Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th March 2023.

11th March, 2023.

Right … it’s now Saturday.

You’d noticed, hadn’t you?

It’s also the day after I’ve had a boiler repair man over: to sort out my boiler.

The problem?

Was that it was losing pressure, overnight.

He’s not fixed it.

But has shown me how to depressurise the thing: and advised I keep a diary of when it loses pressure, over the next few days.

And phone back in, next Friday, should it repeat itself.

Frankly?

I’m going to be doing that.

And not surprised by what’s causing it.

It seems the valve that regulates the pressure — ones that has caused problems before now — is acting up.

The more things change … the more that stay the same!

~≈¥≈~

Dr Who — New Year’s Day Special 2021: Revolution of The Daleks.

1st January, 2021.

As a warning: this post contain’s mild spoilers.

Be aware of that, if you’ve not yet seen Revolution of The Daleks.

Right … 

It’s officially the case: it’s New Year’s Day.

I’ve had dinner at my family’s: in case you didn’t know.

Bœuf bourguignon, so you know.

And … ?

And, you say … ?

I’ll confess to being rushed … and possibly not believing my eyes!

And possibly getting myself in trouble … !

At any rate … ?   I’ve managed to see this years Dr Who NewYears’ Day special, Revolution of The Daleks.

And have come away impressed.

~≈⌘≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th March, 2020.

11th March, 2020.

Right … it’s Wednesday, and I’m feeling bored, already.

I do know I’ll be spending a lot of time on a computer.

Partly?   Recording video for the Teaser, and partly … ?

Job Hunting.

The fact I can now access the Universal Credit account, the account I have to log my job applications and interviews on, and do that from both my desktop and laptop.

Is definitely handy.

~≈†≈~

Just as a thought … ?

I’ve got the Fun boy Three’s Tunnel of Love, banging through my head.

It’s possibly one of the angriest and most bitter tunes put to vinyl.

I’m just wondering … given Terry Hall — the band’s lead singer and main song writer — also performed Too Much, Too Young?

You have to wonder what was going on … 

~≈†≈~

Doctor Who — Series 12: Episode 5 — Fugitive of the Judoon — A Review

26th January, 2020.

Yep: it’s a Sunday night.

Yes: I’m at home.

Yes: the new boiler definitely is working.

You’re not near my armpits, trust me.

Which is stuff that’s possibly not relevant.

You see, I’ve been watching TV, tonight.

Episode five, of Doctor Who

’s twelfth series.

I think there’s a few twists.

After all … guess who puts in an appearance?

Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)
Fugitive of the Judoon.

Yes … him … 

~≈‡≈~

Torchwood Miracle Day: Episode 1: The New World. The Day Begins

(Originally posted on Nik Nak & Grub’s Who Peculiar, on 14 July 2011)

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’m possibly going to go into Rant mode at some stage during tonight’s post, I really am … !

You see, I’ve just had a quick virtual natter with my former co-author, Grub, about DVD prices.

He’s thinking about investing in the DVD of the first half of this year’s series of Dr Who.

As you may or may not know, the series has been split into two halves, with the first 7 episodes having been shown earlier this year, and the last 6 due to be broadcast in the autumn.

Grub, like me, is on something of a restricted income.

So tends to be a touch careful with his DVD purchases.

The fact that the BBC has released those first 7 episodes to DVD, a short time after their broadcast caught his attention: especially as the the recommended retail price of £25 seemed fair enough.

However … ?

Well …

I don’t think Grub was impressed with the lack of extras.

By the sound of things, it’s an extremely vanilla release, at a price he — and I, I should add — felt a touch too high, for just the first 7 episodes.

The Confidentials, as well, would’ve been appreciated.

As I pointed out … ?

I could do better, myself.

I’m not kidding, either … !

Especially given the fact that HandBrake — the freely available open source DVD ripper — is capable of copying the contents of a programme recorded onto a blank DVD by a home DVD recorder as well as it can copy a commercial DVD.

You can take my point, there, I think.

Not that I’m advocating outright video piracy, there: never have and never will.

However … ?

