Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-12-2020: The Number Eleven

11th December, 2020

I think I can safely say I’m … not annoyed, as such.

But a little twitted off.

I was due a visit from an engineer: to do a gas safety check on my boiler.

Between 8 And six, so you know.

He didn’t turn up.

What makes it worse … ?

The contractors he worked for confirmed it with an SMS message … … … at ten to six.

Talk about your last minute!

~≈fl≈~

Oh, right now … ?

It’s 8:18 … and I’ve just had a phone call … from someone claiming to be from Amazon.

I did my usual thing: demanding to know where the gibbon I’d ordered had gone, and no, I didn’t have a smart phone, laptop, desktop or tablet.

They rang off.

I can’t think why.

~≈fl≈~

As a thought on the streaming fronts?

Disney have announced they’re going to release some upcoming films on their Disney+ service: in addition to additional Star Wars and Marvel material.

I know many cinema chains won’t like that.

Unfortunately?

And given the ongoing COVID-19 situation?

And, as much as I’d love to see a film in a cinema in town: or elsewhere?

I think we’re going to see more streaming only films.

~≈fl≈~

As a final though, before I move on to the action?

It looks the UK will come out of the current EU trade negotiations with no deal.

At least, that’s what Prime Minister Boris Johnson — the man who claimed to have an oven ready deal — told us yesterday.

Frankly?

I’m not surprised: having felt, over the past few years, that that’s how things could go.

Personally?   I voted Remain: am deeply saddened — and incredibly bloody angry — the country voted Leave.

I don’t know about long term: but if we do get a No Deal deal, we’re going to be seeing short term prices hikes on food, utilities, and many others things.

Hikes I know I — on my money — can’t afford.

Angry?   Yes.

Thank you, leave voters: you’ve ruined our lives, and will be costing us a fortune.

~≈fl≈~

The Time Of The Doctor: How To Tie Off Story Lines without seeming to … !

Jude watches Dr Who.

You know, it’s Christmas Day.   You’d worked that out, hadn’t you: just by the date … ?

And, yes: I’ve already spent most of the day at my family’s place.

I’ll be back again, tomorrow: there’s a certain young man who’s had quite a LOT of presents, today.   And who’s due to get more, tomorrow.

Well, Boxing Day’s Jude’s birthday: he’s either going to be sick of toy cars, or SWAMPED in them … !

~≈Ï≈~

At ANY rate, today is Christmas Day.   Presents have been exchanged — my nephew, Jude, has had quite a lot of cars, trucks and tractors* — and everybody’s managed to get themselves well and truly stuffed.

So to speak.

I’ve also managed to get myself home: with the gifts I’ve been given.   Including, I should add, a new mouse and keyboard.

Oh, and a t-shirt that says ‘Gallifrey University: Prydonian Chapter’.

You can’t be TO geeky, can you … ?

~≈Ï≈~

No, you can’t, can you … ?

Certainly not if you’re like me: a Dr Who fan, and one who’s home in time for tonight’s Dr Who Christmas special.

Matt Smith’s last episode.   Peter Capaldi’s first.

The Fall of the Eleventh, itself.

The Time Of The Doctor.

And I have to say, I was impressed with that … !

~≈Ï≈~

Set an undisclosed time after The Name Of The Doctor, The Time Of The Doctor tells us of an initially unnamed planed that’s broadcasting a signal: a signal that none of the inhabitants of the orbiting spaceships can understand, and that the Doctor is told — by the disconnected Cyberman head he nicknames ‘Handles’ — is Gallifrey.

The Doctor, of course, knows damn well that it isn’t.

Which is confirmed by two things: by the words of Tasha Lem, Mother Superior of the Church of the Papal Mainframe, who tells the Doctor that the planet is Trenzalore.

And by the fact that — in a wall of the main tower of a Trenzalorean town called Christmas — there’s a very familiar looking crack … 

~≈Ï≈~

Now … impressive … ?

