Join us for our Saw X review along with the tv series Dark. As Brannyk is away on special assignment, Jim is left fending off a fan who may have had a ‘small’ disagreement on his review of Dark being ‘utter crapola’. As Aidan defends German pride, Jim goes deep into Saw X land.
Meanwhile, Doctor Payne sleeps off some Megadeth beer and Mick McGee makes a special appearance for PeaceByChocolate.ca. All this and more on the next Streamin’ Demons.
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Sax X and Dark sorta transcripts
00:01.38
jim_phoenix
Hey, everyone Jim Phoenix here and boy am I excited for Brand New Shreman Demons live version. That’s right, we’re doing it live as we do every time but we’ve got saw x or 10 sucks sucks. Ah that those bad naming for them and dark. Something dart 30 dark something dartboard I don’t know some of that all this more next stream and demons. Edit.
01:01.62
jim_phoenix
There’s no banter today. So just that’s how I got hey everyone Jim Phoenix here and boy Mike excited to have you all today with me is a special guest because box humans on a souljourn is that a word soldier. Anyways, Aidan please for to have you Aidan I believe you were here before? yes.
01:22.20
Aidan
Yes I was I think about early much earlier this year or last year yeah some time pandemic. But.
01:27.80
jim_phoenix
1 of the years it was sometimes early. Yeah, we know it sometimes earlier good go for you. That’s how time works sometime between here and the pandemic start you were aghast. Well I actually don’t remember.
01:39.76
Aidan
Yeah.
01:42.70
jim_phoenix
What what movie you’re talking about before. Do you remember it all was it ghost posters. Oh oh shit you had the fucking Nanny a Magician and the air like that at your birthday party I remember now oh my God Okay I remember now.
01:44.55
Aidan
Um I think he was talking about ghostbusters and and it and how it was Yeah yeah.
02:01.19
jim_phoenix
So if those who are just joining us the the format simple we’re just talking about movies Now that’s all it is we we do a streaming one and you know it’s a new one or whatever it is if you’re deor this is your spot on the internet to get your streaming content in.
02:03.41
Aidan
Have.
02:17.78
jim_phoenix
Box you mean will be joining us next time they’re just on a special assignment called they fucking off I guess I don’t know it’s all good, but right now we have aid and and because I am extremely lazy. Extremely lazy. Oh here I am we always let the special guest go first and by the way for those who that home I reviewed something that special guest is reviewing today I didn’t review it I just said I just trashed it.
02:35.54
Aidan
No, you’re not no, you’re.
02:52.40
Aidan
Yeah, yeah.
02:54.37
jim_phoenix
And they were so upset that they let me know that they like oh you just you just shash everything and and that so here you go here’s your redemption for you’ know it’s called is it darkness as a dark is it dark 30 western movie. What is it called what is called voice street screening game is called.
02:59.21
Aidan
She did.
03:05.60
Aidan
Ah I know what it’s called I know it’s called it’s flu dark. It’s called dark and it’s a German show. So I’m well yeah, obviously the I don’t know what the original or it is.
03:14.80
jim_phoenix
So it wass not really called dark because that’s not a german word. It’s like happening despite all my german listeners sorry Rabbi it.
03:22.54
Aidan
But you’re always like na na done my podcast and then and then the one time I listen to it. You’re like trashing everything ever to you as so. Ah.
03:29.56
jim_phoenix
Um, everything I didn’t scratch everything. It was just like 1 really bad show and by the way it is like I want to do dark but or maybe constantine of like constantine. That’s that’s kind of random. Okay, go for that one. You know the one on prime like.
03:44.74
Aidan
Hit.
03:47.56
jim_phoenix
They rebooted John constant I’m prime. Oh you know with both the John Wick I’m like oh even the continental. No a horror b no start the same letter. Youre right? It has a a letter god.
03:52.52
Aidan
Well, it’s very similar starts with one and it’s like several several syllables same amount of syllables and same 3 letters. It’s a very very.
04:06.38
jim_phoenix
So the very common word continental constanting continent it all good inconent. It’s scary how much I don’t care about that show I think this is a scary part of it because I’m like oh it’s a prequel and I know who couldn’t die. Okay, whatever.
04:10.40
Aidan
Very common mistakes make and it is somewhat scary just like constantine is and.
04:24.14
Aidan
I Know that it’s scary because you don’t know all the bad things and nothing.
04:25.85
jim_phoenix
Oh how? fuck.
04:30.59
jim_phoenix
He doesn’t look as any limbs. He can’t die. He is not getting maimed. He’s not going to end up like you know the other guy can’t die because he’s in it too. So it’s like like watching rogue one for me. Ah.
04:40.58
Aidan
Maybe you discover all these relatives and and close friends that he had that that him and and you know we die in the end at some point in this in this season.
04:47.62
jim_phoenix
Pain. Why are you pain? Thank you Dr Pay oh that me you not to laugh about him dying like that all right? So we decided on darkness what called dark.
05:04.71
Aidan
Yes, the show it’s a it’s a series on Netflix um, that is originally german so if you watch it in german you you have to like obviously read.
05:05.30
jim_phoenix
Art Oh God Okay, how good of what could possibly go wrong.
05:20.78
Aidan
Nonstop. There’s a lot of dialogue. So I chose to watch it dubbed which I think that’s why some people may dislike it because then the the lips did they totally do not match the words and it almost sometimes can be a bit comical because you’re like oh that’s not the voice that I imagine that character having it just.
05:24.82
jim_phoenix
Ah.
05:29.64
jim_phoenix
The lips don’t match the thing.
05:40.21
Aidan
You know it’s off you know? ah.
05:41.70
jim_phoenix
Like is most people don’t know this in my real voice another 1 they think is coming out of me but it it comes out you I mean and he just put it back in what so dark. What’s about dark.
05:55.16
Aidan
So the premise if if you know stranger things and I think I think most people who listen know know what stranger things is right.
05:58.99
jim_phoenix
Yes I hate that one too walk I hate Strangerer things. They know how much I hate stranger things I like the first season I can’t remember a second season probably willfully can’t remember after 3 I’m like what the fuck we’re doing what are we doing I think college I think they’re actually are in college. The strangest thing is none of them have jobs. That’s a strange thing for me. Oh great scooping ice cream I think that was his job at the start of the show though he’s still scooping ice cream awesome offer mobility right? there he saves the fucking world. He he scooping ice cream.
06:21.51
Aidan
Um, one of them works at a mall.
06:27.41
Aidan
And their students even their students. Why would they all have jobs. They’re like supposed to be like 12 and 15 or something.
