Any of you guys remember Timeslip from circa 1970? UK series with two
young teenagers travelling through time? Commander Traynor? The Ice Box?
The Day of the Clones?

I bought the boxed set recently and started watching, and they're
surprisingly good, black and white though, as all the colour originals
were recorded over bar one! Those crazy fools.....

Funny how time changes your perspective, in 1970, age 11, I thought Cheryl
Burfield was just a vaguely annoying schoolgirl in the middle of a really
good TV series, but she's actually very good and, without being a pervy, a
pretty little thing too. Spencer Banks, her bespectacled and rather swotty
friend, is also good and most of the adults turn in solid performances as
well.

I'm just starting the second disk centred around the Ice Box which is in
the future rather than the past so I can't comment too much beyond that.
There's a range of issues covered though, global warming, eco-warriors
versus the technocrats, genetic engineering - well the whole clone thing.

And that title music. Wow. Once heard never forgotten.  :)

It was 14.99 from Amazon. Does anybody else have happy memories of this
series?

                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

On 11-Mar-07 09:52:28, John M Ward said
>In article
>,
>   Angus Manwaring  wrote:

>> Any of you guys remember Timeslip from circa 1970? UK series with two
>> young teenagers travelling through time? Commander Traynor? The Ice
>> Box? The Day of the Clones?

>No, I never saw it.  I suppose I was at work when it was on, as I was
>aged somewhere around 21 back then.

Hmmmmm... well the upside is you had the opportunity to see all those
great bands in the late sixties. Jimi, Free, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac?
:)

>> I bought the boxed set recently and started watching, and they're
>> surprisingly good, black and white though, as all the colour originals
>> were recorded over bar one! Those crazy fools.....

>You sound like B. A. Baracus of The A Team  :-)

Darn, I was kind of trying for Scott Tracy before he blows the crap out of
an over-zealous film crew with Thunderbird One's nose cannon.   :)

Where's Raj when you need him?

>You might be interested in the Timeslip Convention on 19 May 2007, at
>the Plough Pub, Cuffley, Herts.  See www.timeslip.org for info.

Thanks, I don't think I'n quite that much of a fan.... but it would be
interesting to see how Cheryl had turned out.

>Interesting to see Hilary Minster played "Fritz", before his recurring
>role as a German General in "Allo Allo"...

The dreaded type-casting strikes again.



                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

On 11-Mar-07 12:10:54, PurplePenny said
>Angus Manwaring wrote:

>> Funny how time changes your perspective, in 1970, age 11, I thought Cheryl
>> Burfield was just a vaguely annoying schoolgirl in the middle of a really
>> good TV series, but she's actually very good and, without being a pervy, a
>> pretty little thing too.

>We bought it a few months back.  I was rewatching it but Kev had never
>seen it and only had my (and my brother's) glowing praise to go by.  We
>were both somewhat disappointed!
>	I found the "girl" even more annoying the second time around.  It was
>all too painfully obvious that she was, in fact, an adult pretending to
>be a young(ish) girl.  The constant "I'll stick my hands out behind me,
>pout and shout because that's what little girls do" became tedious.

Yeah, fair comment I guess. I gather she was 18, playing 15. I've just
watched the last of the Ice Box episodes, and I don't think the adults
actors are as good as in the first part, The Wrong End of Time. This
leaves a bit too much flouncing from our Cheryl. But I can forgive that, I
quite liked the antipathy between her and Beth.

What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
with a hint of John Cleese.  :)

>> It was 14.99 from Amazon. Does anybody else have happy memories of this
>> series?

>I do: it was excellent when first shown.  Sadly I think it has dated
>rather badly.

Welllll, I don't know, what's dated?. I prefer Timeslip or Surviors to
Torchwood and that other one with the dodgy dinosaurs. Callan is dated,
but nevertheless brilliant in my book.

> Glad to discover that Sandor Eles was just as gorgeous
>the second time around :-)

Now, that is pervy!  :)

Its the uniform. Every now and then though, I thought I saw a hint of
Derren Nesbit in his looks.


