DW 713: "The Name of the Doctor"

What an interesting finale. It ended on one heck of a cliffhanger, but our cold open was stellar, featuring all the other doctors. It raises as many questions as it answers, and for once, Moffat didn't use his timey wimey tricks to get through storytelling. The great intelligence led the doctor to where he must never go, his grave, on Trenzalore. There, the GI tries to destroy the doctor, and Clara enters the doctor's time stream to save her, explaining how she's the impossible girl. But quite a few questions are raised.

River: we know she's dead, stored in the library. But the doctor didn't quite face her death before, and we last saw her with Amy's exit. Why the big issue about him saying goodbye to her, and all that? Is she not coming back to the show? And how does she know his name? Still a mystery.

The secret: who is John Hurt playing? It says the doctor, but who is he? The real nature of the doctor? The ninth doctor forgotten as rumors have stated? Very curious, and an interesting way to show him, too. November 23rd can't come fast enough.

The silence: is this what they wanted to stop? Someone entering the doctors tomb and messing up the galaxy?

Overall, Moffat pulled off a good finale, leaving us with many questions. Plus, it's be nice to know his name, but perhaps that should remain unknown. I didn't like that the GI was the big villain, as he never played into the newer series. But seeing the grave and all that, very interesting. It feels open-ended though, so for the finale we wait.

November: who is the doctor?

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DW 712: "Nightmare in Silver"

Neil Gaiman's follow-up to The Doctor's Wife tackled an old foe, the cybermen. In a new twist, they use little insects to invade a mind, trying to find a child to help rejuvenate their lost empire years in the future. The doctor engages in a battle of wits and chess with himself to defeat the threat, and we get a good look at how some of the doctor's mind works. No hints towards his name, who Clara really is, or anything of that sort, yet. The kids Clara babysits were there, though, initially annoying but ultimately helped save the day. Overall it was an interesting story, one of the better this series, but still a one-off lacking the arc-based strengths that previous series have had.

 

Next time: the name of the doctor! And river!

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DW 711: "The Crimson Horror"

A refreshing breath of air from an otherwise humdrum second half of this series, this story pairs Cestra, Jenny, and Strax trying to solve the mystery of the crimson horror, only to find the doctor afflicted as well. It all leads to a prehistoric symbiote's plan to infect the world. The trio of Jenny, Strax, and Vestra were a welcome addition, and are turning into a nice set of recurring characters with their own unique humor. The story itself was interesting if not amazing. And at the end, we got Clara's first realization that there were, indeed, other Claras before her. The doctor left her at home, unclear why.

 

Next time: cybermen, Gaiman-style.

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DW 710: "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS"

Finally, we see more of the TARDIS than ever before! The swimming pool, the library, and so much more. A refreshingly good story, if only because we got to see more of this iconic ship than ever before. Clara also w the doctors name, in a book in the time war, which is quite intriguing. Of course, she probably forgot now that time was reversed using the big friendly buttons, a nice deus ex machina. But overall it was an interesting story, though I don't quite understand how Clara was those weird creatures down below. She died multiple times? Kinda weird.

Next time: didn't see the preview, so going in totally naive!

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Film Review: "Star Trek Into Darkness"

Star Trek Into Darkness

Star Trek Into Darkness was a superbly crafted film for the vast majority of its running time, but was better when it was known as Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. Abrams went there, taking the most prominent of Kirk's villains and thrusting him into this sequel. How Khan was utilized, however, with Starfleet and then with Kirk, was done very well. I think everything was handled strongly right until the point where Kirk died. Spock had to yell out, "KHAAAAN!" didn't he? Just to be reminiscent of the older film? But fine, I'll take that, because it showed a human side to Spock, and his motivation for revenge was a change for the character. But one action made the film go downhill for me, and that's bringing Kirk back. I know, Spock came back too, but at least for some time, he was legitimately dead, and the ending with his funeral was beautiful. Here, the whole Kirk dying scene was a homage to ST2, and honestly, it was done very, very well. I loved that part of the film. But once he came back, it was like everyone's tidy, let's go on a mission. But Spock, didn't you just lose complete control of your emotion? Are we gonna ignore that? And Kirk, pal, you just basically died and came back.... any thoughts you'd like to share? How's that going to shape you now? We didn't get any of that at the end. And that's what brought this movie from a solid 9 to a 6.

I love characters, and especially these characters, who I've watched for so long on TV and film. And they were doing so well with the characterization until the very end. And the emotion we as an audience had for Kirk dying was undone so quickly, it felt like a big reset button. And regarding that, first off, aren't Khan's crew also superpowered? So can't you use their blood? And now you've frozen them away, but isn't his blood like a super cure for stuff? Revolutionary medical technology? The ending was sloppy, to me. Kirk should've stayed dead, at least until the next film, where I'd have liked to see some wibbly wobbly time travel stuff that leads to a reset of the old universe.

But aside from that major gripe, I thought the movie was so engrossing. The plot was solid, Khan was utilized very well, although as glad as I was to see him, I was hoping for something a bit more original. The action was superb, and seeing the film in IMAX 3D was just amazing, I felt like I really was there. One of the best presentations on IMAX I've seen, hands down, up there with that final battle in The Avengers. But way, way, way too much lens flare, to the point of distraction when the flare covers half a character's face.

I really like Star Trek, but I don't think JJ Abrams did this full justice. I'm concerned about his perspective on Star Wars. I enjoyed so much of this film, I wish the end didn't ruin the emotional investment I put into it up to that point. I felt disappointed after the last Star Trek as well, because they destroyed continuity, but the film did grow on me. Perhaps the same will happen here.

