Off Topic TV, Entertainment and Arts thread

That was the strength of Quatermass back in the old days.
There were some special effects, usually towards the last episode. But the build-up was all about people, characters, and how they reacted when exposed to unknown menaces.

Sometimes Dr Who recreated this very well.
The Tom Baker story Horror of Fang Rock is a good example I think.
Claustrophobic horror tale set in an Edwardian Lighthouse. Almost no special effects, good atmosphere.

One or two of the new series stories have come close to it as well.
An episode called The God Complex I liked very much - a mixed bag of folks trapped in a cheesy 1970's hotel, each having to face their ultimate fear in one of the hotel rooms, and being killed off one by one. One man was terrified of ventriloquists dummies. Very creepy.

And an episode called Hide started very well - a homage to Nigel Kneale's The Stone Tape, with an ex-military ghost hunter and his assistant (uncannily like Sarah Jane Smith) in a spooky old haunted house. The episode got a bit silly at the end, but it was a good try.

These were good suspense / mild horror episodes.
That's the direction the series needs to take again. Charaters we can identify with, not caricatures.
And not (as you say) overloaded with stock effects.

EDIT:

A snippet I just read on Wiki is that Jodie's last series will be six episodes, but not separate stand-alone stories. One continuous story.

That could be interesting, as long as they do actually mean one continuous story, not a tenuous thread of teasers tacked on to each episode, leading to a 'finale' story. They've done that trick to death already.

 

I also liked the original Star Trek, with it's crap effects and the guy in the red jacket always getting killed. Great storylines written by different scriptwriters. The second series was good too.

 

1974 Gillingham V Charlton itv4 Now!

 

And we won! Keith peacock header - happy days !

 

Are we still looking for a back up keeper?

 

No good, he couldn't hang on to it.

 

We couldn't have a dog in the team - we can't hang on to a lead.

 

Piers Morgan cleared by Ofcom

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58354662

58,000 complaints rejected
The words 'mental health' should not be allowed to close down all dissent, or differing views.
In a free society no words should have that power.

 

Would of been interesting to see him interview the taliban on GMTV this morning

 

He's still a cvnt,

 

Interesting program about what went on in the President's office during 9/11. It included a recent interview with "W" Bush, and finished with him saying that he regretted some decisions he'd made in the aftermath. No such regrets from the Rev. Blair, but credit to Bush for admitting it.

 

Tony Blair believes he is God's moral compass. Popes wish they were as pious.

 

Fawlty towers !

 

For all our cricket lovers, it's 30 years since the famous "leg-over" commentary describing Lord Ian Botham's dismissal.

I remember it at the time and I still can't stop laughing at it even now....

 

NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS

Winners of Best Presenters for the 20th year running? You've guessed it ... Ant & Dec
Says everything we need to know about 21st century TV.

 

After 20 year, a 'comeback' series starring Prince Andrew... Are you being served?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58523119

"I'm free" as Mr Humphries used to say.

 

Watching the incredible Emma Raducanu win the US Open made for some great television. And I don't even really dig tennis.

More of the same, please