Watching Doctor Who

This is the Review Post for Doctor Who 4.3 - Planet of the Ood. Hey! My computer didn’t crash this time! Woo hoo! So, here in the long delayed review.

You can find the Monster Files for this episode here.
The Big Questions for the episode is located here.
If you want to read a transcript of the episode, you may do so here.

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Planet of the Ood, Review Post, Doctor Who

This is the Review Post for Doctor Who 4.2 - The Fires of Pompeii. James Moran once again lands the episode two spot, just like in this last series of Torchwood. I’m glad that I got the chance to tell him that I liked his work. Anyway, on with the review.

You can find the Monster Files for this episode here.
The Big Questions for the episode is located here.
If you want to read a transcript of the episode, you may do so here.

Have any burning questions? Why not pop past the spoiler barrier and discuss them with me.

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The Fires of Pompeii, Review Post, Doctor Who

This is the Review Post for Doctor Who 4.1 - Partners in Crime. At this point, everyone in the US, UK, and Australia (I suppose also in Canada. Does anyone out there have the Canadian info?) have seen this episode. About time for a proper review, then, isn’t it?

You can find the Monster Files for this episode here.
The Big Questions for the episode is located here.
If you want to read a transcript of the episode, you may do so here.

Venture past the spoiler barrier. You know you want to.

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Partners in Crime, Review Post, Doctor Who

This is, at last, the Review for the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas Special - Voyage of the Damned. Whew! Here’s hoping that my computer doesn’t go all “Blue Screen of Death” again before I finish this. Growl! Anyway, this is the episode that featured Kylie Minogue, and what a fine job she did! I hope that she had all kinds of fun being on Doctor Who. This episode has finally aired in the US, so on with the review. To discover my slightly more structured opinion (than one usually finds on my Reaction Posts) on this episode, click past the spoiler barrier.

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Voyage of the Damned, Doctor Who

(Erik, my Evil Twin, Convention partner, and frequent commenter here, was kind enough to write a review of the two Doctor Who Comic Books that are out there now. I haven’t had a chance to read them yet, you see. All hail Erik! Enjoy.)

Our good Doctor has made his long awaited return to the world of comics in not one but two forms. Let’s take a look, shall we?

First, we have the original stories based upon the adventures of the 10th Doctor and Martha. These are written by Gary Russell who has written so much regarding the Doctor and his chums that if you don’t know who he is, look on your Who related bookshelf or Big Finish CDs. The first issue is a stand alone story with a foe familiar to fans of the new series popping in. It begins with a brief recap of the Time Lords for the uninitiated but quickly drops you into a story that is already in progress. This is a technique that I enjoy as it lets you know these characters have been living before you turn the first page, although it does sometimes create a little confusion on the first read (which could be the case here). He has a good grasp of the voices of the Doctor and Martha and I could easily hear them saying all their dialogue in my head. He is also able to fit the stories into a single issue without making them feel rushed or like you’re skipping over bits. The art by Nick Roche is also very good. It is caricaturist and unique, but also very sharp and you have no problem recognizing who is who and the panels are never boring to look at.

The second issue is also a stand alone story, but is also the beginning of a longer serial with a mysterious “Big Bad�? causing havoc. Both of the issues have scattered about nice little winks for us relating to the Doctor’s past, actors and even pop culture, but in a good way (as in fleeting references to “A Clockwork Orange�? and “Monty Python,�? not Paris Hilton and American Idol). This is also something I always enjoy, as if they are little Easter eggs left for those who will love them, but not getting in the way of those who won’t get them. Still, including the Bay City Rollers among the Best of British Pop, not so sure about that one…

The physical comics themselves are of superior quality. These are not the tissue paper covers and newsprint pages you remember as a kid. The covers are of good, stiff stock and the pages themselves are high quality, glossy paper. Another nice thing is, being as they are being released by an independent press (as in not DC or Marvel), there are no ads breaking up the story, they are all at the end of that issue’s adventures. This is something that makes me very happy. Sadly, they are a bit on the pricey side at $3.99 each. This may come as a shock to those of you who last remember buying a comic when they were $.25 and issue, but I must say, you do get quality for the price you are paying.

All in all, I highly recommend these to the seasoned Whovian as well as the newcomer or simply a fan of good comics. I do wish they had begun these earlier, though, so we could have had Rose involved. No offense, Martha, I love you to bits but…well…its Rose.

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Doctor Who, Comics

Here’s my review for the second episode of Torchwood Series 2. This was another strong one, complete with an excellent cast of supporting players. Oh, and explosions. What did you think of the episode? To see what I thought, just read on.

