That is the number of reviews I now have credited on TV.Com. Wowsers. Here's to 600 more, yes.

Not much has been going on since my last blog. And this weather is freezing big time. Typical November.

Just found out the third season of Brothers And Sisters isn't being released on DVD over here until January. Blast.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - 8x30: Retreat Part 5

Interesting conclusion to things. Usual spoilers apply.

- Riley was on Buffy's side all along. Makes sense I guess.

- Twilight and Amy making Warren feel excluded was funny. Am I cruel for thinking that?

- The gang were grabbed by Twilight's folk while the goddesses were destroying everything.

- Buffy's got everyone's power now. Hope it doesn't go to her head.

Review for this episode is here ... http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-review-of-buffy-vampire-slayers-8x30.html . Willow comes out on December 23rd.

Dollhouse - 2x03/2x04: Belle Chose/Belonging

No beating around the bush. These episodes were good. Too bad the show has now been cancelled.

- Echo/Victor both playing Kiki/Terry made the third episode move more effortlessly.

- Paul's uncomfortable around Echo's engagements, especially the romantic ones.

- Priya had one hell of an amazing backstory. Glad Nolan got his.

- Nice to see Topher actually trying to help someone. Too bad it went wrong.

Reviews for both episodes are up here and Blogspot. The Public Eye/The Left Hand air on FOX from December 4th and Sci-Fi UK from January 2010.

Merlin - 2x06/2x07: Beauty And The Beast Part 2/The Witchfinder

The season is bettering at this point.

- Again hats off to Sarah Parish. She made the role of Lady Catrina into something enjoyable to watch.

- Arthur certainly got to make Uther squirm at the end.

- Witchfinder guy was a wonderfully nasty piece of work poor Gaius but very stupid of Merlin messing with magic so publicly as well.

- Surely we're going to get more on Morgana now, yes.

The Sins Of The Father air Saturday, 6.05pm on BBC1.

The Sarah Jane Adventures - 3x05-3x08: The Wedding Of Sarah Jane Smith/The Eternity Trap

The best and weakest stories are here.

- David Tennant and Elisabeth Sladen were just wonderful. I'm so glad that this won't be the last time The Doctor and Sarah Jane see each other. Liked Peter as well.

- The Gate is relevant to the next specials of Doctor Who.

- No Luke for the first time. Still Toby worked and I liked Callum Blue as Lord Marchwood.

- Erasmus Darkening's origins were never properly explained, were they?

Reviews for these episodes are up here and Blogspot. Mona Lisa's Revenge airs Thursday/Friday at 4.35pm on BBC1.

True Blood - 2x01: Nothing But The Blood

Excellent premiere episode. Love, love, love this show.

- Sookie and Bill's sex scenes was one of the weirdest but hottest things on this show. Loved Jessica's general reaction to Sookie as well.

- Tara's friendship with Maryann is trouble. So's her relationship with Eggs.

- Liked that we saw what exactly went on between Sam and Maryann as well.

- Jason's stupid for joining up with the Fellowship and Lafayette's a prisoner of Eric's? Uh-oh.

Review for this episode is here and on Blogspot. Keep This Party Going is coming soon. Season 2 premieres on FXUK in January 2010.

V - 1x01: Pilot

TV3 (Irish station) in a rare doing something right moment are airing this. Good opening episode.

- Elizabeth Mitchell is great as Erica. Like her, Ryan and even Father Jack a lot in this one.

- Didn't see Erica's partner as being one of the Visitors. Should have though.

- Tyler is annoying. No wonder Lisa was easy to manipulate him.

- Chad and Anna, I can see exactly where this is going.

There Is No Normal Anymore airs tonight 10pm on TV3. The series debuts on Sci-Fi UK in 2010.

The Week In Who (Some Spoilers)

- David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Bernard Cribbins are all hosting Never Mind The Buzzcocks in December. The first two are also in the audience for Alan Carr's Chatty Man as well. David also appeared on Graham Norton this week and will be on Paul O'Grady today at 5pm.

- Preview clip from Hamlet ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6cCaYoDz-Y

- The 2009 Specials will be getting their DVD release on January 11th. A cover will appear soon.

- More Season 5 set reports. It's rumoured a certain monster is returning. And Amy's skirts are getting shorter ... http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/2009/11/another-returning-monster-doctor-who.html

- The title for 4.17 will be six words and scenes four and five from the episode will be aired during Children In Need on November 20th, between 8pm and 8.30pm.

