Hi Guys
With the end of Series 6 of Doctor Who now upon us, and SJA and Torchwood also finished - and in Torchwood's case for a goodly while - and new Who, with the exception of The Christmas Special - a wee while off (we're hearing September/October next year), I think now has come the perfect time for me to take a well earned break. My other series - Spooks - is gone too now, and Hustle, which will also be the final series of that, not transmitting til next year, I think I'll back out of the blogging business for a while and concentrate on family, friends, and those all important exams.
I do have one goody coming up, which will appear quite soon, but it's a surprise, so sshh, spoilers!, but apart from that, your best bet at getting news and reviews - especially all the Big Finish latest - which we're now actually going to be getting before release, it was confirmed to me on Friday - and all the other stuff we get from every media outlet going - is to go along to Outpost Skaro where people far cleverer and much better writers than me will be furnishing you with Things Yet To Come as well as their lively forum. As I said before, I'm just a small cog in that very big - and growing - wheel, so I'm pretty sure I won't be missed.
Before I do go for my Christmas Break - and I will be back as they say "sometime in the New Year" - I'd just like to thank the 11,000 odd readers of this blog, and for the myriad of messages and notes of kindness and goodwill I get daily, and for the support I get from you guys, especially in the wake of some nastiness elsewhere. It's heartening to know that insanity doesn't particularly spread, and to all the companies I've spoken to, all the readers of this blog who've emailed me - and again, it would be churlish to publish all those, but you know I get them - to everyone who has given me words of encouragement and support, thank you. It means a lot. Words fail me sometimes at the level of nastiness on the Web, but for every rambling nutter there are, it seems thousands of decent people who aren't stupid or gullible and are as appalled as you'd expect a decent person to be. I will pop on from time to time and update you with links to Outpost Skaro when they have news for you. So once again, friends, thank you. I'll leave you - and Skaro - in the capable hands of Derek and the lads over there and wish you, a slightly early, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Happy Times and Places
Eddie McGuigan
TWITTER
Showing posts with label Spooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spooks. Show all posts
Monday, 24 October 2011
Monday, 17 October 2011
It's The End of the Road
Hi Guys
It's a bit of a sad blog this time round, as two stalwarts of BBC telly end this week, one by design, and the other, sadly, not so much.
Firstly, it's the end for Sir Harry and the guys and girls of the Grid in Spooks. This series has centred firmly on Sir Harry and his past life as an active spy during the cold war and, despite a cursory foray into some Middle East politics it's mostly been one long arc. But, for me, it's been all too short. New characters Erin and Cal haven't had time to bed in in the six short episodes, and show great promise as being really good additions, despite my initial worry about them being too complicated or unlikeable, but it has to be said, despite some fabulous guest appearances - particularly by Star Trek's Alice Krige - it's all been about Harry and Ruth.
The ending is strictly embargoed - I can't say nuffin guv - but rest assured there are plenty of twists and turns, a fabulous stand off and some unbearable tension. All the players get a proper slice of the finale pie, with perhaps the underused Dimitri coming off worse. The final few moments will have you simultaneously wiping a tear away and punching the air as an old face returns, however briefly, in a fitting finale for Sir Harry and the boys and girls of Section D. Spooks has been consistently classy through it's ten series - especially under the head-writership of Ben Richards - and this series only flaw is that it's way too short. Still, some lovely little nods to the past may slake the fanboy thirst, at least for a while. I can't help thinking though that perhaps, despite it's end, we may not have seen the end of Spooks after all.
More sadly, of course, this week sees the end of The Sarah Jane Adventures, a series cut short by the all too soon and heartbreaking death of Elisabeth Sladen. Despite rumours that this series may continue under a new leading girl - Jo Jones for instance - it seems by the finale, and a tastefully tacked-on ending - that they're are no current plans to spin off with Clyde and Rani for instance.
