Television viewing to Evolve? Probably not.

From the Radio Times:

The Cult of Skaro's desperation to survive is now frighteningly clear. Dalek Sec is successfully reborn in hybrid form, and his plan to perpetuate his race enters its next stage. As Martha fights for survival at the top of the Empire State Building, the Doctor must take desperate measures to prevent a new Dalek Empire from flourishing in 1930s New York.

Horror staples (the Frankenstein lab, a lightning storm and a disfigured hero) jostle for attention, but being a monster mishmash stops Evolution of the Daleks from developing its own identity. However, fans of the Skaro scoundrels will just be glad to see them gliding through the night sky, counting in "rells" and taking the odd unrequested x-ray. They truly are TV's great survivors.

I'm particularly annoyed that tonight, I won't be able to watch the episode - I'll be at a barbeque! My DVD recorder has a very temperamental timer recorder too, so I'm hoping it will work properly tonight.

I have some expectations for tonight's episode so I'll be watching the repeat on BBC3 with great interest.

"Für Elise" on two guitars

This guy's good!

I was simply awestruck. I wish I could play that good on only one guitar but I'm bit of a lazy git and don't practice anywhere near as often as I should.

Doctor Who 3.02: The Shakespeare Code

Just as I settle down to type this review with a cup of tea in hand, I realise that I've not made it yet so I'll be back in a few minutes...

Right, here we go... Diddly-dum, diddly-dum, diddly-dum... Ooo-ooo-ooo...

WARNING: This post is likely to contain spoliers! I have turned the text the same colour as the background of the page so if you highlight this entire post, you'll see the text.

The opening sequence is decidedly cheesy and romantic and almost turns pornographic! Once inside Lilith's rooms, and then her transformation after the kiss, we are instantly aware of imminent danger. But why does she address the camera just before the opening credits? At this point, I would just like to say how much better the opening titles look with the 'proper' logo in them rather than the series 1 and 2 version. Is the TARDIS clockwork? The Doctor is doing a lot of winding with that handle. He's also using his left foot to fly the TARDIS too and he finally admits to failing his TARDIS flight test. Why am I not surprised! The whole butterfly and grandfather exchange is Doctor Who thumbing its' nose at all other time-travel films and shows. Brilliantly done. Enter Shakespeare: a flying kick and a huge insult to the audience. A truly different character than I believe anybody expected, and the Doctor is genuinely disappointed at his words. Throughout the production, the set design and costumes are stunning, emphasising just how expertly the BBC do historical drama. Is Martha's homeland of Freedonia a pun on Freema's name? Mr. Linley's death is particularly horrid. It's convincingly done and the little exchange with Martha about Witchcraft is really quite haunting, if you'll pardon the pun. Could this also be the first time we see the Doctor sharing a bed? Clearly, Martha really likes the Doctor but he manages to insult her and he doesn't even realise it, something that happens a few times in this episode. Lilith is surprisingly sexy, a strong characteristic for the weekly 'bad guy'. A necessary trait in making female villains seem far more deadly. I write this as I watch the episode and for an episode that seeks to play with words, I feel it just a little ironic that I haven't seen anything to comment on. My favourite scene in this episode is the confrontation with Lilith. The Doctor has no name? Nothing new to learn there but it's refreshing to hear it again. It's also quite convenient that Lilith doesn't know he has two hearts. It's rather a funny moment as Martha tries to restart his second heart before they both head off to the grand finale in the globe theatre. Finally, the Doctor gives way gain for someone else to save the day, this time it's Shakespeare. But, I'll award the point to the Doctor anyway as it is he that convinces Shakespeare that he can save the world. The final choice of word is also particularly amusing, a final nod to the modern wordsmith who gave us Harry Potter and co. Hamnet?? Brilliant! When Shakespeare figures out the Doctor and Martha's origins, it is surprising and expected. But it is nothing to the short chase back to the TARDIS when Queen Elizabeth arrives. Final Score: Martha 1 - 1 The Doctor

The what are in Manhattan???

