Josie’s Best of 2009

If I just did a Best Shows of 2009 list, it would be Lost all the way down. I love it, I obsess about it, I theorize and ponder and squeal with every new episode. All else pales in comparison.

But there were some other, non-Lost moments on TV in 2009, and so I offer a highly personal and impressionist list of Best TV Stuff. (And yes, I know that “Best” means just one. But I don’t want to play favorites, so a few of these are ties.)


Best Show: Lost

Best Episode:
1. The Incident
2. The Incident (it deserves both spots)

Best Lines:
1. “Bloop” (Hurley, Lost, The Lie)
2. “Chuck me” (Casey, Chuck, Chuck vs. the Ring)

Best Actor/Actress:
1. Michael Emerson
2. Jorge Garcia
3. Elizabeth Mitchell
[4. Edited to add Enver Gojak--how could I forget him?]

Best Guest Star:
1. Scott Bakula on Chuck
2. The Man in Black on Lost

Best Score:
1. Fringe
2. Lost

Best Soundtrack:
1. Chuck
2. Glee

Best Surprise Couple:
1. Sawyer and Juliet (Lost)
2. Sayid and Ben (Lost)

Best Action Sequence: Gimme Some Truth (FlashForward)

Best Hand-to-Hand Combat: Sawyer and Jack (Lost, The Incident)

Best Sight Gag: Astrid and Walter in the tinfoil hats (Fringe, Of Human Action)

Best Sex Scene: Chuck and Sara (Chuck, Chuck vs. the Colonel)

Best (I certainly hope it isn’t a) Death Scene: Juliet (Lost, The Incident)

Best Surprise: The Vampire Diaries aren’t awful once you get past the first few episodes.

Best Canceled Show: The Unusuals and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (I’m not counting Dollhouse, since it will run a few more episodes on 2010)

Most Improved: Dollhouse (and TTSCC, too—it got really great at the end)

Worst Series Finale: Battlestar Galactica

Worst Pilot I Actually Bothered to Watch: The Forgotten

Stuff I Watched and Loved in 2009, even though it aired earlier: I finally watched Rome in 2009, and loved it. I really enjoyed the first season of True Blood, and I’m excited for the next season to come out on DVD. I’ve started watching Supernatural, and it’s pretty good so far (I’m still on Season One).

Best Book: Stephen King, Under the Dome

(Screencap courtesy of fringefiles.com. Thanks, guys!)

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Serena's Top 9 of '09

Since 9 is my lucky number (my bday is 09-09), it seemed appropos to post my Top 9's of '09. I've got not one, but FIVE lists for you!

• Top 9 Glee Songs
• Top 9 Glee Moments/Quotes
• Top 9 Sue Sylvester Quotes
• 9 Jaw-Droppingly Good TV Moments
  
• 9 So-Bad-Its-Pointless Disappointments
  

Enjoy!

Top 9 Glee Songs:

9. "Defying Gravity" - Rachel and Kurt, 1.9 Wheels
8. "Poison" - Acafellas, 1.3 Acafellas
7. "Sweet Caroline" - Puck, 1.8 Mash Up
6. "Imagine" - Mercedes, Artie and Deaf Kids, 1.11 Hairology
5. "Proud Mary" - Tina, Mercedes and Artie, 1.9 Wheels
4. "Don't Rain On My Parade" - Rachel, 1.13 Sectionals
3. "Halo/Walking on Sunshine" and "It's My Life/Confessions" - Boys v. Girls, 1.6 Vitamin D
2. "Rehab" - Vocal Adrenaline, 1.1 Pilot
1. "Don't Stop Believin'" - Rachel, Finn and Crew, 1.1 Pilot

Top 9 Glee Moments/Quotes

9. The Mattress Commercial. As I said, one of the best performances on Glee so far, right up there with "Rehab" and "Don't Stop Believin'". I love it when the mattress store owner jumps! [1.12 Mattress]

8. Boys v. Girls Mashups. Ok, already mentioned in my Top 9 Songs, but Rachel and Finn on speed still crack me up. I listen to the mashups so much that when I heard "Halo" the other day, I got confused when it didn't cut over to "Walking On Sunshine". [1.6 Vitamin D]

7. Kurt: "Oh Bambi, I cried so hard when those hunters shot your mommy." [1.5 The Rhodes Not Taken]

6. Slushee Stalking. That opening scene with Kurt in a transparent pea coat and Mercedes screeching, "My weave!" is just awesome. [1.8 Mashup]

5. Ken Tanaka: "I had a monster case of athlete's foot a couple of years ago and got all my toenails removed. So if she steps on my feet during the dance, I might pass out." [1.8 Mashup]

4. Puck: "It was a message from God - Rachel was a hot Jew and the good lord wanted me to get into her pants." [1.8 Mashup]

3. Celibacy Club Motto: "It's all about the teasing, and not about the pleasing." [1.2 Showmance]

2. Rachel (when caught trying to throw up): "I tried, I guess I don't have the gag reflex."
Emma: "One day when you're older, that will turn into an advantage." [1.2 Showmance]

1. Josh Groban: "Josh Groban loves a blowsy alcoholic." [1.3 Acafellas]

Top 9 Sue Sylvester Quotes

9. "I'll often yell at homeless people 'Hey, how's that homelessness working out for you? Give not being homeless a try!'"

8. "If I have a pregnant girl doing a handspring into a double layout, the judges aren't going to be admiring her impeccable form, they're going to be wondering if the centrifugal force is going to make the baby's head start crowning."

7. "You're too busy chasing tail and loading your hair with enormous amounts of product! I mean, today it just looks like you put lard in it."

6. "All I want is just one day a year where I'm not visually assaulted by uglies or fatties."

5. "You sunk my battleship, Rod, and you sunk it hard."

4. "In fact, I like minorities so much, I'm thinking about moving to California to become one."

3. "When I heard Sandy wanted to write himself into a scene as Queen Cleopatra, I was aroused, then furious."

2. The Journal!

1. "Santana. Brittany. Wheels. Gay kid. Asian. Other Asian. Aretha, and Shaft."

