For All Mankind — Series 5 Episode 8 — “Brave New World” — A Review

25th August, 2026.

“Brave New World”.

The Introduction.

OK, it’s now officially Tuesday.

And … ?   The BBC’s weather page for my area is telling that’s going to be a thunderstorm early tomorrow morning.

I hope so!

We’ve had some sixty days of drought, hosepipe bans and the sort of relentless sunny weather one usually associates with idealised versions of 50’s America.

Rain would be welcome … !

~≈🪐≈~

At any rate, it’s Tuesday.

Giving the time I’m writing this?

That means I’m got some music on in the background, I’m assembling some videos in the background, and am excitingly cooking dinner.

Burger and home made chips, if you’re curious.

And … ?

And I’m listening to the sound of my tumble dryer, drying my pants.

Yes: I should put them on the washing line in the garden … but don’t have a garden!

With all that said … ?

I really need to watch TV!

Yes: that’s right.

I’ve got another episode of For All Mankind lined up: “Brave New World”.

I’ll have this review finished and up by Thursday … if the excitement hasn’t killed me … 

~≈🪐≈~

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — Series 3 - Episode 8 — “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” — A Review

28th August, 2025: “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans”.

The Introduction.

Right, then: it’s officially Thursday.

And … ?

I have a version of Strauss the Younger’s “The Blue Danube” playing in the background.

I’ve copied a 4k version of V for Vendetta: and I’m transcoding the copy with Handbrake, so I can stream it to my AppleTV, as and when.

One of these days, I’ll tell you how to do that.

I’m also struggling to make up my mind: about what to have for dinner.

It boils down to three things: sausages, burgers or chicken.

I think I’ll go for chicken: frankly, I’ve had sausages, and burgers, already!

This week, I should clarify!

“Gosh!” I hear you say, “that’s so exciting!”

It’s OK.

I’ll get to the interesting stuff, after dinner.

Yes, it’s that of week again.

Once I’ve had dinner, I’ll be watching “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans”: this week’s episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

It looks promising … 

~≈🖖≈~

Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 8 — “The Reality War” — A Review

30th May, 2025: “The Reality War”.

I have to confess, it’s Friday.

And … ?

I’m doing what I usually do.

Starting my review of an episode of Dr Who, early.

I am very much aware that — unlike earlier episodes — “The Reality War” is not going to released at 8am on the day of release.

No: it’s going to be released simultaneously with the 18:50 broadcast on BBC1.

So … ?

I’m going to be having dinner, early, tomorrow!

As an extra thought … ?

As I write this, we still don’t know if Disney will be continuing its involvement with the show.

They’ll still airing The War Between the Land and the Sea: but beyond that?

I don’t know.

We’ll have to see what happens!

~≈💊≈~

On a personal level?

I caught The Rubber-keyed Wonder, a documentary about the ZX Spectrum, a couple of weeks ago.

And, as a result?

Had some Atic Atac themed t-shirts printed.

And got hold of Switched-on Bach, the first Wendy Carlos LP.

That’s a fascinating LP to listen to: as it was one of the first albums using a synthesiser.

And it’s something I’ll have on, finishing this post.

~≈💊≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ll be watching “The Reality War”, tomorrow night.

And have this review finished on Monday, 2nd June.

I’ll see you then.

~≈💊≈~

Doctor Who — Series 14/Season 1 - Episode 8 — “Empire of Death” — A Review

22nd June, 2024: the introduction.

Yes: it’s officially Saturday, 22nd June.

And … ?

Once I’ve done a few things around the flat?

I’ll be plonking myself on a comfy chair: and watching the last episode of this series of Doctor Who.

I’m looking forward both to it … and finding out what others think.

I’ll be back … after a pause!

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Star Trek Discovery — Series 5 Episode 8 — “Labyrinths” — A Review

*Spoilers*

16th May, 2024: the introduction.

Yes: it’s officially Thursday!

And, frankly?

It’s been quite a day!

I’ve just spent several hours on the phone to Brentwood Council!

Just don’t ask!

At any rate … ?

It’s Thursday: so, once I’ve had dinner?

