vivdunstan

Jotting down some thoughts about this. Mainly a note to self, but sharing here too in case it's of interest to others.

We have very little time to watch TV series things together. Often just one episode's worth a week, total, given how heavily sedated I am, including typically having to go back to sleep between dinner and supper. And that's after being asleep all day before then ... It really is phenomenally restricting.

However making plans! And as top priority I hope to rewatch the Fifth Doctor Peter Davison era of Doctor Who, now we have almost all the Fifth Doctor Blu-ray remastered season collections, and will get the last one in late March. I've seen very few of these episodes again since original broadcast back in the early 1980s. Martin has seen very few (he didn't have a TV at home when he grew up). So it will be fun to watch/rewatch. Plus watch some of the bonus extra features like documentaries etc on the new Blu-ray season boxes. I will also be referring throughout to the hardback copy of the latest Celestial Toyroom annual Martin got for me for Christmas, after I dropped an unsubtle/heavy hint. This year's annual looks back at the Fifth Doctor era, including writings about each story. The Lulu-printed hardback version of the annual is *gorgeous*.

Before then though we need to finish our watch of the BBC 1988-1990 Narnia TV series. We are almost through the first story, and will go on to the other two after (Prince Caspian! Tom Baker!). Martin has seen BBC's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" before from a video copy we had long ago. But he has never seen the others. It is all a rewatch for me. There is also a very in-depth new documentary on the new BBC remastered Blu-ray Narnia box. Will watch that too.

Once that is out of the way we will be able to return to our once a week Babylon 5, as well as starting the Fifth Doctor stories. We are now in early Season 3 of Babylon 5, and approaching some big episodes. Very much looking forward to more. I constantly reassess my favourites, though often end up with the same results. It all feels comfortably familiar. I have lost count of how many times we have rewatched this series.

We also need to watch The Rings of Power season 2, preferably before season 3 airs! Although we will probably be slow getting to the latter. Still have to watch Sandman season 2, but me managing to get through episodes of that given how heavily sedated I am may be very tricky. And we will definitely prioritise watching the Good Omens final wrap up, when that airs.

Almost forgot: we still have to finish watching The War Between the Land and the Sea, which I haven't even managed to stick to an episode a week pace, even outside the Christmas period. Frankly it's very very talky, and often I don't feel up to watching more. But we will finish it. Hopefully soon. 2 episodes to go.

There are probably more things, but that's enough for us to be going on with for now.

Tackling the bumper Christmas issue Radio Times (long running UK TV and radio listings magazine), highlighter pens in hand, ready to note programmes of interest over the festive period. Yup, I’m one of those folk still doing this. Though Christmas is now the only time of year we buy the Radio Times.

Now pondering if I should use more than one highlighter pen colour. And amused by the Wallace & Gromit cover of the festive issue.

Belatedly watching episode 1 of The War Between the Land and the Sea. And just had a St Andrews University passing reference, though it’s a little bit confused. Should be normally 4 years not 3. That will only make sense to folks who watch it, and preferably also studied a Scottish undergraduate degree. I was offered direct entry to second year CS at my course choice meeting at the start of first term. So could easily have taken just a 3 year BSc(Hons) rather than the usual Scottish 4. But I decided to stick with the full 4 years. A uni friend jumped straight into second year CS, but it is an unusual thing to do at St Andrews.

The series is 62 years old today.

I am particularly pleased that the imminent release of the New Who Season 10 soundtrack has been announced today. Peter Capaldi's final season, which Murray Gold was glacial about releasing music for. There are some fab themes in there.

And the TARDIS is at Stonehenge today too ...

But yes, happy birthday Doctor Who!

Tonight we started our annual rewatch of the magical 1984 BBC TV version of The Box of Delights. Loaded up the remastered Blu-ray version this year, though Box is still currently (for at least a few weeks more) available to stream on the iPlayer.

Watching My Kind of Town from my home town Hawick for the 3rd or 4th time 🙂 It was repeated on the telly the other night and is on the iPlayer.

Very sad to hear that Prunella Scales has died. A wonderful actress, but most of all Martin and I enjoyed her charming canal trip programmes with husband Timothy West. I'm downloading (on demand in the UK) some of her past canal trips to rewatch, including the Leeds & Liverpool canal and Venice.

Continuing my reread, and another one I couldn't remember, which is particularly surprising given a strong Dundee element within it!

( spoilers )

Onto this story, after last time’s pivotal one. Going into major spoilers ... ( Beware! )

Continuing our latest Babylon 5 rewatch, and we’re up to S2E20 "The Long, Twilight Struggle". And it’s peak Shakespearean tragedy.

The only downside for me in this otherwise superb episode is the poor overacting by the recast Draal actor. Which is a big problem for me. But the rest of the episode is stunning.