ChrisM

[ChrisM]

I wasn’t really sure what the amulets were about. I.e. I understand the amulet provides some kind of signal which reacts with the pill somehow in turning the fat into critters, but considering the big machine at the end did that, they just seemed a bit redundant (apart from giving Donna a useful tool to mess with the machine at the end), but that might just have been me losing concentration. (Not through boredom, I just seem to have a bit of a low attention span. Mainly through thinking about what has happened, and then missing what a bit of what’s happening right now.)

I did enjoy the episode though. I liked the fat monsters, and I thought Catherine Tate was ok. And I think she actually was toned down compared to how she was in that Christmas episode. (Mind you she was in a panic through much of that.) I liked the little Rose appearance too, although I guessed it was her when I saw the back of her head when Donna spoke to her. Thing is, I knew Rose would appear in this series at some point, although I figured it would be much later, so it was still a surprise in that sense.

[ChrisM]

If she can?t see Hunt et al talking to each other without her there neither should we.

But I think the point might truly be that this is a self contained world with living breathing characters in their own right. Whether they are truly part of the past of Alex’s world or not, we don’t know yet, but I’m not sure it was ever as simple as just being her subconscious.

I think that might have also been the case with Sam, they just left it ambiguous at that point, hence everything is viewed from his perspective.

[ChrisM]

Emohawk is an interesting episode I think, in that it has some of my favourite season 6 moments, but there are some things that don’t quite work. I.e. the Kinitawowi (possibly misspelt) stuff is some of the funniest Dwarf I’ve seen. That little saucy wave one of the ‘bridesmaids’ gives Rimmer tickles me every time…

The stuff with Ace and Duane though… I’m kind of in two minds about that. Whilst I like the return of the characters, it felt a bit too…

(It’s difficult to think of the right terminology, but ‘a nod to long term fans whilst sacrificing the ‘reality’ of that world’ is what I mean. Physical appearance changes with the removal of their emotions… that sort of thing. I actually have a theory that accounts for how that might work, but it’s a bit of a stretch and the post is getting long as it is.)

It’s mainly just the introduction to those characters that affect me that way though. And it certainly didn’t stop me getting the special release of Beat the Geek with the Duane Dibley bobble head included. Ace willing to sacrifice himself and Duane was great (“Snap his head when he’s not looking.” Heh heh. I guess I have a warped mind).

I actually rather liked the ending though, it was a very twisty Dibley moment.

Not entirely sure why they’re mucking about with the freezing and the syringe when just the destruction of the polymorph in series 3 returned their emotions… but actually this makes a bit more sense than the original, kill-the-monster-and everything-returns-to-normal ending. More sci-fi, less fantasy.

[ChrisM]

Heh, shows how much I know about the Carry-ons. I had an idea it was earlier for some reason. I think the date was 1976… which I suppose in hindsight is about right… although I mentally considered that ‘early’… probably cos I was 1 years old when it came out. Yes I know, no real logic there.

As for the raunchier sex comedies, I seem to remember having seen parts of a film with a handy man having his way with a bunch of ladies… The tone was very carry-onish but with full on rumpy pumpy including a rather famous soapy kitchen scene. That’s one way to scoot across the floor I suppose…

[ChrisM]

That would have been amusing.

Actually it’s a variant on a scene I saw in a Carry on movie once. (I believe it was Carry-on follow that camel).

There you had a bunch of guys traveling through the desert and they are fooled by a couple of mirages. They then find a diner in the desert, take one look, “I’m not fooling for that one again” then wander off.

Then a couple of chaps come out and one of them says ” I knew we shouldn’t have set up business out here, no one will come.” Something to that effect anyway.

Of course the Dwarfy version above, is a lot more saucy.

Incidentally, talking about carry-on films, I saw a bit from Carry-on England the other day, and it was more saucy than other carry-ons I’ve seen. I.e. they don’t usually go further than showing ladies in skimpy outfits. Apart from the famous Barbara Windsor catapulting bikini top of course, but even that was only on screen for a couple of seconds.

In this one they showed a whole bunch of topless army girls all standing in a row, plumpies totally on display for a couple of minutes. Apparently the commander (sergeant-major I believe) had told them on the tanoy, “You are to wear your uniform trousers. That is all.” (as in that’s all I have to say.) Saucy minxes decided to interpret him differently. I wonder if they decided to tone it down a bit in later shows for a more mainstream audience.