I will say, though, the actors are top notch. Pine, Urban, and of course Quinto, really channel their characters well from the older series. Especially Bones's lines, stellar. Scotty is a bit different, as are Sulu and Chekhov, but a welcome change. And Cumberbatch was just excellent as Khan, truly a good performance. I just wish maybe things had been a bit more original in the resolution. Bottom line: excellent summer action flick, and a largely decent Star Trek film that could've been really something if Kirk had just stayed dead.

Marvel Watch: "Iron Man 3"

Iron Man 3

Marvel's phase 2 begins in banging style, as Tony Stark returns to the screen in a solid continuation of his character arc in his own films, and a sequel of sorts to The Avengers. It also took me by surprise, which was good, and it didn't go directly with the Extremis arc, which was nice.

The film started with a different style, with the song Blue, and a trip to the past, including a welcome cameo from Yinsen. We learn about extremis, about Maya Hansen, and Aldrich Killian. The Mandarin makes random threats and explosions, which has everyone unnerved, including the newly named Iron Patriot. While Rhodey goes on a Mandarin hunt, Tony threatens the Mandarin, loses his house, and befrends a kid. There are multiple attacks from extremis-powered villains, which look stellar. And the final battle at Roxxon was beautiful, if not as amazing as the chitauri attack in The Avengers. 

There were multiple references to The Avengers, and Tony's reaction to it, namely anxiety. It ended on a good note, Tony being a changed man, but always realizing he's Iron Man. It leaves the door open in an interesting way for the future, and we got a promise that Iron Man will return. The end scene was a surprise; I expeted Tony in space, but instead we got a welcome return from Dr. Banner!

Overall, a solid entry and a good start to Phase 2.

DW Watch: "Hide"

Series 7, Episode

Hide is a much better showing than the last two. At least this one had a purpose, the doctor trying to find out more about Clara via a psychic, yet, Clara is still just a normal girl. Or is she? The story itself was an interesting take on a ghost story, actually involving a pocket universe. I didn't care much for the ancillary characters, which I think is a problem in DW and in sci-fi in general. I also don't quite feel the nature of the relationship between Clara and the doctor. Are they close? Is she still a bit distant from him? It doesn't feel entirely natural, yet. Next week seems interesting, hinting at a few mysteries lying within the TARDIS.

 

Next week: Inside the TARDIS's innards.

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DW Watch: "Cold War"

Series 7, Episode 8

The humdrum series of DW continues, by far Moffat's weakest to date. I hate people trapped on a ship episodes, and this was no different. Sure, having the Ice Warriors return in some form was nice, even though I haven't seen them in what I've seen of the older series. But that's it. Throwaway characters, a plot that didn't feel urgent even though it should've been, and a save at the end by Clara singing a song that made no sense. This is the fiftieth anniversary of DW, and one would expect a more significant arc. Especially with the question of who the doctor is being teased to us. Instead, we get humdrum episode after episode. Next week looks to be no different.

 

Next week: a haunted house?

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DW Watch: "The Rings of Akhaten"

Series 7 Episode 7




A rather inconsistent episode of DW, and one of the weaker episodes in recent memory. It had a very strong start and a somewhat strong ending, but the whole middle part felt like a lot of filler. The doctor takes Clara to the rings of akhaten, an area in the universe worshipped by many. There, he goes on his own adventures, oddly enough, while Clara befriends the queen, a little girl who has to sing and then sacrifice herself to the fake deity the locals worship. The doctor saves her in time, though, realizing the fake deity is actually a planet parasite, and he lets the parasite feed off of his memories. It's not enough, so Clara gives her the leaf, the leaf that brought her mother and father together, and that destroys it. Clara then recalls seeing the doctor watching her at her mothers gravestone, and he admits she reminds him of someone he knew who died, and she says she'll travel with him as Clara, not as a placeholder for someone else.

 

The beginning was fantastic, with the doctor watching Clara's parents meet. But the rest of the episode was considerably week. And next week seems to be my least favorite type of episode, the people locked on a ship headed for doom with a bunch of throwaway characters. This series thus far has been rather lackluster, and I think it's losing out from not having a central theme, an arc. At least the Clara story is giving a semblance of an arc, but the thing that made the last two series so strong was the heavy arc basis. I hope this series improves.

 

Next week: ice warriors!

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"Game of Thrones" Season 3, Episode 1: "Valar Dohaeris"

Game of Thrones returns, this time based on the third novel in the series, A Storm of Swords, more specifically the first half of that book. I have yet to read it, as George R.R. Martin gets bogged down in minutiae, making it a bit tough to get through. I hope to catch up once the season is complete. We pick up right where we left off last season, with Sam having survived an attack from an undead. No meets Mance and pledges his loyalty to him. Tyrion seeks Casterly Rock from his father, but instead is belittled by him. Marjorie shows herself to be a loving, caring person, and it's unclear how Joffrey and Cersei feel about this. Littlefinger still seems bent on getting Sansa out of King's Landing. And King Robb sees the dead at Harrenhall. Meanwhile, Danerys hopes to by the unsullied, an army of slaves. Her dragons are getting much bigger, but those warlocks of Qarth are still after her, and she's saved by the former kingsguard, Selmy, from one of their assassination attempts. So far, a strong continuation of a strong series, which keeps making you want more.

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