Series 7 - Episode 15
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Lol, it's made me want to make giant blades of cardboard and line the uni corridors with them... I wonder if there's a way to make them move...
(BTW: When I said steal, I meant I downloaded them, not stolen them for another site. thwaps I should have been clearer...)
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Heh, glad we sparked off such discussion. We had fun making it so if people have fun watching it we've all won.
Just a couple of points of interest:
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The Lifeforce bit is added later. We didn't get to see the graphic and the earliest we know that our food is running out is when Treguard gives his warning. We really had no way of knowing how long we had left. I imagine the Lifeforce concept is there purely to add to the tension rather than actually be a possible death. If the symbol was on a skeleton before we got to the water that's more the fault of the nice computer engineer who put it in in post-production!
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You are quite right about the tottering on the edge in the fireball room. At the time however we couldn't see that as the lighting in the studio ment the screen was a lot darker to us! We could barely see the edges, let alone navigate them properly!
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The spinning blades near-miss became a bit of a joke around the studio. People kept coming up to Barry to check the tear in his shirt...
Like I've said before, we weren't "due" to win that season (as I understood it), but by the time we got through to the last few rooms they realised we might actually do it and just went with the idea. The room with the spikes coming out of the floor was actually filmed much later to act as a bit of filler.
I think accusing us or Broadsword of cheating is a little harsh. We certainly couldn't cheat, we just did our best in the world as it was presented to us. Broadsword on the other hand probably "cheated" all the time. They were there to tell and story and make good TV first and foremost. You can't just let it fall as it will in the world of TV, you need some level of control if you want to maintain the quality of the show. However, what's done is done and I for one had a great time.
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The Fast Backward was a good effect.
In my opinion, it was not so much a good effect as a pointless and maybe even damaging one: if it didn't throw Knightmare's cardinal rule of 'the only way is onward, there is no turning back' out of the window, it certainly forced it onto the ledge. (Cf. what all those dungeoneer sight powders/potions/spells did to the core concept of 'now your advisors will be your eyes.')
This quest's Corridor of Blades 'Short Cut' led from one level to... another part of the same level. What a difference a series makes. (However, it's hard to say which has been the more controversial.)
One final thought: if any one Series 7 dungeoneer should have collected a hammer, surely it should have been Naila?
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I think it was a very entertaining quest and a very memorable one.I think the team did work well together and Barry was the most interactive dungeoneer to enter the Dungeon! They were perhaps let off a bit but on the whole I think it was a fairly fair quest. He did have a potion that made him immune to fire as he entered that chamber and the Corridor of Blades was close but it would have been difficult for them to make a decision there and then whether he got hit by the blade or not, very close and probably gave the benefit of the doubt. Only saw on a freeze frame that he was just caught! The room where he went over the edge and the view went back to the advisors may have been a let off possibly but I think they met the challenges well! For the PYCR the Joker card is wild so I'm guessing the final 2 cards is simply for tension rather than as an actual choice!
Good Quest and Good series Finale!
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It's always great to see a Team and Dungeoneer get involved in a Quest and this is one of my favourite Quests in Knightmare's history. I think the actors would have enjoyed interacting with Barry as well. They would've known what he was going to be like very early on, so it would've made a nice challenge for them, and much different to the usual Dungeoneer!
Congrats again to the Team, and to the Team prior to them who also did a great job. Glad to hear they all enjoyed their time, we enjoyed watching you! Top Knightmare!
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I've just seen the Barry quest. It's the last Knightmare quest (barring a revival of the show) that I'll see- as it brings to an end eight series viewing. However- I thinl Barry's quest was the very best one I've seen.
His roleplaying was the best I've ever seen by a mile. His humour, articulate interaction with the characters was fantastic. And the team was very smart and predicted a lot of the things they had to do before they happened.
Now, I think the fact that he probably did die a couple of times needs to be balanced out by the fact that his quest- undoutedly - was far, far harder than the previous ones on series 7. The quest directly before his lasted 50 minutses, wherea's barry's spanned four episodes and was up there at almost 72. Plus, they encountered the corridor of bades (not seen previously), the room with the dripping water. Also, even in level one they had the room wih the moving floor where they had to reach up and get the staff piece. In my opinion that room alone was harder than the most difficult thing the preceeding team were asked to do. Earlier in the series, level 1 was a joke for a few teams, but in Barry's quest it was as hard as level 3 in some others.
In terms of the ultiamte Knightmare team, I think they had the most immiagination and role-playing ability. While they were above average on the floor puzzles, they were occasionaly indesicive under pressure, and there were better teams at movement in co-ordination.
