shandy

Unfortunately since I started watching earlier iterations of Doctor Who, my respect for the RTD and Moffat eras has dwindled. I'm not convinced that any show really benefits from being in the hands of a super enthusiast - perhaps Moffat has more tricks than Brannon Braga, but I get the same sense of otaku ego driving the franchise over a cliff that Voyager and Enterprise had. On one level there was a great piece of TV, Talalay's cinematic vision shows what a talent she is, the score was subtle for once, the acting a showcase. Yet at heart this was telling the tedious tale of doomed love yet again, with the pacing of a glacier and a few timey wifey sci-fi twists. Unlike Lennon and McCartney, where the rivalry achieved something amazing, Moffat trying to outdo and erase RTD just gets toxic. If Moffat had just let Clara choke on that feather two episodes ago what a two parter we could have had - Capaldi could have been amazing leading a coup against the High Council. Moffat's teasing with titbits - Ohila calling the doctor 'boy', the woman in the barn recognizing him, it's just become tawdry - his games are like cheap burlesque.

I really enjoyed this, I wish they had more bakers, 6 seemed too few. In the first episodes I always like the busy busy feels. I soon forgot they didn't have brit accents. I too was really disappointed they didn't showcase the setting. Wiki tells me Welford Park is famous for spring flowers and there's even an American munitions base next door. They could have some cute clips of air force bakers saying what they make to remind them of home.

I wasn't confused until I came here. I *thought* the patient zero pod was the evolutionary engine, with the dust constantly evolving from it, developing into a hive mind consciousness and originating the electronic signal that will trigger the evolving process in whoever sees the video (which was a fiction)- the idea felt very 'Ring' like. Maybe I have completely it wrong. But then I started thinking was this whole thing a fiction inside the wider DW fiction- with the Doctor and Clara of this episode merely being characters too that the dust had retained a memory of (if patient zero had met them before entering the pod). Hmm. But being obscure isn't the same thing as being clever. And Ringthane, omg yes, if this had been a Lexx episode made in 1999, I would have totally been ok with it, but expectations are so different with DW. I can put up with musical numbers in Lexx and think it's great. I found the first 40 minutes here tedious, and the video effect irritating. Gatiss' work is divisive - he has very creative ideas, but it seems to me he can't sustain them with a satisfying narrative longer than 5 minutes in any of his episodes. In an Adventure in ST the plot was written for him by events, and he could indulge himself in campy trivia, set dressing and dialog derived from gossiping for years with people who were there, and it worked in a way. Here I was less irritated then with Robots of Sherwood, Lantern or his ****ing Dalek effort, but I was afflicted by the same kind of boredom I get when I watch Crimson Horror or Cold War, and once you know the pay off, his episodes aren't great to watch again.

Thank G-d for this forum, all the love for this elsewhere made me think I was developing mental health difficulties. I never thought I'd become a Doctor Who 'fan' who religiously dislikes the show. I laughed at them, but you know what, I see a little of their motivations today! What a brave choice it would have been for the Doctor and Clara to really face truth/consequences and for Clara to sacrifice herself to get rid of Bonnie. But no instead she's the woman who gives the doctor compassion - the reason he saves not only Bonnie, but also Gallifrey. Soapy daytime crapola again. I swear Moffat's view of women is that of an 1850s Scottish Presbyterian - either saints and sinners: evil temptress (occasionally serial killers) or angels convincing their man to 'choose the right'. You see it in all his writing.

I was also pleased for Frances, although I was cheering for Kim. Thinking about Wedding Cakes, I rarely remember the taste and always remember the look. I loved the idea of the languages of love, but the design looked muted on screen, and didn't seem to merit the time she spent on it. She was very much a thinker rather than a visual artist. Watching Ruby run herself into the ground was not good, but I was glad she re-focused and finished with her head high, even if her hat boxes needed a bubble level. Frances managed to unify concept and execution. I loved the marzipan bees and the sense of flow in the edible confetti. Great bunch of people this season, I will miss it.

I do like a hint of blue cheese but melted or crumbled finely in a gourmet salad. I don't think I would be brave enough to take such a large piece with very little else in the way of flavors w/o sauces/salsa/salad to accompany, although this week was strange - normally I would try anything but this week they were the only thing I could get behind.

Why did the Charlotte need that gloopy glaze? That's what put me off. Welsh Beca sent home - I feel like Kathy Bates in Misery and want to insist it hasn't happened. I liked that she adapted flavors that her family enjoyed and her friendship with Glenn was sweet and funny. Her easy informality with Sue and Mel contrasted with the other three, who I always feel want them to disappear down a drain. Kimberly and Frances are 'nice' but all business about moving forward - Christine and Beca seemed to enjoy making friendships with the other bakers. I don't know what motivates Ruby!