[ChrisM]

Agreed. I think it’s funnier. Something about that extra silliness of aiming for the nubbins…

[ChrisM]

Cute girl.

[ChrisM]

I liked the penguin one. Obviously a hoax but a funny one.

[ChrisM]

Brothers (non identical twins is genetically is what they would be I suppose) could look like that different though. It’s possible to have a big muscular brother and a short fat one. Just as it’s possible to have two that look similar. Not really a contradiction.

One thing I did wonder about though was how quickly the Inquisitor dealt with the chap at the start. He gave the Dwarfers a trial, but that chap was pretty much dealt with on the spot. The obvious reason is that it wouldn’t have worked with the time and pacing to include that trial as well, but my ‘in world’ explanation is that the Inquisitor did take him away for a trial as well, off-screen as it were, but then brought him back to the instant that he was taken. (He’s got a time machine after all.) I guess they could have made it more explicit but anyhow.

Also, how did the Inquisitor actually ‘become’ them in their trial, since he is in fact a simulant? (This isn’t a criticism of the show, I’m genuinely interested in working out the explanation of these things, sad as it may seem.) I assume that he must have scanned their lives and personalities before calling on them. Then he generated an illusion of their appearance maybe, through holographic technology, or possibly some of that nanotech business Kryten has? (The Inquisitor is self repairing after all.) Hmmm…

[ChrisM]

Good point actually. Still since he is a gestalt entity, so is effectively them, maybe it was their motivations that influenced him. I.e. They wanted to know that their plan was working so Legion obliged.

Of course it could be argued, that if that is the case then why didn’t he let them go since that’s what they wanted? Mainly because he wanted to exist even more I’d say, but showing his face was more subtle help. Like caring for them and feeding them and essentially giving them everything else they wanted… as long as they remained with him.

[ChrisM]

That green doesn’t look right to me, but appart from that it’s a good model.

[ChrisM]

That’s the interesting thing isn’t it? It was touted as Hunt’s programme this one, but it was still Alex who was the primary character. Which makes sense since we’re kind of in her boots, so to speak (our view into that world.)

Overall I liked it. Had some funny moments and the ending twist was interesting. Not as good as Life On Mars but not bad.

And you’ve got a scary clown too. And it’s amusing (and a bit disturbing) to watch Alex getting all shrieky.

Spoiler-

Interesting that Shaz saw him too when near death. I notice a lot of other character points of view too which was interesting. I’ve remarked on it before, but it wasn’t just here and there but prevalent throughout the series.

[ChrisM]

Parallel Universe, you mean! Although I think I?ve slipped up on that before too – there?s something about those two titles that?s easy to confuse.

Yes that’s the one.

I thought after writing that post I’d gotten a couple of episodes mixed up.

Never mind.

[ChrisM]

I’m sure I mentioned this in another thread, but no doubt it makes sense to create a thread specific to the subject.

Apperently Simon Pegg is being paid though. He revised his article to state this, although the points he makes concerning how it was dealt with still stand.

Oh right just noted the sarcasm… anyway, peggster link still worth following.

[ChrisM]

Interesting finding this as I just saw the Dimension Jump episode again as part of my much through the Bodysnatcher Collection disks.

I still prefer the rawer sound of the original to this more soulful version though. And the drama/acting made me want to wince, although I suspect the cheese was intentional. As did that version of Judge Dredd (I’m a 2000 AD reader too.)

Interesting to see so many familiar faces though including Queeg 500! And a sexy vamp/cat lady too. (Shouldn’t she have 6 er… oh never mind…)

[ChrisM]

I remember being at a friends house once (actually I remember being there lots of times har har). His mum had one of those viberating cushions. You know those things that are activated when you lean/sit on them sometimes to startling effect if you’re not expecting it?

Well one of the guys there leant on the cushion setting it off. My mate’s mum said “Don’t worry, it’s just my viberator.”, then left the room. What made it all the more amusing was that she was completely oblivious to what she had said.

[ChrisM]

Smeg me!

Spanish red Dwarf ?

That was impressive… although I found it creepy for some reason. And the incessant buzzing got on my nerves (although I noticed it wasn’t apparent in the indoor shots.)