                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

Angus Manwaring wrote:

> What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
> with a hint of John Cleese.  :)


I just kept hearing "Neither Mrs CJ nor I..." in my head.


>>> It was 14.99 from Amazon. Does anybody else have happy memories of this
>>> series?
> 
>> I do: it was excellent when first shown.  Sadly I think it has dated
>> rather badly.
> 
> Welllll, I don't know, what's dated?.


I suppose that it is just the "present day" view of the world that seems 
dated. I had forgotten just how much attitudes have changed in the 
interim.  Back then "the girl" always fell over an hurt her ankle and 
Mums were only good for making tea.



  I prefer Timeslip or Surviors to
> Torchwood and that other one with the dodgy dinosaurs.


Torchwood showed promise but fulfilled it in a couple of episodes.  And 
I can forgive it most of the crap for The Kiss which was just plain 
beautiful.
	Primeval showed promise for one episode but the story with the giant 
insects was pure crap.  Insects and arachnids can't (and didn't) get 
that big! The ex-SClub singer is awful and what's with her character 
suddenly being an expert in [insert species here] each week?  She isn't 
old enough to be an expert on one species let alone several.
	Survivors was brilliant.  We watched that (me again, Kev for the first 
time) a couple of years ago and the opening still sent shivers down my 
spine.  We play the "Survivors" game when we visit places (Would this be 
a good place to come when we are survivors....)


  Callan is dated,
> but nevertheless brilliant in my book.


I never liked Callan.

> 
>> Glad to discover that Sandor Eles was just as gorgeous
>> the second time around :-)
> 
> Now, that is pervy!  :)
> 
> Its the uniform.


No, it was him.  Just plain, old fashioned, gorgeous.


  Every now and then though, I thought I saw a hint of
> Derren Nesbit in his looks.


No! No, no, no! Nooooooooooo!  Derren Nesbit looked like a puppet!

Penny

PurplePenny wrote:
>     Primeval showed promise for one episode but the story with the giant 
> insects was pure crap.  Insects and arachnids can't (and didn't) get 
> that big! 

Although arachnids have approached the size (and given the relatively 
poor preservation of them in the fossil record I suppose we cannot rule 
out much larger ones) but the largest known arachnid was about 50cm long 
Megarachne servinei is now considered to be a water dwelling sea 
scorpion and not a spider.

But they did at least get the pseudo-science right-ish by having the big 
insects come from somewhen with more oxygen in the atmosphere.  (Still 
stopped watching it though).



-- 
Each day a man watched a donkey walk past a high wood fence with one 
plank removed.  Each day he saw a nose, then the ears, then the neck, 
forequarters, back and finally the tail.  He pondered this for a time 
and eventually declared. “I understand now.  The nose causes the tail”

David Howdon wrote:
> But they did at least get the pseudo-science right-ish by having the big 
> insects come from somewhen with more oxygen in the atmosphere.  (Still 
> stopped watching it though).

I have to say it's getting better (provided you can ignore the science 
and the slightly dodgy CGI, and the occasional shot where they've 
obviously needed to film some kind of additional drop-in line on 
location but not been able to afford to go back - the green screen is 
fine, but the lighting is usually way off) purely from the ongoing arc 
point of view; the actual "monster of the week" stuff is, well, weak.

I'm giving it a chance, on the grounds that they might get a handle on 
what works by the second season (which is basically the same grounds on 
which I'm giving Torchwood a chance; they had a couple of blinders in 
there and a whole lot of pants...)

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

PurplePenny wrote:
> Angus Manwaring wrote:
>  I prefer Timeslip or Surviors to
>> Torchwood and that other one with the dodgy dinosaurs.
>  
> Torchwood showed promise but fulfilled it in a couple of episodes.  And 
> I can forgive it most of the crap for The Kiss which was just plain 
> beautiful.

Seconded. That entire episode was very nicely done, and was definitely 
one of the ones that worked. Possibly because it was very subtly 
emotionally based, and not the usual "emotions are displayed by gurning 
and shouting" stuff that they did far too much of.

