"Let's Kill Hitler" - This was a fun episode. The 'twist' was predictable, and I can see where people are coming from with their complaints about suddenly introducing a best friend we've never heard of before, but that's okay. It was just a silly fun episode and I enjoyed it for the humour even if the plot was somewhat questionable.
"Night Terrors" - It was okay. Not as scary as I had hoped from the glimpses of the dolls in the previews. A little weak on plot, again - it almost felt like they came up with the concept and wrote all the dollhouse parts first and then threw in a story to fit around it at the last second.
"The Girl Who Waited" - This was beautiful. Man. So many emotions. I think this was also a more important episode than people are giving it credit for. The really key thing that happens in this episode is that it shows that Amy doesn't need the Doctor any more. It's the way things go with the companions. They start out as a kissogram with no great ambitions or aspirations. Then they meet the Doctor and he makes them better. And then one day he lets them out of his sight for 36 years and they can fight robots and make their own sonic devices all on their own. Amy would never do those things staying with the Doctor. Sure, she'll have all of time and space open to her, but she'll just spend it following the Doctor around and tweeting pictures of the second nicest planet. It's time for her to go, because she's hit the point where the Doctor is holding her back.
"The God Complex" - I also really liked this episode. Again with the emotions! I just like emotional episodes, I guess. I would really love to know what was in the Doctor's room. Someone had posted a description of the cloister bell which mentioned it sounding when the TARDIS itself was in danger, which got me to thinking that maybe the TARDIS in danger was his greatest fear. But then I remembered that his reaction was "who else?" so I'm not entirely sure that reconciles. Who knows. Maybe some day we'll find out.
"Closing Time" - So much fun! I don't really have much to say about it. Lots of fun. Hilarious. Good.
"The Wedding of River Song" - Mixed feelings on this one. I'm kind of impressed by how much they packed into a single episode. As with "Let's Kill Hitler," I loved the funny bits. My only real complaint would be that it felt a little trite to bring Amy and Rory back for bit parts where they barely remembered the Doctor/each other. Other than that, it was fun. Not as serious as season finales generally are, but that's okay. We don't need to be serious all the time, right?
Looking forward to Christmas!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Torchwood: Miracle Day
It's almost been too long since I finished Miracle Day to really write about it properly, but luckily I made myself some point-form notes to work from, so I can at least give a few thoughts on it.
I thought Miracle Day was really good overall. It wasn't the best show on television ever or anything, but I enjoyed it. Especially in comparison to past seasons of Torchwood.
Oddly enough, if there's on thing that stood out about this season to make it better, it was that finally, finally, after three seasons of antipathy, the managed to make me care about Rhys. I actually like him now. I think he's a good character. I like the fact that he's married to Gwen. I used to always wish he wasn't part of the show because he was a big whiny jerk and really pretty boring and I just didn't like him. But now I do! So good job on that.
A lot of my commentary on this is similar to what I said about Children of Earth. The focused season arc on one main story really worked. I think Torchwood is just the sort of show that works better in that style as opposed to a bunch of stand-alone episodes. And again, good use of secondary characters. I mean, the subplot around Gwen's parents was great... and Jack's old lover... it was all just good.
I also thought the main concept of it was brilliant. Usually in 'disaster/crisis' type shows, the situation is that something is going to kill everyone, and this was just the perfect reversal and you sort of have to wonder why it hasn't been done before (I'm sure it has, but it's not a common thing, and I haven't ever heard of it being done, so it basically hasn't...)
Also I was really appreciating their use of the implied romance between Jack and Gwen. This has been an element of the show since the beginning, but it has never amounted to anything. Not that it was huge here, but there were definitely times when it was clearly important. Especially when Gwen took Jack hostage, it actually felt as though that romance was a factor into their decisions and behaviours during that scene. I liked that they finally given at least a minor payoff that little undercurrent that they've bothered to keep up for all these years.
Overall: So pleased!
I thought Miracle Day was really good overall. It wasn't the best show on television ever or anything, but I enjoyed it. Especially in comparison to past seasons of Torchwood.
Oddly enough, if there's on thing that stood out about this season to make it better, it was that finally, finally, after three seasons of antipathy, the managed to make me care about Rhys. I actually like him now. I think he's a good character. I like the fact that he's married to Gwen. I used to always wish he wasn't part of the show because he was a big whiny jerk and really pretty boring and I just didn't like him. But now I do! So good job on that.
A lot of my commentary on this is similar to what I said about Children of Earth. The focused season arc on one main story really worked. I think Torchwood is just the sort of show that works better in that style as opposed to a bunch of stand-alone episodes. And again, good use of secondary characters. I mean, the subplot around Gwen's parents was great... and Jack's old lover... it was all just good.
I also thought the main concept of it was brilliant. Usually in 'disaster/crisis' type shows, the situation is that something is going to kill everyone, and this was just the perfect reversal and you sort of have to wonder why it hasn't been done before (I'm sure it has, but it's not a common thing, and I haven't ever heard of it being done, so it basically hasn't...)
