Top 25 TV Shows: Part 5

My list of the Top 25 TV Shows of All-Time continues with five more entries! If you missed my previous parts, click here for Part 1, here for Part 2, here for Part 3, and here for Part 4.

5: Firefly

Firefly is the definition of shiny (awesome in Firefly lingo). Joss Whedon is the king of making lovable and believable characters, and Firefly is a shining example of his skill in writing an ensemble cast. Almost everything about Firefly is perfect and endlessly quotable. It is one of the few shows that I could re-watch. Unfortunately, (or fortunately for Marvel and The Avengers), Firefly was cancelled after one brilliant season. Despite being cancelled, if you enjoy science fiction or well written characters, Firefly is wholeheartedly recommended to pretty much anyone.

Watch on: Netflix, Amazon Prime

4: Sherlock

With season 4 of Sherlock set to arrive.... whenever Steven Moffat bloody well feels like it, there is no better time than the present to catch up with the modern reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes. Despite the series' relative brevity, basically ten 90 minute TV movies, BBC's Sherlock is an absolute must watch. Benedict Cumberbatch is a brilliant Holmes and Martin Freeman is, by far, my favorite John Watson put to screen. Equally balancing characterization, humor, and each mystery, Sherlock elevates the TV mystery genre to new heights, and being so short, you have absolutely no reason not to watch this brilliant and witty adventure.

Watch on: Netflix

Seasons: 3

Episodes: 9

Runtime: 90 mins

3: Daredevil

Daredevil introduced viewers to Matthew Murdock, a lawyer trying to help the little people in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen along with his friend Foggy Nelson. And during the nights, Matthew tries to clean of the streets of Hell’s Kitchen as Daredevil. Marvel not only proved that they deliver the best comic book films, but also the best comic book television series. Season 1 of Daredevil established the character and presented a darker, more violent side of the Marvel Universe, without losing the core aspects that make Marvel adaptations truly great. Season 2 raised the stakes, introduced riveting new characters, like The Punisher, and continued the character development of Mat and the supporting cast. In many regards, Daredevil stands right next to the MCU’s best films. Every episode is an experience that has me glued to the screen from beginning to end. It is worth $9.99 Netflix subscription fee just for Daredevil, so do yourself a favor and watch it.
Watch on: Netflix

2: Doctor Who

Deciding what should be number one is SO DIFFICULT! On one hand, Breaking Bad is a complete masterpiece of television with the most consistently high quality writing through 62 episodes. On the other, Doctor Who is a continuously changing adventure with some episodes being absolutely brilliant and inventive, while others fail. While Doctor Who might be my “favorite” television series for fueling my love of science fiction for over half my life, Breaking Bad ultimately takes the top spot due to Doctor Who containing entire seasons that are disappointing, despite my love of the series. 

Doctor Who is certainly weird. It’s cheesy sometimes, especially the early seasons. However, if you give the series a chance, Doctor Who is an incredibly inventive series. The time-and-space-traveling aspect produces so many fun adventures, unique creatures, and episodes that standalone as an engrossing experience. “Blink” is a stunning piece of gothic horror and possibly my favorite episode of any television series. Many other episodes fascinated and intrigued me. Doctor Who is a large part of my love for time-travel, and while a few other works execute time-travel better, Doctor Who’s creativity and sheer fun is among the best. If you are up for something different, give Doctor Who a try.

Watch on: Amazon Prime

1: Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is the greatest television series of all-time. Sure, this might be the most clichéd top pick, but hear me out. When watching Breaking Bad for the first time over the course of a month late last year, my expectations were somewhat, albeit cautious. How could something that LITERALLY everyone claims to be the “BEST THING EVER” actually be the BEST THING EVER? 

Season 1 started slow and setup an interesting narrative. Season 2 meandered just a tad in the middle, but still balanced the humor, character development, and plot twists skillfully. Then, Season 3 happened. Each episode left me on the edge-of-my-seat. Plot twists left and right. Would Walter and Jesse get caught? Where could the story go next!? Season 4 capped off Season 3’s exceptional story arc with some of the most exciting twists in television. Season 5 brought things to a riveting conclusion, and while arguably not quite as perfect as the previous two seasons, still surpasses just about any other television series. So yeah, Breaking Bad is the best television series of all-time for so many reasons. Nothing is perfect, especially television series with their wide margin for dips in quality, but Breaking Bad does every single thing right and more than surpassed expectations. Breaking Bad is a once in generation type of experience, and while that sounds like hyperbole, I have yet to see a television that even comes close to its quality. If any television deserves the title of “Best,” Breaking Bad certainly deserves it, so, if you are old enough and can handle mature content, watch Breaking Bad.