Series Previews

Doctor Who - The Waters Of Mars & Dreamland

Starring: David Tennant, Lindsay Duncan, Peter O'Brien, Gemma Chan/Georgia Moffett, Lisa Bowerman, David Warner.

Start Dates: Sunday, 7pm on BBC1 from November 15th (The Waters Of Mars) and Saturday, 10am on BBC1 (Dreamland) from December 5th.

Synopsises: On a base on Mars in 2059, the Doctor and Adelaide find the latter's base under attack by water creatures known as the Flood. In Roswell, the Doctor and Cassie Rice encounter all kinds of happenings with the famous Dreamland project.

Yay/Nay: For The Waters Of Mars, it's an overwhelming yay. It looks like a suitably dark story, Lindsay Duncan is wonderful casting as Adelaide and it's going to lead into the final two episodes of David Tennant's tenure. Dreamland by comparison seems a little too lightweight and the animation isn't doing it for me. But it could surprise me though.

Trailer (The Waters Of Mars): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQZ97hcTFdo

Trailer (Dreamland): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWL0L8IttFs

Song Of The Blog

Snow Patrol

Not a single but a good version of the song for their greatest hits album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZrZJfcDyXs

Last blog I discussed that I was having computer problems. Well now they got to the point where I've had to shell out for a new computer (an Acer), so apologies in regards to delays in reviews/fanfiction/blogs etc. I will get things back on track as soon as possible.

Still I've managed to borrow my sister's laptop once or twice during emergencies and thank goodness for internet cafes, that's what I have to say. The next few months I do plan to review as much as I can. There's some exciting stuff coming up.

When it comes to Nip/Tuck, however I'm going to put it on hold. Maybe as a summer project or wait for FXUK to air the sixth season (that'll be a long one, then). And Roma Maffia is appearing in an upcoming episode of Dexter. The Angel comics however I'm done with. I just don't care anymore, so I'm sorry for anyone who did enjoy reading those reviews. I will do a review for Angels In America and Hamlet though.

Review wise, there's the one for Dead As A Doornail that I wrote here … http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-review-of-dead-as-doornail.html

I'm really getting into these Sookie Stackhouse books. Expect more gay characters in the third season of True Blood. According to Alan Ball, we'll be meeting Russell Edgington and Talbot and Lafayette may be getting a love interest. He also hinted something about Pam as well.

In terms of spoilers, I've been slightly lax. Things pretty much look bad for Dollhouse. What on Earth are FOX thinking wanting to air the remaining nine episodes back to back in December?

Brothers And Sisters wise, I hear Roxy Olin is back as Michelle in the same episode that sees an appearance from Balthazar Getty as well. I'm going to keep an open mind on the Kevin/Scotty parenting plot until I actually see the episodes themselves.

I've watched episodes of Hung, Eastbound And Down, NCIS: Los Angeles and Modern Family, all of which were fun enough. Not addictive but not bad either.

Other than that, not much has been going on with me. I need to get out a little more but right now, I don't really feel like it. Is that bad?

SyFy have ordered 13 episodes for their own version of Being Human. Hope they known what they're doing.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer – 8x29: Retreat Part 4



The weakest issue out of the bunch. Not terrible but hardly memorable either.

- When Twilight doesn't actually feature in the issue, it's silly to have him on the cover. I'm just saying.
- Buffy surely isn't happy with Xander and Dawn as a couple. Andrew even tried to get her to open up about it.
- Summoning three goddesses is going to have big consequences.
- The pro Buffy/Satsu letter in this issue was more interesting than this issue.

Review for this issue is up here …. http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-review-of-buffy-vampire-slayers-8x29.html

Retreat Part 5 comes out November 4th.

Dollhouse – 2x01/2x02: Vows/Instinct



Typical. This show progresses and FOX look set to do away with it.

- Amy Acker stole the premiere for me. Poor Whiskey. Thankfully we will be seeing her once again.
- Mellie's return was a surprise in some ways. I did like her scenes with Adelle though.
- Daniel Perrin is trouble but in a good way. If he wants to take down the Dollhouse, we can't exactly hold that against him, can we?
- Echo's assignments were interesting – undercover bride/overprotective mum. Both had serious ramifications as well as a newfound closeness to Paul.

Reviews for both episodes are up now. Belle Chose is repeated tonight at 11pm on Sci-Fi UK.

Merlin – 2x05: Beauty And The Beast Part 1



Our first two parter. Not too bad.