Also I was really appreciating their use of the implied romance between Jack and Gwen. This has been an element of the show since the beginning, but it has never amounted to anything. Not that it was huge here, but there were definitely times when it was clearly important. Especially when Gwen took Jack hostage, it actually felt as though that romance was a factor into their decisions and behaviours during that scene. I liked that they finally given at least a minor payoff that little undercurrent that they've bothered to keep up for all these years.
Overall: So pleased!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Every day I'm Hufflin'
So I got into Pottermore a while ago. Actually it was quite a while ago now... I am bad at blogging. Anyway. I would say I enjoyed the experience overall, and I may share some of my thoughts on it more generally later on, but for now I'm just going to talk about the most important part: sorting!
I didn't really go in with strong expectations about which house I would be placed in. It's been a long time since I was a big enough fan to actively identify with any of the houses. I didn't really have a house preference, either, aside from sharing Harry's request of not Slytherin. I really wasn't too worried about that, though, since I am neither cunning or ambitious.
I am also not brave. Like really really really not. So I guess I was pretty sure I wouldn't be a Gryffindor. I was okay with that.
Probably some of my friends would be shocked that I'm not a Ravenclaw. When I was actually 11, or heck, even 5 or 6 years ago, I would have been surprised by that too. I wouldn't have been too surprised if it had come out that way, because I'm still a nerd and an introvert and can often be found with my face in a book. But I don't crave wisdom the same way I used to. I don't value knowledge and intelligence above all else.
I was really not surprised when the yellow and badger appeared on my screen:
I spent a while thinking that introverts can't be Hufflepuffs because making friends is not our strong suit and we don't always like super-socializing but then I remembered that that's not really what Hufflepuffs are like. Hufflepuffs are loyal and true and hard working. That aligns most closely out of all the houses with my idea of what makes a good person and how we should interact with the world around us.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Doctor Who: Unanswered Questions
I will be blogging some thoughts on the back half of series 6 soon, but for now, here are as many unanswered questions as I can come up with. They are loosely grouped by topics that are somewhat related.
Why does River know the Doctor's name?
What is the one time that he can tell someone his name?
What happens at the fields of Trenzalore?
Does the fall of the Eleventh refer to the Eleventh Doctor, or is that a red herring?
Doctor who?
Why must that question never be answered?
Why does Amy remember the clerics from The Time of the Angels/Flesh and Stone after they stopped existing, but can't remember Rory after he stops existing?
In The Wedding of River Song, why does Amy remember the Doctor and their adventures, but barely remembers Rory?
Is Amy's extraordinary memory actually an important thing with a reason and stuff, or just a useful plot device?
Why does Rory keep dying?
Who blows up the TARDIS/why/why specifically on the Ponds' wedding day?
Why does River remember the Doctor after the universe resets in The Big Bang? And why don't her memories bring him back? Why does it have to be Amy?
How does old!Canton "know" that it definitely is the Doctor and he definitely is dead, and how did he know to be there without opening his letter?
Is flesh!Doctor still out there, and will we ever see him again?
Is there any significance to the clothing "clues" in the back half of series 6 (bow-tie colours, shoes, jackets, tuxedo)?
Who exactly is Madame Kovarian and what is her motivation for working with the Silence?
Why does Kovarian refer to the never-ending war with the Doctor? What makes her think they are at war?
Why did the Time Agents take two years of Jack's memories?
What ever happened to Jenny?
Does Eleven ever go help Rose Tyler with her homework?
(The theme for the last group is "questions that will probably never be answered")
Why does River know the Doctor's name?
What is the one time that he can tell someone his name?
What happens at the fields of Trenzalore?
Does the fall of the Eleventh refer to the Eleventh Doctor, or is that a red herring?
Doctor who?
Why must that question never be answered?
Why does Amy remember the clerics from The Time of the Angels/Flesh and Stone after they stopped existing, but can't remember Rory after he stops existing?
In The Wedding of River Song, why does Amy remember the Doctor and their adventures, but barely remembers Rory?
Is Amy's extraordinary memory actually an important thing with a reason and stuff, or just a useful plot device?
Why does Rory keep dying?
Who blows up the TARDIS/why/why specifically on the Ponds' wedding day?
Why does River remember the Doctor after the universe resets in The Big Bang? And why don't her memories bring him back? Why does it have to be Amy?
How does old!Canton "know" that it definitely is the Doctor and he definitely is dead, and how did he know to be there without opening his letter?
Is flesh!Doctor still out there, and will we ever see him again?
Is there any significance to the clothing "clues" in the back half of series 6 (bow-tie colours, shoes, jackets, tuxedo)?
Who exactly is Madame Kovarian and what is her motivation for working with the Silence?
Why does Kovarian refer to the never-ending war with the Doctor? What makes her think they are at war?
Why did the Time Agents take two years of Jack's memories?
What ever happened to Jenny?
Does Eleven ever go help Rose Tyler with her homework?
(The theme for the last group is "questions that will probably never be answered")
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