T Boy

Karen had her moments but I believe EE tried to make her into some sort of forced icon in the same way they did with Mick Carter. She was often pretty nasty-I’ll never forget when they tried to make her being racist into a comedic joke (the character clearly wasn’t racist so it never felt real) and she was downright awful to certain character over the years. She also has the whole ‘how am I gunna feed me kids’ storyline over and over acting as if the world owed her something despite the fact she usually got into those circumstances through her own poor decision making. Lorraine Stanley could do the comedy and kindness very well but she really fell short at most moments requiring strong emotion for me. At those times, it really looked like she was acting and therefore it fell flat. In short, she was alright but I won’t miss her.

I loved the mick taking premise of the threat. I loved the Toy Maker, I loved Ncuti and I loved seeing Mel and Donna get happy endings. Not too sure on the bi-generation though. It feels a bit like they’ve given the gammons a straw to clutch when they inevitably hate Ncuti’s Doctor by saying he isn’t even a real Doctor because Tenant still exists. Tenant’s Doctor being allowed to remain has also happened once with the human Doctor getting to live happily ever after with Rose.

A fitting exit for Karen and Mitch. Keeping Mitch’s exit a secret was a good idea as it kept the idea of Karen going to prison alive right up until tonight. Bailey, Mack and Mia just weren’t appearing much at all so not much of a loss-i had to laugh at the idea of Bailey being emotional at leaving when she’s barely been there all year. I think this is like her fourth episode of 2023 or something. I actually think Bernie and Felix will be fine for now. They both work well in their current roles and perhaps might even get more focus now the wider family have gone. I still can’t shake the idea of Keanu being the Christmas victim. I imagine he won’t last long either way. Interesting to see Theo not in the line up but I guess his story is almost over and he was the only one that felt ‘created’ for the plot. Seriously doubt Phil will be in any danger whatsoever but since they’ve officially teased a seventh woman-has to be Kat right? Jack though I think could be in genuine trouble.

He’s also never charted under his birth name-Quentin.

My copy has arrived and I’m looking forward to listening. Won’t get the chance until the weekend but I’ve got this a Pink’s reissue this last week so what a weekend it’ll be!

Second time in a few years then that Pink drops out due to catalogue streams. These EOY charts are such a redundant joke.

Let’s hope they got the casting right this time.

Interesting how Brett and Danni Stark are apparently twins now despite always having had different birthdays back in the 90s. Toadie and Terese continue to make no sense whatsoever. There’s no way that Toadie, with his history with the school and Susan, would ever be in favour of it closing. Particularly since, as his daughter attends there, he has an actual stake in the place.

Pink got 2 top 40 hits and Ed’s albums weren’t as big as usual but the rest all looks set to come true.

is going to be returning but I still don’t hold out much hope for a return unfortunately.

I LOVE Turbulence but Trustfall really does have the edge.

You can’t just keep making something because people say it’s an ‘institution’ or a ‘tradition’. It clearly isn’t anymore given people aren’t really watching it anymore. I used to love seeing the biggest hits of the year, some Christmas chart contenders and the countdowns of both charts back in the late 90s/early 00s but it doesn’t work anymore. They can’t get performances of the biggest hits, even Ed Sheeran didn’t bother turning up in 2021. The fact is, what people want is not something they can have anymore. Back in 2008 when they tried to shelve it, people still cared. But no one outside this forum batted an eyelid last year and a whole generation have grown up without a weekly Top Of The Pops and it’s literally a case of they don’t know what they’re missing. I’ll do what I normally do and try to source the 1998 Christmas special-always puts me in a Christmassy mood!

Was taken aback at the mention of Karen being 45. Genuinely thought she was more than just 10 years older than me. Edit: Lorraine Stanley is 12 years older than me. I guess seeing her with so many grown up children on the show makes her seem older.

Love how Nicolette was reduced to an exposition machine today shouting about how she and Chloe were engaged and reading out Summer Hoyland’s character bio.

Bernard Cribbins did film but was taken ill on set and died shortly after. He was at a table read for this episode but it’s clear he never filmed for it. I’d like to think they will find a way to use what little he was able to film and make it work.

It’s so brilliant having Davies, Tenant and Tate all back! It felt right out of 2000s for me and was nostalgia overload in the best way. I like how they got around the metacrisis and the story was told really well with no long moments of nothing or moments of too much happening too fast if you know what I mean. The diversity and inclusivity was perfectly done as well though I know it will rankle many. I loved the meep twist (and the fact that they were voiced by Miriam Margolyes!) and the new Tardis interior looks amazing. Nice little reference to Wilf as well, hopefully we do see him one last time in the upcoming episodes. It feels like Doctor Who is BACK. I can’t say I enjoyed any Chibnall episode like I enjoyed this. Only downside being getting a text from my dad, a lifelong fan, basically saying it was too woke. But that’s a personal issue I have to deal with in the form of my transphobic parents. As far as I’m concerned the more ‘woke’, the better.

Ok I really enjoyed that! I’m not sure I can get all my thoughts down straight away so I’ll post later.

Now 41 was my first and definitely one of my favourites. Though I have memories of Now’s 24, 35, 36 and 38 from before then thanks to my brother collecting them.

:lol: :lol: :lol: so true! I can’t at Mischa Barton not being able to get out of there fast enough. I’m glad the flashbacks are out of the way now, it feels like we’re properly moving forward. Mel doesn’t suit dramatic either, the whole thing smacks of wanting to start off with a shock. I do think we’ve already seen the cracks in Toadie and Terese, I predict that within the year, they will revert to Toadie/Mel and Terese/Paul.

Linda was so on the sidelines after the extended family moved in (a bit like what happened to Shirley a decade ago) and it’s a real shame that without Mick, she only gets material in this way.

Just getting through my first listen-so much I haven’t knowingly heard until now! What is up with the S Club song? It sounds dreadful and even cleared up, it feels like it would be terrible anyways, definitely a low point for their discography. Also, I don’t think I’d realise Madonna was on Vulgar if they didn’t keep saying her name-overly processed! I always wondered what it’d be like to finally have her on a Now-and it was never like this! Who are the biggest artists now that have never made the numbered series?

Even then, people swear at all ages (at least, most people I come across have been known to swear regardless of age) and I find that it’s your social demographic rather than age that makes a difference. It’s usually something frowned upon by parents who don’t want their children to hear the language and even then, not so much these days.

This is an odd hill to die on tbh.

You’re rarely ever nice, you only ever appear here to make a dig at other people’s opinions or favourite artists. Jack put it so much more eloquently than I. If you were to comment on the streaming rather than pick apart other posters and their opinions, perhaps you’d enjoy the discussion more. People are allowed to want Dua to do well and be upset if they don’t feel she is.

But the quality of the the tracklist is surely subjective? I love Now 55 to bits even though I know there’s a lot missing and it’s full of flops. The fact is, someone would have had that reaction to Now 116 no matter what the tracklist. Young people don’t buy compilations and older people wouldn’t recognise the hits. You need to accept this.