Worzel Gummidge Down Under "The Sleeping Beauty" Review

Worzel is a character that was for a long period of time a British institution with the hit Jon Pertwee show making the character move lovable then he has ever been. Yet even so with he's not remembered all that much nowadays which is a shame because when the series got it right it really did get things right it's only when the show moved to New Zealand that it start to get bad and while the episode that i'm going to be talking to you all about today isn't a bad episode persay it's also not a good one either and so then join me as I review the episode that introduces Worzel two human child friends into the show with the episode in question being called simply just "The Sleeping Beauty" enjoy.

The plot of this episode is when Worzel catches wind of just were his beloved Aunt Sally is staying he and his new human friends Mickey and Manu set off to rescue her. Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty really bad as while this episodes pot does have some things to set up it does also have a pretty weak plot even for this version of the show as the episode has to set up who Worzel's new human friends are and what there like as people which is fair enough but that eats up so much of the episodes run time that it leaves very little time for the episodes main plot which is something that is left more of an afterthought when compared to anything else in the episode and while this episodes plot isn't the strongest plot in this show as it is pretty weak at best due to it feeling like a typical Aunt Sally plotline from the later series of Worzel Gummidge instead of feeling like something that was more in line with the original shows first series for example but to be fair to this episode there are still moments of that first series flair coming through in the plot of this episode but he episode is bogged down by so much bad things just in it's plot alone that it makes would could have been a very passable plot seem really dull and while this episode isn't unwatchable by any means the plot doesn't do the episode any kind of favors whatsoever with the plot of this episode not really being really rather entertaining and nor is it really rather engaging either in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Starring in this episode is Doctor Who star Jon Pertwee as Worzel Gummidge and Bruce Phillips as The Crowman. Also starring in this episode is Jonathan Marks as Mickey , Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally , Olivia Ihimaera-Smiler as Manu , Gerald Bryan as Rooney , Michael Haigh as Professor Pike , Patupatu Ripley as Mrs. Te Wheke , Joy Watson as Mrs. Peacock and David Copeland as Commissionaire Gilbert.

Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty really good. With pretty much all of this episodes actors turning in some really good performances even the episodes kid actors which was something that was surprising as kids can usually be pretty annoying to watch and yet there the actors playing them were really good in the episode with of course the likes of Jon Pertwee and Una Stubbs being really great to watch as well which is something that does make alot of sense as they are reprising their roles from the original show and would therefor have the best knowledge on how best to perform there respective characters with both of them even being the episodes best actors as do still have a lot of chemistry with each other and are both quite clearly having a lot of fun in playing there respective characters with both characters being perfectly well cast as both of those actors bring something that's uniquely them to the roles with that being something that really does help to sell you on these characters and while both Jonathan Marks and Olivia Ihimaera-Smiler aren't as good as Jeremy Austin and Charlotte Coleman they both really good actors in this episode with the acting that's in this episode really being helped by the fact that this episodes script is just so good that all this episodes actors have to do is just say the lines as they are written and a good performance will come out of them naturally which is something that really does help to raise the overall quality of the acting that's in this very episode.

The episode does get a little bit better when it comes to it's characters as it does pretty much round out all of the side characters for this first series of the show. As while the side characters that we get fully introduced to in this episode won't be as good as the ones from the original show they all have there own unique charm to them that make them different from the ones on the original show with the best example of this being the kids Mickey and Manu who are the complete and total opposite of Jon and Sue as while those character were the typical good kids that all British kids TV shows seemed to have at the time it's clear right from the second that we see them in this episode that Mickey and Manu are trouble makers but ones that do have a heart of gold as while they trust straight up tell Worzel that there not his friends and there not surprised that he's a scarecrow they are willing to help him go and see Aunt Sally even tho it could get them into a lot of trouble with another good example of this episodes side characters being Rooney who is best described as being a handyman of sorts for the local town as he just does every little odd job here and there that's really needed of him which is something that does bring him into contact with both Worzel and The Crowman alot of the time and while he is portrayed as being quite dumb he can also be a bit wise something which doesn't really get showcased in this episode but in another episode he does tell The Crowman that if you want succeed in this town you have to be able to do many things as there's not much call for someone who just makes Scarecrows in the town anymore.  

Speaking of The Crowman it's in one his scenes that we actually get to find out about this series main villain The Travelling Scarecrow Maker as it's revealed by Rooney that he buys up all of the Mangal Worzel's to make his cheaper scarecrows with. This was a nice touch as you can tell right from how The Crowman talks about him that he and the scarecrow maker have a past with each other and it's one that does get revealed later on in the series and while he has nothing but pure hatred for The Travelling Scarecrow Maker he does have some what of a kinder relationship with Worzel as he does go looking for him when he leaves his post and while the two of them don't really get to spend any screen time together in this episode something which they really should have done to set up there relationship more fully it is nice seeing him care for Worzel and while yews this version of The Crowman doesn't let Worzel get away with much much like the original version did with the original version of The Crowman being more of a father figure to Worzel and this one being more like someone who is forced to look after him but starts to like him anyway and that is something that makes this version of the character alot more interesting as it shows that all scarecrow makers have to like alot of each others scarecrows as they have no reason to with this even being shown when he talks about The Travelling Scarecrow Maker as you can hear in his voice that he really doesn't like him and is really holding back his anger as not to reveal the fact that scarecrows can walk and talk with him even acting scared at the mere mention of him like he knows that that character is up to no good and that is something that does add some level mystery into this shows version of The Crowman.

