15 August 2014

TV REVIEW: Most Haunted - Episode 2/10. Newton House Part 1


Despite promising myself I wouldn't watch any more of the new series, my review of episode 1 garnered a lot of attention so I thought what the hell.

So they are back at Newton House, which they already investigated in Series 11, Episode 13, and in fact you can watch the entire episode at the following Youtube Link and if you are interested in the location you can read the Wikipedia page Here

For anyone unaware Newton House is run by the National Trust, and like most old places there is the usual haunting stories, usually concocted to increase tourism.

Anyway the episode, they have Fred Batt as the Demonologist/Historian, he just doesn't have any kind of charisma.

For some strange reason they have "celebrity" guests Bullet for My Valentine a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, and damn they just killed any credibility they ever had by appearing on Most Haunted, instantly they come across as a bunch of wimpy wannabes! You wouldn't have Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath acting like scared kids if they ever went on Most Haunted.

Before the investigation even begins we have the absolutely gorgeous and only reason to watch MH in Mel Crump claim that a light came on despite it not being plugged in, of course this wasn't caught on camera, and we then have to put up with Karl analysing the situation!

With the investigation now underway, we get the usual nonsense of Yvette calling out, whistling and doing whatever she can to try and get the ghosties to respond, the problem is that ghosts don't exist, so any noises they do hear are without doubt the crew.

We have a few things being thrown, ALWAYS off camera of course, but then that's the point especially since Karl and Stuart are the ones holding the main cameras! And Surprise Surprise (it's Cilla Here) things being thrown are always behind them!

Can we just have 40 minutes of Mel Crump instead please? For sure she will get fired for being more popular than Yvette, that is usually what happens!

So to recap we have about 10 or so people wandering around, and every time the camera is pointing one way, things are being thrown elsewhere, its almost like the ghosts know where and when to throw things so that they don't get caught on camera! What clever ghosts you are!

One thing I will say which is a good point, is that there is a lot less of them just pointing the handy cams at their own faces, Blair Witch style.

The sad thing about Most Haunted is that even if you believed it was all legit (which it clearly isn't) they get so excited over the most mundane of occurrences, and Fred Batt does his best to further encourage them by talking about bad energy, and warning them to be careful of what they call out and say, the problem is Fred Batt just lacks personality and credibility, and unlike someone like Derek Acorah, the general public have no reason to like him.

My favourite part of the whole episode has to be Stuart playing his old tricks, while standing next to Karl (who else!) Stuart suddenly falls, again off camera.

When he comes too, there is the usual nonsense from him of "what happened" and then flash backs to him feeling a bit queasy earlier because of the energies of the house!

Stuart admits he "just fainted" as Karl looks lovingly in his eyes! Only Karl and Yvette seem concerned, the rest of the crew just don't seem that bothered, almost as if it was pre-planned!

And as Stuart recovers something is thrown from "behind" Karl, again off camera, they wander about, things get thrown off camera, usually from by Karl or Stuart!

Worth watching Mel Crump and her reactions, you can see her cover her mouth with her scarf every so often, I think probably because she is stifling a laugh.

I would say that this episode is better than episode 1 simply because Stuart and Karl are up to their old tricks.

We even get some Ouija Board action, do you think someone should tell them Ouija was invented by businessman Elijah Bond, and had nothing to do with the occult until the first World War, also I believe I am right in saying that Hasbro own the rights to it these days!

Good to see Yvette doesn't risk wearing a glove during the "push a glass round a table" part of the evening, we all remember her getting caught cheating on a Live show many years ago!

With Karl and Stuart off doing their own "Vidgual", as you can imagine the sillyness commences.

Stuart hears a "wining" noise, which is definitely "Not Human", well I wouldn't say that about Karl myself, but I guess Stuart is allowed too!

Karl has probably only 2% more personality than Fred Batt! Damn this show really misses Derek Acorah, at least with Derek you could guarantee a possession or two per episode! These days at best we get Stuart pretend to pass out, or Karl whistling to himself.

Watching Most Haunted, and watching Yvette play silly board games, I have to ask, is there really anyone dumb enough out there who believes in this stuff? And if there is how do these people hold down normal jobs and relationships?

At one point Stuart locks himself in a room, and we have to watch him shouting "help", until the door miraculously unlocks itself, its moments like this I truly despair at.

At the end Dr John Callow makes some fair and interesting points, it's just a shame it is so obvious he is reading it off a prompt.