06:36.50
jim_phoenix
But you know what? the funny thing is you’re talking more about stranger thing than dark because that’s how Shitty dark is you’d rather talk about a stranger thing and what we do in the shadows which I actually thought you thought like you’re to say like the the scary movie like what the fuck scary thing like you know I’m prime like what we do in the shadows.
06:44.14
Aidan
Um I.
06:55.80
jim_phoenix
Like that’s a scary one for you. Ah ha exactly and guess what you’re still not talking about dark. Well welcome to every conversation with me ever.
06:56.38
Aidan
Um, that was actually that was also really good, but that wasn’t really scary.
07:01.18
Aidan
Ok, all right? Well that okay, it’s just because there a lot of come. There’s a lot of common. You know, common ground between the 2 shows. That’s why I’m I’m just trying to like set it up for people. It’s very complex far more complex but far more complex and. Stranger things is okay so it’s a science fiction thriller that originally started like a few years before the pandemic it it I believe it ended right at the pandemic it it ended in 2020 the year. Yeah.
07:20.27
jim_phoenix
Well so oh.
07:29.31
jim_phoenix
It ended the pandemic this this show ended the pandemic Holy shit my mush washes again. Okay.
07:38.48
Aidan
And it follows a group of of people who live in this made up german town. Ok and they’re like about 3 key families and um, there’s a like some massive like nuclear power plant somewhere near them and it there’s underneath it. There’s like a cave and.
07:43.26
jim_phoenix
They all.
07:57.57
Aidan
People who somebody in there end up traveling in time.
07:59.51
jim_phoenix
You’ve already explained way to him. Oh my god oh my god you finally got the traveling and time thing you know what? honestly I didn’t get that fucking far I knew they’re gonna travel on time for a very first episode I watch whatever I watch I’m like oh.
08:10.37
Aidan
Um, know you won’t like half an episode and you fell asleep.
08:16.60
jim_phoenix
Best time travel. He’s having a flashback or a flash forward trip timing. Why me great and that’s all I need to know like oh he’s Goingnna call himself is all good. Oh go fuck oh like the kid’s missing probably back in time that like kid were missing probably it back in time again. Why who knows some german shit.
08:33.77
Aidan
Like um, well because of the wormhole it goes back really far. Yeah, because that no I’m just I’m not. There’s no spoilers but there’s.
08:36.53
jim_phoenix
But all hitler is is it. Hitler is it fucking nazis please to say say it’s nazis those oilers no spoilers. But it’s probably nazis.
08:48.78
Aidan
Every time a character has.
08:50.27
jim_phoenix
Her Grandma’s cookies in it. Well shit you just said that before son.
08:55.66
Aidan
Every time a character goes back or forward in history. It’s in a period of 33 years exactly 33 years
09:02.68
jim_phoenix
Dude Dude dude du dude you’re always going forward history that makes no sense. Yeah, back in history or full Also called time.
09:07.85
Aidan
Well in I mean in time I mean for okay I meant time’m back in time or forwarded. Okay, so that there are periods that go like 1986 1953 and the 1921 and so on. Ok, so there’s nothing really around world. You know world war 2 but I guess near the end of world war one yeah because you said nazis so I’m like not really, but.
09:27.97
jim_phoenix
Bingo. No No stop Bingo. You just mentioned those like years that our world war. Yeah talk I did not see that coming that.
09:46.23
Aidan
What’s what’s really messed up is that their characters who go back in time and they’re in the same they grow up in the same town. So as they age they then meet themselves but they’re younger selve like it’s so like mind twisting so and and it it is.
09:59.19
jim_phoenix
Is it That was my that was the boring part from you my go you’re meeting your younger son? Yeah yeah, no, but I flesh it out in my head Honestly, the first half hour. The.
10:03.77
Aidan
It really is no, we we didn’t even get to that part. It’s like you have to watch like the whole first season to set up that stuff.
10:17.89
jim_phoenix
Whatever the thing I watch at first episode first half hour I fleshed rested out my head that was pretty damn close I’m guessing except terror res on it. Well no, no okay so.
10:25.56
Aidan
Um, ah I haven’t even finished I’m on about the end of season 2 now. So and.
10:32.21
jim_phoenix
So I’ll give you a good shot at this you watch it dove but you can watch subtitles. But it’s a lot of reading and who likes to read I agree. No 1 likes reading. Ah and it is german so. something something something german actors who subtitled what are the effects like are they practical are they cgi I’m guessing cgi just for the hell of it. It sounds like something I would do I don’t think they’re in.
11:01.91
Aidan
There’s there’s really no need for special effects. There’s nothing I mean when they go to the 80 s it’s the all the the the clothes the cost. You know the outfits the makeup hair are very 80 s when they go back to the 20 s it’s again, they they have the cars and the.
11:07.78
jim_phoenix
Okay. But its the german eighty s those which is basically the 70 s or the sixty s they were behind a couple decades the whole I mean is is East Germany or West Germany this kind of matter.
11:17.17
Aidan
Everything matches that time period. But there’s no.
11:25.63
Aidan
Um, perhaps it’s between old town. So it’s not really.
11:31.83
jim_phoenix
Yeah, but they’re still affected by ah, a wall separating the berlin then like oh so it’s really fictional Germany where apparently fucking communism didn’t happen world war 2 never happened.
11:34.40
Aidan
Well, it’s not referred to at all in this show.
11:47.25
jim_phoenix
Boy are they germans just like that fucking allergic to talking about world war 2 they erase it from their history for sci-fi how weird sorry still have a ship of my shoulder around. Okay, so there’s no real effects. There’s what’s a sound like sound and sound sound.
11:55.70
Aidan
Ah.
12:05.50
Aidan
It’s pretty creepy as you can imagine with the title the theme song at the beginning if you could find a clip of the theme song at the beginning. It’s so amazing like.
12:07.58
jim_phoenix
Can be like this is like.
12:17.98
jim_phoenix
Can you hum it you.
12:26.97
Aidan
Um, no, no, um, but there’s there’s a the line in there. That’s like neither never nor ever Um, um.
12:29.89
jim_phoenix
Ah, no, so.
12:39.29
jim_phoenix
Nor but for fanboys yo. Yeah yeah, the show mine. Oh.
12:47.93
Aidan
Ah, you’re determined to trash this show but it’s it’s telling you. It’s a 4.5 I’m give it ah or.
12:54.71
jim_phoenix
You’re giving a 4.5 coolthuse out of like 10
13:00.52
Aidan
4 to 5 out of 5 based on well I’m almost finished the second season and the the reason I wouldn’t give it a perfect score is because they’re there’s far the characters names are confusing like I I made it because they’re german and like I I don’t you know.