Oh, lordy, yes … !

I know some fans have heap a touch of ire onto Stephen Moffat, for coming up with something of a confusing morass of plotlines.

Personally … ?   Personally I can understand a certain amount of dissatisfaction: although not the sort of behaviour I’d heard had been flung at him.

I ALSO feel that that dissatisfaction may well be a case of maybe not concentrating enough.

However, I think those fans may well have little to complain about.

If they’ve sat down, today, and watched The Time Of The Doctor, I think they — like me — would have found would have found it — and The Name Of The Doctor and The Day Of The Doctor, which form a rough trilogy with The Time Of The Doctor — I think they’d’ve found an episode that neatly ties up the loose threads, and some nice writing, wonderful acting from the cast.

Jenna Coleman, I believe, is going to go down as a classic companion: she’s certainly put in the work and given a stunner of a performance.

As has Matt Smith: who’s given something of a stonker of a performance, over the past few years.

Perfect … ?

No, The Time Of The Doctor isn’t perfect.

It IS, however, everything that we come to expect in a regeneration story: emotional, touching, demanding, and giving us both endings to stories we’ve invested time in.

AND the promise of a fresh start.

What else CAN one ask … ?

*        And had fun with both them: AND the assorted boxes they came in.   I think I’ve got a nephew fascinated by the idea of putting things in things … 

Clone: An Acquired Taste …

10th August, 2013.

Hmmm … 

Yes, I think ‘Hmmm’ sums it up.

I’ll happily admit, I like catching movies, occasionally: and I like to try and make a point of trying to tell people about the ones I see, as well.

I’ll also happily admit that — like many people, I suspect — that a film has to have some form of appeal, to catch my eye.

I know some friends are keen on catching as much as possible, to deepen their knowledge of film: as an art, as much as anything else

Although, personally … ?

I’ll admit to being something of a philistine.

I want to see a movie I think I’m going to enjoy.

You want to see something arty … ?

Brentwood Library’s got pictures on some of its walls.

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I’ve managed to catch Clone, tonight: also known, outside the UK, as Womb.

And possibly … ?   Well, possibly, I’ve caught myself an art film that’s a bit too arty … 

~≈Ω≈~

Set in an unspecified part of the world, at an unspecified time, the Benedek Fliegauf directed, <>

Clone sees Eva Green and Matt Smith* as childhood sweethearts, Rebecca and Thomas.

A pair of young, bright lovers, who are determined to follow Tommy’s plan to protest at a local biotech company.

Tragedy strikes, though, when — as they stop on the drive to the company’s headquarters — Tommy is hit, and killed, by a passing van.

And Rebecca … ?   Rebecca, in her grief, decides to have him cloned.

And to carry the embryo to term, as the second Tommy’s mother.

~≈Ω≈~

Now … 

Am I going to recommend Clone to you, or not … ?

I don’t know, frankly, if I can.

I personally feel that, were I to suggest renting a character-driven, emotional film about cloning, and the ethics of cloning, I think I’d be doing you and me a favour by telling you to see the Carey Mulligan flick, Never Let Me Go.

I felt the latter dealt with the subject in a far more satisfying way.

That’s not to say Clone is a complete no-hoper.   Both Smith and Green put in sterling performances, the photography is delicious, and the scenery — long sandy beaches, for the most part — lovely.

Personally, though, I found those redeeming features were outweighed by the simple fact Clone is very — almost intolerably — slow paced.

It may be gorgeous.

But it could WELL do with a poke, to have gotten going.

Clone    

★☆☆☆

*        To be fair, the reason I rented Clone, tonight … ?   Was because it’s got Matt Smith and Eva Green in it.   I happen to find Ms Green’s voice rather attractive: and wanted to see the talented Mr Smith in something other than Dr Who, before he left the role.

The Doctor And Neil …

You know, I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again, I was shocked when I learnt Peter Capaldi had been cast as the twelfth actor to play Doctor Who.

