Skins Series 3 Review

OK so now the series has finished I can now type up this review.

This is the first series of Skins that I have seen. When Skins first came onto our screens two years back, it looked like one fucked up show even to me, a teenager, with all the stuff they showed in the trailers, so because of this I didn't watch the first two series. There were so many people going on about how good it was however that I decided to give series 3 a go and see what all the fuss was about.

The general plot of this show are pretty simple, it's about the lives of a bunch of teenagers. But as you can imagine as the series goes on this creates so many complicated storylines and plot threads.

The characters were great in this show. Their are four key characters in the show out of the main characters. Effy is the lead character, quiet, mysterious and someone who keeps her feelings bottled up. Cook's the rowdy, brash and rebellious character, and he was my favourite as he helps create much of the plot and Jack O'Connell played him brilliantly. You've got Freddie, who many think is a bit of a drip, but I think he's supposed to represent the average guy. Then you've got JJ who tries to bring his friends together when things go wrong. Although not quite as important to the plot, you've also got the dopey Pandora, the inocent and well-manered boy from the Congo Thomas, the two very different twins and the complicated Naomi.

The episodes were well structured in my view. I have to admit the first three episodes didn't impress me that much, and Mackenzie Crook's character was pretty worthless. But after that everything just fell into place nicely. Pandora, JJ and Effy's episodes were probably some of the best TV I've seen in a long time, and these were the episodes where the plot really exploded. After these three episodes though, the final episode was a bit of an anti-climax as I was naturally expecting something just as good. Yes it worked that the more minor characters weren't in it as they would of just got in the way, but the only good bit was Cook on the boat (I'll say no more than that!). I kind of agree with other fans thet it could of been better had they swapped the last two episodes around which would of created a more conventional ending, although the way they did do it did create a sort of clifhanger which I know they've done before at the end of series 1.

Anyway I say go and watch this now. Seriously, you won't regret it. If you think it's all about sex and drugs every episode, I say give a chance like I did and you'll be in for a pleasant surprise.

Even though there are things which they could of done better, I am nethertheless going to give this show a 10/10.

Crossing the Line!

Since my rant on The Gadget Show, I haven't watched an episode since. However it came to my attention that something so bad happened on the last episode, and yes it is yet again to do with the Apple bias.

Basically, they did a review comparing the DSi, the PSP and the iPhone/iPod Touch as portable games consoles, the iPod Touch inexplicably winning out, rated 5 stars as a games console.

I have no problem saying that it is a good platform for gaming, but it's still in its infancy gaming wise compared to the DSi and the PSP. Yeah it has some good games on it but even then it doesn't come close to the other two.

This thing seems to have caused something of a controversy amoung the fans, in that people now know there's more than meets the eye with this whole Apple thing, and that fans who dismissed it can no longer just ignore it like it's a coincidence.

Anyway, what I'm typing can't really do this thing any justice, to see what I mean just watch the clip.

http://gadgetshow.five.tv/videos/mobile-gaming

My Thoughts on The Inbetweeners

So, this show is taking over for its second series once Skins finishes its run. I'm really looking forward to the return of this show, it's one of the best sitcoms I've seen over the last few years.

The setting is similar to Skins, but it's a very different show. Like Skins it focuses on the lives of some teenagers (although in The Inbetweeners it's a small group of boys), and a lot of the storyline does take place at school, more so than Skins.

But the tone of the show is much different. Skins is more drama orientated and is rather exaggerated in almost all aspects e.g. the characters regularly have sex and take drugs far more teenagers do in reality. The Inbetweeners is more of a comedy, and things are more how they are in real life. The characters may be a bit more nerdy, but also more normal and true to life.

Anyway, I think if you like Skins, you will enjoy this, It's a bit different, but it's well worth the watch.

What I've Been Up To

Sorry I haven't posted in a while; my network mucked up a while back and I fixed it a few weeks ago, but I only just got my Xbox 360 back online, and it was a real ordeal! I hooked it up online wirelessly with a router instead of shelling out £60 on a wireless adapter, and even though it took me a long time because of having to find a way around a double NAT issue, it's well worth it.

If anyone needs and help sorting out their Xbox Live, please just emal me and I'll be happy to help.

A Bad Day

Ever had one of those days when nothing seems to go right? I had one of those today at work (in Sainsbury's in the bakery).

Hearing United lost 4-1 was bad enough, but at least there we're still potentially 7 points clear, and we have a tradition of going on a long, long run after a bad game so I wasn't too down.

I also saw someone I used to know, an old friend of mine, although me and my other friends stopped taking to him nearly two years ago now as he became something of a psychopath, I just walked past him with my cap covering my face so he couldn't see me! It was strange, I was glad to see him again because of the times when we were good friends, but also worrying because of future experiences of his personallity, and I don't want him back in my life again. That may sound harsh, but if you were me you'd understand.

I'm planning to go on holiday this July with some mates of mine, and I thought all the holiday arrangements at work was all sorted out, the forms had been handed in. Turned out someone booked that week too, and just so happened to be working the day the forms came out so was able to get his in straight away. I booked the following week, in the hope that the holiday can be rearranged for then, but if it cannot, then I guess I'll have no choice but to throw a sickie!

The Gadget Show Rant

Yes folks, it's time for my rant on The Gadget Show.

