Once Upon A Time 6.1 "The Saviour" Review

                                             
This begins with a foreshadowing of events to come as Jafar (Oded Fehr) hunts down a man and obliterates him and later sets his sights on Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz) who's also the Saviour.  Jafar taunts him saying he's not a hero, only a common thief but someone who's lost his reason for being.

Present Storybrooke as Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) can't keep their hands off each other.  The house shakes and it turns out to be the ship carrying the refuges from the Land of Untold Stories.  Appropriate name and they were refugees as they didn't really have a story to take refuge in and live as they should.  Emma helps look through the wreckage but her hand shakes. She hides it from Hook and Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin).  Yet another storyline all about her just like last season.

Hyde (Sam Witwer) is leading Rumples (Robert Caryle) a merry dance as he sends him to the Temple of Morpheus (Giles Matthey).  Regina (Lana Parilla) seals her crypt with a blood spell so that Hyde can't get to the Evil Queen and Regain and Emma think they can bribe Jekyll (Hank Harris) to leave Storybrooke.  Emma is meant to shoot Hyde but her hand trembles and she can't go through with it. Even if it won't affect him at all but she manages and they lock him up.  Later he tells her he knows why she's suffering in that way.  He had an answer for everything but they couldn't do anything with his character.  He tells Emma to follow the red bird who turns out to be the Oracle.Jordan Ashley Olson).

Zelena (Rebecca Mader) stays with Regina and is in the process of unpacking when she tells Regina about a gift she had for her, a feather from Robin but she can't find it.  Yeah since when was Zelena ever absent minded, it wouldn't help her be wicked.  She's also upset that she spoke to Snow but not her and just got rid of her dark self.  It's not like she could talk to her as she was once wicked herself and wouldn't really have given her any objective advice.  A point proved when she joins up with the Evil Queen.  Emma's hand starts to shake again and she tells Hook she needs to be alone. She finds the bird and follows it, then it's revealed the visions are of Emma's own future.  She will battle the cloaked figure and end up dying.

Henry (Jared S Gilmore) tells Regina she can't be down and let Hyde get to her.  She's upset about the feather and also tells this to Snow, with the feather falling down on the bench where they sit. Rumples finds Morpheus at the temple and a sleeping Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Morpheus makes her dream. Morpheus is their son from the future and he wakes Belle with true love's kiss.  He doesn't want her to go back to him.  Belle agrees and tells Rymples it's over for the countless time!  Hyde tells Emma the figure might already be here or even someone she's known for a long time.  Now who could that be considering there aren't many options right now.  Unless it's someone from the Land of Untold Stories, or another long lost relative.  So what happened to Maleficent and her daughter.

Once again Emma keeps the real reason for her trembling from Hook, so much for no more secrets. As well as Zelena finding out the Evil Queen is alive and lurking.  Obviously having repercussions for Regina who'll realize it wasn't easy defeating the darkness within her.  Instead of keeping it checked inside of her, she unleashed it to cause more problems for herself and everyone else. Sometimes it's better to keep your troubles to yourself but not always, as Emma will eventually reveal her secret, or have it revealed for her, always happens.

Sherlock 4.2 "The Lying Detective" Review

                                             

Contains Spoilers

John (Martin Freeman) has found himself a new shrink (that'll be shortlived) - okay and called it as soon as they showed her, it was Daisy woman from the bus, well her nose was a big giveaway and the fake accent and John wouldn't exactly divert from his routine and get a new shrink now would he.  I mean unlike Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) he wouldn't deduce that Sherlock would even contemplate seeing a shrink and that he'd choose his one.  So it's just the usual questions and John however is seeing Mary (Amanda Abbington).  Only she's inside his head.  So yet again she's guiding him to what he must do and the point being it's really John cos she's dead.  Also of course we knew Sherlock would let himself go once again and fall into his bad habits, viz one, that of his drug habit. It's an easy way out for him and Sherlock in this instance is more emotional, can't cope and has to fall back into his drug induced stupors to get by.  Even with his dealer around he's brewing up a Meth lab in the kitchen.

Cue Culverton Smith (Toby Jones) : egomaniac, psychopath and serial killer.  He's a most detestable small minded, little human being and he relishes getting other people to do what he wants.  In short he loves the fame and throwing his weight around.  The only reason why he's an entrepreneur and philanthropist.  He calls a meeting and talks of darkest secrets.  How he'd tell someone his secret and then wouldn't be able to take it back cos they'd know now and it'd be off his chest.  He couldn't take it back even if he wanted to.  In some ways an allusion to Sherlock who has many secrets, as does the entire Holmes family.  Smith makes his friends take a drug TD12 which is basically a memory inhibitor cos they won't remember what he told them.  He tells them he's going to kill someone.  His daughter Faith objects but he makes her take the drug anyway.   Later she wakes up and makes herself write a note and remember.  Of course we already know who the recipient of this note will be. She recalls one man was a police officer, some worked at Smith's company, she was there, and someone was going to be killed by Smith but she couldn't recall who.  (No reference to Doctor Who of course!  Although at the end John - a doctor - did get the gun in his face so...ha!)

Smith walks in and finds her with the note and takes it from her.  First clue was here: if he saw the note and what she wrote, why not just take it from her, it's easier than being discovered, unless he wanted exactly that; in his arrogance that no one could stop him.  Not even the world's greatest detective.  No, she goes to Sherlock and she gives him the note.  Sherlock as usual noticing her nuances, like the marks on her dress showing she drove here, but she was in a left handed car, perhaps.  That she's damp, it's raining and she didn't bring a coat.  She was once in a relationship but not anymore.  He says there's no case and throws her handbag to her.  He then realizes her handbag was heavy hence she's carrying a gun.  He stops her from leaving and tells her about his deductions. With her replying she came in a taxi, but his brain finally catches up to his thinking and he says that's what he looked for outside of the window: there was no taxi waiting for her and she didn't call for one.  He gives her a coat and tells her about the gun: that she was going to end it all, but they're going for chips.

Sherlock also knows that he's being watched by Mycroft (Mark Gatiss) who calls John about how Sherlock's a security risk and he has to act on it even if he is his brother.  Who doesn't seem to be interested.  Smallwood (Lindsay Duncan) will also accept an apology from him for arresting her, which she doesn't get.  Sherlock notices the police helicopters and he walks with Faith around London and we're back to Piccadilly Circus (see season 1) and the operators telling him he's leaving a trail as he doublesback leaving: "*uck off" for Mycroft!  He tells her about the note and how she lives in a small place with a small kitchen.  She had the note hidden cos of the fold in the middle and was in a relationship.  When it ended she pinned the note on a board in the kitchen and it smells of spices. She loves to cook (yeah cook up plans to ensnare Sherlock).  As well as having no visitors that's why it was on display.

At the bridge he says he wants payment but not cash and she gives him the gun.  With him saying she can't take her life.  It's not hers to "take" and why do people take their lives.  They only leave behind others who are affected by it (which is what I've always said about suicide: it's selfish - never thinking of those they leave behind who will have to deal with it. It's not about ending their own suffering but leaving loved ones to cope with theirs.  Okay digression!)  She stops him and tells him he's not like everyone else: he's "nice."

A car crashes outside the shrink's house and a helicopter chases it.  It's Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs) driving and she tells John she needs help with Sherlock.  He lost the plot and she's terrified.  He was going crazy with photos everywhere and she made him a cup of tea, but he had a gun.  He threw the gun down in order to catch the falling cup and she took him at gunpoint and handcuffed him from the handcuffs in his salad drawer, which she's used before!  (Eeww wouldn't like to know about that! Ha.)  She shut him in the boot and drove him here, as Mycroft removes the policeman who was chasing her via phonecall.

Sherlock knew John would be here cos he planned it all three weeks ago.  He needs his help in catching the most despicable human being around: Culverton Smith, a serial killer and he accused him as such in the media.  Coincidentally exactly who John was looking at on the internet at the shrink's house.  Smith films an ad as a "Cereal Killer" which is nothing new and has been said before! He calls John and tells him he's sending a car around.  Again all arranged by Sherlock beforehand. John sees the marks on his hand and wants a second opinion, again contemplated by Sherlock as he's already called Molly (Louise Brealey).  Who arrived in an equipped ambulance and tests him.  At the rate he's going he's only got weeks (possible hint for next ep?)  They drive to the meeting with Smith. Mary appearing to John all the time and making comments about Sherlock planning it and being clever.  As well as referencing John's self loathing cos she's in his head.