This episode does also have the only time in which they directly reference the original Jon Pertwee show. As Worzel himself says that he's just left two little children right before he met up with Mickey and Manu and while the show would even directly use footage from the original show in a later episode and even have a photograph of Geoffrey Bayldon as The Crowman this show never really mentioned the original show all that much which I guess does make sense as you don't really want to remind people of other shows even if the show that your making is a sequel show but at the same time tho it was nice for this episode to reference Jon and Sue as they are Worzel's best friends so it does make sense he would make a reference to them in that way but it would have been nicer if we got to see them even if it was just a quick cameo at the start of the previous episode as that would have made sense given the fact that the previous episode started out in England and in the same village as the original show as well and while Mickey and Manu are good enough characters the fact that this episode does reference Jon and Sue does still remind you of the much more better show with that reference feeling like it was something that the makers of this episode felt like that they have to include as the fans of the original show would still be watching this new show as that reference adds nothing to the overall episode and felt more like fanservice but in the best way possible however what would made the episode even better was if the episode spent alot more time in fully fleshing out it's characters instead of just giving us the bare bones of characters as these are characters that we are goin to be spending the rest of the first series with and therefor we want to get to know more about them and yet when compare Mickey and Manu to Jon and Sue we got to find out more about Jon and Sue just from the first two episodes of that show alone then we did about Manu and Mickey from this episode.

In what was a bit of a shocking thing to see in this episode we don't really get to see an awful lot of Aunt Sally in this episode. Despite her being the main vocal point of the episode with her really only appearing in the episodes final five to ten minuets and that's really it which granted is mainly due to the fact that the episode also had to do some setting up for future episodes and to also introduce the shows new side characters as well but at the same time tho given that she is meant to be a main character in the plot of the episode it is weird that Aunt Sally barely shows up in the actual episode itself while yes granted they do have an in universe reasoning for that as Worzel is first trying to befriend Mickey and Manu before then being told where Aunt Sally is staying and so in that way it does make sense for her to only appear in a smaller amount of the episode but given the fact that the whole reason that Worzel went to New Zealand in the first place was to be with her it would have made sense within the episode to have Worzel find out where she's staying at the same time that he's trying to befriend Mickey and Manu and then have them bond over their expirences in this adventure instead of having them bond before it as that just makes it feel out of character for Worzel not to know where Aunt Sally is and go chasing after her however tho this episode does also mark a first in their relationship as it's the first and so far the only time that Worzel has actually successfully kissed Aunt Sally with that moment being treated as the right amount of silly and seriousness that it really needed but at the same time tho it not having her in the episode a whole lot more makes Aunt Sally feel more like an afterthought when she should have been more of the main focus of the episode.

Now then this episode has / has an exact grand total running time of exactly twenty four minuets and fifty five seconds. Which is a perfectly solid running time for this episode to have as alot of the episodes for this show do have a similar running time as well with this episode having just amount the right amount of plot there to really cover that amount of running time but in saying that tho this is an episode that really doesn't use it's running time all that wisely as the episode is more focused on setting up things for future episodes then it is in developing it's plot which does make this episodes plot also feel an afterthought when if the episode just spent more time in developing it's own plot then in setting up things for other episodes then we would have a slightly more better episode however tho this is also something that does effect it's characters as well as while it could be argued that both Worzel and Aunt Sally don't really need any kind of character development due to the fact that they were lead characters on the original show characters like Rooney , Mickey , Manu and The Crowman all needed it as alot of them are getting more screen time in this episode after just making a cameo in the previous episode with there characters really needing to be the most fleshed out due to the fact that they are new characters and while it could be argued that they get there development in future episodes which would be a fair argument to make it's something that should have started in this episode as this is our first real look at those characters but I really will admit that this episode really does have some really good pacing to it tho.

So now then  as this is a comedy that really does mean that I have to actually talk about the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty not that bad. With there being some really cute and funny jokes in this episode which is something that this show did do really best as those allow the characters to be there usual charming selves and with this episode having two returning characters it does mean that the episode can have some fun with there relationship to each other which is something that this episode does somewhat take full advantage of as the episodes best joke is when Worzel does kiss Aunt Sally which results in him being as giddy as a school boy and her being utterly shocked and appalled that a scarecrow would kiss her which is something that does feel completely in character for both of them as we know that Worzel loves Aunt Sally with all of his heart and would do anything for her much like how we know that she hated Worzel with all of her heart and would do anything to get away from him and so to them act differently to a kiss which was done just to wake her up with anther good joke when after escaping the museum Aunt Sally finds herself working as a local attraction once again getting balls thrown at her whilst Worzel finds himself being hung up onto a chimney with both characters not really being happy with there current predicament with this episode having alot of really good jokes in it in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Overall whilst this isn't the best episode of this show it's also not the worst one either as while there is a huge drop off interms of quality when compared to the original show this is an episode that can at times be really fun to watch it just needed more of a focus on it's plot and more Aunt Sally to make it better in my freaking opinions anyways / at least. Now then i've talked about all of the good and as well as all of the bad things that are in this very episode in this very review and as such that really does mean that this very episode really does earn itself a grand old score of exactly 5 out of 10 from me.