13:00.55
jim_phoenix
Out of 5 venture southern first season based on first season. 4.5 out of 5
13:15.44
jim_phoenix
Um, Hansun Cuttle ob
13:19.26
Aidan
Like there’s Michael and Miel like those are easy to get. But then there’s like other names that are like you know and I’m not sure sometime who’s who because there’s a character that you think you know and then you realize oh my god that’s that character that is the same character but in a different time period who’s aged and so it’s 4
13:31.58
jim_phoenix
Oh shit wait wait wait wait are you having a flashback to the house of fucking dragon because that’s exactly the show. That’s the house of dragon you know that right? like oh is this? oh is it is she 12 or she 30 or what is that the same person and who’s naming these picking people. rackey no I don’t know dude so is is are you doing a house of dragon. Are you saying that dark is like the worst parts of the house of dragon you’ve never seen the house of dragon.
13:58.94
Aidan
Um, well I don’t know I haven’t seen house of dragon no I’ve seen enter the dragon and Bruce Lee
14:05.87
jim_phoenix
Ah, have you seen? Ah, the hobbass hobees is the same fucking Kaza el elf names hobbit names actually a ho names are pretty normal. The elf names are fucked up.
14:10.89
Aidan
Is.
14:23.14
jim_phoenix
I can’t mean there is Justin Bieber Elf I think that’s one the off teams so we give it 4.5 out of 5 Oh fuck oh man can I follow that damn it I have to follow it bra damn it brannicck I got this chimbo I’ll follow it. Oh boy, no fuck off right.
14:31.70
Aidan
Yeah.
14:43.19
jim_phoenix
Yeah, we’ll we’ll make this a short one. Oh okay, ah, let’s give him some make enough beer made up beer Jimbo yeah more of that stuff I love it all right? So my movie is Soexs Socks socks socks socks saw oh saw 10 fuck.
15:01.71
jim_phoenix
That could be more confusing my movie saw 10 it came out this year right now I believe this week was a first week and out that means if you’re still listening to it. Don’t listen to some german dub thing. Don’t listen to dubstep go it a saw x if you were a fan of the first. Currently 9 or 10 of them. So I don’t know if they counted the remake for the the spiral is that part of this universe I’m not really sure that a brand new thing I’m not really sure where in time this is I wasn’t paying touch that much I I did big as drink I have like a fucking fish bowl drink in my head. Tos on the sand so I need so it follows a journey of John Kramer I’ll read from the I amdb a sick and desperate john travels to Mexico for risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer. Only first cancer I can almost read this again only to discover his entire operation does a scam did it fraud the most vulnerable so you have something where they’re making jigsaw more of a person. Versus just a spooky guy who kills everyone that gives him ah more of a character line and they they kind of sink it in from there. It is interesting in a way. It’s also hard to see in a way so it’s interesting because they are fleshing out this guy a little bit.
16:35.72
jim_phoenix
Hello night but it’s hard to see in the way if you ever had someone dying slowly in front of you. This movie gets kind of tough to watch I I give it head someone now one is kind of like oh there were partss of like hey hey, okay, can we just kill the kids now please instead of watching. And old guy die slowly in front of me that that’ll be awesome. It’s the it’s a plot that we seen before as the vengeance trope. It’s the that you know they they wrong the be the wrong guy the wrong the wrong guy boy english language dumb. But they. Did wrong to the the person they should never mess with and you start cheering for the guy who’s killing everyone in other movies if you watched in movies before you see and Karill. You know he’s in the first one and you kind of root for the people a bit. This one. You’re not rooting for anyone at all. What do you think aid and this is 1 time special guests like start having conversation with me by the way you know.
17:39.14
Aidan
Um, well I I actually would have no desire to watch saw 10 But I saw the first 2 and I truly truly love the first one.
17:51.17
jim_phoenix
You love baby? Yoda the first one he was very small. He is only 30 you can barely box it. Ah but but so you like the first one. Yeah.
17:56.91
Aidan
Um, so long. Yeah yeah, but when the same guy who played princess bride I think yeah yeah, heck I is what you didn’t.
18:04.62
jim_phoenix
I Just said Curiosity asked that way to I’m so glad that people are paying attention to the conversation I’m havinging with him are.
18:13.57
Aidan
Yeah, but not a lot of people don’t know that it’s the same guy from Princess bride because he’s older and and it’s like a much darker type of film. So um, so I I didn’t want to see song.
18:24.23
jim_phoenix
Where’d you watch it at. Did you watch her. You didn’t watch. Did you watch it in Quebec did you see you saw our decadence. Okay so you didn’t watch it because the front the cupa colic title is decadence which makes.
18:29.33
Aidan
Yes I watched it in Quebec. Yes, no, just saw in 2004 is but almost twenty years ago okay well
18:41.95
jim_phoenix
Almost no sense. But apparently saw doesn’t translate.
18:45.57
Aidan
I was I was tricked by a friend told me that it was another film because they knew I wouldn’t have seen a horror film but they tricked me and I thought I was seeing something else and then by the time I realized what it was It was like it’s too late.
18:47.90
jim_phoenix
Your trick.
18:57.48
jim_phoenix
What time did you realize you were seeing something else because it starts out pretty gruesome was like but the title all that is true. It’s been brutal.
19:01.72
Aidan
Well I watch like 20 minutes of preers you know in previews before you you know? yeah and I don’t know like that was still like I thought anyway in the end I was glad that I saw it. The premise is great.
19:16.29
jim_phoenix
You got your salsa.
19:19.74
Aidan
It. It was so good that it made that That’s only reason I watched a second one because I thought it might live to live up to that kind of expectation but the second one was not as good and then so I just basically figured that third will only it will only get one there so I didn’t really try again. Um.
19:30.38
jim_phoenix
Somewhere around 7 you’re like ah.
19:35.56
jim_phoenix
I think you might like 10 because I’m in the same boat I washed it first one I thought oh that’s interesting I honestly don’t think I watched it maybe I watched the second one maybe but I don’t have a great impression on it because I’m like oh okay.
19:38.58
Aidan
Oh yeah.
19:54.75
jim_phoenix
It was something like there’s there’s another one that I watched later on that was like number 6 or some I skipped a few it was like oh it’s on Tv I don’t want to turn my tv off like I just leave it on I guess and fall asleep to it and that was how I watched other one.
20:05.70
Aidan
Ah, yeah.
20:13.17
Aidan
What’s it’s obviously a good formula that works for them that that they if they keep it’s like the fast and the furious right? They just keep like.
20:13.33
jim_phoenix
So um, yeah.
20:16.61
jim_phoenix
Paint my number. Oh god yeah time on my Twitter feed or my x feed or hell it is now threads I guess but yeah, there’s a formula things will happen. People have tried to make the decision if they want to cut. They’re left ear off or get their throat slit. Whatever you know is like oh decisions decisions one will lead to escape the other one will lead to your death. You know? Yeah, oh yeah.
