No! Not the MindPROBE!
@droho.bsky.social
A dude who reads & watches far too much sci-fi & cult TV/cinema. Massive Doctor Who, Blake’s 7, Star Trek, Star Wars & Bond fan & co-host of the Who Corner to Corner Doctor Who podcast.
Picked this one up in a charity shop today and according to Jack Reacher’s CV - printed in the flyleaf - he’s now 62 years old.
Probably still knock the crap out of anyone half his age though!
Probably still knock the crap out of anyone half his age though!
November 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Picked this one up in a charity shop today and according to Jack Reacher’s CV - printed in the flyleaf - he’s now 62 years old.
Probably still knock the crap out of anyone half his age though!
Probably still knock the crap out of anyone half his age though!
Foundation series 3 is…
Absolutely 100% EPIC!!
To give Asimov’s books the scale they deserve, to weave in stories from the Robot series & Foundation prequels, and then to reinforce big concepts with even bigger concepts both old & new and to give each flawed character weight & agency… just … wow!! 🤯
Absolutely 100% EPIC!!
To give Asimov’s books the scale they deserve, to weave in stories from the Robot series & Foundation prequels, and then to reinforce big concepts with even bigger concepts both old & new and to give each flawed character weight & agency… just … wow!! 🤯
November 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Foundation series 3 is…
Absolutely 100% EPIC!!
To give Asimov’s books the scale they deserve, to weave in stories from the Robot series & Foundation prequels, and then to reinforce big concepts with even bigger concepts both old & new and to give each flawed character weight & agency… just … wow!! 🤯
Absolutely 100% EPIC!!
To give Asimov’s books the scale they deserve, to weave in stories from the Robot series & Foundation prequels, and then to reinforce big concepts with even bigger concepts both old & new and to give each flawed character weight & agency… just … wow!! 🤯
One of the many things I like about the Foundation TV series is how it weaves parts of the OG novels’ prequels into the ongoing plot line. In S3, there seems to be even more of it: with Day insinuating himself into Mycogen and Demerzel revealing herself to Gaal Dornick I got even more tingles!
November 2, 2025 at 12:14 AM
One of the many things I like about the Foundation TV series is how it weaves parts of the OG novels’ prequels into the ongoing plot line. In S3, there seems to be even more of it: with Day insinuating himself into Mycogen and Demerzel revealing herself to Gaal Dornick I got even more tingles!
It’s been a long time since I read the Foundation novels but I remember then fondly. And I’m loving what they’re doing in the TV series: simultaneously homaging Asimov’s OG stories, worlds and big concepts, and adding to them too.
This exchange from ‘Demerzel’ at the start of S3 gave me the tingles.
This exchange from ‘Demerzel’ at the start of S3 gave me the tingles.
November 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
It’s been a long time since I read the Foundation novels but I remember then fondly. And I’m loving what they’re doing in the TV series: simultaneously homaging Asimov’s OG stories, worlds and big concepts, and adding to them too.
This exchange from ‘Demerzel’ at the start of S3 gave me the tingles.
This exchange from ‘Demerzel’ at the start of S3 gave me the tingles.
Duel is a very decent episode, pitting Blake & Travis head to head quite early on in their ongoing battle. It could’ve made for a pretty good finale.
However their story is not over just yet…
However their story is not over just yet…
October 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Duel is a very decent episode, pitting Blake & Travis head to head quite early on in their ongoing battle. It could’ve made for a pretty good finale.
However their story is not over just yet…
However their story is not over just yet…
I’ve watched this story so many times it’s unreal. It was title of the second Blake’s 7 VHS when they were released as omnibus compilations of three stories to a tape back in the day. But this is the first time I noticed that it was directed by the wonderful Douglas Camfield!
October 18, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I’ve watched this story so many times it’s unreal. It was title of the second Blake’s 7 VHS when they were released as omnibus compilations of three stories to a tape back in the day. But this is the first time I noticed that it was directed by the wonderful Douglas Camfield!
Blake stumbles in to help his friend and Travis springs forth! The two men fight!
But I’m not gonna tell you how it plays out, heh heh. If you know, you know, but if you don’t then you’ll just have to watch it yourself. Go on. It’s pretty good!
But I’m not gonna tell you how it plays out, heh heh. If you know, you know, but if you don’t then you’ll just have to watch it yourself. Go on. It’s pretty good!
October 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Blake stumbles in to help his friend and Travis springs forth! The two men fight!
