Deep Space Nine: Season4

Season four is one of my favourites. Simply because this is the season that sees the return of Worf to our screens. Whilst not my favourite character amongst the Next gen crew (I didn't dislike him either) his character was just perfect for this series. Here you have a crew who are so different to each other and therefore adding in a Klingon seems only natural. Especially a Klingon so different from your usual Klingon's. I think Worfs character had a better chance to grow in DS9. There was more opportunity for him. He showed his sense of humour more (which I loved) and showed more of his difficulties in reconciling with his Klingon and Starfleet sides.

Thanks to Worf there are some fantastic episodes in there such as "The Way of The Warrior", "The Sword of Kahless" and "The Sons Of Mogh". At the last minute it was decided to bring the Klingon's into the mix and with Worf they really decided to go for it. I think that returning to a war between the Klingon's and the Federation could have been boring. It's been done before. However, with keeping the Cardassians and the Dominion involved it worked.

The whole series wasn't just about Worf and the Klingon's. There were a lot of other great episodes in there and some of my favourites include; "The Visitor", "Hippocratic Oath", "Starship Down", "Little Green Men", "Our Man Bashir", "Hard Time", "Shattered Mirror", "For The Cause" and "The Quickening".

Timewarden, I agree, those covers are fantastic. After Christmas I will certainly be purchasing the rest. I only buy the audio's that really catch my interest. Back when I first came across them I was tempted to start collecting them. However, I soon discovered that many of them weren't that great and it was better to stick to the ones that stood out for me. Basically anything with a returning Doctor Who baddie that I liked. In this case it was my interest in the companions themselves. I watched Shada when it was played on the BBC website. It was a few years ago and I enjoyed it at the time. I have heard of Freewheelers but didn't realise that Wendy Padbury was in it.

Lili, Douglas Coupland was my first choice initially. Then I read your answer to that question. You said that you wouldn't want to meet authors like that because you might be disappointed. The image you have of them through their writing might be very different from what they are actually like. Douglas Coupland is also an artist and a travel writer. He has such a wide range of interests that it would be interesting to talk to him. Going by interviews as well as his other pursuits I think he might fall into that line. Haruki Murakami on the other hand seems very straight forward. Having read his biography and his interviews I think what you see is what you get.

Judy, I would love to go and see The Golden Compass. I just need to find someone to drag along to it (it's not really they type of film my friends would want to see). So many people claim that all fantasy started with LOTR and that every fantasy book is influenced by it. I enjoyed the book and I loved the films but this really annoys me. There are so many fantasy books that have more to them than that and so many that cover a wide range. I find it difficult to believe that all can be traced back to LOTR.

I like your question. When I read about a book that I have very much enjoyed being turned into a film I usually have reservations about it at first. Especially if the book is quite detailed. In those cases a lot would have to be cut out and I wonder if they could really do it justice. The more the magazines talk about these films then it could go either way. With the case of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and now "The Golden Compass" I began to look forward to it the more I read. "I, Robot" is a film that had the opposite effect. The more I read about it the more I became annoyed. The only thing the same was the title and a couple of the main characters names. I still went to see it and did actually enjoy it for what it was. I do think that they should not have been allowed to use that title and should have had the lines "Very loosely based on."

The 4400

I have pretty much managed to avoid reading anything about this TV series. I even skipped those articles in my favourite sci fi mags. Too eager to get to the pages I am really interested in. I always meant to go back to them but then there is always something else to do or read. Not long ago I had heard that this series was actually quite good and that if you enjoyed heroes you might like this. What put me off a little was that it has also been described as the New X-Files. While I enjoyed the X-Files my main thought was that it had been done already. No need to watch something like that again. I then saw series 1 at such a low price it made me think twice about giving it a go.

I am so glad that I did. Over the past decade people have been disappearing and all of a sudden all 4400 of them come back. They arrive together in one place with no memory of where they have been and no indication that they have aged. Not knowing what to do with them Home Security put them in quarantine and then eventually let them back out to society. It is then that a few of the 4400 are showing signs of having a special gift. Each episode shows the continuing story of a few of the 4400 such as Lily and Richard who become a family, Homeland Security agent Tom's nephew and Mia a little girl who was one of the first to disappear. Each episode also centralises around one 4400 who is suddenly displaying a gift. These gifts are meant to be a way of working towards saving humanity.

