Chris Dale

Chris Dale

@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Writer/voice actor including Terrahawks, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Supercar & Doctor Who for Anderson Entertainment & Big Finish! Co-host of Gerry Anderson Podcast. Wrote a Stingray novel. Nemesis of Torchy. Likes hugs, Bajorans & geek things.

221 followers199 following66 posts

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

As announced on Sunday, I'm one of the folks (along with Paul Cornell, Bob Ayres, David Hirsch, Andrew Clements, MG Harris, Karen McCreedy, Andy Lane, Genevieve Gaunt and James Swallow) what has written a short story for the upcoming #Thunderbirds 60th anniversary anthology Hidden Dangers!

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

"He's what? Bought a VR headset so he can watch shows and films on a massive cinema screen, or in a comfy penthouse apartment he doesn't have? What on Earth does the fool think he's playing at?"

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

I've started another Spearhead to War Games rewatch of Classic Who, & watching Silurians again this week scenes like this reminded me why I love the old episodic format so much. It's so nice to have moments like this that allow the story time to breathe, & us more time to get to know the characters.

archivetvmusings@archivetvmusings.bsky.social

Doctor Who and the Silurians - Episode Four (21st February 1970). The Doctor has no time to chat to under-secretaries, permanent or otherwise.

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Not since season 2 of The Power Game jazzed up its titles have I been so entranced by the intro to an old TV show. I miss the days where title sequences meant cool theme tunes, choreographed character reveals, meaningful looks,sudden head-turnings,& editing akin to a shootout in a spaghetti Western.

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

What a lovely series of Space Precinct recaps Jack has been producing over the last 24 weeks! I spent much of 2024 deep in the world of the series while working on the Blu-ray set but he's continually spotted things that completely passed me by. A lovely tribute to a scrappy gem of a show!

Jack Knoll@jackknoll.bsky.social

NEW POST! Will Altor be saved from destruction? Will Castle and Haldane get together? Will Brogan remember his anniversary? Find out all this and more in the spectacular finale of SPACE PRECINCT on the Security Hazard blog!

securityhazard.netSpace Precinct – 24. Deathwatch ConclusionIt's a genuine pleasure for me to see Space Precinct end on such a high with Deathwatch Conclusion. Of course it's not perfect - that's the nature of Space Precinct. I think we've all come to accept that the show is fundamentally flawed for all the reasons I've banged on about for the past 24 weeks. But after a year in production on the stages at Pinewood and Shepperton Studios, it's clear from this episode that the production team weren't giving up without a fight. With the series achieving respectable viewing figures on Sky One and later BBC2, why would they throw in the towel now? In April 1995, renewing the show for a second series was a real possibility, although most agree that such a renewal would have come with heavy strings attached. Of course, we all know that no such renewal came, and Deathwatch Conclusion was therefore the end of the line - and that's going to be our focus for today.

Chris Dale reposted

Herr Spooky Gunther Büergers
@calamityjon.bsky.social

Over on Gone & Forgotten today, it's the much-maligned 1987 ABC television adaptation of Will Eisner's The Spirit, starring Sam "Flash Gordon" Jones as the eponymous masked crimefighter and Nana "Deep Space 9" Visitor as the one castmember doing just about all of the heavy lifting. Go read:

gone-and-forgotten.blogspot.comTHE SPIRIT (1987)“I thought you were a pervert” -- “No ma'am, I’m a crimefighter”  In 1987, the ABC television network succumbed to a powerful wave of popula...
Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

One of my fave YouTube series ever. Do yourself a favor & explore TV's most misjudged spinoff, featuring exploding frog women, killer dumpsters, scary trash bags, The Vampire, Romulus & Remus, & Griff, reviewed by someone with near-infinite enthusiasm for material that would flatten lesser mortals.

Allison Pregler 📼🎃@allisonpregler.bsky.social

I reviewed EVERY SINGLE EPISODE of #BaywatchNights, and now all 10 1/2 HOURS of my reviews are in one handy video! Relive the madness as Mitch von Malibu inexplicably hunts sea monsters! youtu.be/glyHhkbI6SA

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Despite having the 4 disc version, the 11 disc 50th anniversary Doctor Who soundtrack set had somehow slipped my radar. This has now been rectified - & a thing of beauty it is too. Needed cleaning as I don't think it's been well looked after - but the light & sound still work!

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Finally seen Moonbase 3. The DVD's been on my shelf for years, but like Star Maidens the received wisdom of 'it's bad' meant I never got round to it...so, like Star Maidens, going in with such low expectations meant I found it surprisingly enjoyable - & even gripping on occasion!

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Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

So, Moonbase 3. Nowhere near as bad as its reputation suggested; far from spectacular either, but it occasionally climbed to impressive heights considering the limitations of its budget & production. Glad I've seen it, & a bit sad there's only 6 episodes. Will definitely rewatch.

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Also, as someone who lives for sightings of background artist/extra Mike Stevens & his legendary look of extreme concern he'd soon take on to Moonbase Alpha it was great to see him among the Moonbase 3 crew. The last episode seemed to accidentally suggest there were two of him, so win-win.

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Finally seen Moonbase 3. The DVD's been on my shelf for years, but like Star Maidens the received wisdom of 'it's bad' meant I never got round to it...so, like Star Maidens, going in with such low expectations meant I found it surprisingly enjoyable - & even gripping on occasion!

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Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

There's also more than one episode that ends with someone saying "we thought that something unusual & interesting was going on - thank goodness it turned out to have a thoroughly scientific & rational explanation! As you can see on this detailed diagram/map/scale model I've prepared..."

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Yet the leads are all likable enough & gel well, & it's always fun trying to guess which of the semi-regulars will go mad this week. The final two episodes also raise the stakes quite significantly, with the finale being a genuinely gripping story that I wish had gone all the way.

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Finally seen Moonbase 3. The DVD's been on my shelf for years, but like Star Maidens the received wisdom of 'it's bad' meant I never got round to it...so, like Star Maidens, going in with such low expectations meant I found it surprisingly enjoyable - & even gripping on occasion!

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

I don't think it'd win an award for, well, anything; the pacing rarely exceeds glacial & a lot of it is oddly dressed people arguing in plastic porta cabins. But then again, I like good actors arguing in old UK shows. (Particularly when you're also trying to guess what accent they're doing.)

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

Thanks to a price drop at CeX & enough trade-in vouchers to cover most of it, I finally caught my DVD white whale - Network's release of The Gold Robbers! No doubt DCS Cradock would be proud of my persistence in tracking it down. ("Aye lad - but who's behind CeX? That's what I wanna find out!")

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

I know I won't be the first person to notice this but surely nobody expected 1971 drama anthology Shadows of Fear's choice of stock music for this thrilling 'stop the tap from dripping' scene in episode 2. (Were sink plungers amongst their weaponry?)

Chris Dale
@chrisdalek.bsky.social

This year's Christmas Eve double feature, though by now I really should know not to have Muppet Christmas Carol as the 1st film of a double since the 2nd always suffers from the absence of Mr. Dickens & Rizzo. And now I wish Peter Cushing had worked with the Muppets.