But I think it showed just how good Knightmare could be with a good team taking on a high difficulty level dungeon.
Barry, mate, if you're out there (which you are, given you poste don the board) you are ultimate Dungeoneer and ultinmate team, who, for me, were part of this great series at its very, very best.
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I think he means he's watched all eight seasons recently, but in a jumbled order - season 7 would be the one he watched last.
The quest directly before his lasted 50 minutes, wherea's barry's spanned four episodes and was up there at almost 72.
Couple of things about this. Firstly, I've always made it to be about 64 minutes. (Mind you, with all the footage that was apparently cut out, it could well have been above eighty!)
Secondly, the timespan of a quest doesn't necessarily govern how difficult it is. For example, team 3 in season 5 had a quest that lasted almost an hour, but was not noticeably awkward.
Thirdly, the length of this quest was increased to a great extent by Barry himself mouthing off so much. A lot of the scenes were supposedly more difficult for the cast than for the team, because it was tricky for them to try and 'ad-lib' proceedings in the direction that plot was meant to go in. (See how irritated Iona Kennedy was getting while rowing Barry through the sewers.)
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The timespan of a quest is largely irrelevant.
It's just an indicator of how much material was not cut. Presumably because Barry was entertaining.
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Thirdly, the length of this quest was increased to a great extent by Barry himself mouthing off so much. A lot of the scenes were supposedly more difficult for the cast than for the team, because it was tricky for them to try and 'ad-lib' proceedings in the direction that plot was meant to go in. (See how irritated Iona Kennedy was getting while rowing Barry through the sewers.)
Yeah, dunno about 'Queen of the Witches', she was more like 'Queen of the Bitches' in this episode.
"Stop your wittering!" or something to that effect... though I thought the actors ad-libbed very well in general for this quest, certainly ended the series earning their crust. Oh, and I, like many in this thread, swear Barry was decapitated at the Blades, but he was such good entertainment we'll let that one slide.
Good series finale, things certainly picked up from the earlier episodes.
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It was, "please don't bother me - the stench of this place!"
Not that it matters. It wouldn't have helped Barry if he had had more of a go at talking to Greystagg. It was clear that they needed her help and, had they irritated her, she could have easily refused to help them in the end. That's probably why Barry was quiet.
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Thirdly, the length of this quest was increased to a great extent by Barry himself mouthing off so much. A lot of the scenes were supposedly more difficult for the cast than for the team, because it was tricky for them to try and 'ad-lib' proceedings in the direction that plot was meant to go in. (See how irritated Iona Kennedy was getting while rowing Barry through the sewers.)
Yeah, dunno about 'Queen of the Witches', she was more like 'Queen of the Bitches' in this episode.
"Stop your wittering!" or something to that effect... though I thought the actors ad-libbed very well in general for this quest, certainly ended the series earning their crust. Oh, and I, like many in this thread, swear Barry was decapitated at the Blades, but he was such good entertainment we'll let that one slide.
Good series finale, things certainly picked up from the earlier episodes.
The Barry/Greystagg exchange was one of my favourite moments in the entire series. I remember it well.
Barry (entering boat): It's a very nice boat.
Derek: Is it now?
Barry: Yes, it's lovely.
Greystagg: Stop your wittering, or i'll dismiss you!
Barry: I beg your pardon.
Barry reminded me of Sergeant Wilson from Dad's Army during that little exchange. To be fair, I think the actors probably enjoyed participating in a quest where they didn't have to "lead" the dungeoneer. It was something different to the norm, and any actor worth his or her salt would have enjoyed the extra challenge of having to think on their feet. It was a pity Brother Mace was no longer part of the dungeon, it would have been great to see Michael Cule matching Barry in a good bit of banter.
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Also on Play Your Cards Right the last card he choose was the joker yet the previous team choose the other card. Does it mean that any team could pick either of the two last cards and get across, or was he allowed to live?
Personal theory - Barry does pick the wrong card at the end of PYCR, but is allowed to get away with it because they're obviously a great team and they stated a valid reason for choosing it (the joker often being used as a wildcard). I think they were really supposed to choose the 10 of Clubs like Julie's team did. It would seem a bit pointless including a choice that didn't matter, and the joker is upside-down, perhaps symbolising that a fool can expect a fall! I'm not sure that a less entertaining team would have survived touching that card.
Treguard is audibly surprised that Barry remembers Brother Strange's name, haha.
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A frenetic series finale!