Shocked.

Surprised.

It has to be said,  I think I was actually shaking on the day.

Possibly not something to admit.

At ANY rate, I was shocked … 

But ALSO thinking — as I still do, now — that it’s the PERFECT bit of casting.

OK, I could be wrong — my belief that Daniel Rigby or Damien Molony would bag the part show that, very well — but on the whole, I think he’s going to prove superb.

~≈^≈~

But I’m ALSO very aware that writer, Neil Gaiman — who, along with Terry Pratchett, Storm Constantine, and the late Iain Banks is one of THE writers in the fantasy and science fiction, today — has written for the show.

And has raised an interesting point.

That the show’s producers have missed an opportunity, over the years, in not casting a black or Asian actor in the show’s lead role.

And that a black actor — who he did not name — had been approached to play the 11th Doctor, but had turned the job down.

Understandable, I think,

However different we may be from the 1970s and early 1980s — when Britain’s small black and Indian community would have had a seriously rough time — I think any black actor getting the offer would quite possibly have turned it down — in part — because science-fiction in the UK not being popular in amongst Britain’s various minority communities.

And, in part, for fear of a good old fashioned racist backlash.

Which I think is both a shame.

And a possibly damning indictment of a country that likes to think of itself as tolerant.

~≈^≈~

Now, I’ve heard an argument or two, against casting a person of colour in the role.

Which boil down to two different things.

For STARTERS … ?

Well, for starters, the good old fashioned idea of tokenism: the thought of casting a token black/asian actor, to show that the programmes at least had a token black actor as the lead character.   Or, if nothing else, as a companion or regular character.

I think we’d have to ask Freema Agyeman or Noel Clarke about that: to see if they believe their casting was something like that.

The OTHER argument … ?

Boils down to continuity.

Or, if you want to simplify it, and put it THIS way … 

IT ’S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE … !

To my mind, that’s the stupidest argument in the book.

Up until Margaret Thatcher was elected in 1979, the UK had never had a woman as Prime Minister.

Up until Benjamin Odeje became the first black player to have worn an England Football shirt of any kind, with Viv Anderson, the first as a full international.

It’s only in the past few years the USA has elected a black American as president.

Now, to my way of thinking … ?

‘IT ’S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE’ is possibly the most stupid argument going.

Things will not change and racism not challenged: unless and until people have the guts to do so.

And be the FIRST to do so … !

Dr Who: Live — The 12th Doctor … Is Peter Capaldi … !!

OK, OK … !

I WAS WRONG ABOUT DANIEL RIGBY AND DAMIEN MOLONY … !

And quite happy to say so … !

Who we HAVE got as the Twelfth Doctor, though … ?

Is noted Scottish actor, Peter Capaldi.

THAT I didn’t expect.

Really … !

But I have to say that, now the news of his bagging the role of the 12th Doctor is sinking in, I feel Capaldi is the perfect piece of casting for the Moffat era.

I personally feel a lot of Steven Moffat’s work has been somewhat darker than (say) the Russell T Davies years.

Darker, edgier, and — for me, at any rate — reminiscent of Iain M. Banks

I feel his choice of Matt Smith was an unfortunate move: although not as unfortunate as it could have been, as Mr Smith is a very talented actor: bringing a certain amount of inspired lunacy to the role.

I can only hope that Matt Smith’s future career is good: lord knows he deserves it*.

But back to what I WAS saying … 

I feel that, with the casting of Peter Capaldi … ?

The Steven Moffat era of Dr Who is going to hit the proverbial jackpot.

*        I do know I keep meaning to rent out Clone

The Daily Teaser — 4-8-2013

Well … 

It’s officially official.   The 12th Doctor get’s announced, tonight, in a special live show at 7pm, on BBC1.

I’m as curious as anybody: and looking forward to the show.

And like anybody … ?   I’m wondering who will be cast as Matt Smith’s replacement.

