#Elspet Gray

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Four Wedding and a Funeral 1994

[theultimatenonbinarynerd]

Doctor Who: Immortal Beloved Review

Introduction

I'm super excited to be diving into one of my most favourite big finish listens so far and sharing my thoughts with you all. Man I'm so glad that I used The 8th Doctor Adventures as my Big Finish starting point as they're all incredible and highly entertaining.

Blown away especially with this one and I'm not even a Greek Mythology geek. This is gonna be so hard not to spoil as its a banger from start to finish. I've even talked about it in the Facebook group due to how much I've enjoyed it. Even if you don't want to listen to the whole first season of the Eighth Doctor Adventures Range, this is a 100% the story I'd recommend the most out of all of them. It gets dark so absolutely make sure to check trigger warnings for the sights that list them.

Really seriously loved the whole concept of this story and loved its inventive. Its a dark story with a lot of layers once you peel back all the layers and I don't think even a simple review from me can do how good this story is justice. If other Big Finish Stories are as good as this I will seriously sell my soul to bank my pockets full of Big Finish. I know Doctor Who is suppose to be for "kids" but I also love when adult whovians are acknowledged and we get content geared specifically towards us and this story, well it was certainly something.

What I Liked

Gosh there's so much I could praise about this story but I'm gonna do my best to simply it down and not give any spoilers because I don't want to ruin this treat of a story.

It may keep coming up in every single review but the performances are so damn good. Big Finish knows how to cast memorable and talented people who really do give it there all. Man everyone killed it and amplified this story from a ten to an hundred. Paul MacGanns Doctor is again magnificent in this story. His Doctor is so interesting and multilayered, he's developed a high lot compared to The Post Regen 8th Doctor from the movie and it's brilliant to hear. He really gets to show The Doctors darkside in this story whilst also balancing it with his Doctors wise sage nature. Sheridan Smith again killed it as Lucie Miller and again has allowed me to grow more attached to the character in this story. I love how Lucie has her own morals similar to the Doctor but she's also not afraid to stand up for herself. It's clear how much Russell T Davies got inspired by this character and made Donna Noble. Ian McNiece also perfectly portrays the sinister and "powerful" Zeus, he gave it his all in this role and a hundred percent delivers. Credit also goes to Elspet Gray who portrays Hera really well and puts her own unique spin on the role completely different from her mythological counterpart. Despite not being featured much Jennifer Higham and Anthony also give brilliant performances as forbidden lovers Sarati and Kalkin. Acting clearly runs in the MacGann family as I felt like Jake MacGann son of Paul MacGann although again a small role did great as Ganymede. Everyone did wonderfully so it's definitely worth giving this a listen to for the cast alone.

Secondly I absolutely adored the villians. It makes a nice change from the more typical and conventional style of Doctor Who villian. Considering how flawed they are in Greek Mythology I think it was super interesting to have Hera and Zeus be against a marriage but in a way that's not the reason you thing. When the twist happens it leaves you reeling on the edge of your seat. Really don't want to spoil anything as when everything unfolds it leaves you disturb and it absolute faces. The Doctor has faced things like The Daleks, The Cybermen and The Master but Zeus and Hera are truly on their own level. They're not like anything The Doctor has ever faced and that's great. You think Hera and Zeus are just these awful controlling parents but when the truth gets revealed it hits you in the gut hard and your in absolute shock. It's also just nice that for once we have a villainous couple as it breaks away from the usual format. Really hoping other Big Finish Stories have fascinating villians like this.

Then finally, there's the themes. Maybe because I'm a Star Wars nerd but I love it when sci-fi explores the consequences of creating human life and then dehumanising it. Its a trope that really makes you look at who's really the good guy. Please be rest assured that this is not your typical Forbidden Lovers story it's complex and so so much more. Clements through his writing asks the audience about the ethics of cloning and gaining immortality through hurting others. We're asked to think about human life and how we treat others. Listening to Doctor Who's take on this topic Star Wars has done through characters like the clones was fascinating. Stories like this are what truly help me connect with the sci-fi genre as Sci-fi should be used to have this ethical debates about the use of technology and how we treat others. Paul MacGann and Ian McNiece have a great chemistry with both characters confronting each other about their morals being super interesting. I also feel like we also get to see how far The Doctor is willing to go to protect the people he cares about. The moral clash of the story creates a truly wonderful deep dive into human nature. You may think you know what's happening but trust me when I say there's so much going for it underneath the service.

What I Disliked

Nothing absolutely Nothing. This story was perfect and everything I could have possibly wanted and more.

I was confused at some of the character choices for Lucie but sitting on it, it made sense to me and fit the context of the situation. She's in witness protection, doesn't trust anyone and also doesn't want corrupt technology to get into the wrong hands. Lucie did have her highlights in this story that I really appreciated.

Immortal Beloved may not feel like your conventional Doctor Who story but I feel like that's good and that if Big Finish sticked entirely to the same format as the show it wouldn't be as entertaining. I really appreciate this stories experiment style when I'm not even a huge Greek Mythology person myself.

Honestly I really want to give this one a relisten in the future as its earned it.

Conclusion

Best episode of this first story in The Eighth Doctor Adventures and A Must listen if your not so sure about listening to this first series of adventures. Immortal Beloved stands out in its own unique way and is certainly a story that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. Its so worth checking out trust me.

