Singing Aloud

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Archive for the tag “doctor who”

British Shows that I Adore

The British have introduced us to some great television – The Office anyone? I’m a fan of many of their shows that I’ve managed to see on Netflix (thank you Netflix streaming!). Here’s just a few gems:

Doctor Who
I dedicated an entire post about my top ten favourites, and it’s hard to believe that  when I started the first series I kept thinking I wouldn’t last the entire thing. But, a few things happened and well, by the time David Tennant became the Doctor I was hooked!

Doctor Who follows a time traveling alien (The Doctor) who travels back and forth through time – usually with a human companion – and often finds himself saving some planet or helping someone in distress. It’s a very smart show, and I love the continuity through-out. The writers do a wonderful job on all the episodes. I particularly like the ones set in the past, where the doctor assists historical figures; and the way the episodes always seem to fit with history. It’s smartly written with just enough corniness to not be taken seriously, this makes the show endearing.

Torchwood
I suppose you can call this a spin-off from Doctor Who. Captain Jack Harkness is featured numerous times in the series. Torchwood is a secret organization; a group of human who deal with aliens on earth. I guess it’s a bit X-files like in that sense, and it’s definitely more serious than Doctor Who, but there is still that corniness to it that makes it endearing. I haven’t caught up with the current series, but I hope to do that sometime this year.

Sherlock
A recent love, great writers, actors, story … all around lovely. Sherlock puts the world’s greatest detective into a modern day setting. There is really nothing I can say but, excellent, excellent retelling. The actors have great chemistry on screen, the writers did a great job translating a well loved story to modern times.

The IT Crowd
This comedy is about two IT guys, their relationship manager and the shenanigans that they get themselves into. I’ve finished the episodes on Netflix, but every now and then I watch it for a good laugh. It’s a bit of dry humour, not entirely geeky or nerdy so anyone can get it (I think). However, I can see its appeal to the side of me that worked at a computer lab in college… Oh the stories.

Monday Monday
The only drama that I watched (I just can’t get into Downton Abbey), it’s finished I believe, but it was good while it lasted. A bit of a laugh, a bit of office drama. I absolutely love the fact that it was short and to the point. I’m not really into the long, drawn out dramas, especially since I can only take so much, so this was the perfect one for me.

Marple
I love a newer version of Miss Marple. Geraldine McEwan does a great job as a Miss Marple, I really enjoy this entire series. Agatha Christie is a favourite of mine, so I’m glad that I finally found a version of it for TV that I enjoy so much. It appeals to my mystery-loving side. =)

Well … that’s all there is – for now! If you know of any shows similar to these, definitely let me know, I’m always looking for good, new shows.

Window Shopping on Think Geek

One of my favourite geeky stores is Think Geek. They carry a lot of cute things… this post highlights some of my favourites.

I have mono! I need bookworm and the common cold to complete my cute little microbes collection.

I have the Sonic Screwdriver pen (which has two inks! Just like the Doctor has two hearts). I’m also loving the journal and mini screwdriver pen and the Keep Clam products – especially the “Dont Blink” one. Weeping Angels episodes anyone?

They also have Harry Potter things, like this Tom Riddle diary with wand pen. I’ve also got my eyes on the Gryffindor long sleeve t-shirt (even though I got sorted into Ravenclaw).

They also have some very cool jewelry. Steampunk, vintage, some really fun stuff.

Think Geek is the place I love to geek out in. I’m sure if they had a physical store I’d probably be there just as much as I’d be in the bookstores. =)

TEN Favourite Doctor Who Episodes

“Don’t worry, I’m The Doctor.”

It’s not a secret, I’m a Doctor Who fan. I initially started watching because it was streaming on Netflix and a lot of folks on my twitter feed were talking about it. Originally, it was a little on the corny side (it still is at times) but, I can’t deny that it has gotten under my skin. The show is creative genius and I absolutely love the Doctor! I’ve narrowed down the long list of episodes to my top ten favourites. If you want an idea of the show, watch these. Did I mention that it’s streaming on Netflix1?

Tooth and Claw

The Story: The Doctor and Rose end up meeting Queen Victoria on the Scottish moors. They all take refuge at Torchwood Estate, unaware that it has been taken over by some monks and … wait for it … a werewolf! The monks plan on infecting the queen and creating an “Empire of the Wolf”.

Why I love it:

  • The scene in the library, “You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world! This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have – arm yourselves!”
  • The brave lady of the house who refuses to cower at the threat in her home. The head-strong Queen Victoria. The beginning of Torchwood.
  • “We are not amused.” (»)

The Girl in the Fire Place

The Story: The TARDIS lands on a spaceship that seems abandoned. However, the spaceship seems to be stalking a certain young girl, Reinette, through her fireplace. The girl turns out to be Madame de Pompadour and the aliens – humanoid forms that seem to be made up of gears – want her brain.