20:42.39
Aidan
Um, and.
20:46.75
Aidan
Or or someone else’s death right? That’s so often like you know this person that you yeah.
20:54.33
jim_phoenix
But there’s a small swerve here for this one. So it’s the same formula except that here the the first act is really a first act. it’s it’s it’s the first one the first act is like Bam you’re writing the action you’re trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Number 10 the first act is an actual act you’re you’re building up the character of John in which honestly I’m pretty sure Iss the same guy but he’s been doing this for a bazillion years now Tobin Bell let me see Tobvin Bell I want to say Tovin Bell is chigcksaw yeah holy shit he is I do believe the original jigsaw I’m pretty sure people like knowing that game me’s else like I whatever don’t give shit actually I actually don’t give a shit I think he’s original jigsaw I’m going with that and. Have them still do it after all these years like 20 years the same character, especially he wasn’t not a young spry guy. It’s kind of like the count do cool of it all, but he’s there. He’s fleshing it out. He does a great performance I love him in it. The the other people who are in it all do really? Well this there’s the actings top notge it. It really is Shawnie Smith’s back as a mander and if you ever play Deb Bor I’m not Goingnna do the otherwise dead by daylight you’re like oh I get it now.
22:26.22
jim_phoenix
Yeah, cool it makes you want to boop the nose and try to run away. There are obvious things when you don’t know anything at all about saw if somehow you didn’t watch any in the movies. The last twenty years like oh saw x I can’t wait to see a random as fucking.
22:45.79
Aidan
Um, which.
22:46.15
jim_phoenix
Sequel to a movie I’ve never over a watch before if you’re that person you’re just gonna have a comer twenty years ago like I’m gonna go to movies today. Damn it is either this or haunting in Venice might be too scary you fall in Venice but you will see there might be some formula early on you. You. Might you’re gonna guess that they’re to screw him over you’re gonna guess all this things are gonna happen. You might not who know who John is but he’s very very intelligent and his intelligence not just in in game mastering. But in other aspects of as a physical realm in physics and just being a psychologist really. Come to play gore. Yeah there’s some gore there’s some parts where I’m like oh man and I wish this was kind of fast forward to this one part right here I won’t tell you what it was but it’s fast forwardable. The characters are flawed. They all have their own issues. They all try to work through their issues and he is more a mentor figure in this one because you’re seeing the behind the scenes instead of just the people struggling like the people struggling are almost secondary so it really is a more fleshing out of that character and I liked it for that. It’s about hour fifty something there is a small scene towards the ending credits but nothing like Marvel does or did I should say ah you know what? it’s an hour fifty eight. It’s a good way to kick off ah October for Halloween.
24:21.76
jim_phoenix
If you are into gore it is a gore movie if you’re not to gore just skip this movie entirely. But if you’re okay of gore you want to see an okay movie. You can do much worse I’m and give saw you gave ah dark 4.5 I’m giving a saw 4.5600000000000005 hot that’s right
24:32.38
Aidan
Um, yes, what are go in.
24:40.62
jim_phoenix
Because it’s got be better than dark even though it is decent I Honestly it’s more a before for me but I’m not spoiling shit So I can’t tell you I let I’m not saying anything man I don’t know.
24:44.83
Aidan
Does it have the same formula though like where you like a twist ending or some kind of like surprise and I used is there a twist. It’s okay, some people might want to see it if there is a twist.
24:58.39
jim_phoenix
Boiler Free is play free. Well then they should watch a different podcast and see if there’s fucking twist them next I don’t spoil shit Anyways, Now even though there’s a twist is always a spoiling if if you.
25:03.98
Aidan
Oh that’s not really anything. You’re not saying what the twist is the twist is that he speaks German he speaks German fluently.
25:15.54
jim_phoenix
Right? or watch enough movies. You just dissect and which is why dark was very boring for me I’ve seen that shit before it was like ah like this is done. This is already done for me. But I honest. Okay this honest rating for maybe 4.2 that that’s out of 5 fulfill that my final offer now. Oh man, you know what though god I have to say I will tell you one twist. Are you ready for one single twist I’ll give you it. There’s 1 time where the guy was running from John.
25:45.56
Aidan
E.
25:52.16
jim_phoenix
This is early on the movie. Maybe maybe even midway in the movie. Maybe even midway in the movie and this dos just like ha an ass but then he starts cramping up. He starts cramping up and you you know if you’re running. It’s it’s kind of bad. Cramp up, especially you not killers like chasing you and you you have to get out before you know this is owl happens in act one by the way and damn it I felt so bad because I was drinking. The 1 thing they helped the killer escape John but I got not the killer but you know escape John. Liquid iv I had if if only they could share some liquid iv I’m like damn it if he just would have stopped for liquid iv he would been out runningnning John and not have like done those horrible bloody things get to get done. So if you have wrong jigsaw in some way by doing some shady cancer treatments.
26:32.63
Aidan
Um, if you could.
26:51.20
jim_phoenix
Around anyone doing a shady cancer treatment boy the quote iv’s go to drop my as ah maybe if you need out run them. You should probably get some liquid iv I like cherry flavor if that’s a flavor if not schnnozzle bery. That’s a flavor right. Right now get 20% off when you grab your liquid ivy hydration multiplier sugar free or any other variant at liquidiv.com and use code haunted 100 at checkout. That’s 20% off anything you order when you shop better hydration today using promo code haunted 100 at liquidiy.com yeah I use it the guys and saws should hell use. It. They would have gotten away but too bad they didn’t that’s it so there you go liquid ivy thanks for the spot I know it so paying the bills paying the bills.
27:43.72
Aidan
Um.
27:46.12
jim_phoenix
So like so I was like they’re fucking a pie so he had more liquido iv then and then this guy’s running way after fucking over a cancer patient. Awesome that that that’s their that’s their image right now that’s her brand like iv.com so what do you want to plug Aidan.
27:53.68
Aidan
It.
28:04.69
Aidan
Well around this time of year people tend to buy a lot of candy. A lot of chocolate. Um, so I thought if ah if someone is into getting chocolate and doing some good in the world.
28:18.11
jim_phoenix
This this look what I think Lee could I be.
28:19.91
Aidan
And they might want to buy ah a brand called peace by chocolate which is a company that was set up by a syrian family and that came here after the war. Yes, Syria not and.
28:24.71
jim_phoenix
A syrian a asyria or Syrian not as Syria there different different countries. You know that the kid to a Canada or Canada.
28:37.40
Aidan
They came to Canada yes, one of the candidates and ah settled in this small town in Nova Scotia and um and they had no like others.
28:43.69
jim_phoenix
1 of the candidates the kanaas.
28:53.79
Aidan
Skills apparently than to just continue making chocolate and they make really good cooking. But.