I’ll be watching “Labyrinths”: the next episode of Star Trek Discovery.

I’ll have it reviewed by tomorrow night!

I’ll see you then!

~≈🖖≈~

For All Mankind — Series 4 Episode 8 — “Legacy” — A Review

30th December, 2023: an introduction!

Right … 

Is it Chicken Kiev … or Chicken Kyiv?

The war in Ukraine is such that we show our support for one or the other side by spelling the name of the dish — and the city — as Kiev: the Russian way.

Or Kyiv, the Ukrainian way.

Either way … ?

I don’t know that it matters, much, right here and now.

What matters?

Is simply the fact that — once I’ve eaten the one I’m having for dinner? — I’ll be watching “Legacy”, the next episode of For All Mankind.

Then telling you all about it!

~≈🪐≈~

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Episode 9 — “Subspace Rhapsody” — A Review

4th August, 2023: The Intro.

Right: it’s Friday, again.

It’s amazing how it crops up, once a week.

At any rate … ?

That means two or three things.

First?

That I’ve finished an up coming Teaser: for International Left Handers Day.

Speaking as a left-hander that writes quizzes?

What were you expecting me to do for 13th August?

Apart from tell my fellow southpaws to do something on the day!

Next up?

Yes: I’m doing fish and chips, again.

And finally?

Yes: I’m going to be watching the next episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds, tonight.

I’ll be posting my review, tomorrow.

I get the impression it’s going to be very silly … … … 

~≈🖖≈~

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Episode 8 — “Under the Cloak of War” — A Review

28th July, 2023: The Intro.

It’s Friday.

And yes: you’ve possibly guessed a few things.

For a start, that it is a Friday.

You’ve got a calendar — on your computer, wall or phone — the same as I have.

Yes: it’s Friday.

And, once again, I’ve got fish, home made chips, and a healthy dose — dose? — of vegetables on the go.

And … ?

As you possibly might have realised — if you’ve read this morning’s Teaser post — that I’ve had new, smart, pay-as-you-go, utilities meters, put in.

Something I personally found stressful.

Especially as the old gas meter’s battery had run out.

It meant that the engineer could transfer the credit from my electricity meter … but not from the gas meter.

As he could read it!

Oh, well: we’ll have to see how that goes.

At any rate … ?

It’s Friday … 

Which means that, once I’ve had dinner … ?

I’ll be watching “Under the Cloak of War”, the next episode of Star Trek Strange New World, tonight.

And telling you about it, tomorrow.

~≈🖖≈~

The Mandalorian — Series 3 Episode 8 — Chapter 24 “The Return” — A Review

17th July, 2023: an Introduction.

Right … it’s Monday.

Which means I’m trying, desperately, to not burn dinner … whilst listening to tonight’s episode of I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue.

With games of Mornington Crescent, like that?

You can’t go wrong!

~≈👽≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s Monday.

So, once I’ve had dinner — a burger — I’ll be watching Chapter 24 of The Mandalorian: “The Return” is the last of the current series: so I’m hoping it’s a suitable finale!

~≈👽≈~

Star Trek Picard — Series 3 Episode 8 — Surrender — A Review.

7th April, 2023: ‘Surrender’.

Right … it’s Friday, again.

And … ?

Even as I write, vegetables are boiling, chips are cooking … 

And fish is being burnt to billy-o.

At any rate … ?

Dinner is almost done: to a turn.

And, once it’s eaten?

I’ll watch ‘Surrender’, the eighth episode of Star Trek Picard’s third season: and tell you about it, tomorrow night.

~≈🖖≈~

For All Mankind — Series 3 Episode 8 — The Sands of Ares — A Review.

26th March, 2023: ‘The Sands of Ares’.

Right … 

Sunday Night TV is getting to be something of a tradition.

You’d guessed that, hadn’t you?

That’s it’s getting to be a routine to watch something.

In this case … ?

For All Mankind.

Which is looking rather good.

As is AppleTV⁺’s Tetris.

That’s something for another time.

At any rate … ?

It’s Sunday, I’m going to be watching the next episode of For All Mankind … 

And I’ll be telling you about it, tomorrow night!

