melkur
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,971
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Post by melkur on Aug 17, 2020 20:18:24 GMT
As I finished watching 'The Trial Of A Time Lord' yesterday, today I've been listening to 'The Last Adventure' regeneration boxset... Coincidentally on what happened to be the 5th anniversary of its release.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2020 20:43:03 GMT
Continuing on Blake's 7: Restoration with Figurehead and Abandon Ship.
This run of stories continues to be the range's strongest yet. It's sometimes easy when watching the series on television to overlook Cally when it comes to Series C. She doesn't quite fit the mould of the rest of the Liberator's crew, by that stage, she's a lot more morally upright and conventional than the others. An idealist in a deeply brutal galaxy. However, it's stories like Figurehead which point out why that's such an invaluable facet. She consistently tries to instil that last shred of morality in her fellow crewmen -- not often succeeding -- but when it comes to the situation with Avalon, she's much more willing to see the inconsistencies than someone like Tarrant. Something which ultimately saves their lives. Figurehead's also a great story about the alarmingly thin line between idealism and fanaticism, and how easily one can be co-opted by the other. Avalon's confrontation with Kestra at the end is pure Blake's 7.
Abandon Ship isn't a story you could really tell on any other starship. Maybe the crew of Moya from Farscape, but this story takes the unique unruliness of Blake's former shipmates and flips a classic Cold Equation on its head. It's another story where the biggest danger to the Liberator are, arguably, themselves. It could also have been a very easy misfire, but the situation is written and played in such a way to give us a real sense of clarity and definition to where these characters are at this point. What the ship itself and their fellow crewmen actually mean to them. Their fates are pretty much set in stone, but it still got me guessing who would stay and who would go for the upcoming boxsets if, perhaps, only temporarily (the answer, dear reader, may still surprise you). I've said before that Steve Lyons had this innate ability to replicate the texture of scripts for Blake's 7 in its heyday: this feels like a classic Chris Boucher-style mind game (think Weapon or Deathwatch) with all the best aspects of Lyons's character work on display.
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Post by number13 on Aug 17, 2020 22:28:06 GMT
Thin Time / Madquake
'Thin Time' is an historical sciencey-'ghost story', M.R.James atmosphere meets Who physics so of course I loved it. 'Madquake' has two contrasting halves I thought and I liked the style of the first half better (very good indeed) but even though the second half guests some of my least favourite Who monsters ever - to my surprise, I enjoyed it!
Another excellent Fifth Doctor MR entry.
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Post by grinch on Aug 17, 2020 23:33:46 GMT
The Three Companions (Marc Platt)
An intriguing Companion Chronicles and one that I’d almost argue is very underrated. Always nice to see Anneke Wills and Nicholas Courtney pulls in (for what would sadly be his last adventure as the Brigadier) a marvellous performance.
Really like the ideas and locations in this and, although he does have his detractors, I’ll always defend Thomas Brewster as a character.
Thought the antagonist was very well done as well. Brought to mind Harry Mudd from Star Trek except perhaps a bit more memorable and effective.
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Post by barnabaslives on Aug 18, 2020 10:52:29 GMT
Finished my re-listen to Dark Shadows The Darkest Shadow and did a bit more catching up with newer releases with Assets of War from Susan's War (very good!) and Brimstone and Terror from Missy 2 (very well done, Roy Gill!)
That was good revisiting The Darkest Shadow, it's a great story and I decided to try my first range besides Dark Shadows over it, starting out on the Dorian range in anticipation of the cross-over. Many ranges ago now, lol.
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Post by mark687 on Aug 18, 2020 10:56:04 GMT
4DA Series 4 Listen through
(Oddly flat entries from NB but everyone else's are really clever and well delivered)
Regards
mark687
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Post by number13 on Aug 18, 2020 12:02:31 GMT
The Sixth Doctor and Peri Vol 1
'The Headless Ones' - I liked the historical setting, the structure and lots of the scenes (and post-Krontep Peri, excellent!) - but the villain was such a cliche and so obvious that I more or less guessed who would turn out to be the 'good guys' and the 'bad guys', almost from the start. And that's always a pity.
'Like' - I want to like this story more than once. Totally brilliant, very funny and very satirical, yet another superb script by Jacqueline Rayner. 'Like' it? I loved it!
Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant terrific in mid-80s form, and the sound designs caught my ear as especially good. Looking forward to the second half.
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Post by grinch on Aug 18, 2020 12:22:50 GMT
Better Watch Out/Fairytale of Salzburg (John Dorney)
Completely the wrong time of year to be listening to this, but I honestly think this one of the best Christmas specials Doctor Who has ever produced as a franchise.
A gripping festive piece which doesn’t feel the need to become too self indulgent with its Christmas trappings. Personally, I’d argue that’s always been the main fault of the Christmas Specials of the revived series but I digress.