9 Jaw-Droppingly Good TV Moments:

9. House and the Mental Hospital. So far, the season isn't nearly as good as previous ones - I think I like House better when he was unabashedly mean (and funny), Foreteen is a bore, wtf is up with Cuddy and Lucas, and what happened to Chase's fabulous hair??? But I cannot deny that the season premiere episodes, when House is stuck in the mental hospital, are some of the finest moments of the show. Stark, grim, hopeless, and gray, the hospital (and the episodes) seemed like another world, another show. Someone needs to give Andre Braugher a permanent show - he is superb.

8. Lost - When Juliet detonates the bomb. Lost is always a funny show for me - I never watch it during the season, I'm not obsessed crazy, and I don't try to figure things out ahead of time. Sometimes, it even feels like homework - I feel like I have to pay really careful attention, so that I don't miss a single, potentially important moment. But without question, last season's finale, ending with Juliet detonating the bomb, was one of the best pieces of television I've ever seen, and for once, I can't wait until the next season starts. Besides, the complexity of Juliet has forever ruined me from any other character Elizabeth Mitchell plays.

7. Chuck - "I know kung fu." I love Chuck with a vengeance - so much that I actually went to Subway during the "Save Chuck" campaign. And why wouldn't I? Season 2 was packed with great episodes, and awesome guest stars. (It's one of the few shows that actually use their guest stars as more than a plot stunt.) The good? Scott Bakula as Chuck's dad, Tricia Helfer sauntering in to Buy More as the stripper cop, Chevy Chase as evil Bill Gates, Sarah choosing Chuck over Bryce, just off the top of my head. The best? Chuck: "I know kung fu."

6. Battlestar Galactica - "The Oath" and "Blood on the Scales". Although the last 1/2 of the series was spotty, the double episodes "The Oath" and "Blood on the Scales" were good enough to make up for the entire season. We got a lethargic Starbuck back in bad-ass form, Lee out of his horrendous suit, and a glimpse of what made Bill Adama the Admiral he is today. This is Battlestar at its best: powerful, dramatic, and seat-of-your-pants gripping.

5. CSI. Yeah, yeah, I know. But there's a reason CSI made this particular list - a cheeky little episode that sent up sci-fi conventions, complete with BSG's Ellen and Boomer as guest stars. What cinched it was when a smarmy producer unveils his heavily anticipated remake of a cheesy sci-fi tv show - the male lead is overly sensitive and starts crying to show off his human weakness - and Ron Moore yells, "You suck!" Classic.

4. True Blood. Hot "I thought you were dead" sex. "Smite me, motherfucker!" Pam in a pink Chanel suit. And of course, Alexander Sarsgaard. I can't choose - could you?

3. Dollhouse, Season 2. If you'd told me this summer if Dollhouse would become one of my favorite shows, I'd have looked at you like you were wearing a paisley shirt with plaid pants. But the last 6 episodes that aired after Fox officially canceled the show have been frakking-un-believable.

With the addition of Daniel, Topher's redemption, Adele's downward spiral, and an even more sinister Dollhouse, this show is going out with more than just a bang. And the much-lambasted Eliza Dushku is giving one hell of a performance - we finally care about Echo and her past, and can see why she *is* something special.

The sad irony is that what makes the last episodes of Dollhouse so scary good - a heroine we root for, the action-packed plots, tight storytelling, characters with depth, and an intelligently crafted alternate universe - are the things even die-hard Whedon fans criticized the show for not having when it premiered. What a complete, 180 transformation. I'll be sad when it finally ends.

2. Glee - The Pilot. I tuned in because I'm a musical theatre geek; by the end of the Pilot, I was head over heels in love. Never before had there been a show like Glee, with its black humor, snarky satirization of high school, completely weird characters, and wonderfully inappropriate musical numbers. Like the McKinley kids, my jaw was on the floor after Vocal Adrenaline's performance of "Rehab" - without question, the best musical number of the show - but it was six misfits in red T-shirts, and their unbelievable rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'" that stole my heart.

1. Dexter - Season Finale. You'd think that Glee would be my number one show of the year. After all, I loved it so much that I forced myself down Billie's throat as a reviewer :-) But, wow - that ending. I was shocked, stunned, screaming at the tv, rushing onto Internet boards. Those last three minutes placed Dexter firmly at the top of my list this year.

It was an amazing ending to an amazing season - easily the best since the show's first season. John Lithgow better win an Emmy - never again will I be able to watch 3rd Rock from the Sun without getting the willies. I loved watching Dexter becoming more and more human, from his unexpected jealousy to uncharacteristically frantic chase of Trinity, out of fear for his family. And then - WHAM!

The ending shot was beautifully symmetrical, and opens the door for endless opportunities. For the last 4 seasons, we've seen Dexter slowly growing as a human being outside of his dark passenger; now that Trinity has killed his last tie to humanity, the regression will no doubt be swift and intense. Bravo to an outstanding season!

Honorable Mentions: I need to point out Victor from Dollhouse. Sure, he was incredible as the creepy serial killer let loose, and dead on as Topher #2. But it was his coed-at-a-club that I can't get out of my head. Absolutely brilliant!

9 So-Bad-Its-Pointless Disappointments:

9. The last few episodes of True Blood, Season 2. After a thrilling plotline with the Fellowship of the Sun, True Blood... just... lost... steam... A big part of it was the overly drawn out Maryanne story. Really, they should have spread the two plotlines evenly throughout the season, or focused on one after the other. Such a waste of Michelle Forbes, who is a fabulous actress, and seemed to be having so much fun with the role.

And uh, what was the point of the first 30 minutes of the Season 2 finale? I felt like I was watching people clean their house.

8. Heroes. Why isn't this show dead yet?

7. Fame, the movie. As everyone knows, I'm a die hard musical theatre geek, and the rising popularity of musicals and dance has my heart swelling. But Fame just plain sucked. Which in itself sucks, because one of the contestants from my favorite season of So You Think You Can Dance - Kherington - had a starring role.

6. So You Think You Can Dance. A bunch of must-see shows fell off my radar this year: Grey's Anatomy (too many cast members!), Gossip Girl (what happened to Blair's wardrobe??), for example. But the one which fell the furthest is SYTYCD, which went from being my complete obsession to not even on my TiVo list.

Up until this year, I couldn't get enough of it. I sought out all things SYTYCD - songs played on the show, the live tour, Tabitha and Napoleon's hip hop class, even watched Dancing with the Stars and some pretty bad dance movies out of loytalty to my dancers. But I think the turning point came in Season 5, when they cut Natalie inexplicably from Vegas try outs. The judges tried so hard to defend their decision that they kept referring to the Season 5 contestants as "the best dancers we've ever had", and I lost faith in their judgment.

