If you are fortunate enough to be able to receive BBC television, you might be interested to learn that the all-action archaeology series Bonekickers digs up a Great War Tank containing the remains of 6 British soldiers in the episode to be shown on August 5th.
In case you think this sounds like a must-watch documentary, I should explain that Bonekickers is an archaeology-based adventure series in which a team of sexy/intense/eccentric archaeologists make a weekly discovery that makes the Indiana Jones films look like Time Team. In between grappling with the interpersonal and sexual dynamics, the gang have so far discovered the True Cross, the final resting place of the Knights Templar. the origin of Mesopotamian civilisation, and the body of Boudicca and her secret Roman toyboy, often involving swinging from ropes and having fights in surroundings that are largely on fire. It is hinted that the last episode might involve something called The Holy Grail.
So don't expect Phillipe Gorczynski to have a walk-on part. If you want to watch it, it's on BBC 1 on Tuesday August 5th at 9pm BST.
All observations welcome here. I should warn you that it's an hour of your life you'll never get back.
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Pure hokum James but full marks for imagination and escapism.Looking forward to Tuesdays instalment on the Deborah,lets face it anythings better than Big Brother!
From seeing some of the previous episodes, these must be some of the most destructive "archaeologists" yet, since it is probably contrary to best practice to instigate a conflagration wherever you go......and with a tank presumably still containing ammunition........
I can't believe I sat through an hour of that, and yet there was a strangely masochistic pleasure.
A Mk I sent to Verdun to "boost French morale"; quick mentions of the round hatch and exhaust baffles plus Churchill and the Admiralty to show they'd done their homework; then it was off into Lost Ark territory, this time involving the bones of Joan of Arc (no relation).
I think they got their time-line in a bit of a mess. They seemed to imply that Churchill was still at the Admiralty in 1917, and I think they might have got Verdun mixed up with the 1917 Nivelle offensive, but that's rather like pointing out continuity errors in Tom & Jerry whilst overlooking the fact that cats can't read, write, and use the telephone.
IMHO the only saving grace was the tall, stern, German lady archaeologist in the leather coat. If you like that sort of thing.
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Time line - what time line? The French army mutinies referred to in this load of old dingos kidneys took place from May 1917 onwards so as action shown is in the snow it must be in the winter of 1917 - after Cambrai? - and they're still using a Mk I!
Sorry, Cent. I was trying to fathom that out but was too busy trying to follow the sub-plots involving the man swallowing his dog-tag, the international conspiracy of silence, who shot whom and where, what exactly is going on between the Scottish woman and the young female assistant, the renegade officer from the Greenwich Fusiliers who disappeared into thin air, and how the Tank got buried, as well as trying to guess which part of the scenery would catch fire (in the end, it was the tent).
I didn't even understand the ending, so there's probably no hope for me.
The German woman with the big hair made me feel as if I'd been a very naughty boy indeed.
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Well, I certainly felt that this episode fulfilled my expectations completely, since it managed to be ludicrous and absurd, without any apparent attempts to achieve any form of coherence. I think there should be some sort of award for such writing, and the disregard for any form of plausibility ought to ensure an excellent chance of winning. Perhaps we can look forward to a series in which a crack team of librarians makes astonishing discoveries. The title "Bookslappers" has already been suggested......
(Enthusiastic admirers of Ms. Gabrielle Scharnitsky may like to know that there is, inevitably, a website!)
(Enthusiastic admirers of Ms. Gabrielle Scharnitsky may like to know that there is, inevitably, a website!)
By Jove, so there is. I say. She's got a bigger jaw than Romilly Weeks, if such a thing is possible. Nice to see you take an interest in these things.
Sorry. Off topic. But the Mosley connection did cross my mind.
Your critique of the prog is, if I might say so, a little kind.
-- Edited by James H at 13:23, 2008-08-07
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Taking to heart the "Tom and Jerry" analogy, I saw little point in fulminating against the grosser absurdities of this episode, although I am heartened to learn that initial viewing figures have dropped dramatically. For me the only point of interest was to see if any more of the tank would be revealed, but the props department clearly felt that a sponson was unnecessary. I do hope Mr. Bonneville's career survives this misguided engagement, as he is a capable actor worthy of better things. As television seems to generate vast quantities of unutterable ****, it does seem a pity that resources are so misdirected. At least it tends to suggest that time spent building models is of greater value. It certainly feels more rewarding.
What was nearly as bad was the 'real history' (sic) feature on the BBC Bonekickers webpage. Among the many useful things I learned was that Deborah was identified because the name was found painted on her side.
Posted some corrections on the Bonkers page, but needless to say the archaeological advisor to the show never got back to me. He did, however, reply to a posting I made on ringpulls, and revealed that they'd used Wikipedia as a source of info.
Sorry, Cent. I was trying to fathom that out but was too busy trying to follow the sub-plots involving the man swallowing his dog-tag, the international conspiracy of silence, who shot whom and where, what exactly is going on between the Scottish woman and the young female assistant, the renegade officer from the Greenwich Fusiliers who disappeared into thin air, and how the Tank got buried, as well as trying to guess which part of the scenery would catch fire (in the end, it was the tent).