Now then as for where I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review well then boys and girls and well as ladies and gentlemen I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review from Amazon . Co . Uk and Google Images. With my personally preferred website to use to get the images from this very episode that I used in this very review being the really great Google Images really simply just due to the fact that really alot of if not really all of the images that are all really from this very episode with alot of them being really better quality then what you'd really think of and all of the images are really of course up and really on Google Images are also really all fairly high in quality and as well as them all being really fairly freaking high in definition.

Worzel Gummidge Down Under "Wattle Hearthbrush" Review

It's been quite a while since an episode of the really classic Worzel Gummidge TV series was last covered on this blog and even longer since an episode of it's sequel series Worzel Gummidge Down Under was covered. Well it was about time that another episode from Worzel Gummidge Down Under  really was covered in this blog and well then I think I found an actually really funny episode from the sequel series really bad second series and so then join as I review the episode that sees The Crowman trying to make a female scarecrow with the episode in question being called simply just "Wattle Hearthbrush" enjoy.

The plot of this episode is when the local Nuns need a female scarecrow built to scare of the birds The Crowman has to make it for them and Worzel is only to happy to show her the ropes in the best way that he knows how. Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty not that and as it was easily one of the more better plots that this shows second series had but at the same time tho it is still lacking that extra special something that made the original series standout and alot of that does come from the fact that original series writers Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall had left this show with each episode being written a rotation of New Zealand writers and while it doesn't show in this episode as the plot of this episode was really well done alot of the episodes during this shows second series were really bad plots with the plot of this episode being an example of this show being done right as it shows that the makers of this show could still make a really funny Worzel Gummidge episode without dumbing down the concept something that is seen all throughout this second series with the plot of this episode also being really rather entertaining and as well as being really rather engaging as well in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Starring in this episode is Doctor Who star Jon Pertwee as Worzel Gummidge and Lie Of The Land star Meriol Buchanan as Mother Superior. Also starring in this episode is Caroline Hutchison as Sister Mary Aloyishes , Olivia Ihimaera-Smiler as Manu , Prue Langbein as Sister Agnes , Jonathan Marks as Mickey , Power Ranger star Bruce Phillips as The Crowman and The Willies star Ellie Smith as Wattle Hearthbrush.

Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty really good. Which for this shoe show isn't really all that new as as even this sequel show did always have some really good acting in it even in the episodes that weren't directed by series regular director James Hill the quality of acting was always really high and that is something that really does shine through in this episode as Jon , Bruce and Ellie have to basically carry the entire episode on there backs and they all do so wonderfully and while yes granted the acting in this episode isn't as good as the acting in all pf the episodes of the original series considering the fact that this series of the show is known for being quite bad and this second series is known for being really bad then the fact that we managed to get an episode that does have acting quality that's up there with some of the worse episodes of the original series is still something to behold and it is something that does go to show you that this episodes actors are a bunch of really good actors in there own right as well with the acting that's in this very episode not really being helped by the fact that this episodes script is just so bad as it gives none of this episodes actors absolutely nothing to work with interms of what it is that there respective characters personalities are even meant to be in the first which is something that really does affect the overall quality of the acting that's in this very episode.

In what was a shocking thing to find in this episode is the fact that there is a scene around the middle portion of the episode that does hearken back to the dark and almost gothic nature of the original series. With Wattles naming ceremony being done in way that does make you think of the shows more dark nature which is something that should have been in more of this show as the original series could get quite dark and quite gothic at times and yet none of that very rarely if ever made it's way to Worzel Gummidge Down Under seemingly for reason whatsoever and yet when the show does use those more darker elements like they do in this episode then we get some really great scenes out of it with those scenes being ones that stick with you the longest as there something that really do catch your attention and keep you hooked on the episode and while in this case it was just The Crowman naming a scarecrow something that we had seen done before in the original series it was done in a way that not only reminds you that the two shows are connected but it also goes to show you that when this series really did want to that they could then make something that really would fit in right at home with the original series as well which is something that does work in this episode as this episode is all about not only celebrating what came before it with Worzel himself acting like a teacher to Wattle but also starting something new with the creation of Wattle Hearthbrush herself.

In a move that wasn't really done in the original show that writer of this episode Anthony McCarten really did know to treat the kid audience of this show with some basic level of respect. As they actually explain why Aunt Sally isn't in this episode with it being said that she's gone on holiday with a supposedly very rich man and isn't taking any visitors at the moment this was actually a really surprising move as even in his series they never really explained why Aunt Sally wasn't going to be in an episode they would just do the episode as they normally would which is something that does work in this series favor as the original series also did that but that the same time tho to see an episode not only go out of it's way to explain why she's not in the episode but also make her absence a plot point as it's what she says in her postcard to Worzel that leaves him feeling heartbroken and want to actually befriend Wattle in the first place and this is something that just isn't done even today as usually the writer of any episode of any show would just through in one line about why a character isn't in the episode and that's it but to make it a key plot point as well that is something that is never done and it really is something that should be done ore as it shows that the writer is actually treating the shows kid audience as equals and is not just doing the bare minimum effort to get a paycheck and while it would have been nice to see both Wattle and Aunt Sally meet up as you could have got alot of really great jokes from that pairing it is also something that just wasn't done for one reason or another.

