Showing posts with label Cold War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cold War. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Rings of the Cold War Taxi Driver of Akhaten

It's another mixed up title made out of other titles. That must mean there are reviews ahead. That must also mean that there's a spoiler warning a comin' too...

SPOILER WARNING

If you have not seen the most recent episodes of Supernatural and Doctor Who, please leave the blog and come back later. The following reviews contain spoilers for "The Rings of Akhaten," "Cold War," and "Taxi Driver."

Doctor Who - "The Rings of Akhaten" - Review

While I was watching the episode, I liked it. I was rather shocked by the planet becoming the Great Pumpkin's evil twin, but I liked the rest. I thought it was a nice change to have just a small portion of the universe in trouble instead of the entire universe. I thought the main thrust of the story, Merry Gejelh (that is some funky spelling there), was cute and another nice change from adults running around with their hands in the air. The story was not as dark as some of the previous ones, which also made a nice change.

I also quite liked the backstory we got on Clara's parents. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Also painted a picture of The Doctor as a stalker, but there you go.

I would say more, but I don't really want to pick apart this episode. I liked it. I probably won't be watching it again soon, though. It was nice, simple, romp.

Doctor Who - "Cold War" - Review

I loved this episode. Loved it, loved it, loved it. The story was well put-together, the scares were fun, and the character development was wonderful. I thought Clara's reactions to things were very realistic, even if she was a tad over-eager in parts. My favorite bit was when she discovered the TARDIS Translation Matrix... which they actually called the correct thing this time. I'm pretty sure it was called a Translation Circuit last time... or else I'm getting it mixed up with the Chameleon Circuit...

Anyway... I really enjoyed getting to properly see an Ice Warrior for the first time. I'd seen bits of some of the Classic Who episodes they appeared in, but I'm not sure I fully appreciated them then. I thought Skaldak was pretty brilliant. I thought it was clever how he used his armor as a misdirection, though I'm unsure why it opened when Clara touched it... also, Skaldak was kind of impatient when he sent out his distress beacon. I know there wouldn't have been much of a story if he hadn't been impatient, but still.

I was fairly sure some of the older Whovians were going to get upset about a) Skaldak coming out of his armor and b) seeing an Ice Warrior without the armor. I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to my podcasts and found they were actually quite positive about it. I'm very happy about that.

I've already see "Cold War" twice and I might revisit it again in the near future. Meantime, I can't wait for this weekend and the next episode.

Supernatrual - "Taxi Driver" - Review

Funny story, when Dean said he buried Benny, I heard "married." Man, that was a weird couple of seconds while I was reeling in shock. Luckily, the next thing out of Dean's mouth was "but I didn't burn his bones." Gah! My brain is weird.

Anyway, nothing new was really set up or revealed here. We got some more of Kevin freaking out. He's now apparently cracked, as evidenced by the lack of glass on the floor. We got to see Benny again and witness his parting... twice. We got Bobby back for a bit, which was sort of fun. I enjoyed that he clocked Sam first thing, even if he did think Sam was a demon.

Of course last on my list is talking about Crowley and Naomi. Crowley's his usual awesomely evil self. His motives are at least crystal clear. Naomi, on the other hand, is a bureaucrat who doesn't like to be called a bureaucrat. I still don't like her at all. I'm glad Dean didn't fall for her BS and he doesn't even know about her "Danger Room" of Dean corpses. Also, doing one good thing for someone doesn't automatically mean you can be trusted. If anything, it means you can't, especially if you've been shifty for all the time they've known you.

I especially enjoyed the scene with Crowley and Naomi together. There's gotta be some interesting history there. Mark Shepard and Amanda Tapping have such great chemistry on screen, it makes me want to ship Crowley and Naomi... ya know, if I were to ship anyone.

Overall, I liked the episode. It's nice to have actual plot rather than filler for once.

Housekeeping

Apparently, Neopets previewed something from the Obelisk opening that said "SOON" on it. Not sure what's going on there, but I'll keep you posted.