However, if the second season doesn't involve the current Torchwood 
lack-of-command structure being replaced I'll be very annoyed. The 
Powers-that-Be must surely have noticed that an organisation entirely 
composed of loose cannons - one that appears to have caused many more 
problems than they've solved - is not a good thing...

>     Primeval showed promise for one episode but the story with the giant 
> insects was pure crap.  Insects and arachnids can't (and didn't) get 
> that big! The ex-SClub singer is awful and what's with her character 
> suddenly being an expert in [insert species here] each week?  She isn't 
> old enough to be an expert on one species let alone several.

Yes, but she does run around in her underwear a lot, hitting the "men & 
women over 28 who are attracted to young blondes in underwear" 
demographic. It's an important demographic. (You can also slip the other 
characters into various demographics as well, which the more cynical of 
you might like to do).

As I've mentioned in another post, I'm giving it a bit of a chance on 
the grounds that the story arc shows potential.

>     Survivors was brilliant.  We watched that (me again, Kev for the 
> first time) a couple of years ago and the opening still sent shivers 
> down my spine.  We play the "Survivors" game when we visit places (Would 
> this be a good place to come when we are survivors....)

We've just finished the last few - it's taken a while via DVD rentals - 
and yes, it was very good,although it has to be said the pacing was, at 
times, dire - it was occasionally impossible to tell if a scene took 
place immediately after the preceding scene or some hours later. 
(Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

Angus Rae wrote:

> (Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)

I love Cruachan: the power station is just awe inspiring.  I've never 
visited the one in Wales which is, I believe, an even  bigger hole in a 
mountain but Cruachan amazed me.

Penny

PurplePenny wrote:
> Angus Rae wrote:
> 
>> (Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)
> 
> I love Cruachan: the power station is just awe inspiring.  I've never 
> visited the one in Wales which is, I believe, an even  bigger hole in a 
> mountain but Cruachan amazed me.

Even more amazing, but a bit of a commute, is the Cheyenne Mountain 
complex. Saw a documentary on the construction of it - they must 
_really_ have been worried about a sneak ICBM attack to even think about 
building it, as it's probably one of the most complex, dangerous and 
expensive structures built in recent memory. A good site to head for, as 
it's not in use (but probably still guarded...)

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

Angus Rae wrote:
> PurplePenny wrote:
>> Angus Rae wrote:
>>
>>> (Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)
>>
>> I love Cruachan: the power station is just awe inspiring.  I've never 
>> visited the one in Wales which is, I believe, an even  bigger hole in 
>> a mountain but Cruachan amazed me.
> 
> Even more amazing, but a bit of a commute, is the Cheyenne Mountain 
> complex.

Isn't that where the (slowly dying) computer that controls everything is 
in Logan's Run (the book)?



  Saw a documentary on the construction of it - they must
> _really_ have been worried about a sneak ICBM attack to even think about 
> building it,

Paranoid might be the word.


> expensive structures built in recent memory. A good site to head for, as 
> it's not in use (but probably still guarded...)

"Yes ma'am, I realise that this is the end of civilisation as we know it 
but I still cannot allow you to enter this facility."

Penny

PurplePenny wrote:
> Angus Rae wrote:
>> Even more amazing, but a bit of a commute, is the Cheyenne Mountain 
>> complex. 
> Isn't that where the (slowly dying) computer that controls everything is 
> in Logan's Run (the book)?

Good question; it's a book I've never read, actually, although I'm fond 
of the film (and the TV series, in a strange way; heck, I was at the 
right age at the right time).

It's feasible; it was constructed from 1961 to 1965, becoming 
operational in 1966. The book was 1967, so it would have been a topical 
place to use. I'll have to try and read it at some point...

>  Saw a documentary on the construction of it - they must
>> _really_ have been worried about a sneak ICBM attack to even think 
>> about building it, 
> Paranoid might be the word.

With hindsight... at the time it probably seemed less so. The pace of 
missile/rocket development was astronomical, and it was making all sides 
a bit jumpy. Sputnik (1957) was a hell of a wake up call to the US; it 
didn't take much imagination to realise that if you can put something 
small into orbit you can also put something much bigger on a sub-orbital 
hop.