Smith tells Sherlock he only hugs, which Smith does cos he doesn't shake hands, why DNA? Paranoia? Anyway he finds it amusing that Sherlock's accused him of being a serial/cereal killer cos that'll give give more ratings and yes his ad was tasteless (no pun) especially since the cerial (can I combine it like this? ha) was aimed at children.  As was the visit to his hospital, where he conveniently brings up the subject of HH Holmes: America's first serial killer, was expecting that a while ago, not least which cos of the Holmes similarity in name.  With it beginning and ending there, except for the third 'brother' or should I say family member.  The nurses are impressed with meeting Sherlock and how they love his blog even if John's the one who writes the blog.  They didn't like to hear that.  Smith wants them to talk about his cases, with Sherlock giving away the endings. Until Smith gets onto the morbid subject of killing and how the Queen could be a killer and get away with it cos of her money.  John adding that she's not a killer and wouldn't get away with it.  Possibly talking of himself, yet with such contempt since he has money and he got away with it too for along while.

After the tasteless subject, he takes them to his favourite room.  Sherlock saying that he's got about twenty minutes roughly, well seventeen and a half minutes exactly before they get a visitor.  His favourite room being the morgue and you know what, was getting tired of Smith's asking how long his staff have worked there when he didn't like being questioned, or playing with the dead woman's body. As John told him to stop it.  Again more mention of HH Holmes and his murder castle (which we all know about so won't mention here.  Wrote plenty on it in my Supernatural book for season 2.6 No Exit.)  He likes confessing to the bodies there, but he doesn't confess he's killed anyone.  Sherlock suffering from withdrawal and not having a fix.  Smith tells him he couldn't have met his daughter and she doesn't know him, since that's the visitor.  She doesn't resemble the woman who came to see him and at this point you were meant to see that she was actually the shrink who came to see Sherlock and was also the woman on the bus.  Well that's when I pointed it out (sorry.)  Sherlock loses it and takes a scalpel as he says Smith took one and it's behind his back.  Of course he doesn't have one.  John thinking Sherlock lied to him again cos that's what he does, he lies about everything to everyone (thus the title).

Cue Lestarade (Rupert Graves) asking John why he took the scalpel and he didn't see him take it. John wrestles with Sherlock for the scalpel and also beats him up to pull him out of it, but also cos it was brewing for a while.  Again missing the point of how that's exactly what Sherlock had wanted and planned.  He wanted to be here, as he's sedated and kept in the hospital.  John leaves his walking stick for him and says goodbye.  Mycroft searches Sherlock's place for anything untoward and again says the same thing to John about having to do this even if Sherlock wasn't his brother.  As Mary tells him he's lying, cos last time he said brother, he wasn't talking about Sherlock.  That there's another brother!  Mary loving John confronting Mycroft.  As the note from Faith falls to the floor.  Mrs Hudson comes in and says that they don't get Sherlock but she and John do.  If somethings not going right he'll fire the gun and stab something.  Where John finds Mary's DVD.  Mrs Hudson tells them all to leave her house.

John plays it and we get to see the rest of it too.  Mary wanted Sherlock to kill himself so that John would rescue him, or rather have himself killed.  Which is exactly why he chose Smith, not only to bring him down and make him stop, but also to help John.  John wouldn't help himself or save himself, but he would save Sherlock.   He realizes what will happen as he races over there in Mrs Hudson's car.  Oh and I liked how Mrs Hudson said she has her own house and also isn't John's housekeeper!

In pops Smith cos he can't refuse a victim and didn't that room remind you of the TARDIS!!  Some fancy wallpaper!  ha. Of course he'd have secret passages as he built the wing and yes admittedly he was in awe of HH Homles and his mistake was that he should've been in awe of Sherlock Holmes. Cos he didn't think HH Holmes was very intelligent and so could be a distant relative of Sherlock's! Smith confesses to his murders and Sherlock tells him he wants to die and he wants him to do it, which he does attempt.  Then Sherlock screaming he doesn't want to die!  With John arriving in time to stop Smith from suffocating him.  Smith says he didn't confess and he found the three recorders in his coat.  Yeah he'd be stupid enough to leave all three in one place.  He tells him he missed one in John's walking stick.  Again he'd accounted for that too weeks ago.  John calling Sherlock a cock as does Sherlock and that he "was off his tits" for weeks!

Mary saying he should wear a deerstalker in tribute to her, which he goes back and gets as they leave to meet Molly for cake: for his birthday.  See Sherlock: more human, he eats more now and chips!! Not just drinks tea!!  Mary also telling him about how Sherlock knew which shrink he'd find. Someone he'd go to in the lunch hour within bike riding distance so no one would know.  As he goes back to her now and she reveals who she is.  Mycroft and Smallwood having a mutual attraction       as she gives him her private number on her card.  And we see him pick it up to reveal a 2pm appointment with Sherrinford.  Surprise, surprise that's where John is!  And she asks him why couldn't their bother be a sister.  Pretty convenient, half expecting her to take off the mask and reveal Moriarty under it.  She pulls a gun on him and fires.  As Sherlock finds the note and realizes it really happened!  The woman was here.  So the game (race) is on for Sherlock to save John now.  As Mary already predicted and wanted him to.

Was Sherrinford in league with Moriarty all this time.  It's possible to get lost in all the confusion since everyone's using "Miss Me" these days.  Don't know what's what anymore, just joking. Also we get Irene's ringtone again: the famous moan and he's been in touch with her.  Again nothing new.  So if Sherrinford could be a woman, why can't Irene Adler be Sherlock?!!  Anyway John finds out it's Sherlock's birthday cos he never knew when it was and asks why he doesn't go to High Wycombe (how does he know she's there anyway?  She could be anywhere.  That life's too short and Sherlock should get some in before it's too late.  As Mary also tells John it's okay when he says he cheated on her.  They were only texts, but he texted her everytime he was alone.  There foreshadowing as that woman had to be involved in his life but funny how it was so easy for her to ingratiate herself into his life.  Especially since he tells Mary he's not the man she thought he was but who he wants to be.

Smith was indeed: "the most dangerous and despicable human being I have ever encountered (he hadn't met him yet had he, though being Sherlock, he would've had an inkling) a living breathing coagulation of human evil."  More so since he didn't have any remorse, most killers generally don't but the mere fact that he could kill "anyone."  This anyone being and including Sherlock.   Oh, oh and most importantly of all we got Sherrinford admitting what the 'E' stands for in the note she left for John, rather the texts.  E = Eurus: Greek for 'East Wind'!!  Re the third ep of last series.  When he says an "east wind is coming..."  Now it makes sense.  She being the east wind. and why Sherlock was needed back.  Not so much for Moriarty but his own family member!

Oh and a word on that scene where Sherlock dramatically lost the plot in his drug haze: so very Shakespeare and so very Hamlet in many ways!!  Which was also relevant as Sian Brooke who played the shrink/E was in Hamlet too with Bene as Ophelia!

This one wa  loosely based on The Adventures of the Dying Detective aka The Dying Detective (which is what Sherlock was doing, both in an attempt to rescue John and also to catch Smith.  With a reference from Sherlock to Watson after Smith tells them his word is a good as Sherlock's but won't stand up in court.  Thus Holmes saying the same to John here, that the confession was entrapment, but Smith can't top confessing to Lestrade.  Demonstrating yet more arrogance and how he still hungers for fame, even after Lestrade tells him he's already famous!  Yeah go serve him some Gnash!!  Yuk!

A little carried away on this one, showing how Sherlock still manages to excel after this long period of breaks in between episodes and also how we need it to continue.  Single handedly Britain can take over the world (and I don't mean that in some form or former or neo-colonial sense as in Colonial Gin re The Apprentice! ha) but in the sense of how Britain can still make excellent drama with a quality cast, regardless of whatever political turmoil or climate the country or the world is in!  Escapism is also good!  But as Benedict told USA Today: his words were taken out of context when he said it's the "end of an era."  He didn't mean it would end, but that it was the last one they had filmed for now. Only that if anymore come about, they won't be as regular as every two years cos everyone's busy. Yeah we know, but at least we can hope they can all find the time to bring back something sooner, even a one-off special.