I’m AM suggesting that the BBC should really think about their pricing policy.

Especially when you consider that any of us reading this either have — or can easily get — the basic tools* to make the equivalent product for ourselves.

»»·««

Actually, there’s a reason I’m burbling on, like this, there really is.

You see, I’ve just seen — and happily recorded‡ — the first episode of Season four of Dr Who spin off, Torchwood.

Torchwood’s fourth series — or Miracle Day, as I should call it — opens with Owen Danes — Bill Pullman — a convicted child abuser, rapist and murderer who survives his execution by lethal injection.

And with CIA agent Rex Matheson — Mekhi Phifer — surviving a car crash that should have killed him.

A car crash, I should add, that takes place whilst Rex is talking on his mobile phone to workmate, Esther Drummond — Alexa Havins — who’s noticed some that the CIA computers have ALL had an email consisting of just one word.

TORCHWOOD…

That’s where thing’s start to get Hairy … !

Because, as event’s unfurl, we find that Agent Matheson and and Owen Danes aren’t the only ones to have been affected by what the press quickly terms Miracle Day.

The day, in other words, when everyone — everyone — stops dying …

»»·««

Meanwhile, back in Wales … … ?

Back in Wales we find that Gwen — Eve Myles — and Rhys — Kai Owen — trying to raise their daughter, Anwen, in the Welsh backwoods.

And seriously scared for their lives, after the events of Children of Earth.

It’s only when Gwen’s former fellow officer, Andy, gets in touch to let her know her father’s had two serious heart attacks that she and Rhys find out that heart attacks needn’t be fatal.

As they’ve taken place on a day like this.

A day when the last thing one needs is trouble …

»»·««

Now, I’ve got to confess, I’ve actually enjoyed this opening episode of Miracle Day.

I’ll admit, I don’t think it’s on quite the same par as Children Of Earth. But then, very few things are: I happen to personally believe that Children Of Earth was Torchwood’s equivalent of Genesis of the Daleks. The story, in other words, that leaves an LASTING imprint in people’s memories, and on subsequent stories in the series.

And, granted, I’m thinking that Jack’s newly found vulnerability will be the key to the whole plot.

But I do think Miracle Day to have a rock solid opening episode: with enough references to keep old fans happy, and attract a new bunch of US fans.

Granted, I’ve felt some recent TV sci-fi hasn’t made the grade: the remake of The Prisoner and Outcasts in particular.

But I’m also thinking, here, that Torchwood is not going to suffer the same fate.

Especially given that Miracle Day — going on its opening episode — shows us the series is as solid as ever.

* A copy of HandBrake, or other DVD ripper, a DVD or Blu-ray recorderº, a home computerª … and a pile of blank optical discs^.

º Such as can be bought from Argos at a reasonable price.

ª SENSIBLE people, like me, get them from Apple stores. Cheapskates like Grub get any old Windoze-based thang from the back of a lorry. A smelly lorry. That has bits that fall off. On a regular basis. Ever get the feeling you’ve walked into an on-going domestic incident … ?

‡ For my own personal use, I should add: I’m going to keep that recording, until Miracle Day’s official UK DVD release, which is when it’ll get replaced.

^ Available in many local shops. Chuck a brick.

Torchwood Series 3 — Children of Earth — Day Five — A Review: … This Is The End …

10th July, 2009

Day 5 of Torchwood: Children of Earth is the last of the series.

And looks — and dear God, I’m hoping I’m wrong — like the last Torchwood ever.

I hope I’m wrong!

I do know that Colonel Augustus Oduya of UNIT — in one of the early scenes of Day Five — finds out why the 456 are after Earth’s children.

They’re addicted to the chemicals found in young human children.

Oduya realises that the mass handover of Earth’s children is handing heroin to alien junkies.

Junkies.

John Frobisherº comes to a tragic end.

He kills himself, his wife and his two daughters.   After being told by the PM his daughters are to be included in the 10%.

To be that desperate … ?

That desperate and facing the plan the government are putting into action?

He’s a hero.

The other heroes of the piece?