The Man Who Never Was is a good solid ending to go out on, written by stalwart Gareth Roberts, fresh from his success with Doctor Who's Closing Time. It takes themes that we are all familiar with - just as last week's The Curse of Clyde Langer dealt with bullying, homelessness and rejection of peers - this one deals with consumerism, and the need for the latest gadget, The Serf Board - a sort of tacky looking iPad and deals quite openly with slavery and torture. It uses ideas gleaned from The Last of the Time Lords in typical Masterly style, and shows some great themes very typical to the world of Doctor Who and Sarah Jane - never judge a book by its cover for instance, and helping rather than interfering and boasts a pretty top notch cast including Peter Bowles and James Dreyfus - neither of whom overplay the part for children, as can be the instinct with some actors - giving it class and believability. It's also fitting that Luke makes a return in this one, although along with newbie Sky they could make a formidable team. No K9 though, although his dog whistle comes in handy.
There's no big fanfare at the end of this - no return for the Doctor, although it was considered - and it leaves the series upbeat and open ended, with Sarah Jane Smith out there, doing was she does, from Bannerman Road. A fitting legacy for Elisabeth Sladen and another series, like Spooks, that may have a future in some form further down the road.
At the end of the month 2Entertain release Series 4 of SJA on DVD, and, despite the lack of commentaries - although a frustrating miss from DW S6 Part 2, released soon too - there is the rather wonderful addition of the full story The Pyramids of Mars as tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, which I'm personally thrilled about. There can be no better story to show Sarah in her hayday with the Doctor, or to introduce kids perhaps used to Matt or David a look at an earlier, classy story. A great idea.
We'll be discussing The SJA's in our latest podcast so we hope you tune in to that.
Happy Times and Places
Ed
It's a bit of a sad blog this time round, as two stalwarts of BBC telly end this week, one by design, and the other, sadly, not so much.
Firstly, it's the end for Sir Harry and the guys and girls of the Grid in Spooks. This series has centred firmly on Sir Harry and his past life as an active spy during the cold war and, despite a cursory foray into some Middle East politics it's mostly been one long arc. But, for me, it's been all too short. New characters Erin and Cal haven't had time to bed in in the six short episodes, and show great promise as being really good additions, despite my initial worry about them being too complicated or unlikeable, but it has to be said, despite some fabulous guest appearances - particularly by Star Trek's Alice Krige - it's all been about Harry and Ruth.
The ending is strictly embargoed - I can't say nuffin guv - but rest assured there are plenty of twists and turns, a fabulous stand off and some unbearable tension. All the players get a proper slice of the finale pie, with perhaps the underused Dimitri coming off worse. The final few moments will have you simultaneously wiping a tear away and punching the air as an old face returns, however briefly, in a fitting finale for Sir Harry and the boys and girls of Section D. Spooks has been consistently classy through it's ten series - especially under the head-writership of Ben Richards - and this series only flaw is that it's way too short. Still, some lovely little nods to the past may slake the fanboy thirst, at least for a while. I can't help thinking though that perhaps, despite it's end, we may not have seen the end of Spooks after all.
More sadly, of course, this week sees the end of The Sarah Jane Adventures, a series cut short by the all too soon and heartbreaking death of Elisabeth Sladen. Despite rumours that this series may continue under a new leading girl - Jo Jones for instance - it seems by the finale, and a tastefully tacked-on ending - that they're are no current plans to spin off with Clyde and Rani for instance.
The Man Who Never Was is a good solid ending to go out on, written by stalwart Gareth Roberts, fresh from his success with Doctor Who's Closing Time. It takes themes that we are all familiar with - just as last week's The Curse of Clyde Langer dealt with bullying, homelessness and rejection of peers - this one deals with consumerism, and the need for the latest gadget, The Serf Board - a sort of tacky looking iPad and deals quite openly with slavery and torture. It uses ideas gleaned from The Last of the Time Lords in typical Masterly style, and shows some great themes very typical to the world of Doctor Who and Sarah Jane - never judge a book by its cover for instance, and helping rather than interfering and boasts a pretty top notch cast including Peter Bowles and James Dreyfus - neither of whom overplay the part for children, as can be the instinct with some actors - giving it class and believability. It's also fitting that Luke makes a return in this one, although along with newbie Sky they could make a formidable team. No K9 though, although his dog whistle comes in handy.