You can check out my Bene book below, ah go on, you know you want to! Had some good words about this from Sue Vertue and even Mark commented on it when I met them at the Radio Times Women of Sherlock Festival. & no you won't make me a millionaire either!! Ha.

https://www.amazon.com/My-Continuing-Letter-Benedict-Cumberbatch/dp/1326198017/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1484186731&sr=8-9&keywords=mila+hasan

Paranormal Lockdown 2.4 "St Ignatius Hospital" Review

Another episode where Nick and Katrina explored the spectacularly large hospital building which was practically falling apart after it's closure in 2013.  This one was also where Valoree wanted them to see who was at the place and was attacking people there, as she told them of the paranormal experiences.  Most relevant being Rose in room 311 and also the room where they saw the hand on the window.  Clearly where all the activity was.  As well as that lift scene during the actual lockdown when Nick went in the shaft.  What a gut wrenching, heart pounding moment and agree with Katrina when she said she was more focused in making sure he didn't suffer an injury or worse!  Then again it's Nick, he always takes risks as far as investigating is concerned and it's one way to ensure results. Also glad Katrina and Rob talked Nick out of entering the lift on the third floor, cos NO! That would've been even more dangerous!

Sure the woman's voice says at 11.14 "don't" when Nick says if she doesn't talk to them they're going to leave her room. Then a man's voice comes through saying "yes." 11.28 when he asks if anyone else wants to talk.

Just want to say when I add what I hear in the  EVPs to any of their investigations or anything they may have missed it's not taking anything away from their investigations and lockdowns on my part. It's purely out of interest cos I know if I had spent 72 hours locked down, I would want to find and analyze every piece of evidence I had obtained.  It's not personal or to get one up on anyone, or to show off.  Always had a genuine interest in the paranormal and supernatural for as long as I can remember and ever since my father's own experience.

What I felt was beyond coincidental here was how they decided to do some EVP recordings and Katrina put the recorder in the lift and how when they were reviewing the playback they were exactly where they were supposed to be in that moment in time, to capture that amazing mist/smoke/dust.  It looked like it was more mist than dust and also it looked like there was part of a shoe or leg visible or something is thrown at 20.50. But if it was something thrown they would've found it. Apparently it did appear as if something was trying to manifest and again it was right in the hallway which led into that room with the hand.  It was as though they were meant to be right there and see this happen and with Nick's cam facing the right direction too!  It was attempting to emulate the smoke in the show's opening credits!  Only kidding!

This lockdown proved as successful and intriguing as those before, as once again they discovered there wasn't any malicious activity involved there which is understandable, as this was a hospital for the ill but also the mentally disabled.  Another reason why there was more activity during the day was probably cos that's when the hospital would be active and certain patients could roam the wards. Whereas they would be in their rooms during the night.  As well as the portable Geobox captures telling them to go to the third floor and 'Rose' coming through as well.  Not sure if this was meant to be heard or not but it did sound like there was a conversation going on there, with a woman's voice asking, "is this the way out?" (See below.)

Add to this Nick's idea for them to go on their own cos that's what the spirits wanted them to do, with Rob monitoring and how Katrina asked the spirit to show its pain through Nick and his backpain, again so uncanny and an intelligent response.  As Katrina asked Nick, think there were both intelligence and residual hauntings taking place here.  Those screams in the lift shaft Nick captured could've been residual when the poor man lost his life.  Then Katrina getting a response to her question of knocking on Rose's door and asking if she could come in.

Happy they asked Valoree about Rich, cos at that point before she said she knew a Richard I was going to research.  It's good when they can get information on the spirits and in some way perhaps helping then find closure, but also knowing they just wanted attention and weren't bad or negative too.  Another investigation where there was only good going on.  Nick losing all sense of time in room 310 and was definitely out of it, could tell he looked so tired emotionally and physically.  This ep was Nick's turn to be checked on.  All this and a pesky bat too! Ha.

Voices on the Geobox not sure if they're relevant or not: "
It's not finished.
Wanna see if I can hear her?
They just wanna help."

Sex, Death and Bowling Review

                                                
A film that comes round full circle in many ways as it explores the meaning of life and death, as seen through the eyes of 11 year old Eli (Joshua Rush) - so cute and so much going on in his head for one so young! He appears to have come to terms with the fact his father, Rick (Bailey Chase) is about to die.  But also how he still has hope, fuelled on by Evie (Melora Walters) who tells him stories of how a falling star is a soul of  a deceased one returning to Earth and coming back to life.  Which is a good story for him and giving him hope in some small way.  Yet he also explores other religions too and their beliefs as well as wanting to become a Catholic cos he likes the idea of purgatory and ending up somewhere, but not quite sure where (my words.)  Seems he too has trouble with the school bully, Wolf (Sean Ryan Fox) son of Tim (Drew Powell) and that aspect hasn't skipped a generation or the bully gene either, with Rick and uncle Sean (Adrian Grenier) also having to deal with the same family when they were at school and Sean still has to face up to him now.

There's Rick (Bailey Chase) who was on his last breath almost, as said and how Sean had come home for him.  A fashion designer recognized from being on the cover of GQ!  With the girls still throwing themselves at him, eve if he is gay.  As well as coming home to the town he left behind, the family and father, Dick (Daniel Hugh Kelly). Yeah when you have a character who's good in the longterm and not a bad father and a little at odds with his family and estranged Sean, always call 'em Dick!  But in a nice way.  Dick's obsessed with the bowling festival, as is Eli and they've won the trophy three years in a row.  This year with Rick not playing and having to resort to Hal's (Lyle Canouse) son-in-law, Ben (Wayne Wilderson) who isn't good at all, after Hal does his back in.

It's like a pride thing in a town where there's no sportsmanship but one-up-manship, particularly on the part of the Tile team, Tim, ergo once bullies and still are!  So it was good to see them get their faces and noses rubbed in it and that fight was brewing for years.  Took a homecoming and a bowling tournament for it to simmer, or rather boil over to the surface.  Yay nailed those bullies did Dick and Sean!  As well as winning the tournament.  The sad part being it's also the moment Rick loses his fight when they win.  He knew they would and he finally realized they did win and everything was okay and he could let go now.  As well as getting  a visit from Dick before he passed.  Stubborn as he was in not visiting him sooner. Seems he did the same when his wife died.

It wasn't just about Dick's prejudice, maybe back then over Sean's sexuality, but he came to terms with it now and he knew back then.  But something had to unite this family and that something was bowling and you could say it was exactly as the title says it all: Sex, Death and Bowling.

Ally Walker did an exceptional job with the script and directing.  Ally should write some more dramas of this quality. Of course it was a story seen before, how there are so many facets and elements behind a family's life and secrets.  Of growing up in a small town, fighting bullies, each other, but most of all it was real life and that made it different.  How adversity was always there in the heart of the McCallister's as well as pain but also love and not the fleeting kind, but the kind that lasts.

The cast also did a superb portrayal with Daniel playing Dick as someone who's making the most of a difficult time.  It's hard facing death once, but then twice and becoming distant was his way of coping.  As we've said often enough, a parent shouldn't survive a child and have to go through that emotional turmoil.  Adrian as the put upon son having to face small town bullies and their prejudices over again and realizing he loves his father after all and he loves him too.  As well as the funny moments.  Bowling was life and winning was everything.  Many a polystyrene cup my friend and I had ripped to shreds in the college canteen over the years!  Mostly out of boredom, not nervousness. Loved that scene! Hey Ponderosa reunion here with Drew, who played Hoss, alongside Daniel as Ben Cartwright. acting out.  "Hey don't talk to your pa like that!!  Asshole!"  ha.  Okay had to add that in.

Overall it wasn't as bad as some critics commented! Yeh who needs 'em?!!
Watching a film about terminal illness isn't easy on many levels, been through that, but Ally chose appropriate moments to pepper with simple comedy, with emotionally repressed Dick, coping as best he can.  As said having to go through it once is bad enough, but twice over, it's not a case of getting over it and being there for your family.  In many ways it's difficult to come to terms with, who does really, but doesn't mean he wasn't feeling for Rick and his family.  The father is the glue that keeps the family together. Nothing wrong with a dysfunctional family drama if and when done in the right way.

Daniel always plays his roles with relish and his comedy is exceptional.  A great choice and finally good to see him in a role which involved more than very little or hardly any screentime.  Bailey Chase and his cushy role of lying in bed for the duration, reminded me of his role in Longmire as Branch Connolly, he ended up being shot, in hospital and a short while later was murdered by his own father!  (No I wasn't thinking irony or anything here!  Ha.)

Paranormal Lockdown 2.3 "The Oliver House" Review

For a first so far this season The Oliver House presented itself with so much evidence but one where the spirits were more 'friendlier' than most of the places Nick and Katrina have investigated.  It was good to see there was nothing malicious in the house and how the children were intrigued by Katrina, as she sensed a little girl and how her hand was held.
The other fascinating aspect of the house was not only how it was seeped in so much history from the colonists to the revolutionists and how Benjamin Franklin really did get around!  But how it was also used as part of the Underground Railway network.  The Oliver's were not only persecuted by the revolutionists and betrayed by Franklin, yet to see that their house was also used for some good in helping the slaves reach Canada and freedom.