I have often wondered why mushrooms for breakfast are common in Europe but not in the US - I'd eat them anytime. It's strange that migrant food cultures often survive so well, but morning mushrooms got ditched. I'm not a fan of the canned button mushrooms the English seem to love, but wonderful porcini piled high on a breakfast bruschetta, or sliced thickly in a French omelette, - what's not to like.

Having seen him in ripper street and also as the homosexual creator of a famous British soap opera in another TV movie, it was great to see his acting chops here in playing a very different character, and one that commands the screen with his presence. Unfortunately the actors playing Brida and Uhtred don't seem to have as much acting skill, and suffer by comparison, not only to Alfred, but also to the smaller roles, like Alfred's wife and the Guard captain, who are memorable with very little material to work with. Dreymon and Emily Cox also have to cope with comedy accent syndrome, whereas it never distracts with the real-life Scandies. Still it has sucked me in, i can't wait for more.

I'm still mildly enthusiastic about this season, despite the ludicrous leonine alien, the groan out loud gallows humor and the easy wrap up. I thought there was some memorable dialog, full of pathos - it wasn't all awful - and I thought the idea of Clara coaching taekwondo was funny - there are too many other things in this current iteration of DW to be irritated about than a throw away line! I also bought that 12 didn't want to take Ashildr with him - I just wish the writer hadn't felt the need for an explanation - it showed doubt in the story. I would be happy with him not taking her for no reason other than being a **** - the only doctor who hasn't been been in some way contrary was 5, and he was such a bland milquetoast at times.

I kept thinking, are these people crazy? Maggie Beer is an antipodean Eleanor Roosevelt. The male judge is a little forgettable. Sian's cuckoo clock made me think of GBBOChristine's shortcake Bavarian tower - both well executed ideas. Janice's hand painting was so beautiful, and unfortunately Brendon's 'art' did suffer from comparison - I'm hoping she continues long into the competition.

I've been reading some of Ruby Tandoh's journalism and it's clear she's been on quite the journey of personal discovery since the bake off and refreshingly honest about her struggles with all kinds of issues. I have revised my view of her accordingly - as a popular reality show isn't the best place to be in the middle of an existential crisis, and despite this, she had all that success, both with the show and with her studies. Thankfully the show is made in advance, so the social media peanut gallery didn't affect things too much.

The business end of competitive reality often ceases to be fun and, wow, I'm just slayed. Something weird was happening. Nothing went right for sweet Christine. Mary and Paul were seriously sour faced. Ruby broke that thick glass bowl. They all looked bruised standing around by the water bottles. Ruby's vegetable patch n shack looked a mess, but as Mary isn't a fan of store bought fondant (hello the other bakers) I knew they were going to zoom her score through the roof and they did. Personally I loved Kimberly's toadstool house. Thank goodness the 5 women's love for each other shone through at the end, or this episode would have played out for me in a very minor key indeed.

I really enjoyed the second episode. It was very interesting to see the portrayal of the court at Winchester and the Christian Saxons repairing and using the Roman buildings, surrounded by scrolls and priests. The irony was subtle but there that 4 centuries before, the invading Saxons were pressurizing the romano-britons in a similar fashion.

Now catching up with the season 6 Masterclasses as a chill out from the excitement of seeing the Canucks send Stevie Boy packing... I know it's supposed to be time pressured, but watching the hours Mary and Paul left for their gelatinous Victorian recipes to set and cool, I started to get irritated. Paul's Charlotte Russe was beautiful indeed, but no wonder with the hours it had in the fridge in between stages. Hot water crust looks great fun to work with, even if the thought of lard puts me off.

I totally agree - so much easier than piecrust - when they were piping it out I kept wanting to shout Julia says wet a knife. I like Beca too, I liked she made a savory filling for her suet pudding - I've had bacon and onion roly-poly pudding and it's delicious - and she seems more down to earth than Kimberly, Frances and Ruby. Tho I loved Ruby's crazy cat lady comment, and calling for Mel to tell her to get a grip. I agree about Frances practically merging into her bakes, not just her hair, she sticks her face right into everything. I've had Napoleons with fresh fruit, I thought that comment from Mary was strange. I think she is hard on Christine. Poor Glen, such a sweet person, there was no need for Hollywood to gloat when his predictions of doom came true. It felt a little different this week, a bit less kind and a bit more business.

I didn't mind this one, if Brian Blessed had played Odin I probably would have loved it. This season stays strong for now. I'm also interested in the rather meta acknowledgement of the Clara problem, with 12 realizing she's getting a bit like Victor Frankenstein's monster. That said, I'm longing for some originality from the show. I've just watched Enlightenment for the first time, and amazed at how fresh and interesting it feels.

I think cardamom is a stealth spice, it quietly is in a lot of things without a fanfare. Kardemumma crisp rolls from IKEA are subtle and great with savory or sweet toppings. When I had my first chai latte my taste buds went straight back to Sweden. Trader Joe's pumpkin spice mix has cardamom in it and less clove, which I prefer, as some of the more clove heavy ones remind me of dental procedures.

