The FutureNow

"It's not me, to make a fuss
It's just that the water's cold and I can't feel my legs"

I don't mean to start with an apology, but I feel it necessary: I'm sorry about Vitriol #1 that appeared earlier this week. It's been deleted from The Matrix Data Banks as its not really me to let things like that out. When Deep Thought powers up the output belongs in a place in my head, not in public. Thus, I think the above quote, lifted from The Cooper Temple Clause (where the hell are they?), sums up the way I was feeling. I've come up with the excuse that I'm suffering from some form of post-Who trauma at present, not knowing what to fill my Saturdays (or life?) with.

Anyways, as previously alluded to, I visted Cardiff Barfly for the first time in ages to watch a gig on Tuesday. What follows is my twopennyworth opinion:

Xfm Xposure: The Rakes/ Martini Henry Rifles/ Captain Black
Cardiff Barfly, Tues 21st June

Upon venturing down to the sweaty environment of Barfly upon the hottest day of the year so far, or since yesterday at least, I was firstly taken aback by the amount of people present. My sources had informed me that they weren't expecting a great crowd, hence my place on the guestlist, and, at the end of the day, who really wants to be stuck beneath ground with no windows when its sweltering outside? The answer: quite a few people, since Xfm is Cardiff for a short period. What's more, they've bought a few friends along to say Hi.

First up on the bill were Captain Black, a three-piece post-punk Indie trio who reminded you of the Pixies in places, and a whole host of other bands in the others. Obviously suffering from the problems of "people to cool to come close to the front" syndrome, the band did their best to entice the audience, securing two ardant fans and not letting them both pee at the same time. Slightly harsh, but anything that manages to make your band seem popular has gotta be a good idea. The band themselves rattled through a number of interesting tracks, often starting in one form and then changing into a different beast halfway through to keep things interesting. Add in the singer's knack for interchanging between singing and angrily shouting the lyrics on a line-by-line basis and they evoced a memory of Captain-era iDLEWiLD in this reviewer. In fact, if they'd have ended their set with the penultimate song, a touching ballad involving just man, guitar and voice, I'd have been even more interested in them. It was a shame that everything was ruined then by the last song, when, as the singer collapsed on stage, writhing around like Kurt used to, it became crushingly evident that rather than wanting to be their own band, they actually just wanted to be another Nirvana-wannabe. Shame.

The first encounter I had with the Martini Henry Rifles was on my twenty-first birthday a couple of years ago, when they played a DJ set at Clwb and were thoroughly dull, playing only songs they wanted to hear and that they thought were funny. Moreover, from that, and the performance tonight, the lasting image you get of the band is that they obviously think their the most important thing in the world, if not the Universe, since they swagger around with the air that they should be headlining proceedings. Fair enough, there's enough of the local Indie crowd here to back up that claim, so it's a shame then that you come to realise that they're just a plie of tosh. The songs are hectic and unmemorable, usually involving one member twidling a knob on a synthesiser, one member playing something frantic and singing, sorry, shouting, something probably quite obscene down the microphone whilst the other charges into the crowd to give everyone intimidating looks. Granted, the fact that one of these charges almost resulted in your reviewer having his eye flicked out by a trailing microphone stand, but I'm afraid that arrogance, intimidating stares and subscribing to the "swearing is cool" scheme don't make up for decent songs here, even if they probably think that they're being really cutting edge. Couple that with the fact that one of the band looks like the guy from Tears for Fears who know one remembers, and they start to loose their 'cool' edge. It's also a sorry state of affairs when the only positive you can write about a band is that they best thing they played was in the last two minutes, when they'd effectivly left the stage and the synthesiser was mimicing the beginning to REM's Electron Blue.