28:55.69
jim_phoenix
They make Grandma cookies. Oh my God Hey jacker.
29:09.31
jim_phoenix
Your chocolate I like chocolate so much where is chocolate.
29:17.24
Aidan
Um, are you done a piece by chocolate. Yeah.
29:19.30
jim_phoenix
What’s a cup. What’s a card.
29:30.53
Aidan
Um, and they have like the cutest like Halloween bars now with like gold east and and pinkins and and if you are it.
29:31.80
jim_phoenix
How make the these plate. Yeah how we love our so much.
29:42.41
jim_phoenix
Ah, then Spice is my worst spice girl. Oh.
29:44.77
Aidan
If you go to piece by chocolate dot ca you can get 10% off your first order.
29:51.29
jim_phoenix
Ah, Taka Cha gotpa.
29:55.82
Aidan
Um, well yeah, yeah.
29:56.12
jim_phoenix
Ah time with car this car Hu ka.
30:01.19
jim_phoenix
He I make think you say spy bys sorry he’s he’s pass his bad time because he heard the CHOC ah late whatever house built word and it kind of got ramped up. So it’s pieced by that word dot comma you can say it.
30:13.28
Aidan
Um.
30:16.28
Aidan
Dot c a dot c a piece by sugar la piece by chocolate.ca.
30:19.87
jim_phoenix
Not Ca So what’s what’s website again.
30:26.70
jim_phoenix
Dude, you might want to say this So anyone understands you yeah so is it p I C E or P E a C So P E a C E B Y C H O l.
30:33.89
Aidan
No no look peace like international day of peace right? CHOCOL a t
30:43.31
jim_phoenix
DATEDotC a don’t have dylu like have a spelling me today. So it’s it’s peace as in peace and love got it by chocolate. That’s.
30:52.82
Aidan
Yeah, yeah, it’s a nice play on words and they they want to promote peace in the world by you know, making everyone consume their chocolate and it and it was something that was given to Trudeau which is given to Biden so it’s it’s got a really like a lot of international buzz.
31:01.34
jim_phoenix
Have diabetes and turn.
31:11.39
Aidan
Ah, from that exchange and um and it’s it has to be very very good.
31:12.44
jim_phoenix
More I dig it I like peace and I like that other word if you are in the c a land go Trump out I him and for me I am doing teeny’s creep week. Oh boy October sixth to the fifteenth. Ha to discovery’s new series brand new series Friday October sixth at Nine P M Eastern pacific and by the way I might be having a little bit of a talk or talk with these people ah coming out new and what’s cracking and of course history’s most haunted season finale. Friday October Thirteenth Ten p m eastern pacific only on t and e go check them out. They have a free preview for creep week that is october six to the fifteenth level them teeny on tv check them out and that is my plug. So. On behalf of myself Jim Phoenix my special guest a and and Nick Mcgee who stopped in for a half minute and probably payne who’s probably passed out with mega du be right now. I bid you all good day bye everyone.
32:25.66
Aidan
Um, bye.
32:26.65
jim_phoenix
Is the outro music. It’s got you know who didn’t call in today terror read. Ah just ah I just want ah right Tara around the outro. But what’s up girl or just want.
32:33.86
Aidan
Um, one damien one day.
32:45.23
jim_phoenix
Okay, nope that was Bigfoot I’m getting better at that screening than Bigfoot and start to read.
33:03.85
jim_phoenix
Yeah minute.
What if ours weren’t the only reality? What if the past paths converged, if those moments that led to our current circumstances got tangled together with their alternates and we found ourselves caught up in the threads?
Marla returned home after the funeral and wake. She drew the key in the lock and opened the door slowly, the looming dread of coming back to an empty house finally sinking in. Everyone else had gone home with their loved ones. They had all said, “goodbye,” and moved along.
Her daughter Misty and son-in-law Joel had caught a flight to Springfield so he could be at work the next day for the big meeting. Her brother Darcy was on his way back to Montreal. Emmett and Ruth were at home next door, probably washing dishes from the big meal they had helped to provide afterward, seeing as their kitchen light was on. Marla remembered there being food but couldn’t recall what exactly as she hadn’t felt like eating. Sandwiches probably… she’d have to thank them later.
Marla had felt supported up until she turned the key in the lock after the services, but then the realization sank deep in her throat like acid reflux, hanging heavy on her heart – everyone else had other lives to return to except for her. She sighed and stepped through the threshold onto the outdated beige linoleum tile and the braided rag rug that stretched across it. She closed the door behind herself and sighed again. She wiped her shoes reflexively on the mat before just kicking them off to land in a haphazard heap in the entryway.
The still silence of the house enveloped her, its oppressive emptiness palpable – she could feel it on her skin, taste it on her tongue. It was bitter. She sighed and walked purposefully to the living room, the large rust-orange sofa waiting to greet her. She flopped into its empty embrace, dropping her purse at her side as she did so.
A familiar, husky voice greeted her from deeper within the large, empty house. “Where have you been?”
Marla looked up and glanced around. Her husband Frank was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, drying a bowl. Marla gasped, her hand shooting to her mouth. Her clutched appendage took on a life of its own, slowly relinquishing itself of her gaping jaw and extending a first finger to point at the specter.
“Frank?” she spoke hesitantly.
“Yeah,” the man replied, holding the now-dry bowl nestled in the faded blue-and-white-checkered kitchen towel in both hands. “Who else would you expect?”
“But you’re dead,” Marla spat, the words falling limply from her mouth of their own accord.
The 66-year old man looked around confusedly and turned to face Marla, his silver hair sparkling in the light from the kitchen, illuminated from behind like a halo. “What are you talking about? I’m just here washing up after lunch. You were gone so I made myself some soup. Where have you been?”
“No, I just got home from your funeral,” Marla spoke quietly. “You are dead. After the boating accident… You drowned. I went along to the hospital – they pronounced you dead on arrival.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Frank said. “What boating accident?”
“The sailboat… You were going to take me out,” Marla coughed, her brown eyes glossed over with tears.
“We don’t own a sailboat,” Frank said bluntly. “Sure, I’d thought about it – it seems like a cool retirement hobby – but it’s just too expensive. We’ve talked about this, we can’t afford it.”
Marla glanced out the bay window towards the driveway where the small sailboat sat on its trailer, its orange hull reminiscent of the Florida citrus industry, and also of the life jacket Frank should have been wearing when he’d been pulled under. Marla cringed and turned back toward the kitchen. She sighed and spoke again, “But the boat’s out front. The guys at the marina helped to bring it back… after you… drowned.”