If you ignore the fact that it has been said to be like Heroes, X-Files and even Lost then I think most people could enjoy this as a show in its own right. It could get boring and predictable with each show being about a 4400 who all of a sudden displays a gift. However, there is also a running story line through out with the regular cast that makes it something you have to keep watching. I was pleasantly surprised and I am now working my way through series 2.

Once I have finished watching series 2 of the 4400 I have something else to look forward to. "The Key To Time" box set arrived in the post today. This features all episodes with Mary Tamm who was the first actress to play companion Romana. I have yet to see these episodes since they aired before I was born and this is the first time they have been released on DVD. There are a total of 6 DVD's in there so I have a lot to look forward to.

Lili, I am so glad you loved the book. I have to admit that I liked "All Families Are Psychotic" for the same reason that you liked it. All the way through you feel for these characters and you think that there is no chance that it can be put right. Coupland surprises you that way. I have been trying to think of which of his books you might enjoy next. "Hey Nostradamus!" is a lovely book but so very sad. I think you might actually like "Microserfs". It's funny and a little more upbeat than the ones you have read so far.

DS9: Season 3

I seem to be flying through these box sets even though I have been taking breaks between them. This season is the first with the new ship Defiant. An experimental ship built for war. Actually the only reason that this ship appeared was because of Voyager. The extras tell you that the Voyager team were bragging about how good their ship was going to be and that DS9 would be second to their show. The DS9 crew insisted that they got their own ship and that it didn't matter if it was small but it had to be powerful. It worked though as there were some great episodes thanks to this ship and a lot of them were in season 3. Season 3 was about the threat of the dominion but it didn't take up the full series. There were still some character episodes such as "Facets" and "Distant Voices". As well as Bajoran and Cardassian based story lines.

I think that's maybe why I like DS9 a little more than all the others. It has a running story line from season 2 to the end (two if you count the emissary plot). It doesn't monopolise each season until you get to the end. So there are still episodes to develop the characters and to look at the relationships between all of these alien races. TNG didn't really have that. Voyager did have that but it wasn't as convoluted as DS9. Or at least it didn't seem that way to me. Their running theme from the start was to get home. Later it also involved the Borg. Maybe I am just biased as Voyager was never a favourite of mine anyway.

Some of my favourite episodes are in this series. I did enjoy "The Search" parts 1 and 2 at the start simply because we discover that Odo's race are the founders of the dominion but it's not at the top of my list of favourites. My favourites include "Civil Defence", "Past Tense", "Through The Looking Glass" and "Adversary".

Lili, your right that book does feel a little like Irving. Maybe that's why it is one of my favourites. Mind you I haven't read a book by Coupland that I haven't enjoyed. Going by the title it really wasn't what I expected. I thought there was going to be more humour in there. I wasn't disappointed though.

Crazee4books, the question was what would you choose to read on a day where everything is perfect and you are in a fantastic mood. You're right though books can change your mood. I love the type of books that gives you an energy boost or inspires you to get on with the various projects you've got going.

BSG: Season 3

The third season of Battlestar Galactica came out a few weeks ago and I have now watched all but the extras. The end of season 2 saw the last of the 13 colonies on New Caprica a year after they had settled there when the cylons once again attacked. This time Admiral Adama ordered both Battlestars to retreat as they had no way of beating the cylons and protecting the people scattered over New Carpica. This season starts a few months after that. The Battlestars are endlessly training their crew for a rescue mission while the people of New Caprica are having to cope with a Cylon occupancy. Colonel Tigh, Anders and the Chief are part of a large group of dissidents making life difficult for the new cylon regime. While Baltar is being held by the cylons and made to carry out their bidding. The first few episodes are based on the fight to free the people of New Caprica.



After that the Battlestar continues almost as normal. They are following a path to Earth while constantly on the look out for the Cylons. There is a divide amongst the people. There are those who remained on the Galactica and those who were left behind. Once that is sorted out another divide appears later. One that divides the officers and the manual workers. The most interesting part of this series are all the episodes which focus on the Cylons themselves. Thanks to Baltar being taken prisoner by the Cylons we see more of their ships and learn much more about them. It does mainly leave more questions which can only be a good thing as it leaves you wanting to learn more. Especially at the end of the season.