The evidence in the basement with the "ssh" so many times as you would do when hiding and running for your lives, it was so clear, as if someone was standing right next to them when it was said.  As well as the exceptional stick figures on the 3D mapping camera.  Then child with Katrina and then Nick seeing the little boy in the other room, as well as Katrina being woken when she felt like someone touching her feet.  Hey someone should've slept in the basement.

That's why as Katrina said the paranormal doesn't happen when you want it to or expect it to, but anytime, which is why sleeping in the place helps. At 15.26 you can hear a child saying "hmm." Then a voice followed by it when Katrina pulls the covers off her head, sounds like "hello" and definitely sounds like a little girl at 15.30. Such a coincidence that the voice is heard as soon as Katrina pulls the covers off.  That was some communication! When Katrina reviews the evidence next day you can hear the voice again at 16.16.
Have to say that clock counting down the hours was droning not to mention sounding like how you'd feel if you were exhausted.  Nick looked less tired than Katrina that morning, for a change.  ha.

You can hear the drums too at 18.58 as Rob says, since there's also no background music playing for the episode. More compelling evidence not only since the land belonged to the Native Americans but the deaths that have been associated with it.  Katrina was intrigued by the woods as she said, but also uncanny how Katrina ended up going out there when she was lost by Rob and Nick.  As though she was drawn out there.

At 26.40 when Nick communicates with Earl, sure there's also a child's voice that comes through before "upstairs" where something like, "let me go" is said.  The boot steps in the hallway, the back mass figures and Nick getting to interact with Earl was amazing.  Not to mention Katrina tripping on the stairs (not amazing) but what was endearing was Nick turning around and asking Rob if "she's okay" after Katrina replies that she is.  Yet more reasons why they are so in sync together and collect some of the best paranormal evidence around.  As well as Nick telling the 3D figure how it's still his house and even if people will come through, they won't be there to hurt them.  Always thinking of the spirits and being respectful.

Sherlock 4.1 "The Six Thatchers" Review

                                              
Contains spoilers

This one was inevitably all about Mary (Amanda Abbington) since the task of getting Sherlock's (Benedict Cumberbatch) name cleared was dealt with early on so he could return home.  This was done by doctoring the footage of Sherlock shooting Magnussen and putting it down to a trigger happy squaddie.  Clearly Sherlock was more interested in the Ginger Nuts and lollies!  Engaging with Vivien, the secretary and that's all she was, glorified secretary with delusions of grandeur.   Sherlock invariably tweeting cos Benedict doesn't!  #OhWhatABeautifulMorning.  He doesn't need stimulants, he's on an all natural high.  Sherlock: "What would you do Vivien?"  Quite frankly, the loaded question of the entire episode!  What did you do Vivien? should've been more apt!

Moriarty he says is planning a 'possum's game."  Planned when and if Sherlock survived the roof, you know, just a contingency.  He tells Lady Smallwood (Lindsay Duncan) he's going to wait. Sherlock: "I always know when the game is on...because I love it." Sherlock then paying a visit to the London Aquarium to watch the fish and to ponder death always meeting at every corner and the story of the merchant and his Appointment in Samara'. Which everyone brings up sooner or later, (as in Supernatural 6.11 Appointment in Samara.)  Which Mycroft (Mark Gatiss) later refers to as Appointment In Sumatra and how Sherlock was always obsessed with that story changing the ending. (From the Somerset Maugham story of the same name.)

Sherlock: "There was once a merchant in a famous market in Baghdad.  One day he saw a stranger looking at him in surprise and he knew that this stranger was death...the merchant fled and made his way to the city of Samara..where he thought death could not follow...where the merchant saw waiting for him the grim figure of death...he looked so surprised...because I had an appointment with you in Samara."

Sherlock can now return to his sleuthing ways and has a slew of cases, not least of which is one LeStrade (Rupert Graves) brings him.  One where a boy was found dead in the front seat of his car. His father had gotten a call from him via Skype at a party and then spoke to him over the phone.  A drunk driver was chased by the police who just happened to turn into their driveway (with precision driving for a drunk) until he crashed into their son's car.  The report shows there were two types of vinyl on the car seat which Sherlock is impressed with and John (Martin Freeman) says that he was already dead a week.  Which intrigues Sherlock.  They pay a visit to his parent's house and he notices the CCTV was broken and also notices the table where once stood the bust of Margaret Thatcher.

His father says there was a break-in and the bust was broken, but Sherlock notices the thick rug.  Also is his annoying self (in a lovable) way when feigning not to know who Thatcher was and also forgetting Lestarde's name is Greg.  When John called him that not moments before.  As well as a reference to Sherlock wanting Lestarde to get recognition for his case, but he won't cos John will blog it.  He explains how their son called but was really outside (said that) and how he was watching him the car when he was supposed to surprise him after he hid behind the vinyl cover.  Said that too eventually, well actually sis did first.  He had died a week before and if that drunk hadn't happened along, then he wouldn't have been found for an even longer time.  But the bust still intrigues Sherlock when he says it was smashed outside.

Obviously the bust was involved - it wasn't called The Six Thatchers for nothing you know (though one was one too many or more than enough!  Ha.)  This leads him onto the other busts and the use of a hacker named Toby, however the hacker is Craig and his dog is Toby and he leads them around to the market and a trail of blood.  Think he just wanted to get the bloodhound involved, reminding him of his own Redbeard.  When I thought of this useless dog, thought of Columbo's useless mutt too! Ha. That trail was a dead end, until there are three more busts found to be have been broken in the same way and one of them Lestrade tells him involves a murder.  He gets Craig to find that these busts are big business and were manufactured in Georgia.  And that there is still one outstanding in Reading which is where Sherlock heads.  When he gets there he waits around until the intruder arrives and they fight.  Ending up in the pool once again, flashbacks to the Pilot episode 1 and how it all began. (Lestrade also tells the police woman of how it all began ten years ago, yeah it's been that long!!)

He smashes the bust hoping to find the Black Pearl of the Borgia's and instead he finds a memory stick with AGRA written on it.  Again flashback to 3.3 and Mary giving the stick to John but he burns it without reading it, cos The "future is my privilege."  However not for long.  Sherlock mentions Mary and she burnt it and he asks about Mary.  Saying she betrayed him.  There was a hostage crisis in Georgia and they were sent in to rescue the hostages, but it went wrong.  They were caught and he was kept and tortured.  Saying the English woman betrayed him.  Which obviously could've been anyone.  Sherlock meets with Mary after the man escapes saying she's a "dead woman walking" and she tells him about AGRA.  There were four of them and they went where they were hired to go.  The memory sticks were insurance as they each knew everything about the other.  She doesn't know anything about AJ (Sacha Dawaan) and she never betrayed him, she thought he was dead.  She knocks Sherlock out after giving him a paper laced with chloroform and leaves.

Leaving a letter for John saying she has to go and how she loves Rosamund, Rosie for short.  As that's what her name is.  Rosamund but she always liked Mary (said that too about her name, as we know there wasn't an 'M' on the stick.  Cue along series of scenes where she travels halfway round the world, practically and then ends up in Morocco and with Sherlock already there.  Obviously the tracker was John's idea.  Sherlock tells Mary she must come back to London where he can protect her as it's his city, he knows the turf.  But not the people!  That's what it seems.  AJ tuns up as he followed Sherlock there and tells her he saw one of the other team being tortured and killed and they did the same for him for no reason, but the fun of it.  He escaped and put the memory stick in the bust.  Then they left him for six years in a cell until he finally escaped.  AJ is killed by the police and Sherlock didn't get a reply to his question of what he was told exactly by his torturers.

He tells Mycroft about the stick and how AGRA was under his operation.  But he doesn't use mercenaries anymore and it was disbanded.  As well as telling him about the English woman and they assume it's Smallwood, she was too obvious a suspect and why would she betray them anyway, especially considering she required Sherlock's help with Magnussen and how she needed Sherlock back here when they thought Moriarty is back.  Sherlock insisting he's dead and his message was an earlier recording.  Though he was pleased to be back since it was his own life that was at stake not four hours ago and he was flying to his death.