Tomorrow... I don't know. I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Love ya, Jessie. love0052 Free Emoticons   Love

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Doctor Who - Cold War - Secondary Reactions

Okay so... I was babysitting my nephew again this evening. He was being very fussy and upset through the last half hour of Doctor Who. Luckily for me, BBC America shows the episode twice. As I'm typing this, I'm waiting for the second airing so I can give you my reactions as I watch.

SPOILER WARNING

If you have not seen tonight's episode of Doctor Who, please leave the blog and come back later. The following Secondary Reactions contain spoilers.

Doctor Who - "Cold War" - Secondary Reactions

  • Awesome CG ice shot
  • The captain has a very large hat
  • This was a little freaky the first time around, until that guy started singing and then it was weird.
  • I don't like that guy. He's the usual military idiot who's too messed up about his own crap to do the smart thing.
  • And this kid's an idiot who really ought to listen to the people in charge of him.
  • Still in love with the opening.
  • Oh dude, the music has a bit of funky old flair in it. I like it.
  • Flashbacks to "The Waters of Mars."
  • Fail, Doctor. Stop promising people warm places and then putting them somewhere cold.
  • You're an idiot, First Mate Guy.
  • Why does he have a Barbie?! That is not explained.
  • Bye bye, TARDIS.
  • I do quite love how the Ice Warrior sounds like the Basalisk from Harry Potter.
  • The funky light made the Ice Warrior look sparkly there for a moment.
  • Here's where I thought The Doctor might have met Skaldak in his third or fourth incarnation. Don't know if that happened or not, I haven't actually seen those episodes.
  • His chin does not match the CG chin he has later.
  • Clara looks good in that jacket.
  • Except there had to be time to explain them to people.
  • How are they enemy agents?
  • Lol, and she's quick to realize there's weirdness with the language.
  • I like how they didn't give the actors Russian accents.
  • Dude, the captain didn't prod him with the cattle prod! Some guy who probably wasn't there to hear the "don't attack him" bit prodded him.
  • So it's Clara. This bit's funny.
  • "Oh yes, you can totally do that -- but no, no you can't. Not happening." - The Doctor's face.
  • She needed to find somewhere else to put the light.
  • Out goes the power...
  • That line's slightly funny, and yet brilliant.
  • Smart Clara is smart.
  • Ice Warrior armor opens like a Dalek.
  • I grinned at that, first time around.
  •  Futile door banging.
  • Really fast Ice Warrior.
  • That was kind of a sweet moment.
  • Dun dun dun.
  • Don't ever say that. Ever.
  • Lots of drippyness in this episode. It's amazing the sub hasn't filled up with water by now.
  • This is where the idiot gets it. Good riddance.
  • Creepy hands! They're like raptor hands.
  • That one dude kind of looks a little like David Tennant.
  • You're not a warrior, you're an idiot.
  • Yeah, because the alien's totally interested in winning a human war...
  • The conversation about time being in flux. Came much quicker with Clara than anyone else, I think.
  • Yay, Sonic! Why the Barbie!
  • Red Shirts.
  • I like the old guy.
  • Clara, Clara, Clara.
  • Sing with the old guy.
  • Back to the red shirts.
  • Of course she's not going to argue, she's not one of your other companions.
  • Hooray for slide-y floors.
  • No crap, really?
  • This part is amusing. All he wants to know is about Ultravox.
  • This is where Skaldak looks like a toad.
  • Grab some patience, Skaldak.
  • Of course the armor is robotic, at least in part.
  • Okay, those tendril things are weird.
  • Mars Martial Law. Why do people always attempt to impose their laws on others?
  • Red Light time.
  • Skaldak looks like a horny toad.
  • Tractor Beam!
  • See, a little patience, Skaldak.
  • He totally doesn't want to.
  • Yay!
  • Awkward Doctor is awkward.
  • I'm so glad they didn't kiss just then. The older Who fans would have bitched about it FOREVER.
  • He's allowed.
  • The H.A.N.S. lol.
  • Of course it's at the South Pole. That's just like her.
  • Love The Doctor's reaction to people laughing at him.

Housekeeping

I am planning to do reviews for last week's episode and this week's episode of Doctor Who tomorrow. At least, that's what I'm planning to do. There's shopping to be done so... I don't know.

Love ya, Jessie. love0052 Free Emoticons   Love