I did enjoy the first and second season more than this one. I think that might be a reason why the producers have decided to end it on the fourth season. When I first heard about this I was disappointed. Why would anyone want to end a perfectly good show? Now I can see why. End it before the fans get bored and are frustrated from not learning more about the cylons. For me the first and second season are the best because I feel that the season two cliffhanger is a difficult episode to beat. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the third season. There were a lot of great episodes in there which are definitely worth watching. Now though I will have to wait impatiently for season four to come out on DVD and try to avoid reading about what happens at the very end.

For all you book lovers out there I read a very interesting post on the way people organise books on Craft. The idea is to organise your books by colour. Seeing the picture on the Craft website it does look very pretty. An artist in San Francisco organised an independent bookshop in San Francisco this way. With a couple of helpers it only took him the one night. In a book store it would be total chaos as you would never find anything. Although I did hear about one bookseller who organised the area she looked after by colour and after she was told off about it she changed it to size order! It would be interesting to organise books at home like that. I don't have the space to organise all my books anymore. They are all packed into my bookcase in a way that will allow me to get as many in there as possible. I would maybe consider it once I did have the space though. Not sure how long it would last though.

Lili, I liked Menolly too but my favourite character was always Master Harper Robinton. I Just liked the idea of this old man who was so accepting of people, had a great sense of humour and fun but was pivotal in the events that took place. I think your daughter might be glad about changing your mind on naming her Menolly, lol. Thanks for the offer of the chart but I already have it somewhere. I had actually planned on stitching it at some point but it was one of those things that I would be lucky to get round to doing. Makes your gift of it all beautifully stitched all the more precious.

Timewarden, it surprised me you choosing "Crime and Punishment". Simply because I assumed that everyone would choose a light book for comfort. I guess though whole point though is not just comfort but to find a book you can really lose yourself in. Not sure what music I would chose though. To be honest I haven't been in that situation or much like it. If I am feeling a little bit down though I tend to listen to songs that are more upbeat. The Zutons first album is a good one for that (for me anyway).

Crazee4books, like you I never got past the first Wheel Of Time book by Robert Jordan. I found the first one to be repetitive and dull and so didn't bother with the second. Such a shame since I know of so many people who love them. I was more disappointed for myself than in the book. I didn't realise that the author very recently passed away. 58 is such a young age too. There will be many fans out there who will be upset. I don't think he even finished his series.

It's a shame about Madeline L'Engle too. I read "A Wrinkle In Time" for the first time not that long ago and very much enjoyed it. It's one of those books I wish I had read when I was younger. I hadn't heard of the author or this book until a few years back and I was reading about books that had been banned. That's what made me want to read this book in the first place. It always surprises me when I see how many children's books have been banned at some point.

You're right it is two great losses to the sci fi book world.

"Time-Flight" & "Arc Of Infinity"

"Time-Flight"

The Doctor decides to take Tegan and Nyssa to the Great Exhibition to help them take their minds of the death of fellow companion Adric. Instead they end up at Heathrow airport just after a Concord has disappeared from its flight plan. Just for a change the Doctor and his companions aren't blamed. Instead, thanks to UNIT, they are recruited to help. Going along the same path they end up in prehistoric Earth which someone is trying to hypnotise them into believing is still Heathrow. They come across the mysterious Kalid and the Doctor is determined to find out just who he is and what he wants with the TARDIS.

This story was heavily criticised by fans as amongst one of the poorer in the series. Whilst not exactly the best I didn't mind it either. Yes, the sets are poor and the effects are bad even for Doctor Who. I think that I have a soft spot for it though because it features the Master and I do think there was a lot of potential there in the story. I do feel though that it was a poor way to end the season. They did try to turn it into a cliffhanger by making everyone believe that Tegan had left the show. I think though it would have been far better to have ended it with "Earthshock" and the death of Adric.

"Arc Of Infinity"

The Doctor and Nyssa are making some long needed repairs to the TARDIS. Suddenly the Doctor is attacked by a force trying to take him over from another dimension and he is recalled back to his home world Gallifrey. Instead of trying to help him the Timelords believe that the Doctor is guilty of helping this creature and so he is arrested and sentenced to death. Meanwhile Tegan has arrived in Amsterdam and is searching for her cousin who has went missing. The creature who is responsible turns out to be the same one who is trying to use the Doctor. Inadvertently that same creature discovers Tegans link to the Doctor and decides to use it to get what he wants. Which is to move from a dimension of pure anti matter to live in our dimension despite the disastrous consequences if he were to fail.