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Sleeper, Torchwood

Here’s my review for the first episode of Torchwood Series 2. Conveniently, this year they are showing the episodes in the US a mere two weeks behind those in the UK. Stand by. This is going to be a long one. I loved this episode. Let’s get started, shall we?

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Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Torchwood

Before the aired version of An Unearthly Child there was another pilot filmed. This one had a few differences. I remember reading the reason why they they made some changes and re-filmed the pilot episode, but I don’t actually remember that reason. Anyway, I will be reviewing this episode rather like the others, but I will note differences as I see them.

An Unearthly Child features The First Doctor as played by William Hartnell.

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An Unearthly Child, The First Doctor, William Hartnell

And now, my review of Part four of the Classic Doctor Who serial An Unearthly Child, which is known as The Firemaker. I will be reviewing each episode, rather than each story, as some of the classic stories are really long. This is the last of four parts of this first episode, so next week I will review (or rather, discuss) the pilot episode. Luckily, it is available on my DVD. I will try and note any differences.

An Unearthly Child features The First Doctor as played by William Hartnell.

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An Unearthly Child, Doctor Who, The Firemaker

And now, my review of Part three of the Classic Doctor Who serial An Unearthly Child, which is known as The Forest of Fear. I will be reviewing each episode, rather than each story, as some of the classic stories are really long. When I finish all four parts of this first episode, I will also review (or rather, discuss) the pilot episode. Luckily, it is available on my DVD. I will try and note any differences.

An Unearthly Child features The First Doctor as played by William Hartnell.

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An Unearthly Child, Doctor Who, The Forest of Fear

And now, my review of Part two of the Classic Doctor Who serial An Unearthly Child, which is known as The Cave of Skulls. I will be reviewing each episode, rather than each story, as some of the classic stories are really long. When I finish all four parts of this first episode, I will also review (or rather, discuss) the pilot episode. Luckily, it is available on my DVD. I will try and note any differences.

An Unearthly Child features The First Doctor as played by William Hartnell.

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An Unearthly Child, Doctor Who, The Cave of Skulls

Here at last is my first Classic Doctor Who episode review. I will be reviewing each episode, rather than each story, as some of those stories are really long. When I finish all four parts of this first episode, I will also review (or rather, discuss) the pilot episode. Luckily, it is available on my DVD. I will try and note any differences.

Back on November 23, 1963, Doctor Who first premiered. Unfortunately for the show, President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated the previous day, and this caused the episode to be pushed back a bit. In order to make things a bit easier on the folks who had been watching the news, instead of watching this new show, the first episode was re-run the following week. That must have worked out for them, as the show survived for quite a few years afterwards.

Okay then, let’s get started at the beginning with The First Doctor.

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An Unearthly Child, Doctor Who

This is a reference post to help provide easier access to all of the Doctor Who Series Three reviews. I am including The Runaway Bride in series three, as it occurred after Rose left. Links to all of the reviews appear in order below. Yes, this means that I have officially reviewed all of the new series episodes so far. I’m a bit surprised, to be honest. Er…Go Me!

Special: The Runaway Bride

1. Smith and Jones

2. The Shakespeare Code

3. Gridlock

4. Daleks in Manhattan

5. Evolution of the Daleks

6. The Lazarus Experiment

7. 42

8. Human Nature

9. The Family of Blood

10. Blink

11. Utopia

12. The Sound of Drums

13. Last of the Time Lords

At last, here is my review of Smith and Jones. I know it’s a wee bit overdue, but then this is also my fourth attempt to finish it. Fourth time’s the charm? (Seriously, it’s taken me four tries to finish this for some reason.) In any case, this episode contains the introduction of Martha Jones to Doctor Who. We’ve seen the end of series three a week ago (in the US anyway) and now here is the review of the beginning.

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Smith and Jones, Martha Jones, Doctor Who

Well, folks, that’s all the Doctor Who until Christmas. What did you think of series three? What did you think of The Master’s love of music? If you would like to see a really well done fan music video that includes the musical scene from this episode set to Scissor Sister’s “I Can’t Decide” - go here. Did anyone else watching this episode on the SciFi Channel experience the episode freezing during a commercial at some point in the last 15 minutes of the show?

For the record, I should be continuing with reviews of Torchwood, Sarah Jane, and Classic Doctor Who Eps until the show starts up again next year. Next week I will finally review Smith and Jones, as I somehow missed reviewing it back at the beginning of the series.

Well, enough chatter. On to the review!

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Last of the Time Lords, Doctor Who, Scissor Sister, I Can’t Decide, Torchwood