Frank had retreated to the kitchen to put away the bowl. Marla followed. She stood in the doorway and studied the man intently. He was unmistakably her husband, there was no denying it even despite her having just witnessed his waxen lifeless body in the coffin at the wake before the burial, though this Frank was a slight bit more overweight than she remembered.
“Well, that’s not possible. Because I’m still here,” Frank grumbled. He turned to face her, his blue eyes edged with worry. “There now, it was probably just a dream. You knew I wanted a boat and your anxiety just formulated the worst-case scenario…”
“See for yourself,” Marla said, her voice lilting with every syllable.
Frank strode into the living room and stared out the bay window. The driveway was vacant save for some bits of Spanish moss strewn over the concrete from the neighboring live oak tree. He turned towards his wife.
“But there’s no boat,” he sighed. “You must have had a bad dream. Did you fall asleep in the car in the garage again?” Concern was written all over his face, deepening every crease and wrinkle. “Is that where you were? The garage?”
Marla glanced again at the boat, plain as day, and turned to face Frank. Her voice grew stubborn. “It’s right here. How can you miss it?” she said, pointing at the orange behemoth.
“Honey, there’s nothing there,” Frank exclaimed, exasperation creeping into his voice.
Marla huffed and strode to the entryway, gathering her shoes from where they waited in their haphazard heap alongside the braided rag run on the worn linoleum floor. She marched out the door as Frank took vigil in its open frame, still staring at her. She stomped out to the boat and slapped her hand on the fiberglass surface with a resounding smack. The boat was warm to the touch, having baked in the Florida sun. She turned back towards the front door.
“See!” she bellowed.
The door stood open, empty. No one was there, watching. Marla sighed again and walked back inside. The vacant house once again enveloped her in its oppressive emptiness. Frank was nowhere to be found.
So I guess it’s goodbye for now. Feel free to check out more of Jennifer Weigel’s work here on Haunted MTL or here on her website.
Today on Nightmarish Nature we’re gonna revisit The Blob and jiggle our way to terror. Why? ‘Cause we’re just jellies – looking at those gelatinous denizens of the deep, as well as some snot-like land-bound monstrosities, and wishing we could ooze on down for some snoozy booze schmoozing action. Or something.
Honestly, I don’t know what exactly it is that jellyfish and slime molds do but whatever it is they do it well, which is why they’re still around despite being among the more ancient organism templates still in common use.
Jellyfish are on the rise.
Yeah, yeah, some species like moon jellies will hang out in huge blooms near the surface feeding, but that’s not what I meant. Jellyfish populations are up. They’re honing in on the open over-fished ocean and making themselves at home. Again.
And, although this makes the sea turtles happy since jellies are a favorite food staple of theirs, not much else is excited about the development. Except for those fish that like to hide out inside of their bells, assuming they don’t accidentally get eaten hanging out in there. But that’s a risk you gotta take when you’re trying to escape predation by surrounding yourself in a bubble of danger that itself wants to eat you. Be eaten or be eaten. Oh, wait…
So what makes jellies so scary?
Jellyfish pack some mighty venom. Despite obvious differences in mobility, they are related to anemones and corals. But not the Man o’ War which looks similar but is actually a community of microorganisms that function together as a whole, not one creature. Not that it matters when you’re on the wrong end of a nematocyst, really. Because regardless what it’s attached to, that stings.
Box jellies are among the most venomous creatures in the world and can move of their own accord rather than just drifting about like many smaller jellyfish do. And even if they aren’t deadly, the venom from many jellyfish species will cause blisters and lesions that can take a long time to heal. So even if they do resemble free-floating plastic grocery bags, you’d do best to steer clear. Because those are some dangerous curves.
But what does this have to do with slime molds?
Absolutely nothing. I honestly don’t know enough about jellyfish or slime molds to devote the whole of a Nightmarish Nature segment to either, so they had to share. Essentially, this bit is what happened when I decided to toast a bagel before coming up with something to write about and spent a tad too much time in contemplation of my breakfast. I guess we’re lucky I didn’t have any cream cheese or clotted cream…
Oh, and also thinking about gelatinous cubes and oozes in the role-playing game sense – because those sort of seem like a weird hybrid between jellies and slime molds, as does The Blob. Any of those amoeba influenced creatures are horrific by their very nature – they don’t even need to be souped up, just ask anyone who’s had dysentery.
And one of the most interesting thing about slime molds is that they can take the shortest path to food even when confronted with very complex barriers. They are maze masterminds and would give the Minotaur more than a run for his money, especially if he had or was food. They have even proven capable of determining the most efficient paths for water lines or railways in metropolitan regions, which is kind of crazy when you really think about it. Check it out in Scientific American here. So, if we assume that this is essentially the model upon which The Blob was built, then it’s kind of a miracle anything got away. And slime molds are coming under closer scrutiny and study as alternative means of creating computer components are being explored.
Jellies are the Wave of the Future.
We are learning that there may be a myriad of uses for jellyfish from foodstuffs to cosmetic products as we rethink how we interact with them. They are even proving useful in cleaning up plastic pollution. I don’t know how I feel about the foodstuff angle for all that they’ve been a part of various recipes for a long time. From what I’ve seen of the jellyfish cookbook recipes, they just don’t look that appealing. But then again I hate boba with a passion, so I’m probably not the best candidate to consider the possibility.
So it seems that jellies are kind of the wave of the future as we find that they can help solve our problems. That’s pretty impressive for some brainless millions of years old critter condiments. Past – present – perpetuity! Who knows what else we’d have found if evolution hadn’t cleaned out the fridge every so often?
Feel free to check out more Nightmarish Nature here.
The second half of 2024 was a bit of slow for Doctor Who news. Ncuti Gatwa’s first season finished in June, and the Christmas special was months away. Comics and audio plays continued, and a Blu-Ray set of Season 25 was released – but that was all.
However, what was new and exciting was a spate of unofficial recreations of missing Doctor Who stories from the sixties. Re-animations of missing stories have occurred previously, both officially by the BBC and unofficially by fans. However, animation production time means it’s rare to have more than a few episodes a year. However within the space of six months, forty-four recreated episodes were released, with the promise of more to come.
The reason how so many stories have been released so quickly is artificial intelligence (AI). These reconstructions are Generative AI, funded by professional songwriter, film producer, and fan, Ian Levine. This decision to make Doctor Who AI Reconstructions, to put it mildly, has been controversial online.
But is it worth it, in order to having otherwise missing stories returned to us? I’ve examined many of these Doctor Who AI reconstructions, and the discourse around them, to find out.
In Brief – Missing Episodes
A decent proportion of Doctor Who’s earliest years shockingly does not exist anymore. Doctor Who is one of the BBC’s biggest revenue raisers, and most famous show around the world. However it was not always the case.