While the idea of showing a female scarecrow is one that's been done to death and heck even the first episode of the fourth series of Worzel Gummidge is all about Worzel meeting his mother. What hadn't been done before now was showing us just how a female scarecrow is made which is basically done by only using female ingredients and female turnips which does seem like a dated way of putting it but at the same time tho for the time that this episode was being made in it is something that does work in the episode as the episode does explain it in a way where it does kind of make sense within the context of the show but at the same time tho they do get a few things wrong as well like the fact that we know that after a scarecrow comes alive for the first time they find it hard to talk for the first time and yet here Wattle speaks quite easily and we also know that a new born scarecrow has need to eat every sweet treat in sight and not stop until there really full up something that doesn't happen in this episode and while those might be small nitpicks in the grand scheme of things they are things that do go to show you that the makers of this show just don't have that much respect for what came them and most likely never even watched and episode of the original show in the first place as then they really could have gotten things that a new born scarecrow does down perfectly instead of just making up something new and hoping that no one noticed like what they did in this episode.

Wattle herself was one of the more fun characters in this episode as she's basically a rebellious teenager but cranked up to eleven. Which is something that does make her fun to watch as you never really know what she's going to say or do as she gets excited when she finds out that her first job has her being placed on roof but then gets bored quite quickly and is happy to go along with Worzel and while this show could have used a character like her very early on just to add in a character who could be everything that Worzel shouldn't be at the same time tho this kind of character would get boring pretty quickly and there only be so many times where you could see her get excited about something and then get bored by it pretty quickly as that is something that would get old pretty quick and not to mention the fact that there most likely would be times where she could come across as being the bad guy of the story when a character like this works best when she's quite clearly the goo guy and the fact that even The Crowman admits to having reservations about her being placed where she was in the first pace does prove that in the end she made the right call to go with Worzel as she just wasn't that happy there and so she went to do something that made her happy which in this case involved stealing a motorcycle to get away from the Nun's that put her on there roof in the first place which does make her the good guy of this episode as she only did what she did not only because of the fact that like all scarecrows she really didn't know any better but also because of the fact she wanted to do something that really does make her happy and being with Worzel Gummidge makes her happy,

Now then this episode has / had an exact grand total running time of exactly twenty four minuets and fifty five seconds. Which is pretty much the bogstanderd running time for this show to have and to be fair this episode really does have the right amount of plot there to really cover that amount of running time but what lets the episode is the fact that this episodes plot does come across as being quite underdeveloped with the episode being more focused on getting to the next plot point then it is in fully developing it's story and as such scenes like Worzel explaining to The Crowman why he wants The Crowman to mend his heart just don't work this is despite the fact that it is a wonderfully written , acted and directed scene and even the following scene with The Crowman just outright saying that Aunt Sally isn't a good friend doesn't work not only because there's no build up to that scene but also because there's no pay off for it either it's there just for the sake of being there which again despite it being a very well written , acted and directed scene just feels like a filler scene as neither we the audience nor Worzel himself are being told anything new about Aunt Sally as Worzel always looks for the best in her despite her being a cruel and horrible person and as such there's no point in the episode in having a scene like that in this episode as it adds nothing to the plot of the episode and it really could have been argued that it takes away screen time from the episode which really could have been used to fully develop the episodes plot but I really will admit that this episode really does gave some really bad pacing to it tho.

So now then as this is comedy that really does mean that I have to actually talk about the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then  in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty really good. With this episode actually being quite alot more funnier then what it really had any right to be with this episode not only making use of the funny things that the characters say and do but also having a sight gag like a Nun trying ringing the bell only her to get quite lifted of her feet everytime she does so is funny with that joke even being the best joke in the episode as it is something that really catch you off guard as it's joke that whilst yes is a very joke to tell it's still also a really funny joke when it's done really well as well and while this episode does have alot of really funny moments in it like the fact that when he's inside the convent Worzel disguises himself up as nun only to get found out right way that's a good idea and is a great way to subvert your expectations and even alot of what Wattle says and how she acts is really funny as she acts like someone who is just going to cause trouble and have fun doing so but then she'll say something that catch you off guard and that will still make you laugh because it's in her character to do so with even the Nuns having a few funny moments in this episode as well with pretty much all of this episodes jokes not only landing but also landing really hard as well as that's just how funny that this episodes jokes also really are as well in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Overall this episode whilst it was still a pretty bad episode from a really painfully bad series of the show it's also one that proves that the makers of this show do indeed know how to make something that's true to the original spirit of Worzel Gummidge since all they have to do is try and that's really it and yet it's something that they've only really done in this very episode of the show in my freaking opinions anyways / at least. Now then i've talked about all of the good and as well as all of the bad things that are in this very episode in this very review and as such that really does mean that this very episode really does earn itself a grand old score of exactly a 6.5 out of 10 from me.

Now then as for where I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review well then boys and girls and as well as ladies and gentlemen I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review from Amazon . Co . Uk , Wikipedia and Google Images. With my personally preferred website to use to get the images from this very episode that I used in this very review being the really great Google Images really simply just due to the fact that really alot of if not really all of the images that are all really from this very episode with alot of them being better quality then what you'd really think of and all of the images are really of course up and really on Google Images are also really all fairly high in quality and as well as them all being really fairly freaking high in definition.