Another nail in the coffin was Season 6. I initially loved the idea of having two rounds of SYTYCD per year, but one right after the other? It was too much. Even a 3 month break would have been better. But the judges were whizzing off from ranking Season 5 to Season 6 tryouts. I watched maybe one ep of Season 6, and I just took it off my TiVo.

5. V. Snore. Did I miss anything?

4. Terminator: Salvation. While not a bad movie, my expectation was sky high because of Christian Bale's presence. After all, he helped transformed the Batman franchise from a cheesy cariacature into a smart, dark tale of an antihero. Unfortunately, it was just another ho-hum action movie.

3. HawthoRNe. The only reason I even attempted to tune in is because I desperately needed my Michael Vartan fix. And hey, I've always liked Jada Pinkett Smith. But even Vartan's pretty face couldn't save this insipid mess - made all the worse because Showtime released their very own - and far superior - show around the same time, Nurse Jackie. Jada couldn't hold a candle next to the sharp, dysfunctional Edie Falco. After just one painful episode, Alexander Sarsgaard officially replaced Michael Vartan as The Love Of My Life.

2. Every other episode of Glee. *Sigh* I love this show, I really do. But I'm starting to think Glee is just a wee bit bipolar. It alternates weekly from frakking amazing to painfully disappointing. I feel like if you took every all the even numbered episodes, you'd have a near-perfect season.

I don't know, maybe it is because after a fantastic episode, I'm riding a high and have unrealistic expectations. But I've almost never watched a show where the quality vacillates so wildly from one extreme to the other - it's usually more of a trend, when a story arc, character development, or entire season goes bad. The only the exception is the last of half season of Battlestar Galactica. Which leads me to...

1. Battlestar Galactica - "No Exit" & "Daybreak". Jeez, people! I know you only have a handful of episodes to wrap up your epic story, but did you really need to have an entire hour of exposition to explain the Final 5 Cylons? Where is the fun of the reveal? It just felt like a completely cheap way of tying off one of the biggest, most fascinating mysteries in BSG history. Boo!

And the series finale. It's been months since I've seen it, and I just grow more and more disappointed every time I think about it. There were some clever moments in there, like at the end with Six and Gaius, but for the most part - huh? Let me count the ways in which it sucked: Starbuck. Bill abandoning his family. Ron Moore inserting himself at the end.

I know that a lot of shows start off great, and then slump in quality over the years until they are mercifully put out of their misery, but I did not expect this from BSG. Besides the fact that BSG is probably one of the most powerful, well written, intelligent, and well acted shows to ever grace the small screen, Moore had plenty of notice as to when the series was going to end. So he could have crafted a well thought out way to wrap up his masterpiece. Also, the first half of Season 4 wasn't bad at all. So, um, what happened?

Honorable Mention: Twilight-mania. Can someone explain to me why people find Edward Cullen swoon-worthy?

Happy 2010, everyone!
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Best of 2009 - Sandy's take (drnanamom)

My favourite shows of 2009 were Dollhouse, Supernatural, Glee, Castle and Lie to Me. Intelligent television is hard to come by but I think this year gave us some interesting plot lines, moral debates and just plain fun.

Dollhouse

Dollhouse is my number one favourite. I just can't get enough of Joss Whedon. He has strong female characters, works with fabulous actors and isn't afraid to deal with dark issues. But I think my favourite thing about his work is that for his last few forays I have watched just because it was his work and for the first little while spent some time going - what the hell? I really don't get what he is trying to do here (really a space western? really a house full of love slaves?) but I hang on because it is Joss Whedon. Then he blows me away with fabulous writing, great plot twists and illuminations on some of the most pertinent questions of life. Who can you really trust? Who is a good guy/bad guy? How do you go up against what appears to be absolute power, especially how do you do that and win? Oh and he does all this and manages to be amusing and clever. Of course it's been cancelled but he'll be back with something even more interesting.

Supernatural

I won't say much about Supernatural because I am sure that Billie and others will cover it very well. Let's just say it is some of the best TV out there for a long time. Soooooo wish it wasn't over this year.

Fun Stuff

Glee and Castle are my fluff tv. They are smart, sharp and a whole lot of fun. Who says that fluff can't be intelligent tv. They aren’t sci-fi which is my passion but a girl just likes to be entertained sometimes.

Lie to Me

Finally, my favourite new show this year is Lie to Me. I am going to say intelligent one more time - sorry you should never overuse words when writing but it’s a theme here. Tim Roth is outstanding as a man who detects lies for a living. It is the observation of human behaviour that I love here. I spent many years of my life as a social worker and this is our stock in trade - not detecting lies, we mostly don't care - but observing people to help them find the truth about themselves. Again this show deals with moral issues. Why do we lie? What would happen if we couldn't lie? How do we face our own truths? I think it will be around for a while.

Torchwood

Torchwood wasn't on my original list but as soon as I read Billie's choices I knew I had to add it. I agree it started a little slow and it was a bit on the dark side but I thought it was 5 nights of superb television. Again, it was dealing with huge moral questions. What would you do if you could save your loved ones even if it was immoral and an abuse of power? As a parent it was a very emotional experience. I doubt given the choice that I would sacrifice my children or grandchild. In a less personal way “Children of Earth” illustrated how easily society crumbles, how power and oppression work to exploit the weak and what vapid excuses are used to justify our choices.

The Not So Great

As I've said before I think we have been spoiled by the great shows, particularly sci-fi that we have had in recent years so I have little patience for TV that just doesn’t try hard enough. I have stopped watching Heroes, Fringe and am on the fence about Flash Forward. I don't mind convoluted plots, if we are actually going to get somewhere, or the writing is really good, or even the acting is great. I don’t have the patience to stumble around with the writers in the hopes of ending up somewhere good (unless they are Joss Whedon-see above.

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2009 Favorites -- Jess's Take

While not necessarily the best of what TV had to offer this year, here are the shows that I most looked forward to in 2009 and was least likely to let stack up on the DVR (in alphabetical order).


Battlestar Galactica. The back half of the final season largely couldn’t match what came before, and the finale did leave me vaguely disappointed, but the two-part mutiny episode was among the series’ best.