>> expensive structures built in recent memory. A good site to head for, 
>> as it's not in use (but probably still guarded...)
> "Yes ma'am, I realise that this is the end of civilisation as we know it 
> but I still cannot allow you to enter this facility."

Actually, I suspect that if civilisation was crumbling they'd probably 
shoot first and use "ma'am" later.

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

On 12-Mar-07 21:22:31, PurplePenny said
>Angus Manwaring wrote:

>> What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
>> with a hint of John Cleese.  :)


>I just kept hearing "Neither Mrs CJ nor I..." in my head.

That's right isn't it!  :)

Don't tell me its the same guy, I barely remember him apart from that
voice. And, now he's back as Devereux the human in "Day of the Clone", oh
joy.

I was watching "the Year of the Burn Up" when Controller 2957 is in the
cave with Beth and the others accepting the whole green thing and the
folly of the masterplan.

With his voice and his general looks it was like a parody of Tony Blair
endorsing the Green issues.


>>
>> Welllll, I don't know, what's dated?.


>I suppose that it is just the "present day" view of the world that seems
>dated. I had forgotten just how much attitudes have changed in the
>interim.  Back then "the girl" always fell over an hurt her ankle and
>Mums were only good for making tea.

Problem?   :)

No, hey, I love Lt. Ellen Ripley. More balls than ten men. And Vasquez
obviously.

But yes, as James Bond says, "Most women jusht splash about, but you shwim
like a man." Yeah, thanks a lot Sean, thanks a bunch!  :)

>Torchwood showed promise but fulfilled it in a couple of episodes.  And
>I can forgive it most of the crap for The Kiss which was just plain
>beautiful.

Didn't see that one, but I really didn't care about the characters, or
perhaps I did, but in a "I hope harm befalls them" kind of way.  :)

With Timeslip I kind of like the Liz character but she does make a bit too
much ineffectual noise sometimes. Generally though the script doesn't seem
too dummed down, there are some fairly grown-up concepts being thrown
about along with some quite long words. And Dennis Quilley is pretty good.

There's a lot of conflict in the show. Between Liz and Simon, between Beth
and 2957, between Liz's parents and Traynor, well Traynor and everybody
actually, and between Devereux and everybody. Oh the joy of having
Devereux and Traynor on screen together, it was kind of like Heat when
Deniro and Pacino take that implausible coffee break together.

>	Survivors was brilliant.  We watched that (me again, Kev for the first
>time) a couple of years ago and the opening still sent shivers down my
>spine.  We play the "Survivors" game when we visit places (Would this be
>a good place to come when we are survivors....)

I like it. I bought the first series and generally enjoyed it, but a
combination of the pretty darned steep price, and worries that Terry
Nation had left, and rumours that the series lost the plot after the first
season have so far stayed my hand.

Any views on the relative strenghts of the second and third series?


>  Callan is dated,
>> but nevertheless brilliant in my book.


>I never liked Callan.

What's the matter with you??  :)

No, fair comment - but I'm a fan. Partly nostalgia I suppose, partly the
music, but also the characters and the story - and seeing Patrick Mower
getting slapped around has got to be good news after bloody Emerdale.  :)

Oh yes, and Anthony Valentine - darn I wish they'd show Colditz again. :(

>>
>> Its the uniform.


>No, it was him.  Just plain, old fashioned, gorgeous.


>  Every now and then though, I thought I saw a hint of
>> Derren Nesbit in his looks.


>No! No, no, no! Nooooooooooo!  Derren Nesbit looked like a puppet!

Yeah..... there's a bit of an Alan Tracy thing going on there isn't there.


                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

Angus Manwaring wrote:
> On 12-Mar-07 21:22:31, PurplePenny said
>> Angus Manwaring wrote:
> 
>>> What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
>>> with a hint of John Cleese.  :)
> 
> 
>> I just kept hearing "Neither Mrs CJ nor I..." in my head.
> 
> That's right isn't it!  :)
> 
> Don't tell me its the same guy, I barely remember him apart from that
> voice. And, now he's back as Devereux the human in "Day of the Clone", oh
> joy.