Worzel Gummidge Down Under "Elementary, My Dear Worty" Review

Sherlock Holmes is a franchise that has alot of references , nods and homages to it due to the fact that the character has been going around now sine eighteen hundreds. With oddly enough one of the many homages coming in Worzel Gummidge Down Under and well then as a Worzel Gummidge lover I thought that now was the absolutely right tie to check out another episode from this forgotten sequel series and so then join me as I review the episode that sees Worzel Gummidge turn detective with the episode in question being called simply just "Elementary, My Dear Worty" enjoy.

The plot of this episode is when The Crowman's prized turnip goes missing Worzel Gummidge and his friend Worty take it upon themselves to turn detective and find the turnip before The Crowman notices that it's missing. Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty not that bad but as with alot of things in this series of Worzel Gummidge Down Under this episodes plot wasn't al that good either as while it was a simple plot something that does usually work well for Worzel Gummidge here it oddly holds it back as the plot of this episode is really weak and the plot isn't really strong enough to support an entire episode of this show and as a result of that is the fact that a plot that's a little bit more complicated  really would have worked alot better even more so when you take into account that this episode does have mystery to it with the plot of this episode also being really rather entertaining and as well as being really rather engaging as well in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Starring in this episode is Jon Pertwee as Worzel Gummidge , Olivia Ihimaera-Smiler as Manu and Jonathan Marks as Mickey. Also starring in this episode is Ian Mune as Worty Yam , William Kircher as 2nd Scarecrow , Danny Mulheron as Blighty Tater , Ann Pacey as A Woman , Bruce Phillips as The Crowman , Duncan Smith as 3rd Scarecrow , William Walker as 1st Scarecrow and David Weatherley as Bulbous Cauliflower.

Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty not that bad. As this show as a whole has always had some really good acting in it but at the same time tho the acting in this episode quite clearly isn't the show at it's best as alot of this episodes cast just come across as being lost unsure what kind of performance to give when it's should have been this episodes director and the shows producer Grahame J. McLean quite clearly doesn't know how to get a good performance out of this cast something that regular director James Hill knew how to do with his eyes shut and while the acting in this episode is good it could have been so much more better then what it was with the acting in this episode not really being helped by the fact the script for this episode is just so bad as it gives none of this episodes absolutely nothing to work with interms of what it is that there characters personalities are even meant to be in this episode which is something that really does harm the overall quality of the acting that's in this episode.

For an episode that's really all about the The Crowman he barely features in the episode at all with him only being in the opening and closing of the episode. Which doesn't make sense as he is a main character in this episodes plot and yet for some strange reason the makers of this episode got rid of him at the start start of the episode and have him appear at the end of the episode and that's really it when he should have been in the episode more even if it was just in a few scenes that aren't connected to the man plot of the episode heck the kids are in this episode more then he is and they play no part in the episodes plot and are only there for some unknown reason where as The Crowman does play a part admittedly a small part but still a part in the episodes plot and yet her's barely seen in the episode at all which makes no sense either from a story telling point of view nor form a logic and character point of view as this character wouldn't leave Worzel Gummidge to guard all of his most valuable things he'd either take them with him or guard them himself.

As a mystery the actual mystery in this episode isn't that good but that's kind of the point and it's something that's fitting for the character of Worzel Gummidge. As Worzel himself isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and wouldn't take that much into account and as a result of that does only see things in black and white much like how a child does and while the mystery itself does come as being really bad as there are clues given to how took the turnip in the first place it is fun seeing the Worzel Gummidge team take on a Sherlock Holmes type of a character but do it in a way that's fitting for not only this show but also for Worzel Gummidge as a whole as Jon Pertwee does don a Sherlock Holmes type of costume complete with deerstalker hat and pipe but at the same time tho given that there is a mystery in this episode ad it's such a key part of the episode there should have been alot more effort put into the mystery then not even doing the bare bones as that it is something does hurt the episode by quite a bit as nobody wants to a show that has a bad mystery in it.

For some strange reason the makers of this show chose to have the kids act out of character and not like how they've been written as before in previous episodes. As in previous the kids in this show while yes they have been known to be a pair of troublemakers would never get in the way of Worzel from doing something even more so when he outright says that he's trying to do something and find something for The Crowman and yet for some strange reason the kids in this episode choose to play several jokes on Worzel and Worty all of which keep them for achieving there goal and all it does all it does is make the kids not only look like bad characters but it also makes them look like bad friends to Worzel as they know that finding the turnip is important to him as it's something that's important to The Crowman and as as result of that is the fact that they would go out of there way to help Worzel and Worty and not go out of there to hinder them as we've seen in the first series of this show that they would be more then willing to help both Worzel and The Crowman and yet for some strange reason here they choose to cause them trouble and play practical jokes on them which s something that doesn't work for these characters in this episode.

For some strange reason this series of Worzel Gummidge Down Under really did reduce Aunt Sally's role in the show. With her not even being mentioned in this episode which in a way does make sense as there's no way to include her character in a way that makes sense to either the plot of the episode nor the character but at the same time given that she was a main character in this show she could have at least appeared more in a supporting like maybe she gives Worzel and Worty a clue as to who stole the turnip in the first place and that's really it yes it would have been a small role in the grand scheme of things but given that the character isn't bound to always torturing Worzel by always getting rid of the character that's better for him like she was in the original show she really could have appeared in this episode and it still would have made sense and it's still something that would have worked for this character but at the same time it would have been stretch to be find away to include this character in a story that really doesn't need to her in it in anyway whatsoever.