Have been Gwen* and Rhys, the two characters who’ve been the emotional centre of the series since it started; it’s they who, with Ianto’s sister and brother-in-law, manage a brave rescue effort, when the troops go in.

But who don’t find out — ’til after the event — what Jack has had to do to his own daughter and grandson, in order to save the world.

Jack, helped by Johnson and Dekker, has to use a ‘Constructive wave’ to destroy the 456.

But has to kill his own grandson to do this.

You can probably imagine Alice’s reaction to this.

There’s a scene in which Alice meets Jack, in an abandoned corridor, after her son’s death.

She says nothing.

She just turns her back on him and walks away.

The post-script scene to all this is set some six months after the main events; it sees Jack telling Gwen and Rhys that he has to leave Earth.

He still hasn’t shaken the dirt off his feet.

Powerful stuff.

In a series that’s been nothing but powerful stuff.

Can I be frank, here?

I’m actually thinking that Russell T. Davies, in conjunction with the rest of the team, has turned in the best season of Torchwood, yet.

I’m convinced Children of Earth will be a tough act to follow.

It has seriously raised the bar for a fourth series.

Stephen Moffat — should he choose to follow on from this — has work to do.

I also know, amongst tarot card readers, that the Death card isn’t necessarily seen as meaning death; just intense and dramatic change.

That’s Children of Earth.

Intense.

*        There’s a beautiful opening scene, of Gwen making a tape to mark the world’s end: she says that she’s realised why the Doctor hasn’t turned up. He’s turned his head away in shame† …

º        I also know that, having spoken to several fellow fans since this episode aired, that Peter Capaldi as John Frobisher has been viewed as having done extremely well.   I don’t know if it’s an award winner; but I’m convinced on the strength of what I saw, it should be. I’m also thinking much the same of John Barrowman as Captain Jack, actually.   There’s that old line from Friedrich Nietzche, about being careful, fighting monsters.   Day Five showed us that the good Captain didn’t take enough care.   And that the 456 weren’t necessarily the real horrors …

†        I’m writing this in July, of 2020: and that scene has stuck in my mind, even now: as the most powerful in a powerful series.

Torchwood Series 3 — Children of Earth — Day Four — A Review: … Oh My God!!

9th July, 2009

Good GOD … !

I really hope that Lois Habiba is being prepped up as a replacement.

They’ve killed Ianto …

My god’s, they’ve killed Ianto!

Ianto!

And Clement McDonald — this season’s tortured soul — has been killed off, as well! After the life that character’s had, you think a happy ending would be nice!

I don’t think I’ve seen this sort of death rate in a TV science fiction series, since the days of Blake’s 7, I really haven’t.

And that’s at the climax of the penultimate episode; one that’s been more gruesome, more horrific, than the rest of a gruesome series put together.

I also know that, over the course of these episodes, I’ve been frantically texting Cara, an old friend and workmate from my day’s working the bar at the Hutton.

Who — and I’m hoping she won’t mind me saying so — something of a Geekboy’s Poster Girl. Bright, utterly gorgeous, and a rabid Buffy, Doctor Who, and Torchwood fan. (She’s a footie fan as well, but nobody’s perfect! And at, she is 5’11” in her bare feet … I’ve got this thing about gorgeous, tall women, football fans or otherwise!!!)

My point is that we’ve been frantically texting each other, tonight; in sheer disbelief.

Tonight’s episode is moving the plot along at a rapid rate.

What got myself and Cara was a scene about half way through; set in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, or COBRA, it sees the PM, and the Cabinet discussing what to do about the 456’s demand that the people of Earth hand over 10% of the world’s children. And pretty ruthlessly, at that.

 The cabinet concludes — coldly, mercilessly and quite horribly clinically — that they’ll hand over the children from the bottom 10% of Britain’s schools.

This from an episode that opens with Jack being confronted by Clement and Ianto, about the original 1965 Incident. Which was an emotional one to watch, and gave both character’s some — if not all — of the resolutions they may have needed.

But at, ultimately, the deepest cost someone — anyone — involved with Torchwood can pay.

