I've finished the 6-part arc with DS9. A few nice little bits in there. We finally learn a bit more about the Vorta, Odo's story develops a tiny bit (considering it's been somewhat static since the start of series 3 bar the short-lived not-a-changeling-anymore storyline, this can only be a good thing) and I actually started to disagree with Kira as she fought the Cardassians, she could probably have got more out of earning their trust than openly defying them. All in all it was good, but it just seemed massively confused. Perhaps 6 episodes was too long but then again, anything less would have been unconvincing as a good takeover.
It's a shame how almost 2 series worth of development with Garak and Ziyal was ended with one simple line after her death (which, incidentally I saw coming as soon as she was brought into this story in the way that she was).
I'm not disappointed by the six-parter, it was brilliant. But I think there was just so much to handle and it wasn't handled in the best way possible. The episode with Worf's son could have fitted in anywhere and we could have had some real development instead.
Apart from Worf's bit though, the whole thing was brilliant. Worf's shoehorning into the series in general isn't that fantastic. He was bland in the other series, this one does a bit for his character (DS9's superiority over all other Trek is contagious)but it's still dull and stinks of the pretentiousness that TNG bathed itself in every week.Why anyone gives a toss about Klingons arguing and fighting for 50 minutes in the middle of an exciting arc I shall never know. They have a different culture to us, WE GET IT!
Bar that though, it was a gripping 6 parter, more like 5 linking stories than one long one but it certainly did the job well. All the time I am asking myself 'is this really Star Trek?' It's far too good and I'm enjoying every bit of it.
Tuesday 21 December 2010
Sunday 19 December 2010
Quick Note about The Wire
A few people have told me to stick with it, despite not being 100% certain about the first episode.
I will be sticking with it, a series has to be incredibly poor for me to give up once I've started. I did enjoy the first episode and I do want to continue watching.
I will be sticking with it, a series has to be incredibly poor for me to give up once I've started. I did enjoy the first episode and I do want to continue watching.
Stuff What Used to be on Telly - Babylon 5: First Impressions
I know I said I was going to finish DS9 before I got going on this but unfortunately due to bad weather my last two DS9 box sets are delayed. I've also decided to come back to The Wire later on.
So I started with the pilot, The Gathering. This wasn't just a run of the mill pilot episode however, it was a film. 90 minutes of introduction. It was alright, nothing mind-blowing but set-up episodes rarely are. It did a good job of setting up. We find out what Babylon 5 does (acts as a neutral discussion area for planets that always seem to be arguing amongst other things) and why and we're also introduced to the characters, crew and ambassadors alike. It was fairly gripping if not somewhat generic.
Then we have the first proper episode. This episode was a huge middle-finger to the pilot. Two crew members have been changed, the uniforms are different, the characterization is much slicker, the music is better and there's some wonderful CGI work (it seemed slightly average in the pilot). The first episode looked at the pilot, saw it's faults and corrected them. I've never seen such a good change from pilot to actual series. The pilot took a while to get going while this just simply jumped straight into the action.
So far my favorite character is Garibaldi, partly because he has one of the best TV character names ever but also because he's just brilliant. There's a scene at the end of the first episode where he's watching Loony Tunes, five minutes earlier he nearly killed one of the ambassadors. He's just mad, but in a good way.
I'm struggling to like the Commander however. He's a good character, well written and all but there's just something wrong that I can't quite put my finger on. However I believe that he's replaced in the second series so I suppose I'll just have to soldier on.
Frankly, I can't wait to get started on this series properly. It's completely barmy at the same time as having engaging stories and fantastic characters. No wonder this series has the good reputation that it does.
So I started with the pilot, The Gathering. This wasn't just a run of the mill pilot episode however, it was a film. 90 minutes of introduction. It was alright, nothing mind-blowing but set-up episodes rarely are. It did a good job of setting up. We find out what Babylon 5 does (acts as a neutral discussion area for planets that always seem to be arguing amongst other things) and why and we're also introduced to the characters, crew and ambassadors alike. It was fairly gripping if not somewhat generic.
