Permutation City Blog

Although I saw the original series broadcast back in the 1980s I don't think I ever this sequel. If you remember the original then you might be interested to see what happens inside the City of Gold. On the other hand maybe your imaginiation has better special effects than this. Unfortunately this is the last of the television series so you never get to find out what happens in the end. Maybe it would be better to go and read the books.

I ignored the first series and only started watching part way through the second season. It has a lot of action, frequently in the form of Buffy kicking vampires (or demons) in the head. Sometimes this seems repetitive with the latest evil arriving in Sunnydale just to be swiftly dispatched. What's surprising is that most of the time it stays fun. Each of the characters have background and motivation that goes beyond the individual episodes and they change over time. Some seasons are better than others with different bad guys and themes being developed. Season Three is one of my favourites but all have their good points. Off the top of my head some episodes to watch: Once More, with Feeling to show what can be done with words (or song in this case) and Hush to show what can be done without words.

Remembered this from years ago but the internet has never had much information about it. Suddenly it appears as a two season boxed set. Fortunately it's listed by DVD rental service. Having watching the first disc I loved some episodes and couldn't be bothered with others. Why have a pair of twins have spent the last 30 years in 7th grade? Well, they came up with something different. It's not aimed at adults and there are places where the silliness just didn't work for me. Still intend to get hold of another disc once in a while.

One man's life is turned into a nightmare when he starts walking the streets of London Below. Gaiman has produced a typically dark story with a lot of interesting characters. It all fits together very well and you get to see a lot of unusual places in London (perhaps you want to find out what is underneath Glasgow.) After a good build up the big disappointment at the end is the beast but, excepting that, it's a very good show.

It seems we were all fans of Doctor Who in our childhood. It was one of the few science fiction programs out there and it was great. Peter Davison was "my" Doctor and through the years I thought he was the best. Although I've seen Doctor Who on a large number of occasions since its first screening its not something that I've made an effort to do. Although there are good and bad stories it is fun to revisit them. In more recent years I really enjoyed the Paul McGann web cast based on a Douglas Adams script. I haven't enjoyed the return of The Doctor so much. It's ok but nothing special. Also I really don't like some of the characters, and why do they seem to spend so much of each episode running about? On the other hand I hear that the kids love it. I'm glad that the BBC decided to bring it back and I'm glad that it's popular but as for me I'll give it a miss.

Memories of Danger Mouse go all the way back to my early childhood. Penfold, the cowardly assistant, was great and their flying car could even be controlled by remote. Episodes sometimes got very bizarre and they once flew off the edge of the film. Looking back on it as an adult the series doesn't seem quiet so rosy but it's still worth watching occasionally. I do love the way the narrator, who starts and finishes each episode, interacts with the plot and occasionally leaves in a huff.

While The Simpsons was funny Futurama is funny and geeky. It follows the lives of a bunch of misfits in the year 3000. Any science-fiction cliche you care to mention can be seen and is probably made fun of. Take your pick of favourite characters; they all have great moments. There are so many good episodes the only quick recommendation is to watch them all. The very last episode is one of my favourites; a lovely way to bow out.

This has Godfrey's familiar wobbly animation and is good fun is small doses. Henry's Cat gets up to all sorts of different adventures. Plots often involve copying things off the telly or having strange dreams. Don't worry it'll all be alright in the end with jellybean sandwich for tea. If only I could find the episode with The Fabulous Flying Carrot'.

The first series parodies old schools and colleges shows. All the science is presented in a serious manner but even if it starts sensibly it soon goes off the rails and into the world of the bizarre. It can be slow at times but it's funny, in a strange way, and each episode is very short. The second series parodies Tomorrow's World. This was a great disappointment to me after the first show. It's just not as good... well not even good. The half hour format was too long and the presenters were annoying. While the first series was bizarrely good this just seemed stupid.

Invader Zim was a nice surprise from recent years. It's all over the top and filled with cliched science-fiction devices that just aren't quite right. I don't know how far Zim ever gets in taking over the Earth as most of his time seems to be spent battling the kid, Dib.