When Doctor Who first began in 1963, the idea of keeping media was not really considered. Home video did not exist, and would not exist for two decades. Repeats were rare, due to the costs at the time to store old material and pay people involved in them. Also, old film presented a fire hazard. So it was often disposed of.
Despite this, Doctor Who is fairly lucky compared to other series. Firstly, fans at the time recorded the audio of each story. This means even the first ever Christmas Special – “A Feast of Stephen,” never broadcast internationally or repeated, still exists as an audio.
Doctor Who is also lucky because of only six seasons are not complete. In addition, of those six seasons, only half are missing only episodes from one or two stories. This allows us to get a feel for the early years of Doctor Who in a way fans of other series, like “Quatermass” and “The Avengers” aren’t able to. And part of the reason most of these early seasons survive is due to Ian Levine.
Who is Ian Levine?
Ian Levine professionally is a songwriter and DJ. He has written and produced records connected to such bands as Take That, Pet Shop Boys, Bananarama and Bucks Fizz. His total sales exceed 40 million records.
He is also well known as a prominent Doctor Who fan. There are many prominent Doctor Who fans. The series from 2004 onwards has been largely made by prominent Doctor Who fans of the 70’s and 80’s. Many of these fans contribute to Doctor Who in official ways. For instance, many older fans have written books, or audio plays. All three showrunners for the modern series would be considered prominent fans from the nineties. For Ian Levine, his main contribution is seeking to find and restore missing episodes of Doctor Who.
This work started in 1978 where Levine reportedly requested the permanent halting of old episodes of Doctor Who. At the time the idea of home video was being considered, leading to more reasons to keep old film. Levine also claimed to have rescued the first ever Dalek story from being sent into a furnace. Following this, he began purchasing private copies of the remaining stories, and attempting to return them to the BBC.
He also connected with the Doctor Who Production Team of the eighties in other ways. This included composing the theme tune for the spin-off series “K-9 and Company”, and the protest/charity album “Doctor In Distress.” His was also consulted about continuity during seasons eighteen to twenty-two.
However, he also gained a notorious reputation as obsessive in an unappealing way. During the 1985 Doctor Who hiatus, Levine was encouraged by Producer Jon Nathan-Turner to use protest the decision. Levine argued against the decision on television, and smashed his television with a hammer, and inviting newspapers to photograph it.
So he is fan who has both done great things, but also sought notoriety and negative attention.
More recently, Levene has worked with animating missing or incomplete episodes. This started in 2010 with “Mission to the Unknown.” This was not allowed to be shared or sold due to it being made without BBC authorization. In 2013, Ian hired an animated reconstruction of the unfinished story “Shada.” This version used pre-existing footage and new audio to create a finished product he hoped could be licensed. However, the BBC chose not to. Instead they made their own animated version that was released four years later.
- Join the Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana (Lalla Ward), and K-9 (voiced by David Brierley) as a visit to a Time Lord living incognito on Earth leads to a desperate race to a distant prison planet
- A BBC strike halted filming of this never-broadcast Baker six-episode serial written by “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” author Douglas Adams
- Christopher Neame, Victoria Burgoyne co-star
Last update on 2025-03-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Subsequently, Levine made comments regarding Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor which were deemed by many to be sexist. Levine responded by publicly quitting the fandom, though later created his own private Doctor Who Facebook group.
This group has now become the location where his AI recreations he has funded and received donations for are shared.
The Doctor Who AI Reconstructions – How to Access
The Facebook Page: “Ian Levine’s Facebook Group” requires an agreement to two questions to join. Firstly, you must agree to respect the right to criticize Jodie Whittaker. Secondly, you must recognise this is Ian Levine’s group for sharing his opinions on Doctor Who. Agree to all this, and you’re allowed in.
Inside the group, Levine has shared around twenty videos. This includesall of “The Dalek Masterplan,” “The Massacre,” and “The Savages.” However for the remainder, you must make a donation of fifty pounds, to become a contributor to the series.
Once your donation is confirmed, you are authorized to join the separate contributors group, for contributors only. This is where all the current videos being made are released.
Except…. None of these videos are unavailable privately. Ian Levine has placed them all on Youtube. They are unlisted, so they cannot turn up in either a Google or YouTube search. However, if you have a direct link or URL to them, they are accessible to everyone. Unlike other systems like Patreon which restrict content to only certain subscribers, nothing stops these links being shared elsewhere.
And of course, these links are shared. In response, Levine has issued threats and warnings against other Facebook groups and leakers trying to destroy his vision. In his group, people support him and join in denouncing those who criticize his work or mock it. People outside the group in response denounce Ian Levine and his supporters.
One thing I hate about internet culture is the push for tribalism. This is the idea we are joined in a selective tribe and must fight the rivals to connect. Over time the views become more strict in supporting your own tribe, and rejecting the opposition, and the middle ground is lost.
In the case of Ian Levine’s group, this is best shown by the view of alternative animations of missing Doctor Who stories. All of these are seen as not as good as Levine’s AI reconstructions. Levine’s reconstructions are seen as the only correct way Doctor Who is meant to be.
Initially Ian Levine’s AI project aimed to complete the ten missing stories not completed by the BBC. The initial project recognised the slow time it took to animate missing stories, and focused on stories that were difficult and costly to animate with people. Very soon after, however, Levine denounced many of the prior animations as “Silly Scooby Doo Cartoons.” The project was quickly extended to include stories previously animated by the BBC. Levine’s argument appears to be Levine’s objections to story changes animation had included. These included adding a surprise image of the Master in “Fury from the Deep”, prior to his debut appearance. Given Levine’s history of making things for the BBC, with the hope the BBC would license them, there have been rumours Levine initially was hoping the BBC would license some of his AI recreations, which has not come to pass.
Levine presents his animations as the most authentic way to view the missing episodes. Therefore appreciation of official animated reconstructions are not allowed. A poster saying they enjoyed the animated version of “The Celestial Toymaker,” was informed by Levine tht anyone who enjoyed the animation was unwelcome. Common responses of new animations being announced are people accusing the BBC of ruining another story. When Levine had a fault pointed out in one of his stories by Frazer Hines, who played the second Doctor’s companion, Jamie, Levine’s first response was to accept that the animation had limitations, but insisted it was still better than any animation the BBC has made. Most of all, posters all reinforce the message that AI reconstructions are the true version of the lost stories and the BBC are fools for not paying for them.