Watch on: Netflix

Are any of these your favorites? What do you think of my final list? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who New Companion: Pearl Mackie

The Doctor has a new companion, Bill, played by Pearl Mackie, who is known for well, almost nothing actually. She played in a film titled, Svengali, and in one episode the TV series, Doctors, neither of which I have seen, and she has done some stage work. Basically, she is a complete newcomer, which is usually good. In addition to the announcement, a clip was released of Bill and the Doctor running from Dalek. And here's the problem..... The clip makes Bill kind of obnoxious. Honestly, the blame probably shouldn't go to Mackie, but rather the script writer, presumably Moffat, for that dialogue. Of course, this is only a short clip, and I like to keep an open mind, so we will just have to wait and see. What do you think of the new companion? Please comment below and let me know. 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who News: Moffat Leaving and Series 10 Delayed?

Steven Moffat is leaving Doctor Who after 2017! And there will be almost no new Doctor Who until 2017?

A few days ago, big news about Doctor Who was dropped; some good, some bad, but all interesting. First, Doctor Who will not return with a new season (series) until Spring 2017, with only a Christmas special at the end of 2016. The following is a quote by BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore about the reasoning behind the delay of Doctor Who: “I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in Spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 - I promise it will be worth the wait!”

Honestly, this reason sounds like BS. This barely answers why we have to wait, but who knows. Regardless, that's what is happening, so no new Doctor Who until Christmas of this year.

On the good news side, Steven Moffat is leaving as showrunner after the 2017 season! Moffat might have written some of the best episodes of Doctor Who, such as "Blink" and "The Girl in the Fireplace." However, his convoluted style of storytelling may have worked for a few seasons, but it is getting old. He seems unable to come up with enough new ideas, especially in the season finales, so I, for one, am glad to get new blood into the mix! Maybe he can devote his effort to the always exceptional Sherlock!

In Moffat's place, Chris Chibnall will take over as the showrunner. Chibnall is known for being the creator of the popular Broadchurch series starring David Tennant. If you are interested, definitely watch the first season and forget that there is a second season, because it is barely worth watching. Chibnall's other credits include episodes for Life on Mars, Torchwood, Law & Order: UK, and even Doctor Who. The following are the Doctor Who episodes and web-shorts he has written:

• "42" (2007)
• "The Hungry Earth" / "Cold Blood" (2010)
• Pond Life (2012)
• "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" (2012)
• "The Power of Three" (2012)
• "P.S." (2012)

Honestly, I do not remember "42" at all. "The Hungry Earth" / "Cold Blood," "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship," and "The Power of Three" were all rather mediocre episodes, and far from the quality Doctor Who should be. Pond Life is the short webseries about Amy and Rory, and "P.S." is basically a deleted scene from "The Angels Take Manhattan" released online. Overall, his work on Doctor Who is rather unimpressive. However, Broadchurch's first season is brilliant, so I have high hopes that Chris Chibnall will finally bring something new to the Doctor Who franchise.

Lastly, Peter Capaldi is rumored to be leaving the series after season 9 to give the series a fresh start with Chibnall at the helm. While it might seem a little too soon for Capaldi to be leaving the series, the previous actors only stayed onboard for 3 seasons, plus specials, and considering that 2016 is basically an off-year, Capaldi's tenure would be about as long as the others. With that said, Capaldi showed his true potential last season, and if he were given stronger scripts that fit his style, instead of Moffat's often clashing tone, Capaldi could truly shine in the role. With that said, Moffat started with a new Doctor and the same will likely be true for Chibnall (wow, I am going to have to get used to spelling that name, haha). Fingers crossed for the extremely unlikely choice of Idris Elba as the Thirteenth Doctor!

Overall, while Doctor Who being delayed is disappointing, Moffat leaving is a more than welcome change, because we desperately need something new and fresh!

What are your thoughts on the Doctor Who news? Please comment below and let me know!

