Fazzinchi

4×02: The Fires of Pompeii

Just from the pre-credit sequence, you could determine that, if nothing else, we were in for a visual treat with The Fires of Pompeii as the sets at the Cinecitta Studios in Rome were sumptuous and gave a depth and richness to the exterior shots that was a cut above 95% of any other dramas you care to mention. The other hints of what was in store came from the dialogue between DT and CT (a useful shorthand that is gaining popularity on “teh internets”), here we (more…)

4×01: Partners In Crime

Season premieres from year’s past have all been thematically similar.  Russell T Davies pens a tale that introduces the audience to the new dynamic of Doctor/Companion that serves to set the scene for what’s to come over the next 12 weekends with the story generally seeming of secondary importance to character.  In 2005, Rose kicked off the new era as the very first story (re)introducing us to the mythology of the show through the wide eyes of the eponymous, (more…)

“Partners In Crime”: First impressions

That was a lot better than I was expecting.  The David Tennant / Catherine Tate dynamic was brill (the exchange about Martha was very cleverly done and the I-only-want-a-mate sketch was expertly delivered) and Bernard Cribbins is going to be a great addition to the ancilliary staff.  However, one scene stole the show… and Billie Piper didn’t need to say a word.  7/10.  More tomorrow… I’m off to spend my Grand National winnings at the pub.

Jump Aboard the Marketing Machine

The launch of series four of the revitalised Doctor Who is beating a well-trodden path.  All the production team have been playing their cards close to their collective chests for months since production began with occasional casting scoops and episode titles being revealed through the usual sources.  A teaser at the end of the Christmas special gave us a glimpse of the treats to come and that was about all the 13.3 million of us saw before “T-minus 14 days” signalled the start of the hype. (more…)

Christmas Review #12 of 12

Who’d have guessed that my 12th and final Christmas review would have been the Doctor Who, Christmas day extravaganza, “The Runaway Bride“? And it’s the twelfth day after Christmas too, genius eh?! After just two installments of a Christmas Day DW special and following the success of “The Christmas Invasion” in 2005, it would now seem that the good Doctor is becoming a fixture in the BBC1 schedules. It comes with plenty of extras too: last year we were treated to an (more…)

Another Tate Incarnation
The third season of The Catherine Tate Show is being shown as one of three show’s that form BBC2’s Thursday night of comedy and is carrying on is exactly the same format and style as we’ve seen before. There are moments of genius in there… and while it’s a bit of a one trick pony, I don’t think I’ll ever tire of Lauren’s “Does my face look bovvered?” or the nan character who swears like a trooper. The newer character’s are a little hit and miss though: the office worker who (more…)