From the Radio Times:

The TARDIS takes a trip back to 1930s New York. As if the struggle for survival in the harsh conditions of the Depression wasn't daunting enough, its citizens also face an unknown threat as people disappear off the streets. There's danger above and below ground - savage Pig Men roam the sewers, while at the top of the Empire State Building the Doctor's oldest enemies prepare to put a diabolical plan into action…

Harking back to classic Who and its trademark cliffhangers, the longer adventures allow the story to breathe and tensions to escalate. So just enjoy the epic scope, effortless scene-setting and show-stopping turn from Miranda Raison of Spooks as the brassy Tallulah.

I'm a little disappointed that the Doctor Who team and the BBC have actively publicised the inclusion of the Daleks in this weeks episode. Where's the surprise in that? Daleks work best when they take you by surprise. They should be hidden as much as possible - there was no mention that they were ever going to appear in series 2 and there had been no indications at all.

And what kind of episode title it 'Daleks in Manhattan' anyway?

Still, none of this is going to stop my enjoyment of the episode but it had better be far more interesting than the boring episode title!

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In other episode-4-unrelated news, the full script for Smith & Jones, episode 1 of this current series has been made freely downloadable by the BBC. It certainly makes for interesting reading.

Get it here: Big Space Rhinos With Guns On

Channel tuned, Channel Locked: BBC1

From the Radio Times:

The Doctor makes a return trip to New Earth, where he and Rose once encountered menacing feline nurses, and patients used as medical guinea pigs. This time he's got new companion Martha in tow, and there's a new threat too - a sinister group known as the Pharmacists are in control. It's not long before Martha finds herself in danger, and the Doctor is set to renew an old acquaintance.

After a slow, awkward start, Gridlock accelerates to its finishing line with important revelations, the dissolving of barriers between the Doctor and his new friend, and an unexpectedly touching reunion with the wise and ancient Face of Boe. Bonuses include some top-hole FX; a still-recognisable Ardal O'Hanlon (even furry cat prosthetics can't hide those twinkly eyes… not to mention the heavy Irish brogue); and a neat reward or two for fans with memories stretching back 40-plus years.

With the football pushing back the start time of this episode (possibly even by one week!), the BBC might just have given away the audience for the week. Then again, the football is sure to attract viewers who may just hang around...

Either way, 'Gridlock' looks to be another outstanding episode. Looking back at the preview, there is what looks like the Ninth Doctor making an appearance. Unfortunately, it definitely isn't him, but I wonder if someone if going around pretending to be the Doctor...

I know also that I haven't posted a review of episode 2 yet, but I will get it posted soon.

Will Shakespeare make good viewing?

From the Radio Times:

Martha takes her first trip in the Tardis, all the way back to Elizabethan England. She and the Doctor hear of a series of bizarre deaths and discover that playwright William Shakespeare is being controlled by dangerous witch-like creatures. It seems the time-travelling duo must defeat ancient forces to prevent history from being rewritten.

Strap yourselves in for one of the most sparkling and energetic episodes yet as the Doc and new sidekick Martha tumble into Shakespearean England. It's lovely stuff, thanks to a shimmering script by Gareth Roberts packed with clever references and in-jokes, along with breathtaking asides that will have you laughing out loud. And the final sequences in the Globe are thrilling.

So, it looks like we have another excellent, fast-paced episode to look forward to tomorrow night. Looking again at last weeks preview, Martha seems likely to take the whole time-travel considerably easily, and even making an 'impression' on Shakespeare.

And then and then and then and then!

It's driving me mad - I'm going to edit all those 'and then' sentences in that post!

Sorry for the inconvenience!

French Rail Speed Record - 574.8km/h (356mph)

I can't believe I missed this. Trains are a method of transport that fascinate me. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a big fan of Thomas The Tank Engine either, but I was stunned to see the video footage of it.

Youtube: France2 coverage

Youtube: English version

Whether you work in km/h or mph, it's still bloody fast!

And then...

I've just been reading my review of 'Smith and Jones' again.