Source: IGN.com

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 10 Movie Memorabilia

What film fan doesn't want some Movie Memorabilia to hang on their wall or display in their geek-den? And today I made my dream wish-list of movie memorabilia! My only rule in making this list is the prop can't be huge, like the Millennium Falcon, but of a practical display size, such as the size of a full body costume or smaller. Otherwise, anything goes!

The topic of today's article is definitely thanks to Invaluable.com, who contacted me with the idea for this post. Invaluable.com is the place to find must-have collectibles and one of a kind pieces; new memorabilia and movie props is being added almost daily to their website, and they boast an entire section dedicated to Star Wars! If you want to check out some movie memorabilia, as well as various others things, definitely check them out.

Now, let's get this list started! And the list is not in any order.

Darth Vader Costume

At the top of my most-wanted Movie Memorabilia list is the Darth Vader costume worn by David Prowse in Star Wars (1977). While finding a place to display it would not be easy, it is the costume of one of my favorite characters in all film, and one of the most imposing and iconic costumes in the history of film. 

The One Ring

There were various props of differing sizes that were used for the One Ring during the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, the one I would want is the version that is used during the close up shots with the actors. Even more specifically, the one dropped into Mount Doom.

Indiana Jones' Hat and Whip

Ever since I was a kid watching the Indiana Jones films, I have wanted the hat and whip used by Harrison Ford during Raiders of the Lost Ark. Other than Lightsabers, no other movie prop defines my childhood like Indy’s Hat and Whip!

Neo's Sunglasses from the Matrix

Aside from the trench coats and guns, there are few props directly associated with the Matrix except one thing: the sunglasses. The Matrix's sunglasses might be impractical in the real world, but Neo's sunglasses would make an excellent display piece!

Iron Man's Arc Reactor

Iron Man is not a film with many smaller recognizable props. However, the first Arc Reactor created by Tony Stark to escape from the terrorists is unforgettable piece from the film that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

R2-D2 and BB-8

With the exception of Lightsabers, there are few things in Star Wars more iconic than the droids! And R2-D2 is easily the most iconic droid from the film. Who doesn't love this plucky-willed droid? And now BB-8 from The Force Awakens is sure to become yet another iconic droid in the Star Wars franchise. Both of the props used for the droids would make excellent pieces in any collection.

Captain America's Shield

Captain America has been my favorite superhero since childhood, and what superhero movie prop is more recognizable than his Shield? While many props are made for the shield, the heavier one used during close ups, held by Chris Evans, is the one I'm sure anyone would prefer.

Han's DL-44 Blaster

A classic weapon from my favorite character of all-time, Han's DL-44 Blaster is a must for a Star Wars fan like myself. In fact, you can read more about it from Invaluable.com, specifically the one used in the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

The Tenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver

While the TARDIS from any of the seasons would be cool, who has room for a large blue box? Instead, David Tennant's Sonic Screwdriver, my favorite one from the franchise, is the ultimate piece of Whovian memorabilia!

Anakin and Luke's Lightsaber

Lightsabers are one of, if not, the most iconic props in the Star Wars franchise. And no other Lightsaber would make a better collector's item than the very first Lightsaber seen during the original Star Wars. But of course, any of the Lightsabers from the Original Trilogy, or Kylo Ren's Lightsaber from the Force Awakens, are at the top of my list.

What movie memorabilia are at the top of your wish-list? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: "The Husbands of River Song" Review

Doctor Who returns for its annual Christmas special with "The Husbands of River Song." 

River Song is a divisive character. Some hate the character, while others love her. Personally, she is not a favorite of mine. Her introductory episode, "Silence in the Library" is still one of my favorites, but the more she is used, the more annoying she became. She might be the wife of the Doctor, but there was rarely any chemistry and their timeline grew more and more convoluted as well. Thankfully, "The Husbands of River Song" gives us River's best episode since "Silence in the Library."

*Spoilers*

As soon as River meets the Doctor, there is instant chemistry between Capaldi and Kingston, even though River, as a character, does not realize the that he is the Doctor. For the first time, River actually feels like a fleshed out character with flaws and not just an annoying plot device. She tells the Doctor of how she views him, not knowing that she is, in fact, talking to the Doctor. Throughout the episode, her banter creates more character development than she has had during the entire series thus far. With that said, River is not a great character now, but when a character goes from being an utter annoyance to not half bad, that’s rather impressive.

