I should introduce myself properly so, hello! I'm Speaky(but you could also call me Draven, whatever floats your boat), I am Belgian and am ready to talk about pretty much anything with pretty much anyone!
I love a lot of things, but I am highly focused on:
The Lucky Luke comics, Ninjago(Masters of Spinjitzu and beyond) Star Wars, Blackadder, Vox Machina(critical role in general, but mainly vm and m9), BBC Ghosts, Doctor Who, The Sandman, DARK, House MD, Game of Thrones(and beyond), Puss in Boots, Paddington Bear, anything about Tolkien and his works but also other stuff such as Lord of the Mysteries, Attack on Titan(and other anime), books by Dostoevsky but especially Crime and Punishment, some musicals (especially phantom) and a few games such as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Lies of P. My favorite film of all time is Amadeus(I can really talk a lot when it comes to this), so if anyone wants to ramble about these things (or other things), I'm always up if anyone would want to chat about literally anything, or vent, or something else entirely. I also enjoy talking about history and languages. I speak Dutch, English, French, German(though the last two, not fluently) and try to make an attempt in learning Russian(any help is welcome lol)
Hot take, or maybe not since I'm 13 years late to the party: since they weren't able to get Christopher Eccleston for Day of the Doctor, the third Doctor SHOULD'VE BEEN PAUL FUCKIN MCGANN. I have no issue with John Hurt as an actor or a person but I am fundamentally opposed to the concept of the War Doctor. If Nine wasn't gonna be the one who blew up the Time War, it should've been Eight. Tell me why Steven Moffat was willing to film a 7 minute minisode showing how Eight regenerated and didn't once during the entire process think "hmmm maybe we should just make this guy the third Doctor in the special"????? I just watched the Night of the Doctor (aforementioned minisode) today for the first time and tell me why Paul McGann is one of the best Doctors to exist period. I'm saying this as a diehard Ten apologist. Steven Moffat was COOKING with that 7 minute script and Paul ate and left no crumbs. His line delivery, stage presence, and tortured facial expressions were flawless. The costume department had this man looking devilish. He himself is unreasonably easy on the eyes and I could listen to him read the damn phonebook all day. Do you have any idea how outrageous it is that the Eighth Doctor got one stupid movie and one stupid 7 minute minisode?? Literally why was Steven Moffat willing to cast him for a fraction of a normal episode and not just the special itself. Less work. More screentime for a criminally neglected powerhouse of a Doctor.
I keep thinking about how Season 8 of Classic Who is almost like the first one the show has to a ‘season long arc’ that I don’t feel gets talked about enough. Obviously everyone knows it as “the one where the Master is in every story” but I feel like there is a subtle character arc for the Doctor in this season as well which is tied to the two main characters introduced in the first episode; the Master and Jo Grant.
I just finished Planet of the Spiders and. im. not. okay. How did we get here. 3 went to Metebelis III and got this beautiful-looking blue crystal. He gave it to Jo as a wedding present. He gave it to her, this wonderful girl he didn't like at first but got attached to. They departed in silence, knowing they wouldn't see each other again (for a long time).
And now, this crystal that he gave her turns out to be dangerous. Taking that crystal in the first place turned out to be disastrous. So then he goes to hand it over to the Great One which destroys everything and everything is alright again, except it isn't, cause he's dying. He's dying because of his own mistake.
And it's almost a callback to what the Time Lords did to him. In his second body he was forced to regenerate against his will. His body was tampered with against his will. And it happens again with the Great One, who makes him move against his will, and says, "Is that fear I can feel in your mind? You are not accustomed to feeling frightened, are you, Doctor?" He's being used again, and it frightens him enormously, to the point there's a tear in his eye. It's not only hurting his pride to be used like this, but it's an exact reminder that it has happened before.
But then, as he dies, where does the TARDIS bring him? Where does the TARDIS bring her thief? She brings him home. "The TARDIS brought me home."
He was exiled to Earth alongside his forced regeneration, and he was very much against it. He hated being stuck in one place, he was a Time Lord with a TARDIS that could go anywhere in time and space and his freedom is taken away from him. But he starts to enjoy it more. ("That's where you met me." "That's right. That's where I met you. And that alone made the exile worth while, Miss Grant.")
Earth became more than the planet he was stuck on, the planet he constantly saved. Earth meant Jo. Earth meant the Brigadier and even Sergeant Benton. Jo saved him. Sarah Jane saved him. Earth became home. He saved his home, at the cost of regenerating.
I finished the Granada version of Sherlock Holmes. Some cases were more interesting than others, but Jeremy Brett, David Burke/Edward Hardwicke, Colin Jeavons and Charles Gray were such highlights to watch. Brett is the Holmes - they got him straight out off the book! Watson was amazing, and while I do prefer Burke slightly more, Hardwicke was wonderful as well. I find it rather sad Holmes could never say "By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive." But it's understandable considering how ill Brett got throughout the course of the show. He seems a lot paler near the end of it, and it's not a surprise he died a year after the last season aired.