I started watching The Gadget Show a good while back now, although I think they were already in the studio by that time. It was, and as far as I know still is, the only show of its kind on terrestrial television here in the UK, and being a young teenager at that time it was right up my street and I enjoyed watching it. The presenters suited the show, the format was good and they were able to keep it fresh too.

Over the last year and a half or so though, I've noticed the show gradually slipping in its standard, and at this moment in time its got so bad that I'm no longer going to watch it from here on in. Here are my reasons why.

Firstly the gadgets they cover. The majority of the gadgets now are just so expensive to the common man, especially in these financial times. The rest seem to be just novelty items, which have no point or usage to them. Yeah I agree that a show of its type should have these types of things featured, just not for the majority of the show like they do.

Secondly the challenges. The challenges were good first of all and were fun to watch, but now they've just become a borefest, possibly because they've ran out of ideas that their budget can afford. The gadgets being compared are sometimes entirely different in terms of either what they are, or how they're supposed to be used and so provides little benefit to the viewer in this respect. Half of it is also the presenters just mucking around too which has went beyond humour and is now annoying. And when will you ever need a laptop that can withstand dynamite?

Now the presenters. The presenters used to be great on this show, but now they've become annoying and repetitive. What happened people? Jason is enthusiastic about gadgets, but its got too much now to the point where he's annoying to watch; I would like it more if he was a bit more serious rather than the sometimes OTT, larking about attitude he gets. Suzi should be kicked off the show in my opinion, she only really offers the show an attractive host, but it's as if she's reading of a card or something. Jon is probably the best presenter and the one I don't have a problem with, it's just that he now gets limited airtime. Dallas was OK but not great, and it's too early to tell with Ortis yet.

On to the Apple bias. This is my biggest problem. Apple products will often get superior reviews to their competitors', even if the competitors products have in fact got higher reviews elsewhere. It's got so bad now that Apple products are even being placed in shot where they aren't even relevant. It's even carried into the latest series which has only just started, placing an iPod on their Wall of Fame ahead of the original Sony Walkman. Without the Walkman, the iPod wouldn't be around (at least not as quickly), simple.

So yeah that's my rant. Hopefully Ortis will be able to kick some life into the show.

John Titor

I just finished watching Hoaxhunter's videos on this with the last part being released today, and I must say, I believe in the conclusions he reached.

I think with a lot of people in the unexplained phenomena community, they would actually prefer that cases are not solved, as it takes away from their interest. I think Hoaxhunter probably got it right, I do think it would make sense that the originator of this thing would hide behind his lawyer brother to peddle this thing out.

Skins, It's Just So Good

Seriously, this show is just superb. The start of Series 3 (this is the first series I've watched) wasn't that great but since then it's just been consistently very very good. It seems whenever I see an episode now, I think they won't be able to top it, but somehow the episodes just keep getting better.

I'll definitely be doing a review of the series when it is over, possibly even one of the few videos I will make from now on.

Oh and The Gadget Show rant will be up tomorrow, sorry for the delay but my brother was round for most of the night using the computer!

Myself and YouTube

I just want to say that I will not be making any videos for the foreseeable future. My reasons are simple, I have just enjoyed making this blog so much more as well as being able to express every detail about something which you can't always do with video as you forget things. The uploading process is just so much faster also.

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed making videos, but I just feel that working on a blog is just more rewarding for me personally.

Upcoming Rant: The Gadget Show

I've been planning to do a rant on this for a while now, but I have now got annoyed by it enough to actually make one. My subject of choice is going to be The Gadget Show on Channel 5.

The rant should be up tomorrow, and I'll be ranting about everything from the hosts, the format, its unhelpfulness (you'll understand when the rant is up), and the worst thing of all, its annoying Apple bias.

I know I will enjoy making this rant, and I hope you enjoy reading it.

Manchester United

Now if you may or may not know from reading the info on my YouTube channel, I am a big Manchester United fan, and am posting this after our victory against Inter Milan which I am very happy about; although I was confident we would win. Am looking forward to the Liverpool game now, but again like last time I will be unable to watch it due to work!

Anyway, I'm thinking of buying the Champions' League 3rd shirt which is only £19.99 for today and tomorrow which is a huge saving, or the limited edition Champions' League Final set with the special shirt, the program and all that stuff in it, although I'll have to save up quite a bit for that as it's quite expensive.

Oh, and I'm also planning on getting the Xbox 360 Manchester United faceplate too.

Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection

Hello and welcome to the first entry to my blog.

Today I picked up Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection for the Xbox 360. For a long time up until the last few months I have used a lot of emulators and roms, but I decided to get this game after hearing some good things about it as well as the truly large amount of games available. It also contributes to my gaming collection which I am trying to build up.

Admittedly I haven't played mush of this game, but I will go over what I have seen.

First thing is the navigation is nice and simple as it should be with a compilation game, but you can also view a little bit of the background behind the games as well as a lot of extras you can unlock such as interviews and even Master System games such as Phantasy Star.

Saves can be made with all the separate games as far as I'm aware, and the screen settings can also be changed so the game fits in widescreen format which looks really clear; much better than when playing an actual Mega Drive on a widescreen TV. You can also enhance the graphics which is a little feature I wasn't expecting but a great one; just like using filters on an emulator, although the original graphics do sometimes look better as they just look more authentic.

So yeah I like this game so far, it's one of those games I think I will play a lot when I'm bored, but as with games of this type, it lacks the playthoughability that games like Gears of War 2 do for example.