Thus far … ?   There’s been speculation about all sorts of actors.   Although I’m thinking back to when Matt Smith was cast: as I recall, his name came up in the news as a bookies favourite on the day of the announce, some hours before the announcement, itself.

So, although I personally feel that relative unknown Damien Molony* — who played vampire, Hal Yorke, in the last two series of Being Human — would make for an idea choice, I’ve also got a feeling that Daniel Rigby†, currently in a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, may prove to have landed a big prize.

Not that I’m any kind of guaranteed oracle, obviously.   But if it IS one of the two … ?   Well, it’d just be nice to think I’ve given the right actor a mention, before the big announcement got made.

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

~≈Ì≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Mr Strict and Debbi putting in their answers.   with Mr S bagging five out of six, and Debbi‡ scoring six, it also saw Debbi wondering if she’d qualify for joint UK/Irish citizenship.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s themed questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 4th August, 70 AD, saw the destruction of the Jewish Second Temple: in which Middle Eastern city was that temple … ?

Q2) More to the point, who was Roman Emperor at the time: Vespasian, Titus or Claudius … ?

Q3) That Emperor’s son commanded the Roman legions that destroyed the Temple.   What was his name: Titus, Commodus or Titian … ?

Q4) Which Jewish king built — or rebuilt — the Second Temple: Herod Antipas, Herod Archelaus or Herod the Great … ?

Q5) The original Temple was built — in part — to house which holy chest … ?

Q6) Finally … what’s the only part of the Temple still standing … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 3rd August, 1977, saw Tandy announce its TRS-80 range of computers.   What was the name of the shops Tandy sold them through … ?

A1) Radio Shack.

Q2) More to the point, what did TRS stand for … ?

A2) Tandy Radio Shack.

Q3) 3rd August, 1946, saw the opening of the world’s first theme park: what was it called … ?

A3) Santa Claus Land: although it’s NOW called Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.   (Which sounds even more jolly …)

Q4) 3rd August, 1936, saw which famous athlete win the 100 Meter Dash … ?

A4) Jesse Owens.

Q5) 3rd August, 1900, saw the founding of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.   In which Ohio city was it — and arch-rival, Goodyear — based for many years … ?

A5) Akron.

Q6) And finally … 3rd August, 1990, saw the recording of Britain’s then highest temperature: in which English county … ?

A6) Leicestershire.

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this thought, attributed to Emperor Titus …

“It becomes an emperor to die standing.”

Words attributed to Emperor Titus.

And with this tune, which describes itself as a way of commemorating Tisha B’av, the Jewish festival marking the Temple’s destruction.

Enjoy the day … 

*        It’s not often I say this: but there’s a handful of actors and actress who have beautiful speaking voices: Benedict Cumberbatch, Avery Brooks, Tom Baker and Joanna Lumley amongst them.   Damien Molony’s another one.

†        I should add that, as far as I can tell, both actors are equally plausible: both are relative unknowns, equally talented — although Rigby DOES have that BAFTA gong — and have few other commitments, bar a couple of upcoming guest episodes.   Rigby’s appearing in the Edinburgh Fringe: although whether his show is on, today, I don’t know.   Much as I don’t know what Molony’s doing.

‡        It’s probably worth an ask, Debbi! :D

The Daily Teaser — 3-6-2013

Right … 

Ben Whishaw.

Rory Kinnear.

Benedict Cumberbatch.

Wil Wheaton: Wil Wheaton … ?

Eddie Izzard.

Joanna Lumley.

Miranda Hart … !

Oh, and Trevor: who tells us, in a comment, yesterday, that he’d have to turn it down, as he’s got a dodgy left leg*.

The list of potential replacements fort Matt Smith goes ever on!

Personally, I still think that it’s possibly time for a black or asian actor: but frankly, I think that’s about as likely as a woman‡ stepping up to the crease … !

Either way … ?   I think we’ve got a few more months of this … !