Listening to this left me so gobsmacked that I just sat their gaping at my computer screen. I love it when Doctor Who can pull my mind under the roof. Sci-fi is meant to be twisty even in the audio format. My emotions were definitely all over the place to the point I just rambled and info dumped to my mum.

Honestly listening to these 2006-2007 stories makes me to jump back into these earlier stories but based on my enjoyment of these I think I'll enjoy the otters. I'm so interested in all of the Big Finish catalogue now but understand that I have a tiny wallet and need to save my money. I am however am definitely gonna try check out some modern stuff including The 11th Doctor Chronicles: Geronimo and The War Doctor Begins collection.

I could only imagine how listening to this 8th Doctor Adventures Series for the first time when it came out. The writing is all very consistent as well as the quality. I'm seriously speechless myself. I'd do an overall series review but due to the quality, I absolutely think these episodes are worth being reviewed standalone.

Cannot recommend enough.

Bonus:

I'm logging all of my big finish listens on Storygraph and to assist with this year being the first year I'm diving into Big Finish, I'm hosting a public reading challenge on Storygraph that anybody can join. My username is melsage1823 for anybody interested.

Honestly think tracking and counting these Big Finish stories has helped keep my memory fresh similarly to reading.

Here's the link to the full challenge:

-Melody-

They/Them

[recycledmoviecostumes]

This medieval headdress was first worn by Elspet Gray as The Queen in the first series of Blackadder in 1983 in the episode The Queen of Spain’s Beard. It appears to have undergone some alterations for use on Caroline Blakiston as Angela Hartley in the 2005 episode of Midsomer Murders entitled Bantling Boy.

It’s difficult to tell if this is indeed the same piece. The film quality and lighting quality between both productions varies heavily, and clearly alterations have been made for Midsomer Murders. That being said, enough details remain consistent to assume that these are the same. 

Costume Credit: acrossthewavesoftime

E-mail Submissions: submissions@recycledmoviecostumes.com

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[unsaltedsinner]

The Black Adder (1983).

[addictivecontradiction]

The Black Adder, 1983

[cleowho]

“At least give the Doctor time.”

Arc of Infinity - season 20 - 1983

[themadvigilantist]

V’s Missing/Forgotten Regenerations

| 005 | 006 | 007 | 008 | 009 | 010 | 011 | 0 |

[joanhicksonsdaughter]

Elspet Gray as The Queen in Blackadder: The Foretelling (Series 1, Episode 1) with Rowan Atkinson as Edmund

[yourwizardofaus]

Geoffrey Bayldon reprised his role as 11th century wizard Catweazle for a second and final season of the iconic series.  This time was supported by Elspet Gray as Lady Collingford, Gary Warren as Cedric 'Owlface' Collingford and Moray Watson as Lord Collingford.

[kwebtv]

Solo  -  BBC One  -  January 11, 1981 - October 17, 1982

Sitcom (13 episodes)

Running Time:  30 minutes

Stars:

Felicity Kendal as Gemma Palmer

Elspet Gray as Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer

Sarah Bullen as Julia

Stephen Moore as Danny Tyrrell (series 1)

Debbie Wheeler as Josie (series 1)

Stella Goodier as Bernadette (series 1)

Michael Howe as Sebastian Bale (series 2)

Belinda Mayne as Rosie (series 2)

David Rintoul as Rex Collins (series 2)

Peter Howitt as Raif

[manualstogo]

For just $3.99 Released on November 29, 1948: The mother and father of a large and happy family in London learn to cope with their children all finding mates and preparing to leave home. Genre: Drama Duration: 1h Director: Charles Saunders Actors: Frederick Piper (Mr. Billy Hapgood), Kathleen Boutall (Mrs. Hapgood), Margaret Barton (Myra Hapgood), Patrick Holt (John Neilson), Elspet Gray (Phyllis Hapgood), Peter Hammond (George Joe 'Pieface' Harris), Nigel Buchanan (Arthur Hapgood), John Singer (Ted Hapgood), Josephine Stuart (Genevieve, 'Dandy'), Sam Kydd (telegraph boy) *** This item will be supplied on a quality disc and will be sent in a sleeve that is designed for posting CD's DVDs *** This item will be sent by 1st class post for quick delivery. Should you not receive your item within 12 working days of making payment, please contact me so we can solve this or any other questions. Note: All my products are either my own work, licensed to me directly or supplied to me under a GPL/GNU License. No Trademarks, copyrights or rules have been violated by this item. This product complies with rules on compilations, international media, and downloadable media. All items are supplied on CD or DVD.

[princebp1]

Top: Hat worn by Elspet Gray as Grace Farrier in “The Wingless Bird,“ - (1997)

Bottom left: Same hat, but with added feathers and foliage, worn by Geraldine Somerville as Louisa, Countess of Manton in the 2012 “Titanic” TV Mini Series.

Bottom right: The incredibly huge hat can be seen a third time on an extra in Season 1 of “Mr. Selfridge.”

[retrophilia]

Today in 1929 Elspet Gray was born.

[jamieroxx]

Birthday Remembrances. Today, April 12, 1929 – Elspet Gray, Scottish actress (d. 2013) was born. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elspet_Gray)

[unsaltedsinner]

Brian Blessed as Richard IV (sic) of England in The Black Adder (1983).