Moving on to the plot, the concept of River stealing a diamond from Hydroflax's served head, which is connected to a mechanical body, is fun. The entire episode plays out like a comical farce that moves River and the Doctor from one crazy predicament to the next. While the episode is certainly comical, scenes featuring British comedian, Matt Lucas as Nardole, and some of Hydroflax's scenes come off as unintentionally cheesy and miss the mark. 

Thankfully, the comedic failures are made up for with a pleasant finale, and hopefully, final, send off to River Song with excellent chemistry between the leads. However, considering Moffat's apparent love of the character, we will probably see her again. But if this is the end, the character has never been better, especially considering how troublesome the character has been in past seasons.

Overall: 8.1/10- Easily River Song's finest episode in years, "The Husbands of River Song" demonstrates Capaldi's acting prowess and fleshes out River, despite some comedic failings. Overall, this was a strong Christmas episode to end a very solid year of Doctor Who.

Episode Reviews:

• "Under the Lake"
• "The Witch's Familiar"
• "The Magician's Apprentice"
• "Before the Flood"
• "The Girl Who Died"
• "The Woman Who Lived"
• "The Zygon Invasion"
• "The Zygon Inversion"
• "Sleep No More"
• "Face the Raven"
• "Heaven Sent"
• "Hell Bent"

Other Reviews:

• Child of the 70s Review

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: "Hell Bent" Review

Series 9 of Doctor Who comes to an end with "Hell Bent," which might be Moffat's strongest finale yet.

Ever since Steven Moffat has taken the helm, Doctor Who finales are rarely the strongest episode of the season. Even someone who has overall enjoyed Moffat's run as head creator, I must admit that his finales are convoluted. At first, epic finales like the two-parter "The Pandorica Opens" and "The Big Bang" were a ton of fun, but after trying to be more and more convoluted as the series continued, the finales became less interesting compared to the individual episodes. Thankfully, "Hell Bent" fixed that trend with a finale that is one of the highlights of a very consistent season.

*Spoilers Ahead*

If you read my review of the previous episode, "Heaven Sent," you maybe remember that due to a DVR malfunction, I never got to see the final 25 minutes of this episode. Thankfully, after a while, BBC America uploaded the episode for viewing and thus why this review is so late. Also expect the Christmas special review soon too.

Getting back to "Hell Bent," the episode opened where we left off in "Heaven Sent" with the Doctor on Gallifrey after escaping the torturous Confession Dial trap. After essentially making the entire military turn against the Time Lord President, Rassilon, which was an excellent scene, the Doctor uses the Time Lords' technology to bring back Clara from the split second before she died. Typically, this type of move is the thing that has made Moffat's run annoying at times. Thankfully, it was executed well for a change. Clara is extracted and the Doctor runs away with her to a random TARDIS, which features the interior that was used during the first Doctor Who season more than 50 years ago.

After escaping the Time Lords, the Doctor meets "Me" at the end of time. While Maisie Williams as Ashildr/Me has been a disappointment this season, she was much improved this episode as she provided a unique angle on the situation. However, where were the other immortals? And if an alien medpack is all it takes to make a human live forever, you would think someone else would have figured that out already. Seriously, immortality is way too easy, especially if she survives until the end of time! With that aside, the finale leading up to final moments were rather excellent.

"Face the Raven" did not give us a true goodbye to Clara, and thankfully, "Hell Bent" gave us the much needed closure between the characters. Clara and the Doctor's relationship is one of the highlights of the past season and even though the episode made us think that Clara lost her memory, the twist that Doctor forgot was brilliant. At first, it is almost like erasing his character development throughout the last two seasons, but as explained during the episode, the Doctor still remembers many things, just not Clara herself. Near the end, there is a saddening scene at the end in the dinner as the Doctor plays Clara's theme from the soundtrack and Clara asks if the Doctor remembers her, which reveals that the Doctor's memories are lost, not Clara's. Clara then leaves with Me in a TARDIS, which could be the start a spinoff or not; there are always rumor. As a whole, Clara's sendoff is a fitting one, and one that is on par with any of the previous companions from recent years. 