Smallwood tells Mycroft she doesn't know what happened but she didn't betray anyone.  Sherlock works out who the English woman would've been (cos frankly not many suspects) and meets her at the London Aquarium, messaging John and Mary to come too.  John sends Mary first since he needs to find a babysitter for Rosie.  Sherlock confronts Vivien who wanted to show everyone she had brains, and wasn't just a secretary.  So when Smallwood ordered the AGRA team in to rescue the hostages, she called upon the men and told them of the operation.  Sherlock tells her it was out of jealousy and she disagrees.  But he proves his point.  She wanted to show them she was better and that she was clever.  More egotistical than jealous.  She pulls out a gun from behind her bag which was obvious, but instead of using it on herself when the game was up, she thought she'd go one better and shoot Sherlock.  Again out of jealousy, he figured out it was her and she couldn't match him in intelligence.  So really she'd remain a nobody after all.
Leading to Sherlock being the one who seeks professional help from John's therapist.  He doesn't know what to do about him.

Knew at the end Mary's case for Sherlock would be to "save John."  That was apparent cos he couldn't keep his vow (His Last Vow) and save Mary or protect her.  As soon as he said it, you knew it wouldn't turn out that way.  With everyone thinking they were dealing with Moriarty and especially also when she sent him the DVD with "Miss Me" on it.  That would catch his attention and how she kept saying if he's watching this then she's 'probably' dead and 'probably' gone.  Well if she's gone, she's gone, no probablies about it.  Though in a around about way it did remind me of Sherlock and Mary in Morocco when he spoke of probabilities and maths and was fast running out of clever things to say.  As for Morocco and Mary taking detours on the way, just wanted to say did he really need a tracker, he found Irene Adler fine when he rescued her in Pakistan.

So John doesn't want to see him around anymore, we being too much at that cemetery and this time round he said goodbye to his wife for real, as opposed to Sherlock turning up alive and well.  As we also get that mysterious 'E' in John's life now.  A little too much of a coincidence he happens to 'meet' a random stranger on his bus and continues the text conversation with her, only for Mary to get killed off at the end.  As for that 'taking bullet' can't believe Sherlock was just going to stand there and let the bullet get to him!  Not to mention no one did anything to stop Vivien.  No shootback or anything! As well as Sherlock's reminder to Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs) that if he got too cocky or over confident to just say "Norbury" to him.

In the original Arthur Conan Doyle story, it was the busts of Napoleon that were smashed and there's a reference to that here as Craig says Thatcher's even overtaken Napoleon,   Of course we know there were no political motivations in this smashing of the busts even before Sherlock says it, clearly there was something hidden in there and we all thought it was the pearl, maybe why Sherlock cleverly saying how we could just get another pearl.  The original story also had heavy political references to immigrants and refugees, which was rather topical but not where Mark Gatiss wanted to go, understandably.  So he made it about Mary.  The Adventure of the Six Napoleons is where John Watson noticed a thawing of Sherlock's character, he became humanized a little and here Sherlock is exactly that.  He keeps mentioning his vow for one and well, on more than one occasion and then he tells AJ that Mary is his friend and under his protection.  He will always be there for her to protect her.  Heck his face says it all when John lets out that almighty moan and then just looks at Sherlock before he speaks.  Then when Molly (Louise Brearley) (who's godmother to Rosie) tells Sherlock John left a note and doesn't want him around here.  A bit of a backtrack to when Sherlock supposedly died and how John reacted then was in complete contrast to how he reacts now.  He seemingly severs all ties with his one time best friend.  He was his friend.  There'll be no blogging about this case it seems!

Just like Mary was Sherlock's friend and he acknowledges that, whereas the 'other' Sherlock wouldn't have!  Even calling her at the end to come and wanting her to come investigate and follow the trail with Toby, since she's much better at this than John.  She even apologizes to Sherlock for shooting him, though he does say work is good for getting over it.  He'd prefer not to think about it, since an emotional Sherlock isn't a good Sherlock.  As Sherlock makes reference to how he's become dramatic, as a nod to Benedict's time on the stage perhaps.  Sherlock can do drama too!  Though a funny scene was where Sherlock referenced Mycroft to being Wikipedia.  Can't help but wonder if probabilities and the maths reference was an allusion to Sherlock's mother who wrote a book on Maths. (See His Last Vow.)
Oh John, John, John Sherlock told you ot be careful what you wish for when you wished for Sherlock's death.  It came, not as it was expected, but this sort of thinking led to Mary's demise!  Ahh RIP Mary.  But John, you were not such a great husband.  After they were married he kept his bag packed, wanted to still investigate with Sherlock and then the woman on the bus!!  Even if he called 'it' off, he still texted and thought of her!  Marriage vows??

It's unclear as to whether the cast will be able to be brought back for a season 5 and the final episode is entitled The Final Problem, Sherlock dies - for real.  But even then Conan Doyle had to bring him back by popular demand.  So fans may yet have an outlet for their love of Sherlock if the worst happens and there are no more.  We'll certainly cry havoc and let rip the dogs of war, aka the hound of the Baskervilles and Sherlock's greatest fans!!

With the events of 2016, the US election, Brexit, Steven Moffat in an interview, spoke of how "being a hero isn't bigger, richer, more powerful than somebody else.  It's being wiser and kinder."  It was time for Sherlock to be less cocky and more humane.  As well as the mention of Sherrinford Holmes, their older brother, so there's that to come too, hopefully.

See below His Last Vow

http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/sherlock-32-his-last-vow-review.html

where Magnussen was mentioned as "the Napolean of blackmailers."  Which was what the story was originally called.  Also in that Sherlock mentions that John and Mary will make good parents as they've had practise of looking after Sherlock.  Not to mention how Lestrade and John speak of Sherlock and he asks if that's what they're actually doing. Then there was Mycroft's line of Sherlock slaying dragons and Mary mentions Sherlock being a dragon watching over her.  yeah but not of the Smaug variety.  Though could be said he was a sleeping dragon like Smaug since he couldn't save Mary!

As for Sherlock being humanized: called it here: (kinda)

http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/sherlocks-humanity-and-other-musings.html

Longmire 3.8 "Harvest" Review

                                                
As Walt (Rob Taylor) drives away, we get flashes to his showdown with Chance from the previous episode and he ends up getting shot.  Vic (Katee Sackhoff) is at the hospital when he's treated and isn't over the shock of the events.  Yeah Vic any old excuse to see Walt shirtless!! Walt tells Vic that everything will be okay and she cries in his arms.  Walt is no sooner out of hospital that he attends a CS where Ferg *Adam Bartley) tells him about some remains he's found, which may be human. They find prisoners worked on the farm and he meets up with Bob Barnes (John Bishop) who he locked up, who was responsible for Cady's accident.  He tells Walt he's been sober and he helped build the barn for George (Cooper Huckabee).  As they find George's body in the barn, shot in the back.  Nick (Larry Clarke) tells him George only worked the farm he didn't own the land.  But he had plenty of debt so people would be chasing him up for it.  George also had a wife and daughter who aren't at the house when he and Ferg drive there.  As they drive up, they run into the house and George's wife, Dawn (Jennifer Parsons) tells her daughter, Cassie (Mandy Brown) to get the shotgun.  She believes that Nick is behind it and will be here to chase them off the land.

Vic can't control her anger and she accuses Sean (Michael Mosley) of opening a document on her laptop, it was at home.  He says it wasn't him and he wants her to leave with him and resign, which she isn't about to do.  However she then realizes at work that it was Branch (Bailey Chase) who was there and happened to open the document addressed to Walt.  He says she was missing and he was looking for leads, which she doesn't buy cos the letter's about Branch and his behaviour.  She didn't send it to Walt, cos yeah he's really big on computers isn't he!!  But he's angry cos she thinks he is mentally unbalanced.  After her own experience of being held hostage and facing near death, it's a wonder she doesn't understand any better how he feels and what he's going through.  No, she's got Walt's shoulder to cry on and even more she wishes.

Cady (Cassidy Freeman) meets Branch at the station telling him she's got an idea of hiring a PI in Denver to find out about Darius.  He's surprised and hurt that she didn't ask him for help straight out instead of money and they drive to Denver together.  Nick brings the insurance man, Ty Patterson (Michael Rothhar) with him and they can't do anything with the insurance on George since the autopsy report isn't in.  Nick suggesting that maybe Dawn had enough and was the one killed him. Walt finds out about the insurance policy and Vic tells him Sean wants her to resign.  She doesn't want to leave but Walt thinks she should do that and doesn't talk her out of it or offers her any support.  Not wanting to get involved in their personal lives.  Obviously he wouldn't come straight out to tell her to stay but Ruby (Louanne Stephens) informs him of an incident at the farm.

Cassie called and Nick is in a tractor chasing her mother.  Walt arrives to push Dawn out of the way. George owes him money on their equipment so he's come to collect.  Walt tells him this isn't the time and he repeats what he said back at the office about how he should be nice.  That's how his father was and it got him nowhere except broke in his grave.  He speaks with Cassie who all knew about the policy.  Also that they do have a .38, the same gun that was used on George.

