Author Archives: Roger Pocock

About Roger Pocock

Co-writer on junkyard.blog. Author of windowsintohistory.wordpress.com. Editor of frontiersmenhistorian.info

Star Trek: The Enterprise Incident

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Roger Pocock

I’ve said on many occasions that Classic Trek is my favorite Trek, but that’s not to say I dislike any of the others.  Well… maybe Voyager…  But the funny thing about classic Star Trek is that I’ve also said many … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Reviews, Science Fiction, Star Trek, Television | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Roger Pocock

It has been over a decade since the three original anime series of Higurashi When They Cry were produced by Studio Deen, and in 2020 a new version from Passione premiered, a studio that hadn’t even been founded when the … Continue reading →

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The Edgar Wallace Mysteries: The Set Up (Review)

Posted on January 16, 2022 by Roger Pocock

After a couple of turkeys, I was starting to think the best days were behind this series of B movies, but this is a little gem of a film. If you’re a Columbo fan, you’ll probably love this one, because … Continue reading →

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The Avengers: Warlock

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Roger Pocock

We’ve gone from one kind of magic to another. Last week it was a stage magician with a vanishing cabinet. This week we’re into full on curses and voodoo. You’ve got to feel sorry for poor old Peter Neville, who … Continue reading →

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The Twilight Zone: Walking Distance

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Roger Pocock

You know when you’re really hungry and you’re eating everything in sight, and you accidentally eat a grenade, and as it’s going down, the pin snags on a tooth and comes out so that the grenade is now live, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Reviews, Science Fiction, Television, The Twilight Zone | Tagged | 1 Comment

Star Trek: Spock’s Brain

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Roger Pocock

It’s hard to imagine now but back in the late 60’s, Star Trek wasn’t well received.  The fandom simply wasn’t there.  So you’ve got to wonder what they were thinking for the start of season 3.  Was it, “maybe we … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Reviews, Science Fiction, Star Trek, Television | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Kaguya-sama: Love is War (Season 1 Review)

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Roger Pocock

If you have ever typed “anime dance” into YouTube, for the last couple of years the first result you will have found is a beautifully animated end title sequence from Kaguya-sama: Love is War, featuring the fluid motions of Chika … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, Reviews, Television | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Edgar Wallace Mysteries: Death Trap (Review)

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Roger Pocock

The action centres around an investment broker in this 1962 entry in the Edgar Wallace Mysteries series of B movies. Carol Halston turns up at Paul Heindrik’s office, concerned about the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death. She consulted Heindrik for … Continue reading →

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The Avengers: Box of Tricks

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Roger Pocock

The box of the title does not actually refer to the magician’s cabinet that appears frequently throughout this episode, and it’s a good job that it doesn’t, because it’s just about the most boring old magic trick ever, and keeps … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Reviews, Television | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Twilight Zone: The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Roger Pocock

The Twilight Zone is proving to be a more interesting place than I expected.  I have seen a good deal of the episodes in the past, but this is the first time I’m tackling them in order and all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Reviews, Science Fiction, Television, The Twilight Zone | Tagged | 1 Comment

Star Trek: Assignment: Earth

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Roger Pocock

To think, this was supposed to be the start of spinoff series like Torchwood would eventually become in Doctor Who’s future.  Rather apt, because I decided to do the same as Jim Kirk.  Using “the lightspeed breakaway factor” (which everyone … Continue reading →

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Eve of the Daleks

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Roger Pocock

By the opening credits both the new characters introduced for this episode are dead, as are the Doctor and her two companions. Oh, and Nick Briggs got to say the line “I am not Nick” in a Dalek voice. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctor Who, Entertainment, Reviews, Science Fiction, Television, Thirteenth Doctor | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Clockwork Planet

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Roger Pocock

Have you ever heard of the term “clockpunk”? No, me neither, but it’s a subgenre of steampunk with clockwork mechanisms providing the aesthetic pleasure instead of steam engineering. This is the playground in which Clockwork Planet plays, and I could … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Entertainment, Reviews, Science Fiction, Television | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Edgar Wallace Mysteries: Locker Sixty-Nine (Review)

Posted on January 2, 2022 by Roger Pocock

This 1962 instalment in the Edgar Wallace Mysteries film series demands the viewer’s full attention. The problem is, it doesn’t earn the viewer’s full attention as well. The story is incredibly complex for a 50 minute film. The idea is … Continue reading →

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The Avengers: Immortal Clay

Posted on January 1, 2022 by Roger Pocock

Cathy seems to be an expert on everything. Even allowing for how amazing she is, we start this episode with a massive coincidence. Cathy is visiting Marling Ceramics out of a genuine interest, in the preparation of a book she … Continue reading →

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The Twilight Zone: Mr. Denton on Doomsday

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Roger Pocock

For me, a good western is as rare as a good dental visit.  It’s not impossible, but it’s a pretty uncommon experience.  (Tombstone, for instance, is a good visit to the dentist; it’s a damned enjoyable western!)  Unfortunately, my expectations … Continue reading →

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Star Trek: Bread and Circuses

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Roger Pocock

I have this idea that Season Two started with a discussion in the writers’ room.  Roddenberry must have been like: “we need more good ideas; help take this to the next level!”  The other writers said something like, “what do … Continue reading →

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Aishiteruze Baby (Anime Review)

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Roger Pocock

At the start of this series, Kippei is a slightly irritating character to watch. He’s popular, flirts with all the girls, and cops a feel of one of them if the opportunity comes his way. He’s not remotely interested in … Continue reading →

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)

Posted on December 26, 2021 by Roger Pocock

It’s the holiday season, and our TV channels love to show popular old films, to provide us with the background entertainment to our turkey munching and mulled wine sipping, but we don’t want remakes, do we. No, sir. Just the … Continue reading →

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Toradora! Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Roger Pocock

Christmas episodes of anime series tend to be disposable affairs that lean towards slice-of-life, but not so with Toradora! There is a run of three episodes that focus on Christmas celebrations, and they build up to a pivotal moment in … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Christmas, Entertainment, Reviews, Television | Tagged , , | 1 Comment