating how certain storylines are left unfinished though. I'm thinking in particular of what happened to Gisburne at the end of season 1, the story of Baron de Belleme, and of course, and most sadly, the unfinished storylines after the series was cancelled after season 3.
The guest cast is often astonishing though. I've been marvelling at that throughout. I am looking forward to next season, and Richard O'Brien's repeated appearances. Though I'm less excited about an upcoming major cast change. On plus we will have other great guest stars to enjoy. I am especially looking forward to seeing William Russell.
Anyway yes, very happy rewatching these. A marvellous series, that first aired 40 years ago this year. And still well worth making time for.
* I know that ITVX has cut some of the violence. But I've seen enough of the series on DVD before to remember that even in the original uncut form it's not as violent as you might expect for the time. Very impressive, albeit a bit overlong for me now. But remarkably non "eek!" inducing.
Again this will be full of spoilers for folks who haven't watched the series, so putting it in a spoiler cut. And this discussion runs from the Christmas 2023 episode through the 8-episode series run in 2024.
( spoilers )
A recurring thing in Doctor Who this year
Jun. 1st, 2024 09:10 pmGoing slightly scatty with this, cos my husband isn't noticing this. I want to talk about it! I will put more details in spoiler space. This is just for up to the episodes that have aired 2023 onwards through to today, but if you've missed this recurring thing it may be new info. Which you either want to know or don't. So open the spoiler cut with care.
( spoilers )
Doctor Who: Dot and Bubble
Jun. 1st, 2024 07:43 pmVery powerful episode. The message was possibly too subtly done. I’m now explaining things that Martin had missed. But yes, a thought provoking episode, including tackling an issue that I had thought more likely to be addressed in a different context. And yes, this was very much a Black Mirror episode of Doctor Who.
Now watching Doctor Who Unleashed, and astonished that the first thing of Doctor Who that Ncuti Gatwa filmed was the closing scene of tonight’s Dot and Bubble episode. He was fantastic, and that was such a powerful scene.
Now watching Doctor Who Unleashed, and astonished that the first thing of Doctor Who that Ncuti Gatwa filmed was the closing scene of tonight’s Dot and Bubble episode. He was fantastic, and that was such a powerful scene.
Just got to this 2012 episode in my Matt Smith era rewatch. And crikey it's much better than I remembered! It starts with a bonkers Steven Moffat esque mass of different time settings / characters pulled from there. Though it's written by Chris Chibnall. Then it turns into a comedic but also very dark in places space set story. With dinosaurs. With the Doctor and pals riding on a dinosaur. Oh and Queen Nefertiti. I was stunned by the guest cast, especially David Bradley as the baddie, Mark Williams as Rory's dad Brian, and Rupert Graves (Lestrade in Sherlock). But also comedy duo Mitchell & Webb voicing the robots. Who were very, very funny, in a Hitchhikers-esque way. I did find some of the location work distracting: that beach has been used too often in the series, including this time reminding me most of The Time of Angels / Flesh and Stone. But that's a minor quibble. This was a bonkers concept, packed full of stuff, balancing light and dark elements, and just very well done. I remember Chris Chibnall's episode a couple on from here also being a strong one - the one that introduced Kate Stewart. What happened later?! Was it just that he had really good characters to write for here? Baffling. But this was good.
Watching Doctor Who 40/14/1.4 73 Yards
May. 25th, 2024 07:31 pmI'm writing this an hour or so after watching it early in the wee hours of the night. But will hold back from posting it properly until after the UK BBC1 Saturday evening airing.
In a nutshell I really liked it. A satisfying crossover of folk horror and alternative history, with hefty elements of Sapphire & Steel, The Woman in Black and much more besides. And an absolute tour de force of acting from Millie Gibson. To get into more nitty gritty, and I recommend only reading this after you've seen the episode:
( spoilers ) I expect this episode will make the Hugo award shortlist next year. I will certainly be nominating it.
In a nutshell I really liked it. A satisfying crossover of folk horror and alternative history, with hefty elements of Sapphire & Steel, The Woman in Black and much more besides. And an absolute tour de force of acting from Millie Gibson. To get into more nitty gritty, and I recommend only reading this after you've seen the episode:
Although I struggle hugely with print now I can still generally read plays in that format. And rarely read them in ebook. But I did this time, to reread Macbeth, which I probably last read 35 or so years ago in school. I've also more recently seen other televised or movie versions. So do remember much of the plot.