![Doctor Who - The Celestial Toymaker [DVD]](https://hauntedmtl.com/wp-content/plugins/aawp/public/image.php?url=YUhSMGNITTZMeTl0TG0xbFpHbGhMV0Z0WVhwdmJpNWpiMjB2YVcxaFoyVnpMMGt2T1RGUWVsZFROSEZ5V0V3dVgxTk1NVFV3TUY4dVgxTk1NVFl3WHk1cWNHYz18MTc0Mzk2MDk4Nw=)
- The Celestial Toymaker sees the Doctor and his companions separated when they come up against the Toymaker
- While the Doctor plays the Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are forced to play their own seemingly childish, but ultimately dangerous games, with the aim of being reunited and getting back to the TARDIS
- Who will be the first to make a false move in this battle of wits, and will the TARDIS ever escape the Toymaker’s snare Fans of Doctor Who have long lamented the loss of the original 1966 master recordings of all except one of The Celestial Toymaker
Last update on 2025-03-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
In response to this, or provoking this, depending on your point of you, external Facebook groups and YouTube channels are highly critical of the AI reconstructions. Some videos see them as threats, preventing the BBC from every investing in animation involving real people. Some hav dismissed the project as a scam.
So with such strong opinions on both sides, it’s time to actually watch them.
The AI Reconstructions
My first response on watching is they’re not that bad, but they’re not that good. Animation varies wildly in quality from story to story, making it hard to tell an overall trend towards or away from quality. However there are some good examples of how to recreate a story. “The Massacre” and “The Dalek Masterplan” for instance are incredible to watch. “The Savages” on the other hand is laughingly bad.
I chose to mostly focus on the stories not yet officially animated, so as to judge these stories by their own merit rather than compare to other animated versions of the same stories. However, it’s interesting the similarities that occur between the official animations and AI reconstructions. Non human characters (Particularly Daleks) look and move great, but people largely do not.
Animating People
Across most forms of Missing episode recovery, whether AI or human drawn, the difficulty is always animating people to show emotions and movement. Many of the official BBC animations often leave characters looking like stick figures bobbing up and down.
However one of the key things the official reconstructions provide is consistency. A human being develops a pre-existing model for characters, and because of this, these characters stay consistent over time.
AI on the other hand appears to forget things, or lose focus unless properly guided. People’s faces can change dramatically from shot to shot to the point, as in “The Savages” characters can be unrecognizable. This means, unlike with official animations, I often had to follow a story summary to figure out what was going on.
AI also forgets smaller things that make people seem human. In “The Highlanders” for instance the Doctor’s companion Polly does not blink for most of episode one, despite being in shot. This is a small detail, but throws the story into the uncanny valley – characters involve look like people but they feel wrong based on how they act.
Movement is a struggle for all reconstructions because human movement is difficult to animate. Once again, “The Massacre” demonstrates small examples of movement than seem fluid, particularly in the first episode. “The Savages” on the other hand has main characters seemingly to perform scissor jump spread legged when the script call on them to walk.
How the animation occurs
Having watched many of these animations, some of means AI generated these reconstructions became clearer. A lot of these animations, especially some of the later ones, do not actually generate much new material, instead using existing material in different ways. The First Doctor saying goodbye to Susan in the TARDIS, from Episode 6 of the Dalek Invasion of Earth, for instance is frequently re-used. This scene is redubbed multiple times in the reconstructions, when a missing story needs a scene of William Hartnell standing alone in the TARDIS.
Another method is using the telesnaps, and slightly animating the mouth and face. This creates a sense of fluidity and movement, but a very limited one. This is particularly noticeable in the Space Pirates. The resconstructions rely on switching between static photos of one cast member with mouths moving. On the one hand, this is no worse than the telesnaps, but the telesnaps were aware of their limitations, so often would use narration or subtitles to fill the gaps. However these reconstructions are presented as the most life like renditions of the missing episodes. As the original story did not have subtitles or narration, therefore, they are not allowed. As a result the story is incomprehensible.
Benefit – it exists
But despite the complaints, there is a significant benefit in these reconstructions. And that’s the fact that they exist.
Currently nine missing stories have not been officially animated by the BBC. I would love for all missing stories to be animated. However, the reality is most of the stories remaining might be too costly to animate.
Of the nine stories, six are pure historicals – stories with no science fiction elements apart from the TARDIS and its crew. These stories tended to have a larger number of human characters than stories with monsters, and a human being with their range of emotions is harder to animate than a Dalek.
Historicals also tend to have more detailed and complex scene change. A story in the future can replicate cold, grey corridors throughout a space colony. Historicals however must recreate significant locations in the world at particular times in history. Having to recreate 15th century France, for instance, is made up of multiple distinct locations. This makes historical stories more time consuming and therefore costly to animate. Therefore, despite stories being reanimated for almost twenty years now, the total number of historical episodes animated have been two – both missing episodes of the Reign of Terror.
For the remaining three stories, the limited human cast and isolated space station locations makes Wheel in Space relatively simple to animate. The Space Pirates, may also be animated as the story focusing mostly on space ships should make some aspects of the design easier to manage.
That just leaves The Dalek Masterplan¸ a massive twelve episode story, with a one episode prequel, where the Daleks chase the Doctor throughout time and space. The cast is huge, and while it is not a historical, the story would require animated sets of ancient Egypt during the building of the pyramids. None of this would be easy to do on the current BBC animation budget.
Therefore, it appears of the remaining nine missing stories, only two are highly likely to be animated.
And this is where AI can play a role. As AI does not rely much people, it means the costs to recreate a story like the Dalek Masterplan is significantly easier and cheaper than hiring a production studio to make it. While the end result is not as good as a professionally animated episode, for stories where hiring professional animations is not feasible, this is one way for people to observe a version of a story we otherwise cannot access.
Ultimately the frustrating thing about these reconstructions is they’re not allowed to be what they are. If they were simply an attempt to make otherwise lost stories more accessible, without any pretention or idea of superiority they would be fine. There are no shortages of fan made reconstructions, which vary in quality, but are all warmly received because they don’t pretend to be more than fan made animations. They are no better or worse than any other reconstructions.
If Levine’s reconstructions were presented with the same humbleness, the response would be more positive. If Leveine would present it as a project, and be accepting of others not needing to accpet them, there would be less retaliation online. But they aren’t presented as a fun way to view a loss episode. The reconstructions are presented as the only correct way to view the stories, superior than any other effort. In fact, he considers the stories no longer lost due to his AI reconstructions.
But by doing so, he puts the reconstructions on a pedestal of perfection. But they aren’t perfect, not by a long shot. By Leveine presenting these as perfect, he ultimately encourages people to notice how they are lacking by comparing to perfection. In comparison, more humble attempts of reconstruction, by presenting themselves as not the best, encourage people to notice what they do right.
So, try to enjoy the reconstructions for what they are. Some are surprisingly good – especially The Dalek Masterplan and The Massacre, and it’s a chance to see stories animated that you may not get to see animated elsewhere. But try to filter out all the rhetoric about how amazing and perfect they should be, and just enjoy them as they are.
(2 / 5)
