The Best Historical drama ever made..

The year was 1995, and a TV dramatization of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice hit the small screen. I didn’t watch the first of six episodes because I truly hate historical dramas, but I happened to be visiting family who insisted that I watched the second episode. Thereafter, I made sure that I was in front of a TV for the final four episodes.

The BBC, best TV company in the world, truly excelled themselves with the best casting, scripts, sets, props, absolutely everything. See for yourself..

This is the episode that I originally shunned. They say that the series was as close to the original book as a production could be, but how was I to know, never having read any fiction, especially historical drama. What I did know is that, during the second episode, I was watching greatness.

I have five of the six episodes, each a little over 50 minutes, but I don’t have episode four. The search continues..

Tony Robinson

You may know him best as Blackadder’s sidekick, Baldrick.

That scene was back in 1989 and marked the end of probably the funniest sitcom ever, but Tony had a cunning plan way before.

He started acting aged 12 back in 1958, playing a role in the original West End production of Oliver. After appearing in a few West End shows, the die was cast.

Or was it?

Tony Robinson had bit parts in quite a lot of productions, both on TV and the big screen, and also did a stint on the kids show Play Away. He a very easy manner which suited the job as a television presenter well.

His real fame came with a role in Blackadder which made him a household name. Since then, he has become the face and voice of archaeology and history on TV.

Hey, there is an unofficial Tony Robinson website which is full of facts..

http://www.unofficialtonyrobinsonwebsite.co.uk/

Here in Canada, we got the Blackadder series, and we also get Tony’s history and archaeology television presentations, and I must admit to being able to listen to them all day.

Dr Who?

November 23rd, 1963, a half hour before the BBC National News slot, we heard this. Then we were taken into a set and introduced to a straight faced and slightly intimidating old man.

We have never looked back, well maybe to check to see if the Daleks or the Cybermen are on our tails.

It is the longest running Sci-fi series ever and is popular across the globe. The sets were cheap as were the special effects, but it scared us all to death. Remember that in 1963, we still had monochrome TV sets. There were no bright colours to make it all seem more playful.

After the first showing of the Daleks, I doubt that there was a schoolboy alive who didn’t walk into school, extend his arm and exclaim “Exterminate”.

Eventually, William Hartnell morphed into Patrick Troughton, then Jon Pertwee and for me, finally Tom Baker. As each character appeared, I liked the new one better, but when Tom Baker morphed into Peter Davison, I couldn’t watch it anymore. He just didn’t come across as Dr Who to me. I tried to watch the newer ones, I really did.

I picked up watching it again maybe three years ago having seen it in the cable TV program listings here in Canada. The doctor was played by David Tennant and I have to admit to liking the character.

Why is Dr Who better than Star Wars and StarTrek.? There is no sanitization in Dr Who. Space travel is haphazard and a generally dangerous business. Dr Who doesn’t try to befriend his enemies, and they wouldn’t want to be friends anymore than we would want to be friends if some strange beings arrived tomorrow with powers so obviously well in advance of our own.

Dr Who isn’t about ‘they all lived happily ever after’. It is a continuing struggle just as life has been a continuous struggle on our planet. This is why Dr Who is still being produced and why the others have all finished their missions.

For more on the best Sci-fi series in the Universe, start here.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw

Mulberry

Not the tree or the berries.

An apprentice Grim Reaper is sent in to ‘collect’ an aging, crotchety lady, trampled down throughout her life by two sisters who always had the edge over her.

The stuff of comedy? Excuse the pun, but ‘hell yes’. I saw it first time around on TV. The credits rolled and I didn’t know what to expect. Within minutes, I was hooked by the amazing performances by all of the cast, most especially the two main stars, Karl Howman and Geraldine McEwan.

The series only ran for two seasons, and at the end.. no, I can’t spoil it for you. Watch it for yourself. If you have seen it before, it will bring back memories, all good of course, and if it is your first time, you will be enchanted, just as I was.

Here is a taster for you, episode 1, part 1

You are going to want to save the entire set of both series because I know that you will want to see it again and again. So, I will give you a link to a free YouTube downloader where you can save each episode and watch it at your leisure in Windows Media Player or Windows Media Centre. Your choice..

http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-YouTube-Download.htm

OK. You have the tools, and you have seen the first episode. What are you waiting for? Permission? Permission granted.