Week 2- 9th january 2026

Convention Consignment News

I have setup my page to help with con pick ups and consignments , this is a work in progress.The first big event of 2026 is live - The Oxford Card Show , I am the official send in service for this event and taking orders now.

Convention News and updates 

Monopoly Events:

Announced the return to their For The Love Of Sci-Fi event. It is joining up with their Fantasy event in August.

Tickets on sale now https://www.fortheloveoffantasy.com 

Guest announcement for love of anime

https://www.fortheloveofanimeuk.co.uk 

Convention Gossip 

Word is a certain blogger maybe returning to the Liverpool stage for some hosting duties in May ... I wonder who ?

Also hearing a certain Netflix show may have a presence in the UK this year ... can't say which one but Stranger Things are a foot 🤔

Movie Review

IM CHEVY CHASE, AND YOU'RE NOT

Fun fact – I met Chevy Chase once, when he was mobbed at a stage door. He signed for me and was then chased down the street. This was a fleeting interaction, but he signed so that was a positive. I mention this as following the release of this documentary, there has not been many pro Chevy posts.

Meeting Chevy Chase, even briefly, can feel surreal—he’s a comedy legend with a reputation that precedes him. This new documentary dives headfirst into that reputation, and the result is a fascinating, if sometimes uncomfortable, portrait.

Chevy has long been known for his sharp wit and equally sharp attitude, and the film doesn’t shy away from that. It features plenty of negative stories from colleagues and peers, painting a picture of a man whose ego and temper often overshadowed his talent. Even in his own interviews, Chevy struggles to come across well; he deflects criticism with humour and avoids deeper reflection. Yet, there are moments—fleeting but genuine—where you see his humanity. His hurt at being excluded from the SNL 50th Anniversary special, his clear love for his family, and the way his wife still laughs at his jokes after decades together all hint at a softer side.

The documentary leaves you conflicted. You feel sympathy for some of the hardships he’s faced, but those feelings are quickly tempered by the sheer volume of negative anecdotes. Ultimately, it’s a story of a man who was once at the top of his game, whose choices and attitude pushed him out of the spotlight. There’s a sense of regret lurking beneath his denials, and that makes the film compelling.

Final Verdict: 7/10. It’s an engaging watch for fans of comedy history and celebrity culture, offering insight into both the brilliance and the flaws of Chevy Chase. Just don’t expect a redemption arc—this is as honest as Chevy will allow himself to be.

Tv Review

Stranger Things- Season 5 The Finalie

Finally after nearly 10 years, Stranger Things has come to an end. 5 seasons and 42 episodes.  i , as many around the world settled down on January 1st 2026 to watch it all end. How did i find it?

Going into the finale, the hype was immense. Since Game of Thrones (which famously stumbled at the end), no major show has faced such pressure to stick the landing. I had a few predictions:

• Kali would betray the group. Either for her own gain or she was working with Henry
• Eleven would be depowered or lost (but not dead).
• There would be no main cast deaths, in keeping with the 80s movie DNA (ET, The Goonies) where happy endings prevail and no main cast die.

I was mostly correct. Kali didn’t betray them — she was helpful. No one died, which felt right. And Eleven was taken off the board, though not in the way I fully expected

The episode’s two‑hour runtime split neatly into battle and epilogue.

The Final Battle

• Build‑Up: After the previous episode’s gung ho ending , the slow march into the abyss dragged. Too much walking and talking diluted the tension.
• Mindscape Trio: Max, El, and the Kali’s confrontation with Henry was briefer than expected, sidelining Max for the rest of the battle. With such a large cast, not everyone could shine. Still, the Erica/teacher moment was a nice touch.
• Henry’s Role: The reveal that Henry was controlled by the “Abyss” wasn’t groundbreaking, but I appreciated that he embraced villainy without a redemption arc. So many shows/ movies these days want to humanise the villains when its not always needed.
• “Spider” Reveal: Visually striking, and a clever way to involve the team beyond relying solely on El to save the day. Though he was defeated quickly it was a great part. Though I totally forgot about Joyce until her final memorable moment. It’s a shame she was pushed aside for so much of this season.
• Hopper’s Mind Games: Well‑paced and effective, showcasing Henry’s powers. Yet Henry often felt underused as a true threat. I liked that it was mind games and tricks to help Henry stop Els attack.
• Army Subplot: Linda Hamilton’s presence promised more than it delivered. The subplot felt unnecessary. Other than having them as a distraction they did very little.
• Moral Dissonance: Nancy and Hopper’s willingness to kill U.S. soldiers was jarring. Fighting Russians or monsters is one thing, but mowing down regular army personnel felt excessive.

