Category: Television

Doctor Who, Dinosaurs and Unexpected Aliens

SPOILER WARNING

 

THIS REVIEW AND OP/ED REVEALS KEY PLOT POINTS FROM THE LATEST DOCTOR WHO EPISODE

 

SERIOUSLY

 

HERE IT COMES

 

courtesy SFX.co.uk and BBC

  I loved Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. Who wouldn’t? It’s DINOSAURS – ON A SPACESHIP!

  A massive ship heading for Earth. A military leader orders the Doctor to investigate and stop it or they will nuke it. The Time Lord assembles Amy, Rory, an English big game hunter named John Riddell and the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. It’s pure coincidence that the Queen is on board but she becomes a key ingredient of the plot later. Rory’s dad Brian is accidentally brought along for the ride.

The motley crew lands on an abandoned spaceship with nothing but cobwebs and dinosaurs roaming wild on board. The team soon learns it’s a Silurian ark taking the reptilian race, their flora and fauna in search of a new world. The Doctor, Rory and his dad encounter the villain (played by a veteran of the Harry Potter films) who killed the sleeping Silurians in order to steal and sell the dinosaurs.

This is a perfect episode for new Whovians and to have Rory’s dad as the ‘everyman’ baffled then marveling at outrageous weirdness that is Doctor Who. This story shows that at the center of the most twisted sci-fi tale is heart. Brian learns to appreciate the nursing skills of Rory and a nice father/son bonding while under siege moment and to appreciate the love of a triceratops.   At the end I loved how Brian just wanted a quiet “above the Earth moment” before going home. Once we rejoin Amy and Rory we see how the once travel-shy Brian is a changed man. These scenes capture the spirit of watching Doctor Who and why we love it.

Op/Ed:

To borrow and twist a phrase from Obi-Wan, “these are not the aliens I was looking for.”

My first instinct was the Zygons were behind this flying ark of dinosaurs. The Zygons appeared way back in 1975 in the Tom Baker and Elizabeth Sladen era. Terror of the Zygons terrified me as a little kid. The Loch Ness Monster was actually a living weapon of the Zygons who were trying to conquer and colonize Earth. Nessie aka Skarasen may have not looked scary but those suction cup covered orange Zygons freaked me out as a kid. It was like an octobus, crab and lizard had been fused into a nightmarish new hybrid – Dr. Moreau seafood?

I loved the twist with the Silurians but I thought sure the Zygons were going to be behind a Jurassic attack on the planet. Maybe Steven Moffat will resurrect those nasty aliens who once plotted and schemed at the bottom of Loch Ness!

Here’s a fan made trailer for the classic episode on YouTube. Watch for the Zygon after Sarah Jane Smith!

 

By Editor

Green Arrow, Wonder Woman Date Night On The CW?

Could The CW become the destination for DC heroes? Producers of the upcoming Arrow television series express support for a potential Wonder Woman series on the same network. The CW, Warner Brothers and DC Comics are reported to be developing a script called Amazon. Allan Heinberg is working on an origin script.

  Arrow producers say they welcome another hero on The CW.

“It harkens back to the years of my childhood where you had The Six Million Dollar Man and Wonder Woman and all these superhero-like genre shows all on the dial and all you had to do was change the channel,” Arrow Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I think there’s totally room for both shows. It would be fun to share a night with them; the CW programs two hours a night and that’d be a pretty kick-ass night of television.”

Andrew Kreisberg points out the focus of Arrow and how it will differ from Smallville or a potential Wonder Woman series..

“Our show definitely takes place in a much more realistic world,” Kreisberg adds “There’s no superpowers, superheroes and aliens. With Wonder Woman, Diana of Themyscira, there are superpowers. I don’t foresee crossovers but one of the great things about superheroes is that they’re constantly being reimagined. There’s the Adam West and Christopher Nolan versions of Batman and one doesn’t obviate the other. The Lynda Carter version was great and now the CW is hopefully developing another wonderful version that will be a nice compliment to Arrow.”

