Tag: TV

Yep, TV stuff. I like watching TV. Not all TV, but some shows.

His Dark Materials (BBC)

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I was aware of this story and the books, but had never really thought about reading them. So when the BBC announced their new series I decided to give it a go. I have to admit that I had low expectations as they’d not exactly done a great job with War of the Worlds.

But, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was actually very good indeed. I watched all of the episodes, and, whilst I can’t say it was a story that I found totally gripping or interesting, it was actually good.

I think they’re making more of this too. I would definitely watch more if they do. If nothing else I expect it’ll be diverting.

The other thing it’s made me do is to get the first of the audio books. I haven’t started listening to it as yet, but I’ll get to it eventually.

Revisiting Survivors

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Survivors is a relatively little known TV show from the 1970s. It was about a virus that killed off almost the entire population of the planet. The people who were left were the ‘Survivors’. This is of course the subject of quite a lot of TV shows and films these days, but back then I think it was quite ground breaking.

It only got 3 seasons on TV, but, a few years ago, Big Finish, a company that makes some of my favourite audiobooks brought it back, with the three lead actors as well. Big Finish produced 9 seasons of it, each with 4 hour long episodes. It was brilliant. In fact, so much so that I’m revisiting the whole thing this year. Starting with the TV series. Which, in my opinion, stands the test of time, and is actually better than a lot of TV these days.

Survivors from the 1970s took a slow approach to storytelling. Or maybe that was the norm back then? Either way, it took its time in each episode. It had a natural feel too that somehow made it more believable.

I’ve enjoyed watching this again, and remembering the characters, the story and the where it took us.

Now that I’ve finished watching it I’m going to move on to listening to all of the audio stories that Big Finish Productions created. There are 9 box sets of these, so that will probably take me a while to get through I should think. When I do, I think I might post a summary of my thoughts on the whole thing.

The Dark Crystal

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THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE

When I first heard that Netflix was going to make a series based on the Dark Crystal, I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical about the whole thing. However, I knew I was going to at least give it a try, as I’d been a fan of the original film from when it first came out.

I was, like many others I suspect, very happily surprised by just how good it was. Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is an excellent series that is entirely in keeping with the original and very respectful to everything that the film did. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve now watched the whole thing twice, and gone back to watch the original movie too.

In fact, I’ve now started reading the Dark Crystal Creation Myths graphic novels too. I suppose I’ve become a little obsessed with it, although there’s nothing especially wrong with that.

I was very pleased to hear that another season is also in offing, and I’m certainly looking forward to that. Personally I’m not sure I can get quite enough Dark Crystal for now.

But why is it so compelling? Why has it been such a hit? Sure, there are plenty of people who remember the original movie and have nothing but fond memories of it, but I think it’s more than that. Dark Crystal is a very traditional story of good versus evil. There’s nothing new there, but it isn’t always as simple as that. It’s about community, and joining forces, about loyalty and innocence and friendship too.

THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE

Citizen Smith

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Tooting Popular Front

If you don’t remember Citizen Smith (and you’d need to be of a certain age to do so), then this post is probably not for you. Citizen Smith was a sitcom back in the late 1970’s. It ran for about 3 years and was probably quite good for its time.

A couple of years ago I posted about its return, but it seems that hasn’t happened. I can’t even remember where I heard about it.

The other night I got the DVD out of seasons 1 and 2 and started to watch them. I’d started this before, when I bought the DVDs, but hadn’t got very far. Once again I didn’t get very far. Why? Mainly because it was really awful.

When I say awful, I don’t mean awful by 1970’s standards, I mean by today’s standards, which is of course totally unfair. Judging this show by today’s criteria makes no sense at all. It wasn’t written or performed by those standards and it shouldn’t be watched by those either. That’s hard though. When I watch this I simply can’t help but see it in terms of what is in my opinion good for now.

In reality it was a great show for its day. I can remember enjoying it back then, and the fact that I can’t really enjoy it now shouldn’t damage that memory.

I’d still like to see a reboot of it though. I think that could be fun.

For now, I don’t think I’ll be putting those DVDs back in the player.

Watching Star Trek, from the start …

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I’ve just finished watching what was the final iteration of Star Trek, “Enterprise”. Of course “Enterprise” was set before the original series of Star Trek, but was the last to be made. Having watched it I’ve now started watched the original series from the start as it’s just turned up on netflix. In fact, it isn’t the only Star Trek series that’s arrived on netflix. In fact they’ve now got the original series, TNG, DS9 and Voyager too. So I now have a unique opportunity, I can watch every episode in strict chronological order.

And that’s what I plan to do now. I’ll be going through the lot!

Watching the Colony

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I’ve been watching this series since episode 1, and now it’s on episode 7. So far I’m still not entirely sure what is going on at all. It seems to be about a post alien invasion world, but there have been no aliens in it at all so far and all I can work out is that there are a bunch of rebels and a lot of people trying to hunt them down.

It feels like it should be good, but as I’m still not entirely sure what is happening I can’t be certain. I’d like it to be good. I’d like there to be some aliens as well, but so far, not so much.

Peladon Tales

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Peladon Tales
Peladon Tales

In my ongoing plan to slowly acquire all of the 3rd Doctor DVDs, these are the two I bought next. Anyone who knows the third doctor will realise that I’m not doing this in any kind of order at all. At least, not so far. It has been a bit random, but I’ll probably start collecting in order quite soon.

However, these two stories came as a boxed set, so there was little choice in that.

The Curse of Peladon
The Curse of Peladon

The Curse of Peladon is the earlier story, and the first time that the 3rd Doctor visits Peladon. It’s a good story by any standards. Of course the production values are early 70s TV and that probably doesn’t stand the test of time. However, I really enjoyed it, especially because one of the main characters is played by the son of the second Doctor.

The Monster of Peladon
The Monster of Peladon

The second story was right at the end of Mr Pertwee’s time as the Doctor. It is another good one, in my view, and again, I enjoyed it a lot.

At some point I’m going to go through all of the 3rd Doctor stories in order, when I’ve got them of course, and that will be truly epic.