At the bar in Denver, Cady questions the bartender about Darius and he shows them the wall of pictures.  Whilst there Branch's a photo is taken by a woman who says she hasn't seen a cowboy before.  She later sends him the photo she takes of Branch on his phone and he sees David Ridges behind him!  Small world, wonder if he put her up to that considering the photo later vanishes so he doesn't have any proof.  Which once again makes Cady all the more afraid of him.  She thinks he's still hallucinating, he did it before when he tried to strangle her.  She then calls Cady for a ride and she confirms in Vic's mind that Branch is seriously deluded and dangerous.

Walt suspects maybe George tried to kill himself and when he talks to Ty, he finds that George tried it once before.  He then later tried to talk him out of it again and he got the wrong idea.  Ty didn't mean he should kill himself but that he should try and make things better.  Ty found him after he took sleeping pills and of course since he can't get a pay out on a suicide he shot him with the gun.  So his family would be paid and could work the farm.  Walt declares his death unsolved since his story appears far fetched.  Vic gives Walt the letter from her laptop and it's about ranch.  As he sits in the bar and is watched by Ridges.

Another stand alone mystery with added elements from the story arc, as Vic finally gives Walt the letter about Branch, but she does that without any confirmation of his state of mind, she's not a doctor and just bases it on what she sees.  Which is good and fine to a point, but she doesn't even bother giving him the benefit of the doubt, but she expects Walt to be at her beck and call and be on her side unequivocally and without any questions asked.  She's not exactly in a one hundred per cent perfect state of mind after what she's been through.  Her marriage breakdown and constantly having Walt on her mind.  Seems Branch was all but deserted by everyone and doesn't have anyone to turn to.  The same with his father, who's more like a father in name only.  Branch may have his genes but he's nothing like Barlow.  Who's pretty much ashamed of him as he couldn't win the sheriff's position!  Not to mention Ridges and his vanishing act, it as as though he was taunting Branch and driving him closer ot going over the edge, as he later says he practically owns him.

Paranormal Lockdown 2.2 "Shrewsbury Prison" Review

Shrewsbury Prison, Shropshire, England is in relatively good nick (no pun) for a prison.  Known as Dana Prison.  Had many expectations for me this episode, but for some reason to me it didn't feel as emotional or as creepy as all the other episodes of Paranormal Lockdown that I've watched and loved.  Maybe it was the location cos this prison seemed quite tame compared to the ones that have been investigated in the US.  However that's not putting the episode down or Nick and Katrina's gruelling 72 hour lockdown at all.  It was somehow worse for Katrina this time round, as first she has a tumble down the stairs and hurts her ankles and her wrist, but must soldier on.  As Nick later said it's a lockdown and they're here for 72 hours so they have to get the job done.  She didn't think she had been pushed, or didn't recall.  However it also reaffirmed their camaraderie and how they watch each other's backs, like when Nick heard that noise and he came back to check on Katrina all the way from the tunnel.  Did those noises, at least some of them, sound like the trap door giving way when a hanging is carried out?  As I tweeted Katrina that must've been awful for her and I wish I did have the synchronicity with her, as I do with someone unmentionable, who I always used to warn away from stairs!! Yeah warnings were directed at the wrong person!

As if that wasn't bad enough she then misses the step in the cell.  Nick went in first, maybe he should've warned her of the step.  Whilst watching this episode, I thought back to the Hauntings of Australia episode 1.2 Old Geelong Gaol; where the build and structure was quite similar.  maybe they modelled their prisons in Australia on the British counterparts.  Where they captured some amazing evidence.  Which isn't to say Nick and Katrina didn't catch some compelling evidence in Shewsbury too.  Especially the rope!  When Nick entered the execution room and his camera showed the angle of the rope with the window behind it, I said to my sis that the rope was going to move and it's just something that entered my mind!  I have no idea why I said it.  Then again I also said that perhaps Nick might sleep in the execution room which he didn't do.  I did feel the same way Nick did watching this, when Rob said to him how he's been staring at that room and didn't want to go into it.

The other uncanny moment was when Nick saw the shadow figure across the doorway.  OMG hand on heart!  Seriously I know I saw something there too and in that general direction too and again blurted to my sis, "what was that?"  I swear I saw something there too before Nick says it, but when I looked back I couldn't see anything.  Maybe it wasn't caught on camera but my feeling was still so strong also.
It was somewhere around where the blue tick is?  Wonder if that's where Nick noticed it?

For some reason, this episode was more like me feeling I was actually there with them, I don't know why.  I get my synchronicity moments at lot of the time, yet this one felt so different, there's no way to describe it.  But it wasn't like what usually happens when I watch such shows and my eyes just always manage to focus on where something's going to happen.  Probably some sort of sixth sense I've developed over the years.  Those footsteps too, they sounded more like heels, than flat shoes. Maybe it was the 'lady in grey' Katrina saw, but they wouldn't wear heels.

This is not about me, anyway, the other incredible pieces of evidence they caught was the stick figure on the 3D mapping camera, which took hold of Katrina's hand and she felt it cold around her, though she couldn't feel it and the tug on her jacket.  Over the years investigators have spoken of how this has happened to them, but to actual have footage of it and to see it, brings a whole other reality and aspect to this happening.  It's amazing when you watch it!  Like watching invisible people.  Someone trying to get Katrina's attention and it definitely seemed she was the centre of this lockdown. Especially since she was the one who told Nick about George Riley, who was wrongfully hanged there and was the last prisoner ever hanged there and the story with the doves was fascinating too. Also to get confirmation from Steve, the former prison officer there of much of what they encountered.

21.43 what is that a trick of the light?? looks like a creepy face?? that flashes past quickly when Nick tells Katrina he's coming up. It seems to be behind the bars outside?  Maybe it's a reflection or some kind of  'faces in things' that you get.

The funny part not added for time constraints most likely, was Nick's encounter in the toilet when something came up on him and banged on the door!  Ahh Nick always the loo, same thing at Bobby Mackey's Music World. He was later told that the guards would bang on the door if the prisoner was spending too much time in there!  Er, it's a loo would think you'd spend as long as is needed in there! ha.
Would love to investigate with Nick and Katrina, to get my curiosity satisfied and questions answered but it would be so amazing irrespective of that!

Note:
As for George Riley there wasn't any evidence corroborating his confession.  As the murder was committed during the furtherance of another crime: theft, the Homicide Act 1957 was in force and as such a capital sentence was always going to be given. Many people thought and still think he is innocent.  As well as no money being stolen from the victim, she only had four shillings in her purse. Especially also since the victim was so badly battered that there killer would've been blood stained. As well as there being the outline of a person where the blood stains were spattered.  There was no blood found on his clothes or belongings, aside from his towel, where he cut himself shaving. Another example of British injustice.

Doctor Who Christmas Special 2016 "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" Review

                                                
As the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) returns again to foil yet another invasion attempt at Christmas by yet more pesky aliens - really you'd think they'd have learnt their lesson by now.  This time hanging upside down from a building on the 60th floor and helped by a boy who's allowed to let him in cos his parents wouldn't believe an old man would be dangling around there.  Thus he's Santa, it's logical. The boy brings him milk and cookies and he enjoys them as he glances over to the Christmas tree. Even the Doctor gets the connection there. Then reads a Superman comic and if it hadn't really happened this way you'd forgiven for thinking it was all from the imagination of some man!!  Or a fantastic dream.  Anyway the Doctor works out that Clark Kent and Superman are one and the same, after drawing some glasses on Superman.  The boy telling him that everyone knows that.  Well everyone except Lois Lane and she's a reporter the Doctor replies.

As Grant (Logan Hoffman) takes him to the roof to let him out, he chances upon the Doctor's new invention, yes another one and as we know he likes to make and build things on top of towers and tall buildings.  it's just what he does.  He gives Grant a glass of water and also a gem to hold but instead of telling him to hold it, he says "take it" which he literally does and swallows it.  It won't hurt him but will have the opposite effect of making his wishes come true, as Grant begins to levitate.

Grant (Justin Chatwin) wakes up older and holding a baby.  As we jump to a press conference with Mr Brock (Adetomiwa Edun) [Elyan from Merlin] at Harmony Shoal as he gives credit to Shuster and Siegel and we all knwo who they are.  The creators of Superman for those who didn't (what planet have you been on ha?! Joel Schuster was the artist and Serry Siegel was the writer.)  It's attended by Lucy Fletcher - reporter (Charity Wakefield) and also Nardole (Matt Lucas) who asks for the little boy' room.  Not the bathroom but the actual little boy's room.  Lucy goes snooping and ends up hiding round the same corner as the Doctor - snacking on sushi.  He loves his snacks this time round - maybe his eating is a way of getting over River.  More on that later.  (How many thought he'd say Clara when asked who he's getting over??  Even if he's not meant to remember her.  Think somehow he still does.)