If it’s for real, it’s a remarkable feat of engineering, particularly it’s ability to recover when slipping etc. That might not seem like much but that’s pretty advanced robotic behavior. In the real world anyway.

[ChrisM]

Though I?m guessing if Linda Hamilton had agreed to appear it would only have been a small role anyway. She probably didn?t want to play a dying Sarah.

Actually if Linda Hamilton had agreed to come back they probably would have given her a bigger role. From what I understand, they killed her character off because she didn’t want to come back (but I could be wrong.) I think she said in an interview she wasn’t inclined to return as she would likely be doing more of the same which I guess is fair enough, from her point of view.

And now Sarah Connor’s got a whole new series with her name on it and another lady has the role. And another one of those English ladies too.

It’s cheeky that guy put down Ms Slater for being ‘an English girl in the role of the bionic woman’ considering the amount of Americans play our roles! I do kind of agree though that it’s preferable to have actors playing their own nationality. It’s just that less of a stretch and chance of accent slips etc. Course, if they pull it off then its all the more impressive… and actually I think both of them have done ok so far.

[ChrisM]

T3 wasn’t bad at all. Probably the worst of the three, but still ok. I agree about the in-jokes.

And there were some cool robots.

[ChrisM]

Concerning Tesco…

It’s a big ship. About 5 miles long if I remember correctly. Maybe they’ve got an entire shopping centre on board… and Tesco is still alive and kicking in the 23rd/22nd/21st (depending on series) century.

;}

[ChrisM]

?..one thing about the original too?wasn?t it steve austin who had the bionic eye!???!

That is correct. Steve Austin had a bionic eye. The Bionic woman had a bionic ear. This new lady has both.

Whilst I’m kind of with you in preferring something original to remakes, I have to say the tone of the show is rather different. As different as say the new Galactica to the original.

In short, whilst the premise is similar the characters are rather different. As is the feel of the world they live in. I wonder, if they’d kept the new show exactly as it is, but called it by a different name (Techno woman, the cyber girl… nah they’re kinda rubbish aren’t they?) if peoples attitude toward remakes (including myself!) would be different.

Quite possibly not actually, or if so not necesarily for the good as the reference to the original might be a good advertising point too for other people…

[ChrisM]

I was referring to the T-800 type terminators you see in The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Apparently the ones in this series are T-888s. A small spoiler I picked up from the internet actually, but nothing to spoil the story. I.e. they’re an advancemnent on Arnold’s series, one advancement being their ability to control their body by remote control if their cranial unit (that the noggin to you and me) gets seperated.

[ChrisM]

I didn’t mind it. It was ok. I thought the update of the bionic appendages (!?) having nanotechnology was very interesting.

Incidentally, I thought the first bionic woman might be the actress who plays Starbuck, but I wasn’t sure. She looks quite different in the new getup.

The show I’m quite into right now is the Sarah Connor Chronicles. It’s not perfect, there are some plot holes….

SPOILER ALERT!

Cromartie’s body being left on a dump for years with little damage seemed bit too much of a stretch for me. Especially as I thought he got blown up, rather than just having his head shot off. Then again, maybe the T-888s have nanotech repairing them? Silly he wasn’t noticed though.

…. but otherwise I’m rather enjoying it.

[ChrisM]

Cheers for that Ben.

[ChrisM]

I don’t think the complaint about the first episode is what it does so much (i.e. introducing the characters etc.) It does that pretty well. It’s just that the first episode feels very hammy for one thing. (Sorry to use a term used again, and again and again by Danny on the commentaries.) I think the main reason for that is the actors were just finding their feet, especially as Craig Charles hadn’t had much experience acting before.

To be fair though it didn’t take him long to find said feet. Just looked down for the size 9s on the end of his perambulators. ;)

[ChrisM]

I did submit my answers, but I found it difficult to choose. For example I’m into The Sarah Connor Chronicles at the moment. I’m enjoying it, but since we’re only 3 episodes in so far it didn’t seem fair to include it.

There are also other shows like Galactica and Lost which are favourite shows of mine, but I didn’t want to include them as I can find quite major faults in them too. Ironically the faults don’t mean I necesarily like them less though… if that make sense. (I guess what I’m saying is, do I judge purely on my emotional reaction to the show, or how techically well it’s been constructed?)

