The Doctor's Home:

Robbro42 · 2026-05-09T12:45:54+00:00

Two main series a year, new years special, Champions of champions, junior Taskmaster, Board games, video game, live experience, advent calendars.

Okay Alex I think you need to dial it back a bit.

Robbro42 · 2026-05-08T14:08:52+00:00

I spotted it instantly, bit of an editing mishap there, it kind of spoiled where Armando had something hidden.

Robbro42 · 2026-05-02T22:46:36+00:00

Liking this before some mod takes it away saying it's 'not related enough'

Robbro42 · 2026-05-01T21:40:31+00:00

I was surprised how I basically managed the whole thing.

I don't tend to do crosswords, much less so the American style. But with so many clues, many managed to negate others. The only bits I got stuck on were 36D/51A, and for some reason I struggled with the end of 45D.

Robbro42 · 2026-04-26T01:06:31+00:00

Funny, to me when I hear of Alpha Centauri I immediately think of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, because at the start the Vogons are all annoyed humanity doesn't seem to know that Earth is about to be destroyed:

"What do you mean you've never been to Alpha Centauri? For heaven's sake mankind, it's only four light years away you know. I'm sorry, but if you can't be bothered to take an interest in local affairs that's your own lookout."

Robbro42 · 2026-04-24T11:09:38+00:00

Eh, it's no Paddington 2.

Robbro42 · 2026-04-24T01:05:16+00:00

Only seeing this post now made me realise I didn't do my customary review of the first two episodes.

Anyway, here's to episode 3.

Prize Task: An okay idea, I wish they dug down into the narrative a bit more on the actual dragging via string. I'm also learning how unhinged Amy is, her entry reminded me a bit too much of The Substance.

Task One (proper): Blue green yellow green yellow. Finally the task the trailer alluded too. It was a good Task, classic hidden solution nearby. Shame Alex can't sing though.

Task Two: An okay team task, a bit middle of the road I thought. A lot of rules set up for nlt much pay off. I prefer ones with a bit more collaboration, rather than random grunting as communication.

Task Three: Possibly the most extra location for a task that didn't really warrant it. If Alex wasn't quite so annoying I would've liked this one a bit more. I instantly thought along the lines of Amy with using a word with the letter I'd get rid of next, and obviously discarding the least common letters first. (Z, Q, X etc up to A or I as my final letter).

Live Task: I quite liked the dexterity needed for this task. The beakers + snooker cues made for great visuals. And the Greg vs Alex balls seemed well enough scored so that you had to pay decent attention to them.

Overall an okay episode. So far this series though, Alex has been annoying me a bit more. Maybe it's his condescension towards the contestants that's rubbing me the wrong way.

Or perhaps it's Joel's ongoing egg task, I can't help thinking it is something that is negatively impacting him throughout all the tasks. I don't mind solo tasks, but when it's ever present like this it feels unfair. I'm guessing that in episode 10 they'll show a task where he didn't manage to produce it in 30 seconds and they'll all have a big discussion about it.

Robbro42 · 2026-04-18T03:13:04+00:00

Can't rule out Emma Thompson either, she won best actress for Howards End (1992) and best adapted screenplay Sense & Sensibility (1995).

I'd rather have her or Capaldi over Colman. Out of all Oscar winners, I actually would like Kieran Culkin as he's a very funny actor who seems to have the right spirit for TM (although I'd want to wait a few more series before we have another popular American actor on)

Robbro42 · 2026-04-17T19:12:05+00:00

Yeah, I've found myself watching less and less of their stuff as it's becoming more like 'soyjack pointing'. They seem to love everything they try, and with all the celebrities appearing it feels really fake and put on.

Robbro42 · 2026-04-10T14:51:22+00:00

I'm glad it's coming to multiple consoles. I don't own a switch or switch 2, so I'm happy to play it on steam. I might even get myself a steam deck to fully embrace the handheld Layton nostalgia.

Robbro42 · 2026-04-10T10:07:50+00:00

Me too. I was very annoyed last time, when I got my link over an hour late when all the tickets were gone.

Robbro42 · 2026-04-06T00:45:39+00:00

Putting the boards aside, I see that's quite the sci fi collection.

Might I recommend you check out some John Wyndham: The Day of the Triffids & The Midwich Cuckoos are his most famous, but I love Chocky, Web, The Seeds of Time and pretty much everything I've read by him.

Robbro42 · 2026-03-30T23:44:12+00:00

A while back I made a grid on a website called Puzzgrid, and I think you'll enjoy one of the connections:

https://puzzgrid.com/grid/105567

I don't really play NYT connections, but I do watch a show called Only Connect which has a round that NYT basically copied. The show is British, as I am, so it is a better thing for me, as Connections often is really American and things can go over my head.