Inside the vault where there are stores of brains Dr Sim (Aleksander Jovanovic) tells Brock how he counted 24 but now there's 36 brains in the jars and he didn't see any deliveries arriving.  Brock peers at the jar and sees the brain has eyes and isn't really a brain but an alien waiting to exchange bodies with a human "vehicle" as they later call them.  Brock is operated on by surgeons emerging from behind the jars and becomes an alien too.  As the Doctor and Lucy head to the map room.  She tells him who she really is and he says he's Dan Dangerous from Scotland Yard and is a Doctor.  The map shows an invasion of all the major capitals of the world, what am I saying major, all the capital of the world and also New York and as Nardole points out, New York isn't a capital city.  No it's not but it's one that's always the focus of attention when it comes to invasions, attacks and the like.

Sim turns up holding a gun to them with lots of head splitting in the episode (splitting headaches and as many jokes as could be gotten within the hour about minds and keeping an open mind etc.)  The Doctor turns his back to him and tells him to shoot them in the back and then he can say he killed unarmed intruders in self defence.  Just then the window smashes as superhero: The Ghost makes an entrance.  Though you could've substitute Grant for the letter 'G' too.  As Sim comment on how the glass was to withstand four times a nuclear explosion.  (Clue for later or now if you were paying attention.)  So he rescues Lucy and takes her home in the classic Superman scene of where he flies with Lois.  He has an emergency to go to as he takes out his baby monitor, if you hadn't realized it was Grant and he's the nanny to Lucy Lombard - her married name.  Her husband left after the baby was born.

The Doctor and Nardole also arrive, who then plays with the baby elephant toy and Lucy arrives asking how the Doctor got here before here if they were here to check up on her.  With a flashback to Grant (Daniel Lorente) when he was at school and miserable.  As they sit on the balcony and the Doctor sips a drink casually from a bottle.  (See binge eating! ha)  Well kind of.)  The gem didn't 'pass' through him but bonded instead.  He's got X-ray vision and hates it cos he likes Lucy.  Older Grant leaves on on an emergency and Lucy quizzes the Doctor on who he really is using her squeeky toy, Mr Huffle. on whom she'll inflict pain if he lies.  Of course he doesn't tell her and she knows he's not with Scotland Yard.  He points to the TV where Grant is being interviewed after his rescue of two children from a fire.  She's aware the Doctor knows who the Ghost really is and he can introduce her cos she wants to interview him.  Being right under his nose and he says the same to her, that he could be really close by her too.  He turns up and they speak on the phone as he calls her.  She wants to have dinner with him, just business and an interview and he agrees.  He'll pick her up on the roof.  As she heads to the kitchen where Grant says he has a date too and so he can't babysit.  She didn't realize he's dating and he has to forego his plans for his date.

A little stereotypical in that he was ordinary looking and wore glasses so he couldn't score a date.  I should say geeky looking it's easier than putting my foot in it.  Sim and Brock watch footage to work out who the Doctor is and they think they're watching footage, but in actual fact he's really in the room with them.  Telling them about all the other aliens who've attempted to invade Earth and he's always put an end to it.  Yeah don't mess with the Doctor and especially not at Christmas.  He realizes that they plan to take all the brains of the world leaders and substitute them with aliens.  (Nothing new then, maybe an aside to the President elect!!  Yeah brain substitution needed desperately there!! ha.)  As the Doctor comments: "Brains with minds of their own, no one will believe that, this is America."  Okay leaving politics out of it here though it wasn't left out of the ep!  Anyway he leaves him with his burger as Brock opens his mind and removes a gun to shoot the Doctor with.  Hmm connotation for the only place to store a gun, for those people who  have guns on their minds in the US or something along the lines.)

He whistles for the TARDIS and he leaves there with Nardole.  Apparently he rescued Nardole from the metal monster he was a part of in the last Christmas episode (see below) and oh meant to say when the Doctor was reading Superman's comic I was looking at Superman's head inside the helmet next to him, like it was inside a jar, never mind, close enough to a brain in a jar.  They head to the ship that's orbiting outside of Earth and he thinks they should take a look inside cos the lights aren't on so there's no one there.  Where he heads to the flight room and finds that the ship is actually a a bomb.  Cue Sim on the screen and the Doctor finally clicking that the building of the Harmony Shoal can withstand the nuclear blast and how the leaders will clamour to come into the building after the explosion.  That's how they'll get their brains.  But hello there won't be many humans left, at least not that many after an explosion and then gets why New York was on the map.  Not a capital city but will be when they take them over.  He thinks he can disarm it as security finds them on the ship.

Lucy and Grant on their date, he brings a picnic basket to the roof since he hates restaurants.  She changes into her red dress finds she's jealous of Grant and his date and he says she's jealous of herself too.  Realizing what she feels for him.  As the Doctor said: "you're jealous to you" to Grant and he responded, "technically she's jealous of her."  Wouldn't you think she'd know who he really is and recall him from school.  Come on she must've checked out his references for the nanny job, at least you'd recognize someone from your past.  Anyway he decides to come clean with her and takes off his mask but she doesn't look at his face.  The Doctor gets the notion that when the ship is armed its shields will be lowered and thus he can direct it straight to the roof where Grant is.  Well Brock arrives and holds her at gunpoint cos they figured out they need the Ghost as he's unlike any other human they've seen and threaten her.  He escapes and comes back as Grant - the nanny.  And the Doctor resets the frequency on the bomb/ship so only Grant can hear it, telling him what to do: which involves balancing the bomb on his one hand.  As Lucy realizes who he is.  They can contain their feelings no longer and the Doctor tells him to take the bomb and destroy it into the sun, as he carries her off with him and the bomb still kissing.

                                                   

As the Doctor leaves, Nardole tells them about River, he lost her as she died in a library after they had 24 years together.  Same number of years Grant's known Lucy.

(See last Christmas episode
http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/doctor-who-christmas-special-2015.html )

Grant tells him he's not a Doctor Who but a Doctor Mysterio (the show is called this in Mexico which Peter loved and wanted to get that in, so Moffat wrote it for him) at the beginning which he likes and will take the name!  A little of a cop out in taking on the Superman story cos everyone knows Superman.  So a bit of a feel good one this time round.  Okay grant-ed (no pun) we needed it cos of the yukky year that was 2016, so we needed make believe and escapism and being saved; all rolled into one.  And the Doctor's excellent line of "Mrs Lombard there are some situations which are too stupid to be allowed to continue."  Any takers? Ha.

Hoever Steven Moffat said that he was referring more to Clark Kent here rather than his alter ego of Superman. Grant is the hero as opposed to The Ghost. Which if you really think about it doesn't say much, cos they're both one and the same.  Who else thought of Amelia Pond and how the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) chanced upon her too as a child and then returned later (here 24 years later) when she was all growed up. (Yes my use of growed instead of grown - sounded better.)  Also thought they're in Manhattan, where are the Ponds?  Wishful thinking remained just that!)

Also as Nardole reminds the Doctor about the Time Lords agreeing not to interfere in other's business.  No surprise that the zip heads or the creatures with the opening heads were also in The Husbands of River Song and how they were overpowered by King Hydroflax.  As they made a return in another Christmas episode.  As Nardole mentions River and 24 years are also said, we know that the events here take place after their 24 year dinner at The Singing Towers.

The Vampire Diaries 8.7 "The Next time I Hurt Somebody, It Could Be You" Review

                                                  
As Stefan (Paul Wesley) plans his final night with Caroline (Candice King) his final Christmas party with her, we get a flashback to Monteray 1917 where Stefan as the Ripper enters the tents of a small community and wrecs havoc. As the girl says, "that's not Santa - not it's his evil twin: Satan.  Or even Satan sent!) Obviously this was going to be the main moment in his life which was meant to be a pivotal turning point and set him along his future path.  Stefan also writing in Elena's diary for which he believes will be the last time for a very long time and as he said that my mind went off back to The Sound of Music and the line where Captain Von Trapp says this will be the last time they will hear the family sing together for a long time!  Funny that! Well it's the same here Caroline ad Stefan won't be together for a year at least or more.  No one in this show is together anymore, not even as friends.