Then we have the first proper episode. This episode was a huge middle-finger to the pilot. Two crew members have been changed, the uniforms are different, the characterization is much slicker, the music is better and there's some wonderful CGI work (it seemed slightly average in the pilot). The first episode looked at the pilot, saw it's faults and corrected them. I've never seen such a good change from pilot to actual series. The pilot took a while to get going while this just simply jumped straight into the action.
So far my favorite character is Garibaldi, partly because he has one of the best TV character names ever but also because he's just brilliant. There's a scene at the end of the first episode where he's watching Loony Tunes, five minutes earlier he nearly killed one of the ambassadors. He's just mad, but in a good way.
I'm struggling to like the Commander however. He's a good character, well written and all but there's just something wrong that I can't quite put my finger on. However I believe that he's replaced in the second series so I suppose I'll just have to soldier on.
Frankly, I can't wait to get started on this series properly. It's completely barmy at the same time as having engaging stories and fantastic characters. No wonder this series has the good reputation that it does.
Saturday 18 December 2010
Stuff What Used to be on Telly - The Wire: FIrst Impressions
People have been on at me for quite a while about The Wire. While I never gave it a look when it was on between 2002 and 2008 it's started to seem more and more tempting ever since. Even Charlie Brooker said good things about it.
So I finally gave the first episode a chance and I'm glad that I did. It's fairly uninviting, you watch it because you want to watch it. You're thrown straight into the story, no messing about. While this is good it means that it takes a while to get to grips with the characters, something that's not made easier by the fact that there's a hell of a lot of them.
However the story is very engaging. From the off you're interested in what's going on and why. The fact that the series focuses on both the Cops and the Crims makes it even more interesting.
I'm still not convinced that this series is for me. I can see that it deserves the reputation that it has and it is a brilliantly written piece of TV, the lack of connection with any characters can alienate the viewer. There was the odd character or two moment but it seemed that they were forcefully tacked on to the end of the episode. I will however watch the rest of this series if nothing else as the story was intriguing and entertaining. Not to mention well written.
So I finally gave the first episode a chance and I'm glad that I did. It's fairly uninviting, you watch it because you want to watch it. You're thrown straight into the story, no messing about. While this is good it means that it takes a while to get to grips with the characters, something that's not made easier by the fact that there's a hell of a lot of them.
However the story is very engaging. From the off you're interested in what's going on and why. The fact that the series focuses on both the Cops and the Crims makes it even more interesting.
I'm still not convinced that this series is for me. I can see that it deserves the reputation that it has and it is a brilliantly written piece of TV, the lack of connection with any characters can alienate the viewer. There was the odd character or two moment but it seemed that they were forcefully tacked on to the end of the episode. I will however watch the rest of this series if nothing else as the story was intriguing and entertaining. Not to mention well written.
Thursday 16 December 2010
Stuff What Used to be on Telly - DS9 from the perspective of someone who hates Trek.
Hopefully the first of many TV and Film related posts including reviews, points of interest (interest probably being a flexible term in this case) and rants.
Lately I've been inspired to go back through the last 5 decades and look at some telly, mainly to get a look at how it was written.
The 90's was probably the most inventive era with shows like The X Files, The Simpsons and even *Shudder* Star Trek (I really hate the franchise).
I've found myself a nice little series to watch through though, Babylon 5. I've seen the first episode or two and I can't waited to get started properly. I've other things to finish first.
As I said, I hate Star Trek with a passion. It's dull, pretentious and the politics is very dodgy, basically meaning that the humans think they're right when they're in fact wrong. The audience of course is supposed to empathize with every human character however as they're human. It's amazing how 'racist' characters can be at times, but because it's not real then it's ok... right? The Majority of Star Trek is a worrying metaphor for the xenophobic and paranoid state of the world in the 1950's in a more ironic way than the series creators probably intended.
However, a friend has recently being pestering me to give Deep Space 9, the mid-90's spin-off a try. When I decided to check out 90's TV I thought it may be time to succumb to the pestering and I therefore gave the first 5 episodes a shot, just to see if it was really all that different to the tedium of the other series.