Reading a play script book is often rather strange. This time I decided to ignore the lengthy analytical introduction, which to be honest was better read after I'd finished. And dived straight in. Much of the play has a very minimal cast, but there's backstory and wider things early on that can get confusing. The scenes focusing on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are best. And why does Banquo talk in such a flowery long-winded way?!
Reading an ebook version of a play text had the advantage that it allowed lots of useful jumping about easily to footnotes. And this Penguin edition was well footnoted. Usually to explain specific words rather than lengthy academic history paper type digressions! For example I was thrown by the word "sewer", thinking it literally meant that place. But no, it was a servant. Thank goodness for footnotes.
I am amazed just how many key quotes there are in this particular Shakespeare play. Many of which I remembered from long ago, but others surprised me by popping up here. It's remarkably packed full of stuff.
And action packed. Oh yes, action packed. Staging it must also involve a lot of fake blood ...
As a Scottish historian it's also fascinating to see this depiction of Scottish history, through a 17th century English lens, with the complex situation of James VI and I not long on the throne in London.
I plan to watch the Ian McKellen and Judi Dench 1970s stage version soon. Meanwhile yes, that was a good read.
Reading a play script book is often rather strange. This time I decided to ignore the lengthy analytical introduction, which to be honest was better read after I'd finished. And dived straight in. Much of the play has a very minimal cast, but there's backstory and wider things early on that can get confusing. The scenes focusing on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are best. And why does Banquo talk in such a flowery long-winded way?!
Reading an ebook version of a play text had the advantage that it allowed lots of useful jumping about easily to footnotes. And this Penguin edition was well footnoted. Usually to explain specific words rather than lengthy academic history paper type digressions! For example I was thrown by the word "sewer", thinking it literally meant that place. But no, it was a servant. Thank goodness for footnotes.
I am amazed just how many key quotes there are in this particular Shakespeare play. Many of which I remembered from long ago, but others surprised me by popping up here. It's remarkably packed full of stuff.
And action packed. Oh yes, action packed. Staging it must also involve a lot of fake blood ...
As a Scottish historian it's also fascinating to see this depiction of Scottish history, through a 17th century English lens, with the complex situation of James VI and I not long on the throne in London.
I plan to watch the Ian McKellen and Judi Dench 1970s stage version soon. Meanwhile yes, that was a good read.
Hidden angel
May. 20th, 2024 06:40 pmWas just chatting to Mum, and she reminded me of my performance at High Cross Church in Melrose as Angel Gabriel in the Nativity Play. Whose speech was delivered not from the pulpit as intended but from behind the Christmas tree, invisibly 😜 The funny thing is I can remember quite a lot of that, including the effort of learning the speech. *So* long ago now ...
I'd been planning to write this for a while. But was reminded by Roger Corman's recent passing.
These were the first horror films I fell in love with. My dad adored them, and encouraged me to watch them with him from a very young age. Probably too young an age! But I was quickly hooked, and like him loved them. Vincent Price's acting in these films is hammy and arch in many places, but perfectly suited to the material and treatment. And that combined with the exaggerated Edgar Allan Poe (usually) plots and lurid technicolour experience made them quite unique. I was far too young to be taking drugs or drinking alcohol, apart from a very small ginger wine at Christmas. But these were as close as I came to a hallucinogenic experience from a very young age.
Watching them again as an adult I'm much more critical, not least of the acting - and here I'm not so much talking about Vincent Price, but the guest cast - and ultimately it does feel like style over substance in places. But overall I am still delighted by them, and hope to continue to rewatch them for a long time to come. I am currently having fun introducing them to my husband, who'd never seen them before getting together with me. Next up in our watch/rewatch is The Raven. I was tossing up between various Price/Corman films we have recorded, but fell back on the rather nebulous "But it's culturally significant!" At which point he realised exactly which one I had picked.

These were the first horror films I fell in love with. My dad adored them, and encouraged me to watch them with him from a very young age. Probably too young an age! But I was quickly hooked, and like him loved them. Vincent Price's acting in these films is hammy and arch in many places, but perfectly suited to the material and treatment. And that combined with the exaggerated Edgar Allan Poe (usually) plots and lurid technicolour experience made them quite unique. I was far too young to be taking drugs or drinking alcohol, apart from a very small ginger wine at Christmas. But these were as close as I came to a hallucinogenic experience from a very young age.