Overall: 9.0/10- Still flawed in some ways, "Hell Bent" is an impressive finale with emotional weight, more logic than the typical Moffat finale, and a serious and superbly acted send off to an excellent companion. 

Episode Reviews:

• "Under the Lake"
• "The Witch's Familiar"
• "The Magician's Apprentice"
• "Before the Flood"
• "The Girl Who Died"
• "The Woman Who Lived"
• "The Zygon Invasion"
• "The Zygon Inversion"
• "Sleep No More"
• "Face the Raven"
• "Heaven Sent"

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: "Heaven Sent" Review

"Heaven Sent," a true challenge for the Doctor!

*Spoilers Ahead*

Peter Capaldi is an excellent actor, and his take on the Doctor has its own strengths and weaknesses, like any actor to play the role. While his run has lacked many instant classic episodes thus far, "Heaven Sent" is the type of episode that only Peter Capaldi could possibly pull off, just like how Smith could pull off the more zany adventures or Tennant with, well, basically anything. 

Revolving around the Doctor being trapped on a mysterious castle on an unknown planet, the episode puts the Doctor to the test. He is pushed to the limit of his wit and ingenuity, as he attempts to escape the castle and figure out how and why this he is there. 

"Heaven Sent" relies heavily on Capaldi's performance. With the exception of a brief Jenna Coleman cameo and that child at the end, Capaldi is the only actor with any lines. The script is heavy on internal monologue and the despair of his situation. The gravity and weight of the episode plays well to Capaldi's strengths. After Clara's death, he is angry, yet he's the Doctor; he keeps his cool and figures things out. That is what he does!

Yet another strong aspect is the character development, or rather exposition. The Doctor must face his truths, and stop lying to himself, which is the only way to stop the Veil creature. The Doctor is truly tested, and using the TARDIS and blackboard to explain his thoughts to the audience is an excellent concept, reminiscent of Sherlock's Mind Palace. 

Towards the end, when the Doctor figures everything out, we get a montage of the Doctor punching his way through the way through the wall over the course of four billion years! While the aspect of the Doctor dying and resetting himself with the teleporter is a bit too easy in a sense, since he is more or less cloning himself, the concept is fascinating, and pulled far better than much of Moffat’s “Because Space Magic” plot devices.

Thus far, it seems the main point of criticism is that the episode is slow, and potentially boring. While certain parts are admittedly slower, "Heaven Sent" is a nice change of pace. It is darker, without losing a bit of wit, and actually tests the Doctor more so than any challenge Twelve has yet to face. Granted, stories where the character must figure out how to escape an impossible situation with his or her mind is my cup of tea. 

After finally making his way through, we discover that he is trapped inside his Time Lord Confession Dial, which confused me, since it is suppose to be a thing that helps Time Lords accept their fate. As an bit of retrospective info after watching the next episode, the reason the Confession Dial trapped the Doctor in a endless cycle of torment was so that the Time Lords could discover the information about the "Hybrid," which explains why the Confession Dial was used in that way. 

Overall: 9.3/10- Capitalizing on Capaldi's strengths, "Heaven Sent" presents a truly unique challenge for the Doctor, making it one of the highlights of Capaldi's run as the Doctor.

Note: Due to a DVR malfunction, the last 25 minutes of the finale episode, "Hell Sent," did not record, which means I have not seen it. The episode doesn't air again on BBC America, and it is not on any official websites that I can find. If anyone knows how I can watch the final episode, please let me know. I will be very grateful.

Episode Reviews:

• "Under the Lake"
• "The Witch's Familiar"
• "The Magician's Apprentice"
• "Before the Flood"
• "The Girl Who Died"
• "The Woman Who Lived"
• "The Zygon Invasion"
• "The Zygon Inversion"
• "Sleep No More"
• "Face the Raven"

Other Reviews:

• Child of the 70s Review

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who Series 9 Finale Tonight

The Series (aka Season) finale Doctor Who airs later tonight! And while my review of last week's episode is not up yet, expect reviews for both it and the finale later next week. Aside from noting that the finale is tonight, I want to briefly discuss the series' popularity, or lack thereof. At least in this part of the fanbase, Series 9 is severely lacking in popularity. Very few people are reviewing each episode, and there is a lack of general discussion. According to fellow reviewer, Child of the 70s, in the UK, Doctor Who aired at different times. However, that does not explain the lack of US fans. My guess is that Capaldi is just not nearly as popular as Smith, although the series itself has been strong every episode, yet rarely more than "very good," but I will leave my thoughts on the season as a whole for another day. Are you still watching Doctor Who? What do you think? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: "Face the Raven" Review