Producers will introduce villainess China White (played by Kelly Hu aka Lady Deathstrike of X2: X-Men United) and Huntress (played by Jessica De Gow) as a potential love interest for Oliver Queen.

Arrow debuts October 10th.

By Editor

Op/Ed: When I was a kid there were live action superheroes all over television! Wonder Woman, Six Million Dollar Man, Bionic Woman in prime time. Batman and Robin afterschool and Shazam and Isis on Saturday mornings!

I have to raise issue with comparing Lynda Carter to Adam West in terms of their portrayals. Lynda Carter was physical and emotional perfection as Diana. While the series had camp moments – Carter was a Wonder and did justice to the Amazon!

By Editor

Doctor Who Annual 2012 Preview

courtesy IDW Publishing

An all-star lineup of creators will pay tribute to the Eleventh Doctor in an all-new Doctor Who Annual 2012 from IDW Publishing out this week. This oversize issues includes three stories.

While Matt Smith will say goodbye to Amy and Rory on the television series, writer Tony Lee is leaving the Doctor Who franchise with this Annual. The writer has helmed series, one-shots, miniseries and even the current crossover between the Time Lord and the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

“It’s an escape story,” Lee tells Comic Book Resources of his final story, “The Doctor willingly enters 1962 Alcatraz to rescue a friend after he learns of his death in a riot. It’s ‘Escape From Alcatraz‘ with timey-wimey fun and shimmer-suited aliens thrown in. And a familiar face or two. I wanted to do something ‘big’ in my 11 pages, rather than have people just sitting at a table talking to each other. I like the running, jumping, climbing trees school of Doctor Who.”

The all-star creative team includes legendary comics writer Len Wein, Dr. Who novelist Richard Dinnick, artists Matthew Dow Smith and Mitch Gerads.

Andy Diggle and Mark Buckingham will be the creative team on a new series spinning out of the annual which includes a prelude of their upcoming story.

By Editor

Doctor Who & Star Trek Crossover: Alliances Shatter

Cybermen and Borg attacking Federation planets. Doctor Who, Amy and Rory on board the U.S.S. Enterprise. IDW’s out of this world sci-fi crossover takes some surprising twists in this week’s new chapter.

 

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 courtesy IDW Publishing

The writers have been playing with the Doctor’s memories. How did he recognize Worf as a Klingon when he’s never met a Klingon? Last issue the Doctor flashed back to his encounter with Kirk and Spock back in a previous life (the fourth Doctor – Tom Baker.)

In this week’s  Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 the Time Lord meets the mysterious Guinan. Tipton, Tipton and Lee capture both characters perfectly. This IS how the Doctor and Guinan would act if they met. Both characters can sense the flow of time and when things are abnormal.

 

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 courtesy IDW Publishing

Something is definitely not right in the galaxy. The Cybermen/Borg alliance is not what it appears. The conflict takes a wicked turn giving the Federation an unlikely ally. The stage is set for a Captain Picard and Doctor Who showdown.

I’m really enjoying this series. The writers have nailed how these characters would really interact. The Doctor, Amy and Rory’s first time through a Starfleet transporter is classic. This issue delivers on character moments, action and humor. The friendly alliance between the Captain and the Doctor may be taking a twist in coming issues. I’m engaged.

By Editor

 

By Editor

 

ABC Greenlights SHIELD TV Pilot by Joss Whedon

Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill in Marvel’s The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com

  ABC has ordered a pilot for a live-action television series from Marvel’s The Avengers writer-producer Joss Whedon according to Deadline. Whedon will co-write and possibly direct!

  S.H.I.E.L.D. is the peacekeeping organization run by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as seen in Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers. The pilot will be written by Whedon, his brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) were agents of SHIELD.

  Can we get Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) out of her contract and in this show?! I love Maria Hill!