Burn Notice. Always a fun romp, with some surprising emotional turns. The second half of Season 2 was pretty engaging stuff (with fun guest turns by Tricia Helfer and Michael Shanks), and even though the first half of Season 3 felt a little adrift, the mid-season finale was fantastic and left me wanting more. My biggest surprise with the series this year: they somehow found a way to make me start liking Michael’s mother.

Chuck. An absolute treat every week. Funny and emotional with fantastic action and great guest stars. How can you not love a show that features ‘Mr. Roboto’ performed by “Sam Kinnison and an Indian lesbian” for impromptu wedding entertainment?

Friday Night Lights. Season 3 was right back in the emotional groove of Season 1, and even if some beats felt repetitive, the show still managed to move me. Plus, I just adore the relationship between Eric and Tami Taylor. Simply the best, most realistic portrayal of a loving marriage I've ever seen on television. Curse NBC for not airing Season 4 until next summer!

Glee. Sometimes a total mess, but one to which I eagerly looked forward every week. Capable of lifting my spirits on even the glummest day.

Lost. Season 5 took things to a whole new level by fully embracing the show's sci-fi core and taking us on a wild time-traveling ride. It made for a dizzying narrative at times, but the best of the season kept the heart of the show front and center --- the characters we’ve grown to love and hate.

Modern Family. A wonderful new comedy that mixes equal parts wackiness, snark, and heart. I still find myself smiling thinking about Cameron, dressed as Fizbo the Clown, forcing the jerky guy at the gas station to apologize to Mitchell: “I’m the ass-kicking clown that will twist you like a balloon animal. I will beat your head against this bumper until the airbags deploy. So apologize, to my boyfriend! Right! Now!” Followed by the wonderful little look of pride and pleasure on Mitchell’s face as they get back into the car and leave. Great stuff.

Supernatural. This year took the Brothers Winchester to even darker and more emotionally devastating territory and went so far as to unleash Lucifer and the Apocalypse. I can’t wait to see how this show wraps its five-year arc.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. At times, the back half of the second season became a little too inward focused, but it really ramped things up for the final run of episodes and went out on a high note.

Warehouse 13. A fun new series with quirky characters and bizzaro objects with mysterious powers. It missed the mark some weeks, but still a fun summer treat.

Honorable Mention – Stargate Universe. I wasn’t too sure about this one at first, but it managed to win me over with a more character-focused storytelling approach. It certainly has room for improvement (communication stones, be gone!), but by the mid-season break, we definitely found ourselves looking forward to this show each week in my household.

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My favorite TV of 2009

It's the end of the year, and year-end "best of" lists are cluttering up the internet. So I thought I'd add to the clutter. Here are my favorite television shows of 2009.

Supernatural

I'm probably getting repetitive in my praise for Supernatural, but it deserves it. It started out five years ago as a horror movie/urban legend/two-guys-in-a-muscle-car-fighting-monsters sort of thing, a bit derivative of Buffy and X-Files by way of Ghostbusters. Somewhere along the way, it turned into my favorite currently running show, with top-notch writing, a complex mythology and a darkly comic style. The turn to the biblical shouldn't have worked, but it did -- because of the clever way they did it. Supernatural just keeps surprising me. It's the highlight of my television week, and I'm dreading the possibility that this season might be its last... even while acknowledging that the heaven-and-hell brother-against-brother arc is obviously coming to a close, and the series should honor its accomplishment by going out on a creative high.

Lost

It's no secret that my chief love is science fiction. In season five, Lost finally took the plunge into real sci-fi with a time travel plot that rocked, and a finale that actually explained a lot of its core mysteries while leaving us with a cliffhanger to beat all cliffhangers. It was so explosive, pun intended, that it got me re-watching the entire series and seeing some of it in a whole new way; for months I've been posting my "re-watch" notes on Lost Reviews, and on my Lost page. The sixth and final season of Lost is, along with Supernatural, at the top of my 2010 must-see TV list.

Dexter

This fall, the producers of Dexter surprised us all with the best season since its superlative first, featuring a suspenseful and even controversial finale that may have just re-set the direction of the series. Yes, the subject matter can be upsetting for wusses like me, but the quality of the drama on Dexter is consistently excellent and the focus is always on the story and the characters, not the violence or gore (or frankly, I wouldn't be watching it). Dexter's sister Deb is probably my favorite female character on television, and Jennifer Carpenter deserves an Emmy for this season. And the brilliant Michael C. Hall has done the impossible: he's made me care about a serial killer. Dexter himself is probably the most complicated, alienated, fascinating character on television. I'm looking forward to season five next fall in a great big way, even while accepting that it's certain to freak me out.

Torchwood: Children of Earth

Torchwood has always spoken to me more than its iconic parent show, Doctor Who (although I enjoy both). I love the character of immortal, omnisexual Captain Jack Harkness, who saves the Earth from aliens while hitting on nearly everyone he meets. This summer, producer Russell T. Davies blew us away with an outstanding five-episode mini-series, Torchwood: Children of Earth. It's the best Torchwood they've ever done, dramatic science fiction at its best. An announcement about renewal is approaching. I don't know if they can ever improve on Children of Earth, but I'll be tuning into BBC America to find out.

Honorable mention

Dollhouse just aired a string of the best episodes of the series. I'm glad it got a second season and had a chance to fulfill its potential before it ends next month. Please, Joss Whedon -- don't give up on series television. Please.

Glee is consistently entertaining and so much fun to watch. I always look forward to seeing it, and I'm so pleased that it's a hit. Usually when I love something quirky, it is promptly canceled. Not this time.

I thought I'd had enough of the Stargate franchise, but apparently not. Stargate Universe has taken a leaf out of the Battlestar book: it's grittier, darker, more dramatic and a lot more unpredictable than the two previous series...eses, SG1 and Atlantis. It's been one of the highlights of 2009 for me, and I'm looking forward to its return in... why do we have to wait for April?

True Blood blew away the ratings this summer with a vampire story for adults featuring an offbeat blend of sex, humor and gore. Season two didn't do everything I wanted it to do, but it was, with only one exception, the best thing I saw on the tube this summer. (The exception was Torchwood: Children of Earth.) Alexander Skarsgard's Eric is my new favorite vampire, and season three can't come soon enough for me.