And so we came to The Rakes, just as I was about to lose hope and go home to listen to Together Alone and Siamese Dream and remember how good music can be. From what I'd heard and read on the band's website I was expecting an ultra-serious, sharp-suited lot that looked, and sounded, somewhere between Interpol being fronted by Alex from Franz Ferdinand. This was backed up by the imposing height of the microphone stands that had been set up. Another band with a 'towering' personality I thought. It was much to my surprise, and pleasure, that when the band emerged they reminded me more of The Housemartins in their look than Franz Ferdinand. That thought continued as they played through their first few tracks, all bouncy rhythms and catchy melodies that finally got the people moving. Introducing one song as 'a nice romantic one for the ladies' was a bit of a mistake though. It was hardly Snow Patrol's Run, but then again their really not that type of band. It was also refreshing to see a singer who obviously enjoyed being where he was: all silly hand movements, witty asides between songs and a knowing glint in his eye that he wasn't to be taken too seriously. Nowhere near the 'bit-of-a-gimp' persona someone had previously mentioned.

The problem with seeing a band first-hand like this though is that you never really get the chance to engage with the lyrics as, nine times out of ten, you can't actually pick them out, and this was a shame as I'm sure they had some interesting things to say. For that, I'll have to wait for the album but for now it seems as though The Rakes's star is definately on the ascendance if the hyper-pogoing crowd is anything to go by. And why shouldn't it be? They've got a sound that's popular at the moment and an individuality that works to set them aside from all of the other bands in their field. It'll be interesting to see how they come to differ themselves from their peers, as they're similar to both the jerky, angular sound of The Futureheads, the current art-rock crowd (Franz, Bloc Party) and the wave of sub-Clash revivalists (Dead 60s, Hard-Fi) around at the moment, but I look forward to tracking their progress. What's more, I look forward to the album, and even would've bought a t-shirt if they weren't so darn pricey!

As the Ways are about to Part...

So this is it. Thirteen weeks ago it was all apprehension, sick feelings in the stomach and worries that they'd get the tone wrong, be slaughtered by Ant and Dec and that, after so much promise, the good Doctor would still be something of a point of ridicule. How wrong was I? We've got the Guardian proclaiming it the best thing to happen to British television for years. We've got the highest audience shares for Saturday evening, and ratings that buck the trend for Saturday evening family television. We've got people admiring the special effects, noting how the sets don't wobble and the monsters are 'better' (personally speaking, I think one of the redeming factors of Terror of the Vervoids is the design of the titular menace, but thats just me). We've talk of BAFTA nominations for certain episodes. We've got kids running around shouting 'Exterminate' and telling their parents they'd rather have the Daleks on DVD than whatever else kids watch these days. Most importantly we've got two more series in the bag, and two Christmas specials, which will see the return of the Cybermen and Graeme Harper behind the camera.

So am I satisfied? Yes, and no. Yes, we've achieved everything, and a whole lot more, than I hoped for thirteen weeks ago. I've got people coming up to me at work commenting on how much they're enjoying the series. I've got people asking me what I think of certain things. I've got people I respect contacting me after episodes to let me know they thought it kicked ass. Yes, it seems Who is back where it should be: culturally important and respected. However, the doubts never go away: yes, we have a third series now, but is that just so that ideas can be developed over two series, thus allowing for a thorough review of the programme at the end of series three? I mean, tele-sf doesn't seem to last that long in the UK. Randall and Hopkirk and Strange didn't make it past three series. Additionally, what if people don't take to David Tennant? Granted, he's been ace in the things I've seen, but there's always a chance. Moreover, the BBC has decreed that cutbacks have to be made on the programme, so could this have a negative impact? Furthermore, how on Earth - or should that be the Universe? - will ITV react? I'm sure they've something thoroughly unoriginal and sneaky up their sleeves.

My biggest thought at present though is 'I want in on this, now'. I'm brimming with ideas at the minute! Well, five anyway. Two of these I've previously disclosed, but I'm also working on ideas such as tying together the Mara, the work of William Blake, and the 60s state education system in to a story where the Mara reappears in 60s Britain due to the mood of the time and the National Cirriculum. Then there's my personal fave: taking the wonderful, vain, self-obsessed Jagoroth and writing an Invasion of the Body Snatchers style piece where they end up in the world of today, admire the selfishness and vanity of Western society, and settle in perfectly. In the end, they use their natural carisma to ascend to positions of power and enslave the humans. All this, and humanity doesn't even realise therefore noting how 'alien' humans have become. However, my novel twist on this would be to tell the story from the point of view of the Jagoroth, thus having them musing on such things as McDonalds, The OC and other aspects of contemporary life. Well, in my head its funny. However, my problem is where I can get in on this: I need a foothold somewhere, for someone to read these ideas and deside that their not half bad. Or maybe that they're not a quarter-bad, but with a bit of bashing about they could become not half bad. Is there anybody out there that can help?