There's no big fanfare at the end of this - no return for the Doctor, although it was considered - and it leaves the series upbeat and open ended, with Sarah Jane Smith out there, doing was she does, from Bannerman Road. A fitting legacy for Elisabeth Sladen and another series, like Spooks, that may have a future in some form further down the road.
At the end of the month 2Entertain release Series 4 of SJA on DVD, and, despite the lack of commentaries - although a frustrating miss from DW S6 Part 2, released soon too - there is the rather wonderful addition of the full story The Pyramids of Mars as tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, which I'm personally thrilled about. There can be no better story to show Sarah in her hayday with the Doctor, or to introduce kids perhaps used to Matt or David a look at an earlier, classy story. A great idea.
We'll be discussing The SJA's in our latest podcast so we hope you tune in to that.
Happy Times and Places
Ed
Friday, 30 September 2011
The Wedding of River Song
Hi Guys
With a day to go until the Series 6 finale, it's with an air of excitement that this time I get to watch it as it goes out, with everyone else, instead of my privileged position of getting a preview. This year, previews were limited to a London Screening, and no preview discs went out, so I know as much about it as anyone else.
It has to be said, it seems like there's an awful lot to pack into forty five minutes, with what amounts to two seasons' worth of questions needing answered before the Doctor disappears, sans the Ponds, for his Christmas Special and then outa here until Autumn 2012 - which may very well be the beginning of the 50th Anniversary Season! So tonnes to get through.
The Radio Times front cover shows us a Doctor with much longer hair than usual, and SFX talk about a return of an old look for the Doctor... talk in Outpost Skaro seems to suggest we're going to see the Doctor in his Day of the Moon beard (along with a toga!), so perhaps that's it? There's also the eyepatch look, sported by all the main cast, as well as the bad guys - and again, forum talk is suggesting maybe it's a way to see the Silence and remember them? There's also Rory looking all Special Forces and the return of Winston Churchill!
There's also talk of previous guest star Simon Callow making a return appearance, and whilst he's definitely in the episode, who he plays is still a mystery. Is this the return of Charles Dickens? There are also pterosaurs in the trailer, a Viking-type fella and a steam train going into a pyramid! Personally, my heads spinning with it, but I'll be glued to the screen to see how Steven Moffat manages to pull this all together. Unlike other "epics" - Journey's End springs to mind - there seems to be no extra minutes being added, so it looks like being a hectic three quarters of an hour.
Our friend Friendsofderek will most likely to the review for this episode, so I'm looking forward to read what he has to say about it. And remember, from straight after broadcast, you can tell us as well what you think, on the forum.
One final thing before I sign off for the weekend, folks, and that is you may have become aware of a couple of bogus blogs and twitter accounts claiming to be me. Well, they're not, and, apart from upsetting my kids, I'm not sure what the point is of them. So, if you come across them, and some of the stuff they're coming out with, please ignore them. You'll get me here, here and on Twitter both on @outpost_skaro and @ed_at_motherwel, but no where else. Sorry for the confusion, but there's little I can do about them, and the guy clearly has a problem with me, which is a shame. I'm not going to start a flame war with anyone. Life is way too short.
Anyway, have a great weekend, a fabulous Doctor Who Day and I'll be around bright and early next week with Spooks, Merlin and The Fades to bore you all with.
Happy times and Places
Ed
With a day to go until the Series 6 finale, it's with an air of excitement that this time I get to watch it as it goes out, with everyone else, instead of my privileged position of getting a preview. This year, previews were limited to a London Screening, and no preview discs went out, so I know as much about it as anyone else.