Sad and simple fact is: It's brilliant. It's not even simply 'good'. It's too good to be called just 'good', it's phenomenal. It's a shame that it carries the Trek logo because that does a lot of work in itself to drag the series down. Firstly, instead of being set on a space ship with some idiotic and 'inspiring' name, this series is set on the space station Deep Space 9 (Usually abbreviated to DS9 as the cast could be bothered saying the full name over and over again about as much as I can be bothered to type it, even the aliens get in on it pretty quickly). This immediately takes away the "going where no daft sod has gone before" setup of its parent shows.
We get things that other Trek series weren't even capable of giving us, like well written characters that actually develop and are even likable. We get many complex storylines that weave together in well written ways. The series builds up to a war, the polar opposite of what many judge what Trek is meant to be. However you can't help but feel that a bit of the stupidity of other Trek shows leaks through at times but all parts of production, particularly writing make up for it.
So what we have in effect is a fantastic series that's dragged down by a logo that it bears. Which brings me to what I mentioned earlier, Babylon 5. This series accused DS9 of ripping it off. Both series went out at almost the same time and the setup is very very similar. B5 has an advantage though, it doesn't have the disadvantage of inevitable pomposity brought about by a series of parent shows and the oh-so-unfortunate Trek logo. I actually can't wait to get started on it, although I feel I should give DS9 the respect of finishing it before I start on B5. In the case of DS9 the Trek association really is a hideous scar on an otherwise beautiful face.
So while I do like DS9, I still detest all other elements of Trek. In fact, I probably dislike it more now as it's one of the few things that drags down a fantastic show. If only DS9 could have not had the Trek association and therefore not the irritatingly obsessed over Trek canon.
Perhaps I'll just watch Lost like everyone else when this is over.
Lately I've been inspired to go back through the last 5 decades and look at some telly, mainly to get a look at how it was written.
The 90's was probably the most inventive era with shows like The X Files, The Simpsons and even *Shudder* Star Trek (I really hate the franchise).
I've found myself a nice little series to watch through though, Babylon 5. I've seen the first episode or two and I can't waited to get started properly. I've other things to finish first.
As I said, I hate Star Trek with a passion. It's dull, pretentious and the politics is very dodgy, basically meaning that the humans think they're right when they're in fact wrong. The audience of course is supposed to empathize with every human character however as they're human. It's amazing how 'racist' characters can be at times, but because it's not real then it's ok... right? The Majority of Star Trek is a worrying metaphor for the xenophobic and paranoid state of the world in the 1950's in a more ironic way than the series creators probably intended.
However, a friend has recently being pestering me to give Deep Space 9, the mid-90's spin-off a try. When I decided to check out 90's TV I thought it may be time to succumb to the pestering and I therefore gave the first 5 episodes a shot, just to see if it was really all that different to the tedium of the other series.
Sad and simple fact is: It's brilliant. It's not even simply 'good'. It's too good to be called just 'good', it's phenomenal. It's a shame that it carries the Trek logo because that does a lot of work in itself to drag the series down. Firstly, instead of being set on a space ship with some idiotic and 'inspiring' name, this series is set on the space station Deep Space 9 (Usually abbreviated to DS9 as the cast could be bothered saying the full name over and over again about as much as I can be bothered to type it, even the aliens get in on it pretty quickly). This immediately takes away the "going where no daft sod has gone before" setup of its parent shows.
We get things that other Trek series weren't even capable of giving us, like well written characters that actually develop and are even likable. We get many complex storylines that weave together in well written ways. The series builds up to a war, the polar opposite of what many judge what Trek is meant to be. However you can't help but feel that a bit of the stupidity of other Trek shows leaks through at times but all parts of production, particularly writing make up for it.
So what we have in effect is a fantastic series that's dragged down by a logo that it bears. Which brings me to what I mentioned earlier, Babylon 5. This series accused DS9 of ripping it off. Both series went out at almost the same time and the setup is very very similar. B5 has an advantage though, it doesn't have the disadvantage of inevitable pomposity brought about by a series of parent shows and the oh-so-unfortunate Trek logo. I actually can't wait to get started on it, although I feel I should give DS9 the respect of finishing it before I start on B5. In the case of DS9 the Trek association really is a hideous scar on an otherwise beautiful face.