So, with only seven hours until those Ways are Parted I can't wait to see how this pans out. I realised the other day this will be the first regeneration I'll have experienced 'first-hand'; in that respect I'm a regeneration virgin, if you know what I mean! I remember when I saw the end of Androzani and first experienced the idea, and it was immense. Granted, that that's the best of all the previous regenerations, with Colin Baker uttering the best dialogue he has for his whole stay as the Doctor, but how will this weigh up? If its as stirring and defiant as Eccleston's rant against the Daleks at the end of Bad Wolf, it'll be superb. Oh yeah, and finally, there've been a few rumblings against the Daleks utterance of'What is the meaning of this negative' last week. Apparently this was considered camp in some circles. What would people have preferred? The Daleks turn around and go 'Ooooh, hark at you' to the Doctor?

The Promise of a Warning

I've been meaning to post the following for a little while now, as I think they really do deserve to be read. It was Michael Stipe who introduced me to the idea of writing lyrics down and sharing them with people because, in his opinion, it allows the words to breathe and, consequentially, take on new and different meanings. Now, these that follow are by no means mine. They're taken from a track on the latest iDLEWiLD masterpiece, 'Warnings/ Promises', thats in all good, and probably a number of less-than-good, record shops now. However, to me, it showcases this band's uncanny knack of writing tracks that I feel really reflect either the way I feel at a certain point in time (Low Light, American English) and in general (I'm Happy to Be Here Tonight, Little Discourage, The Bronze Medal, Live in a Hiding Place). This track? Well, it's a little of both. So read, contemplate, read again if you must, and let me know what you think. At the end of the day, I just hope you enjoy what follows.

BLAME IT ON OBVIOUS WAYS

All the mistakes I've made
I've made because
I didn't really know myself very well
And by this stage
I feel like I really shouldn't know myself
I'm forced into a sponsored silence
Where I'm only paid if I don't say
What I want to say

Open up your arms and say, "I can't throw it all away"
Open up your arms and say, "I can't give it all away"
I couldn't even care what you'll say
You change
You change everyday
And blame it on your obvious ways

I gamble my praises
And fill the jukebox full of my favourite phrases
As we cling to the nightclub walls
We whisper the words
We whispered them wrong
And so we screamed out the wrong words
In to our own song
And with a kiss that tasted like drugs
Which tastes like we'll never, ever make it home

Open up your arms and say, "I can't throw it all away"
Open up your arms and say, "I can't give it all away"
I couldn't even care what you'll say
You change
You change everyday
And blame it on your obvious ways

Throw me around
First you've got to calm me down
Don't you think you
Should calm me down before you throw me around?

You throw me in to another move I came and make
It changes everyday
Open up your arms and say, "Give it all away"
I couldn't even care what you'll say
You change
You change everyday
And blame it on your obvious ways

(Woomble, Jones, Stewart, Fox, Newton (2005))

Wolf at the Door

Once more it seems I am behind schedule, and I apologise for that dear readers. This post was supposed to go up yesterday, seen as though I spent all day at work musing over it, but due to a nasty encounter with the air-conditioning I have developed the flu and so spent yesterday evening sneezing and ommiting a low-frequency groaning noise. As a result, today's intended post concerning iDLEWiLD, the Jagoroth, the Mara and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop will have to be delayed a little.