Most Haunted is silly, its not a real paranormal investigation, we know this, hell even OFCOM made an official announcement declaring the show was not a serious paranormal investigation, so the question remains, is it entertaining, well to some I am sure it is, and to others, it is mind numbingly boring, and a total waste of time watching.

I think the biggest problem Most Haunted have is that despite it being a spoof show, they play it like it is real, and from that you get ignorant people believing it is real. Unlike Ghostwatch (which MH was based on), we don't get the ridiculous big ending, and I think that is what the show misses. We used to get it back in the days of Derek Acorah, but since he left, they simply haven't found anyone to replace him.

I would say to avoid episode 1 since it is just a re-edit of the webisodes they made people pay for a while back, and go straight to episode 2 which is a proper episode, with a lot of the silly-ness we are more used too.

Anyway the next episode is the second part of the Newton House investigation, I will see if I can find a spare hour to review that soon, I think I will though, if only so we can mention Mel Crump again, who I am sure will get a LOT of fans when this series starts airing.

Official Blurb for Episode 2 below!

By Jon Donnis


Most Haunted
UK Premiere- New Series
Thursday 28th August, 10pm
2/10. Newton House
The brand new series of Most Haunted continues exclusively on Really with another spooky investigation from Yvette Fielding and the team.

This week is sees the first of a two part investigation as the team explore Newton House in South Wales. Yvette and the crew have visited this venue before but with such a huge amount of supposed paranormal activity they just had to return – and this time they have some very special guests – world famous Welsh heavy-metal band, Bullet for My Valentine.

Moving objects, children’s laugher, guests and staff experiencing choking sensations – these are just a few of the phenomena that are regularly reported. Multiple ghosts of haggard old women and children are allegedly seen daily, making the halls of this spooky building the perfect venue for a spine-chilling investigation.
The main structure of the house dates back to 1660 and its history is filled with conflict and pain. The most famous ‘ghost’ in the house is reputedly the ghost of the murdered Lady Cavendish who is said to have been strangled to death at the top of the building and her murderer is believed to haunt the long corridors. All this means that the team are up against some unexplained phenomenon when exploring the eerie halls of Newton House…

In one of the spookiest investigations in the history of Most Haunted the team is faced with multiple challenges and possible spirits. Loud footsteps, banging doors and even disembodied voices are only a few of the frights in store for Yvette, the band and her team.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I've just been watching some of the MH stuff recently, Now I will admit I am open minded about the paranormal, aka a fence sitter on the subject I want to see it proved or debunked in a logical way. (you'll never get that on MH) anyway one of the things I have started to worry about is the mental state of Yvette and the state of physical health of Stuart, it sounds to me like he is having nasty heart problems much of the time.
How did I come to end up watching Most haunted? sadly it was one of those weak moments where I was board and there was a huge lack of anything else on. So it was watch junk or junk or watch paint dry. I should probably of gone for watching paint dry.
When most haunted started, it did claim to be a serious paranormal investigation, Heck they still try to claim it, thing is they never debunk or prove anything, they don't have lock of camera's or locked off EVP recorders, they do not even have a base camp or any other safety measure in place that even HOBBY paranormal groups have, to call Most haunted a joke is an insult to JOKES everywhere lol.

JD said...

Hi, Welcome to the site, I'd just like to answer a couple of comments.

"is the mental state of Yvette and the state of physical health of Stuart,"

I am confused as to why you worry about Yvette's mental health. Most Haunted is a spoof, it is not a real show, they are acting, they are directed by Karl Beattie. Yvette's mental health is fine as far as I know. And being on Most Haunted would not effect her other than the general stress of being part of a TV show. As for Stuart, same with him, he is playing a part, directed by Karl, he does what he is told, any health issues again are not connected to Most Haunted, and will be due to the lifestyle he leads.

Despite them claiming it is a serious paranormal investigation, OFCOM revealed many many years ago that the show is a spoof.
IN fact it was based on BBC Ghostwatch program (Google it if you are unfamiliar)

From the very first series of MH they had an actor play the part of Parapsychologist in Jason Karl, Yvette is a trained actress. The show was designed to be a tool to relaunch Yvettes career. It was always a spoof, but when fans started to think it was real, they realised that they had a good cash cow so went along with it.

Unknown said...