~≈👨‍🚀≈~

Star Trek Strange New Worlds — Episode 8 — The Elysian Kingdom — A Review

11th November, 2022.

Right … it’s Friday.

And?

I can safely say vegetables are boiling, chips are doing, and some fish is being baked in the oven.

Wikipedia … ?   Tells me the reason we have it on a Friday, is that the Roman Catholic Church forbade eating red meat on a Friday.

Which explains that.

WHY they did that?   And Orthodox Churches forbade it — and sex — on a Friday?

I really don’t know.

I’m assuming it’s for religious reasons: they are churches, after all.

What those are?

I’m blowed if I know!

At any rate … ?

It’s Friday: which means … ?

I’ll be watching the next episode Star Trek Strange New Worlds: and posting my review, tomorrow.

Will The Elysian Kingdom be as good as Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach?

I’ll let you know, tomorrow.

~≈🖖≈~

Star Trek Picard — Series 2 Episode 8 — Mercy — A Review

12th August, 2022.

Right … it’s Friday: and dinner is cooking.

As ever.

It’s fish and homemade chips: again.

And frankly?

I’m wondering why on Earth we’re supposed to have fish on a Friday?

I don’t actually know!

That’s beside the point, I think.

It’s Friday.

Which means I’ll be watching Mercy, the next episode of Star Trek Picard’s second season.

And be telling you about it, tomorrow night.

I’ll see you then!

~≈🖖≈~

Oh, JUST as a thought … ?

The Teaser I mentioned in the intro … ?   Is the one for 13th August: Left Hander’s Day.

Feel free to have a go!

~≈🖖≈~

Star Trek Discovery — Series 4 Episode 8 — All In — A Review

13th May, 2022.

Right: it’s Friday, again.

Which means;

• This is going to be a short intro.
• Dinner’s almost ready.
• I’m going to be watching another episode of Star Trek Discovery.

And you’d’ve worked all that out, by now, that I’ve been watching Star Trek Discovery’s for some time.

Once I’ve had dinner?   I’ll be watching Episode 8, All In: and finding out if they got the title from the poker term: or the wrestling match.

I’ll tell you for sure, tomorrow night.

When I’ve watched it, and posted my reviews.

~≈🚀≈~

Lovecraft Country — Series 1 Episode 8 — Jig-a-Bobo: A Review

26th October, 2021.

That’s a rather good intro video, don’t you think … ?

It tells you exactly what I’m going to be doing, tomorrow night.

Yep: telling you about the episode of Lovecraft Country I’ve just watched.

Which I think is rather good … 

~≈🐙≈~

I will mention, now, though … ?

That I posted the usual Daily Teaser, this morning: the brain teaser quizzes I run each morning.

I mentioned in this morning’s Teaser, that I was going to install macOS Monterey, at some point in the not too distant future.

Just not today.

I — theoretically — had a busy day.

That day went more rapidly than I expected: so I’ve gone right on ahead and installed the upgraded OS.

Which, bar a minor problem with iMovie, went well enough.

There even seem to be a couple of improvements to QuickTime I can make use of.

And Apple have reverted a change it made to Safari’s tabs.

Thankfully!

The ones Apple had switched too were … unusable, as far as I could see.

At any rate?   I’ll discuss that in tomorrow’s Teaser.

~≈🐙≈~

For All Mankind — Series 2 Episode 8 — And Here’s to You — A Review

25th May, 2021.

Right … 

It’s getting late: but I’m trying something of an experiment.

I’ve tried using the same video introduction, twice.

The uppermost copy?   Is one I’ve uploaded directly to Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

The second, or lower, copy?   Is the same video: uploaded to YouTube, and embedded from there.

If you could let me know which one works?   I’d appreciate knowing.

~≈📺≈~

Did I mention I’ve been able to afford a new AppleTV?

I’ve been able to afford a new AppleTV: the second generation 4K one, with the A12 processor.

The upside?   The thing connects to my media library a lot quicker the the old version, which is good.

The downsides?   It took a while to connect the game controller I had.

And the new Siri remote … ?

I like the first generation one: everything you needed was on the front.

The new one, with a very retro click wheel design?

