Apparitionsssssssssssssssssssss! Squee! (Part 2)

[byslantedlight]

Squeeeeeee! *g*

It wasn't at all Bonekicker-y... *g* Okay, I knew it wouldn't be really, but... well sometimes you just worry a bit... *g*

I'm sorry I don't have torrents or recordings or anything like that - I have the sort of tv where I balance an aerial on top at the precise precarious angle required to get a picture at all. All I have is happy - and slightly spooked - bounce...

Oh it was fab! And not that I've particularly been out of love with him since I first saw him in Pros when I was a teenager, but I think I may have fallen for MS all over again - he was lovely as the priest... I mean, he was good still, but he didn't feel the same sort of "good" that he was in JJD, if you know what I mean. Maybe because he was playing a character that actually is likely to have people looking sideways at him - a priest, you know? So he wasn't playing the "hero" role exactly, he was playing a man who might be a hero... if that makes any sense.

Oh, I'm trying to think what I can say without spoilering anyone... It was beautifully shot! *g* No, but it really was - from the opening credits which were just gorgeous, and then everythin else was so beautifully done... Oh, and not a spoiler cos all the articles have already mentioned it - the young gay priest in the sauna - very beautifully shot...

It's also not a spoiler that bad things happened to the young gay priest (stoopid newspapers - it meant that I was waiting for that moment, which is a whole different thing to having the tension build up without knowing what's going to happen... *kicks spoilers*) but to be honest it was nothing that we haven't seen in Buffy, so that particularly stoopid newspaper really needs to get over itself about that. Not nice, no, but they've been told it's a harsh supernatural series and there was the little beeb warning before it started for those of more delicate constitutions at the beginning, so unless they're going to go around banning stuff after the watershed... But really, I didn't think it was any worse than some BtVS scenes... Well, not much...

The demon itself was scary, but then the more ordinary something truly awful looks, the scarier I find it, so... *g*

Oh, I can't think what else to say - talk to me about it?! *vbg*

Comments

[alicambs.livejournal.com]

So you liked a little. :-) I forgot to record it, but might just sneak a look on the iPlayer.

PS Ultraviolet........

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I did, I did, I did! *g*

I haven't forgotten Ultraviolet, in fact I managed to watch half of one and then the world went mad with teaching placements and assignments due and stuff... I've got a few days "off" coming up - though also a guest over for two of them, and assignments to write and tutees to tute and fic to finish, and - so I shall try!

Major Spoilers

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

You know the first bit where I thought this was going to be very special? Near the beginning when he's in Italy and turns to look at the 'devil' - he was so full of anger and so doyle that I almost cheered! And MS talkin' Italian.... The whole idea was such a risk - it could almost have gone the other way but I thought it was excellent and at one stage I almost burst out crying as I got such a fright with something, had my TV headphones on and everything was louder than loud. Anyway, after so many years of JJD, it was such a relief to see him in a role which was original, taxing and inventive. And much of it was his idea, wasn't it? His project. I'm so proud of him. I loved it..... if you didn't already realise.

Re: Major Spoilers

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

P.S. What's Bonekickers?

[phantomas.livejournal.com]

Agh, see, I also missed the opening sequence (again, due to housemate)..I think an iPlayer BEeb rewatch is in order ;)

But don't get me wrong, I did find Martin wonderful with the script he was given!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just talked to you in totally the wrong place in my other post *headdesk* *g*

I am kicking your housemate as we speak... Okay, maybe I'm not really cos I'm sure they're very nice, but... you shouldn't be allowed to talk over MS! *g*

So - tell me how you would have liked him to be different... more conflicted how? *g*

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

I think I may have fallen for MS all over again
Me too! What an incredible performance. He was so beautiful and mesmerising and, and... glowing! *g* He just radiated calm and kindness and gorgeousness... I'm quite overwhelmed! And I was really emotional watching it and I'm not too sure why!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, he really did radiate calmness and kindness, didn't he?! And oh the gorgeousness... *vbg* Just... yes, and yes and yes!

[erushi.livejournal.com]

I have squeed, and I am now squeeing away again over on BBC iplayer (which is taking bloody long to stream, damn it *kicks it*). It's just so...!!!

(I need to do screencaps. And I speak first as a fan of suchly themed shows, then as a person who appreciates MS, so no biased opinion here! *melts*)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I must go and read your squee too! I am going to save iplayer until tomorrow because my eyes are starting to do melty things again, but... and oh yes, do do screencaps!

