Doctor Who: the next 6 episodes (aka The Web Planet)

I think I first saw this story about 20 years ago when existed on video tape. This version is immediately so much sharper. I like the music.

Oh, how quickly our heroes change from their Roman gear.

The alien world is actually pretty good, too, for a studio set. The camera work is pretty good, when the crew are looking through the scanner screen and the zarbi are doing whatever they were doing. Really the zarbi are pretty good, too, and the attention to detail with their dancing is quite

The Doctor continues his slide into the laughing gas realm with his giggling and the bizarre way of opening the TARDIS.

Aspirin isn't a sedative. I do like Barbara and Vicki's little conversation. Just adore that early 1960's view of the future and Vicki's education.

Tee hee. Barbara spring cleaning the Doctor's butterfly collection.

Lol when the Doctor takes Ian's tie and that mad comment about the risk of Ian's pants falling down. *Splutter* with the zarbi on top of the rock thing near the acid pool.

I love the dancing TARDIS console. And what the hell is going on with the TARDIS doors? Open one moment; closed the next; open again...

And the set up for a first proper cliffhanger with Barbara heading towards the acid pool, Ian knocked out and the Doctor seeing that the TARDIS has gone...

Yay. The Menoptera appear first in the episode called the Zarbi.

I wonder if this story first came to Bill Strutton as he was picnicking one day, watching valiant ants carrying something impossibly large away.

Oh, I'm glad Vicki didn't scream when she saw the Zarbi at the scanner screen.

Poor Barbara, losing her bracelet that Nero gave her like that. But I did like the way the Menoptera play with her hair.

The stuff one the camera lens is just plain odd. I suppose with the lights it helps to try to disguise the rather marvellous backdrop painting.

Ah. At last. Ant attack! And the Doctor is unusually authoritative after the explosions of utter silliness in the last few stories.

"History doesn't mean anything when you travel through space and time," says the Doctor. How fascinating.

What was that reaction to the TARDIS by the Zarbi?

The Menoptera are quite Shakespearean in their manner. I do like their crystal radio set.

Yay the venom grub! Such stylised fighting, but what can you do dressed up in giant bug outfits?

And the weird dancing done by the Doctor and the Zarbi ... until the tube comes down and a voice ... and that's a cliffhanger?

Eh, what? Vicki falls onto the control panel, presses loads of switches she can't identify, and yet the Doctor guesses she's fixed the ship.

Bang! I do love the Zarbi bashing into the camera, though it's far more gentle than I remembered it.

It does all get rather surreal for now.

Ah. A tale of invasion, and counter invasion. I had forgotten. But, oddly, I hadn't fogotten the way Ian's friendly Menoptera pronounces "Animus".

Phew. Half way through... and what sort of a cliffhanger was that when they fall off the cliff? Lol.

Okay. This is a seriously weird story, but I actually hugely admire that they made it. I get the feeling a lot of TV these days wouldn't go anywhere near it given what it's about. Even in these days of CGI I'm not sure TV producers would be as brave again.

I had forgotten about the strange other bugs we meet in ep 4.

My goodness... that was a reference back to ep 1 with Ian's pen.

Oh no! The Doctor's expression when he plays the radio broadcast of the Menoptera invasion to the animus is a pure picture.

I do rather like the stuff about the gods not being gods but kinsmen.

I do like the way that there are female bugs, including those who are leaders. And, aaw, the one who committed suicide in the tunnels.

The attack is rather splendid. So, so surreal. It's the music, the noise, the little squeals of our friends the Menoptera as they die in the massacre that make it.

Zombo the Zarbi. Tee hee. I'm glad Vicki rather likes the ant.

Brilliant. Now we get fog as well as stuff smeared on the camera screen.

Ah, Barbara the master tactician. And the silly boy Menoptera having their fight just before the Doctor, Vicki and Zombo turn up.

How is having no pockets easier for Vicki to hide that isotope?

And another silly cliffhanger as the Doctor and Vicki are splottered.

Phew. On the last episode now.

Ah. Of course. Vicki had to put the isotope somewhere else because of a plot point.

The Zarbi dance is insane when the Menoptera stop an attack by calling out, "ZARBIIIIIIIIIIII!"

More running about in corridors with costumes incredibly difficult to move about in.

Psychedelia at the end. Wey hey.

The animus/spider thing is special. But, then, later TV shows and movies that attempt to do a similar thing. Giant jelly fish things just don't cut it.

Hurrah. They all got through to the centre with the isoptope.

Oh, how many cliches about insects can there be? Moths to a flame... oh boy.

More psychedelia.

Eh, what? Did Barbara do something?

And then the water came in a very odd little scene with Zarbi and Menoptera.

Oh, so that's the message. Once evil is defeated, water will flow once again. About time, as Barbara really needs to wash her clothes.

There is so much padding at the end of this story. It could have been told in 5 parts quite comfortably (even at 1960's speed).

And back to the tie again. So, was Ian a former student at Coal Hill, or did he get an old tie because he was a teacher there?

And the TARDIS window is open again as it disappears.

And more insects doing their little dances and saying their poetry. When will it end? Ah, at last.

It is a lovely idea, this one, and as I wrote above very brave. I don't think it works, being brutally honest, but I am still very pleased they tried.

Next up, The Crusades.

99 things...

Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicise
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

Got this from the Rainbow of Chaos, who got it from someone else... thanks whoever came up with this.