It has to be said, it seems like there's an awful lot to pack into forty five minutes, with what amounts to two seasons' worth of questions needing answered before the Doctor disappears, sans the Ponds, for his Christmas Special and then outa here until Autumn 2012 - which may very well be the beginning of the 50th Anniversary Season! So tonnes to get through.
The Radio Times front cover shows us a Doctor with much longer hair than usual, and SFX talk about a return of an old look for the Doctor... talk in Outpost Skaro seems to suggest we're going to see the Doctor in his Day of the Moon beard (along with a toga!), so perhaps that's it? There's also the eyepatch look, sported by all the main cast, as well as the bad guys - and again, forum talk is suggesting maybe it's a way to see the Silence and remember them? There's also Rory looking all Special Forces and the return of Winston Churchill!
There's also talk of previous guest star Simon Callow making a return appearance, and whilst he's definitely in the episode, who he plays is still a mystery. Is this the return of Charles Dickens? There are also pterosaurs in the trailer, a Viking-type fella and a steam train going into a pyramid! Personally, my heads spinning with it, but I'll be glued to the screen to see how Steven Moffat manages to pull this all together. Unlike other "epics" - Journey's End springs to mind - there seems to be no extra minutes being added, so it looks like being a hectic three quarters of an hour.
Our friend Friendsofderek will most likely to the review for this episode, so I'm looking forward to read what he has to say about it. And remember, from straight after broadcast, you can tell us as well what you think, on the forum.
One final thing before I sign off for the weekend, folks, and that is you may have become aware of a couple of bogus blogs and twitter accounts claiming to be me. Well, they're not, and, apart from upsetting my kids, I'm not sure what the point is of them. So, if you come across them, and some of the stuff they're coming out with, please ignore them. You'll get me here, here and on Twitter both on @outpost_skaro and @ed_at_motherwel, but no where else. Sorry for the confusion, but there's little I can do about them, and the guy clearly has a problem with me, which is a shame. I'm not going to start a flame war with anyone. Life is way too short.
Anyway, have a great weekend, a fabulous Doctor Who Day and I'll be around bright and early next week with Spooks, Merlin and The Fades to bore you all with.
Happy times and Places
Ed
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Spooks - Series 10 - Episode One
Spooks Series 10
Episode One
Reviewed by Eddie McGuigan
Spooks is back again for what is being billed as it's final series. This makes sense actually, considering the aborted Spooks Code 9 spin off series takes place in 2012, and has a completely different set of characters, including no Sir Harry Pearce. Although, after speaking to former Spooks chief writer Ben Richards, SC9 has been "erased" from canon, so who knows what the future brings.
Series 10 begins with the fall out from series 9 - the Lucas North affair still resonating in the corridors of Whitehall and Sir Harry being hauled over the coals for giving away top secret information - albeit useless information - in exchange for the life of his erstwhile not-quite lover and Section D swiss army knife Ruth Evershed, as well as allowing Lucas to became section head when, in reality, he was a terrorist. All this is put on hold, however, when events further back in Harry's past emerge to haunt not only him, but Britain as a whole.
Britain it seems, straining at the seams of a relationship with the USA, are considering joining forces with Russia, and the face of Russia right now is an old adversary of Harry's cold war days - Sasha Cravik. Not only were these two opposite numbers, but Harry and his CIA colleague had managed to turn Craviks wife into an informer. Not only that, she and Sir Harry had an affair. So the whole deck of cards is threatening to come tumbling down around MI5, and the Home Secretary reinstates Harry to the Grid - a stay of execution, it seems, not a pardon.
Sir Harry finds the grid slightly different. Gone is Beth, thought to be too close to Lucas and South American drug lords, and in comes Calum Reed (Geoffrey Steatfield) as a high flying techie to augment Tariqs role. Running Section D in Harry's absense is Erin Watts (Lara Pulver) whom the Home Secretary insists is kept on to head up the section in the absence of Lucas.
So this episode really sets the ground rules for what looks like being a series of interlinking stories rather than the threat-of-the-week formula, something Spooks goes back and forward from.
