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Post by fingersmash on Apr 26, 2016 12:25:40 GMT
I was never a fan of this specials season. I really don't remember much about Prime or Mayfair so maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised these next two weeks.
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Post by kimalysong on Apr 26, 2016 12:45:57 GMT
I was never a fan of this specials season. I really don't remember much about Prime or Mayfair so maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised these next two weeks. Well I am glad you are back and joining us again anyways.
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Post by fingersmash on Apr 26, 2016 14:18:16 GMT
I just listened to Prime. That was a fun trip. Dorian really got to be a smarty this time and he's so smug the entire time he's torturing Brody. This is the Dorian I love. Someone who looks out for himself to the point of damaging others, including hanging his own body. Might give another listen in the next couple of days to see if I missed anything. That ending is haunting though. What are the chances 5.2 is going to have Brody in the framing story?
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Post by elkawho on Apr 28, 2016 1:27:59 GMT
Ok, so I had a strange thought while listening to this story. I all of a sudden started to think of Brodie as a perverted version of The Doctor. Someone who lives for hundreds of years, changing to a new body as the old one wears out. But this man destroys lives in the process, while The Doctor spends his centuries making lived better. I know it's not a perfect comparison, but it was going through my mind.
Anyway, this is a terribly creepy story. I really didn't know how Dorian was going to get out of this one. It's also one of the only times we see someone that was in a really loving relationship with Dorian completely rejects him at a later date because of the kind of man he is. I have to say that it really is nice to see. We see Dorian attract people and corrupt them, it was refreshing to see someone say, "No! This is wrong and not how I want to live my life."
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Post by acousticwolf on Apr 28, 2016 8:18:09 GMT
Anyway, this is a terribly creepy story. I really didn't know how Dorian was going to get out of this one. It's also one of the only times we see someone that was in a really loving relationship with Dorian completely rejects him at a later date because of the kind of man he is. I have to say that it really is nice to see. We see Dorian attract people and corrupt them, it was refreshing to see someone say, "No! This is wrong and not how I want to live my life." This sums up my thoughts exactly. A very powerful story of love, loss and rejection ... not to mention a spooky aspect as well. It would be nice to see a final showdown with Brodie in Series 5 - surely there are too many immortals wandering around these days ... Cheers Tony
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
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Post by bobod on Apr 28, 2016 9:52:20 GMT
I agree with most of the posters here (sorry acousticwolf , but yeah, we still love you!) To me this one is such a light-hearted (and fun) reprieve in the range. It's almost like it's purposefully placed there for a bit of comic relief in the midst of all the dark terror before and after! It still delivers the chills and thrills (with a really cool monster!) and "Dodo & Dottie" are quite the pair. I thought Sarah Douglas (wasn't she Ursa in Superman II?) and Alex played off each other so well. A couple of very gifted actors. The chemistry is amazing, and like the rest of you, I can't wait to have them together again in series 5. The fact that it's old Hollywood is all the better--that's one of my favorites too! Sarah Douglas is also fantastic in a Joe Lidster Sapphire and Steel - do you know that show Trace? - audio The Mystery of the Missing Hour.
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Post by kimalysong on May 1, 2016 1:41:55 GMT
I don't expect Deacon Brodie to come back in series 5 honestly. I expect the series 5 prequel to this story will just focus on Dorian's relationship with James and the WWI setting & the supernatural element will be the Angel of Mons.
However I did find Deacon Brodie to be a fascinating antagonist. Maybe because until this story I had never heard of Brodie before; but his real life counterpart did lead a double life as a furniture maker by daylight, burglar by night. Adding a supernatural layer of a character who can switch bodies to escape death certainly makes a suitable creepy story for Halloween. I especially love the part when Dorian switches bodies; "No Dorian it's not in your head I rather think it's the sound of your heart unlocking" *shudders* And I didn't actually think of the similarity to the Doctor...but now that you mention it.
Although once again it was Dorian's relationship with James, the human aspect that interests me the most. I find Dorian's sacrifice to be especially interesting. What does a self sacrifice mean when the person really sacrifices nothing? I am not saying that Dorian didn't care about James, truly I believe he did. And I think Dorian genuinely did want to save James. However I also feel that Dorian in the moments he saved James and sacrificed himself he was giving in to the false romanticism of self sacrifice. After all yes Dorian saves James. But James is haunted and a shell of his former self even though he idolizes Dorian after this sacrifice. The whole point is Dorian didn't need to pretend that he sacrificed himself to save James. He even reveals himself to James later because of the poem romanticizing Dorian and the sacrifice even more (and what a beautiful poem it was). Showing that the whole "sacrifice" was always more about Dorian than James. One wonders what Dorian expected when he revealed himself to James.