1. Started your own blog. (If I hadn’t you wouldn’t be reading it here)
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawai'i.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning. (Never again)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train. (Sydney to Melbourne in my youth; Belgium to Hamburg (and return) more recently)
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch-hiked. (But I have finally seen all of the film, The Hitcher)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not (physically) ill. (Once, a long, long time ago.)
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. (And climbed it.)
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person. (It was closed for refurbishment)
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching. (Hm. Not actually gone, but I have seen whales.)
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (I don’t drive)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible. (Including the apocrypha)
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Doctor Who: the next 4 episodes (aka the Romans)

Another one I've never seen before.

Quite a fun beginning with the TARDIS falling over.

And then we skip forward to a lovely bit with Ian (decadence again... now where have we seen that before?) and the Doctor having a laugh. Barbara and Vicki's romp to the market, the reference to having been there a month, and danger about to leap out at them just when Vicki's asking for it. Oh dear.

This is the Romans not at all like "I, Claudius", which was what I was half expecting. There's actually nice attention to detail and a half decent market place scene. Barbara's teaching of Vicki is nice. Not so sure about the slave traders going after our heroes since surely they would think they are nobles, therefore untouchable, until they get the stuff about them being from Britain. Obviously, they stand out.

Oh, after the feast Barbara cooked - is the Doctor drunk? I love the way he exclaims, "Absolutely fabulous!"

So, the Doctor's been to Rome before. This trip? I suspect not.

Ooh... Ian and Barbara's relationship is in overdrive. How marvelous. And as for the scene with the wine and the fridge that is not there.

Ian quotes Latin... hm.

And the abduction scene is obviously played for high camp. Or, have Ian and Barbara been into stronger stuff than just wine!

I love the centurion chappie the Doctor and Vicki - very posh radio voice straight out of the Goons or something. And I love his theme music... very silly.

The Doctor is such a mercenary man, not caring about Maximus's death just so he can get to see Nero.

And that cliffhanger to the end of the first episode is surely the worst. But, then, the action-man Doctor who is so plainly on some good stuff it's hilarious! "The gentle art of fisticuffs" - so where the hell has this "man against fighting" thing come from? And how many Billy-fluffs are in this story?

Poor old Barbara, back in the dungeon again looking after haggard old women. Aw bless.

Ian's adventures are right out of the Horrible Histories. How fun. The slave driver is so right when he says, "You'll have to do better than that." Stock footage is great, but the bucket of water is much more fun. Aha. Rebellion.

Meanwhile, Barabara is bought by Kojak.

Now we've got a bit of Lost going on, with Ian and his new mate on a beach somewhere near Rome. Of course. I love Ian's bit of stubble.

No. Barbara's now in the house of Nero just as the Doctor and Vicki turn up. And, fortunately, they don't meet up. And then, we go to the insanity of the Doctor and Nero and their duelling lyres.

What is going on with Ian's hair?

Okay. I just watched an episode of "Waking the Dead" before this, so the murder plot in this episode of Doctor Who is hardly difficult.

The lions are hilarious... and the recap is brilliant with the faster cut.

Oooo creeepy Nero after Barbara... the farce with Vicki, repeated with the Doctor. Okay, this is corridor madness. All the nonsense of the near misses is a bit like "Partners in Crime" (2008 series).

I do like the poisoner. Lovely stuff between her and Vicki.

Oh no. The gladiators training is utterly hilarious. Nothing like that seen in "Rome", and we won't mention "Gladiator".

A sauna scene, with the Doctor and Nero. Weird camera shot climbing up Nero's toes, feet and torso.

So, is Barbara poisoned? But lovely the way Barbara goes just before the Doctor and Vicki come in. Good timing, actually. Ah, phew. She's not.

And now, for the Doctor's concert. Tricky devil. And another name drop - Hans Andersen about the "Emperor's New Clothes".

And now, Ian and Barbara (kinda) reunited for a slightly better cliff-hanger than the first two.

But, no. Delos is a good bloke. Very silly fight scene. But, oh no. Split up again.

Oh, the puns, the puns with the Doctor and Nero about the arena appearance for Maximus.

Oh, the science of the Doctor's anachronistic specs and the sun and the burning map.

Those guards are all dreadful! As rubbish as the crowds chanting "Rhubarb, rhubarb, arrr."

The fire of Rome, history, not meddling. An accident?

Meanwhile back in the villa... that dreadful fridge joke again.

Back to the TARDIS... and what adventure is next?

Germany in England

I've now lived in the UK for over four years. I've travelled around a fair bit, as can be expected, and have been in Birmingham, London and Manchester for Christmas time. One thing I love about each city at this time is the little bit of Germany that appears in key locations - Victoria Square in Birmingham, outside the amazing faux gothic town hall in Manchester and on the South Bank in London (between the London Eye and BFI). You can have beer, mulled wine, pork sausages (various types), roast hog, sauerkraut, stollen, etc, etc, etc, while looking at wooden toys, leather goods and woollen hats. I've noticed this year a smaller invasion by the Dutch, so I've been lucky to buy fabulous Dutch koekjes (cookies), stroopwaffels and spekulaas (and proper oude kaas - the best cheese in the world), and brilliant mini-pancakes smothered in icing sugar and chocolate. All among people of all sorts of nationalities mixing under the twinkling lights, in the freezing cold, singing along in a good natured drunken way with a bilingual moose (who sadly is not in London)...

As you know, I'm not religious. But it's this spirit of Christmas I do like.