Why I love it:

  • Steampunk! The aliens in this episode are reminiscent of clockwork machines.
  • The dresses! The masquerade!
  • Plucky Reinette! (»)

Love & Monsters

The Story: Elton Pope is a fan of the Doctor and this episode is told via his video blog. He met a group of people who had all seen The Doctor and they became quick friends. They are all hanging out, having a great time until Victor Kennedy shows up. Throw in a body sucking alien, some funny chase sequences and you have a memorable episode.

Why I love it:

  • To be honest, I loved this one because the feel of the episode was a bit like Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.
  • “The truth is, the world is so much stranger than that, so much darker and so much madder … and so much better” (»)

Blink

The Story: The Doctor isn’t featured a lot in this one, but what is featured are the Weeping Angels, an alien race that look like stone angel statues that move only when they aren’t being watched. Not a problem, as long as you don’t blink.

Why I love it:

  • I’ll never be able to look at angel statues the same way again.
  • The creation of the instruction video. I love alternate time lines.(»)

Voyage of the Damned

The Story: Imagine if the Titanic was a space ship that took alien creatures to orbit earth and observe our ways?

Why I love it: 

  • Space ship Titanic
  • Loved the companion on this episode, too bad she wasn’t on more! (»)

The Unicorn and The Wasp

The Story: Take the Doctor, Donna Noble (one of my favourite companions), add Agatha Christie, an alien bug and a jewel thief called The Unicorn and you get a fantastic literary episode.

Why I love it:

  • A murder mystery dinner party.
  • “I’m British, I carry on.”
  • “Yeah but think about it. There’s a murder, a mystery, and Agatha Christie.” Enough said! (»)

Silence in the Library

The Story: This is the first of a two-part story. The Doctor gets a distress call to a planet that looks like a giant library. The place seemed desserted and we soon learn that River Song made the call for the Doctor. So much happens in this episode – the shadow monster, meeting River Song, the library’s connected to the imagination of a little girl. A complex intertwining of alternate universes proceeds.

Why I love it:

  • Stay out of the shadows!
  • Giant library with everything ever written inside. (»)

Amy’s Choice

The Story: Amy, the Doctor and Rory are trapped in a two universes where Amy gets to decide which world is real and which is a dream. If they die in the dream they will wake up in the real universe.

Why I love it: 

  • The first episode that really sold me on Amy and Rory being companions of the Doctor.
  • It’s a bit of a tear jerker, and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. (»)

The Pandorica Opens

The Story: Based on Pandora’s  Box, the Pandorica is believed to hold the  worse prisoners of the universe. This begins a two part story that concludes in The Big Bang - which I particularly loved. This also completes the cracks in the universe arc which I thought was fascinating.

Why I love it:

  • Closure to the cracks in the universe
  • The last centurion! (»)

The Impossible Astronaut

The Story: The Doctor invites his companions to witness his death. It sounds like I’m spoiling it, but to be quite honest this episode made the entire sixth series pretty much amazing. The finale and how it tied into this episode was genius. I’ll leave it at that.

Why I love it: 

  • Sets you up to get your mind blown at the series finale.
  • Makes you want to view the entire series when you reach the finale. (»)

——————————————

1 The top ten from the first six series (starting with the ninth doctor)
notes: images taken from bbc.co.uk/doctorwho and screen shots from episodes

Doctor What? Doctor Who?

In an attempt to catch up with Doctor Who, I have been watching it on and off on NetFlix since May.

I checked the tweets I had during my Series 1 Episode 1, I was obviously not impressed:

Cheesy opening montage? Check! #DWS1E1

Not with the show and not with Jackie Tyler:

OMG this mother …. This woman …wow #DWS1E1

Or the dialogue:

I can suspend belief but this is so corny. This dialogue …. This …. #DWS1E1

I was impressed with TARDIS though … like all other humans seem to be:

“The inside’s bigger than the outside?” This TARDIS scene is unbelievable. #DWS1E1

Though, not impressed with Mickey

Also, Rose’s boyfriend is whimpy. #DWS1E1

However, the more I kept watching, the more my tweets changed and well …

I really like the historical settings for the Doctor Who episodes. Especially when we get to meet famous people from history.

I even found an episode that I could call my favourite …

I think this steampunk episode of Doctor Who is my favourite.

Well, a few actually, like this …

Enid Blyton mention! I think I might have found my fave Doctor Who episode yet! #Doctorwho

and this …

I wish I had a library as big as the on on Doctor Who: tumblr.com/xzi47kdxl1

Let’s just say I’m officially a Whovian.

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