But I’m not gonna tell you how it plays out, heh heh. If you know, you know, but if you don’t then you’ll just have to watch it yourself. Go on. It’s pretty good!
But I’m not gonna tell you how it plays out, heh heh. If you know, you know, but if you don’t then you’ll just have to watch it yourself. Go on. It’s pretty good!
First thing the following morning, the Mutoid bat-blood-sucker hogties Jenna. Travis just about stops her gorging on Jenna’s life essence and the trap for Blake is set!
October 18, 2025 at 9:32 PM
First thing the following morning, the Mutoid bat-blood-sucker hogties Jenna. Travis just about stops her gorging on Jenna’s life essence and the trap for Blake is set!
Luvley new VFX shot of … um… Mars??
Actually it’d be pretty cool if the Duel was happening on one of the Martian moons…
Actually it’d be pretty cool if the Duel was happening on one of the Martian moons…
October 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Luvley new VFX shot of … um… Mars??
Actually it’d be pretty cool if the Duel was happening on one of the Martian moons…
Actually it’d be pretty cool if the Duel was happening on one of the Martian moons…
Avon is bored and turns himself in for some shuteye. Then Terry Nation gives him the best lines of the series so far 🙌
October 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Avon is bored and turns himself in for some shuteye. Then Terry Nation gives him the best lines of the series so far 🙌
Meant to say… The Liberator isn’t going anywhere. So to help pass the time, the crew are treated to watching the action unfold via the ship’s scanner.
October 18, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Meant to say… The Liberator isn’t going anywhere. So to help pass the time, the crew are treated to watching the action unfold via the ship’s scanner.
Each of the duellists is ‘granted’ a companion to help raise the stakes. Blake has Jenna & they spend the night up a tree fending off carnivorous bats.
Travis gets his Mutoid pilot who spends the night up a tree draining blood from carnivorous bats.
(BTW is it wrong to find Mutoids just a tad sexy?)
Travis gets his Mutoid pilot who spends the night up a tree draining blood from carnivorous bats.
(BTW is it wrong to find Mutoids just a tad sexy?)
October 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Each of the duellists is ‘granted’ a companion to help raise the stakes. Blake has Jenna & they spend the night up a tree fending off carnivorous bats.
Travis gets his Mutoid pilot who spends the night up a tree draining blood from carnivorous bats.
(BTW is it wrong to find Mutoids just a tad sexy?)
Travis gets his Mutoid pilot who spends the night up a tree draining blood from carnivorous bats.
(BTW is it wrong to find Mutoids just a tad sexy?)
NOW READING 📖
“The Hard Way” had just been published when I first started reading the Jack Reacher novels. I remember it being promoted everywhere but figured I needed to begin at the beginning and read them in order.
Nearly 20 years later I’ve finally caught up!
“The Hard Way” had just been published when I first started reading the Jack Reacher novels. I remember it being promoted everywhere but figured I needed to begin at the beginning and read them in order.
Nearly 20 years later I’ve finally caught up!
October 18, 2025 at 12:27 PM
NOW READING 📖
“The Hard Way” had just been published when I first started reading the Jack Reacher novels. I remember it being promoted everywhere but figured I needed to begin at the beginning and read them in order.
Nearly 20 years later I’ve finally caught up!
“The Hard Way” had just been published when I first started reading the Jack Reacher novels. I remember it being promoted everywhere but figured I needed to begin at the beginning and read them in order.
Nearly 20 years later I’ve finally caught up!
With the Liberator and Travis’ pursuit ship locked together, the two enemies are transported to the planet where they must duel to the death. Sinofar explains that her race was destroyed by warfare and that both men have a lesson to learn.
October 15, 2025 at 11:35 PM
With the Liberator and Travis’ pursuit ship locked together, the two enemies are transported to the planet where they must duel to the death. Sinofar explains that her race was destroyed by warfare and that both men have a lesson to learn.
And then Sinofar works her magic and everything on the ships gets a little trippy.
October 15, 2025 at 11:30 PM
And then Sinofar works her magic and everything on the ships gets a little trippy.
Outgunned and low on power, Blake attempts a desperate manoeuvre.
Travis realises what he’s doing and he relishes it!
Travis realises what he’s doing and he relishes it!
October 15, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Outgunned and low on power, Blake attempts a desperate manoeuvre.
Travis realises what he’s doing and he relishes it!
Travis realises what he’s doing and he relishes it!
