Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Theta Sigma]

Found out from TV WEEK that after 24 on Wednesday June 8 2007, 7 will begin showing the 2005 version of the Night Stalker series at 11:30pm.

Personally I have not seen any Night Stalker episodes but the original series titled Kolchak: The Night Stalker has been credited by Chris Carter as the inspiration for him creating The X-Files. In fact Carter has said that the X-Files was the Kolchak of the 90s. In fact original series star Darren McGavin himself have made guest stints on The X-Files and companion show Millenium.

Perhaps not surprising that this new version of Night Stalker was created by an X-Files veteran, Frank Spotnitz. This version however only lasted for 10 episodes in contrast to 20 episodes and 2 pilot movies that were made for the original.

Whether coincidental or not, 7 is starting Night Stalker in the same month that 10 will be showing another show with an X-Files type theme, Torchwood.

[Theta Sigma]

Pilot:
A very scary beginning to this series especially with the monster coming out of nowhere. This is definitely a show that no child should watch as it would give them nightmares.
Also a bit disturbing to see a chewed up Gumby.
A solid beginning to the series.

[Theta Sigma]

The Five People You Meet in Hell:
Directed by another X-Files veteran Rob Bowman, the second episode of the series is very creepy in its execution.
"You Know What You Have to Do". Scary.

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Three:
Like the previous episode with the number 5, this also uses a number for the title. In this case three.
The history about that house is very scary.
In this episode Craig Boyer is arrested and is seen in jail. The guy who plays him Lane Garrison later went to prison as an inmate in Prison Break. In a sad irony, Lane Garrison in real life was arrested months ago and subsequently pleaded guilty to the crime he has been charged with.

[Theta Sigma]

Burning Man:
Wow very creepy seeing some men being burned to death.

Night Stalker is not on tonight and I checked with TV WEEK and it is not on next week as well. Have no idea when it will be back.

[Theta Sigma]

Night Stalker will be back on Wednesday August 8 at 11:45pm.

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Malum:
This episode is similar to the X-Files episode Unusual Suspects in which the story has been told via flashback during a police interrogation.
Always nice to see Tony Todd in whatever role he is in.
Quite scary on who the real villain and the resolution at the end.

[Theta Sigma]

The Source:
Given its late night slot, I was physically tired by the time this episode came on but I have to say it was worth staying up.
This is perhaps the high point of the series as Kolchak tries to find out the truth of his wife's death plus a very good cliffhanger.

[Theta Sigma]

The Sea:
A very very good conclusion to The Source.
Most impressive was when the bikies arrived at the first motel seen in the episode and wonder what is so significant of the mark on Kolchak that saved him from being killed by the bikies.

[Theta Sigma]

Into Night:
Does not exactly top the previous The Source/The Sea two-parter but this is still an effective chiller.
Was surprise to see as the scientist Jane Lynch who for some reason is not credited.
Also just before this episode came on saw Cotter Smith (Vincenzo) in The Unit episode Bait which preceded Night Stalker in transmission. Let's just say that he is more likable as Vincenzo than his Unit character.

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Timeless:
Ah.... wonderful to see former Babylon 5 star Mira Furlan even though she is a baddie.
As to the episode itself, does not seem to be as creepy compared to the others.

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What's the Frequency, Kolchak?:
The final episode of the series.
Surprise that Perri did the narration for this episode instead of Kolchak. Also quite a shock when she got shot.
I suppose this was an adequate final episode but is obvious that there was still a lot of stuff to tell from the series.