Chez VampireBat

I think the only hope we have is that some f***-up in the next four years of their own making destroys their name, it's definitely possible given they are a completely incompetent party politically and have no concrete plans outside of rage-baiting and keeping the media and far right on their side. I also think the Tories could clear themselves up if they got a more competent leader that can better put them as an alternative, Badenoch is completely holding them back. The locals will do wonders for them though and if the election were held today, they'd probably win big. It also will depend on what happens in the US election, a Democrat government I think would be less good for them with international relations. It's really quite concerning with flags lining the streets and blatant misinformation and rhetoric being twisted in ways to paint migrants as the sole issue hampering our country and threatening our national identity (legally we have to house migrants while they claim asylum, anything else would be a violation of human rights, but that involves reading comprehension beyond the headlines). I think we're heading in a bad direction.

Gosh, you work fast, catching up! The Tsuranga Countdown - don't feel there's much else to say there x (I can't remember much about this one, just a generic space episode with bad Chibnall writing, the pregnant man was a slightly baffling edition, and them genuinely acting like an oversized moshi monster was the most fearsome creature on the planet) Legend of the Sea Devils - Was cool to see a classic villain return and they looked very good, but otherwise this was an unremarkable special with the usual contrivances that lumbered this era, I'll credit it with some great underwater shots and the Doctor/Yaz relationship could've been good had it been handled well. Love & Monsters - Ah, remember when this was the most hated episode? Good times x There have been good, even fantastic, Doctor-lite episodes, but this was not one of them (not that I expected much given the villain was the result of a children's competition), mainly cos the protagonist wasn't really that likeable, Jackie was definitely the best thing about it. The Woman Who Lived - I remember so little about this and it's predecessor apart from Maisie Williams' Me who was never executed that well, this was peak Game of Thrones time so the fact she was there probably sacrificed a decent story, and...a lion I think. I don't remember it being anything special though x Victory of the Daleks - I think this is a great concept, especially given the Daleks are inspired by the Nazis, and 'Would you like some tea' coming from a Dalek is incredible indeed, but it was just a bit naff in it's execution, with the pastel coloured Daleks and space battles. Not bad, just a bit throwaway. Hide - Another one I remember very little about, Haunted House episodes and Doctor Who have never been the best combination. Praxeus - Better than Orphan 55, but still another really bad Chibnall climate change episode with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, quite literally jumping from one scenario to the next with no character development or plot given space to breathe, some characters died and there was next to no reaction from anyone lmao The Lie of the Land - The Monks three parter had a lot of potential and they looked great, but it wasn't the best and ended up feeling very unsatisfying. I didn't think blindsiding his companion was necessarily out of character for the Doctor though as he did the same in Kill the Moon, while he had made progress, it showed he was still prone to not always think of how others feel in times of danger (incidentally, I did find that one of the most interesting Doctor arcs and Capaldi portrayed it beautifully) Let's Kill Hitler - This in the midst of this super-confusing River Song storyline which I admittedly haven't revisited it much, there were good episodes here despite this but I don't recall this being remarkable. Arachnids in the UK - The title's great, otherwise it's one of my least favourite episodes. I just can't fathom who thought the Doctor would seriously think that trapping and suffocating spiders is more humane than just shooting them and ending it quickly (I don't understand why they had to die at all, couldn't she have just used the TARDIS to trap them and take them to another dimension where they're more at home or something? There clearly weren't that many given all of the spiders were seemingly drawn to that hotel), you know the writing's bad when you make the obvious Trump parody (very much necessary xx) look correct. The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe - This episode's a bit overhated, it's not bad just cliched and schmaltzy, but I do find it quite cute, maybe I have a soft spot for literary sci-fi recreations. Fear Her - The other obvious dud from S2, I do admire it as a time capsule as to how the 2012 Olympics looked from 2006, but that pretty much kills any replay value as it's firmly rooted in it's time (Shayne Ward's Greatest Hits tour!!), the concept had potential but the show's never been good with child-themed horror and the conclusion feels too cheesy. I didn't hate it at the time, but would never rewatch.

Oh I very nearly entered that one as I have zero memory of the last spin-off so...that's a relief! (Had to remind myself of my own entry for that, wasn't one of my better choices x), I had no potentials for this so just found this on reddit from nine years ago, it's slower than the other one but still beautiful <3