Is a good navigation tool: but doesn’t work well with some of the games I have, ones that relied on the older model’s touch pad.

The second generation model has an ‘Power’ button — and a Siri button — on the right hand side.

Very fiddly, if, like me, you’re left handed!

At any rate … ?

It’s settling in.

Which means I used it to watch And Here’s To You, episode eight of series two of For All Mankind.

I’ll tell you more about that … tomorrow.

But yes: the title’s relevant … 

~≈🧑‍🚀≈~

The Mandalorian — Series 2 Episode 8 — Chapter 16 The Rescue — A Review

27th March, 2021.

Yes: I think I’m getting the hang of those revamped introduction videos.

Many moons ago, when I first got an iMac with a built in webcam?

It seemed a good idea to do a video intro: one that got posted to the blog.

Which — a couple of years in? — stopped working.

I still — to this day — do not know why.

So I started posting them to YouTube.

The fact they’re far more publicly accessible, there, means having to alter them.

Which I’m slowly getting the hang of, I think.

At any rate: yes, I’ve had Spaghetti, again: with homemade Bolognese sauce.

Yes: I’ve seen the last episode of The Mandalorian, series two.

Which has a surprise or two.

And yes: The Book of Boba Fett airs in December of 2021.

That’s something to look forward to … !

Now, if you’ll excuse me?    I’ll finish this, tomorrow night.

~≈⭐️≈~

Star Trek Discovery — Series 3 Episode 8 — The Sanctuary — A Review

26th December, 2020.

Right … 

It’s late enough on a Saturday night: that going to bed has appeal.

On top of that?   My right arm still aches from the ’flu jab I had, this time last week: too much typing’s mildly awkward.

On top of that … ?

The bedtime reading’s getting intriguing.

I’m going through a Arthur Machen collection of weird tales: called The White People and other Weird Tales.

It’s … 

Yes, weird possibly doesn’t cover it.

The couple at the centre of the tale, Edward and Mary Darnell?   Are having strange, unearthly, eldritch and distinctly odd discussions … 

About whether they should buy a new oven, decorate the box room, or have Aunt Marian come to stay with them … !

Weird doesn’t even start … !

At any rate: I’m going to happily finish this post, tomorrow.

Which is when I’ll tell you episode 8 of Star Trek Discovery’s third series … !

~≈🖖🏻≈~

The Mandalorian — Series 1 Chapter 8 — Redemption — A Review

11th September, 2020.

OK … 

I can safely say two things, at the moment.

I’ve had dinner.

Fish and chips, if you must know.

And, right now?   I’m telling you that: through the medium of my blog.

Obviously.

The mild difference?

Is that I’m experimenting with the new Blogger interface.

At the moment, there’ll be a time when I won’t be able to use the legacy version.

So?

Frankly, getting slowly used to the new version — when I don’t have to use it — seems fair enough.

Right now, though?

I have understandable concerns.

I suspect that I won’t be able to use the prepared html links I usually use, nor YouTube embed code.

I have’ve over the past few weeks, I know that.

In that sense?

There’s little change from there.

There is, however, one page that tells me I can use the embed code … if I switch between HTML, and COMPOSE mode: the pen icon in the top left hand corner in this photo.

HTML mode looks like this … 

If you’re not used to it … ?

That can be very confusing!

However?

That isn’t necessarily want I wanted to tell you.

You’d possibly guessed.

No, I wanted to tell you about what I’ve just seen on TV.

Yes: the last episode in series one of  The Mandalorian.

~≈¥≈~

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels — Series 1 Episode 8 — Hide and Seek — A Review

14th June, 2020.

Right …

It’s hot, sweaty … and decidedly uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable enough that you don’t want to know what I’m wearing.

Really!

Either way, it made me bad tempered enough that, whilst writing this morning’s Daily Teaser?

I managed to not be able to upload a video intro straight into the post … and had to upload it to YouTube, and embed it from there.

It turns out I just needed to clear my caches …

I could kick myself …

Except I’d possibly miss …

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve seen episode 8, of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, series one.

With two more episodes to go?   Episode eight is setting the bar …

~≈†≈~