OK, we've arrived at the semi-finals of this year's Only Connect. It has been a most interesting series, not least because of its highly unusual format. I still prefer the Series 7-11 format where each team gets at least two games, but this format has its merits. For starters, the two teams playing next week have both demonstrated its validity, but more on them next week.
In the mean time, playing last night were the Vikings, Mark Oxley, John Wilson and captain Mick Lee, who have defeated the Geocachers, the Parishioners, the Wanderers and the Detectives, but been beaten by the Inquisitors as well, and the Belgophiles, Helen Fasham, Phil Small and captain Ben Fasham, who are the only undefeated semi-finalists, having beaten the Lapsed Physicists, the Meeples, the Beaks and the Escapologists thus far.
Round 1. The Belgophiles kicked the show off with Eye of Horus: they saw 'J.K. Galbraith', and immediately offered 'a female author's first name and their male pen surname', which was correct for FIVE POINTS! Great stuff that! The Vikings set to work with Water: 'South Africa: Big Five', then 'Toronto: Seven Sisters', then 'New York City: Charmed Circle', and finally 'UK: Magic Circle'. All they could offer were 'secret societies of magicians', which wasn't quite right. Their opponents offered 'law firms' for a bonus. For their own question, the Belgophiles chose Two Reeds: 'Wolf Man', then 'Dora', then 'Rat Man', and finally 'Little Hans'. Neither team got this: they are case studies by Sigmund Freud. (If only Frasier had been on the panel!) The Vikings chose Horned Viper next, and got the music set: we heard The Clash's classic 'London Calling', then 'YYZ' by Rush, then the theme tune to Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, and finally the Inspector Morse theme tune. Again, neither team saw it: they all are, or contain, Morse code. The Belgophiles chose Lion next, and got the picture set; we saw some carpaccio, then some boudin sausage, then a chicken, and finally some bacon. They saw them to be the surnames of artists, and collected a point. Left with Twisted Flax, the Vikings saw 'Peru and a small part of the Solomon Islands', then 'Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan and just under half of Somalia', then 'Afghanistan and well over half of Afghanistan'; they identified the latter descriptions to be clues to the names of the currencies of the formers, and collected their first two points. At the end of the first round, the Belgophiles led 7-2.
Round 2, What Comes Fourth? The Belgophiles opened with Eye of Horus again: '2 (12)', then '12 (11,12), and then '11,12 (31,12)'. Neither team got this nice cryptic clue: 2 contains one two, 12 contains one one and one two, 11,12 contains three ones and one two, so '31,12 (13,21,12)' would complete the sequence. The Vikings chose Lion next: 'J. Edgar Hoover', then 'Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons', and then 'Chris Kyle'. Again, it eluded both sides: they are the subjects of Clint Eastwood films, so 'Chesley Sullenberger' would complete the set. The Belgophiles chose Water next, and got the picture set: we saw a bath, then a see-saw, and then a man diving. Once again, both sides didn't see it: it's the classic Mouse Trap game mechanism, so the classic mousetrap cage would complete the set. The Vikings chose Horned Viper next: 'Darmstadtium', then 'Hassium'; they came in here with 'Nihonium', not right. Their opponents saw 'Germanium', and correctly offered 'Europium' for a bonus, the sequence being they are elements by increasing size of eponymity. For their own final choice, the Belgophiles chose Two Reeds: 'Senate', then 'People'; they saw it to be 'SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus', but their offer of 'Rome' was not correct. Their opponents saw 'And', but their offer of 'Romani' was just as wrong. Just 'Roman' would suffice. Left with Twisted Flax again, the Vikings saw 'Palmerston', then 'Beaconsfield', and then 'Salisbury'. Once again, neither side knew it: they are 'Viscount Palmerston', 'The Earl of Beaconsfield' and 'The Marquess of Salisbury', so a famous Duke, such as 'Wellington', would suffice. At the end of a very tough second round, the Belgophiles led 8-2.
On to the Walls. The Vikings went first, and chose to tackle the Water wall. After spotting a set of eye disorders, they managed after a few wrong turns to isolate 'Stye', 'Boston's sign', 'Glaucoma' and 'Miosis'. A second set, 'Bullet', 'Balcony', 'Nursing' and 'Plunge', which are types of bra, followed. They couldn't untangle what was left in their three tries though, so had to go for bonuses: 'Cataract', 'Cascade', 'Horsetail' and 'Punchbowl' are types of waterfall, which they got, while 'Fountain', 'Mills' Mess', 'Multiplex' and 'Columns' are juggling terms, which they didn't. Five there then.
The Belgophiles could thus put the game out of realistic reach if they could better that on the Lion wall. They quickly isolated a first set: 'Diadora', 'Macron', 'Kappa' and 'Umbro' are sportswear companies. But that was all they could come up with, so they too had to go for bonus points: 'Fondu', 'Frappe', 'Flic-Flac' and 'Glissade' are moves in ballet, which they didn't see, 'Breve', 'Latte', 'Cortado' and 'Macchiato' are types of coffee, which they did get, while 'Cedilla', 'Diaeresis', 'Ogonek' and 'Grave' are diacritic accents. Four points there, which gave them a lead of 12-7 going into the final round.
So, just about still to play for in Missing Vowels. 'People's names with the capitals swapped for countries', such as 'FRANCE HILTON' and 'IRVING GERMANY', saw multiples errors, and ended 1-each. 'Usually abbreviated to three letters', such as 'QUEENS PARK RANGERS', went to the Belgophiles 3-(-2). 'Authors with their names rearranged' gave one point to the Belgophiles, and that was time. The Belgophiles won 17-6.
A very elitist match, both teams did pretty well all things considered. Unlucky Vikings, but no shame in having gotten this far, thanks very much indeed for playing. Well done Belgophiles though. and very very best of luck in the final!
Next week's match: the second semi, between the Inquisitors and the Escapologists.
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