Great to see this, I've been getting more into the show recently with the 20th anniversary and I went to a special event held by the BFI where they watched a few S1 episodes and had a few cast members there. If you don't mind, I'll try and comment on these as you go, I can't promise I'll keep this up but we'll see how we go x Dinosaurs on a Spaceship - Y'know I'd probably rank this last or close to it too, it's a stupid episode that would be something I'd just file under forgettable fluff (Mitchell and Webb as Robots were really badly used), but that last, cold act by the Doctor of mercilessly killing the villain (who really wasn't that bad by the standard of villains) leaves a really bad taste in my mouth. It didn't come back or play into anything in the Doctor's Arc later either, just a horrendous out of character moment that sours the whole episode for me. Nightmare in Silver - I don't have many strong feelings towards this one, but it's definitely just a forgettable filler episode, given it had the Cybermen though, that's not great and a real waste of one of the greatest and most tragic enemies. They were portrayed as pretty unthreatening here and the chess game was a load of talky mumbo-jumbo. In The Forest of the Night - Pretty weak, quite literally nothing happens, and there's a weird preachy message at the end that doesn't work. Defining filler so much they forgot to write anything for it. The Rings of Akhaten - Admittedly my memory of this is fuzzy (mid-era Moffat did get exasperating with the Impossible girl storyline), but I didn't really mind this one much? Nothing amazing but diverting enough for a standalone, the singing was a bit naff but there's been cringier singing in the show x Sleep No More - Little memory of this one (didn't help that it was a single parter in a season of two parters), but found footage was getting tired in 2016 and from what I recall, it really didn't work in a show like Doctor Who, pass x Orphan 55 - Too high xx One of the worst episodes of the show ever, I actually can find very little to enjoy at all here - I guess Benny is quite unintentionally funny. Too many non-existent characters (I couldn't name one of them asides from Benny!), twist that doesn't work, rushed story, no atmosphere and the message delivery was eye-rolling to the extent it was downright insulting. The best way to deliver social commentary within sci-fi is to use subtlety and to show not tell, which the show's done well before which made this condescending lecture even more shocking. I know there's a younger audience, but they are not that stupid that they need it quite literally spelled out. grr, this episode aggravates me! The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos - I didn't hate this, but it was a disappointing end to a poor season. Indeed, no stakes at all, Tzim-Sha (or Tim Shaw x) is a really weak villain that went from literally shrinking the Earth to being shoved in a glass cage, and Graham's arc wasn't really fleshed out - he just says he's gonna kill Tzim, then he doesn't, there's nothing building up to this and it's telling not showing, one of the many problems that Chibnall had.

Well that's a decisive win for sure! Congrats dandy*, while I was getting a little tired of the 'winner with a previous top 10' trend we seem to be stuck on this year, I can't deny this was a fab entry that I couldn't have snubbed. Ajanaeda and R'dA were in my commiserations so I very nearly voted for that whole top 8! Great stuff, was the best entry for Kathaldazia for a while so wonderful to see it as high as 2nd, wasn't sure if the SyncTube hype would translate. Thanks for hosting, Silas, was great to follow a different kind of results presentation!

There it is, thanks Dan <3 and Frank as well, great to see both top 10, I wouldn't have called that for the latter.

aww I cursed it but still a great result for Mabe Fratti <3

Right can stop fervently refreshing 😅 Will gladly take 15th, thanks very much all for the votes, seems like the majority came from the DNQs but I guess I can expect a few more from some still to come, thanks to Jade for the big points (this being a bit of a 13 magnet x) Hoping for top 10 for Rontvia from my big points, shame my 18 just missed the top half x Would be very surprised if Fljotavik isn't a runaway winner unless I've missed something x

Hooray top 20! Bit of a drought there but somehow afloat, thanks to Iz and Bre in particular. Aelandor deserved higher, though not a bad position for a song of that style.

Skall deserved better, though was pleasantly surprised that even qualified x

Can only hope the finalists have been as kind to me as the DNQ nations! Good luck all x

Well that's a way to start <3 Thank you Mack/!!!

ooh I like that concept, no waiting around through various painful points droughts to see you flop! 😅 Just hoping for a decent placing with this now it made past the semi hurdle

Kool And The Gang - Celebration Abba - Super Trouper Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry Adam And The Ants - Antmusic Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again* Diana Ross and Blondie just outside, not a lot of great discoveries cos of all the Christmas silliness but Spandau Ballet, The Clash and Gary Numan were good songs I didn't already know I don't usually do Worst, but I do want to single this rather heinous thing out (yes, St. Winifreds was better x) Mac Davis - It's Hard To Be Humble

I was struggling to remember what the 2nd song was, I was sure it had already been given all the modern songs seemed to not do as well here, but that's a great surprise result. It's a fantastic song, I prefer it in A-Trak remix form but both are great, The winner is slightly less unexpected but no qualms with it at all, it's a beautiful, simple song that connects with just about everyone. It's context of creation is lovely too as one of the songs that was more hopeful in the drama-filled Abbey Road recording sessions. Below them, Champagane Supernova and The Sound of Silence were my favourite 2 left,. I would say the former is much less of a blatant rip-off of the Beatles than some of their songs, it works really work well as an homage to psychedelia, the mid-90s soundscape and the lyrics ('slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball') are as Oasis as you can get x Shame it hasn't yet managed to get top 40 on the back of the tour, but guess that works better for this rate and it need not be said at this rate, but Sound of Silence is one of the most profound and beautiful songs ever written, I do have a soft spot for the Disturbed cover as well x I can't really fault any of that top 10 even though none were quite at the top of my votes, all very clear classics that have aged really well. Thank you for the excellent effort you put into hosting this, gasman, it's been great to follow.

