Team 7 learned that Grimaldine's staff had been broken into four pieces, which they needed to retrieve.

Encountered Romahna and didn't exactly impress her, but collected the 1st section of Merlin's (sic) staff.

Reached the level 1 clue-area. Whilst reeling-off the list of things on the barrel, Barry made it sound a bit like the "generation game" conveyor belt. Chose the "speedwell" potion and the lamp. Thought the scroll was a bit ambiguous. Not sure why they didn't know where the exit was. Dry comment from Treguard: "There's a big hole to the right. Big archway."

Encountered Rothberry's stall. Collected the 2nd staff section. Sound of goblin horns and in his hurry he nearly left without his "speedwell".

Made a shambles of the floor puzzle and were given a massive reprieve. They took too long describing the room and were then rushed by goblins and completely missed the 3rd section of the staff. Moved Barry backwards to get it and the goblins just stopped and watched, then backed away. He should have been toast there....missed

Compare how blatantly this team were let-off here to how harshly Jamie's team (S2 T9) were treated when they were cut-off by the mechanical warrior and missed a spell piece.

Entered a darkened room and used the lamp to find the final staff section. They walked Barry into the wall.

In the next courtyard he was confronted by Sly Hands and two goblins, but used the "speedwell" potion to escape. More like a "slo-mo" potion, but whatever....

Reached Grimaldine and were rewarded for restoring his staff. Given a journey to level 2 on Smirky.

Used a spyglass to discover that Lissard has been magically disguised as Marta, to trap Hordriss. Much interest from LF.

Woke the troll on their way out.

Level 2 clue-area was in the dwarf tunnels. Wisely chose the boot and the "fireproof" potion.

Entered Sidriss' magic class (Fidjit also in attendance) and warned her about the trap for Hordriss. Loved the tactless version suggested by advisor Derek - Barry worded it rather more carefully.

Me: snigger

How did they do the slow motion effect? Simple! Just film Hands and the goblins on blue-screen first, and record that output. Then, feed that output into the Chromakey machine (instead of just the static background) as Barry comes into the blue-screen room. When Barry takes the potion, switch the VT machine to slow so that Hands and the goblins slow down, but Barry (live) remains at normal speed.

err.. looked like it was just sound effects, and a bit of good acting to me

Can't have been. It's clearly slowed down.

I wondered what might have happened if Barry didn't have the Speedwell. My guess is that the production team wouldn't have used the pre-filmed VT at all, and have a live Hands and goblins enter and finish Barry off instead.

The bit in the dwarf tunnel is funny, when Barry says "There's something behind me! ...no, nothing behind me" as he realises it's just the cameraman. g

I just don't like the fact that they are indeed a 'put on' quest for the season finial.

I was also most amused by Lissard-as-Marta looking down his/her dress when he/she was transformed....

Also, Lord Fear: "Girl after me own heart.....if I had one. Which I don't."

How did they do the slow motion effect? Simple! Just film Hands and the goblins on blue-screen first, and record that output. Then, feed that output into the Chromakey machine (instead of just the static background) as Barry comes into the blue-screen room. When Barry takes the potion, switch the VT machine to slow so that Hands and the goblins slow down, but Barry (live) remains at normal speed.

err.. looked like it was just sound effects, and a bit of good acting to me

That is all

Funny how Smirkenorff got the most conversation of the series with Barry.

Perhaps they were coming up to the end of the series and thought it wasn't worth starting a new quest with, like, 1 ep to go?

Tom, there are two eps left as there are 15 eps in total for s7, which you proably knew that anyway !

"What's it like?" or something like that

"Oh it's sunny". I think Barry must've been the only dungeoneer to talk through an eyeshield sequence. There was also "Can you tell me where the entrance is incase I have to escape quickly" with the troll.

So we start with the spyglass sequence with as mentioned about the "shell phone" and also about the staff. Lord Fear raising his voice in anger! I liked when LF tried to communicate with Hands .

I liked the bartering with Rothberry. During the Moving blocks puzzle, I thought that they were an incy wee bit close to the edge a couple of times, particularly as they went back to get that piece of staff.

In the dark room Barry said something about trying to turn the lamp on. I thought it was funny when his brother replied with "That might be a good idea!". I noticed also, about when the advisors guided him into the wall.

When Sly and the goblins went into slow motion, reminds me of when Gundrada and Fatilla (during s4) went into slow motion.

Overall I found nearly every part of this ep quite amusing, look forward to tomorrow's ep!

Back to the episode, I wonder how they did that effect where a computer-generated graphic of the staff flew down to Grimaldine, but then he clearly picked it up and was handling a real prop?

I think the team were DEFINITELY let off in the room with the moving floor puzzle. Other teams would have died, had they done what Barry did. Look closely and you'll see that Barry's feet clearly step onto the chasm before the floor moves into place, and Barry doesn't start moving back (after touching the staff piece) until the block has moved out of place again! Perhaps they were coming up to the end of the series and thought it wasn't worth starting a new quest with, like, 1 ep to go?

LOVELY Episode as Skarkill would say.

Lord Fear still funny as ever.

Hands still as smelly as ever and this time he can move in slow motion.

Smirkonoff got in a conphersation(sp?) with Barry witch I thought was great.

Why were Grippa and Rhark trying to attack Rohmana from the front, next time they should try the back.

LOVELY Episode anyway.

As for the rest of the episode, well, what can I say? Barry and Co easily troop on through the Levels, managing to get to Level 2 in no time. There was a great gag with Lord Fear's 'Shellnet Shell Phone', a pun on what 1993 people called 'o2 Mobiles', and the whole disgusing Lissard as Marta thing. I noticed that when one of the advisors noticed they'd missed the staff piece, he let out an audible "Damn!"- something I'm surprised got through the CITV censors. Still, they risked it and went back. It was also funny to hear Barry mention Merlin by accident to Romahna, instead of Grimaldine, plus his Humbugs/Humis slip-up. And it was great seeing Sly Hands in the role of Skarkill/Raptor (I wonder how they did that slow motion effect?). And anyone notice that the team manage to guide Barry into the wall in the dark room? Overall, can't wait to see the continuing adventures of Barry and co tomorrow!