I worry about her mental health because if you watch other shows she is in she enjoys making people suffer, as well as in MH its self she loves to scream. I worry about the state of her mental health on the grounds of safety to others. As for Stuart, I worry about his heart's health, that doesn't have to be linked to anything, he shows signs of having a heart problem, I just think he should be thinking about calling it quits and take an early retirement before Karl thinks it a good Idea to show us someone dying of a heart attack. (With everything else the guy comes up with I would not put it past him.) Those are my point on any health issues.

Now I take what Ofcom say about them at face value, people like that have NO reason to lie about negative stuff and I have to say I was glad when they did expose them, but like you say there are always going to be numpties out there who go "no, no it's real it's real", but even for the sake of argument, IF (and its the biggest if in the universe) MH where to come up with some credible proof of something paranormal (or anything else for that matter), due to their own lies and BS no amount of solid proof would stand because they have lost all credibility and have been exposed as frauds, I knew they were because I happen to live in the middle of 4 of their MH live locations, so I know about the kind of "Hauntings" they are said to have, most of the stories seemed new on the grape vine of ghost stories, oh and "oddly" enough their all owned by English heritage or Nat trust, and were all having problems getting people to come to them until MH came along. (I'm sure you of all people can add 2+2 and get 4 there.)

I have distant memories of Ghostwatch I think I was about 7 or 8 when they did that as a Halloween spook I think it was? I also seem to remember it being more interesting then MH LOL.

As for Jason Karl, he is in the parapsychologist Field But he is not as sceptical as he should be, he's to much of a yes man and not enough of a "Prove it" man. I don't even know where to start with John Callow, the guy makes watching paint dry more fun when how he talks, I just wish he'd tell us what he's REALLY thinking not what he's told to say from a screen behind the cam. I think YOU should be the sceptic at the end of MH. Must more interesting and you'd say what your thinking. :) Not that you would debase yourself in such a way.

Otherwise I agree with around 99% of what you say, I'm just one of those you have to give solid proof on paranormal as to if it exists, or dose not, until that point I sit on the fence with the "HMMMMMMM prove it."

JD said...

"I worry about her mental health because if you watch other shows she is in she enjoys making people suffer, as well as in MH its self she loves to scream. "

What other shows? She was on I'm A Celeb and tried her best to act scared so she would get voted to do challenges and she got voted out cause she was boring. There is nothing wrong with her mental health, on MH she is acting 100%. As are everyone on the show. As for the safety of others, the show has to follow various health and safety laws, no one in the history of the show has ever been put at risk, or been in risk, if someone was hurt there would be a huge lawsuit. So trust me it is all 100% acted, any idea of risk or danger is a creation of them to make it more entertaining.

Again health and safety means that they wouldn't dare do anything that would cause anyone any physical or mental harm cause they would get sued! Its how TV works!

"IF (and its the biggest if in the universe) MH where to come up with some credible proof of something paranormal (or anything else for that matter), due to their own lies and BS no amount of solid proof would stand because they have lost all credibility and have been exposed as frauds"

But they are not looking for proof, no more than any other TV show. If they genuinely caught something I do agree that it would instantly be discredited not because of their history, but because it is a TV show.

Also to call them frauds (something I have done) is actually wrong, they have created a spoof TV show, legally they have done nothing wrong.

"As for Jason Karl, he is in the parapsychologist Field"

Nope, when he started on MH he was a young aspiring actor, THATS IT!
It was only after he was fired from MH and had gained some fame in the paranormal area, and his acting career had dried up that he decided to use "as seen on Most Haunted" as a way to earn money and make a career for himself in that field. He is not a parapsychologist in any professional sense of the word.

"I think YOU should be the sceptic at the end of MH. Must more interesting and you'd say what your thinking. :) Not that you would debase yourself in such a way."

I'd love to be the skeptic on MH, however they would never use me since I was the first person in the world to expose the show.
Also because the show is a spoof, I would be playing a character, and not myself, so it would be a bit pointless since I would be directed and edited as per any contract I would have to sign.

Unknown said...

Ahh I see. Well thank you for your input, it puts things into a bigger prospective and gave me some pointers on where to look to find things out. I'm glad you made this site, its good to have some logic in the mix.

Unknown said...

Oh I did find this little gem. :P you probs have it somewhere yourself. but I just feel I have to post it.
https://youtu.be/sXwNv7KMd0o

Unknown said...

And here is Karl trying to debunk the rope thing. XD I'll let you be the judge but cables and ropes don't look the same, he had a frayed rope tied to him to pull him up the steps and he tries to debunk it as a cable.
https://youtu.be/sXwNv7KMd0o

Unknown said...

good

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