Enough, already

Battlestar Galactica was a milestone in science fiction and deserved every accolade it ever received... so I hate to say it, but I was ready for it to end. Yes, the finale was brilliant, and I agree with critics who say that it was impossible to end the series in a way that would satisfy all of the fans, but I was also disappointed; I couldn't help it. And I'm also sorry to say that I'm not looking forward to Caprica. I found the pilot pretentious and boring, impossible to relate to. I hope the series is better than the pilot, but I can feel myself not even wanting to try it. (Yes, I'll try it, mostly for Jane Espenson's sake.)

FlashForward started out (literally) with a bang, and then disappointed me by fizzling out. I think Josie was right on the money when she pointed out that FlashForward doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it a mystery, science fiction, a police procedural, a medical show, a love story? Actually, it's become a mish-mosh. I so wanted FlashForward to succeed, but it's already pretty much lost me. It'll have another chance to win me over in the spring, and I hope the show runner shuffling will improve it. But it may be too late.

Speaking of too late (yes, I'm going to bitch about Heroes and Smallville again) after a terrific first season of origin story, Heroes made the unfortunate error of screwing with their characters and not thinking through the story consequences of their plotlines. Even though this fall has been its best in a long time, I just can't get excited about Heroes any more. And even though I'm still watching and there have been some good episodes and interesting developments, Smallville will never be the same for me after the loss of my two favorite characters. It's limping along, painfully prolonging the moment when Clark will come into his own way past the time when it logically should have happened. I've heard rumors that Heroes and Smallville may both be renewed. If they are, it'll be without me; I won't commit to watching after the end of this season, no matter what happens to them, and I won't write about them any more.

So what's your favorite show of 2009? What are you most looking forward to in 2010? And check back before New Year's Day -- some of my terrific guest writers will also be posting their faves.

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Doctor Who: The End of Time (1)

The Narrator: “This was the day the Time Lords returned. For Gallifrey! For victory! For the end of time itself!”

With the exception of 2005's "The Christmas Invasion", Yuletide episodes have never been the show's strong suit. And after season three's "The Last of the Time Lords", I had visions of this year's offering being another gag laden, testosterone fuelled, face-off between the Doctor and the Master; high in festive cheer, but distinctly lacking in satisfying storytelling. How wrong I was. I was pleasantly surprised by this episode. It wasn't perfect... but the flaws were minor and the story telling epic. I even enjoyed the Master's return! How's that for a Christmas miracle?

It's episodes like this that make me glad I avoid spoilers like the plague. The return of the Time Lords completely blind-sided me. I thought the cliffhanger was going to be the Master's return. It never occurred to me that the narrator might be an integral part of the story. I thought the voice-over was just a gimmick, thrown in to add drama. But when the camera panned round, and we caught our first glimpse of Timothy Dalton and Co. (standing before what appeared to be the Panopticon), I almost choked on my mince pie. Aren't the Time Lords supposed to be dead? Weren't they killed in the Last Great Time War? Or are they still locked inside of it? Obviously, RTD's got some explaining to do. But, regardless of the logistics, what a bomb shell!

I was completely thrilled to see Wilf step across the threshold of the TARDIS for the first time. And all because the Doctor couldn't bear to leave him with an irate Sylvia. What an absolute thrill for Wilf; accompanying the Doctor on his last adventure. But what is it that's connecting him to the Doctor? I have this uneasy feeling about Wilf. I hope the next episode doesn't turn out to be his swansong, too.

The Doctor opening up to Wilf was the highlight of the episode for me. It was a relief to see him confiding in someone. He even told Wilf of his impending death. We got a real insight, too, into how the Doctor feels about regeneration. His body and personality will change. The man he is will die. But why does he fear this death more than any other? Is he afraid the prophecy foretells his utter annihilation? Regeneration isn't a given. There are conditions which can prevent the process from completing. Is that what he's afraid of? Dying forever?

He also admitted that his self imposed solitude had caused more problems than it'd remedied. Mistakes had been made. Lives had been lost. And, of course, he still misses Donna. How awful... being able to see her through the café window, yet unable to communicate for fear of killing her. And there was a real forlornness about Donna's existence. Ostensibly, she'd moved on. But Wilf knew there was this great sadness inside of her. A void which had once been her life. A life in which she'd been someone. A life she was slowly starting to remember... with potentially fatal consequences.

The Master taking over the world didn't really work for me. One cliffhanger per episode is more than enough. Plus, everyone turning into the Master seemed like small potatoes in comparison to the Time Lords returning. But I can't lie... I did get a kick out of seeing John Simm in heels and a dress. When he stood up in front of the President, arms raised, and whooped with delight, I howled with laughter. But the whole master-race plot reeked of over-kill; and his OTT laughter quickly became an irritation. Which was a shame really. His condescending smile was undeniably infectious. Even imprisoned, he looked supremely confident. Like no one could touch him.

And it really felt as though he connected with the Doctor tonight. They reminisced about Gallifrey like old friends. The Master even allowed the Doctor inside his head -- desperate for confirmation that the drums were real, and not the product of some degenerative madness. Of course, real or not, the Master is bordering on the insane. He's never been the most stable person in existence. But his recent resurrection has surely unhinged him further. Nobody likes burgers that much.

So, what about the prophecy? Who's going to knock four times? Has it been fulfilled yet? The Master seemed to think the prophecy pertained to him. Of course, he would; he's mad and full of his own self importance. The Doctor, however, seemed less sure.

I wonder what the truth will be.

Bits and pieces:

-- What was with Timothy Dalton gobbing all over the place? Swallow before you speak, man!

-- The secret books of Saxon? The potions of life? Biometric signatures? We give ourselves so Saxon might live? What nonsense!

-- Loved the Vinvocci. Far less annoying than Bannakaffalatta.

-- I didn't think much of the Naismith's. As characters they were horrid stereotypes, and the Immortality Gate sub-plot was as old as the hills.

-- How comes the Master had blond hair and stubble after his resurrection?

-- The Legend of the Blue Box? Kids will be looking for blue boxes in stained glass windows the country over.

Quotes:

Doctor: “Last time I was here you said that my song would be ending soon. And I'm in no hurry for that.”

Narrator: “The darkness heralds only one thing. The end of time itself.”

The Master: “The whole stupid stinking human disgrace can fall into the pit.”