Anyway I forget now all the shows I chose, but I definitely chose Red Dwarf, Buffy and Firefly, not necesarily in that order. I think I chose Babylon 5 as well, although my feelings for that show waver depending on episode. Overall I think it’s a good un but I find some of the script and characters a bit cheesy. (Mainly theh human characters.) I loved the main story arcs with the Shadow War, Psi corp uprising, etc though. And the darker alien character were wonderful.

I haven’t picked up the new Babylon 5 DVDs yet.

[ChrisM]

You really should be reading the Buffy season eight comics, if you?re not already. You?ll be in for a very nice surprise in a few issues? time, if so.

Really? I haven’t read any Buffy comics except what I mentioned (which strictly speaking isn’t Buffy as it’s other slayer in that universe.) I’m definitely interested in taking a peek though. Have they done any trade paperbacks yet?

Comics I’m reading at the moment are 2000AD and Dark Tower: The Long Road Home. That’s the second prequel series to Stephen King’s Dark Tower books. Great art, although I found the story matter of this issue a bit suspect. I’m looking forward to the next issues though as we’ve moved out of the Wizard and Glass teritory now into whole new material.

I see your point concerning the feminism by the way. I accept improvements could be made in society for women’s rights. As for women being more in the forefront, I actually don’t think many really want to, but taking a background role doesn’t mean that role is inferior. I know you wasn’t saying it was, this is just a general observation I’m making. I.e. when career women regard the idea of being a housewife and bringing up children with contempt for example. Sure a woman should have the oportunity to follow her career, but that doesn’t make the housewife’s role inferior. In fact both work very hard, just in different areas.

I agree that women should have equal oportunity to take their career/life.etc where they want it to go though… which I guess is the whole point.

[ChrisM]

In the lift, he said ?Presumably they?ve all been resurrected as well? (or something to that effect)- meaning he didn?t totally direct the rebuild

True but he did direct who wasn’t built. As in the main living characters.

[ChrisM]

The Ballad of Halo Jones (by Alan Moore) – anybody in any way interested in positive portrayals of women in comics absolutely HAS to read this book

I second this. It is a great book, (and the most recent graphic novel I bought.)

I find it interesting that it’s described as a ‘feminist space opera’ though. To me it’s a good story (or rather set of stories as, they’re various stories collected from 2000 AD) with a good female lead. She’s not ultraheroic, or anything like that though. Just a normal girl who ends up in extraordinary circumstances, (although coping with those circumstances could be argued to be very heroic. She leaves her momotonous life and does something while others stay put and make do…) which I think is part of the appeal.

I suppose the character of the Glyph was concerned in part with gender identity but I’m not certain that has anything to do with feminism, more to do with individual identity and loneliness. A very poignant character though. (Without spoiling too much, she reminds me of a couple of characters who appear in Buffy. Those girls who vanish…)

As for feminism… if feminism is the belief that men and women are equal and should have equal rights, then I guess I’m a feminist. I dislike the term though, partly due to the associations, where some feminists seem to think it means the maculinism of women. Doesn’t that defeat the whole point? Of course men and women are different, and that’s a good thing surely. Why would they want to be the same?That doesn’t mean they are not equal though. Also the whole term ‘feminism’ seems biassed to me.

Everyone should be equal and treat others how they want to be treated. (Unless their negative actions make them otherwise, but then that’s their fault, and they have the option of bettering themselves. )

Back to the strong females in comics:
Buffy fans might also like Joss Whedon’s Fray. It’s essentially a science fiction story set in the Buffyverse with a whole other slayer lead. Sure there’s strong similarities with Buffy, but there is are interesting twists to this story, and the futuristic setting with hover cars and mutants, along with vampires and demons definitely add something.

So far they’ve only done two stories based on the the character, as far as I know, a graphic novel and a short story set in an Slayer anthology book (‘Tales of the Slayers’, I believe it’s called, another good read by the way.) I hope Whedon goes back to the character at some point.

Actually in a foreword concerning the character Whedon actually mentioned that he didn’t want her to have big breasts. Or to put it more succinctly, he wanted her to look like a normal girl not something blown out of proportion as they tend to be in many comics. She’s still quite a hottie though, just not gratuitously so. (Of course some women do have big boobies too… but of course balance is the point isn’t it? Or lack of it if they lean forward too far… see what I did there?.)