It's the most accurate version and it brings the books to life, and I love it.
the only time 3 really takes a look at himself is in his first appearance, where he's fucked on regeneration sickness. he comments on his hair and nose. I wonder if he ever took a look at himself afterwards or not, since that face was not something he wished for. he didn't wish to regenerate at all, it was forced upon him and his companions were taken away and he was all alone, in every way possible. the time lords tampered with his body, with the minds of his friends, dropped him on earth and exiled him there, without saying whenever they would lift that sentence. he was cut off from his original body, from his friends, from his home and was stuck in one place. that sounds so incredibly lonely and painful
i've got 1 more season left of the third doctor's era before tom baker just stays for eternity, so I want to take a quick moment to appreciate 3. what a fucking cool doctor. bro is constantly dressed in velvet and ruffles, which would look comical on someone else, but on him it looks very neat and dapper. he's such a smartass bitch and he knows it. beats up people with venusian karate and goes "well sorry old chaps, it was rather necessary, you see. hope i didn't hurt you" (the guys cant get up, they are definitely hurt). sword fights with the master and takes a bite out of that asshole's sandwich. sings a venusian lullaby. dresses up as a cleaning lady and a milkman(i swear this bitch has committed felonies). actually talks and negotiates first, but some order thats out of his hands makes everything worse, sometimes. has the coolest and most yellow car in fucking existence!
3 and jo mean so much to me. they hold hands many times, especially when they run, they're worried over each other every time they're separated, they laugh so much around each other, jo just gets him. she learns and grows and he in turn appreciates her more and maybe realizes that he does really like her company even though she isn't a scientist like liz was. he's a father figure towards her, but the person she ends up marrying is someone she called "a younger you" – someone like the doctor, but younger, and most importantly, human. the curse of the time lords is to regenerate and not having the ability to grow old with a human. humans die, time lords don't. humans can spend the rest of their lives with them, but they can't. this is not to say that I view 3 and jo as a romantic couple, not in the least, actually. I think their bond is stronger, in a way. its not entirely just platonic or romantic, it's something more, something them.
guys jo grant left and the doctor did so too i want to cry. he said he was offering all of time and space for her and she found love and stayed behind and his wedding present for her was a beautiful blue crystal(blue like the tardis) and they hugged but you don't see his face and then he leaves and she notices, only she does, and she looks sad, even when cliff hugs her and then he leaves all on his own– im not ok guys. my girl jo grant left what will i do with my life
I'm halfway through the Granada series of Sherlock Holmes and watching this makes me realize how completely wrong the BBC version is.
I am a fan of the Guy Ritchie films with RDJ and Law - they've got wonderful chemistry and I adore their relationship. Law's Watson is perhaps my favorite of them all. He's funny, he's strong, he's kind, he's Holmes' equal.
It is the same in this version. But the difference with Holmes here and BBC Sherlock couldn't be more striking. Sherlock calls himself a high functioning sociopath, he's rather rude sometimes, everyone is obsessed with him or in love with him(or both), he enjoys murders, and they really want you to know that Sherlock and Mycroft are smarter than everyone else and that they consider themselves to be above others because of their intellect. (Like in that scene where Sherlock and Mycroft talk about their childhood) While here, Holmes is incredibly kind. He values Watson so much, he's his best friend, his Boswell, his partner, his everything. He shows concern for Watson, he helps people who have witnessed a murder and while he's a bit stern he is very gentle with them. He's upset when a murder happened right when he's there(The Devil's Foot). He's eccentric, yes, sometimes rather weird, but he is incredibly kind. In the BBC version Sherlock has these weird ass experiments around the house(which is also in the Ritchie films) while here Holmes is actually more of a chill companion to share rooms with. Not that I would, but he doesn't pull off as weird shit as in the BBC version.
I read one of the books a few years ago and it had a BBC Sherlock version as the cover. I tried to imagine Sherlock when reading, but it just didn't work - not only did the language not fit, but this Holmes behaved way too different. There's nothing wrong with having an own interpretation of a character, but I believe BBC Sherlock fails at it cause it's so different to the point it's unrecognizable.
(Also I never really liked how John's limp was said to be psychosomatic and his cane thrown aside. He fought in a war, you'd think it leave something behind. I personally feel he was rather cast aside sometimes in the BBC version.)
When I was young, I watched a film called Belle et Sébastien, a French film about a little boy befriending a dog. It took place during WWII and the boy helped Jews escape across the mountains. A few years ago I rewatched the trailer, and one of the Germans was played by Andreas Pietschmann.
And I realize that I know him - I watched Dark, a show where everything is connected. Who plays one of the main roles? Andreas Pietschmann of course.