Yup. John Barron, 1920-2004.


-- 
John W. Kennedy
"Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts.  Only the heir to the throne 
of the kingdom of idiots would fight a war on twelve fronts"
  -- J. Michael Straczynski.  "Babylon 5", "Ceremonies of Light and Dark"
* TagZilla 0.066 * http://tagzilla.mozdev.org

On 11-Mar-07 09:52:28, John M Ward said
>In article
>,
>   Angus Manwaring  wrote:

>> Any of you guys remember Timeslip from circa 1970? UK series with two
>> young teenagers travelling through time? Commander Traynor? The Ice
>> Box? The Day of the Clones?

>No, I never saw it.  I suppose I was at work when it was on, as I was
>aged somewhere around 21 back then.

Hmmmmm... well the upside is you had the opportunity to see all those
great bands in the late sixties. Jimi, Free, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac?
:)

>> I bought the boxed set recently and started watching, and they're
>> surprisingly good, black and white though, as all the colour originals
>> were recorded over bar one! Those crazy fools.....

>You sound like B. A. Baracus of The A Team  :-)

Darn, I was kind of trying for Scott Tracy before he blows the crap out of
an over-zealous film crew with Thunderbird One's nose cannon.   :)

Where's Raj when you need him?

>You might be interested in the Timeslip Convention on 19 May 2007, at
>the Plough Pub, Cuffley, Herts.  See www.timeslip.org for info.

Thanks, I don't think I'n quite that much of a fan.... but it would be
interesting to see how Cheryl had turned out.

>Interesting to see Hilary Minster played "Fritz", before his recurring
>role as a German General in "Allo Allo"...

The dreaded type-casting strikes again.



                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

On 11-Mar-07 12:10:54, PurplePenny said
>Angus Manwaring wrote:

>> Funny how time changes your perspective, in 1970, age 11, I thought Cheryl
>> Burfield was just a vaguely annoying schoolgirl in the middle of a really
>> good TV series, but she's actually very good and, without being a pervy, a
>> pretty little thing too.

>We bought it a few months back.  I was rewatching it but Kev had never
>seen it and only had my (and my brother's) glowing praise to go by.  We
>were both somewhat disappointed!
>	I found the "girl" even more annoying the second time around.  It was
>all too painfully obvious that she was, in fact, an adult pretending to
>be a young(ish) girl.  The constant "I'll stick my hands out behind me,
>pout and shout because that's what little girls do" became tedious.

Yeah, fair comment I guess. I gather she was 18, playing 15. I've just
watched the last of the Ice Box episodes, and I don't think the adults
actors are as good as in the first part, The Wrong End of Time. This
leaves a bit too much flouncing from our Cheryl. But I can forgive that, I
quite liked the antipathy between her and Beth.

What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
with a hint of John Cleese.  :)

>> It was 14.99 from Amazon. Does anybody else have happy memories of this
>> series?

>I do: it was excellent when first shown.  Sadly I think it has dated
>rather badly.

Welllll, I don't know, what's dated?. I prefer Timeslip or Surviors to
Torchwood and that other one with the dodgy dinosaurs. Callan is dated,
but nevertheless brilliant in my book.

> Glad to discover that Sandor Eles was just as gorgeous
>the second time around :-)

Now, that is pervy!  :)

Its the uniform. Every now and then though, I thought I saw a hint of
Derren Nesbit in his looks.


                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

Angus Manwaring wrote:

> What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
> with a hint of John Cleese.  :)


I just kept hearing "Neither Mrs CJ nor I..." in my head.


>>> It was 14.99 from Amazon. Does anybody else have happy memories of this
>>> series?
> 
>> I do: it was excellent when first shown.  Sadly I think it has dated
>> rather badly.
> 
> Welllll, I don't know, what's dated?.


I suppose that it is just the "present day" view of the world that seems 
dated. I had forgotten just how much attitudes have changed in the 
interim.  Back then "the girl" always fell over an hurt her ankle and 
Mums were only good for making tea.



  I prefer Timeslip or Surviors to
> Torchwood and that other one with the dodgy dinosaurs.