Great show - and good they went back to the original soundtrack. I really loved the nod to the shearing shed - and with Australia's dramatic weather in any season, probably a better idea than canvas. Maggie is a heap better than Kerry, who seemed half the time to be channeling Cruella de Vil. I do miss Dan L though - he was so enthusiastic. It's really interesting that Australia has absorbed British Baking traditions yet somehow there's more of a sort of easy exuberance as well. These are a nice bunch of people, they remind me of early seasons of GBBO before it became the most popular show in the UK, and before the bakers negotiated book deals before the show aired. The two hosts are definitely in the Mel and Sue humor family, but perhaps less pleased with their own cleverness, which I like! Maggie on the other hand seems never to have had a low opinion of herself! Although she's very watchable - in a Dowager Countess kind of way. I think Mary is a very tough act to emulate. Matt shares some of Hollywood's annoying inconsistency but it's early days. I also think there are lots of Americans and Canadians, PBS viewers, who would make wonderful low drama, high skill contestants. The mistakes are with production crews who want drama- sadly you even see this with PBS' stoopid trails for GBBO - trying to be all tense and dramatic. I still remember Francine from the American Baking Competition, who incredibly transcended the Southern Hick profiling the editors insisted on, to become a person I cherished and admired by the end of run.

The Masterclasses are such a great end to the finale. Paul and Mary remind me so much of Jacques and Julia with their gentle mocking of each other undercut with obvious respect - and however grudging I have to admit Hollywood is clearly skilled!

Though I love Glenn he went a little serial killer on Kimberly when under pressure. She handled it so well. Christine and Kimberly have such class – they deal with adversity with common sense and little self pity. Christine is like a seasoned bond girl, still full of naughtiness rocking her rugby jersey this week. I loved the way she had the worst signature, but didn't cry for herself, just dusted down and powered on - those Norwegian school buns looked amazing. Mary turning on the full schoolmarm to Ruby telling the judges what to expect was exactly what she needs at this point in the competition when there's little to separate the few who will be left. Beca, I quite like thick ‘icing’ too - I was glad she made the celtic bread, tho I was thinking the Argentine version sounded a whole lot better - rum and molasses yes lady, I'm with you there. I'm also not a huge fan of what Europeans call mixed fruit, but it is heritage, and dried raisins and peel and fruit mincemeat saw people through the northern winter - we've lost that connection now with year round produce. Poor Howard, those peachy buns (I laughed I'm sorry) quivered beautifully but think the hemp bread may have shown you the door. I loved Mary pointed ignoring Sue's excited flapping about Hemp being possibly naughty. Glenn dodged a major bullet but for how long ...

The Parliament Chamber is tiny. It was surprising. I do appreciate how the BBC combines education and entertainment so easily. I was expecting a rather sedate banquet of the great and the good in a grand setting - those ladies were there to get trashed - it was fantastic! Jak looked so pretty and so generous about Michael's fish course.

I think this season has begun strongly but this last ep suffered from story compression. The confrontation with the Fisher King was so brief - the Russian town in Scotland thing could really have been explored. It felt, to me, that TW fleshed out quite a meaty story, and had to snip bits off so Moffat could have his Clara arc. Agree about yet another D ex M ending, the Doctor having it all in the bag before it even started, although I did like him emerging from the chamber. Cass was a great character, and the vibrations/reaction was a refreshing example of her succeeding on her own terms, rather than being the impaired person who holds everyone back, as in numerous disaster movies. Why then, after TW had inverted the disability as liability stereotype so brilliantly, did she have to end up with her interpreter .... grrr....it was just lazy and predictable.

What a satisfying finale. I was so pleased all the showstoppers turned out tasting good. All three were so different. Mary in tears, the greenest grass, the families all around, the incidental music, this show can reach for feels effortlessly. When Nadiya’s little boy said his mother never won anything before, I teared up, GBBO, are you trying to slay me? And Tamal is wonderful with kids. Of course. His friendship with Nadiya is great to watch, everything was so “nice” this episode I even warmed to Ian. Last season there was a core of bakers I loved (Kate, Chet, Martha) and a finale which felt a little empty – I can’t analyze why, although I was fine with Nancy winning. This season it seemed to take a whiles to get going, but the finale in particular packed a great punch. Now I need to forget all this to watch this season again with PBS come Downton time. And a season on Netflix too, good times to be a fan.

A pity that Josh still seems to be the same snarky jock he was in the heats - yet can do no wrong in the judge's eyes. Man, that WI judge was hard to please. Ah Jak, I so want her to win a course. Personally I would love soup and a sandwich. But I've always thought of this as North American, as my british roomies thought it a bizarre combo. I'm not sure how I feel about changing dishes at this stage - it seems kind of disrespectful to the other chefs they were judged against originally.