[ChrisM]

Really liked the episode when Kevin Eldon made a clone of himself and it was massively unconvincing and just spouted non-sequiturs.

I found the fate of the clone amusing too. Shows my dark sense of humor.

The humor mostly made me wince though. Particularly the, er, big lady’s infatuation with the captain. Not the fact she’s big… (that’d be like having a go on a bouncy castle with in and out bits after all (wahaaay!), just the whole sheer sickening desperation.

I don’t think they were actually consciously stealing from Dwarf though. I think quite often plot points will occur in parallel.

[ChrisM]

So the painting wasn’t your thing then?

They really did harp on about that didn’t they…

I liked Allo Allo though. Actually despite the subject matter it’s not especially cruel to the Germans… it just takes the mick out of everyone (English folken very much included), and all with an affectionate tone. Even taking kinky gestapo into consideration…

[ChrisM]

Actually seeing that arseface kid in the comic (that is disturbing by the way isn’t it?) that rings a bell. Also Cassidy’s comment. Completely skipped my mind that did. In my defence I read that book a long time ago.

[ChrisM]

I think it?s the expression Robert Webb pulls to camera which makes it for me every time.

And that tune they play as they dash around the streets, Didlee didlee didlee dee etc.

Silly but comical.

As for the snooker commentators, I didn’t find them all that funny, but I liked the ‘table of reds’ finale. I’m probably just easily pleased though.

As for the bumface reference I made earlier, I was just pointing out that Southpark had done the same idea before them, although I agree that it was different enough to work. I wasn’t suggesting it was a rip-off.

As for Preacher, I’ve only read one of those comics (the first I beleive.) I’m somewhat surprised they did the bumface gag there as it didn’t come across as that kind of comic. (The book with the supernatural comic with the rather unpreacherlike, er, preacher, the lady and the Irish vampire right? Or am I getting mixed up with something else?) No doubt I need to read the scene in context though.

[ChrisM]

Space related, have you seen this?

It’s a blog entry from Simon Pegg. Apparently Spaced may well get the American treatment, but it seems he and Jessica got left out of the loop somewhat.

[ChrisM]

1. The Story. A re-imagining from the start or continuing, with Series 9?
A continuation. I am interested in seeing the material of the film done in some way at some point, but for another series, let’s continue as we go.

2. The Cast. Originals or replacements?
Original.

3. The Setting. Starbug or Red Dwarf?
Both.

4. The Ship. Old Red Dwarf or the new version?
It’s a continuation, so lets keep to the new version.

5. The Crew. Did the 1000+ crew survive or have they gone/were never there?
Since the others left the ship in the last episode, lets keep it mainly based around the usual cast. However, other crewmembers could make an appearance here and there.

6. The Smeghead. A living Rimmer or a Hologram?
Keep to human Rimmer at start, but let’s have the Ace holo-rimmer turn up. But make him a more rounded character than the cheesie original Ace (amusing though he was.)

7. The Foami? The Girl. Is Kochansky still with them or returned to her dimension?
Keep her. Regardless of how many seem to dislike her, she is now part of the crew. Besided she’s lovely.

8. The Computer. Hattie or Norman as Holly?
I like the dual personality thing. Have them switch.

9. The Series. Story arc or mainly stand-alone episodes?
Kind of both. Have individual stories but an ongoing arc running through the series too. (It’s not the contradiction it might appear.)

10. The End. Finish the story for good or leave it open.
I don’t mind them leaving it open if we had more series, but otherwise finish the story. Let’s find Earth at some point.

[ChrisM]

Whoops. And the first post actually said “Would anyone except Kryten have given Lister the synaptic enhancer? ” which I somehow interpreted in my mind as “who would give Kryten the synaptic enhancer”… which somehow I confused with the Lithium carbonate… whilst not taking note of the actual episode title either.

Talk about duncebreed central…

Never mind. Still, my examples still pass as examples of interesting things that don’t quite work in Red Dwarf. Even if that wasn’t what this thread was about…

Brain like the roadrunner but not half as speedy, that’s me! Meep meep!