Doctor: “Who are you?”
Wilf: “I'm Wilfred Mott.”
Doctor: “No, people have waited hundreds of years to find me and then you manage it in a couple of hours.”

Doctor: “I'm going to die.”
Wilf: “Well so am I, one day.”
Doctor: “Don't you dare.”
Wilf: “All right, I'll try not to.”

Doctor: “Even if I change, it feels like dying. Everything I am dies. Some new man goes sauntering away. And I'm dead.”

Wilf: "She's making do."
Doctor: "Aren't we all?"

Doctor: “I've been told that something is returning.”
The Master: “And here I am.”
Doctor: “No, something more.”

Donna: “Are you shouting at thin air?”
Sylvia: “Yes. Possibly. Yes.”

The Master: “I like you.”
Naismith: “Thank you.”
The Master: “You'd taste great.”

Wilf: “Oh my Lord. She's a cactus.”

The Master: “My name... is the Master.”

All of our Doctor Who reviews are archived here.
(2009 Specials, The End of Time) ... Read full post

Dollhouse: The Attic

Clyde: "This isn't a nightmare. This is the shape of things to come."

Wow. And it bears repeating. Wow.

This episode was like The Matrix, crossed with a physical and literal demonstration of Roosevelt's most famous line about all we have to fear is fear itself. Seeing Echo, Tony and Priya achieve their full potential as freedom fighters, facing their worst fears and defeating them -- in a way, it was like symbolically defeating and overcoming what the Dollhouse initially did to them. The reveal of what Rossum was actually doing in the Attic was satisfyingly mind-blowing, so to speak. And that final scene in Adelle's office was a wonderful emotional payoff for sticking with these characters for twenty-some episodes.

Can I say how pleased and thrilled I was that Adelle never turned back to the dark side? I didn't see it coming; I actually shrieked. (Quietly, but it was a shriek.) Adelle never changed; she sent Echo to the Attic undercover, and she was always one of the good guys. What a fabulous twist.

Fascinating situation with Clyde/Arcane, too, imprisoned by his own invention and trying to help newcomers by making them face their fears. Who is Clyde's partner, and who is Clyde 2.0? Is Harding one of them? If the Attic brain computer is predicting that there's only a 3% chance of avoiding the Apocalyptic future, why isn't Rossum destroying the technology? Does Rossum want the world to end? How can they make money raping minds if the world ends?

As Echo was trapped in her own nightmare, Paul faced his worst, but for real: stumbling around like Frankenstein's monster, imprinted with an altered version of himself. Paul is a doll, now. This feels worse than what Priya and Tony experienced, though, because Paul will never truly be himself again, and will never know what he's missing. (When Topher said that Paul was going to become the new Victor, I actually shuddered.)

So many plot threads were tied up. The deliciously evil Dominic was back, and his terrible fate seems to have finally made him a good person. We found out why Boyd, who hates everything about the Dollhouse, was still working there: the only alternatives were death or the Attic. We even got an explanation for why Caroline ended up in the Dollhouse: she saw something critical, and had to be silenced.

These last few episodes have been outstanding. If the show had been a hit, would this be happening? I doubt it; they'd still be stringing us along. But I'm so pleased that they're clearly going out on a huge creative high, though. If it has to end, let it end well.

Bits and pieces:

-- Priya's nightmare was zombie rapist Nolan (ick). Victor got the war, where he was fighting himself. That poor Asian guy got a never ending meal of his own sushi. Eating himself. Bleah.

-- Loved the imagery of the twisted tree covered with snow. What a visual. Twisted reality. Tree of knowledge. Pick your metaphor.

-- I have to give credit to our doll actors. Lying in a plastic autopsy table full of goo with sheet of plastic over your face has to be extremely unpleasant and claustrophobic.

-- For a moment, I thought Tony and Priya were really dead. I also thought for a moment that Adelle would sacrifice Topher, after all.

-- [Added later] The Victor fighting himself scene featured an actor named Demir Gjokaj. Enver has a twin brother! Shades of Nick Brendon, huh?

Quotes:

Topher: "It's like his brain is a football team and I've got this whole new set of brilliant plays, but it doesn't matter because the quarterback's in jail for dog fighting."
Ivy: "Yeah. And it's not like his brain can run the wildcat formation. Ha ha."
Topher: "That joke went under my head."

Topher: "Hey. Darth Vader kills lieutenants, not storm troopers."

Echo: "I think that we can all safely say that this isn't real."

Topher: "We just have to decide what to sacrifice... sarcasm, already doesn't have that... memories of high school... fear of dancing..."

Nolan: "Rigor mortis. The new Viagra."

Absolutely excellent. Four stars,

Billie

All of my Dollhouse reviews are archived here.
(Season 2, episode 10)

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Doctor Who: Journey's End (2)

Doctor: "Now then, where were we?"

The faces on Donna, Jack and Rose following the Doctor's aborted regeneration were hilarious. All that tension and upset, dissipated by the Doctor directing the excess regeneration energy into his severed hand, and reverting back to his usual, chirpy self. Not the best way of resolving the cliffhanger. But to be fair, barring actually having him regenerate, there was no credible way out. They did their best, bless 'em. But there was a slight whiff of cop-out in the air.

They even managed to drag Jackie and Mickey into the story this week. More unnecessary characters... with seemingly little to do. And K9 makes three.

I didn't enjoy this second instalment as much as the first. Martha threatening to blow up the world seemed completely out of character. And I know I've said it before, but, I don't like UNIT Martha. She's about as bad-ass as a wet flannel. I just wish the writers would play to the actors' strengths more. They'll have Jackie turning into an axe-wielding, homicidal maniac next.

I wasn't sure what to make of Dalek Caan. He was like a demented pink octopus, spouting out prophecy and cackling insanely. But his crisis of conscience seemed incongruous with the Dalek ethos -- madness or not. Davros, however, was brilliant. Julian Bleach was pure class as the ex-Emperor of the Daleks. His mental tirade about destroying reality was chilling -- and his expose of the Doctor, masterful. Martha was prepared to destroy the earth to deny the Daleks their victory. And Jack and Co. were prepared to open a warp star to destroy Davros; destroying themselves in the process. Is this really the Doctor's legacy? An entourage of murderers, trained to do his bidding?