Now then while I cannot for the absolutely life of me remember whatever this episodes grand total running time was I do know that this episode has / had an exact grand total running time of roughly twenty five minuets. With that being pretty much the bogstandard running time for this show to have and to this episodes it really does have just the right amount of plot to really cover that amount of running time but at the same time tho the episode really could have been a little bit longer as the ending and big reveal that Bulbous Cauliflower took the turnip because The Crowman asked him to bring it to him really does come out of nowhere as it's something that really isn't built up really well in the final cut of the episode and it's something that really should have been built up to because as things stand with the episodes current running time it does come out nowhere and it's something that could have been fixed if The Crowman was in the episodes more as we the audience could have seen him asking Bulbous Cauliflower to do something for him but not reveal what it is and yet because of the fact that the episode isn't that long it means that the episode can't be as good as it was but I will admit that this episode really does have some really pacing to it tho.

So now then as this is a comedy that means that I have to actually talk about the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty not that bad. With the episode having some really cute and funny jokes with even the idea of Worzel Gummidge dressing up like Sherlock Holmes and even doing kind of Sherlock Holmes type of voice is a good and funny idea and to this episodes credit it's the comedy in this episode that really does save this episode from being really unwatchable as the episode does have some really funny moments in it and while yes this episodes jokes aren't going to be make every one laugh the ones that do make them laugh be it from the actual joke itself or even just the idea of the joke is more then worth it with this episode being worth watching just for seeing Worzel is this dumb character suddenly act super smart all thanks to a new head which is still a really good idea and is still a really joke in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Overall while this was still a really bad episode that is something that could be said for alot of this series of Worzel Gummidge Down Under as there was a dip in quality in both writing and directing something which is evident due to the fact that the original writers of Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall were no longer involved with the series for the whole of this second series and director James Hill couldn't take part in the second block of filming due to health reasons and thus couldn't travel to New Zealand to make the filming of this and other episodes and that is something that is noticeable in this episode in my freaking opinions anyways / at least. Now then i've talked about about all of the good and as well as all of the bad things that are in this very episode in this very review and as such that really does mean that this very episode really does earn itself a grand old score of exactly a 5.5 out of 10 from me.

Now then as for where I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review well then boys and girls and as well as ladies and gentlemen I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review from Amazon . Co . UK , Wikipedia and Google Images. With my personally preferred website that I personally preferred to use to get the images that I personally used in this very review being the wonderful Google Images since all of the images that are currently up and and featured / presented to us on Google Images are all fairly high in quality and as well as being fairly freaking high in definition.

Worzel Gummidge Down Under "Stage Struck" Review

Some shows have alot of very important episodes be they important because they add something to the shows lore or important because they take away from the shows lore or important because the shows key creative left the show. There are a ton of reasons why a show could have important episodes and while Worzel Gummidge never really had that many important episodes during it's four series run it's it's continuation series Worzel Gummidge Down Under that has a very important episode and so the join me as I review that sees the old writers be replaced by a rotation of New Zealand based writers with the episode in question being called simply just "Stage Struck" enjoy.

The plot of this episode is when the Ballet comes to town Aunt Sally finds herself being invited to watch them rehearse the show and Worzel has to try and get something to help Aunt Sally's flowers grow in her garden. Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty really bad as the episodes plot was really thin at best with it being really hard to tell what the actual plot of the episode was even meant to be in the first place outside of the really brief synopsis as that's just how thin this episodes plot really was with the plot of the episode not really rather being all that entertaining and nor was it really rather engaging either in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Starring in this episode is Jon Pertwee as Worzel Gummidge , Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally and Jonathan Marks as Mickey. Also starring in this episode is Stuart Devenie as Jeremy Carp , Maria James as Eloise , Ross Jolly as P.C. Peacock , Brian Sergent as Terence , Aaron Taylor as Robert Mahoney , Glenis Levestam as Lady 1 ,  Anne Chamberlain as Guest 2 , Kevin Wilson as Guest 1 and Sue Wilson as Lady 2.

Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty not that bad. As this episodes cast are a bunch of really good actors and alot of the have been playing there characters for years at this point in time and so they would of course no how best to play there character and what kind of performance would best suit there respective characters in any given scene with the show always having some really good acting in it even in some of there bad episodes however the acting in this episode really isn't helped by the fact that this episodes script is just so bad as it gives none of this films episodes cast nothing to work with interms of what it is that there respective characters personalities are even meant to be in the first place.

This episode is a really important episode in the shows history as it's first episode not to be written by series creators and writers Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. With the episode instead being written by oddly enough the co-writer of The Lord Of The Rings films Fran Walsh and you can really tell that they lost the main writers with this second series of the show as the dip in script quality is evident from the first scene onward as there are alot of things that either aren't explained or just don't make sense alot of which also oddly enough revolve around Aunt Sally as she is seen living in a caravan in this episode something that she wouldn't be cought dead doing and if somebody was to catch her living there she would make up a lie and say that it's not her place and for some reason she's she's given a human love interest which is something that also doesn't make sense either as she wouldn't settle for someone who directs the ballet as she would always want someone who is of royal blood and nothing less then that would do for her.