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

~≈Á≈~

Along with Trevor’s comment, Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with bagging five out of five, she also put up this post, AND admitting she was clueless on the next Doctor†.

So let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 3rd June, 1162, saw Thomas a’Becket consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury.   Who described him as ‘this troublesome priest’ … ?

Q2) 3rd June, 19821, saw Shlomo Argov shot on the streets of London.   Argov the Ambassador to the UK from where … ?

Q3) 3rd June, 1991, saw Mount Unzen erupt: in which country … ?

Q4) 3rd June, 1889, saw the completion of the first US long distance power-line: between a generator in Williamette Falls, and Portland.   In which US state are they … ?

Q5) Finally … 3rd June, 2006, saw Montenegro declare it’s independence: from which Union … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 2nd June, 1953, saw the Queen crowned: in which church … ?

A1) Westminster Abbey.

Q2) 2nd June is also Festa della Republica: in which European country … ?

A2) Italy.

Q3) 2nd June, 455AD, saw the sacking of that nation’s capital city: which city… ?

A3) Rome.

Q4) 2nd June, 1835, saw P. T. Barnum’s circus go on it’s first US tour.   What did ‘P. T.’ stand for … ?

A4) Phineas Taylor.

Q5) And finally … 2nd June, 2012, saw which former president sentenced to life imprisonment … ?

A5) Hosni Mubarak.

As a nod to Mott The Hoople frontman, Ian hunter, I’ll leave you with this tune … 

And a thought, in memory of the late Tony Curtis …

“I wouldn't be caught dead marrying a woman old enough to be my wife.”

Tony Curtis, June 3, 1925 – September 29, 2010

Enjoy your day … 

*       That’s never stopped you, before, Trevor … ! :D

†        I think that’s part of the reason I didn’t rent it on Saturday night, Debbi: one or two of the reviews I’ve seen weren’t too flattering about his handling of the part … 

‡        As I write, Radio 4’s Today programme is speculating on the possibility … 

The Daily Teaser — 2-6-2013

It’s official … !

Matt Smith has announced that he’s to leave Dr Who, at this year’s Christmas special.

For me, that came somewhat out of the blue: but doesn’t seem too surprising.

I say good luck to him, in his future career: he’s truly made the role his own.

The fevered speculation starts here, though.   According to Radio 4, the Sunday Times has already been speculating about the 12th Doctor being a woman.

Personally … ?   I still think there’s plenty of Afro-Caribbean and Asian actors out there who make perfectly good replacements.

Which is assuming John Hurt’s not stitched it up already.

The OTHER question … will be when Steven Moffat’s to move on: although I believe he has at least one more season in him.

Let’s see what Santa turns up with, shall we?

~≈Ω≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with bagging five out of five, she also was very flattering about yesterday’s quote and song*.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 2nd June, 1953, saw the Queen crowned: in which church … ?

Q2) 2nd June is also Festa della Republica: in which European country … ?

Q3) 2nd June, 455AD, saw the sacking of that nation’s capital city: which city… ?

Q4) 2nd June, 1835, saw P. T. Barnum’s circus go on it’s first US tour.   What did ‘P. T.’ stand for … ?

Q5) And finally … 2nd June, 2012, saw which former president sentenced to life imprisonment … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 1st June, 1495, saw the first written records of the manufacture of Scotch Whiskey: by a Friar in which Scottish area: Fife, Inverness or Kincardine … ?

A1) Fife.

Q2) Which grain was Scotch traditionally made from: barley, corn or wheat … ?

A2) Barley.

Q3) Also traditionally, Scotch was measured in multiples of one Dram: usually seen as 1/8th of a fluid … what … ?

A3) Fluid Ounce.   (Although, usually, terms like ‘1/8th’, ‘dram’ and ‘fluid ounce’ depend on how many you’ve had already … )

Q4) According to the legal definition, Scotch cannot be less than how strong: 30%, 40% or 50% … ?

A4) 40%.