- Sarah Parish seemed to have fun as the troll Lady Catrina. I liked her manservant as well.
- Uther will remain an idiot but he is not going to be pleased when he discovers what his new wife is.
- Merlin actually had a half decent battle on his hands and he still didn't win. Catrina might want to get rid of him better for her plan to work.
- Very little with Arthur, Morgana or Gwen in this one.

Beauty And The Beast Part 2 airs on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC1.

The Sarah Jane Adventures – 3x01-3x04: Prisoner Of The Judoon/The Mad Woman In The Attic



Bias aside but these opening episodes were stunning.

- Judoon in force were a lot of fun. Nice to see the reactions of Haresh and Gita as well to them.
- Androvax possessing Sarah Jane made for some interesting moments as well.
- Rani, you should know better than to see your future, though Eve was certainly more original as an alien of the week.
- The caretaker in the latter story was played by Elisabeth Sladen's real life husband, Brian Miller.
- I loved the flashbacks to the Third and Fourth Doctors. Brilliant way to set up a certain story, don't you think?

Review for both episodes are up now. The Wedding Of Sarah Jane Smith airs Thursday/Friday at 4.35pm on BBC1.

Series Preview

V – Season 1



Staring: Elizabeth Mitchell, Joel Gretsch, Morena Baccharin, Scott Wolf. Will also air on Sci-Fi as well.
Start Date: Tuesdays 10pm on ABC from November 4th.
Synopsis: The Visitors have arrived on Earth, eager to spread the word of their existence and help mankind. That and the fact that they're also secretly planning on invasion.
Yay/Nay: Remakes, updates are all popular nowadays. For every Battlestar Galactica, you get a Knight Rider and given that not many new sci-fi shows this season seem that inspire, this one looks great. Actually kind of amazing. I hope it lives up to the hype it's been generating.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnNjRaBj3zs

The Week In Who (Spoilers)



- More Season 5 spoiler photos/videos (currently episodes 8 and 9 are being filmed) can be seen here … http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-ships-getting-revamp-doctor-who.html
- Catherine Tate will be doing her own version of A Christmas Carol for Christmas. Nan as Scrooge has to be seen to be believed.
- David Tennant's Hamlet will air on Christmas Day and will be released on DVD in January. He's also doing another audio novel called The Last Voyage.
- Dreamland is set to debut within the next few days. I'll be reviewing in it full.
- The 2009 specials, along with Season 3 of The Sarah Jane Adventures are rumoured for a January 2010 release.
- Project 3 is back on and according to Russell T. Davies, it is not connected to Children In Need. Though it might wreak havoc with continuity.
- Children In Need this year will air the pre-title credits to the first Christmas special on November 20th. The Waters Of Mars airs Sunday, November 15th at 7pm.

- US cinemas are currently showing Amelia, which features Christopher Eccleston.
- Gareth David-Lloyd will be guest starring on The Bill and can currently be seen on James Moran's Girl Number 9 with Tracy Ann Oberman. Check here … http://twitter.com/Girlnumber9
- David Tennant and Elisabeth Sladen recently won Best Doctor/Companion in a poll by Doctor Who Magazine.

Songs Of The Blog

Black Eyed Peas – Meet Me Halfway



One of the slower but better ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK1CGsUi6w4

And

Calvin Harris - Flashback



Recent one from him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1y_wo_4fuQ

As blogs go, I am trying to do my best to be recent but when your computer decides to go on the fritz, it sure don't help matters.

Nine days without my computer and after three attempts, the guy at my local repair shop finally managed to fix it without seriously denting my bank account. No, seriously, kudos to the guy because I was certainly at my wits end. Now I'm catching up with reviews so if you see an influx of stuff on here and Blogspot, you'll know why.

I've been reading in the papers about the deaths of Kevin McGee and Stephen Gately and like many people, I was surprised upon reading them. Both were very young men (in their early thirties) and it's always a shock. Condolences to their respective families.

No matter how much I try, I can't sit through either The X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing. It's not that either of them are bad or that I have a million other things to do on a Saturday, I just can't be bothered to watch either of them. And with the amount of coverage they get in the papers anyway, do I need to bother?

Race row edit: Anton DeBeke. Anton DeBerke more like. Laila Rouss has handled that far better than I think she had to. My little soapbox on the matter. As for Dannii outing Danyl, I thought everyone knew about him being bisexual. Didn't he hint it at large at the beginning? Still stupid of Dannii though.