Torchwood showed promise but fulfilled it in a couple of episodes.  And 
I can forgive it most of the crap for The Kiss which was just plain 
beautiful.
	Primeval showed promise for one episode but the story with the giant 
insects was pure crap.  Insects and arachnids can't (and didn't) get 
that big! The ex-SClub singer is awful and what's with her character 
suddenly being an expert in [insert species here] each week?  She isn't 
old enough to be an expert on one species let alone several.
	Survivors was brilliant.  We watched that (me again, Kev for the first 
time) a couple of years ago and the opening still sent shivers down my 
spine.  We play the "Survivors" game when we visit places (Would this be 
a good place to come when we are survivors....)


  Callan is dated,
> but nevertheless brilliant in my book.


I never liked Callan.

> 
>> Glad to discover that Sandor Eles was just as gorgeous
>> the second time around :-)
> 
> Now, that is pervy!  :)
> 
> Its the uniform.


No, it was him.  Just plain, old fashioned, gorgeous.


  Every now and then though, I thought I saw a hint of
> Derren Nesbit in his looks.


No! No, no, no! Nooooooooooo!  Derren Nesbit looked like a puppet!

Penny

PurplePenny wrote:
>     Primeval showed promise for one episode but the story with the giant 
> insects was pure crap.  Insects and arachnids can't (and didn't) get 
> that big! 

Although arachnids have approached the size (and given the relatively 
poor preservation of them in the fossil record I suppose we cannot rule 
out much larger ones) but the largest known arachnid was about 50cm long 
Megarachne servinei is now considered to be a water dwelling sea 
scorpion and not a spider.

But they did at least get the pseudo-science right-ish by having the big 
insects come from somewhen with more oxygen in the atmosphere.  (Still 
stopped watching it though).



-- 
Each day a man watched a donkey walk past a high wood fence with one 
plank removed.  Each day he saw a nose, then the ears, then the neck, 
forequarters, back and finally the tail.  He pondered this for a time 
and eventually declared. “I understand now.  The nose causes the tail”

David Howdon wrote:
> But they did at least get the pseudo-science right-ish by having the big 
> insects come from somewhen with more oxygen in the atmosphere.  (Still 
> stopped watching it though).

I have to say it's getting better (provided you can ignore the science 
and the slightly dodgy CGI, and the occasional shot where they've 
obviously needed to film some kind of additional drop-in line on 
location but not been able to afford to go back - the green screen is 
fine, but the lighting is usually way off) purely from the ongoing arc 
point of view; the actual "monster of the week" stuff is, well, weak.

I'm giving it a chance, on the grounds that they might get a handle on 
what works by the second season (which is basically the same grounds on 
which I'm giving Torchwood a chance; they had a couple of blinders in 
there and a whole lot of pants...)

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

PurplePenny wrote:
> Angus Manwaring wrote:
>  I prefer Timeslip or Surviors to
>> Torchwood and that other one with the dodgy dinosaurs.
>  
> Torchwood showed promise but fulfilled it in a couple of episodes.  And 
> I can forgive it most of the crap for The Kiss which was just plain 
> beautiful.

Seconded. That entire episode was very nicely done, and was definitely 
one of the ones that worked. Possibly because it was very subtly 
emotionally based, and not the usual "emotions are displayed by gurning 
and shouting" stuff that they did far too much of.

However, if the second season doesn't involve the current Torchwood 
lack-of-command structure being replaced I'll be very annoyed. The 
Powers-that-Be must surely have noticed that an organisation entirely 
composed of loose cannons - one that appears to have caused many more 
problems than they've solved - is not a good thing...

>     Primeval showed promise for one episode but the story with the giant 
> insects was pure crap.  Insects and arachnids can't (and didn't) get 
> that big! The ex-SClub singer is awful and what's with her character 
> suddenly being an expert in [insert species here] each week?  She isn't 
> old enough to be an expert on one species let alone several.

Yes, but she does run around in her underwear a lot, hitting the "men & 
women over 28 who are attracted to young blondes in underwear" 
demographic. It's an important demographic. (You can also slip the other 
characters into various demographics as well, which the more cynical of 
you might like to do).