Just... oh, so beautiful... *g*

[phantomas.livejournal.com]

Oh, and yes, Mr. Shaw has a wonderful Italian accent :))))))))

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh yeay - he does? Did he really sound okay speaking Italian?! *melts even more with the bliss*

[magenta-blue.livejournal.com]

My LJ won't let me put up a post, and I had one all ready and everything *wails and sniffs* Curses this crap internet connection... although actually perhaps curses is the wrong word to use in this instance!

I really liked it. The whole feel of it was a lot darker than anything previous, given the subject matter, and more than anything Martin Shaw looked fit as a fit thing, and I'm in lurve. Again. *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh... kicks and kicks and kicks your stoopid dongle! I remember what it was like, hon! They're better than nowt, but... only just...

He really did look fitter than a fit thing, didn't he?! Just... oh, happiness and squeee and country-stomp-type squeeee! *vbg*

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

Oh God! I'm going to have to watch this, won't I?
Even though the genre is not my cup of tea at all, but it sounds like MS is so good in it (despite the beard, which is also normally not my thing, but I make an exception here).
First I have to find it somewhere, though I know a place where it should be available shortly.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, you so should! I mean, unless you really really don't like things that are a bit scary, cos I did find it a bit scary, which means that it must have been scary in quite a plausible way, so... *g*

And ooh, do let us know where it might be available! *g*

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Me too, me too! I was half expecting not to like it (apart from MS, of course!) because it really didn't sound my sort of storyline.
But I have to say, I enjoyed it infinitely more than I expected, I thought MS was superb in the part and he looked amazing! I think I've fallen in love all over again, too!
Oh, yes - that's going to become a regular date for the next six weeks, no wonder the beeb commissioned the extra progs! Definite squeee material there!!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm so glad you liked it too! It really was a good story I thought, and yeay that there's six more programmes (you had me all extra-excited for a minute thinking they'd commissioned more than the six, and then I remembered that it was only supposed to be one in the first place!)

There must be women - and probably men too - all around the country just melting from the falling-back-in-love thing right now... *vbg*

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Wannnaaaa seeeeeeeee!!! And I want all the spoilers anybody cares to send me at my email addy: chakbalam @ gmail.com

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry! There are people on the lookout for torrents and so on as we speak though! *g*

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Well, apparently, I shall be watching this at Christmas time. Good thing, too, as all this squeeing is, well, making it seem like a very long time until Christmas!

Yay, though! I'm so glad it's good, and MS sounds splendid in it. Oooh.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, someone might find a download before then, you know! There are lots of people working on it, and rumours that there's one around somewhere... *g*

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Bloody brilliant.
That's all I can say.
Recorded it while I was at work, came home and watched it in a darkened house, on my own, at one o'clock in the morning, and still didn't find it too scary! It was more thriller-scary than horror-scary I think, and the scene in the sauna was no gorier than some of the stuff on Waking the Dead or Taggart... or even CSI:somewhere-cool-in-the-States for that matter!
I'm wondering how long Father Jacob can go in disobeying his cardinal without getting into serious trouble!
And oh, he's lovely. So... normal, and down to earth, and just - a really nice man.
MS is very good at doing the ordinary-man-capable-of-extraordinary-things, isn't he!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It was rather fab, was't it?! *g*

I do agree about the no-more-gory-than-many-other-things, but that's the right-wing papers making a consevative fuss for you... Their latest campaign is to ban swearing even after the watershed - and claim it's not censhorship... *headdesk*

I suppose if the Cardinal doesn't know that he's been disobeyed... though I guess Italian-priest showing up might be a bit difficult to cover up... *g*

And oh, he's lovely. So... normal, and down to earth, and just - a really nice man.
Yes! Yes and yes and yes! *g* Sort of cardigan-y... *vbg*

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it was worth the wait. Hopefully BBC Prime will show it out here sometime next year, so I'll get to watch it. I'm not a huge follower of MS and LC in roles outside Pros, but this looks like just my thing.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Did you see that there's a download available? Or is that one of the things that you're not able to do over there...? According to the various online shops, it should be out on dvd in early January too - yeay! *g*

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Just got to join in the squee, because OMG ::makes flaily hands:: I loved it, and I really really thought I wouldn't... so I sat there with one eye screwed shut, just in case it was too icky, and my crapometer turned up to max in case it was corny... and it was great. MS looked really beautiful - and that voice. ::sighs:: Plus he did some nice leaning on the desk, rolled up his sleeves, and even gave us some bare neck. Not that I notice these things of course *g*.