This episode is famous for a few reasons. First it was televised during the year Dr Who would be celebrating its 20th anniversary. It saw the return of nemesis Omega who last featured in the 10th anniversary story "The Three Doctors". It was also filmed overseas which hadn't been done in Dr Who in four years. Lastly it also guest starred Colin Baker as Timelord Maxil who later became the 6th actor to play the Doctor. This one was never one of my favourites. I just never saw the attraction of watching the Doctor run about the streets of Amsterdam after a copy of himself. Since then I have grown to appreciate it. But then maybe that has more to do with the fact that I love the city of Amsterdam than the story itself. I especially enjoyed watching it this time round as I had just come back from Amsterdam. Funnily enough this was one of my sisters favourites when she watched the show. Very rarely did we share favourite episodes. I think "Robots of Death" may have been the only one.

DS9: Season 2

I have just finished watching the second season of DS9. This one is certainly different from the first. In the extras the people behind the scenes as well as the actors talk about how this is the season that DS9 finally comes into it's own. I can certainly see why they would think that. Ds9 was always going to be different from the others as it was the only series based on a stationary community. In the first season the episodes are a little all over the place. A few really stand out as a way of allowing the viewer to get to know the background of the Bajorans and the Cardassians and the relationship with each other and with the federeation. The rest were really character episodes. Nothing wrong with that but it would be a little boring if that was all DS9 turned out to be. In the second season though the Gamma Quadrant is brought more into the picture. We hear about a group called the Dominion early on although they don't really have a big part at that point. The hint is there and in hindsight we know that the majority of the show was soon based on the Dominion war. We also learn a lot more about Bajoran politics as well as Cardassian politics which again also has a larger role in the show later on. What we are really getting is small chunks of a story that later becomes very interesting and interconnected.

Another interesting thing that was mentioned during the extras was that the show was originally seen by the producers as a Western show. We already can guess this from season 1. Especially when we have Dr Bashir talking about his having any choice of placement in the fleet but he wanted to practice "frontier medicine". Really looking into it though you can see more hints of it as the extras mentioned with Quark as your barkeep and Odo as the Sheriff. While I think that there was some success at this obviously they still wanted it to look like a Star Trek show. The only sci fi series that I think has been successful at the whole Western theme is "Firefly".

Getting away from the extras I do have some favourite episodes. While season 1 was missing those double part episodes this one had them in abundance (almost as much as TNG season6). The first three episodes; The Homecoming, The Circle and The Siege, are all linked and are amongst my favourite. Here we see the return of Vedek Winn (brilliantly played by Louise Fletcher) in a bid to become Kai and getting rid of the Federation once and for all. Of course she is only behind the scenes of this plan and allows others to take more risks. A role she continues with throughout the DS9 series. Other favourites include, Armageddon Game, Whispers, Paradise, The Maquis 1&2 (used to help set up the background to Voyager), Crossover, Tribunal and of course The Jem'Hadar.

DS9: Season 1

I have made a start on watching Deep Space 9 from the beginning. Unlike TNG I was fairly confident that I would remember all the episodes. I was older when they were first screened and my parents bought the videos almost right from the start. Also I watched them fanatically having a teen crush on one Dr Julian Bashir. So I was more than a little surprised when there were one or two episodes I only vaguely remembered and yet the rest were very familiar. The main episode I couldn't remember was "Vortex" which is the first hint that there are more changelings in the Gamma Quadrant. It also hints that the changelings keep to themselves after being mistrusted by non shape shifting beings. A hint of things to come maybe.

Favourite episodes in the include "Progress" and "Duet" both of which I found very sad especially Duet. A Cardassian pretends to be the once leader of a Bajoran labour camp in order to receive the punishment he believes is deserved. Surprisingly both those episodes were mainly about Kira and she wasn't one of my favourite characters. Normally (especially at that age) I would have looked up to strong female characters. However, I found her to be just too much. Her character did mellow with time as characters usually do and I didn't mind her so much.

This series seemed to end very abruptly. I got to the last episode and was surprised that there was no more. This series was made during TNG season 6 (which might explain TNG's poorer story lines during that season) which was filled with two part episodes. This one had none and didn't even end on a cliffhanger. Something that changes later on though. The last episode is linked to a bigger story line though (the whole Winn/Boriel story) and maybe that was what they wanted. To end it with something a little more open. I have tried to find out if there was any other reason but have came up with nothing.

