Chris Chibnall certainly succeeded in writing a memorable finale for Series 12 of Doctor Who. Unfortunately I will not remember it for good reasons. I will remember begging “The Timeless Children” to end, checking the time every couple minutes, and the extreme feeling of exhaustion I had upon finishing it.
Cyber Wars and Cyber Wars: Doctor Who’s “Ascension of the Cybermen”
Last season’s finale, “The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos”, was one of the worst episodes of post-2005 Doctor Who. Not because it was offensively bad, but because it was completely forgettable. This season, Chris Chibnall instead tried to create big, memorable moments in every story. In “Ascension of the Cybermen”, Chibnall and director Jamie Magnus…
Doctor Who, Villa Diodati, and the Haunting of Gallifrey One
I usually watch new Doctor Who stories in the quiet comfort of my bedroom on Sunday afternoons, but I will happily watch Doctor Who with a crowd whenever given the chance. “The Haunting of Villa Diodati,” written by Maxine Alderton and directed by Emma Sullivan, was the most recent occasion and one of the most…
Doctor Who is Good, Actually, in “Praxeus”
This week’s Doctor Who, “Praxeus,” was the polar opposite of last week’s “Fugitive of the Judoon.” Pete McTighe and Chris Chibnall don’t seek to change all of history or all of Doctor Who. Instead, they deliver a damn good standalone story packed with mystery, action, romance, and an actual resolution.
Doctor Who Promises Greatness in “Fugitive of the Judoon”
Some UK and international viewers were frustrated recently when American broadcasts of Doctor Who came with a trailer for the second half of Series 12 that wasn’t shown on air in the UK. This week’s episode was an internationally broadcast full-length coming soon trailer, less of a story and more a handful of reveals and…
Doctor Who Challenges Viewers in “Orphan 55”
I couldn’t remember anything about Ed Hime’s first Doctor Who story, “It Takes You Away,” and I knew nothing going into his second, “Orphan 55.” Orphan 55 is a scary action-packed Doctor Who tale that delivers an unsubtle but important message about climate change.
Marco Polo Is Back and WWAC Is Watching and Roundtabling!
After the first season of Marco Polo, Wendy and I talked at length about it and agreed it was a show we both loved. Now with the second season available on Netflix, the WWAC crew gathered to voice our opinions on the first three episodes. It’s a new season! What are your general thoughts of…
Orphan Black: Back to the Beginning – 3 Takes on the Season 4 Premiere
Orphan Black returns for season four by taking viewers to a place we did not expect: the past. The episode opened by throwing us right into the mystery that started it all, but from a whole new angle and through the eyes of a brand new clone, and the clone who started us down this rabbit…
Street Fights and Civil Wars: Previewing Daredevil Season Two
(This piece contains major spoilers for season one and some thematic spoilers for season two of Daredevil, as well as some thematic discussion of the Captain America: Civil War trailer and of Frank Castle/The Punisher’s role in Marvel Comics. I’ve attempted to avoid any spoilers that deal with the specifics of major plot points, with…
Stay Weird: Goodbye, Gravity Falls
We all knew this day would come, but we didn’t think it would come so soon. It’s the end of an era in cartoons. Gravity Falls is over.
Review: X-Files Revival, Episodes 1 and 2
Despite Ginnis’ lack of cable, Kate and Gin finally got the chance to discuss what they have been waiting for ever since it was first announced: The X-Files revival.
Onward and Upward: The Magicians’ Rocky Start, and Where the Show Can Go From Here
I got my heart’s desire, and there my troubles began. A pessimistic start to the first book in The Magicians series by Lev Grossman, you might say. We want things, claims the narrative, and we will continue to want them even as we learn that they will destroy us. Showcase’s TV adaptation mirrors that desire a little…
