What Are You Currently Watching (on tv/dvd)?

[Ian]

Happened to me a long time ago.

[Ian]

Secret Army. Really enjoying the first season of this dark late 70s British drama about the French Resistance. Jan Francis was damn cute too.

[Ian]

Wicket Science: Sweet Dreams. When Sasha steals Elizabeth's thunder in a science project, she retaliates by making one of her nightmares come true. While this episode does make Elizabeth look even pettier than usual (now if that had been Dina, she'd have been gloating and lording it over her, but Sasha genuinely doesn't seem to be like that), this is still a really fun episode. It's interesting that the writers clearly have a plan in mind for the season, setting up new boy Jack as a possible antagonist so quickly as he continues to snoop around and even tries to create dissent in Elizabeth's ranks. And Elizabeth retaliates against Garth's attempt at rebellion by - er - giving him breasts! No, really!

[fish]

Wicket Science:...

I gather this is the episode about cricket?

[Ian]

Warwick Davis guest starred. Not.

Smartass.

[fish]

That's Mr Smartarse.
Bit of respect please.

[Ian]

Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder. A young couple buy a house in the English countryside, but the young woman, who comes from New Zealand, begins to get the uneasy feeling that she has somehow been in this house before as a young child - and witnessed a murder. But digging up the past can be deadly... Another thoroughly enjoyable mystery from the Joan Hickson adaptations. Pure class.

[Ian]

Taggart: Nest of Vipers. Following the discovery of the skulls of two young women, a research lab is broken into and a number of deadly snakes and spiders stolen - which are then used to try and prevent the victims ever being identified. One of the best - and scariest - Taggart stories, with a dark ending, real sick puppy of a killer, and some pure nightmare fuel scenes. You'll check your bed before getting in it after watching this one!

[fish]

...a research lab is broken into and a number of deadly snakes and spiders stolen...

How do you expect me to get any sleep now?

[Ian]

Wicked Science: Superfish. Desperate to impress new girl Nikki, Toby tries to turn himself into a super-swimmer, with disastrous results. This is a mildly amusing episode mainly notable for being one of those where it's Toby who's being selfish and irresponsible, and points up what a hypocrite he can be given the number of times he's lectured Elizabeth for using her abilities for personal gain. I must admit, I don't get Toby sometimes. He's constantly making a fool of himself over these thoroughly bland bimbettes, when he's got a gorgeous girl who's nuts about him who he won't give the time of day. Sure, she's a bit crazy, but so what? Elizabeth's not wrong about how much fun they could have together, and she's a damn sight more interesting than these vanilla chicks he goes for.
Weirdo.

[fish]

...Superfish...

Does me good to finally be acknowledged as one of the great leaders in all humani........

What do you mean it's not about me?



Quick. Send me another "vanilla chick".

[Ian]

Not watching, but apparently Sky and Lana were mentioned the other day on Neighbours. Toadie's off to see them to attend their 'legal' (and for their families, I guess) wedding since he missed their Expo one in March.
Nice to know they haven't already split them up again, anyway...

[Ian]

Wicked Science: Fever. When Elizabeth catches a cold, the virus not only has a bizarre impact on her genius "flashes" but also begins to accelerate at a dangerous rate - and Toby is forced into a desperate race against time to save the life of his best frenemy. This is a really good episode, with some genuine high emotion and great character stuff for both leads. It's interesting that the episode again brings up the "flashes=compulsion" notion that Toby brought up toward the end of last season, here amusingly forcing Elizabeth to do nice things for people even though she doesn't really want to. More interesting is Toby's suggestion that it's just tapping into a side of her she's repressed, and specifically bringing up what she was like pre-accident. Elizabeth dismisses her former persona as "weak", but Toby insists not everyone thought that. It's a pretty creepy idea that what's happened to them has actually affected their personalities, and while Toby implying that he liked her shy, introverted pre-genius self is a nice sentiment, you can't help but think "well maybe you should have acted like that then!" Elizabeth's complete faith and trust in Toby's ability and willingness to save her is quite sweet, if unsurprising, but Toby continues to baffle me. Like the season 1 episode where he acted to save her from expulsion, this episode again indicates that his feelings for her run deeper than he wants to admit, but why? The notion that he liked her pre-genius makes his attitude to her even weirder. The episode ends with Elizabeth clearly crushing on him harder than ever after he literally saves her life, and clearly unconvinced that by his attempt to brush it off as "oh, I'd have done it for anyone!" Oh and there's a touching and funny bit between Elizabeth and Verity, where the sick Elizabeth starts to tell her how much she values her friendship, only to be interrupted, and then later denies remembering the conversation when Verity tries to bring it up after she's cured!

This is a great episode.

[Ian]

Finished season 1 of Secret Army. Terrific finale - great episode title, too: Be the First Kid on Your Block To Rule the World - as British agent Curtis's cover is blown and the Nazis lock down Brussels as he desperately tries to get out. Tense stuff.

[Ian]

Wicked Science: A Friend in Need. Toby invents a way to look like anyone in a bid to get into Elizabeth's lab, only for it to be misused and land him in hot water when Russ tries to pretend to be him to make up for a faux pas with Nikki. This is a slightly lame episode, certainly a comedown from the previous one, not least because I could really GAF about Toby chasing after Nikki. It still has some entertaining moments, mainly from Elizabeth, who helps Toby out with a mixture of blackmail and shameless flirtation (her glee at making him change clothes in front of her is pretty funny too). Elizabeth has certainly improved at the flirting since season 1, being positively vampish here! She makes this episode despite it generally being a tad flat and I am liking her season 2 persona a lot. She seems a lot more confident, a lot less angry, and a lot more fun! That being said, I am disturbed at her claiming to love going to the dentist. Wow, she really is nuts...