The montage of the dead was surprisingly touching. There was Jabe, Lynda, Mr Skinner, Ursula, Bridget Sinclair, The Face of Boe, Astrid, Jenny, Luke, River song, Chantho... unnamed hostess chick. Have there really been that many? So what was Davros' point? That the Doctor was blind to his own evil deeds? That the unerring devotion of his companions made them oblivious to the fact that they were being used? That, in the final analysis, the Doctor was no better than the Daleks? They touched upon similar themes in the season one episode "Dalek". The difference is, the Doctor's not in it for the glory. He's not interested in dominating lesser species and wiping out worlds for personal gain. And his companions are there voluntarily, not by coercion. But Davros' taunts certainly hit a nerve with the Doctor.

I have to say, I wasn't too jazzed with the Doctor Donna rescue. After the darkness of the Doctor/Davros confrontation, the humour seemed misplaced. And to see the Daleks so utterly out of control... well, whatever dignity they've managed to retain after four seasons of ass kickings must surely now be gone. And having Donna controlling the Daleks from some inexplicably placed control panel, as if rattling out a letter on a typewriter, bordered on the ludicrous. Rest the Daleks for a season or two, guys. Please!

Another thing which irked me was the “one will still die” prophecy. Donna didn't die. Back in season two we were subjected to a similarly gloomy prophecy from the Beast. Rose was supposed to die in battle. She didn't. At least not in actuality. This rather loose prophecy fulfillment is becoming something of an annoyance. It sets the viewer up for something that never actually happens, or that happens in such a way that you can't help but feel cheated. I know she theoretically died (he says, waggling his fingers to emphasize the air quotes), but if language is to mean anything at all, and if we're to believe anything the writers say in future, they're going to have to play fairer than this.

And there was something horrendously wrong about the Doctor/Rose resolve. In the end Rose didn't get the Doctor -- she got a life-sized replica. Which was just plain creepy. I'm not sure how you can spend four years developing the relationship between two characters, only to have it end as unsatisfactorily as this. Why on earth would Rose settle for a rage filled lookalike? Simply because he was capable of saying the one thing she most wanted to hear -- something the real Doctor couldn't seem to manage? Logically, it all made sense. But if you actually stop and think about it, it was mental. She had no history with him. The man she loved was the man who was leaving her -- again!

If it hadn't been for the ending I'd have been desolate. But Donna's mindwipe was an unexpected emotional punch. Donna pleading with the Doctor not to take her life away, really got to me. And to see her returned to her old life again, oblivious of the things she's done and the things she's seen, was the final indignity. Poor Donna. Forced back into an existence she'd longed to escape... unknowing that she was once someone else... a better person... a selfless person... the most important woman in all of creation.

Bits and pieces:

-- Mickey saying "just stay where you are, mister" was the worst delivered line since Arnie's "Don't bullshit me" in Total Recall.

-- Another extra long season finale, clocking in at 65 minutes.

-- Nice bit of continuity, with the Doctor asking Gwen whether she was related to a Cardiff family. Eve Myles played Gwyneth in the season one episode "The Unquiet Dead".

-- Davros originally met Sarah Jane in the Tom Baker episode "Genesis of the Daleks".

-- Loved, loved, loved everyone helping pilot the TARDIS!

Billie says...

As I said in the previous episode review, what I wanted were some cool moments between the Doctor and all of his companions. And you know, that's what I got. Forget the over the top stuff -- especially the Earth on a tow rope, and the incredibly overacting Davros and the Daleks. Yes, I could have done without K-9, too. But it still worked for me on an emotional level. The Doctor had all of those companions and friends with him again. And in the end, he was alone.

I didn't dislike Rose getting her very own human Doctor as much as Paul did, especially since I thought the second Doctor was a throwaway character who would die, anyway. It was the ultimate gift, as well as the only way the Doctor and Rose could ever live happily ever after. Maybe a tragic ending would have been more in keeping, but I was okay with it.

I especially loved this as Donna's swan song. She saved the universe not once, but twice. The Doctor told Donna how special she was, and he meant it. He also told her family, and they believed him. Donna finally got her mother's approval. Leaving the Doctor would have killed Donna if she had remembered. It's better this way. Wilfred's goodbye to the Doctor made me cry.

Quotes:

Donna: (to Jack) "You can hug me if you want. (Jack laughs) No, really. You can hug me."

Doctor: "It's been good, though, hasn't it? All of us, all of it. Everything that we did. You were brilliant. You were brilliant. And you were brilliant. Blimey!"

Jack: "Just my luck. I climb through two miles of ventilation shafts chasing life signs on this thing, and who do I find? Mickey Mouse."
Mickey: "You can talk, Captain Cheesecake."
Jack: "Good to see you! And that's beefcake."
Mickey: "And that's enough hugging."

Davros: "It is time we talked, Doctor, after so very long.”
Doctor: "No, no, no, we're not doing the nostalgia tour. I want to know what's happening right here, right now."

Davros: "The man who abhors violence. Never carrying a gun. But this is the truth, Doctor. You take ordinary people and you fashion them into weapons."

Sarah Jane: "So there's three of you?"
Rose: "Three Doctors?"
Jack: "I can't tell you what I'm thinking right now."

Donna: "I was going to be with you forever."

Doctor: "I just want you to know that there are worlds out there safe in the sky because of her. That there are people living in the light and singing songs of Donna Noble a thousand million light years away. They will never forget her, while she can never remember."

Wilfred: "Every night, Doctor, when it gets dark and the stars come out, I'll look up on her behalf. I'll look up at the sky and think of you."

All of our Doctor Who reviews are archived here.
(Season 4, episode 13)

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NewsFlash: Bryan Singer's BSG

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the X-Men, The Usual Suspects, and Valkyrie director discusses three exciting facts: he's slated to return to the X-Men franchise, is looking for a writer for a Battlestar Galactica movie (not one related to the TV show), and is pondering a movie called Excalibur, which I assume is about King Arthur. Perhaps because it is linked with the BSG news, I picture it as King Arthur in space.


