Ghost Hunters International S02E20 reviewed

According to our title graphic the team is:-

Barry Fitzgerald - Lead Investigator
Kris Williams - Investigator
Paul Bradford - Tech Manager
Joe Chinn - Investigator
Britt Griffith - Investigator
Susan Slaughter - Investigator In Training

Kronborg Castle - Helsingor, Denmark

CAVEAT - I've no actual intention of coming back to doing reviews full time but I wanted to review this first show to see how the new group dynamic works, whether I decide to review any more of the season is a bridge I will cross when I reach it. Please note all opinions are my own and I definately do NOT work for Syfy, nor do I have any specific agendas or biases. I say what I say because its what I think based on what I am seeing on the show.

This is our 1st show back after the hiatus and it's all change in the GHI team line-up as you have already seen. Former leader Robb is gone with Barry promoted in his place. Initially Britt was going to be doing that job but he ruined his chances after making a rather foolish statement on the radio so some rapid reshuffling was done to shoehorn Barry into the leadership role.

Paul has been made Tech Manager and you have to wonder how he got that over Joe Chinn. Kris Williams was alledgedly brought in to be the case manager but its pretty clear that Susan Slaughter is still filling this role (and is WAY overdue losing her "in training" tag from the title graphic, continuing to say she's still in training when she is case manager is extremely insulting to her ability).

Barry & Kris in the Ballroom - It was pretty clear that there weren't anywhere near enough IR illuminators in this room to do the job, I'm not sure if this is down to not researching the location well enough or a lack of equipment due to budget. I can't say as I heard any of the things Kris was hearing (mainly due to our old bugbear the stupid incidental soundtrack). As per usual the first sighting of anything was off camera (and the camera guy has to take the blame and be fired over that, he had 2 people he could have filmed and he was filming neither of them).

Joe & Britt in the Royal Living Space - Considering how much emphasis GHA put on cadets with tagging rogue sounds there was a distinct lack on tagging random bangs coming from either Joe or Britt, both of whom you'd expect to know better from their level of experience. In answer to Joe's question it was just the wind howling. I also have no clue what made Joe Chinn swear (most unlike him, he is normally very level headed and unflappable).

Paul & Susan in the Dungeon - Paul had set up an experiment to document battery drainage using a multi-meter. I didnt hear the voice Paul mentioned, I'd also like to ask Susan how she saw a shadow if it was pitch black (her words, not mine!). Google matrixing dear. I didn't hear any breathing nor did I hear any footsteps (which neither of them mentioned but Susan said there were some during her piece to camera, odd that neither of them said anything during the shot).

Barry & Kris in Queen Sophie's Room - Both of them stopped prior to entering the room then claimed they saw something move which can't be substantiated in any way as the Pilgrim camera guy was WAY behind them. Score yet another point for helmet cams I guess. Whats very annoying is Kris had a camera in her hand yet the director chose to use the worst shot he had from his "useless cam" which is what the Pilgrim crew really ought to be labelled as. The sound that Kris had "no idea what that was" was clearly a door or gate, something on squeaky hinges, possibly something wooden like a chair being moved slightly.

Joe & Britt in the Dungeon - I am guessing the sound Joe couldn't ID during their EVP was dripping water, and when Britt asked "do you hear that?" all we could hear was his stomping feet as he went crashing towards whatever he thought he heard. I did hear something before Britt reacted (It didn't sound like rocks being thrown though) and I certainly didnt hear any voices but I did hear debris falling (the sound Joe reacted to by moving towards it).

Barry & Kris in the Dungeon - Which they went to after seeing some weird stuff happening there from Central Command. They did an EVP, we couldnt hear whatever they heard (incidental soundtrack strikes again).

Joe & Britt in the Chapel - I'd like to ask Pilgrim to fire whoever is responsible for putting up the location graphics as during this show they were INCREDIBLY slow off the mark numerous times and the investigators themselves were telling us their location either before or as the location graphic was being displayed. Buck your ideas up whoever you are, it just makes you seem lazy and disinterested. By this location Britt was just phoning it in, he wasn't carrying ANY equipment and he had both his hands in his jacket pockets. Britt, you do know that there are MILLIONS of fans who would kill to be in your position and there you were looking like you couldn't have cared less about investigating.

It makes me happy they fired you but frankly in my opinion they didn't do it soon enough. Why you were in line for Robbs job as GHI leader is beyond me, I have to assume that like Steve & Tango you now also have some sort of dirt on Grant or Jason that they wouldn't want going public which is how such a slacker was being suggested as GHI boss.

Britt sees some light (off camera, as per usual) then they start asking about a chandelier shaking which with no open windows is pretty odd and its the only one in the room that was moving.

Paul & Susan on the 2nd Floor - Susan thinks she sees a light anomaly, I did see it just after she said "there it goes again" and it turns out to be lens flare due to a new wide angle lens on the mini dv camera.

Everyone in the Ballroom - Testing out something called The Singapore Theory (after Googling what the heck it was) or what Brad & Barry Klinge refer to as "Era Cues", Barry did eventually explain what it was. Britt reported seeing shadows moving (nope, no cameras facing in that direction at all as usual).

The Analysis - Joe presents footage of him & Britt in the Dungeon capturing a voice saying "ok". Britt presents footage of some weird lights in the Dungeon.

The Reveal - Barry commits the cardinal no-no of citing personal experiences as evidence as does Kris. I dont care if she says Joe & Britt saw it too, if its not on tape it didn't happen - 1st law of Ghost Hunting. Footage of Britt & Joe with the shaking chandelier, whats annoying is Joe says its the only one shaking then doesnt bother to prove it which would have taken seconds. Audio from Kris & Barry in the chapel, they get a breath in answer to a question, the client thinks it says "go". Audio from Joe & Britt in the Dungeon, a voice saying "ok".

Footage of the battery drain experiment in the Dungeon, we see unexplained pulses of light. We also see the flashlight being used in the drain experiment move, the temperature rises and the EMF goes up too.

Not a great first show back with the new line-up, I was left wondering on where Scott Tepperman was too.