In a rather refreshing move this episode lets Una Stubbs dance as she was actually a trained dancer before she turned to acting. With her dancing in this episode being something that perfectly fitted the character of Aunt Sally as she would actually dance like how she does in this episode because she doesn't know any better and of course she would always stay at the centre of the stage because she wants to be the centre of attention but at the same time tho it would have been more better if the makers of this episode had her dance really well as that would be something that would take us the audience of guard and yet for some reason they don't do that they instead just go the stereotypical route which while it is something that works well enough for a kids TV show it is also something that is dull and boring as you know exactly what that character is going to do and as a result of that it would have been better if the makers of this episode had Aunt Sally be a genuinely good dancer.

For a show called Worzel Gummidge Worzel himself really has next to nothing to do in this episode with Aunt Sally being more of a main character. Which really shouldn't be the case as the show isn't named after her it's named after Worzel and while Aunt Sally works well enough as a minor recurring character she doesn't work all that well as a main character as due to the previous series we know that she really is horrible to Worzel something which now has be toned down because she's the episodes main character which means that she alot of the time has to act out of character if the makers of this show wanted to make her more kind then fine do that but do it in a way that doesn't go against what we the audience know the character to act like and don't do it by taking screen time away from the title character as that's the character that the audience keeps on coming back to see and are not coming to see Aunt Sally constantly flirt with Worzel just to break his heart and get what she wants by the end of the episode.

For some reason they chose to introduce a new character in this episode with them not including Manu for no reason whatsoever. This wouldn't be an issue if it weren't for the fact that they bring Manu back in the very next episode and if they gave this new kid character a personality as the only personality that they give her is that she's a girl and that's it which doesn't make her a fun character as all it does is make her a rather dull and boring character with Mickey being left to try and make the scenes that the two characters share together watchable and as much as the Mickey character can be a fun character he just can't help to make this character seem fully formed and that is of course of no fault of her actress as it's rather a fault of the episodes writer and it's something that should have been fixed especially as she's meant to be a new recurring character who may or may not be in future episodes of the show and yet the makers of this episode go out of their to make her a dull and boring character.

Now then whilst I cannot for the absolutely life of me remember whatever this episodes running tie even was I do know that for a fact that this episode has / had an exact grand total running time of roughly twenty four minuets. Which is pretty much the bogstanderd running time for this sequel series to have but this episode really doesn't have alot there interms of plot to cover that large amount of running time as the plot of episode is so weak that it just comes and goes whenever it wants which is something that wouldn't be that much of an issue if not only the episode was better written but the episode also had a much more shorter running time as the plot of this episode would have been fine if the episode was ten minuets long but as the episode in almost twenty five minuets long the plot really should have been alot more stronger then what it actually was but I will admit that this episode really does have some really good pacing to it tho.

Son now then as this is a comedy that means that I have to actually talk about the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in this very episode was in all honesty. Really bad as there really was nothing that was all that funny in this episode as while the show always has more cute funny moments in it then straight up laugh loud funny moments in it in this episode they don't have jokes that are really alot more cutely funny they just have the type of jokes where you know what the punchline of the joke will be before there even done with the set up for the joke and as a result of that all your really doing is watching characters that you love get butchered by a terrible script that really is lacking in jokes in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Overall this episode is quite easily up there with A Little Learning as one of the episodes in this franchises history but while that episode had the excuse of them still trying the tone of the show this one really doesn't have that as an excuse as they got rid of two people who really did know what the tone of the show was and those are the two that really should have stayed on to make more episodes of this show in my freaking opinions anyways / at least. Now then i've talked about all of the good and as well as all of the bad things that are in this very episode in this very review and as such that means that this very episode really does earn itself a grand old score of exactly a 5.5 out of 10 from me.

Now then as for where I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review well then boys and girls and as well as ladies and gentlemen  I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review from Amazon . Co  Uk , Wikipedia and Google Images. With my personally preferred website to use to get the images from this very episodes that I used in this very review being the really great and really legendary Google Images due to the fact that really alot of if not really all of the images that are all really from this episodes and are really of course on Google Images are all really all fairly high in quality and as well as them all being really fairly freaking high in definition.

Worzel Gummidge Down Under "Slave Scarecrow" And "The Traveller Unmasked" Review

 

This show is the show that just keeps on giving as a few years after Worzel Gummidge ended the exact same writers , director and some of it's stars launched a spin-off series. With this series also serving as a sequel series to the original show this despite it dropping alot of the original shows main cast of characters and so then join me as I review episodes that sees the end for now of the franchises first straight up villain with the episodes in question being called simply just "Slave Scarecrow" and "The Traveller Unmasked" enjoy.

The plot of these first two episodes is the evil Travelling Scarecrow Maker finally gets his hands on Worzel Gummidge and turns him evil and it's up to The Crowman and Aunt Sally to turn Worzel good again and defeat the Travelling Scarecrow Maker for good before it's far to late. Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in these very episodes well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual plot that's actually featured / presented to us in these very episodes was in all honesty not that bad with the plot for this two parter being suitably epic for a two part episode and yet at the same time tho the episodes plot isn't really worthy of being a two part episode with the episodes plot being really very entertaing and really very engaging as well in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Starring in these episodes is Superted and Doctor Who star Jon Pertwee as Worzel Gummidge and Sherlock star Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally. Also starring in these episodes is The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord Of The Rigs: The Return Of The King star Bruce Phillips as The Crowman , Olivia Ihimaera-Smiler as Manu , Wi Kuki Kaa as The Travelling Scarecrow Maker and Jonathan Marks as Mickey.