Anyways, with the imminent transmission of the 'revelation' episode Bad Wolf this evening, I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring with some ideas concerning the season's narrative enigma. Firstly, lets examine the evidence: the 'Bad Wolf' tag has so far been used in relation to two seperate comments, some graffiti, a security sign, a TV station, a poster, a bomb and a power station. Now by the law of averages some of these are going to be red herrings and I feel the biggest one of these is the graffiti on the TARDIS. In my opinion its just too obvious. However, the term seems to be related to some form of 'device', whether that be human or otherwise. So could it be a situation? An event? A 'thing' (for want of a better word)? A person? The BBC website points to the latter, and something archaic at that due to its references to ancient mythologies. This, naturally, points to The Doctor as he is over 900 years old and, by definition, an alien and therefore mysterious. So if the revelation does relate to the Doctor it could be interesting as it would help to add to the mysticism of the character for further seasons. After all, the criticism of the series as it ended in 1989 was that he had lost any form of mysticism and thus become over-familiar. This would also fit in well with the Time War theme, as he could be responsible for some action that he's trying to avoid.

However, I would ideally like to see the revelation to relate to either Mickey or Adam. Now Mickey's been a bit of a stooge over the whole series and, in all honesty, he got on my nerves something chronic in Rose. However, after Boom Town I've changed my opinion as I felt some form of graviats in his character. Moreover, he's certainly got motivations: The Doc pinched his lady and he might want revenge. Furthermore, it might explain why The Doctor refers to him as Ricky; is he not really what he seems. Alternatively, it could refer to Adam because, and as the BBC site points out, he downloaded the entire history of humanity into his head during The Long Game and could well use that. Plus he doesn't like the Doctor since he dumped him back on Earth with a hole in his head. Additionally, he's familiar with the Daleks; could they possibly track him down?!? The only flaw in this idea is the fact that Bruno Langley is listed nowhere in the cast list for the two episodes, so unless a wonderful secret has actually been concealed, this would be wrong.

What's more, we are apparently promised the return of a character from Dalek History (perhaps this should be a new GCSE topic. Can you imagine it? "Mum, I don't wanna do History, I wanna do Dalek history, its far more interesting"!). We're assured it's not The Master, nor another Time Lord (but Omega would've been v cool), neither is it Fenric (?!?). Thus, its gotta either be Davros or the Supreme Dalek. I really hope its the latter, as to re-introduce Davros would see the Daleks get bogged down in all that continuity from the past, and that could be really rather messy, especially when the programme is already in a state of transistion (more on that next time). Of course, I could've made a gross miscalculation but personally I think it'd be cool to see a character not seen since the almighty Evil of the Daleks.

Aside from that, there are questions to answer regarding the cliffhanger at the end of the episode: what will it be? The revaltion of the Daleks as the plotters? Hopefully not, since that was given away by the trailer at the end of Boom Town. Perhaps the revelation of the Bad Wolf enigma? Probably, especially if this relates to one of the main characters or theories I've forwarded above. Or maybe the revelation of the 'returning character'? That would make for a great dramatic ending, and be very different to the two previous cliffhangers we've had. Either one of those will do! However, knowing the episode is in the directorial hands of Joe Aherne counts for a lot. His work has been expcetional so far, so let's just see how things go...

On a different note, I feel there's a storm of abuse for RTD brewing in the fandom for the way he represents the Daleks. I mean, this is why Terry Nation's estate were reluctant to use them in the series after all, and there are bound to be comparisons to Rob Shearman's superb re-examination of the Dalek Condition. So prepare for abuse on their behaviour, dialogue, general menace, and anything else that can possibly be picked apart. Personally, I'll be interested to see the Dalek ships and how they're designed in comparison to their crafts in Rememberance, Revelation and Resurrection etc.

Oh, and just one final note: you can tell Who is cool again. On eBay you can bid for buttons of psychadelic Cybermen and Scaroth. Ah, the Jagoroth. More on them next time...

