I'm just back from a trip and just heard this heartbreaking news a few minutes ago from a friend.

My heart goes out to Danielle and all who loved Magoo.  I was privileged to meet Danielle and Magoo once.  They were an adorable couple and Magoo was such a sweet guy with a great heart and an unforgettable sense of humor.

Those who are remembered live on in our hearts and minds.  Wishing comfort and condolence to Danielle and those who remain.

G.

Doctor, I watched every episode and the main arc does reach a conclusion, though there are threads left for a continuation, had it been renewed, and the fate of a couple of characters is left unclear.

Since you're a Big Finish fan you might enjoy it because it is kind of a pastiche of some of the themes of the novel and the various films--in the same way that the Big Finish stories tend to have sometimes an oblique or speculative relationship to their source material, be it the DS stories or stuff they've done from other fandoms.  There is *a lot*, IMO, in this DRACULA that kind of nods to elements of various DS plotlines, as well.

G

I forgot to mention that I noticed a major gaffe in the script for Penny Dreadful, episode 1 (no spoiler involved)--a character refers in conversation to something like "a secret world, a demi-monde"--using the French expression demi-monde or half-world to refer to the supernatural and the occult.  In fact, in popular parlance of the period, "demi-monde" simply referred to the life of wealthy courtesans and "adventuresses," flamboyant women who flouted convention with multiple lovers and a highly visible, famous or infamous way of life (in some ways, the Victorian version of today's Kardashian women, except that demi-mondaines typically lacked their own independent income--though some had great amounts of wealth settled upon them through fully legal means by their male admirers). 

There's a Wikipedia entry on the demi-monde which is interesting to read.  I think it said that the term became popular after Dumas wrote a play with this title in the 1850s.

I noticed another, sartorial gaffe that I find inexplicable in the photos from episode 2, but I'll wait until that has been aired to note it.

G.

apparently most of the DS actors were not under any sort of contract at all.  I don't know how DCP got away with this... it may have been a common practice on soaps at the time.  I just don't know.  KLS admitted in the original edition of SCRAPBOOK MEMORIES that her original contract on the show had run out for many months before her final episode--which implies to me that if she was signed to a contract it might have been for three years.  Again, don't know.

G.

Gee... you thought the nudity was unnecessary?  I thought it made perfect sense given what was happening... and was pretty unexceptional...

My favorite thing is Eva Green as Vanessa Ivy. Wow.  I'm wondering though if Alan Moore has grounds for a lawsuit.  It is VERY reminiscent of the original comic books, LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN... Green's character in particular is reminiscent of Mina Murray (who, somewhat confusingly, is also a character in this).  A to-me-unrecognizable Timothy Dalton plays Sir Malcolm Murray who seems very much based on Allan Quatermain in the LEAGUE comics (borrowed from the Rider Haggard novels, of course).  Simon Russell Beale plays a possibly mad Egyptologist at the British Museum (and reminded me of the late Victor Buono in the role... hope he comes back).  A young actor, Harry Treadaway, appears as a believably neurotic and obsessed Victor Frankenstein.  Rory Kinnear has a surprise role...

The first episode includes vampires, Jack the Ripper, Frankenstein (obviously), tarot cards, Egyptology, mummies, carnivorous beetles, spiders, ghosts, and no doubt more I'm forgetting...

The Victoriana here is a little more believable than was the case in Jonathan Rhys Meyers' eye-poppingly lush DRACULA.  If I had Showtime, I'd definitely be watching.

G.

dom honey, I really appreciate your astutely written review of this bagatelle, especially your red flag regarding

gratuitous full frontal male nudity.

As the Cyber Leader on Dr. Who used to say... EXXX-CELLENT.

This is definitely on my must-view list now...

G.

[spoiler]Maybe I'm hallucinating, but I remember reading about a leaked version of the script in which Angelique materialized at the Blue Whale and indulged herself in wreaking some catty havoc and/or quizzing another character about the current personnel at the Great House.  Perhaps that was one of the fabricated leaks, or simply disinformation.  Anyhow it sounds as if this isn't on the radar for coming attractions in this thread.[/spoiler]

cheers, G.

Wonderful photos!  The one of Vicki with the director and the creature actor (which is scarier to stand next to for a young actress??) reminds me of a candid photo that surfaced during the MPI distro period of Julia and Barnabas with Alex in full werewolf makeup.  And, a little, of my friend Nicky's favorite photo of Vicki being menaced by all the ghouls and horrors of Collinwood... Barnabas, Nicholas, Adam, Cassandra.

G.