The one thing the other series of Star Trek has been notorious for is the carry on of the crew. While watching the extras on TNG it was always mentioned that when the whole senior crew got together to film it was a nightmare because there was always some practical joke or other. It sounded like everyone had fun and they always involved their guest stars . DS9 was notorious for being serious and this was mentioned on the extras here. Actress Nana Visitor put it down to the fact that most of them were stage actors originally (although a lot of TNG actors also came from the stage. Patric Stewart being the most famous and the most famous for his practical jokes). From what I have heard actor Avery Brooks wouldn't allow any carry on and the rest of the actors seemed to revere him. Sounded to me a little like Brooks took himself way too seriously. I think it is surprising because there was so much more chance for comic value within the stories themselves. You have the Quark/Odo duo and later the O'Brian/Bashir duo. I guess when you see them being funny on screen you expect the same off.

The one thing this series has over the others is that they have to have more aliens which was also talked about during the extras. They had to have lots of Cardassians, Bajorans and Ferengi as well as a sprinkling of others in the background to make it look like it really is a space station. I did enjoy hearing about their ideas for the station itself. Originally they had wanted to create a large sprawling station which had been built apon again and again over the years. They wanted it to be a station that was centuries old and had changed hands many times. That possibly no one really knew who built it in the first place. I think they were limited though by the size of the set which is why they gave up on that idea. Also due to limitations the promenade only had one level during the first season. They did things to make it look as though there was another level but it didn't actually make an official appearance until later in the show.

Star Trek TNG 7

I was going to leave this post until tomorrow as I have already posted today. I couldn't wait though. I wanted to get my thoughts down while they were still fresh in my mind.

Last night I finished the last of the TNG boxsets. I seem to have rushed through them this week but it wasn't like that at all. Each of the episodes on this series were so familiar to me that it was easy to just keep watching. It was funny though as there were a number of episodes and themes that I was convinced were in an earlier season. Episodes like "Phantasms", "Masks","Eye of the Beholder" and "Emergence" I definitely remember as being in the last series. At the time of first watching I saw these as some of the more bizarre story lines in NG which is probably why I remember it from this season. Episodes though such as "Inheritance", "Parallel's" and "Attached" I was convinced were in an earlier series. I don't know why it got all mixed in my head. As I was watching them I remember wondering what happened with the episode where DaiMon Bok returns for yet more revenge. I was convinced that I had missed an episode somewhere along the way until I came across it near the end. I even thought that the Deanna/Worf relationship had begun much earlier than it did. Funny how that happens.

Some of my favourite episodes have to be some of the stranger ones. I loved "Phantasms", "Masks" and "Genesis". Data plays a rather large role in each of these (as he does through out the majority of the series). Although it would have been nice to see more of the other characters Data has always been one of my favourite characters. I especially liked the idea of an android discussing his dreams with Freud. I also have a soft spot for "Lower Decks" even when I first watched it. I loved this story that was about the officers who were at the beginning of their career. The ones who are usually just background in each episode. It was also nice to see what happened to one of the four academy cadets who got into trouble along with Wesley for carrying out an illegal maneuver.

I do have a confession to make. I always hated the last episode. I remember watching "All Good Things..." the first time and I was so disappointed. I refused to watch it again. I hated everything about the episode. I thought it was dull and boring and a bad way to end the show. As I neared the end of watching this boxset I wasn't looking forward to it. I even thought about just leaving it out. In the end I couldn't do that and I'm glad that I did. The running theme as I have watched all these episodes again from the first series through to this is that I found that my opinion on many episodes had changed. Some that I wasn't to fond of the first time I learned to enjoy. Others I grew out of. Watching this last one was probably the most dramatic change. I was hooked from the first moment and I enjoyed every minute of it. I like seeing the crew in the past and the future. I loved the fact that the Q were back testing humanity as they had in the first episode and that Q had helped Picard get the answers he needed. It was a nice ending to the whole show.

