(I realise that i missed two episodes in S1, must return to those!)

In the next valley they encountered another new character Grimaldine, a powerful, unaligned mage, who offered to help if they brought him information.

(Twice already this episode Treguard has advised the team to consider politeness. )

Next up was the level 2 clue-room. They took a long time before choosing the green gem and a Sidriss-in-a-bottle. Were given a hurry-up on the way out. I assumed the exit was over to the left, where the other advisor wanted to move Simon.

Entered the Crazed Heifer Inn. After her initial suspicion was allayed, new bar-maid Marta was very friendly and traded a spyglass for the green gem. How many times did they change their minds about whether to take some bread? Eventually Simon got fed-up and announced: "C'mon, I'm going now!" This reminded me a bit of legendary dungeoneer Martin (S3 T11) when he got impatient.

Used the spyglass to learn the info which Grimaldine required. Summoned him (as Grimaldi ) and received a "LOOK" spell.

Yes, lead advisor Nick just stopped himself from saying something impolite when they were given the hurry-up again.

Encountered the brollachan, and much indecision about how to reply, before finally answering honestly.

They panicked a bit in the fireball challenge and it seemed that they got thru more by luck than judgment. Simon ran straight into the far wall.

Not sure why they really needed a spell for this. In earlier series the advisors would have guided a dungeoneer across this sort of challenge.

Encountered Hordriss, badly disguised as a tortoise, just before time-out.

Fear: "The only entrance is from below, and you won't catch many people trying that!" Lissard: "What do you mean, master?" Fear: "Here, I'll show you." Erm... if the Sewers of Goth are the only way into the tower, then surely Lissard must have been through them already when he arrived? So how come he doesn't know what Fear is talking about?!

And on that subject - "mile after mile" of sewer tunnels will prevent anyone from getting in? How does he figure that, when the entrance is visible just a few metres away from where they get into the boat?

The problem with this seris is its too much story based and not enough puzzles, i have always liked the "Play you cards Right" but I generally like the look of Goth anyway.

Hmm. Just rewatching some of these old episodes and I can't believe how slow all this is compared to the last series. The earlier level backdrops are comparatively unappealing and everything just seems to plod along without an awful lot of incident.

Still, we shall give the benefit of the doubt: I seem to recall series 6 being one of my faves, so it's a bit of a hard act to follow - we shall see how things develop. After all, I'm still fascinated by the Brollachan, just the tone of its voice and the early 90s CGI. I'm a sucker for that stuff. Hence, I think those sewers are awesome.

We begin with a boring update followed by Smirky. Smirky airways to the Vally, and the debut of Grim Oldie. Majida sings Electric Six. (Danger, Danger!) Grim Oldie wants info. Tunnels to clue room with Sackless trapped in a bottle. Took Sackless and green gem. Treg waffles before Beardovision leads into the inn. Intro of the smutty southener with lots of "We don't take kindly to"s scattered around. Them's fighting words, missy. Marta reveals herself to be a classic "Dumb Blonde", a real overblown tart. She trades gem for spoiglass and causes some confusion. Oh, what a gay day! To stael or not to steal? Who cares? Intermission. Empty room and spyglass reveals Fear conversing with 'Ands and Lissard being really annoying. Team calle dGrim Oldie and gave him his info. Earned a look spell. Sackless panics and the next room features Brollachan. I bet the dungeoneer didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition. Then, with a loud crash, Cardinal Ximinez of Spain burst in with his two junior cardinals and a fierce cry of "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Oh...wait a minute...that never happened! Sorry about that. Anyway, back on track, we proceed into the moving fireball room. Can't you just 'feel' the tension? Finally, Hordriss the greta is ousted from his disguise and agrees to help Sackless before Time Out. Summary? Majida needs several slaps. Preferably hard ones. And a nice backhander wouldn.t go amiss.

I actually remembered the bit with Sidriss in the bottle from when it was on CITV! And no, that's not because I've read the series guide, lol!

I'm not too keen on the new landscape Smirky flew over, the Great Rift of Angar. It's very...featureless.

Grimaldine - A brilliant addition to the cast, if you ask me!

So fair it been an easy ride..

How on earth does the look spell help? they had to guide him anyway.

and haven't to 'buy' the spyglass... er? it just wastes time and an extra room... and oooh the sound of marching over a haunting.... who came up with that idea?

So who have we met so far this season then? Lissard, Majida (straight from the bottle), The Brollachan, Romanha, Rothberry, Fidget, Raptor, Marta (Dragon Rider, you say about the way she was leaning forward, but did you also notice her actions?), Grimaldine, anymore that have appeared so far that I missed (not ones who havn't appeared yet). Also there are one or two characters from previous seasons and others have dissappeared. Some of the old characters havn't been seen yet either.

There arent really any rooms that stick out in my mind, nor any major events that have made me jump out of my seat/make me feel tension. If the seaon carries on at this pace then its not going to come close to beating Series 6...

Maybe im too critical..

Woo-hoo for the Brollochan though! God, it's been an age since I last saw him. And Majida come to think of it, who didn't get on my nerves as much as she seems to have done to other people so many years ago.....

My thoughts on the team are that they seem a little indecisive....they have trouble on making the right decision and then agreeing with each other and sticking with that decision!

Also, what is that crunching sound that is chasing Simon and making the advisors panic a lot?

Does Hordriss actually have the ability to concoct a convincing disguise? You'd think with all the magic that the pompous old fool possesses, he would come up with something just a little more effective.

His trouble is that. whatever shape he's in, he can't be modest. Therefore, he couldn't just be any old tortoise, he had to be a "world famous tortoise (if there is such a thing)". As usual, his pomposity and arrogance rendered his disguise worthless.

Fear