I do understand why James walks away from Dorian in the end as Dorian doesn't even seem to understand what he is doing is wrong. I am not sure if he has a choice in what he does to the Deacon in the end, but even seems to relish in it. And yet I can't help but sympathize with Dorian in the end. Dorian was the one who sets himself up as an ideal for James but in the end he understands things better than James does. James is horrified by what Dorian reveals himself to be but I agree with Dorian it's wrong for James to hold him up to perfection: "...But people aren't like that are they? They dance about on the edge back and forth from good to bad, from angel to demon all the time. I was never meant to be an angel, they have so very far to fall..."
While Dorian doesn't lose his life or body perhaps in the end he sacrifices something far more important his friendship with James. The moment when Dorian rips up the letter feels like a final severing of their relationship. It will be interesting exploring Dorian & James relationship in series 5 more knowing how it ends.
Ultimately I see Prime of Deacon Brodie as a moving story about the loss of idealism, love, and friendship but in the end perhaps Dorian gained a stronger sense of himself.
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Post by kimalysong on May 2, 2016 11:11:22 GMT
Happy Monday we are moving onto the New Years Special Mayfair Monster written by Mr Dorian Gray himself Alexander Vlahos.
This story also boasts a strong guest cast: Hannah Spearritt, Bernard Holley, and our Sixth Doctor Colin Baker.
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Post by elkawho on May 2, 2016 17:44:17 GMT
This is one of may all-time favorite Dorian stories. Looking forward to hearing it again.
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Post by fingersmash on May 2, 2016 19:38:56 GMT
Really really really REALLY liked this one. Amazing cast and Vlavla firing on all cylinders both in writing and acting. Colin Baker is the standout here. All he wants to do is help Dorian even despite all the abuse hurled at him and he ends up being the reason Dorian wins in the end. 9/10. Only The Heart That Lives Alone is better.
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Post by Trace on May 2, 2016 23:44:47 GMT
I just finally got to listen to last week's entry last night....my mom is having some old age health issues and may be looking at permanent care residence. Very tough time right now, but of course I want to do what's best for her. Needless to say, I got a little behind in everything last week. But, I know there's no expiration on posting about last week's stuff!
So, Deacon Brodie...I loved the body-switch concept being used in new ways here! The mannequins were suitably creepy and like Kimalysong, I found the human aspect really interesting and moving! Is Dorian's sacrifice really that when he has nothing to lose? Once again, the question of his soul...does he or doesn't he? I still don't know. But the line that Kimalysong quoted about angels having so very far to fall is beautiful. And true. Dorian is admitting that the possibility of a "fall" from such lofty heights doesn't much matter when you're not up there anyway, and never were.
A great story with a fun villain, and a really cool legend to draw from!!
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Post by acousticwolf on May 4, 2016 12:24:50 GMT
Trace , hope you are doing ok buddy ... Mayfair Monster - This is a fantastic end to series1/2/specials and challenges as my favourite story from the whole range. Not every actor can write, and those that can can't necessarily write well for the character they portray, but Alex does it brilliantly. It's a great story that again shows how vulnerable Dorian can be (or is it all just a game to him?) as well as managing to show the unlikeable, nasty side to his character. Never has the phrase " beauty is only skin deep" been more true than in this story. The question is "did Dorian let Natalie go because he was being generous ... or was letting her live a crueler fate?". Everyone mentions Colin Baker (and rightly so) but Bernard Holley's performance as the older Dorian is just superb! Cheers Tony
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Post by elkawho on May 4, 2016 17:38:38 GMT
I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this story. There are a number of things that I didn't know the first time that I heard it. 1) That Alex wrote it and 2) That Colin Baker was in it. I hadn't looked at the download information and just went in cold. I was so happy when I heard Colin's voice. This one story alone demonstrates how complex Dorian is as a character. While he has a disdain for most people, he's a truly lonely soul constantly looking for connection. You want to kick him for being so very cruel, yet then the tender side becomes evident. He's 160 years old yet still doesn't understand humanity enough to comprehend why Tom is kind to him.
Every performance is superb, and Bernard Holley was able to find Dorian's voice, yet have not be just a copy of Alex's performance. Everything was just so well-done.
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Post by kimalysong on May 9, 2016 0:42:53 GMT
First of all while I gave credit to Alex in the original post Mayfair Monster was actually a joint effort between him and his friend Jolyon Westhorpe. There is a lovely interview between Alex and Jolyon in www.bigfinish.com/vortex/v/58I don't know if anyone reads old Vortex issues but there are quite a few that had articles focused on Dorian www.bigfinish.com/vortex/v/46www.bigfinish.com/vortex/v/54www.bigfinish.com/vortex/v/56As for Mayfair Monster I absolutely love it. Natalie and Dorian have great chemistry and their relationship does not go in the direction I expected at all. Dorian experiences both extreme highs and lows in his relationship with Natalie. While Dorian acts horribly to Tom I think his reaction to Tom is also very human. Dorian certainly isn't the only one to take out his anger and sorrow on someone who doesn't deserve it. Natalie calls Dorian a monster because of what he is but I think what makes this story work so well for me is the stuff Dorian experiences and the mistakes he makes in this story are very human. But if Dorian represents some of our worst aspects, Tom represents the best. We may have all been Dorians and have met Toms in our lives and vice versa. Perhaps Dorian won't change because of his experience with Tom but at least he does apologize and admits he was wrong. Having the immortal Dorian experience age was such a great idea and yes Bernard Holley is brilliant. The scene in part 2 when Alex's voice becomes Bernard was really well done. I think this story also really shows Dorian's connection with his painting. Novel!Dorian was disgusted by what his painting represented. But for Confessions!Dorian that painting is often the only confidant he has. Instead of disgusting him; seeing how awful the painting is makes Dorian feel better about himself. I also find it amusing and sad how excited Dorian is to show Natalie the painting. The painting is horrifying and yet for Dorian it is probably the most important part of himself he can share. Well with all that being said we might as well move onto Blank Canvas where we find out what happens to Dorian after Running Away with You in a very creepy tale and we get another story with the wonderful Bernard Holley.
