Series 4

Malefact

I agree that series 4 has a very good winning team. That scream from Malice when socked by the FIRE spell is a classic!

I too think the last team should have won - they definitely would have given the time. They seemed the most enthusiastic team of the lot. It's a shame.

GrimaldineGrimwold

The odd shape of Series 4 is something I'd like to mention. I can't really define what I mean. I'll illustrate it instead:

There are only 8 teams compared to 13 and 12 in the last two Series of similar length.
Unlike previous Series, no teams die in Level 1.
Instead of gradually revealing the dungeon with later teams slowly getting further than their predecessors at the start of the series, we have two teams at the start who get a long way followed by several who stumble in Level 2.
Of the 6 teams who die, 3 fall to the same obstable, albeit for one, Team 5, missing out on magic was their real downfall.

This is just a personal thing, but I'd prefer a more "classic" series shape. I like to see one or a few teams die on Level 1, to prove that even the first level is dangerous. A good floor puzzle or something on Level 1 would be my choice to weed out the teams who really struggle with directions. It also allows more teams to attempt the dungeon, hopefully including some truly good ones. I'd also like to see the first team killed off more quickly: perhaps put one of the weaker teams in that position. Obviously you can't determine how far they go (and Team 1 this series deserved to go as far as they did, in my opinion) but I'm talking about an ideal world. After the first few teams, I want to be thinking "How is anyone ever going to beat this dungeon?". Then teams gradually get further, with perhaps a close call in the middle of the series, then finally someone manages the seemingly impossible.

The Block and Tackle. Hmm. It really is a great obstacle. Move and you're probably dead. Stay where you are and you're pretty much dead too. Of all the puzzles in Knightmare, this is the one I'd have least liked to face as a kid. At least with the Corridor of Blades either left wall or right wall is safe, so long as you can get there quickly enough. At the time, the B&T just confused me totally as to how you were supposed to get through it. I do therefore wonder why it's in Level 2 for most of the series. I'd guess on difficulty value it belongs in Level 3 as much as any Level 3 obstacle. But here's the problem, I guess. If the B&T is moved there, a lot more teams stumble into Level 3 without having actually faced that much peril. We'd be down to just handful of teams, just about all of whom would reach Level 3. So perhaps it had to be there to balance the easyish Level 1. Or perhaps there's another reason.

In any case, that's just my very long-winded opinion.

Debz_g

The scream is fab and I think Thingyon's team was excellent. In my opinion they were one of, if not the best winning teams.

I agree that the last team should have won, considering there were a couple of teams in series 4 that were so bad they weren't worth the screentime, its a shame that they couldn't have been given more time and they would have completed their quest. I think my favourite moment of their quest was when they met Brother Mace.

Malefact

Oh, yeah! "I've lost the joker!" Look at him and you'll see him glance in the direction of the film crew.

Also, in Dickon's quest, he almost cracked up ("50-year old Etruscan brandy always goes green"). Pickle certainly did! Classic stuff.

Debz_g

Heh heh yeah! A brilliant cock-up! (Oh wow, just noticed C.o.c.k doesn't work on here...another example of the wonderful world of thingy! )

Something else on the point of the Corridor of Blades, I love to watch Hugo's and David's faces whilst a dungeoneer is trying to get through it! They get so involved in it, its fantastic!! Come to think of it they look summat like this --------->

JamesA

btw, Fatilla was played by Erin Geraghty and NOT Michael Cule

Debz_g

Actually, thats a mistake on the site which Nic already knows about. It WAS Michael Cule who played Fatilla as he told me so when I interviewed him. I didn't know that either, until he explained who he actually played on KM and did the voice. Hopefully at some point you will see bits of the interview on here.

Kieran

So who did Erin Geraghty play then

The Barbarian?

hum.

Anyhow, S4.

It was a BIG change for the dungeon, it was time to take it outside, as it were. Pickle was a nice new element, and some of the real locations (such as the Dunswater, the Castle in L3 (the stairs) and the Inn) were fabulous to look at. I found Oakley fantastic, although I am not sure exactly what he could do to harm you, shake his leaves on you?

There was a huge character overhaul. Moggy was hardly used, although the encounter on the bridge in level 3 is magical (probably one of his best scenes), and teams ones death was superb.

The idea of the spindizzy at the start was a nice idea, and the ante chamber had a new warmth to it, even though it looked more creapy.

However, the tema that won WAS quite smart, but I dont think they were pushed too hard, certainly not aS hard as any other winning quest (bar S8). Their final task was....er, well, scare off a large skull, so it seemed.

Other than that, that quest was memorable (mostly for the Brandy trick). Michael Cule fumbling for the Joker had me in stitches when I watched it, and still does today. His beedy eyes scanning the production team making sure nobody shouts "cut".

But the quests were very very repetitive, except the two lats quests, which had a few minor new elements in them.

And everything (even the ante chamber!) was PURPLE! PURPLE PURPLE PURPLE! (except the Eye Shield Room and the spindizy).

Worst bit: Too repetitive!

Worst character: Has to be Malis, I mean she was Morghanna (even had her costume!), yet nicer, and stupider when it came to killing dungeoneers (which she failed to do!) Merlin has to take equal honours here, he was more like some kind of beggar in a potato sack.

Best bit: Atmosphere and the brandy idea

Best character: Fatilla was good, but I think.....Pickle, he was at his best in S4 IMO

Overall: 7/10

Has a few too many flaws, and some characters were useless, but other than that, it has good elements and the KM spirit to make it, as always, super stuff.

Debz_g

So who did Erin Geraghty play then The Barbarian?

Quite possibly since I wouldn't have thought the Barbarian could be Michael Cule as well since he looks nowt like him (Either that or ruddy good make up!)! I can't think of anyone else it could be, not out of the regulars anyway.

One thing about Series 4, what was Tim Child thinking when the "Uppers" and "Downers" pills were incorporated into the quests? Some serious Drug promotion in the dungeon...nice! ;D

GrimaldineGrimwold

teams ones death was superb.

I meant to say that too. It's quite a satisfying death really. They've not lost because they mis-stepped on a floor puzzle, or missed a riddle. And they're obviously not stupid. It just looks like they were out-thought. The problem was there, and they didn't quite solve it. One of my favourites, I have to say.

I also wanted to mention Team 5, who I felt sorry for. I was pretty confused by Merlin's opposites, too.

JamesA

Whoops! ;D

GrimaldineGrimwold

The Ogre looks worryingly reminiscent of Brian Blessed in this pic. I wonder if it was based on him.

GrimaldineGrimwold

Okay, finally time to mention what I didn't like. Some of these I've talked about already:

The shape of the season. See above.
The laziness of some of the storywriting (especially the darn stocks). See above.
Mistress Goody. I guess she's kind of a replacement for Mrs. Grimwold. Although Mrs. G. had got annoying by the end of S3, I much preferred both her and Mildread to Jade's Aunt from S4.
Some of the outdoor scenes. The purpling gets a little annoying in some cases, and some are just a bit bland for my tastes, although the most bland were to come later.

I'm half tempted to include the Weeping Doors, which I just found dull after a while. The idea to require more correct answers for passage in later levels is a good one, though.