Alaric (Matt Davis) arrives with the twins as he's leaving with them later on and tells Caroline of how he killed Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and she's surprised he did that.   Just when everyone thought things couldn't or wouldn't get any worse, in walks Damon along with that siren Sybil (Nathalie Kelley).  To mar everyone's merriment and of course he was uninvited.  Caroline tells Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Enzo )Michael Malarkey) not to turn up cos she's here and says they need the weapon   to use against her cos it can work wonders on her.  But they don't know where it is and she couldn't exactly keep it in the car.  No she wouldn't since she's travelling with Damon, who's about as helpful as a tuning fork right about now!

Caroline says she'll find out where it is after plying Sybil with booze and being overly nice to her, which the dummy appreciates and falls for the friendship angle.  For someone who doesn't trust anyone and has been around an awfully long time she just doesn't get people!  Damon says he's here to do something but before he spills he says he and Stefan should get out the old decorations.  Once they get upstairs he tells him about Alaric and he also kills Stefan by staking him with the wooden Christmas star decoration.  Was that meant to be some sort of poetic justice?  ha,  It's about time he met Cade (Wole Parks) he tells him.  Caroline gives more drink to Sybil as she tells her to move over cos she can carve the turkey even better than her after that same experience gouging and tearing apart human flesh.  Actually I take that back, the poetic justice part is to follow and it concerns Sybil.

She finally gets her to reveal where she's staying as she's into swimming pools and water.  There's ponds around but not real ponds and Caroline relays this to Bonnie.  Whilst she has to find another gift.  Bonnie is just relieved that Elena isn't around to see this and Caroline gets an idea as she needs another gift box.  She hands out presents to everyone and strangely she didn't call Matt (Zach Roerig) and tell him not to turn up, as he arrives with his father, Peter (Joel Gretsch).  Another pivotal turning point in Matt's life too by the end of the episode.  She even gives a present to Sybil as she says her mother always taught her to be prepared.  Maybe the turkey and food was enough for her as she was the only one stuffing her face again (last supper??) as Damon knifes the bread.  She even gives Damon a gift which is apparent has something to do with Elena.  Most everything does in the show even when she's not around.

Damon reveals the reason for him being here; he's going to kill one of them by the end of the night. The one who's got the darkest secret and he says it won't be Matty cos he's been through so much. Matt saying he's not a killer and Damon brings up Penny, Matt saying he didn't kill her.  Damon then turns to Peter and asks him what the most bad thing is he's ever done and he scoffs when he mentions he didn't pay his taxes.  Finally holding a knife to his throat and threatening him to open up.  He says he couldn't say in this town any longer and "be a toilet scrubber." Cos there was going to be another child on the way.  That being Matt.  (No it was life on the high seas for him as he joined NCIS - sorry! couldn't resist that!)

By now everyone's getting really fed up of the frivolity and Alaric reads to the twins who constantly ask about Seline (Kristen Gutoskie).  Who just happens to be in the family house where Bonnie and Enzo arrive, as she gets the owner to invite him in.  She's looking for redemption and writing the list of her Vics, the last one being Georgie.  (So if Georgie was always marked for hell where exactly is she?)  She will give them the tuning fork but she needs to speak with Alaric first telling him she has to see the twins cos they're psychically linked to her and she has to make it up so they forget her.  He refuses to see her but she gives them the tuning fork.  As she recalls her time in Monteray.

As does Stefan since this is where Cade takes him back to and I'm afraid people must really have been out of it not to notice that this was the show's version of A Christmas Carol, with Cade being the ghost of Christmas past, present and future (aka the evil in their lives.)  He reminds Stefan of what he did here but Stefan doesn't recall any of it and even how he killed everyone cos he wouldn't do that and especially not at Christmas.  But he did it as the Ripper and we get to see small world, Selina was also there with Cade.  She sees the anguished man when she reads his mind but doesn't see any evil in him, removing his memories, which he eventually forget by himself Cade says.  There's one more place for them to go and that's the school.  The first time he met Elena and he tells Stefan he should've left her alone after what she'd been through.  She was vulnerable and he went right for her. Also she was innocent.  He wants Stefan to bring people back who are on the verge of reaching the pearly gates and he wants the good ones to be made bad.  Stefan strikes a bargain with him that he will switch off his humanity and he will do this for a year.  Cade accepts cos he thinks after a year the Ripper won't want to stop the massacres and killings, like before.   Cade's best line: "if death is your canvas, then this is your masterpiece."  As well as Cade deciding his soul would be his from then on.

As Damon leaves with Sybil  after Enzo and Bonnie use the fork on her, she thinks he's growing closer to her, yeah dream on siren!  As she finds a gift in his pocket, duh Caroline gave it to him when she was there so why would it be for her.  She opens it and he sees it's Elena's necklace.  The one she lost and he gave back to her on her birthday.  As he puts it around her neck, Damon appears to have a turn around and doesn't switch off his humanity though (or does he) as he rips out her heart!  Way to go Sybil!  Yay Damon!  Sorry but she was always irritating.  Now maybe if he hand't left her heart next to her, that'd be more fitting.  But he does take the necklace.  So even after all that does it mean he still wants Elena even after switching off his humanity which is a puzzling thing in many ways. Though I did say last episode he didn't appear to be under Sybil's influence nay longer.  Oh and the thing she wanted from Peter, didn't Damon find that already in the garage, as Peter plays dumb and says he doesn't know what that is.

Oh and the fork had an effect on Bonnie too, thinking it's cos they're all physically connected as her Grams told her that.  She believed she was psychic before finding out she was a witch and had magic. Which is why Seline wanted to remove her connection from the twins.  Bonnie adding he's taking her to Paris and she only bought him T-shirts, so she wouldn't keep taking his.  So Enzo during his immortal life has collected the sum total of T-shirts to his name and nothing more!  Well fine time to leave Caroline in the lurch as she'll be all alone without Stefan.  Matt will be around though, as he drops off his father and has no words for him.  Matt always gets the short end of the stick in this and is the one who gets hurts the most, especially by the ones he trusts.

Stefan wakes and he takes Caroline to the mistletoe where he kisses her.  He needed to get one thing right that he planned.  Hey look a plan works out in Mystic Falls.  He tells her what he agreed to with Cade, but not the part about being the Ripper again.  Stefan walks the road and Damon drives up telling him to hop in and there's no Sybil as "three's a crowd."  Hmm well you didn't say that when you wanted Elena and she was with Stefan did ya!  ha.  Damon tells him he needs to turn off his humanity as it'll make it easier and they need some proper Christmas music.  "The Salvatore brothers on a road trip."  Yeah calling it: Winchester road trip here and didn't that scene so remind you of Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) in Supernatural!  We so need a cross-over episode before Ian and Paul go on  to do other things!!  Off goes the humanity switch and there it is: evil Stefan with that glint in his eyes and death in his heart!!  Hurry up next year!! 2017 and a hundred years since Stefan was in Monteray!!  Yay, well it rhymed.

One thing though let's be clear Stefan had absolutely no influence on Elena's life or the direction she was headed.  It was already decided for her and having Katherine as a doppelganger didn't make things any easier.  Yet she was also a grown woman capable of making her own decisions and choices. She always had a choice and besides who can change kismet and what is already written. Truth be told I loved that scene when Damon drove up, could watch it over and over!!  Of course when Damon gave her the necklace back in season 3 it was her pivotal moment (yes love using that word now) when she realized she loved Damon.  So how can Stefan be solely to blame for Elena.

Once again the title of this episode is a quote from Stefan to Elena from 1.20 Blood Brothers -  highly appropriate again, as here that's what both Damon and Stefan both turn into at the stroke of midnight.  No glass slippers or pumpkin carriages, but cold hard killing once more.
Stefan: "It hurts me knowing what I've done...and that pain is with me all the time...and everyday I think that if I just give myself over to the blood...I can make that pain stop...It would be that easy. And everyday I fight that... and I am so terrified that one day I am not going to want to fight that anymore...and the next time I hurt somebody it could be you..."
Here you get the complete reversal cos he saved the twins, he now has to feel that pain but not for switching off his humanity and he gave himself over selflessly and now comes the blood.

But I also like the line Damon said to Stefan in this season 1 ep as it contradicts and turns around everything Cade said to Stefan about Elena: You brood too much.  Everything on this planet's not your fault.  My actions, what I do, it's not your fault, I own them.  They belong to me, you're not allowed to feel my guilt."  There Cade for everything you say, it's not true.  As I said Elena made her own choices and Stefan wasn't to blame for them so he shouldn't have guilted Stefan into believing they were just cos he wanted the Ripper back for himself.