Practically mandatory Christmas listening alongside the likes of The Chimes of Midnight and Blood on Santa’s Claw in my opinion. Although I’m well aware that many of you will probably disagree with me on that one.
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ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
Likes: 5,063
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Post by ljwilson on Aug 18, 2020 14:38:11 GMT
Holiday listen day 6:
Dreamtime (a bit better on about my 5th listen, great Steve Foxon atmospherics).
And another go at 'Mistfall'. I feel I have the staying power today to make it past the pan-pipes and the spider thing in the wardrobe. Wish me luck!
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Post by tuigirl on Aug 18, 2020 17:57:56 GMT
Better Watch Out/Fairytale of Salzburg (John Dorney) Completely the wrong time of year to be listening to this, but I honestly think this one of the best Christmas specials Doctor Who has ever produced as a franchise. A gripping festive piece which doesn’t feel the need to become too self indulgent with its Christmas trappings. Personally, I’d argue that’s always been the main fault of the Christmas Specials of the revived series but I digress. Practically mandatory Christmas listening alongside the likes of The Chimes of Midnight and Blood on Santa’s Claw in my opinion. Although I’m well aware that many of you will probably disagree with me on that one. Well, I for one agree with you
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melkur
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,971
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Post by melkur on Aug 18, 2020 21:04:06 GMT
On my 'day off' from work today I've been listening to the first half of the Donna Noble boxset. Whilst I'm not going to say that it's a favourite, I've been enjoying it enough so far...
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Post by mark687 on Aug 18, 2020 21:33:12 GMT
1st 3 stories of 4DA Season 7
(1st repeat listen of these rather interesting mix of traditional 70s and modern era styles)
Regards
mark687
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Post by grinch on Aug 18, 2020 22:46:32 GMT
A Town Called Fortune (Paul Sutton)
A fun (and very understated) romp in the Old West which almost embraces all of the clichés of the genre. Speaking of, I don’t know about the rest of you but I’d definitely be up for a full length adventure set in the period.
And hand on heart I have to say that if there was a list of the top ten narrators for the Companion Chronicles then the late Maggie Stables would definitely be on there.
That cliffhanger is god awful though. Felt like there were other more appropriate parts where it could have ended rather then there.
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Post by antartiks on Aug 18, 2020 23:19:12 GMT
Finished relistening to Tartarus. I think I enjoyed it even more the second time around. I've never been a fan of Five but this new direction with Marc has given his run a new purpose. The last time I had this much fun listening to his audio adventures, Erimem and Peri were traveling with him.
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Post by grinch on Aug 19, 2020 17:42:41 GMT
Black and White (Matt Fitton)
Flashbacks... So many flashbacks....
Have to say it was quite the coup that Big Finish managed to get Paul Lynde to play Garundel from beyond the grave. Quite the coup indeed.
With regards to Garundel I think he very much is a Marmite character similar to the likes of River Song and perhaps to a greater extent Iris Wildthyme and Panda. Personally, I don’t mind him but I find him rather out of place in the setting of the story. Too gameshow host for my liking.
Safe to say, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this as a starting or jumping on point for any new Big Finish listeners.
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Post by tuigirl on Aug 19, 2020 17:55:03 GMT
Downloading the new Torchwood story with Andy now. I really like Andy. Going to listen to it tonight.
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ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
Likes: 5,063
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Post by ljwilson on Aug 19, 2020 18:11:38 GMT
Holiday day 7 (last day!)
MR: Terror of the Sontarans (not the most popular on the**********.com but I really like it. Serious and nasty Sontarans, a creaking former research facility and it sounds lush on my Sony headphones).
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Post by timegirl on Aug 20, 2020 4:15:05 GMT
The Confessions is Dorian Grey The Complete Series One and Two
I completely love this series and Alex Vlahos as Dorian!😊he has such a smooth silky voice! All the stories are brilliant but I think my favorites are: The Prime of Deacon Brodie, which apart from anything has awkward Scottish Dorian, which oddly made Dorian more endearing and lovable to me than that character normally is 😁 The Mayfair Monster is another standout is The Mayfair Monster, for interesting twists and Colin Baker! Definitely going to listen to more of this series!😊
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Post by mark687 on Aug 20, 2020 14:39:18 GMT
Yesterday and Today
TW MR Red Base and TW Soho
(A great double for Sgt Andy fans)
Regards
mark687
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melkur
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,971
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Post by melkur on Aug 20, 2020 20:09:17 GMT
TW: Red Base - Enjoyable, very enjoyable
Donna Noble, Kidnapped! - Not my favourite boxset, but I had fun with it...
At the moment I've listened to the first four episodes of 'Torchwood Soho: Parasite' and am enjoying it so far (I should be listening to the last two episodes before bed).
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