OK, time to review this week's Only Connect. Apologies in advance for any typos I miss in tonight's review; I am writing this with the main lights off in my flat. Playing last night were the Maltsters, Dan Jones, Raymond Baggaley and captain Pete Mitchell, and the Policy Wonks, Helen Thomas, Robert Colville and captain Robert McIlveen.
Round 1. The Maltsters went first, and began the match with Two Reeds: 'Ubaldo dove sei?', then 'Hvor er Willy?'; this was enough for them to offer 'Where's Wally?' in different languages, for three points. (Hope you all saw the chap dressed as Wally hiding behind Victoria after that question was over!) The Wonks opened their account with Horned Viper, and the picture set: we saw four paintings, firstly 'Daughter of Jephthah', then 'And When Did You Last See Your Children', then 'Saturn Devouring His Son' by Goya, and finally 'Whistler's Mother' by Whistler. Neither side saw it, though the Maltsters came close; they all have family members in their titles. The Maltsters chose Eye of Horus next, and got the music question: we heard Sinatra's 'Moonlight Serenade', then 'Roamin' in the Gloamin'', then 'The Living Daylights' by A-ha; they ran out of time, and offered 'they take place in the evening'. Not right. Their opponents heard the Proclaimers' 'Sunshine on Leith', but couldn't capitalise. They all have natural sources of illumination in their titles. The Wonks chose Water next: 'Gilbert and Sullivan', then 'JMW Turner', then 'An illegal abortionist', and finally 'Beautician and soiree hostess'. They didn't get it, nor did their opponents: they are the subjects of Mike Leigh works (the final two being Vera Drake and Beverley from Abigail's Party). The Maltsters chose Lion next: 'Indonesian national airline', then 'Carla Lane sitcom', then 'International Rescue craft'; they offered 'something-birds', which was close enough. They are named after mythical birds. Left with Twisted Flax, the Wonks saw 'Grayson Perry', then 'Sebastian Flyte'; this was enough for them to offer 'teddy bears', for a much needed three points. At the end of the first round, the Maltsters led 5-3.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Maltsters began this with Twisted Flax: 'Washington DC', then 'Beijing', and then 'Ottawa'. They didn't get, their opponents did: it's the capitals of the four largest countries by land area in ascending order, so 'Moscow' comes fourth. For their own question, the Wonks chose Eye of Horus: 'Sir Christopher Wren', then 'Said, 'I am going to dine with some men.', and then 'If anyone calls'; they spotted it to be the famous Wren clerihew, but couldn't get the right final line. Nor could their opponents. 'Say I'm designing St. Paul's.'' is the final line. The Maltsters chose Water next: 'That place', then 'This place', and then 'Before'. Their guessed answer of 'After' was wrong; their opponents answer of 'About' was allowed. The sequence is 'There', 'Here', 'Ere', so something resembling 'Re' would be fourth. For their own question, the Wonks chose Two Reeds: '2012: Barack Obama', then '2013: Pope Francis', and then '2014: Ebola fighters'. They saw it to be Time magazine's 'Person of the Year', and offered '2015: Angela Merkel' for two points. For their final choice, the Maltsters chose Lion, and got the picture set: we saw Tuppence Middleton, then Penny Lancaster; they spotted the connection of pre decimal coins getting smaller, and rather humourously offered 'The Animals of Farthing Wood' for three points! Left with Horned Viper, the Wonks saw 'Liam Dutton', then 'Lucy Verasamy', and then 'Louise Lear'. They didn't get it, their opponents did: 'Carol Kirkwood' would acceptably complete the set. They are weather presenters on Channel 4, ITV1, BBC2 and BBC1. At the end of the second round, the Maltsters led 9-7.
On to the Walls. The Wonks went first, and chose the Lion wall. They quickly spotted fictional dragons, and isolated 'Smaug', 'Fin Fang Foom', 'Toothless' and 'Rhaegal'. A second set followed shortly: 'Colophon', 'Frontispiece', 'Spine' and 'Appendix' are parts of a book. They spotted the final links, and worked out the correct sets: 'Wales', 'Filo', 'Omidyar' and 'Page' are website founders, while 'Choux', 'Flaky', 'Puff' and 'Shortcrust' are types of pastry. A well worked out full ten.
So, the Maltsters had to equal that, or come close to, to stay in touch, as they set to work on the Water wall. They also spotted a link straight away, parts of a record player, and soon isolated 'Tonearm', 'Spindle', 'Turntable' and 'Speed selector'. After some sleuthing, they had a second set sewn up: 'Piano', 'Rogers', 'Foster' and 'Grimshaw' are surnames of architects. They too soon had the final connections worked out and the sets isolated: 'Ball', 'Gun', 'Needle' and 'Stand' can all precede 'point', while 'Read', 'Mayo', 'Moyles' and 'Radcliffe' are former hosts of the Radio 1 breakfast show. Another well solved full ten, which gave them a lead of 19-17 going into the final round.
So, Missing Vowels would decide the match, once again. 'Squirrels' went to the 1-(-1), with two humourous wrong answers. 'Gender-reversed TV titles', such as 'MUM'S ARMY' (also the name of an episode of that show) was split 2-each. 'Things that might make you cry' went to the Wonks 3-1. 'Things you might find in a bathroom' only managed one clue, which neither side got due to time running out. The Wonks had come from behind to win 23-21.
Another excellent match between two very good teams. Well done Wonks, and best of luck in the next round! Unlucky Maltsters, but your score is certainly enough for the play-offs, so best of luck then. Hard lines to the Eurovisionaries, who are now officially eliminated, but would've got another go had they been in the other half of the draw. This probably suggests that this first round format, while a decent enough idea, hasn't really played out in a terribly fair way, but there we go.
Next week's match: Scunthorpe Scholars vs Beekeepers
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