OK, for the penultimate time this series, time to look back over Only Connect. The second semi-final, and after the drama of last week's show, it was going to take some doing to beat it on that front. Playing for the right to fight the String Section next week were the Yorkers, Jack Johannes Alexander, Alasdair Middleton and Joe Crowther, and the Wayfarers, Barbara Thompson, Gerard Mackay and Matt Beatson. The former got here undefeated by beating the Polyglots, the Cluesmiths and the Operational Researchers, while the latter took a more scenic route (as Paxo would say), defeating the Bookworms (twice) and the Builders, but losing their prospective opponents next week.
Round 1. The Wayfarers went first, and kicked proceedings off with Two Reeds: 'Two UK #1 artists: Manic Street Preachers', then 'Two elements: Platinum', then 'Two Greek letters: Upsilon', and finally 'Two countries: Somalia'. After a bit of confusion, they worked it out: they all have one inside the other (Manic Street Preachers, Platinum, Upsilon and Somalia), if that makes sense. The Yorkers opened their account with Twisted Flax, and got the picture set: we saw Sydney, then two policemen, then a belisha beacon, and finally an Anderson shelter. They didn't quite get it, their opponents did: they are all named after cabinet ministers. (The policemen being 'peelers' and 'bobbies', after Sir Robert Peel) For their own question, the Wayfarers chose Eye of Horus: 'blending', then 'changing', then 'like smoke', and finally 'light-dark'. The final one gave it to them: they are translations of Italian art terms. The Yorkers chose Lion next: '_____ Lion', then '_____zilla', then DJ _____adelic', and finally '_____ D-O-Double-G'. Again, they got it from the final one: put 'Snoop' in the blanks to give Mr S. Dogg's various incarnations! The Wayfarers chose Water next, and got the music sequence: didn't know the first, second was one of the summer tracks from the Four Seasons, third was the Theme from a Summer Place (the original, not the cover by Jasper from the Simpsons!); at this point, they offered 'seasons', and, after some prompting, realised they were all 'summer', and got the points. Left with Horned Viper, the Yorkers saw 'Country: South Africa', then 'County: Northamptonshire', then 'UK region: East Anglia', and finally 'US state: West Virginia'. Initially able to just come up with 'compass points', they eventually realised that they all have no directional counterparts (eg there is no West Anglia), and were given it. At the end of the first round, the Wayfarers led 5-2.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Wayfarers began the round with Twisted Flax: '4th: audio', then '3rd: lego', and immediately offered '1st: amo'; correct for three points. They are Latin verb conjugations. The Yorkers chose Horned Viper next: 'Battle of the Golden Spurs', then 'Orangemen's Day', and then 'Live Aid'; they had the right idea, events in July, but didn't offer an acceptable answer. Their opponents didn't get it either. They are, indeed, events that happened on the 11th, 12th and 13th of July, so something that happened on July 14th, such as the Storming of the Bastille, would suffice. The Wayfarers chose Lion next: '1:0 was 1', then '0:1 was 1/2', and then '0:0 was 2'. Neither side got it: they are the football pools, so '1:1 was 3', or any score draw, would do. The Yorkers chose Eye of Horus next, and got the picture set: we saw some flies with a '4' in the corner, then some locusts with a '3' in the corner, and then some frogs with a '2' in the corner. They didn't get it, their opponents did: some blood with a '1' in the corner; they are the Plagues of Egypt in reverse order. For their final choice, the Wayfarers chose Two Reeds, and got a music set: we heard some cricket commentary, then Wishing Well by Free, and then some Gaelic singing; neither side knew it. This was a tough one, but it was actually a good set: the cricket commentary by John Arlott was chosen by John Major on Desert Island Discs, Wishing Well was chosen by Mr Blair and the Gaelic by Gordon Brown, so something Mr Cameron chose would complete the set. Ernie the Fastest Milkman in the West would suffice, as Mr Mackay proceeded to give us a rendition of! Left with Water, the Yorkers saw 'Never (Lear), then 'Techno (2 Unlimited)', and immediately offered 'Liar (Castaways)', which was acceptable. They are things repeated five, four, three and two times. At the end of the round, the Wayfarers led 9-5.
On to the Walls then. The Yorkers went first, and chose the Water wall. They immediately isolated 'Lepanto', 'Trafalgar', 'Salamis' and 'Midway' are naval battles. They then proceeded to slot in 'Esmara', 'Tu', 'F&F' and 'George', which are supermarket clothes brands. After spending time studying what they had left, they had it all resolved: 'Syntagma', 'Red', 'Wenceslas' and 'Tiananmen' are squares, while 'League', 'Water', 'Times' and 'Operating' can all precede 'table'. Well worked out, a full ten.
The Wayfarers thus were left with the Lion Wall. After spotting some links, they isolated 'Humber', 'Singer', 'Wolseley' and 'Triumph', which are defunct car manufacturers. They then spent a great deal of time trying to work out what was left, but had no luck, and ran out of time. They thus were left to pick up bonus connection points: 'Millenium', 'MaddAddam', 'Sprawl' and 'The Divine Comedy' are literary trilogies, which they spotted just in time, 'Charles', 'Vasco da Gama', 'Golden Gate' and 'Great Belt' are bridges, which they knew, while 'Buffalo', 'Table', 'Polo' and 'Tower' can all follow 'water', which they knew. (Nice tie-over to the other wall there). Five points there, which meant the Yorkers had snuck into a 15-14 lead going into the final round.
Once again, then, it all came down to Missing Vowels. 'Former European monarchs' was split 2-each. 'Patron saints and what they are patrons of' was split 1-each. 'Opening words of Shakespeare plays' went to the Wayfarers 2-1, with time running out just as they buzzed on the fourth clue. But, again, we weren't finished yet, for the teams were tied on 19-each!
Another tie-breaker! Thus, Messrs Middleton and Mackay faced off over the clue 'P HTF NS H'. Mr Mackay buzzed first: 'PHOTO FINISH'. Right!
Another great match, one of the best OCs I've seen. Unlucky Yorkers, but you've done brilliantly this series, and as I said on Twitter earlier, I'm so pleased you've done so well after your misfortune on UC last year, so very well done. Very very well done to the Wayfarers though, and best of luck in the final next week!
Next week's match: the final, a rematch between the String Section and the Wayfarers. Good luck to you all!
I'm still undecided on whether it's worth finishing Series 1. I'd much rather rewatch Series 8 and 9, which I only loosely covered on here, and getting up to date on them. We shall see. I'll be back tomorrow with UC QF preview.
No comments:
Post a Comment