Star Trek TNG 6

Yes, I have finally gotten round to watching the sixth season of Star Trek the Next Generation. Took me a while to get round to it. I've basically been watching it on and off over the last few months. I have seen the episodes in this season over and over again which is one of the reasons that it took me so long to get through it. The other reason is that Timewarden is right. This isn't the best one. There are some good episodes in there but what I did notice is that it seemed to be the season of double episodes. In most of the others the double episode is the last episode of one season and the first of the next. If you include the ones at the start and the end season six had a total of four. My favourite of them all is probably Chain of Command. Picard is captured by the Cardassians after a set up mission and we see the sadistic side of the Cardassians. A theme that has been hinted at in previous episode with the Cardassians and continues in DS9.

Schisms is another episode I very much enjoyed both now and when I first saw it. The Enterprise crew are being experimented on by unknown aliens (There was a very similar episode to that in Voyager). I thought this episode was well done and found it to be creepy at the time. Other episodes I enjoyed were Face of the enemy, Starship Mine, Frame Of Mind and Timescape. The rest just didn't come up to the standards of the past. That's not to say I didn't enjoy watching them again but there had been better episodes before that and better ones to come. True Q and Rascals were two of my favourites when I was younger but my taste has since changed.

I am looking forward to moving on to season 7. There are many episodes in there that I am sure I have forgotten. I am also itching to move on to DS9 which I also very much enjoyed watching the first time round.

Timewarden, Daradon seems to be a friend to the bad guys. Mind you that doesn't mean he should stand in front of the Dalek. He was too shy to approach any of the stars but maybe next time.

Robot

This is the first story starring Tom Baker as the Doctor. The Doctor is still recovering from his regeneration and this is where Harry Sullivan comes in, UNIT's Doctor, to help him. Meanwhile Sarah gets to go visit Think Tank. A group of scientists that few reporters get to speak to. There she comes across a Robot. She believes that the group are using the Robot for something other than they claim. Which of course they are and so the Doctor gets involved. The Robot is being reprogrammed by a group of people who believe that they should do the thinking for the rest of humanity. It is up to the Doctor to stop them before the Robot goes insane.

I remember when my parents first bought this on VHS. I was so excited because by this point I had seen many with Tom Bakers Doctor and all the others with Harry Sullivan (by this point I was loving Harry's character). I was so disappointed though. Tom Baker was getting used the role of the Doctor and so he wasn't quite as good as later episodes. Plus there was very little of Harry. Having got over that disappointment when I bought the DVD I knew what to expect from it. This time I just enjoyed the story itself. Like most stories involving Robots it goes back to Asimov robots and the laws regarding them. It didn't take any of the enjoyment away from it although it was central to the story. I think there are very few Robot stories that don't refer to it in some way or other. I liked the idea of a Robot who has been programmed to kill but can't because of the kindness shown by Sarah Jane. Reminds me very much of Rose in "Dalek". Although this will never be my favourite storyline it will be high on my list.

Yes, I have made something other than a sock monkey. As part of a used book swap I was to make my swap partner a bookmark. As my swap partner was generous with what she sent I made her two bookmarks. Normally I would stitch something. As my swap partner doesn't do embroidery or cross stitch but wants to learn I was tempted to just go ahead and stitch a bookmark. Instead one of the books I sent her should help her with learning. I came across this ribbon while shopping for yarn for something else (yes this ribbon is actually classed as a yarn). I cut strips of it and tied it into a knot at the top. I had also bought some buttons and I stitched one to the knot and the others to the bottom of the strips. It's all in colours my swap partner listed as liking. The second bookmark I used another ribbon type yarn to brighten up the parcel a bit. I platted both together and then stitched buttons to the knots at both ends. They didn't take me long to make at all but I really like the way they turned out.

Lili, I am actually making a sock monkey with a pirate theme. A friend's daughter has requested one. I have another to make in the meantime but I promise to post pictures of it. Your sock monkey is now on it's way to you. I posted it out yesterday so hopefully it won't take too long to get there.

I like to see where I am in a book too. I look at the page numbers to judge how long I have to go and I try not to look at the text. I do this because I usually have planned out what I want to read next. I feel guilty sometimes for always looking forward to the next book rather than solely concentrating on the one I am on. A sign of a good book though is if I don't think about the next book.

Timewarden, going by the clips I think it is wishful thinking that Simm will become more serious. I think Simm will make a good master but Jacobi would have made a fantastic master. I think when portraying evil if you make the character as serious as Jacobi would have it would make it more effective. The comic value seems to camp up the evil. How can you take that seriously? It has its place but not with the master.

