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Post by Trace on Jan 9, 2016 1:59:13 GMT
Wonderful! I'm in too! Snowflake (Ep 0) and Ep 1 for the 9th!
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Post by Rob Morris on Jan 9, 2016 10:44:51 GMT
Well, today's the day folks. Let's keep it to this thread and see how we fare.
Today: Snowflake and Episode 1. (Snowflake optional.)
On your marks, get set... go!
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Post by Rob Morris on Jan 9, 2016 14:09:00 GMT
This for me is a great opening episode, Will does a really good job of kicking it off, leading us in gently (and mirroring the start of the TV show, with strangers coming to town to experience Collinsport through fresh eyes, helping new listeners in to discover it in the same way). And even for regular listeners there are still new characters to discover, all of whom make jokes, have friends and so on, and surprises like the mine and Kate being in town. It feels like an established community, but still fresh to even jaded ears like mine. And with no continuity needed for the casual listener at all.
I also love how tonally light the episode is for the first half. There's a warning from Maggie early on, but it's only really when Trask arrives that the dire warnings start to come thick and fast and it all starts to get seriously strange.
And Jerry Lacey performs Trask so well - his voice is so rich and mellifluous, and the performance manages to convey the fire and brimstone of the Trasks of old, but also that Isaiah is sad and broken too. His is probably the standout performance of this episode for me. He also gets one of my favourite jokes - after all the praise for the seafood, he advises "don't have the salmon" in the same way that a preacher would tell you to avoid unnatural vice.
And that ending: first time I read it I was completely thrown. I hadn't expected things to escalate that quickly.
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Post by kimalysong on Jan 9, 2016 19:12:30 GMT
Listened to the first ep on Thursday and then again today. Kind of glad I relistened because I didn't catch who Susan was the first time. I listen to Big Finish while working so sometimes I miss a word here and there.
Anyways I did expect something bad to happen to the couple but the whole time I expected it to be the husband. After all he discovered something he shouldn't in the bathroom and I was thinking Melody was connected to the town but didn't know it. So some good red herrings in this episode.
My favorite moment was when they said they were just here for a bite and the Reverend character paused for a second. Bad choice of words in a supernatural town?
Also listened to Snowflake. Good reading by Daniel Collard I almost forgot it was only one person reading the whole time. And I did catch that the girl he mentioned was briefly in the first episode of Bloodlust (at least I think I caught that). Interested to see what part she will play.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2016 20:13:59 GMT
The opening music (not the theme tune, the piece at the start of the eps) is very Dark Shadows, very ominous and spooky but also feels quite contemporary to the story. In fact, it's kinda reminiscent of Gizmo's theme from Gremlins! The idea of using strangers to town is smart so we can have the info dumps without it being crass - you DO talk about what a place is like when you go on holiday together. To have characters who know the town inside and out describing it would be awkward but this new couple in town? Makes sense. Love that Maggie is the first resident we meet. She's very much the glue that holds the town, and the audios together. For some reason her line about "this is the closest we have to a bridal suite" always cracks me up. The idea of anyone coming to Collinsport as a romantic getaway is just so bananas. Maggie even says so - I think her spooky sense must have been tingling after everything she's seen! I wonder if there'll be a reason for Mike and Melody picking Collinswood later on? Do Americans say "fancies" for having a crush on someone? Melody says it in The Blue Whale and it does stand out a little. Jessica cracks me up when she seems like the generous hostess giving the newlyweds a free bottle of bubbly - only to tell Ed to get the cheap stuff! If you don't know about Ed's past, and his loss, this is where you start to get a clue there's something off, something that has happened before but also something that's still very much happening NOW to Ed. I love that Melody was an orphan who was raised at an orphanage - very Vicky Winters and a nice red herring that she will end up having a big back story and a prominent part in the series. Similiarly, having Jerry Lacy as a preacher called Isiah? That pushes buttons for anyone with prior knowledge but even for someone totally new, you still know the trope of the old holy roller with a penchant for doomsaying (like Pat Troughton in The Omen!). And..wow...Susan's back! I like that first time listeners may think he's hearing voices and suffering grief but long term DSers will know that talking to the dead is something almost everyday in this town! Nice that it can play both ways. I love Maggie on stage with her "Now...there might not have been any recent attacks...." then Ed bursts in to announce there's been an attack. Very soapy, very Dark Shadows and leading to that great cliffhanger, that Melody - who I assumed to be a big player in the series - was dead.
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Post by kimalysong on Jan 9, 2016 20:47:33 GMT
Do Americans say "fancies" for having a crush on someone? Melody says it in The Blue Whale and it does stand out a little. We do use that phrase at times here. Not sure how common it is compared to other ways to say the same thing, even here but it sounded perfectly natural to me. I never realized it wasn't used in the UK. I guess someone did their research. Ah language! edit: Oh wait do you mean it is used in the UK and not in the US? Hmmmmm. Because I looked it up. Wouldn't that be telling as an American that I listen to too many British things that I didn't realize "Fancy him/her" isn't actually common here. Though I am sure I heard it. lol
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2016 20:52:00 GMT
No, it IS used all the time in the UK, that's my point. In decades of TV and movies I don't think I've ever heard "He fancies you" in an American production before. I wondered if it's an instance of a UK writer putting in something that the characters wouldn't actually say in "real" life. Either way - just jarred for a moment and stood out a little while I pondered the usage of the phrase. EDIT: Yes, your edit is what I mean!