  Here are links to some of my favorite SHIELD stories you might enjoy: Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD by Jim Steranko, Nick Fury vs. SHIELD by Bob Harras, Secret War by Brian Michael Bendis and The Ultimates: Ultimate Collection by Mark Millar.  Here’s a link to Marvel’s The Avengers on Blu Ray.

By Editor

Top 5 Comic Book Picks 8/29/12 Doctor Who, Star Trek, AvX, and That Super Kiss!

AvX Vs. #5 One of Marvel’s most iconic power couples is shattered. See the extended battle that led to the breakup of Storm and the Black Panther. Plus, Hawkeye takes aim at Angel. Two huge fights from the Avengers vs. X-Men mega series in this “all fights” series.

Captain Marvel #3 Carol is trapped in World War II with a team of female pilots under siege. Is this time twisting part of a NASA experiment gone wrong?

Justice League #12 Superman and Wonder Woman in love! Have you seen the super kiss? There’s more to romance in this action packed issue as the heroes are tested while fighting their new foe.

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #4 courtesy IDW Publishing

Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who Assimilation2 #3  The Borg and Cybermen are attacking the Federation. Why an alliance of the Time Lord and Captain Picard may be more dangerous than the CyberBorg. What will Guinan reveal to the Doctor?

Winter Soldier #9 Marvel’s hottest superspies and lovers turned against each other. Black Widow’s tragic past has taken hold of her. Can Bucky save her?

By Editor

 

Star Trek Legend & NASA’s Mohawk Guy: An Out of This World Ballet?

 UPDATE: PNB is offering ComicsBlend fans a 10 percent discount to this event. Here’s the link. See you there?

image courtesy pnb.org

 Original Story: Star Trek, NASA and Ballet? Only in Seattle – I love this geeky cool town I proudly call home! 

  Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) and Curiosity Mars rover flight director Bobak Ferdowski aka “Mohawk Guy” are special guests at a futuristic space extravaganza with dance, music, video and song.

  Celebrate Seattle is September 16th at Pacific Northwest Ballet celebrating PNB’s 40th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair – when the Space Needle and Seattle aimed for the stars and ushered in the Space Age!

  The Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra takes the spotlight with dancers, video flashbacks, and special guest appearances for a double anniversary salute to PNB, the Seattle World’s Fair, and NASA’s race to outer space.

  This one-of-a-kind performance includes:

  • PNB Orchestra performances of Silvestre’s Back to the Future, Holst’s Saturn & Jupiter, Dvorak’s Song to the Moon & selections from Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite
  • Apollo pas de deux  and Circus Polka starring Artistic Director Peter Boal as the Ringmaster
  • Astronaut Cady Coleman
  • NASA’s Mars Curiosity landing film
  • Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols, introduced by June Lockhart of Lost in Space
  • Curiosity Mars rover flight director Bobak Ferdowsi (aka “Mohawk Guy”)
  • Video histories of  Pacific Northwest Ballet and the building of the Seattle World’s Fair
  • Angry Birds at the Seattle Center

  I’ll be there celebrating the past, present and future and cheering for science fiction, fact and this unique culture combination! To learn more and for tickets visit pnb.org.

Some Seattle creative minds created this salute to Bobak and the Mars Curiosity team and here’s the link to see it.

By Editor

THOR 2 Cast New Villain

Kurse image courtesy Marvel.com

  Adewale Akinnouoye-Agbaje is joining the Thor sequel according to Variety. The actor will play two villain roles in Thor: The Dark World: Algrim the Strong and Kurse.

  Algrim is one of the most powerful Dark Elves ordered by King Malekith (who will be played by Doctor Who veteran Christopher Eccleston) to kill Thor. Through a series of twists and turns Algrim becomes Kurse. Magic, magma and Algrim’s intense hatred of the Odinson transform the Elf.

  You may have seen the actor in The Bourne Identity and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra but LOST devotees like myself loved him as Mr. Eko.

Kat Dennings (Two Broke Girls) will reprise her role as the science intern Darcy and will have an expanded role according to Deadline.

By Editor