Yesterday, I watched the story The Curse of Peladon, a story in which the Third Doctor and Jo end up on a different planet and the Doctor manages to calm down a beast(he's pretty cute actually) called Aggedor by singing a Venusian lullaby. That lullaby is based on 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'.
I listened to that and went, "Hold on, I know this!" House sang it too in S4E10 'It's a Wonderful Lie' which is a Christmas episode.
I'm not saying this is all connected, but I am saying... it's pretty wild it all comes together.
Many times, the Doctor says things to Jo like "do as [random person] says," "you don't understand" "stay here" or he just simply criticizes her. His arrogance is quite annoying, but I do love those moments where he does realize that fault and appreciates that Jo always tries to help him. I absolutely adore how soft they are for each other. Their friendship means so much to me
nuwho mainly has the doctor saving the day/universe and there's a lot of running and cool shit, but 3 in classic who does NOT get a break. this guy's been interrogated so many times, and it always turns into some form of torture AND he's exiled from gallifrey too! give him a break, let there be an episode where the entire gang(that being the doctor, jo, the brigadier, yates and benton) get ice cream or something and they just hang out
I started watching Classic Who (starting at s7 cause the first 6 seasons have a lot of episodes for each season, 26 is easier to watch at first than 45) and holy this is Found Family. I'm at s8 currently(though ill finish it tomorrow) and while I did like Liz, Jo has instantly taken over my heart. Jo, the Doctor, the Brigadier(I love him) and Yates/Benton are such a good group. Especially now the Master's there too! Delgado is so fun to watch and his interactions with the Doctor is so fun too(and very gay).
While this Doctor is way more serious than any of the NuWho Doctors, he's also shown himself to be kind and pretty funny sometimes too. Pertwee is really great. He reminds me of 12 from his S10 era.
Now who was gonna tell me there were full versions of the songs in the Hall of Woven Dreams video? I unfortunately don't understand it at all, but they're so beautiful, I love it!
There's a lot to say about Leopold Mozart's parenting, but the man does have insane amounts of drip, both in Amadeus (1984) and Mozart, l'opéra rock. Everyone else is just vibing and having a (sorta) good time, but you see Leopold Mozart just standing on the side looking better than anyone
I just saw Amadeus again for the 500th time – but in theaters this time! It's a completely different experience to seeing it on a computer screen. A gigantic big screen, loud music.. it was wonderful.
I especially love that, after seeing it so many times, there's always something new that can be caught. It's the first time I saw the theatrical cut, and quite a few scenes were cut such as: playing music for the dogs, Constanze visiting Salieri in the evening, the argument between Constanze and Mozart at the billiard table about money, Cavalieri after the opera.
But I also noticed the black on Mozart and Salieri's hands(because of the ink), and how, perhaps due to his longing to get approval, Mozart constantly hopes to be in his father's good graces, and even the emperor at some point. When the emperor applauds his opera(Seraglio), he asks, "So you liked it? You really liked it, sire?" It got my attention cause it seemed as if he hoped the emperor would be very happy with his work and have no complaints. (I'm not sure "too many notes" counts as a complaint. As Wolfgang said, it's absurd.)
And of course with Leopold it's the constant pressure of Leopold behind him. "We haven't exactly received my father's consent yet.", "To conquer here is to conquer Europe. With my wife I can do it. And then you'll live with us and we'll be so happy." When Leopold notices the mess in the house, Wolfgang talks about how his wife has to clean up after him, while listing off his negative traits. ("You look thin. Doesn't she feed you, that wife of yours?" "She stuffs me like a goose. You know me, I'm such a pig. It's not easy cleaning up after me.") He says his newest work will be the best thing he's ever written: "You're going to be so proud of me, Papa." Everything Wolfgang does, everything he creates, is for his hope that his father will be proud of him and his achievements.
When Lorl offers her services and Leopold turns it down, you can see Wolfgang looking away, noticed by Constanze who calls Leopold out on his constant criticism. "We can't do anything right for you, can we?" But arguably, Leopold has understandable reasons to be so doubtful about everything. They don't know who Lorl even is, there's the matter of the late parties, the late dinners, the mess around the house – but this way he's not only critizing his son's lifestyle, but also his daughter-in-law. (Whereas in the 2025 adaptation of Amadeus, Leopold just complains about pretty much anything he doesn't like and in a rude way too)
I think that's also why Salieri says Leopold was the apparition raised from the dead, to accuse his son all before the world. Why Wolfgang thinks his father might be the one who deserves a requiem mass but never got one – not knowing his requiem was destined to become his all along. His father was, arguably, the most important person in his life(next to Constanze). The man who was responsible for his fame to begin with, and yet also didn't let go off his son the entire time. I mean, there's a portrait of him inside the house – he's literally impossible to escape from.
This turned into a bit of a tangent maybe, but the point is: Amadeus is an amazing film everyone should see. Please watch it. Or rewatch. It's absolute cinema.