Team 7 made solid progress of the chaos of cards. Quickly worked out the critical choice on the penultimate row. Either both cards were an acceptable choice on the final row (which makes no sense) or they got yet another reprieve, coz Julie's team chose the other card and survived. Hilarious moment when they dumped the goblin into the abyss, just in time.
Confronted by the brollachan again and handled it much more easily this time.
Novel use of the dripping water to restore life-force. Corny use of the "shell-phone" to replace a spyglass for info.
Risked the left-hand exit marked "short-cut", which led them into a faster corridor of blades. Fortunately it wasn't a particularly long sequence and Barry didn't actually have to move too many times, as their directions were less than convincing. That penultimate blade quite clearly went thru his legs! (You could hear an "ooooh!" which i think was actually from Treguard. ) Another reprieve....
Encountered Brother Strange again, who offered them useful info.
Next-up was Romahna in the stocks (it was obviously her turn this week) captured by Sly Hands. (Great improvising by Paul Valentine with too many things going-on at once!) They tricked him into drinking the "freeze" potion so they could release Romahna. She led him thru to a chamber where there were two objects in force fields: the Shield and a troll hammer. Summoned Queen Greystagg, who instructed them that she could only release one. They made the noble decision to sacrifice their quest to save Knightmare Castle and released the troll-hammer.
Used the "fast-backward" potion which rewound his quest to the ante-room. Treguard used the troll-hammer to destroy the troll just in time. Yay!
The eye-shield had been mysteriously replaced with the quest Shield, meaning victory for team 7 after all.
Team 7 were a likeable team. Barry was the most proactive dungeoneer ever and his advisors were a good group. Even so, i reckon team 6 were a more competent team overall, whereas team 7 had several very blatant reprieves during their quest.
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Series 7 doesn't actually end with Barry's celebrated victory and Lord Fear's literally crushing defeat. Before the credits roll, we're treated to what I'll call the Treghead:
Treghead Series 7.jpg
Yes, for Treguard's end of series speech, we don't get him breaking the fourth wall from the antechamber, because he seems averse to doing that in Series 7. Instead he gets taken out of the antechamber... correction: his head gets taken out of the antechamber and placed in a bizarre corrugated blandscape that moves for a bit then stops.
Treguard's fourth wall breakage at its most intense could give me butterflies. Here I find it much less effective, not least because Hugo breaks eye contact more than once, as shown above. I would guess he does this to check his lines.
Presumably Hugo Myatt was filmed in one of the bluescreen voids, wrapped in a blue sheet. Picturing this doesn't lend much dignity to the proceedings. I've offset that by imagining that Treguard had got so fed up of Majida that he has magically detached his own head and fled to an interdimensional hiding place.
I wish I could say that the Treghead nostalgically evokes the Dungeon Master's head-only appearances from the earlier series. Instead it feels like yet another unwelcome gimmick in a series that was too heavy with them (the prime example being the sight spells & potions).
Just before the doors close on the Treghead (why a different set of doors from the ones that open at the start of each Series 7 episode?), he ends by saying, "I'll be waiting. Just don't disappoint me." Perhaps some watchers, looking ahead to Series 8, felt like saying the same to him.
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I just watched this final episode. Barry was a fantastic dungeoneer, and I wish we'd had more with his initiative! Not to be negative about other teams, but does anyone remember that episode several series earlier where Folly lost his laugh and the dungeoneer of the day had to hunt for it as his initial quest? Alec - Folly's actor - was carrying that dungeoneer through that whole conversation, but I think Barry would have run with it beautifully.
But onto this episode! Lots of great drama in this one. I always love the Corridor of Blades! The near-starvation was an amazingly tense scene, and I feel that the only thing missing here was Treguard's disgust at Barry being reduced to drinking dungeon run-off to survive. Treguard's shown himself to have fairly delicate sensibilities in earlier series (e.g., his raction to the maggot 'worms' in one of the first three series) so I was surprised he took it for granted that the dripping water could be used as sustenance - especially as the fact that the Life Force seems to imply how close a dungeoneer is to starvation, not thirst.
The other thing that I felt could have been tweaked with this episode was the story with the Shield / Eyeshield. It seemed appropriate and fitting that Barry and co. sacrified their quest to save the castle, and there's really no way he could have snatched the Shield, since it was locked away behind that magic barrier. Someone else on this thread pointed out that the swap means that the Eyeshield went AWOL and was returned by the start of series 8, so that's a whole story in itself that we never got to see. Surely it would be tidier and a more wholesome choice to have Barry fail to get the object of his quest but for the very best of reasons?
But anyway - Barry mate, and your advisors, if you happen to read this, you put on an excellent show!
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