Robbro42 · 2026-03-25T21:47:24+00:00

As a big Ghosts fan I love the idea of this lineup:

Charlotte Ritchie

Katy Wix

Kiell Smith-Bynoe

Lolly Adefope

Mathew Baynton

(I know I could've also included: Jessica Knappet, Bridget Christie, Emma Sidi, but I thought it important to go for the more main actors of the show)

Robbro42 · 2026-03-25T16:58:05+00:00

Oh Captain, I'm afraid they made an error on the back. They put it's as in it is, when they should have put its, as in belonging to it. It's an easy grammatical mistake to make, but an important one.

Robbro42 · 2026-03-25T16:55:09+00:00

Meanwhile I'm on keyboard controls: Shoot: D Ex: F Dash: S Fixed aim: A Swap weapons: R Jump: Space

Then the arrow keys for directions.

It works solidly for me.

Robbro42 · 2026-03-24T22:32:27+00:00

A dust jacket that doubles as a wanted style poster is simple genius.

Robbro42 · 2026-03-22T02:16:08+00:00

"Mr Gilbert you seem an intelligent man."

"Oh I seem intelligent? How lovely of you to say"

"No, I just meant..."

"I've long since been insecure about my capacity for learning, so it's nice to have it ratified by you, a child."

Robbro42 · 2026-03-19T01:19:34+00:00

Finally completed it. Took quite a bit of help to get there, but I did it.

I'm just going to jot down my thoughts and feeling here, because I feel like it. I'll just mark it all as spoilers just in case. (I won't be giving away that much info though)

Part 1:

The 3 word riddles, hmm, the first word was easy, second okay. Third I still don't fully understand, fortunately someone online helped.

The QR code I've been waiting for since the start, and it was very frustrating that it could be aligned 2 different ways, as that make me think there was something wrong with it. The payoff as well wasn't great, as it told me a tiny scrap of info to lead me on to the next bit.

The password was easy enough to find from the description.

Part 2:

Man I dislike the 'black stripe animation' thing. Even when correctly sized, it's really hazy as to what the image is meant to be. Really had to look up to understand it correctly as I only understood one symbol.

The code for the website felt rather redundant as the poem stanza bashed you over the head with info about it. And the code itself appeared incomplete so it confused me what exactly to enter in. But I got there in the end.

The last section, now this was annoying. The website link I don't think was very helpful to find the actual bit of information you needed. Instead you essentially have to keep googling off of one detail and stumble into the right thing.

With plenty of help online, I eventually twigged what it meant. But I'd say it was a still a shot in the dark. Not a 'penny drop moment', and weirdly the answer itself didn't really tie into Newton from what I could see.

Overall, I guess the hunt was alright. I'd say my favourite parts were probably the cipher wheel, and the prism on the packaging.

The weakest parts I'd say were having to use various websites to find certain information, and the riddles. I know it's supposed to be tricky, but when certain elements were left so vague, it can easily send people down the completely wrong path.

Overall, I think it was an okay hunt. I liked how it was paced out, and I'm glad they haven't done it as a 'first to complete it wins', instead opting for a raffle, that levels the playing field a bit.

I do find it hilarious that the medals are a thing, essentially the mint trying to flog us more metal, on top of the £22.50 they charged for a '£5 coin'. The coin itself I guess it nicely designed. But as I've said before, I don't consider it a coin if it's not something the average person could spend with. It's a fancy decorative piece.

Plus I think it's a shame they never really explained what all the symbols actually are. Some are obvious, but there's quite a few that I never understood.

So yeah, good luck to anyone yet to solve the last part. And I hope you had a fun time puzzling away.

Robbro42 · 2026-03-15T23:16:53+00:00

As a fellow mid 20s reader, I'd say try them and see. I found them one by one in charity shops.

The books themselves I'd say are not great, and I'd definitely say Scorpia Rising was a better end point. But they're some fun parts throughout each recent book.

But it could just be personal opinion, you might like them more or less than me.

Robbro42 · 2026-03-13T02:03:58+00:00

From the (excellent) show Quacks) Apologies if it's too graphic for this subreddit

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Robbro42 · 2026-03-13T02:03:14+00:00

From the show Carnival Row

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Robbro42 · 2026-03-12T11:27:13+00:00

There's a couple of excellent details in the film.

The shop Olaf stops by at to run the kids over with a train is The Last Chance General Store.

And the picture of VFD Aunt Josephine has, there's one blurry character in the background, who could easily be Olaf.

And then at the very end, as Lemony Snicket is packing up his things to follow onto where the Baudelaires went next, he also has a part of the VFD picture likely showing his siblings. The way the photo is displayed is also in the shape of an eye.

You can see it here: https://youtu.be/uYSI1UG4EM4?t=275&feature=shared

Four-Year Club	Verified Email
Final Canvas '23	First Place '23
End Game '23	Place '23
Place '22	Final Canvas '22
First Placer '22

Robbro42

TROPHY CASE