"Face the Raven," a surprising episode of Doctor Who

*Spoilers Ahead*

"Face the Raven" opens like any other Doctor Who adventure with Clara and the Doctor returning to the TARDIS after an exciting romp across the galaxy with witty dialogue to make a joke of whatever situation they were just in. Then Rigsy, from the episode "Flatline" from last season, which remains, by far, the best episode of Capaldi's turn as the Doctor, calls Clara and asks about a tattoo that counts down.

To find out what happened to Rigsy, Clara and the Doctor help retrace his steps, which leads to a fun sequence of the trio walking through the streets of London to find a "trap street." The sequence is rather well filmed with fun energy to it, and Gold's score is particularly different than his norm, which is refreshing. 

After finding the trap street, the Doctor yet again encounters Ashildr, who is the mayor of an alien refugee camp full of creatures from the series' past. However, a holographic program is used to make it look more like a slum from the early 20th century, which creates an interesting atmosphere, except for the fact that the set really looks like a set, but that's a minor complaint and a possibly intentional one.

The plot really picks up when the Doctor and Clara discover that Rigsy was setup so that the Doctor would come to the street. Ashildr set the trap all along and now Clara swapped the Raven death mark with Rigsy.  

Shockingly, Clara dies, or at least appears to die. Here's the thing; Clara has been a great and charming companion, and yet her death felt lacking. As a bonafide "Spoiler-Phobe," I did not read any articles about when Coleman was leaving the series, so "Face the Raven" quickly turning from another fun Doctor Who romp to the end of a likable companion was unexpected. Sure, I knew that this would be her last season, but I did not expect this to happen until later. However, the biggest reason for the lack of impact is that Moffat is notorious for bringing characters back from the dead, and the Doctor and his companion are always in danger, and he usually manages to fix things. So, I expected the Doctor to save the day like he always does, and yet he did not. Usually, a companion's sendoff feels a little more final, even if the entire season built up to this, especially in the Moffat era. So, maybe part of the lack of impact is my own fault, but maybe she is not actually dead. Who even knows at this point, except for the writers and potentially reporters. Either way, I rather wait to see for myself. And despite the problems, the speech by Clara is really rather moving and impeccably acted. 

Overall: 8.5/10- Despite being a little underwhelming considering the consequences, "Face the Raven" is yet another solid episode of Doctor Who, although it could have been a classic with more emotional impact.

Episode Reviews:

• "Under the Lake"
• "The Witch's Familiar"
• "The Magician's Apprentice"
• "Before the Flood"
• "The Girl Who Died"
• "The Woman Who Lived"
• "The Zygon Invasion"
• "The Zygon Inversion"
• "Sleep No More"

Other Reviews:

• Child of the 70s Review

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: "Sleep No More" Review

Doctor Who finally succumbs to the found-footage genre in "Sleep No More."

*Spoilers Ahead*

"Sleep No More" opens in a unique fashion as the audience is shown, what is essentially, "Found-Footage" narrated by a man named Rassmussen. Assuming that everyone reading has seen the episode, let's move on from the summary. 

This week's monsters are the "Sandmen," creatures that come from the "sleep dust" that builds up in your eyes every night. How exactly the Sandmen came from the Morpheus sleep pod is vague. Does that imply that if a comatose patient never had his or her eyes wiped, the sleep dust would turn into a monster? Or did the machine create lifeforms that feed off of the "sleep"? Regardless, the reason for the monsters is a bit on the absurd side; however, they are creepy and deliver the thrills. 

This is the first time in franchise history that an episode opened with a title card like this.

Capaldi and Coleman do not seem to have much to do this episode. But, usual, they are excellent together. The episode's supporting cast of characters was decent, albeit not exactly memorable. The idea of Indo-Japan is an interesting one, and "the Great Catastrophe" is said to refer to what happened in Season 21 serial "Frontios." The concept of Morpheus is also an interesting one, and while the reasoning behind the creatures is vague, exploring the concept of a society that does not have to sleep is fascinating.