By the way that Fry and Laurie Youtube sketch reminds me of the Kryten middle name gag.

[ChrisM]

Concerning the early point with Kryten and the synaptic enhancer, in some ways it’s strange that he was infected by the despair squid in the first place. That being said, it was mentioned in DNA that his brain is part organic so I guess that takes care of that. I didn’t think he breathed though (and surely he’d need to suck it in to ingest it?) Having plastic hands and no veins/blood to absorb the drug, you’d think he would still be immune if it was absorbed through touch.

I’m overthinking it aren’t I? Hee hee. It’s interesting to do though, and it doesn’t make me like the episode less.

Another thing I wondered about was, how did the DNA computer in, er, DNA change his whole structure since it was only his brain that was part organic? What happened to all the plastic and metal?

Oh right it was given to mini Robo-Lister at the end. ;}

[ChrisM]

I also noticed that all the programmes listed were old stuff. Except who (depending on what series he was referring too.)

It’s true though it’s no worse than American shows in that regard.

Definitely agree concerning Galactica, although I admit I like it too.

I got Galactica season 3 from library Saturday. Finished watching it today. What a great series it was! Some of the usual filler ‘ship dispute’ type stuff but I guess there’s only so much stuff you can do in an alienless universe (although Dwarf got round it with alien substitutes, gelfs etc.) It’s less of a drag when you watch the whole thing quickly as I did though but on a weekly basis I can imagine it would drag a bit.

Again though good series. When I recognized the ‘Watchtower’ song at the end,(without spoiling anything), that gave me quite a buzz.

Minor spoiler-

Seems to be going down the fantasy route though as time goes on. Interesting stuff though.

[ChrisM]

It does seem to be a case of a cool location influencing the writing rather than the other way round.

Agreed. I don’t mind too much that they expanded the Starbug set in series 7 but the whole ‘increasing by 200%’ whatever it is wasn’t really needed. I assume the expansion only happened inside the craft, TARDIS style since the ship would look very strange from the outside. Actually I do think the outside proportions are different, to me the back section (the bugs thorax if you like) looks a bit bigger in relation to the cockpit than it does in most of the other series. The corgi model follows that schematic whilst the playset appears to follow series 3-6.

For expanded sets I think they should have stuck to what we see of the cargo holds in the added ending (you know the Kryten-pop-out-eyes, leave-Lister-stranded scene?) It was more than we saw in previous shows but still believable. That huge hall with the fan though, that didn’t work although it did look very cool.

[ChrisM]

The Arse for a face sketch was very funny.

A similar idea was done before though. In an episode of Southpark I believe. (They had an entire family in that one.)

The documentary setting of this sketch though, poking fun at those of us fascinated by the Extraordinary People documentaries, gave it something original though.

[ChrisM]

That’s funny.

I can’t remember my dream clearly (although it was quite vivid at the time) but it was something to do with an ‘other presence’, a spirit or demon of some kind. Weird thing is, I had an idea my bed was located where it used to be as a kid. (i.e. same room different wall.)

Dream likely caused as much by the James Herbert book I’m currently reading as the earth quake though. The Secret of Crickley Hall, a ghost story. Not that scary but the sleeping mind can take ideas and blow them up somehow…

[ChrisM]

I didn’t feel it. Not consiously anyway. I did sleep in late though, and I also had an uneasy dream (not that common for me I rarely remember my dreams, and when I do, they’re like vague thoughts. This time I wasn’t even aware I was dreaming.), Doesn’t necesarily have anything to do with the quake of course (in fact the dream wasn’t about that) but I wonder if the greater clariy and sense of unease was caused by my mind subconsciously registering the quake. My mind has incorporated real world stuff into my dreams before (i.e. radio etc.)

Nah, thats likely rubbish.

[ChrisM]

I hold the apparently controversial view that Series VII is not, strictly speaking, bad. I like Series VII, and I honestly believe that the series has some of the finest moments in the entire run of the show.

VIII is just dire, though. No redeeming value whatsoever.

Interesting. Most people seem to prefer 8 to 7. I’m not one of them though… so nice to see I’m not the only one.

That being said I didn’t hate 8 I just thought it weaker overall than the other series. I thought the change in direction was interesting although the idea that Kryten’s nanobots could resurrect the entire ship and crew was a bit over the top. Then again taking sci-fi ideas to the extreme and having fun with it is one of RD’s main themes.