Watching them again as an adult I'm much more critical, not least of the acting - and here I'm not so much talking about Vincent Price, but the guest cast - and ultimately it does feel like style over substance in places. But overall I am still delighted by them, and hope to continue to rewatch them for a long time to come. I am currently having fun introducing them to my husband, who'd never seen them before getting together with me. Next up in our watch/rewatch is The Raven. I was tossing up between various Price/Corman films we have recorded, but fell back on the rather nebulous "But it's culturally significant!" At which point he realised exactly which one I had picked.

Doctor Who rewatch: The Girl Who Waited
Apr. 15th, 2024 04:08 amJust finished watching this tonight, the Matt Smith story that sees Amy separated from the Doctor and Rory, and time shenanigans mean that Amy ends up spending a very very long time trapped ...
This was my favourite episode of that year on first watch. It even beat Neil Gaiman's "The Doctor's Wife" for me. And I think I voted in the Hugos that year, when both stories were on the Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) shortlist. And I knew which I preferred, though the Gaiman story won the Hugo award in the end.
It's still powerful to rewatch today. The opening third is standard scifi setup, but when you meet the older version of Amy the emotional level escalates rapidly. I think I probably related to that more this time, because I'm closer in age to that version of Amy than I was when this first aired.
The direction is a joy, and one scene in particular stands out for me, when the two Amys - young and old - are able to talk to each other across time. Originally an older actress was intended to play older Amy, but Karen Gillan wanted to give it a go. And with the aid of prosthetic makeup does a fantastic job. By far her best acting in Doctor Who ever.
It's also remarkable as a low budget and Doctor lite episode. Matt Smith is very much in it, but the story is carried by Amy (both versions) and Rory, and both act superbly. I should also praise the writer Tom MacRae. I wasn't that keen on his Cybermen two-parter with David Tennant, but this - his other story - is stellar.
The ending is inevitable, but how you get there is in turns moving and shocking. And throughout so brilliantly acted.
This remains an absolute highlight for me of the Matt Smith era. There were some gems, even if there were some clunkers too.
This was my favourite episode of that year on first watch. It even beat Neil Gaiman's "The Doctor's Wife" for me. And I think I voted in the Hugos that year, when both stories were on the Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) shortlist. And I knew which I preferred, though the Gaiman story won the Hugo award in the end.
It's still powerful to rewatch today. The opening third is standard scifi setup, but when you meet the older version of Amy the emotional level escalates rapidly. I think I probably related to that more this time, because I'm closer in age to that version of Amy than I was when this first aired.
The direction is a joy, and one scene in particular stands out for me, when the two Amys - young and old - are able to talk to each other across time. Originally an older actress was intended to play older Amy, but Karen Gillan wanted to give it a go. And with the aid of prosthetic makeup does a fantastic job. By far her best acting in Doctor Who ever.
It's also remarkable as a low budget and Doctor lite episode. Matt Smith is very much in it, but the story is carried by Amy (both versions) and Rory, and both act superbly. I should also praise the writer Tom MacRae. I wasn't that keen on his Cybermen two-parter with David Tennant, but this - his other story - is stellar.
The ending is inevitable, but how you get there is in turns moving and shocking. And throughout so brilliantly acted.
This remains an absolute highlight for me of the Matt Smith era. There were some gems, even if there were some clunkers too.
I'm now into season 2 of my latest Robin of Sherwood rewatch. And this story of a rediscovered lost important character, and a scene chewing Prince John. The guest cast continues to astonish. George Baker as the mysterious prisoner would be strong casting in itself. But then you have Phil Davis as Prince John, and perhaps even more surprisingly John Nettles - in mid Bergerac era - as his lackey. Even Simon Dutton (known best, perhaps, as an international version of "The Saint" character, though I remember him more from a brief glimpse in Matt Smith era Doctor Who) contributes a lot. It's remarkable how much is packed into this one episode, not just in plot, toing and froing, but also acting and effective scene chewing. Oh and I forgot to mention the recurring characters of the Old Prisoner in the castle dungeon and his rat Arthur, who both shine in this episode. Great rat acting.
There is a feeling of impending doom as I hurtle through this second season. But very much enjoying it. I have the DVDs and Blu-Rays, but started rewatching on Britbox, and am now watching on ITVX (Britbox is closing down in the UK this month).
There is a feeling of impending doom as I hurtle through this second season. But very much enjoying it. I have the DVDs and Blu-Rays, but started rewatching on Britbox, and am now watching on ITVX (Britbox is closing down in the UK this month).