It’s also an episode that ends with the Cabinet selling out humanity to the 456 …

By seemingly deciding to go with its plans; for what would be the most serious of crimes, in anyone’s book …

Stay tuned, folks.

Day Five will be gruesome …

And big.

Torchwood Series 3 — Children of Earth — Day Three — A Review: … We Are Here

9th July, 209


Oh, god, yes, The 456 are here …

And the tank I mentioned?

The one filled with several shades of extremely poisonous gas?

Lordy!

Tonight’s episode featured extended scenes of Frobisher conducting some pretty intense diplomatic dialogue with the 456 — who seem to have accepted ‘456’ as their race’s name — with the unsen aliens. They’re tanked up, if you’ll excuse the usage.

And another reference; I’m thinking the contact lens set-up that Gwen and company use to spy on proceedings seems very Mollyesque!

And I think I can safely say something — with the emphasise on thing — seems to be developing, there …

Day Three definitely has very overt political overtones, by the way; more so than either The Sarah Jane Adventures, Doctor Who, or, indeed, the previous two series of Torchwood, itself; and I’ve got to admit, I like it!!

I do.

It makes this Torchwood very reminiscent of Iain Banks’ SF work.

Science fiction work that always had an incredibly corrupt feel, even while the Culture itself, professes many high ideals!

One aspect of that, is that we — along with Gwen, Ianto, and Rhys — find Captain Jack was involved with Clement MacDonald’s original 1965 abduction. And knows, knows, what’s turned up on Floor Thirteen.

And I’m assuming, knows WHY the 456 have demanded … the Gift …

A demand that terrifies all who hear it.

One that I won’t speak more of, here, as I don’t want to ruin the episode if you’ve not seen it, as yet.

But here’s what I’m wondering about the 456.

Is that gas an atmosphere?

Or is it something akin to the primordial soup that life on Earth evolved in?

I think we’ll find out on Day 4 …

Torchwood Series 3 — Children of Earth — Day Two — A Review: On Floor Thirteen …

7th July, 2009

Oh, my Giddy AUNT, but the BBC have done it again!!

I mean THREE classic Sci fi references, in the space of two days!

After the “X-Files” alien abduction routine and the horrifying “Midwich Cuckoos”, Day Two of “Torchwood: Children of Earth” brings a reference to “A For Andromeda”; as the seriously geeky amongst us will have no doubt noticed.

Day One saw the children of Earth all seemingly possessed by mysterious aliens known only as the 456, warning us that “We Are Coming”, with an unnamed government department — headed by Peter Capaldi, as John Frobisher — blowing up the Torchwood Hub — with a bomb implanted in the good Captain’s guts— in an effort to prevent Cap’n Jack, Gwen and Ianto doing anything about it; talk about a cliff hanger!

Day Two follows on from this, when we find the mysterious Frobisher agency has managed to decode a 456 transmission; that turns out to be instructions to build — on Floor 13 of the MI6 HQ, at Vauxhall Cross — what one character jokingly refers to as the ‘ambassadorial suite’.

A glass tank.

Or possibly cage …

Filled with as highly a poisonous collection of gasses as one would want to avoid.

I’ll be honest, it took me about all of a second to work out that this was an atmosphere for something …

Now, I don’t want to spoil things too much, but our Jack survives!

Hang on, bit of a side-step, here. What exactly do you mean, Cara, my mind’s in the gutter? Who made the bean-pole sandwich comment? Excuse me? Hello?

Back to my theme, here, Jack survives being blown up. Despite Ms Johnson being on something of a mission, there. One that comes complete with a cement mixer.

One that’s on a lorry?

Yeah, a cement mixer!!

Sidestepping again, for all the new — and old — “Doctor Who” fans, out there, did you notice that Jack’s … ah … revival seemed to start with his head? That’s a nicely observed bit of continuity, given what we learnt about Jack in “The Last Of The Timelords”.

Day Three looks rather good.

It looks like the plot is thickening …

And the fightback … will begin.

After all, the penultimate scene of Day Two was one HECK of a ram raid!!