The whole dirty dozen in space idea with the canaries was good. And Cassandra was comparable in theme and quality to episodes we’ve had earlier series. I think the main problem was dragging some stories over multipart episodes which could have been done much quicker, and the tendency to cram different story threads into one episode near the end. It gave it a mish-mashed feel, as if Doug had a bunch of gags he wanted out there and crammed them in. I’m mainly thinking of the Archie thread which whilst funny in itself didn’t have much to do with the main thread of that episode. Except in giving the Cat a nasty surprise.

Overall still good telly though.

[ChrisM]

At least Red Dwarf was on first. If it’d been the other way round people might have been turned off by Hyperdrive and turned the channel.

Course they can always turn it back afterwards, but point is they might have gotten invested in a programme on the other side at that point.

[ChrisM]

I liked it, although I was a bit annoyed to start with as I had a similar idea…

Yeah right, like it’d ever be made.

I didn’t realise it was just a pilot though, I’ve been looking forward to the next installment this week. Ok, so it looks like it’ll be a while yet.

As for Phoo action… whilst amusing in places I thought it was overall rather pants. I’m not entirely sure why it was on that late either as it had the feel of a kids tv show (ok, the girl said “shit” in one scene… I suppose that’ll be why…) even down to the toony looking ‘mutants’ Ok so it’s based on a comic but even so.

[ChrisM]

A lot of people seem to dislike beyond a joke. It’s probably my favorite from season 7. Sure it’s got some plot holes but it’s a lot of fun. We’ve got Jane Austin world, multiple heads exploding (come on that was funny) and killer simulants and of course Able. The ending was a bit hokey, (which still works ok since it’s hardly a serious show) but otherwise great stuff I thought.

My worst… probably a toss up between some of the season 8 stuff (not bad but dragged a bit for my liking) and Confidence and Paranoia. Actually I quite liked the dream hallucinations to start with but for some reason found the Confidence character irritating. That my own prejudism though, as the character was supposed to be irritating I guess. To be fair it wasn’t badly written.

[ChrisM]

I never got into 24 either, although I’ve heard many good things about it.

[ChrisM]

Alex is quite a patronising mare isn’t she? It can get quite annoying, although I like her too.

The “Hello constructs!” line I did find amusing. I do hope that she gets more invested in the world around her as the series goes on though.

Some great comedy in this episode too. The scene when she goes upstairs to have a ‘fling’ with the business man (what did she see in him by the way? He was really greasy wasn’t he?) and the doors slide open to find another lady in ‘jockey mode’. Then she hits the down button to get away and the door keeps opening and closing instead.

The expression on her face was brilliant.

I’m not really into explicite sex in programmes, I find it a bit tacky… but the comedic tone somehow makes it hilarious. Especially as it’s so ridiculously simulated.

Overall I found this episode a bit uneven (probably not the right word)for some reason. Not easy to put into words why. Overall I like it though, not as much as Life on Mars, but to be fair it’s it’s own animal with a different tone.

[ChrisM]

I hope that Virgin bring the last Galactica series to On Demand like they did Lost. That was another show I lost when Sky 1 was withdrawn.

At least I got to catch up with Lost though. Better late than never! Pardon the cliche.

[ChrisM]

I just finished season 3 today. Definitely a good season with definite revelations (and more questions but that’s a good thing!)

Spoilers:

Interesting to find out the twist in the flashback for the last 2 episodes. It seemed to be one of those flashbacks that didn’t have much to do with the current storyline… which is pretty much what it was… except for that twist right at the end when Jack meets a special person… and it’s not actually a flashback at all. Makes me wonder how the next series will pan out.

I can’t help thinking that certain characters sometimes act out of character though. Particularly Locke. (I’m referring to the satelite phone scene at the end of the last episode.) I mean, I know he has a hard side, but didn’t that seem rather extreme? I sometimes think modern dramas want to bring in the shock factor to bring in a bit of spice to the series, but it it’s not believable then it comes across heavy handed and crass.

Anyway, probaby should have stuck this in the Lost thread but I delayed that as I figured most of that would be speculation for season 4 and I might get spoiled for the series I was watching.

[Author]

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