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Post by Trace on May 9, 2016 2:17:29 GMT
I loved Mayfair Monster. All the performances are excellent, and I've been a fan of Hannah's since Primeval. I agree with those who felt that Dorian was at his most human in this story. His anxiety and longing after Natalie disappears from his life is very real. Here we have an immortal man who is used to being the callous object of people's obsessions, not the other way round. He's been dumped, and doesn't like it one bit. Truly, it seems to me that only one other person brought out more vulnerability than Natalie, and that would have to be Toby.
A great ending to the specials. Looking forward to series three!
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Post by kimalysong on May 12, 2016 12:52:40 GMT
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Post by kimalysong on May 12, 2016 20:52:56 GMT
So I listened to Blank Canvas again today. Most Dorian stories I have heard multiple times at this point but this is only the 2nd time since I heard it. Admittedly it's not a favorite of mine. Not really because of anything wrong it does, in fact I think it does what it does quite well. It's genuinely very creepy and all the performances are excellent. I love that Bernard Holley is used again. I absolutely love his voice It's it's just not one of my favorite types of stories. But over on **** ****** it's actually the highest rated story which shows my opinion doesn't count for much. This story does feel different from any of series 2 and 3 stories and I do love that in series 3 the range tries new things. I think in series 3 the biggest change was the loss of narration. Although I don't think that is as clear in this first story since Dorian isn't the protagonist, Sophie is. Dorian is the antagonist. We are seeing things through her eyes and in that sense it's the first story where I don't sympathize with Dorian at all (although in later episodes I am back to sympathizing with Dorian). In fact how he comes back is completely the opposite of altruistic. Not that I think Dorian is ever altruistic but here he was downright nasty. And considering he chose to die in the first place....How Dorian came back I understand but why I am not so sure. Whereas it took me a story or two to get used to the non-narration I have to say series 3 ended up being one of my favorites. I ended up loving the connected story line in this box set and it really hit me emotionally but I'll get more into that when we get to later episodes in this set. Whereas I absolutely loved series 1 and 2 I think series 3 was when it hit me that Confessions of Dorian Gray had somehow became my favorite series. I never would have expected that when I first picked up the series. Edit: Forgot to mention that I loved the little Easter egg of the Juke Box song being from Lord of Misrule.
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Post by acousticwolf on May 13, 2016 8:51:23 GMT
This is one of the creepiest audios I have ever heard and a very interesting way to bring Dorian back, although I'm not sure I approve. I know Dorian is amoral but I never get the sense that he is downright evil - this shows an even darker side to his nature and I would love to know what happened in the 2 years he was "elsewhere" and also what happened to his picture (do we ever find out where it went? I can't remember). I have to say tho' Bernard Holley owns this role, he is perfect and even though Alex isn't in it much, I never doubt that "Dorian" is there. I too miss the narration, I understand why it isn't in this episode (and series 3 as a whole) as it gives a whole new sense of urgency and danger to the story, but I still miss it. Not my favourite, but a solid start to the series Cheers Tony
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Post by Trace on May 16, 2016 4:34:08 GMT
What a perfectly creepy story. I had only listened to series 3 once before and this seemed very new to me! I think the lack of narration works here, as others have said, and agree that Bernard Holley really shines in his performance. Yes Dorian is completely amoral here. Or, after lingering in portrait limbo for two years, perhaps he's just desperate for life again. At any rate, the frantic urgency of the intruders' situation and the great use of sound (the phones, the answering machine) really makes for a different listening experience! It's a complete departure from series 1 & 2, and if I recall correctly, isn't much like anything else in series 3 either, but that remains to be seen as we progress through the weeks ahead. Thumbs up for originality, a fresh approach, and overall goosebump factor!
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Post by kimalysong on May 16, 2016 22:03:32 GMT
Sorry guys this is a bit late was distracted by the 10th Doctor
But this week we will be discussing the Needle by David Llewelyn.
Dorian is back in the present but how have things changed for him? And to top it off we have a returning character.
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