Unthinkable Wings

Despite some difficulties (caused by the family, or more specifically, my grandmother), I managed to see Doctor Who on Saturday. I must say, I enjoyed it - the plot was fairly thin, but it worked as a good introduction to Martha, who I rather like, though I hope, possibly against hope, that the tempatation to pursue the unrequited love/ lust/ whatever angle will be resisted. The consultant's name was rather amusingly chosen, given his ultimated fate. I have to admit I rather liked him, despite the fact that he was a pompous ass. Tennant was good - hopefully he's settling down into the role, and his more whimsical moments were better used. A combination of slightly alien behaviour with an element of Peter Wimseyish camouflage, most noticably when he confronted the Plasmavore. ("He was giving the perfect imitation of a silly ass about town." "Then he was either frightfully bored or detecting something.") RTD, incidentally, absolutely sucks at devising alien names and languages.

I'm also wondering how long it will be before someone writes to the papers or complains to the BBC about Martha doing the old CPR procedures!

I finally saw an episode of Life on Mars, and bought last season's box set on the strength of it. Very impressed by the two episodes I have seen, although it's slightly disturbing to discover that my mother has a crush on Gene Hunt (who seems to becoming a bit of a Popular Cultural Icon).

The ITV adaptation of Northanger Abbey was excellent - sharp scripting, I liked the way they used the Gothic imaginings of Catherine, and Emma Grundy (I temporarily forget the actress' real name) was impressive, as was the bloke playing Henry Tilney. The 'Persuasion' was less good - they made Anne too sentimental, and her kiss with Cpt Wentworth was disasterously illl-judged; it tipped over into comedy. Anthony Head was brilliantly selfish as Sir Walter, though, and stole every scene he was in. Sadly, he only had about five minutes screen-time.