vivdunstan

Clearing out lots of Big Finish audios to take to charity soon. Mainly Doctor Who, but also some Blake's 7, Dorian Gray, and Jago & Litefoot. I have many more CDs and boxes left and am still catching up listening to my backlog. But it's good to pass these on to a charity that sells them well online.

I even found a very early Big Finish cassette release of a Doctor Who audio, co-starring Peter Jurasik better known for Babylon 5. I'm unsure how ecstatic Oxfam's will be to receive that, but it could certainly find a willing buyer. And given my circumstances it's easier to let Oxfam's sell than me.

Note that I have digital copies - backed up multiply too - of most of these audios. If you buy a physical audio release from Big Finish, at least in recent years, you get a DRM-free download version too. I'm only passing on those audios where I definitely won't be listening again, and/or am sure I no longer need the physical release. I have a few more CD boxes looked out tonight that are now queued up in the to be listened to pile. Then they will go to Oxfam's after.

Jotting down some thoughts about this. Mainly a note to self, but sharing here too in case it's of interest to others.

We have very little time to watch TV series things together. Often just one episode's worth a week, total, given how heavily sedated I am, including typically having to go back to sleep between dinner and supper. And that's after being asleep all day before then ... It really is phenomenally restricting.

However making plans! And as top priority I hope to rewatch the Fifth Doctor Peter Davison era of Doctor Who, now we have almost all the Fifth Doctor Blu-ray remastered season collections, and will get the last one in late March. I've seen very few of these episodes again since original broadcast back in the early 1980s. Martin has seen very few (he didn't have a TV at home when he grew up). So it will be fun to watch/rewatch. Plus watch some of the bonus extra features like documentaries etc on the new Blu-ray season boxes. I will also be referring throughout to the hardback copy of the latest Celestial Toyroom annual Martin got for me for Christmas, after I dropped an unsubtle/heavy hint. This year's annual looks back at the Fifth Doctor era, including writings about each story. The Lulu-printed hardback version of the annual is *gorgeous*.

Before then though we need to finish our watch of the BBC 1988-1990 Narnia TV series. We are almost through the first story, and will go on to the other two after (Prince Caspian! Tom Baker!). Martin has seen BBC's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" before from a video copy we had long ago. But he has never seen the others. It is all a rewatch for me. There is also a very in-depth new documentary on the new BBC remastered Blu-ray Narnia box. Will watch that too.

Once that is out of the way we will be able to return to our once a week Babylon 5, as well as starting the Fifth Doctor stories. We are now in early Season 3 of Babylon 5, and approaching some big episodes. Very much looking forward to more. I constantly reassess my favourites, though often end up with the same results. It all feels comfortably familiar. I have lost count of how many times we have rewatched this series.

We also need to watch The Rings of Power season 2, preferably before season 3 airs! Although we will probably be slow getting to the latter. Still have to watch Sandman season 2, but me managing to get through episodes of that given how heavily sedated I am may be very tricky. And we will definitely prioritise watching the Good Omens final wrap up, when that airs.

Almost forgot: we still have to finish watching The War Between the Land and the Sea, which I haven't even managed to stick to an episode a week pace, even outside the Christmas period. Frankly it's very very talky, and often I don't feel up to watching more. But we will finish it. Hopefully soon. 2 episodes to go.

There are probably more things, but that's enough for us to be going on with for now.

Continuing our latest Babylon 5 rewatch, and we’re up to S2E20 "The Long, Twilight Struggle". And it’s peak Shakespearean tragedy.

The only downside for me in this otherwise superb episode is the poor overacting by the recast Draal actor. Which is a big problem for me. But the rest of the episode is stunning.

This has been on hold for nearly a year. With my recurring flares and heavy sedation we were struggling even to manage to fit in just one episode a week, after our Sunday night dinner.

But now restarted, aiming for that Sunday night slot. And we’re picking up where we’d got to, with season 2 episode 15* “There All The Honour Lies”. Luckily we have watched the whole run many times, so know the overarching plot well. Otherwise we might be a bit confused about the arc plot after such a long gap.

Watching this it does feel like revisiting old friends and a favourite place. I hope we can keep the momentum going. There are some stunning episodes coming soon. Seasons 2 and 3 are my favourites of the run.

* actually might be #14. But it’s far through the season anyway.

Continuing my Matt Smith rewatch, and going to discuss ( spoilers ... )

Figuring out that we can get through an episode of Good Omens season 2 a week in time for Doctor Who coming back on Eurovision day. That’s a plan then! Yes we are very behind.

As for Doctor Who I'm confident I can't manage two episodes of that on the same day as Eurovision (two episodes are being released that first day, including airing on BBC1 that night, and streaming from midnight before on Disney+ and iPlayer in the UK). I'm not even sure I can manage one episode that night plus the Eurovision marathon. We are likely to be watching an episode - my health permitting - on the Sunday night instead. It's even possible we would watch the second one in the middle of the following week.

Our Babylon 5 weekly rewatch has been on hold because I've been too ill recently, even before Covid. But I hope we will resume it soon. We are about halfway through season 2.

Meanwhile new Who trailer today. Which reveals remarkably little. But looks fun. Watching it at 1/4 speed shows more, though the audio then sounds like something from Twin Peaks' Red Room!

Resuming our B5 rewatch, after many weeks when I was too ill to manage even one episode on a Sunday night. And this is a biggie. I’m going to put some commentary in a spoiler cut.
( Spoilers... )

Continuing on with our weekly rewatch, and tonight this telepath heavy story. Which was very enjoyable. Though also made me think of how much more I enjoyed it than the more clumsily handled IMHO later telepath stuff in season 5. Though perhaps not having the overwrought Byron helped … Also further nice development of Sheridan and Ivanova’s working relationship, and big moves in Sheridan and Delenn. Of course Ivanova and Talia also start properly here, though that’s going to be sidetracked soon. And thinking about that retrospectively at this point you do have to wonder how all the different elements of Talia’s psyche managed to co exist.

I now want next week’s episode now, but will wait a week. It is my all time favourite B5 episode.

P.S. The complete series Blu-ray box is on the way to us. It was supposed to come today (to a nearby locker) but there's been a slip-up in today's delivery. But we should hopefully have it soon. We are currently watching via streaming though, the remastered versions. But I still want the Blu-ray box. Even if, annoyingly, it doesn't have the space station in the cover image.

Just spotted as I looked back over my recent Babylon 5 rewatch posts that I've variously used a "tv" tag and a "television" tag. Likewise I usually use "drwho" for Doctor Who but sometimes - especially further back in time - use the longer "doctor who". I'm going to try to stick to the shorter "tv" and "drwho" going forward. Because even though the new post form - still in beta I think, which I'm using, but soon to be rolled out more widely - makes tags much easier to find, I prefer to type, and not move around with eg a trackpad. And typing "dr" at the start or just "tv" will narrow things down fast! I am not worrying about going back and standardising the old tags. At least my Babylon 5 posts should all have "babylon 5" tags consistently. Which contrarily given the above discussion I was happier with than "b5".

After a few weeks break we continue our B5 rewatch, with this season 2 episode. Which we have seen before, but skipped in some rewatches. It is not great. I’m not entirely sure why. Dwight Schultz’s character is a bit overwhelming, but he acts it well. Anne-Marie Johnson is less successful in her role. And Franklin’s behaviour is downright uncomfortable, from the start. I think the pacing is too slow, and the direction needed to be tighter. But ultimately it’s down to the writing. So not great, but glad we’ve reseen it. And we’re just a few weeks away from my absolute favourite episode. And the core B5 cast is still great, including Sheridan, who has settled down now.