The climactic “death” of El was powerful, but I’ll return to that in the epilogue.

The Epilogue

The 18‑month time jump was bold but problematic. It skipped over immediate emotional fallout, leaving characters oddly unscarred.

• Nancy’s bloodlust vanished without consequence.
• Mike’s dad reappeared, at least they gave some acknowledgement he still existed.
• More classmates’ cameos from earlier seasons could have enriched the closure.

Despite its length, the epilogue flowed well, offering a satisfying overview of each character’s future. It felt like a genuine ending.

Eleven’s Fate

Is El dead? Mike’s story suggests otherwise. We never saw her leave the van, never saw a body — classic TV language for “not gone.” I lean toward Mike’s account being true, giving El a hopeful ending, though bittersweet for Hopper.

Overall Impressions

The finale stayed true to the show’s 80s roots: no major deaths, spectacle balanced with heart, and closure for most arcs. While Max and Joyce were sidelined, the episode didn’t lean too heavily on El or Will, allowing others to shine.

Much of the criticism online seems tied to the release schedule. The split parts created uneven pacing, with quieter episodes feeling disappointing in isolation. Watched as a full season, the flow will likely improve.

Lingering Questions 

• Where did the military go — did they simply give up and let them all free?
• What was the point of Linda Hamilton’s character?
• Why doesn’t Hawkins acknowledge the chaos around them?
• Did the older kids ever truly “hang out” as they reminisced? Never really remember them being that friendly
• Once the military read the plans on the projector and knew what was going on, Why didn’t they help?
• Where were all the Demogorgons? After being such a big threat over the seasons, them being so absent was jarring.

Toy Review

AGE OF THE PRIMES- MICRONUS PRIME 

HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER 

This week I started a new podcast called How We Made Your Mother—a rewatch show where one of the creators, Craig Thomas, and star Josh Radnor (Ted) recap How I Met Your Mother. The podcast has been running since March 2025 and recently kicked off its second season.

I’m currently on the first recap episode, so I’m a bit behind, but I plan to catch up quickly. My approach is to watch each episode and then listen to the corresponding podcast, so I can refresh my memory and join in on the discussion.

As a longtime fan of the show, I’m excited to learn more about the behind-the-scenes process. There’s not a lot of detailed information about HIMYM online, so this podcast feels fresh rather than a rehash of familiar stories. Craig and Josh have great chemistry and seem to genuinely enjoy their trip down memory lane.

Each episode includes a bonus follow-up special where they answer listener questions, and every episode opens with a voice note from a fan, which adds a nice interactive touch.

So far, I’m really enjoying it—though the overuse of Josh’s song “NYC” during ad breaks is a little grating. It’s a lovely song, just a bit overplayed.

Verdict: 8/10 – Light, easy, and informative listening for anyHIMYM fan.

Weekly View Log

This is something i stared in 2020 during lockdown, I made a list of what I was watching. This was mainly to see how much I would watch during lockdown but then I just carried it on. So part of my blog will be weekly updates of this.

1st January- 8th January 

New Movies: Fackham Hall, Play date, I'm Chevy Chase and you're not. 

Rewatched Movies: Wonka, Jurrasic World: Rebirth, 

New Seasons Of TV: Stranger Things s5, Run Away,FBI S1, Taskmaster New Year, Lazarus, The Revenge Club, 

Rewatched Seasons Of TV: How I Met Your Mother s1, Dinosaurs s2, Boy meets world s7, 

Shows Watched: 9

New Shows: 2

Completed Seasons of TV: 3

FINAL THOUGHTS