i get rightfully blamed for this, but i tend to abstract games down to their basics. but, the reason for that is because i am one of those types of people who don't judge something based on how pretty it looks but rather on its inner machinations.
what makes a game tick? is it fun? is there depth?
i realize most people just don't care, but i suspect they also happen to be the kind of people who play #boardgames a few times then put it into the shelf indefinitely!
yes, #smallworld fkn sucks!
Delightful final episode choc full of outlandish revelations. Most–possibly all?–were foreshadowed in previous episodes. Still, one or two are not quite what I expected/wanted. (I thought Swallow would leave Hillary for Joy, for instance.) The open-ended conclusion is perfect. It seems natural that Persse would head off on another round-the-world quest. _My 540th TV episode of 2025. Averaging 55 minutes of TV per day._ 10/10
**John Bird.** This is the maddest episode yet. Zapp (John Ratzenberger) has been kidnapped in Italy! By terrorists who wear elaborate masks and sing opera to him! Persse (Finbar Lynch) triumphantly replaces him as the final speaker in Lézan, France, where he very briefly catches sight of Angelica (Leonie Mellinger). He follows her to Los Angeles, then to Honolulu, and to Tokyo… The lies building up as he moves from country to country. The location filming is gorgeous. They clearly wanted the money up there on screen. The sequences in Lézan, France, are filled with yet more people in elaborate masks and costumes. The effect is delightfully surreal. And there is the usual quota of big laughs. Swallow (Stephen Moore) and Persse retrieve Zapp from Italy. The three men bond again. But later fall out. Again. This time over the UNESCO Chair. All will be resolved–presumably–in New York… 10/10
**Frederick Jaeger, Rachel Kempson.** This episode breaks formula, such as it is, and keeps the three main characters–McGarrigle, Zapp and Swallow–apart for the duration. This works splendidly despite the fact that the strong bond between the three men is central of the show’s appeal. The split is an unhappy one for all three, with each one left in a downward spiral. (Hence, the shocking cliffhanger.) Only 4 episodes in and the show has built up a large collection of colourful and wonderful characters. It’s easy to love–and cheer for–all of them. This week’s highlights: Persse calling out von Turpitz in front of everyone at the lecture, Swallow getting his long-awaited positive review, Persse finding the man who got his cousin pregnant, and the return of Cheryl Summerbee. 10/10
**Charles Gray, Sheila Gish.** Another delightful episode. Once again, it splits very neatly into two halves and most of the second half-hour puts the focus on Prof. Swallow (Stephen Moore) as he tells a tale of his latest adventures. His story is filmed in Turkey and looks great. It’s a direct and unexpected sequel to the story he told in episode 2. Again, the bond between the three men is paramount. Prof. Zapp has really gotten behind our gormless hero and is looking out for him. There are some huge laughs. My favourite? The reveal that Swallow’s book–much mentioned before this as a colossal failure–was never sent out for review. Not only was it a great reveal, but it was so well done. Felix Skinner’s secretary noticed the books while he was shagging her in the basement of his office building. Hilarious. Persse McGarrigle’s ongoing search for Angelica leads him to Amsterdam in this chapter. He doesn’t find her. But, in the cliffhanger, he learns that his work has been stolen by Seigfried von Turpitz (Frederick Jaeger). 10/10
Chris Lemoine
Sibachian
RikerDonegal