Director, Justin Molotnikov, does a fine job at using the found-footage style to create a unique and creepy Doctor Who adventure. Certain moments would have benefited from a higher degree of tension, but what we got was good enough. The atmosphere of the episode is another highlight as it reminded me of the disturbing Bioshock video game series with its use of the "Mr. Sandman" song. 

My only issue is that the episode is also related to one of its strongest aspects. It is revealed that the footage the audience is viewing can be accessed by the Doctor, and we discover that there are no helmet cameras. In fact, the footage is coming from people's eyes of those that used Morpheus, as well as the dust floating in the air. If I am not mistaken, there is at least one shot where we see from the Doctor's perspective, and he said that should be not necessarily possible. Of course, I could be mistaken, but it was strange. Otherwise, the concept of footage being available to characters in the story is a fun twist on the norm.

In the end, it turns out Rassmussen is actually recording this entire adventure to spread the Morpheus signal across the galaxy. The final scene with Rassmussen falling apart into sand is brilliantly executed and incredibly creepy. Series 9 has been lacking truly creepy moments, and at least this episode delivered one of those. Unfortunately, the ending is a bit of a mess as it makes little sense.

One thing that confuses me is how or even if, the next episode is the second half of the story. Every story is said to be two-parters, but this one left on a strange note, so we will have to see how the episodes tie together.

Overall: 7.5/10- Utilizing a found-footage style that is new to the franchise, "Sleep No More" tells a unique story, albeit it one riddled with confusing moments. 

Episode Reviews:

• "Under the Lake"
• "The Witch's Familiar"
• "The Magician's Apprentice"
• "Before the Flood"
• "The Girl Who Died"
• "The Woman Who Lived"
• "The Zygon Invasion"
• "The Zygon Inversion"

Other Reviews:

• Child of the 70s Review

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: "The Zygon Inversion" Review

"The Zygon Inversion" concludes the Zygon two-parter...

*Spoilers Ahead*

Honestly, the first 30 minutes of "The Zygon Inversion" is relatively forgettable. Aside from the fun chemistry between Osgood and the Doctor and Clara’s excellent scene, it ultimately just a series of plot points to move the characters into position for the final act without much impact.

After Osgood's introduction, many wanted to see her as the new companion, and while I did not see it then, I certainly see it now, because Ingrid Oliver is quite good as Osgood. She is witty yet seems intelligent and knowledgeable. Even though I doubt she will become a permanent companion, there should at least be one story where she accompanies the Doctor on his travels. Actually, if you consider the previous story, people turning down the Doctor’s invitation to join him is becoming a trend, which leads me to believe that it will impact Clara's eventual departure. How will it impact it? Only the writers know. 

Ultimately, the entire story is about the final speech by the Doctor as he tries to "talk down" either party from starting a war that would kill millions. The speech, while grandiose, seems to lose focus at points. However, as whole, it is a rather impressive speech with gravity thanks to Capaldi's excellent performance.

What impressed me more than anything was Jenna Coleman's performance as the Zygon because it exceptional. Coleman even played off of herself with such a convincing difference between the two performances that I forgot that the entire scene is ultimately Coleman talking to herself. She truly impressed during the entire performance; excellent work! Maybe she will have the chance to play a villain in some other TV show or movie.

Even though it is a one-off line, the Doctor's name is "Basil." Really? That's his name. After more than 50 years of secrecy, we learn his is Basil. Is the Doctor lying or is that really his name. If so, it was said in the most nonchalant way possible. But honestly, it probably is not his name. I wonder if it is a callback to Basil Rathbone, notable for playing Sherlock Holmes in the 30s and early 40s. 

Despite being an above average episode, and the only "Part-Two" to be definitely better than part-one this season, "The Zygon Inversion" only had four points of interest, the speech, Osgood, the Doctor's name, and Coleman's performance. Other than that, there is not much else to talk about.

Overall: 7.9/10- Thanks to several strong performances and a memorable speech by the Doctor, The Zygon Inversion makes up for the lackluster first part, even if the overall product is still less than amazing.

Episode Reviews:

• "Under the Lake"
• "The Witch's Familiar"
• "The Magician's Apprentice"
• "Before the Flood"
• "The Girl Who Died"
• "The Woman Who Lived"
• "The Zygon Invasion"

Other Reviews:

• Child of the 70s Review

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