Meanwhile on the planet below, the mysterious Sinofar - Isla Blair, another popular face from 70s & 80s TV (wearing a somewhat figure-hugging outfit) and her companion Giroc - Patsy Smart “Ooh… Make an ‘orse sick that would” (The Talons of Weng Chiang) - watch the battle play out in the skies above…
October 15, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Meanwhile on the planet below, the mysterious Sinofar - Isla Blair, another popular face from 70s & 80s TV (wearing a somewhat figure-hugging outfit) and her companion Giroc - Patsy Smart “Ooh… Make an ‘orse sick that would” (The Talons of Weng Chiang) - watch the battle play out in the skies above…
There’s a fabulous moment during the action in which Blake literally falls into Avon’s arms, and Paul Darrow holds onto his leading man for just a little longer than he needs to….
October 15, 2025 at 11:20 PM
There’s a fabulous moment during the action in which Blake literally falls into Avon’s arms, and Paul Darrow holds onto his leading man for just a little longer than he needs to….
The trap is set and the Liberator flies right into it. In a truly pulse-pounding sequence wonderfully scored by Dudley Simpson, Travis unleashes a hail of deadly plasma bolts which quickly cripple Blake’s new ship.
It’s a brilliant showcase for the BluRay’s new special effects.
It’s a brilliant showcase for the BluRay’s new special effects.
October 15, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The trap is set and the Liberator flies right into it. In a truly pulse-pounding sequence wonderfully scored by Dudley Simpson, Travis unleashes a hail of deadly plasma bolts which quickly cripple Blake’s new ship.
It’s a brilliant showcase for the BluRay’s new special effects.
It’s a brilliant showcase for the BluRay’s new special effects.
Carol Royle, who went on to feature in numerous UK TV shows, plays one of Travis’ genetically modified ‘Mutoid’ pilots with deadly intensity, plus a hint of tragedy and hatred of her fate powerfully expressed by the merest glance and change of inflection. So subtle it goes right over Travis’s head.
October 15, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Carol Royle, who went on to feature in numerous UK TV shows, plays one of Travis’ genetically modified ‘Mutoid’ pilots with deadly intensity, plus a hint of tragedy and hatred of her fate powerfully expressed by the merest glance and change of inflection. So subtle it goes right over Travis’s head.
In orbit around a nameless planet ravaged by atomic war (familiar Nation territory…) Travis sets a trap for Blake placing his three super high powered pursuit ships in a tactical formation. The new models for these btw are lovely - very true to the originals even down to their radar dishes.
October 15, 2025 at 10:55 PM
In orbit around a nameless planet ravaged by atomic war (familiar Nation territory…) Travis sets a trap for Blake placing his three super high powered pursuit ships in a tactical formation. The new models for these btw are lovely - very true to the originals even down to their radar dishes.
Duel begins with some weird, eerie stuff reminiscent of ‘Cygnus Alpha’. In fact I do sometimes get these two jumbled up, expecting to see bits of one in the other - if you know what I mean…
October 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Duel begins with some weird, eerie stuff reminiscent of ‘Cygnus Alpha’. In fact I do sometimes get these two jumbled up, expecting to see bits of one in the other - if you know what I mean…
Next up on the Blake’s 7 rewatch, it’s … ‘Duel’. A story which pits Blake and Travis against each other in the most direct way possible, literally right at their throats.
October 15, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Next up on the Blake’s 7 rewatch, it’s … ‘Duel’. A story which pits Blake and Travis against each other in the most direct way possible, literally right at their throats.
But it won’t be the only story in the run of B7 that you could lift out completely without affecting the ongoing narrative, or which isn’t necessarily and identifiably ‘Blake’s 7’
Nonetheless I find it entertaining enough. It’s a bit of fun between the two powerhouse stories either side of it.
Nonetheless I find it entertaining enough. It’s a bit of fun between the two powerhouse stories either side of it.
October 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
But it won’t be the only story in the run of B7 that you could lift out completely without affecting the ongoing narrative, or which isn’t necessarily and identifiably ‘Blake’s 7’
Nonetheless I find it entertaining enough. It’s a bit of fun between the two powerhouse stories either side of it.
Nonetheless I find it entertaining enough. It’s a bit of fun between the two powerhouse stories either side of it.
It’s a story full of archetypes, an expendable crew of people we won’t see again, which is maybe to be expected in the framework of a Whodunnit. And arguably it’s a story which could fit into any other show without much reworking.
October 15, 2025 at 10:30 PM
It’s a story full of archetypes, an expendable crew of people we won’t see again, which is maybe to be expected in the framework of a Whodunnit. And arguably it’s a story which could fit into any other show without much reworking.