Stargate Universe and Life On Mars US – I wanted to like both of them but neither grabbed me. I couldn't sit still during the first one and I kept despairing over the noteworthy changes in the latter. I'll probably do something on Live Journal about the latter show though. There's also Modern Family, Hung and NCIS: Los Angeles to look into as well in the next week or two.

Not that I'm criticising but how did Primeval manage to get a further two seasons when months before, ITV were ready to wipe their hands clean off it? Talk about miracles happening.

Also a week for UK viewers until the second season of Dollhouse pops up on Sci-Fi and unless FOX are generous, don't hold out for a third season. The ratings have not improved.

Book recommendation – seriously read How To Break Bad News by Jarlath Regan. It's absolutely funny (albeit a little politically incorrect). The guy devised greeting cards for every situation imaginable. One little gem includes …

My love for you goes on and on and on and on and on … a bit like one of your stories.

He has a website here … http://www.jigser.com/

Merlin – 2x02-2x04: The Once And Future Queen/The Nightmare Begins/Lancelot And Guinevere

Three episodes that I can get into. Well, two I really got into.

- The jousting one with Arthur felt decidedly filler to me. Not in a good way.
- Merlin came close to outing himself to Morgana. Probably best that he stayed quiet.
- Lancelot backed down when he realised that Arthur had feelings for Gwen. Damn, I wanted him to stay.
- Uther is still the least interesting or developed character on this show and he usually gets the same amount of camera time as Gaius.

Beauty And The Beast airs on Saturday at 6.10pm on BBC1 from October 24th.

True Blood – 1x11/1x12: To Love Is To Bury/You'll Be The Death Of Me

Two excellent final episodes worthy of repeat viewing.

- Sookie and Sam actually made for a fun team, though no romance between them pleased.
- Tara finally has a supernatural story with Maryann. I wonder what she's gonna do with Sam.
- Jessica is a hoot and a half. Bratty, yes but definitely a lot of fun.
- Rene as the killer was fine. I liked that his fate was more grisly compared to what happened to him in the book.
- The Fellowship Of The Sun are obviously going to be a big problem next year. Don't let Lafayette be dead.

Review for both episodes are up now. Season 1 currently airs Wednesdays at 10pm on Channel 4 and is available on DVD from October 26th. Review for Dead To The World can be read here … http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-review-of-dead-to-world.html

SIDE BAR/SPOILERS

- I'm planning Season 2 reviews within the next week so I'll be blogging about each episode I see/review.
- Stephen Moyer recently said he'd like to do a gay storyline with Bill and Eric and approved of the triangle with them and Sookie.
- Alan Ball has said that a character we won't miss will be killed in the third season. The character of Alcide is also supposed to be showing up as well.

Series Preview

The Sarah Jane Adventures – Season 3

Starring: Elisabeth Sladen, Thomas Knight, Daniel Anthony, and Anjli Mohindra.
Start Date: Thursdays/Fridays at 4.35pm on BBC1 from October 15th.
Synopsis: In her latest season, alien fighter Sarah Jane finds that her life on Bannerman Road does continue to be adventure. Not only is she encountering the Judoon and a prisoner of theirs but there's also The Doctor and the Trickster on her wedding and the return of the Slitheen with their cousins, the Blathereen to contend with.
Yay/Nay: I know I'm biased but I'm so going with the yay response here. The series has continued to go from strength to strength and this third season sounds excellent. Having The Doctor and the Trickster finally face off is one thing, but there's also going to be some insight into Rani as well and Mona Lisa of things. These are going to be a very fun filled six weeks.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eSacpuw7sk

The Week In Who (Spoilers)

- Above is the logo planned for the show's fifth season. You can watch the trailer and see some Season 5 spoiler photos here … http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/search/label/Doctor%20Who
- Reviews for the second season of The Sarah Jane Adventures are here … http://shawnlunn2002.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Sarah%20Jane%20Adventures
- David Tennant and Simon Pegg are both starring in Hare And Burke, a movie about two serial killers.
- Billie Piper will be appearing in A Passionate Woman for BBC1 about a housewife who embarks on an affair with her Polish neighbour.
- Karen Gillan can be seen in The Well, right here … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdrxf2RQ67E
- Barry Letts also passed away at the age of 84.

Songs Of The Blog

Sugababes – About A Girl

First single with Jade McEwan and its fairly good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEEToN3oi8Q

And

Snow Patrol – Just Say Yes

I guess this means a new album on the way, then. Great song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDpp8sIiAhM