Now then interms of what I personally thought / felt about the actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in these very episodes well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that thew actual acting that's actually featured / presented to us in these very episodes was in all honesty not that bad. With alot of the episodes cast turning in some really good performances and while the kid actors aren't as good as the kid actors from UK set series of Worzel Gummidge they do make the most of what little that there given to do with the acting in these first two episodes really being helped by the fact that scripts for both of these two episodes being so good that all the cast have to do is just say the lines as there written and a good performance will come out of them naturally and while yes some of the actors aren't as good as others that's not a knock on the episodes script as that's more a knock on the actors not being as good as they should have been.

It's in this episode were we get to see something that wasn't shown in the original show and that's an evil version of Worzel Gummidge. This is a really creepy idea as the character at this point has been really harmless with him only displaying bad behavior due to him not really being that smart and there for doesn't know all that much but in this episode The Travelling Scarecrow Maker turns him fully evil with him setting out to kill his beloved Aunt Sally and while we do get to see Jon Pertwee pull of a great sounding evil voice for Worzel there's just something wrong about seeing Worzel Gummidge be as evil as he is this is despite it being a really good idea but at the same time tho it feels wrong because it's not something works well for this character and while they do give an in universe behind this sudden change it's something that should have been handled alot better then how it was handled in these two episodes of the show.  

One of the many things that this episode gets right is the fact that it gives Una Stubbs the chance to show just what kind of voices that she can do. With those voices really being good with her doing a very convincing Northern England type of voice at one point it's just a shame that the episode very quickly drops this idea just as soon as it introduces it as it could have been a great way to have some humor in what is two episodes that are more horror based but at the same time there is most likely a practical reason as to why the idea of Aunt Sally putting on different voices was dropped as doing different voices is hard work to do at the best of times and while it would have been great to hear more of the kind of voices that Aunt Sally could do it most likely would have been to difficult for Una Stubbs to do.

For some reason the makers of the show  chose to have Aunt Sally be the one to try and rescue Worzel Gummidge. Which just doesn't make all that much sense as Aunt Sally isn't the type of character to help anybody out as she's the type of person to leave a person who is in desperate need of her help just because it suits her to do so and given all that we've of the character in all of the previous it does seem out of character for her to be the one to go and rescue and while they do give a reason for why The Crowman couldn't do it it would have made more sense then having Aunt Sally do it or even having the children go and do it would have made sense as there Worzel's friends and would therefor actually really want to help him out where as Aunt Sally really isn't that kind of person something which we see at several points during part two of this two part episode.

To many this is one of the more scarier episodes of the franchise with this episode being pretty creepy even for a kids TV show. While the original show didn't shy away from having scary episodes either in these two episodes they really have alot of creepy with The Travelling Scarecrow Maker making scarecrows that are more in line zombies then they are actual scarecrows as they can only come alive at night and don't talk with his main goal to take all of The Crowman's powers which would enable him to make scarecrows walk and talk at any time and thus pretty much raise an army to take over the world which is a pretty creepy idea which is made even more creepier when we see that Aunt Sally is to scared to even go to his house and yet what's funny is the fact that parents in the UK complained about this episode being scary as it was shows early in the morning and yet they were OK with the original series having some scary scenes and episodes in it and yet those episodes were broadcast alot closer when children were most likely heading of to bed.

Now then while I cannot for the absolutely life of me remember whatever these two episodes grand total running even were I do know for a fact that both episodes has / had a combined exact grand total running time of roughly fifty minuets. With both episodes being somewhere around twenty five minuets each in length with this story really feeling short changed because of the fact that it's only two episodes as you very easily could have stretched this story out to three or four episodes which would have helped the story out quite alot as the second episode really does feel like a rush job with plot points just coming out of nowhere and the characters not really getting alot of the development that they should have gotten in these episodes which does make sense as this is a TV series but at the same time in a pair of episodes like this one they really should have given the characters really some form of character development but I will admit that both episodes really do have some really truly wonderful pacing to them.

So now then as this is comedy that means that I have to actually talk about thew actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in these very episodes well then in all honesty I in all honesty personally thought / felt that the actual comedy that's actually featured / presented to us in these very episodes was in all honesty not that bad as we do get some funny moments during both of these episodes. At the same time tho the main focus of both of these episodes oddly enough isn't the comedy it's the horror and while the horror aspect is really well done the lack of jokes during alot of both of the episodes really does make it feel like that they put to much effort into the horror side of things when this should have been more like a horror comedy instead of a straight up horror with one or two lighthearted moments in it but when we do get a good and funny joke you really do notice it in my freaking opinions anyways / at least.

Overall this was a really solid two parter which does show just how good this sequel spin-off series could have been when it was at it's best and not let down by bad scripts in my freaking opinions anyways / at least. Now then i've talked about all of the good and as well as all of the bad things that are in these very episodes in this very review and as such that means that these episodes really do earn themselves a combined grand total score of exactly a 6.5 out of 10 from me.

Now then as for where I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review well then boys and girls and as well as ladies and gentlemen I personally got all of the images that I personally used in this very review from Amazon . Co . UK , Wikipedia and Google Images. With my personally preferred website to use to get the images from these very episode that I used in this very review being Google Images really simply just due to the fact that really alot of the images that are on Google Images are all really fairly high in quality and as well as them all really being really fairly freaking high in definition.