Neglecting my Responsibilities

Dear Reader, I feel as though I should perhaps apologise as it appears that somewhere along the way we've got a little lost. Not very good seen as though this has only been going a matter of weeks, is it really? It seems as though I've gotten rather bogged down with dwelling on questions of life and philosophy and thus neglected the true focus of this journal: Doctor Who! I never posted my review of The Doctor Dances, which is a shame as it was one of the most enjoyable pieces of television I've seen in ages, with an ending that bordered on the euphoric. Couple that with one of Richard Wilson's best-ever comedy lines - that from an advocate of Mr Meldrew and his One Foot in the Grave - and you truly had a great piece of family entertainment. However, that didn't prepare me for the immensity of Boom Town. I had fears about the episode in all honesty, bad pre-comments from the fan community hadn't helped, but perhaps when your expectations are lowered you're more open to surprise as this was fantastic. I'd waited eleven weeks for a good, thoughtful, well written character study and just when you aren't expecting it, along one comes and reminds you how great the series has been! Intellegently dwelling on the aftermath of a situation, and whether you could lead someone to their death, is the kind of story I'd have loved to have written for the show! Moreover, its good to see the series developing some new mysticism about the Doctor and, in this instance, the TARDIS as it breeds scope for the long-term direction of the show. Couple that with the fantastic intensity of Eccleston in places and you had a really unexpected treat.

However, there's news I've overlooked. Big news. In fact, its news so fantastic that it deserves the title of BIG NEWS. Oh yes, as of next year, they'll be back. Who? None other than the Cybermen! Hurrah! I'm so pleased as, after the fantastic work done in reinventing the Daleks, I can't wait to see what RTD and team will do with the Best Sci-Fi Villains in the History of TV Sci-Fi (TM). You dispute this fact? Well, the Borg completely ripped off the Cybermen all you Trekkies. Let's just hope for a nice bleak story showing how very evil they can be, and no car-headlights on the head if you please. I think its time we had a quote. After three: "We are called Cy-ber-men!" Think I'll go and watch The Tenth Planet shortly.

All I can hope for now is a third series, and judging by the intellegence displayed on Saturday, if by some strange occurance you're reading this Russell, sir, and fancy commissioning an intellegent piece on ethnic cleansing I have one by name of The Drowning Pool. Or if you're looking to bring back the Sontarons, I have a great idea for a story concerning them which engages with current debates surrounding cloning and faulty genes. In fact Faulty Genes sounds like a hell of title for the story. I'm rather awash with inspiration at the moment, as my other project is benefitting well from at present, but that's a different story.

All that and the trailer for Bad Wolf looked pretty good as well, apart from well done BBC for concealing the fact that the Daleks are back again. Not. If anyone has been irresponsible with this series, its been the dear corporation, and it does pain me to slate the best broadcasting organization in the world.

Cheap Shots, Expensive Drinks, and the Girl in the Leather Trousers

It's been a good number of years since The Best Rock Band in the World (TM) identified that from time to time everybody hurts, and that when faced with these instances its best to seek some solace in those closest to you: your friends. Now, whilst I feel that this has become something of a cliche over time, I'm happy to report that there is still some form of truth in the statement. You see, over the past few weeks I hadnt been feeling especially great or clever. I hadn't been sleeping, or eating, much. I'd been working a lot. I'd been feeling a lot more discouraged and lonely than I usually do. I was having some pretty severe dizzy spells as well. In fact, there were a couple of instances when I thought I was beginning to look a little like a cross between Tom Baker and the singer from My Chemical Romance. Couple that with the creeping paranoia that something wasn't quite right in the world, and its no surprise I was experiencing some form of dementia (if that's the operative word).

However, there's nothing like a reunion with your closest, and most endearing, friends to make you feel a hell of a lot more positive: you realise that the same jokes that were funny, possibly up to three years ago, still have some form of resonance, you realise that you can turn up and do or say whatever you feel and it won't be judged, you know that everyone is growing in to that which they always threatened to become, whether that be flash-boy Surrey type or, in my instance, a slightly off-beat writer type. Whilst I'd have like to have thought the insult 'And your Mum' might have been relegated to the playground of comebacks in favour of something better, I suppose there will always be some things that your stuck with.

Its also nice to see that with age, you're moving into the better drinking establishments. Granted, there are still some dingy holes, and I mean that in the most affectionate way possible to Metros, that you'll frequent for a good few years, but its also nice to see people willing to step into the air-conditioned, faux-utopias of alcohol us journalists seem to like to frequent. All that and they've got a videoscreen of a fire playing as well. Is that cool, or is that just me? However, its also good to know that you can return to the watering hole you called 'Home' for the best part of two years and pretend you never really left or grew more cynical, showing off the same impressions of celebrities that don't age in the same way as the wine you're drinking.