So yeah, I quite liked it too *hg*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, do come and squeee! Wasn't it just... *flails with you*... ace?!

Oh for that voice - and speaking Italian! *melts* I totally need to go back and rewatch that leaning, mind you... and the rolled up sleeves - I can't believe I missed rolled up sleeves! *g*

[rochvelleth.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was beautifully shot - I loved the seminary and the gates and everything especially, and the camerawork was so steady (it was almost like watching the Pros, compared to all that 'realistic' shaky stuff they often do in popular BBC dramas these days[1]). And MS looked lovely and he spoke like Doyle! Slightly less accent, but there was the twang and it was lovely (the thing I don't like GG is hearing him do a London accent).

And guess what? I've been working so hard over the past week or two that that spoiler hadn't reached me, so I did end up surprised :) Very surprised actually. I wonder whether everyone would have been without the leakage, or if I'm just bad at spotting obvious things that are going to happen...

[1] *cough* Spooks *cough*

Wasn't it great?

[epistrophia.livejournal.com]

I've popped in to LJ just to see what you thought of it, actually...!

I'm definitely a "beard girl" - I've hardly ever met one I didn't like - and MS with a beard is just yummy. In fact he was just all-over edible in his priestly black... *sighs*

I enjoyed it more than I'd expected to, to be honest, but it's so rare to see something set in the Catholic Church that's not horrendously biased in either direction. I thought it did a good job of taking something that's very mysterious and strange to most people and not turning it into Supernatural or Buffy.

I agree with you that the demon was more scary for being ordinary-looking. And oh, that poor young man (whose name I didn't catch - Vikram?)...

Definitely one to be highlighted in the Radio Times.

[freetraveller15.livejournal.com]

Squeeeee from me too! I know, I know, it's several years later than your enthusiastic posts about Apparitions, but I thought you wouldn't mind too much me chiming in, since I only recently bought the Apparitions DVD set and (having missed its original run on TV) was able to sit down and watch this fantastic series. I actually watched not one, but two episodes each evening. And also enjoyed very much the interview with Martin. Quite long too :)
Knowing nothing about how this miniseries came about, I was pleasantly surprised reading the credits that Martin had been Consultant Producer. Still don't know what it means, but I believe it's probably got to do with Martin having had an input in getting the series greenlighted by the producers/backers by researching the subject, coming up with ideas and answers to questions...? I don't know...
But I was very happy to see his performance here. Not a subject matter I would immediately be attracted to, so all the more credit to him, the creator/producer/main screenwriter, and some of the other actors' performances too. And the other production values were very high too, especially the set decoration and photography.

And yes, as other commenters have said, Martin's performance was riveting, mesmerising. You just can't take your eyes off the screen each scene he's in. Talk about screen presence! And the older he gets, the more he seems able to communicate these wonderful qualities of calmness, kindness, integrity, without becoming a superhero, but retaining his down-to-earth humanity and fallibility. And all that with a gorgeous screen presence and charm you also find in JJD and GG, but also very specific to the character of Father Jacob.

And... cherry on the cake for me, as an Italian gal. He speaks Italian really well, with the hint of a British accent yes, but with an almost impeccable cadence and rhythm (he stresses the right sillable in a word, emphasizes the right word/s in a sentence,,, which is a sign he's really learned the meaning of the words and is not just reading a script dotted with Italian words). I was equally impressed, and moved, hearing Martin speaking Italian in GG too. The man can do no wrong in my view! Whatever he does, he does not improvise... he studies the part really well, and you can see the result on screen. He lends gravitas, charm and credibility to any part he plays...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking of doing a re-watch for my RIP Challenge - I must! I'd forgotten so much - like the Italian! I still can't believe they decided not to opt for a second season of Apparitions, it was by far the most original thing I'd seen on telly for ages - and as you say, MS was good in it. Well, he tends to be. *g* I much prefer it to GG and JJD too - even though he's playing a priest, he's less establishment in Apparitions, and I like that - I like to see that other side of him in his performances. Like Pros, and Ladder of Swords, which I love - and Intrigue and Cassidy, for all his parts aren't big in those (still working on that software, btw - I've not forgotten!)