Q5) And finally … Scotch was made in various Scots regions: including Highland, Lowland, Campbeltown, Speyside … and where else … ?

A5) Islay.

Enjoy those: I’ll leave you with this thought from Johnny Weismüller …

“We didn’t have the lane ropes, we had to get up higher in the water to avoid the little waves.”

Johnny Weissmuller June 2, 1904 – January 20, 1984

And, as a nod to birthday boy, and Spandau Ballet frontman, Tony Hadley, this tune … 

*        Hopefully, today’s will go down well, Debbi.   Oh, did you catch the opening of today’s Teaser … ?   Any guesses … ?   (Speculating about the next Doctor’s an old national sport: up there with betting on the next James Bond, or who’s going to win the Derby … !)

Dr Who — Series 7 Part 2: The Name Of The Doctor

*Spoilers*

Oh, well, THERE’S a thing … !

I have to admit, I’m like a lot of people I’ve met, over the years: I like backing up DVDs.

What’s more, I like having a way of getting those DVDs.

And, while I’ve got tonight’s episode of Dr Who gently ripping to my hard-drive … ?   I thought I should let you know that the latest version of HandBrake.

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, that’s not quite what I was going to tell you about.

No … 

I was going to tell you about … … 

The Name Of The Doctor … 

~≈†≈~

Just in case you hadn’t been sent one of the accidentally early release DVDs of the complete series 7  … ?

The Name Of The Doctor is the finale to Series 7 of the rebooted Dr Who: it sees Clara being contacted — in a telepathic conference call — by Madame Vastra, who’s also brought Jenny, Strax … 

And River Song, herself, to the do.

Seemingly, the Doctor’s greatest secret is under threat: and that his greatest secret is at the one place a time-traveller should never go.

His own tomb … 

At Trenzalore … 

And unfortunately?  The Doctor soon realises that’s the one place he has to go: in order to the Paternoster Row gang: it’s the only right and proper thing to do, as they’ve cared so well for him.

Of course they get rescued.

And of course, the Doctor’s under threat.   His tomb, a slowly sickening TARDIS, contains his entire timeline as a scar on the fabric of space time.

A scar that only one woman can enter in order to repeatedly rescue him.

~≈‡≈~

Now … 

Did I thoroughly enjoy this episode … ?

I think I can safely say “Yes”.   Now I now Steven Moffat’s had his critics, whilst in post as the shows head, over the years: although I personally feel he’s been given an unnecessarily hard time with it.

With The Name Of The Doctor, though … ?

I feel that whatever you may say about him, he’s turned in a fantastic series seven conclusion: and while he may not have suppled EVERY answers … ?

He HAS managed to give us a BARNSTORMING cliff-hanging … !

Enjoy the six month wait, folks … !

Dr Who — Series 7, Part 2: Episode Twelve — Nightmare In Silver

You know, it’s times like this that I have to ask … 

“Why Have I Never Added Warwick Davies as A Tag To A Post … ?”

Bless him, he’s been in at least a couple of other things I’ve seen since living in Rollason Way: at least one episode of Merlin, plus, of course, he was the actor who played — to Alan Rickman’s voicing — of Marvin the Paranoid Android, in the film version of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.

At any rate … ?

I’ve managed to correct that, today, by adding Warwick to list of actors who get a mention in my tag list.   Newcomers will find THAT at the bottom of the page … 

At any rate, you’re probably wondering why on Earth I’m burbling on about, aren’t you … ?

Well … 

I’ve just seen tonight’s episode of Dr Who: and, whilst it’s possibly not the best episode of the show, ever … ?

Neil Gaiman, in writing Nightmare In Silver for the Moffat/Smith era team, has pulled another The Doctor’s Wife, out of the hat: and helped re-define part of the series mythos.