Definitely a worthy number 1 of the year however many polls put it there, it was just light years ahead of almost everything at the time and still sounds so distinctive to this day, I was 9 at the time and I even remember it standing out then! I don't mind that version of Lady Marmalade, I grew up with it and it fits the vibe of Moulin Rouge, however messy it is with all the different vocal styles. Touch Me has unfortunately always gone a bit over my head, Another Chance is better out of the random dance number 1s this year, but Survivor is a classic. I think this would be my top 10, roughly: Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out of My Head Roger Sanchez - Another Chance Destinys Child - Survivor Atomic Kitten - Whole Again S Club 7 - Don't Stop Movin' So Solid Crew - 21 Seconds (robbed in this countdown x) Emma Bunton - What Took You So Long Shaggy feat. RikRok - It Wasn't Me DJ Pied Piper & The Master of Ceremonies - Do You Really Like It? Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Thru This There are a fair few guilty pleasures here, but 2001 is generally quite a poor year overall with not a lot of favourites. Thanks for hosting Wardy, would love this becoming a regular thing for a different poster per year if that is happening x

Well, the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin, not involving Zelenskyy, about trying to resolve the war was, to the surprise of absolutely no one, a waste of time and money with no deal reached.g I could've predicted that about a week ago but somehow the media were hyping this up as really significant... Maybe a failed distraction tactic with the Epstein files, but given how quickly he thought he could end this war, he is really failing.

Good to know that some reboots can still work well, I really enjoyed this, I love the original films, as well as the Airplane! movies which had a similar style and I think this did a brilliant job in replicating that style, with so many gags at once on the screen, I particularly liked Cold Cases and P.L.O.T Device as well as 'Can I ask why?'. Liam Neeson was also perfectly deadpan (he's about ten years older now than Leslie Nielsen was when he played the role!). There was some great callbacks to the original with things like the monologues and montages but they felt fresh and utterly bizarre at points which worked well, and it's nice to see a film give something for those who stick around for the credits, some great gags and nice to see Weird Al's cameo pay off. Like a lot of these reboots, I don't think it needed to exist at all, but when there is a clear love and respect for the originals as well as a clear attempt to have it's own style as well, I think it justified it.

So many classics in the 11-20 section so far that I thought would be higher, Perfect Day is such a beautiful song, the minimal backing and quiet, slightly strained vocal add real authenticity to it, the BBC cover version was good in a different way, but doesn't come close to the sentiment of the original (we don't talk about the BBC version of God Only Knows though x). Also love Comfortably Numb, so atmospheric and dreamy and a standout sequence in The Wall as well. Love I Follow Rivers in both remix and original form too, I'm glad it's much more remembered than its peak might suggest.

It's basically your standard 'I Want' musical song, but within the film, when it's successfully performed, it works well as a culmination of Rumi's plotline and explores her growth as a character, the high note is one of the subtle elements that shows this that won't be as obvious without context. I would probably not be as into this if I hadn't seen the film and it's still not my favourite from the soundtrack (that'd be How It's Done), but it's still a really well-done song and love that an original (and good x) film having this much success and cultural impact.

That's impressively high for Walking on a Dream, I remember it from the time before they had their breakthrough and it's a very underrated song. Where Is My Mind and Gimme Shelter obviously big classics too x

That's fantastic for Weapons! Do we know Barbarian's overall gross or opening? That was definitely more of a slow burner and I think the similar rug pull that that had probably helped this one.

This is a great film, I keep seeing chart forum posts saying 'I like the songs but the movie's not my thing' etc. but it's a lot more mature and deeper than you'd expect for a film with a concept like this and the animation, humour and story are all fantastic and can easily be enjoyed by adults as well as teens so don't be put off x and fantastic to see this happening to an original movie in a sea of sequels/remakes. I think my only issues with it were with some of the writing near the end - After the big reveal, I feel we don't really learn enough about the backstory and the demons felt a bit of an afterthought and somewhat unfairly dismissed when I feel they could've had a more inclusive message. I do hope there may be more (much as I hate encouraging more sequels) as it does feel like there's more they can do with the world.

Queen - Another One Bites The Dust Air Supply - All Out Of Love The Sweet People - Et Les Oiseaux Chantaient (And The Birds Were Singing) Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Enola Gay Motörhead - Ace Of Spades Heavy on the classics this week, no room sadly for Madness, Bob Marley, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush & AC/DC (and a good double a-side discovery from the Specials), I can't not vote for The Sweet People as I am blessed to have another birdsong-heavy song in my life x

Hopefully Champagne Supernova is a fair bit higher up for Oasis x Run Boy Run is another loss, although I'm pleasantly surprised it's made it this far and has managed to make a dent in the public consciousness outside of BJSC, it always sounded like a huge and distinctive song.