Finally, it's good to know that additions can be made, and openly welcomed, into the old dynamic. Additions that are easy and pleasent to talk to, laugh at the stories dredged up from the past and seem genuinly interested in what you've got to say, giving you hope that one day you might meet someone cast from a similar mould. Moreover, its comforting to know that you can go out, desensitise some of your inhibitions and see girls like the ones that appear in your head: like something out of a strange Goth Rock Opera, all leather trousers, heavy eyeliner and can't-be-fucked graces that hides an Amy Lee-style vulnerability beneath the surface. Or that's what you'd like to think about them in your head.

At the end of the day, it's jsut nice to feel like you belong once more. Even if it is just for 48 hours...

Is it Wrong to Want to Change the World?

Okay, I'll be honest that this post was supposed to be put up last Thursday but due to social encounters its been pushed back. I've now however found myself with lots to say and probably three posts in a day so I feel some, if not all, might not get read at all. I'll just have to hope that sanyone reading is dedicated enough.

I was catching the bus to work early this (Thursday) morning and a strange thought occured to me: why do so many kids and adults dress and act the same way? This thought came from the amount of (annoying) kids there were on the bus today who, obviously, had a non-uniform day at their respective schools. They were all dressed like something out of either a very cliched hip-hop video, or someone they'd seen on the pages of Heat magazine, and they were about twelve! It just got me thinking about what people must aspire to today. Is there nobody left these days that wants to better the cards theyve been dealt by life? I mean, granted, we're all born with certain circumstances that we can't deny, but that doesn't mean that we're stuck with that role forever? Doesn't anyone want to make their mark? Doesn't anyone want to change the world, and, more importantly is it wrong to want to?

I would certainly like to think that I had the potential to do something worthwhile in my life, so that in some shape or form my name would linger a little after it amounts to nothing more than an engraving on a stone monument somewhere. I'd also like to think that that is actually starting to happen. After all, I've now had my first mention in an academic text book! Granted, it's only a mention on the acknowledgments page of the new book by A Man Much Greater than I, but its a start! However, as you'll come to realise dear reader, I like to think a number of things.

And there is my inherent problem: my disgusting lack of self-confidence in myself and my abilities. I'm becoming aware that I can probably make a difference, or a mark nonetheless, to this world in some shape or form but my problem is I need some people or somebody to help me. I can't do this by myself. As Shed Seven rightly observed all those years ago "I've got high hopes, all I need is your hand to steady my feet". That's exactly the situation I feel I'm in. I'd like to think I've got a couple of people there but, as with anything in life, you can never really be sure. On that note though I'd like to thank my first reader of this page for their thoughts. It's always nice to know that you're gaining an audience.

However, this thought led me to thinking about why, and in what form exactly, I want to leave a mark on the world, and I managed to boil this motivation to one of three things: power, money or respect. For me, its not power thats driving me. I don't want control of anyone, or anything, in particular. Power breeds corruption and egos; people who think they're more than a decaying pool of matter want power because they feel inadequate about themselves in some form. Anyways, in the words of Hope of the States, "Don't make me a leader, I'll lead you all wrong". Neither do I want money in excessive amounts either. I grew up in a household where, whilst money wasn't a problem, I was often lead to believe that it was and so have seen the problems that it breeds. In fact, if I start earning more than I actually need I'd like to do something with it that is worthwhile. I'm quite happy with a decent house somewhere and a small car that won't harm the environment too much. No, what's motivating me is respect. Definately. I want people to turn around and respect me and my views; to view me as someone who stood for what he believed in and had something decent and interesting to say on things. Its something I stand by throughout life: if people respect me, I'll do the same to them. I think it's the single most important thing in the world and, unfortunately, we don't seem to live in a society where there is much of it. Too many people are willing to judge others due to something that they don't understand, whether it be something big like religion or race, or something small like a hobby or interest. I think we could all do with a little more tolerance, dear reader. Don't you?

