UK TV

Review: Torchwood 2×11 – Adrift

 

There are two things you can rely on in life:

  1. The BBC messing around with its schedules. Gits. As Stu_N points out elsewhere, it looks like they’re clearing the decks for an April 5th start to series four of Doctor Who, so that means accelerating the broadcast of Torchwood. So BBC3’s showing episode 12 tonight and the finale’s next Friday, with a similar BBC2 schedule, which screws up my carefully planned out schedule. So screw it, I’ll review them as they come out on BBC3. There’s always the iPlayer if you haven’t got Freeview.
  2. Chris Chibnall. Occasionally, he might produce something that’s acceptable, providing he sticks within his limits. But when he tries to show range (why, Chris? You’re off to do Law and Order: London. You’re going to be doing the same script, every episode, for the next 15 years, if you’re lucky), he produces something absurdly bad, like Adrift.

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Audio and radio plays

Big Finish: Sapphire and Steel go Australian

Second Sight‘Ang on. Something’s a bit fishy here. Big Finish, despite flagging audience figures, is bringing back Sapphire and Steel for a third season of audio plays. Thing is, the first one doesn’t star either David Warner or Susannah Harker. Instead, it stars Blair McDonough as Steel and Anna Skellern as Sapphire. And they’re Australian – you can tell from the trailer.

No doubt it’s an attempt to do something clever, in light of the fact Sapphire and Steel sort of get killed off at the end of the last story. Have Sapphire and Steel been recast to appeal to the overseas market (Australia being more or less the only country that ever showed Sapphire and Steel except the UK)? Do I care, given I never especially liked David Warner or Susannah Harker in the roles?

Trouble is, the Big Finish site sort of ruins the illusion the recasting might be permanent:

Sapphire and Steel Season 3 premiere

And the next story lists DW and SH as S&S, as do the others. Of course, that could be the elaborate double bluff.

Still, it’s nice to see Big Finish being experimental, taking chances, playing with formats, etc.

UK TV

Review: Torchwood 2×10 – From Out of the Rain

 

Oh bugger. And they were doing so well. Okay, last week‘s was a bit arse, although fine as comedy. But this week’s was a bit dull really and just a touch silly. 

Which is odd, because it was a PJ Hammond script. I remember coming out of last year’s PJ Hammond episode wondering how they managed to balls up what should have been a classic and it’s happened again.

I’ve worked it out though. I know what’s wrong. 

They haven’t got Shaun O’Riordan.

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Thursday’s Abba-inspired news

The next Daily News will be on Tuesday 25th after the Easter weekend: have a nice holiday!

Film

Technology

British TV

US TV

Wednesday’s overblown remake news

Doctor Who

Film

British TV

US TV