I'm amazed t how many times I start a sentence, and even paragraphs, with "And then..." or some variation of that. I'm ashamed of myself for this apalling grammar. I make no excuse.

Well, I do actually. I'm a mathematician by nature, and it's what I do for a living, so I'm not really up to much with writing lenghty pieces of text. Still, I'm very angry with myself.

My spelling seems a bit off here and there simply due to the letter 'a' on my keyboard playing up a bit and not 'pressing' properly.

A poor excuse.

I'll go stand in the corner and face the wall...

Additions to Murphy's Law

1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

2. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

3. Those that live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

4. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

5. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

6. If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them, five or six at a time, on a hill, in the fog.

7. The things that come to those who wait will be the scraggly junk left by those who got there first.

8. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.

9. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

10. When you go into court, you are putting yourself into the hands of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.

Doctor Who 3.01: Smith & Jones

WARNING: This post is likely to contain spoliers! I have turned the text the same colour as the background of the page so if you highlight this entire post, you'll see the text.

Russell T. Davies has crafted nother fine script. From the very opening moment, we see that Martha is a very capable person. She is very obviously the person 'in charge', expecially with her family. After an enigmatic encounter with the Doctor, we discover that something strange is happening at the hospital. Discovering the Doctor in a hospital bed was quite reminiscent of his being bed-ridden in The Christmas Invasion. The 'bikers' with the black helmets remind me of Shayde from the Doctor Who Magazine comic strips. Are the 'Slabs' the same kind of robots we've seen in The Christms Invasion and The Runaway Bride? The rain was incredible. Along with the transportation to the moon, it all looked 'right'. The shocker of the scene was seeing the TARDIS still on Earth. How is the Doctor going to get back to it? The panic in the hospital seems exaggerated but it is good to see Martha taking charge of the situation and ordering patients back into bed. It's a nice touch to hear Martha talking of previous events we've seen in Doctor Who (Aliens of London, The Christmas Invasion & Army of Ghosts/Doomsday). The arrival of the Judoon is heralded by some magnificent music. Murray Gold is making a marvellous job of making the big, grand scenes even bigger and even grander than they seem to be. The genious of the man is once again apparent as the Judoon march across the surface of the moon, invading the hospital, making their presence felt throughout their scenes. Assimilation of the language is very nicely done and the ludicrous use of a marker pen in the end of their scanner is brilliant - not at all expected. After Martha's discovery of Mr. Stoker being sucked dry by the Miss Finnegan, there is another nice touch, a reference right back to Rose. The Doctor says 'Run!' and grabs Martha's hand. The scene of the Doctor trying to expel the radiation from his body brings the Monty Python 'Ministry of Funny Walks' to mind. And the Doctor is suddenly bare foot. So the kiss means nothing? It obviously did to Martha. However, it would seem the Doctor has used her to slow down the Judoon, much in the same way that the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) would manipulate his companion (Ace) and those around him to own ends. Martha saves the day and defeats the bad guy for the week - but it's up to the Doctor to save the Hospital. But even when he does, he has no way of returning to the TARDIS. I'll be willing to bet money he'd have found a way if the Judoon hadn't sent the hospital back to Earth. Why is it that CPR saves the Doctor if he's had his blood drained? Did the Plasmavore drink all his blood or was there some left? How long has he been lying there? And there's yet another piece of the episode harking back to Rose. Just as Rose heard the TARDIS dematerialise and then look back to see that it's gone, so does Martha. Finally, we're treated to another view of Martha's argumentative family, allowing her to walk away from it all into an adventure with the Doctor. Finishing off the episode there is the explanation of the initial encounter from the beginning of the episode. We finish with another explanation of the TARDIS being bigger on the inside than the outside. So far, this one is my favourite. It was interesting to see the Doctor being teased by Martha as well. I suspect this might be a pairing of Doctor and companion more like the Third Doctor and Jo or the Sixth Doctor and Peri. Episode 1 Final score: Martha 1 - 0 The Doctor

My Internet Connection

Ever wanted to know exactly how fast your internet connection really is?