And Now My Fears, They Come to Me in Three

Just read a few things about the end of the current series of Who that have got me slightly worried. They are as follows:

1) Billie's leaving. Bugger. It's bad enough that for the new series the audience has to adjust to someone new playing the Doctor, but it seems as though they've then gotta adjust to losing their only other reference point in the series very quickly as well. In short it seems as though after a glorious rebirth, people are then left back at square one, not knowing who any of the main characters are, and that's not good at all. Personally speaking, I'll really miss Billie as I think she's done a fantastic job as Rose, bringing a real warmth and endearingness to the role. It makes me worry how they're gonna introduce a new companion and how they will relate to the Doctor, as I don't think they'll try and redo the whole love/friends thing again.

2) The audience figures dropped for 'The Empty Child'. It's times like this I really wish ITV would roll over and die. They've realised that they can't win viewers by providing softcore porn for the chav population, and so play the sneakiest card possible by placing the Star Wars films against the current series. Why, oh good god why, can't they realise that there's an audience for sci-fi fans at that time, but there's also an audience for different types of DECENT entertainment as well and that both audiences can be satisfied if they make an effort, rather than having to resort to simple 'stealing viewers' tactics. 6.5 Million viewers isn't great for Who, and what with the upheaval going on behind the scenes, and a feeling of being less than impressed with some of the new writers for the second series, I'm not feeling positive at present.

3) The cast for the series finale. I've recently learned that Davina McCall and Trinny and Susanna are in the last two episodes. Oh hell. There I was hoping for this epic, bleak, Androzani-esque story involving the Doctor and the regeneration and instead it looks as though we've got a line of annoying tv 'celebrities' turning up. Hardly Sharaz Jek is it? I don't wanna admit defeat before it's even taken place, as that would be hypocritical against what I previously said about RTD, but little things like that make me worry. Couple that with the other two reasons identified and it's no suprise I'm feeling discouraged. I can only hope that the thoughts of a Man Much Greater Than I are correct, and it's a Revelation style story where the Daleks are secretly controling everything. If it's a media satire like the (in my opinion) excellent Long Game then we could well be ok.

Suppose I should try and be positive.

An Unearthly Child

Starting this thing is probably the hardest thing to do, but then again thats probably a good metaphor for life itself. It always seems the most complex thing is getting something started, whether it be a project, an essay, a relationship or any other aspect of this short existence. It seems that the most energy that needs to be exerted is when your trying to begin anything. After that, you've really just gotta keep things running. Sure, you've got a responsibility to the thing, or person, involved, but the fear has gone. That biting, snarling fear of both a) is there any point in doing this in the first place, and b) will it be succesful? Or are you simply setting yourself up to fail again? Who knows, keep watching this space...

Today was another day. Aside from that, I can't really think of anything else to describe it. The only vaguely interesting occurance was my rememberance of how great a song 'Hercules' by Mercury Rev is. Other than that, I went to work, got sworn at by members of the public over telephone numbers, and went home. Didn't even manage to catch the eye of a certain lady in work who I'm rather fond of. I'll spare her name to protect the innocent. Also realised today that I'm coming down with the flu once more. Thought the sore throat was probably down to the alcohol consumed during Eurovision, and would probably pass. However the sneezing fit has alluded to the fact that there is something more sinister at work here.

On the up side, I've got the day off tomorrow to gather my thoughts together and watch the new Who DVD, therefore revelling in The Unquiet Dead again. That was damn good TV, as has most of the new series been. REALLY don't understand why certain areas of the Who fanbase is suddenly rounding on RTD. The man's done such good work on the show that to criticise him seems, to me at least, ungrateful. Damn, was really gonna try NOT to mention Who in the first post, aside from the title, but it seems I've done it now.

Does this set the tone well? I don't know, I'm not the one reading this. It's a strange thing writing, as you're writing in the hope that someone will catch your stuff and like it. However, when you're writing on a medium such as the internet, your potential audience could be everyone, or it could be no-one. It could be an entertaining read for many people, or it could just be a singular outlet for your own feelings. In that respect it therefore becomes quite a selfish act, writing. However, if its an outlet for thoughts, whether dark or light, that can only be a good thing. Anything that keeps you alive.

"In the morning your face cracks and falls, to the sea..."