I’d better get explaining, hadn’t I … ?

~~~~†~~~~

Following directly on from last week’s episode — The Crimson Horror — Nightmare In Silver sees the Doctor —  Matt Smith’s ever ebullient Eleventh — taking Clara — along with Angie* and Artie, the two children she’s the nanny for — to Hedgewick’s World: a world that had been the universe’s largest amusement park, until it closed.

Closed … and bought out by Mr Webley, and his sidekick, Porridge — Warwick Davies — who have an interesting line in running the few remaining waxworks.

And a Mechanical CyberTurk† … !

It’s only after our heroes have moved on, that Webley finds out that his CyberTurk … 

Isn’t as dormant as he thought, being home to the sort of woodworm that only a dead Cyberman could hold … 

~~~~†~~~~

Now, did I enjoy this … ?

You betcha … !

Now this may not be the best in series.   But Nightmare in Silver is a thoroughly enjoyable romp of a story, much like the season’s other highlight, Cold War.   One that I’m personally inclined to put on a par with this year’s Ice Warrior episode.

It’s ALSO an episoe that, additionally, adds some new twists to an old foe.

What’s more, Nightmare in Silver that the Cyber Empire’s started calling itself ‘the Cyberiad’: AND has the capacity to do Borg-like cyber-conversions of both humans and othersº.

And some stunning supporting cast, hence my mentioning Warwick Davies, earlier.

And you can’t say fairer than that, now CAN you‡ … ?

*        Eve De Leon Allen and Kassius Carey Johnson, respectively.

†        Which is possibly the nearest any of us will get to see of the original Mechanical Turk: that was exposed as a hoax in the 1820s, but was supposed to be a chess-playing clockwork robot.

‡        Hang on, CYBERMITES … ?   A detachably hand that you can send off to strangle someone … ?   A removable head … ?   How cool is THAT … !!!!!!!!!??!!!

º        I add more in my comment … 

Dr Who Series Seven Part Two — Episode 11: The Crimson Horror

Oh, now, wait, hang on … 

I think I’m going to have a Christopher Ecclestone Moment, here … 

And about tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

Hang on, altogether now …

FANTASTIC

Now … 

I suppose I’d better answers the Forest of Cheem’s question: and tell you exactly why I though tonight’s episode of Dr Who was fantastic, hadn’t I … ?

≈≈≈‡≈≈≈

Set in Yorkshire in 1893*, The Crimson Horror sees the return of the Paternoster Row Gang: Madame Vastra (Neve Macintosh), her wife, Jenny (Catrin Stewart) and their manservant, Commander Strax (Danny Starkey).

The intrepid threesome has been investigating the mysterious activities of Mrs Gillyflower and her blind daughter, Ada — played by real world mother and daughter, Diana Rigg and Rachel Stirling — who’ve set up an apparent utopian match factory in Yorkshire.

They’ve quietly become aware that all isn’t sweet in Sweetville — as the factory’s called — and head north to dig around.

When they get there … ?

The team find the place is suffering a rash of crimson covered bodies being found in the canal.

And on infiltrating Sweetville, itself … ?   Jenny finds that the monster in the attic … is an old friend …

Like we didn’t see that one coming … !

Didn't work THAT out! :) #TheCrimsonHorror
— Paul Downie (@Cuddy2977) May 4, 2013

≈≈≈‡≈≈≈

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I personally believe The Crimson Horror to be something of a … 

Well … ‘return to form’ isn’t the phrase, I think.

Instead, I’ll call The Crimson Horror the series seven highpoint to date: it revisits established — and popular — recurring characters, has a romp of a fantastic plot and some cracking dialogue: complete with a now obligatory Strax moment.

Personally … ?

Well, personally, if you missed this one, tonight, you  missed a blinder … !

Until this sort of time, next week, that is … !

Enjoy the rest of the night, folks … !

*        And written by Mark Gatiss: he’s been collaborating with Steven Moffat on Sherlock and has something of a taste — as his BBC documentaries about horror movies show — for the Grand Guignol: even if he’s not quite as blood-soaked as a certain Mr Holmes …