So while I do like DS9, I still detest all other elements of Trek. In fact, I probably dislike it more now as it's one of the few things that drags down a fantastic show. If only DS9 could have not had the Trek association and therefore not the irritatingly obsessed over Trek canon.
Perhaps I'll just watch Lost like everyone else when this is over.
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Bloody Interwebs - Again
It's working. I have a connection before 11PM. It actually felt weird being able to do work involving the internet in the daylight.
In other news I got a whopping £6.50 for attending a meeting today, which was nice.
Oh and an article I wrote on the Doctor Who story 'The Five Doctors' should be seeing publication in The Celestial Toyroom next month,
Busy busy.
In other news I got a whopping £6.50 for attending a meeting today, which was nice.
Oh and an article I wrote on the Doctor Who story 'The Five Doctors' should be seeing publication in The Celestial Toyroom next month,
Busy busy.
Monday 22 November 2010
Monday 25 October 2010
Bloody interwebs!
Finally I have a connection again. It's taken three weeks of arguing the toss with people who are desperate to pass on the blame but my building is finally back online. And furthermore, they've told us that they're sorting out a better connection for us. I should think so too!
Wednesday 22 September 2010
Uni
Yep, I've hit uni. Alcohol is abundant and the people are great. I'm enjoying induction week but I can't wait to get studying scriptwriting though. I hate inductions usually, although at LZ6 induction was really dodge ball. Anyway, I have drinks to drink so I shall report back sometime...
Sunday 8 August 2010
Well it's been a while...
So I've failed to update this for a while. Oh well. There hasn't been much to say really. Until I saw the most hilarious news article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-10901959
I think they're taking the piss.
I think they're taking the piss.
Sunday 13 June 2010
Saturday 29 May 2010
Pondering Eurovision
My god it hurts!
Yes, it's that time of year again when each country looks in their cultural gutters to see what they can infect our ears with this year.
Seriously, UKIP needs a policy change: Sod leaving Europe, just stop buying our way into Eurovision every year to save money. Although when you look it at that way you're suggesting that Eurovision is an expensive way of not being fascist. Probably worth it. Just.
Yes, it's that time of year again when each country looks in their cultural gutters to see what they can infect our ears with this year.
Seriously, UKIP needs a policy change: Sod leaving Europe, just stop buying our way into Eurovision every year to save money. Although when you look it at that way you're suggesting that Eurovision is an expensive way of not being fascist. Probably worth it. Just.
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Pondering the news...
Schools are to become elitist!
So they've been in government for 2 weeks and they've decided that it's a good idea to create a 2 tier school system. If you live in a nice area you get a good education, if you don't then you don't. Nice one.
How are the plans to immortalize Thatcher going, David? Or are you too busy talking to Ben Chatham personally?
So they've been in government for 2 weeks and they've decided that it's a good idea to create a 2 tier school system. If you live in a nice area you get a good education, if you don't then you don't. Nice one.
How are the plans to immortalize Thatcher going, David? Or are you too busy talking to Ben Chatham personally?
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Let's start with this then - The End of Henbury High School
A few years ago when Henbury School closed I made this video, enjoy it :)
The End of Henbury High School
The End of Henbury High School
My god, he's blogging now!
I've been considering this for literally years. People obviously don't want to hear what I have to say because 'm so bloody annoying!
So I've decided that people can hear that voice in their head that reads things can tell them what I have to say instead.
This may be a slow starter, exams popping up and all but I'll be posting all sorts of nonsense on here eventually. So read it and enjoy it, comment on it and complain about it. Whatever you want.
So I've decided that people can hear that voice in their head that reads things can tell them what I have to say instead.
This may be a slow starter, exams popping up and all but I'll be posting all sorts of nonsense on here eventually. So read it and enjoy it, comment on it and complain about it. Whatever you want.
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