Blink and Survival

Sally Sparrow loves old things which is why she goes to the old house and finds a message meant for her. It is written on the wall under the wallpaper and is from the Doctor. The next day she brings her friend and notices that the weeping angel statue has moved. A stranger comes to the door with a letter from the friend she brought with her. Things become stranger still and she has no choice but to trust the messages sent to her from this Doctor.

Like "Love and Monsters" shown around the same time last year the Doctor and Martha have very little viewing time. It is all about Sally following these messages to save the world from the moving statues. I didn't particularly like "Love and Monsters" but I did like "Blink". There is nothing creepier than statues which move when you aren't looking. I think if I had watched this as a child I would have been terrified. A good thing as the scary episodes were always my favourites as a child. The movement of the statues would have been enough but the change in their facial expressions really set it off. The story itself sounds very familiar though. This idea of statues moving when you aren't looking isn't new.

I have had this DVD for a couple of weeks now and I just got round to watching it yesterday. The Doctor has returned Ace to her home town of Perivale. Not wanting to admit she is a little home sick Ace insists to the Doctor that she just wondered what her old gang were up to. Funny things have been happening in Perivale. Most of Ace's friends have disappeared and they now have a problem with stray cats. They soon find out that people are being transported to the planet of the Cheetah people and they have the Master to thank for it. The Master is trapped on the dying world and hopes the Doctor will help him escape. Meanwhile everyone on the planet are in danger of becoming like the Cheetah people.

This was the last storyline in the classic series broadcast on television. Although it wasn't filmed last (that was "Ghost Light). I liked the idea behind this story and I think it could have been better had more gone into it. I can't help but wish that they had went into how the Master became trapped on the planet. I also think that more could have been made of the Cheetah people themselves. We only really saw their personalities through Karra who befriended Ace. When looking up this episode I did find out that Lisa Bowerman who played Karra also played Bernice Summerfield in the audio adventures. I immediately recognise Hale and Pace as the shop owners. One other person I didn't recognise was the girl who played Squeak, Midge's 9 year old sister. She was played by Adele Silva who now plays Kelly in Emmerdale.

Lili, yes "The Village of The Damned" is the film you are thinking of. I looked up the film and discovered it was actually remade in 1996 starring Christopher Reeves, Kirsty Alley and Mark Hamil. I didn't realise that it had been remade. Has anyone seen this version? I wonder if it is any good.

Timewarden, I haven't read any books by Thomas Hardy. Another author I always meant to try. I have a huge list of those. What surprised me about Wyndham is that he is American. I always saw him as British. Possibly because of Chocky. He also tried his hand at farming amongst other things. That I can believe thanks to "Chrysalids" which was set in an old farming community.

Crazee4books, the books are so much better than the movies. I highly recommend them.

Seaquest, DSV

I got over my obsession with "House, MD" (not that I had a choice as the third season isn't out yet) through watching "Seaquest, DSV". When I first watched this I loved it because of a childhood crush on actor Jonathan Brandis. This time round I'm watching it for the show itself. I do remember most of the episodes pretty well but I took a greater interest in them. It isn't quite as good as I remembered but then time seems to have that affect. I noticed that with American Gothic which I gave up on. The similarities between this show and Star Trek: TNG are surprising. More surprising that I didn't notice it when I first watched it as I was a fan of both.

A ship going out discovering new things and taking on peace keeping duties. Mainly a ship of scientific discovery but will bring out the guns when it has to. A blatant attraction between the Captain and a red headed doctor. A young genius who isn't an official crew member but helps out now and then. An almost father-son relationship between Captain and boy genius. The only difference is this one is underwater. I am even tempted to compare Darwin to Data but that might be pushing it.

The plot lines themselves aren't that bad. In later series they do border on the bizarre, taking on a more sci fi spin. In this series though the stories seem more plausible and the science isn't so far ahead as to make it entirely unrealistic. One episode I was looking forward to seeing again was one which guest starred William Shatner. I have to admit I am a Shatner fan but even I couldn't fail to describe his acting in this as anything but bad. He was meant to be a dictator on the run determined to hear his son speak. I got the impression he was trying to be on a different level from everyone else. Which worked but I just don't think "drug induced haze" was the affect he wanted (not saying he was in one its just how his acting appeared).

Anyway I enjoyed it and I eagerly await the second series. From what I remember another Doctor love interest comes along but this one has more in common with Deanna Troy.