So with Harry back in charge and his new team assembled, can he shake hands with the enemy, avoid the machinations of the CIA and avoid any personal involvement with Alice Krige's Elena Gravik? All this, and Ruth too... especially with Harry's cliffhanger revelation.
Spooks is hard not to like. By now, we know to suspend belief, 24-style, in the ways of this pseudo realistic M15. It's a programme not quite set in the real world, with made up Middle Eastern countries, and not one MI5 agent who is in anyway mentally able for the job, but it is engaging, intriguing, polished and classy. In fact, it takes itself a lot more seriously than the premise should really allow.
This first episode is as good as any other, although the revelation won't be hard to guess, and it looks like being another intriguing series, this time very Harry-centric, which is only fair, seeing as it's the last series and Peter Firth is the only remaining cast member.
Ruth's simmering indecision for him is always played well by Nicola Walker, of course, and it's nice to see someone of Alice Krige's standard pouting her way through another femme fatale, but the rest of the team really, for me, are a lot more vanilla than the likes of Tom, Adam and Lucas have been in the past, and new section head Erin is a little too pretty and cold for the job she's been tasked with. Calum, too, is no Malcolm, and as one of Spooks strengths is getting us to care enough about the characters to be shocked when they're put through the mental or physical mill, it might be a stretch in the final series to introduce newbies we just might not get time to care about.
It's good having Spooks back though, and it will be missed when it's gone. Peter Firth carries the command of Sir Harry Pearce with genuine class and ease, and the story looks intriguing enough - global yet personal enough - to hold our interest for its all-too-short six episodes. This series will be all about how it ends. According to SC9 it SHOULD end in a chemical attack that wipes out have of London and kills everyone in the Grid. I'm assured by Ben Richards it won't though. Sort of.
Monday, 29 August 2011
The Skaro Review
Hello there, Faithful Readers
I'm a lucky boy. I know this. In fact, I have a wee chuckle to myself almost every day about it. I get to see Doctor Who before it's transmitted, and I get to tell you guys what I think of it.
Outpost Skaro is, in my opinion, the best site on the planet for this. Of course, there are other great ones. Kasterborous is brilliant, for instance, and there are lots of others, but I love ours before we have a really great gang of guys and girls, from all over the world, in the forum, who chat, in a friendly and passionate manner, about all things, not just Who.
So I thought I'd start a blog and let you all know what's happening. Follow me, and you'll see here, first, spoilers on the new series, links for reviews and podcasts and all sorts of treats, not just from Doctor Who, but from things like Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures, Spooks, Hustle... and just about every major British Genre programme going.
So, the first link you really, really need is this one:
Outpost Skaro
This will take you to our shiny Portal, but, beware, faithful readers, that it's not all Portal based - a free and quick registration will take you to our forum where you'll find interviews, reviews and exclusive competitions.
I know. We're great!
Look forward to seeing you there.
Happy Times and Places
Ed
I'm a lucky boy. I know this. In fact, I have a wee chuckle to myself almost every day about it. I get to see Doctor Who before it's transmitted, and I get to tell you guys what I think of it.
Outpost Skaro is, in my opinion, the best site on the planet for this. Of course, there are other great ones. Kasterborous is brilliant, for instance, and there are lots of others, but I love ours before we have a really great gang of guys and girls, from all over the world, in the forum, who chat, in a friendly and passionate manner, about all things, not just Who.
So I thought I'd start a blog and let you all know what's happening. Follow me, and you'll see here, first, spoilers on the new series, links for reviews and podcasts and all sorts of treats, not just from Doctor Who, but from things like Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures, Spooks, Hustle... and just about every major British Genre programme going.
So, the first link you really, really need is this one:
Outpost Skaro
This will take you to our shiny Portal, but, beware, faithful readers, that it's not all Portal based - a free and quick registration will take you to our forum where you'll find interviews, reviews and exclusive competitions.
I know. We're great!
Look forward to seeing you there.
Happy Times and Places
Ed
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