As I've mentioned in another post, I'm giving it a bit of a chance on 
the grounds that the story arc shows potential.

>     Survivors was brilliant.  We watched that (me again, Kev for the 
> first time) a couple of years ago and the opening still sent shivers 
> down my spine.  We play the "Survivors" game when we visit places (Would 
> this be a good place to come when we are survivors....)

We've just finished the last few - it's taken a while via DVD rentals - 
and yes, it was very good,although it has to be said the pacing was, at 
times, dire - it was occasionally impossible to tell if a scene took 
place immediately after the preceding scene or some hours later. 
(Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

Angus Rae wrote:

> (Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)

I love Cruachan: the power station is just awe inspiring.  I've never 
visited the one in Wales which is, I believe, an even  bigger hole in a 
mountain but Cruachan amazed me.

Penny

PurplePenny wrote:
> Angus Rae wrote:
> 
>> (Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)
> 
> I love Cruachan: the power station is just awe inspiring.  I've never 
> visited the one in Wales which is, I believe, an even  bigger hole in a 
> mountain but Cruachan amazed me.

Even more amazing, but a bit of a commute, is the Cheyenne Mountain 
complex. Saw a documentary on the construction of it - they must 
_really_ have been worried about a sneak ICBM attack to even think about 
building it, as it's probably one of the most complex, dangerous and 
expensive structures built in recent memory. A good site to head for, as 
it's not in use (but probably still guarded...)

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

Angus Rae wrote:
> PurplePenny wrote:
>> Angus Rae wrote:
>>
>>> (Cruachan Power Station for me; inside a mountain, only one way in...)
>>
>> I love Cruachan: the power station is just awe inspiring.  I've never 
>> visited the one in Wales which is, I believe, an even  bigger hole in 
>> a mountain but Cruachan amazed me.
> 
> Even more amazing, but a bit of a commute, is the Cheyenne Mountain 
> complex.

Isn't that where the (slowly dying) computer that controls everything is 
in Logan's Run (the book)?



  Saw a documentary on the construction of it - they must
> _really_ have been worried about a sneak ICBM attack to even think about 
> building it,

Paranoid might be the word.


> expensive structures built in recent memory. A good site to head for, as 
> it's not in use (but probably still guarded...)

"Yes ma'am, I realise that this is the end of civilisation as we know it 
but I still cannot allow you to enter this facility."

Penny

PurplePenny wrote:
> Angus Rae wrote:
>> Even more amazing, but a bit of a commute, is the Cheyenne Mountain 
>> complex. 
> Isn't that where the (slowly dying) computer that controls everything is 
> in Logan's Run (the book)?

Good question; it's a book I've never read, actually, although I'm fond 
of the film (and the TV series, in a strange way; heck, I was at the 
right age at the right time).

It's feasible; it was constructed from 1961 to 1965, becoming 
operational in 1966. The book was 1967, so it would have been a topical 
place to use. I'll have to try and read it at some point...

>  Saw a documentary on the construction of it - they must
>> _really_ have been worried about a sneak ICBM attack to even think 
>> about building it, 
> Paranoid might be the word.

With hindsight... at the time it probably seemed less so. The pace of 
missile/rocket development was astronomical, and it was making all sides 
a bit jumpy. Sputnik (1957) was a hell of a wake up call to the US; it 
didn't take much imagination to realise that if you can put something 
small into orbit you can also put something much bigger on a sub-orbital 
hop.

>> expensive structures built in recent memory. A good site to head for, 
>> as it's not in use (but probably still guarded...)
> "Yes ma'am, I realise that this is the end of civilisation as we know it 
> but I still cannot allow you to enter this facility."

Actually, I suspect that if civilisation was crumbling they'd probably 
shoot first and use "ma'am" later.

-- 
Angus G Rae                        Science & Engineering Support Team
                                                    Computing Services
                                               University of Edinburgh
The above opinions are mine, and Edinburgh University can't have them

On 12-Mar-07 21:22:31, PurplePenny said
>Angus Manwaring wrote:

>> What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
>> with a hint of John Cleese.  :)


>I just kept hearing "Neither Mrs CJ nor I..." in my head.