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Post by kimalysong on Jan 9, 2016 20:53:26 GMT
No, it IS used all the time in the UK, that's my point. In decades of TV and movies I don't think I've ever heard "He fancies you" in an American production before. Just stood out a little. Yeah I was confused. But now I am not sure if I knew it from consuming a lot of media from the UK or because I have actually heard it in common usage here.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2016 20:57:58 GMT
No, it IS used all the time in the UK, that's my point. In decades of TV and movies I don't think I've ever heard "He fancies you" in an American production before. Just stood out a little. Yeah I was confused. But now I am not sure if I knew it from consuming a lot of media from the UK or because I have actually heard it in common usage here. Might be interesting to hear what others think too. I've certainly heard Americans say "fancy" but more as an adjective when something is impressive or expensive rather than in the modern British sense.
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Post by Rob Morris on Jan 9, 2016 21:43:34 GMT
Jessica cracks me up when she seems like the generous hostess giving the newlyweds a free bottle of bubbly - only to tell Ed to get the cheap stuff! If you don't know about Ed's past, and his loss, this is where you start to get a clue there's something off, something that has happened before but also something that's still very much happening NOW to Ed. Oh, the thing about Ed's past still being present for him is very good. It's a very clever bit of writing that I hadn't picked up on until you mentioned it.
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Post by elkawho on Jan 9, 2016 22:48:44 GMT
No, it IS used all the time in the UK, that's my point. In decades of TV and movies I don't think I've ever heard "He fancies you" in an American production before. Just stood out a little. Yeah I was confused. But now I am not sure if I knew it from consuming a lot of media from the UK or because I have actually heard it in common usage here. I have never heard an American use the word "fancies" for liking someone. It screams British to me, and it did take me out of the audio a little. As is did the first time I heard this story.
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Post by elkawho on Jan 9, 2016 22:51:34 GMT
I'm really glad to be listening to this again. The first time I heard this I knew very little about DS, having only listened to Beyond The Grave and one or two other audios. I also thought Melody was going to be a much bigger part of the ongoing story so was completely surprised by the ending. Although you never know in this town...
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Post by Rob Morris on Jan 9, 2016 23:05:59 GMT
A frequent criticism of Big Finish's Dark Shadows audios is the Anglicanisms. But all scripts get put before Dan Curtis productions (my one got a lot of vernacular corrections) so I think anything that slips through is forgivable. We try, guys, give us a break!
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Post by Rob Morris on Jan 9, 2016 23:14:34 GMT
Yeah I was confused. But now I am not sure if I knew it from consuming a lot of media from the UK or because I have actually heard it in common usage here. Might be interesting to hear what others think too. I've certainly heard Americans say "fancy" but more as an adjective when something is impressive or expensive rather than in the modern British sense. That's interesting. I like hearing of UK vs US vernacular. I will certainly be keeping an eye on that.
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Post by kimalysong on Jan 9, 2016 23:29:57 GMT
I am going to start using I fancy him or her and make it an American thing
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Post by omega on Jan 9, 2016 23:55:22 GMT
A frequent criticism of Big Finish's Dark Shadows audios is the Anglicanisms. But all scripts get put before Dan Curtis productions (my one got a lot of vernacular corrections) so I think anything that slips through is forgivable. We try, guys, give us a break! It's a lot better than what the Doctor Who production team did in the 80's with Peri.
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Post by jasonward on Jan 10, 2016 0:02:36 GMT
A frequent criticism of Big Finish's Dark Shadows audios is the Anglicanisms. But all scripts get put before Dan Curtis productions (my one got a lot of vernacular corrections) so I think anything that slips through is forgivable. We try, guys, give us a break! Yeah, Church of England references are bound to throw our US cousins off
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Post by randomjc on Jan 10, 2016 0:21:25 GMT
I have used the term fancy, referring to liking someone, but I'm a typical. These things happen. (I read an entire Doctor Who novel that took place in the US, waiting for wrong terminology.)
But Episode 1. Aww, it was wonderful. It's soft, unassuming, takes its time. You don't expect anything to really happen. Then boom. Melody is dead.
And ever since listening to the podcast, I can't get out of my head how absurd Maggie's final line is, but it is so soap opera, it works.
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Post by Rob Morris on Jan 10, 2016 0:30:30 GMT
A frequent criticism of Big Finish's Dark Shadows audios is the Anglicanisms. But all scripts get put before Dan Curtis productions (my one got a lot of vernacular corrections) so I think anything that slips through is forgivable. We try, guys, give us a break! Yeah, Church of England references are bound to throw our US cousins off Ha! Well done sirrah!
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Post by kimalysong on Jan 10, 2016 0:38:37 GMT
You know if you ever need an American consultant I volunteer my services. Let's ignore the fact that I didn't know if the phrase "fancies him/her" was from the UK not the US!
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