That's right isn't it!  :)

Don't tell me its the same guy, I barely remember him apart from that
voice. And, now he's back as Devereux the human in "Day of the Clone", oh
joy.

I was watching "the Year of the Burn Up" when Controller 2957 is in the
cave with Beth and the others accepting the whole green thing and the
folly of the masterplan.

With his voice and his general looks it was like a parody of Tony Blair
endorsing the Green issues.


>>
>> Welllll, I don't know, what's dated?.


>I suppose that it is just the "present day" view of the world that seems
>dated. I had forgotten just how much attitudes have changed in the
>interim.  Back then "the girl" always fell over an hurt her ankle and
>Mums were only good for making tea.

Problem?   :)

No, hey, I love Lt. Ellen Ripley. More balls than ten men. And Vasquez
obviously.

But yes, as James Bond says, "Most women jusht splash about, but you shwim
like a man." Yeah, thanks a lot Sean, thanks a bunch!  :)

>Torchwood showed promise but fulfilled it in a couple of episodes.  And
>I can forgive it most of the crap for The Kiss which was just plain
>beautiful.

Didn't see that one, but I really didn't care about the characters, or
perhaps I did, but in a "I hope harm befalls them" kind of way.  :)

With Timeslip I kind of like the Liz character but she does make a bit too
much ineffectual noise sometimes. Generally though the script doesn't seem
too dummed down, there are some fairly grown-up concepts being thrown
about along with some quite long words. And Dennis Quilley is pretty good.

There's a lot of conflict in the show. Between Liz and Simon, between Beth
and 2957, between Liz's parents and Traynor, well Traynor and everybody
actually, and between Devereux and everybody. Oh the joy of having
Devereux and Traynor on screen together, it was kind of like Heat when
Deniro and Pacino take that implausible coffee break together.

>	Survivors was brilliant.  We watched that (me again, Kev for the first
>time) a couple of years ago and the opening still sent shivers down my
>spine.  We play the "Survivors" game when we visit places (Would this be
>a good place to come when we are survivors....)

I like it. I bought the first series and generally enjoyed it, but a
combination of the pretty darned steep price, and worries that Terry
Nation had left, and rumours that the series lost the plot after the first
season have so far stayed my hand.

Any views on the relative strenghts of the second and third series?


>  Callan is dated,
>> but nevertheless brilliant in my book.


>I never liked Callan.

What's the matter with you??  :)

No, fair comment - but I'm a fan. Partly nostalgia I suppose, partly the
music, but also the characters and the story - and seeing Patrick Mower
getting slapped around has got to be good news after bloody Emerdale.  :)

Oh yes, and Anthony Valentine - darn I wish they'd show Colditz again. :(

>>
>> Its the uniform.


>No, it was him.  Just plain, old fashioned, gorgeous.


>  Every now and then though, I thought I saw a hint of
>> Derren Nesbit in his looks.


>No! No, no, no! Nooooooooooo!  Derren Nesbit looked like a puppet!

Yeah..... there's a bit of an Alan Tracy thing going on there isn't there.


                  All the best,
                        Angus Manwaring.       (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

Angus Manwaring wrote:
> On 12-Mar-07 21:22:31, PurplePenny said
>> Angus Manwaring wrote:
> 
>>> What really did my head in was Devereux's American human-hybrid accent
>>> with a hint of John Cleese.  :)
> 
> 
>> I just kept hearing "Neither Mrs CJ nor I..." in my head.
> 
> That's right isn't it!  :)
> 
> Don't tell me its the same guy, I barely remember him apart from that
> voice. And, now he's back as Devereux the human in "Day of the Clone", oh
> joy.

Yup. John Barron, 1920-2004.


-- 
John W. Kennedy
"Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts.  Only the heir to the throne 
of the kingdom of idiots would fight a war on twelve fronts"
  -- J. Michael Straczynski.  "Babylon 5", "Ceremonies of Light and Dark"
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