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Avatar

Since seeing Avatar on opening weekend, I’ve read a number of reviews and comments, most of which seem to fall either into the “This is the most awesome movie I’ve ever seen --- James Cameron is a god,” category or the “Who cares about the special effects when the plot was tired and the characters were one-dimensional” category. I didn’t find too many “somewhere in between” opinions (perhaps due to the general nature of commenting on the internet). It seems you either love the movie, or hate it. I’m actually somewhere in between. I didn’t think it was the greatest movie ever, and it wouldn’t make my list of all-time favorites, but I really enjoyed Avatar and it completely lived up to my expectations.

Warning: The rest of this review contains spoilers.

The film was certainly a visual masterpiece. I saw it in 2-D (because 3-D messes with my eyes and gives me headaches), but was astounded by the richness of the visual landscape and the seamlessness of the effects. Only once or twice during the 2.5 hours did I find the visual effects to be glaringly noticeable. The rest of the time, I was completely sucked into the world. I was particularly impressed with the Na’vi. They felt as “real” to me as the live actors, and that is no mean feat. As always, James Cameron is a master at pushing the technological envelope.

The story, on the other hand, was extremely predictable and often evoked moments and themes from movies past. Certainly the tale of the outsider being brought into an indigenous culture, finding himself more aligned with their beliefs, and then rising up against his own people (and, of course, falling in love with the chief’s beautiful daughter) has been done countless times. It’s no mystery why people are calling the movie “Dances with Aliens” or a re-imagining of the Pocahontas story. Even beyond that basic familiarity, some of the twists and turns were pretty obvious. As soon as Neytiri told the story of her ancestor riding the Great Leonopteryx and uniting the tribes, I knew we’d see Jake on the back of one at some point. And when they tried to transfer Grace’s life force to her avatar, it was painfully evident that this is what was in store for Jake before the movie’s end.

And yet, none of that familiarity or predictability bothered me. Every story doesn’t need to be a completely new tale. Many of the stories that resonate with audiences do so because they evoke classic themes and tales. Countless hero stories, romances, and adventure tales tread familiar paths, but so long as they are done well, with characters that engage the heart and mind, they can be perfectly entertaining. With Avatar James Cameron created a world and cast of characters that engaged and captivated me. It didn’t matter that many of the characters were rather one-dimensional or that I could see exactly where the story was headed --- I still enjoyed the ride. I liked Jake, was stirred by his love story with Neytiri, and fervently rooted for the evil Sky People to get crushed by their native foes. I was even moved to tears at times (not that it takes much with me), and could hear sniffling throughout the theater at several points. I was particularly affected by the destruction of the Mother Tree and the moment when Jake and Neytiri finally “see” each other with their own eyes.

Cameron has a gift for taking a really simple tale, centering it on characters that he makes you care about, then combining it with kick-ass visuals and action to create a satisfying whole. This is the expectation that I brought to Avatar, and I left the theater very satisfied.

Final Analysis: Avatar is both engaging and visually astounding. It may not break any new ground with its story-telling or present overly complex characters, but it is still an enjoyable experience and well worth the price of admission.

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Dollhouse: Stop-Loss

Priya: "Do you think that was our first kiss?"

I really wanted to see Victor's backstory before the end of this show, so thank you, Joss Whedon. Too bad this wasn't enough, since it's probably all we're going to get.

It was lovely seeing Tony and Priya finally meet as themselves for the first time, and kissing in the back seat of the car. I wanted them to do what Echo said, to get out of that car and get away, to have something for themselves as real people -- even at the cost of not having the actors in the last few episodes. Will there be a happy ending with strawberry pancakes for Tony and Priya? I doubt it. Joss Whedon never gives us a happy ending.

I thought it was dear that Sierra knew Victor wasn’t ready for the world as yet, and how they demonstrated it with Victor unable to sleep without getting into his "pod." I also really liked that "Roger" was going to dump "Miss Lonely Hearts" for Sierra when he didn't even know who he was or who Sierra was. Victor even woke up from his engagement and said, "Has anyone seen Sierra?" instead of "Did I fall asleep?" For Victor, love for Sierra transcends any and all programming. That is so freaking romantic.

It wasn't surprising that Rossum was creating dedicated soldier "dolls", although the programming was inconsistent; they seemed able to shake their programming a bit too easily. Maybe the software is still in development. Come to think of it, there's been a lot of imprint transcending going on lately. Maybe it won't end the world, after all.

This was Victor's episode, but Olivia Williams was marvelous. She's always good, but watching her circling the drain in this one was special. Loved the drool. I also loved unisex shower scene; it felt just a bit like the scene where she had Claire remove the bullet in her side without anesthetic. Adelle gets totally focused on something and simply doesn't care what anyone else sees or thinks.

This was a good episode for Echo, too. As I've already said, the character is finally coming into her own, and I bet she's ready to take on and defeat anything the Attic can do to her. Is poor, brain-dead Paul in the Attic, too? Adelle said he was in a "more secure location", so I bet he is. And what about Boyd? I think Topher is safe for now; I don't think Adelle can continue without him. I wonder if Topher programmed Echo to awaken in the Attic? Or did Echo do that herself?

Bits and pieces:

-- Anthony Ceccoli. Good name: he looks like a Tony. And he was a vet with PTSD. An understandable reason to choose the Dollhouse, much like Mellie/Madelyn/November.

-- The Dollhouse reserved Victor a suite at the Hyperion. Nice little mention of Angel there.

-- Rogering Roger. :)

-- We did get Enver with his shirt off, not once but several times. Thank you.

Quotes:

Topher: "Welcome to the future! Where cars fly, robots serve our every whim, and genetically engineered dinosaurs rule the earth."

Adelle: "I'm not surprised that Paul and Boyd managed to keep your secret from me, but Topher? He can barely keep a belch to himself."

Boyd: "DeWitt's out cold. We got at least half a day."
Topher: "Ooh. After we're done here, can I go to her office with a Sharpie?"

Echo: "I need one more thing to pull this off."
Ivy: "All I have left is 'naughty pirate wench'."

Topher: ""Do you really think we'll be able to pull this off without Cruella DeWitt finding out?"

Tony: "I'm Anthony, by the way. You can call me Tony."
Priya: "Priya."
Tony: "Nice to meet you. So you're from Australia?"
Priya: "Maybe we should save the small talk 'til after the gun fight?"

Ivy: "Can I go back to getting you juice boxes?"

Not as satisfying as it could have been, and not nearly enough about Victor/Tony, but still an enjoyable episode. Three out of four stars,

Billie

P.S. Sorry this review was late. In fact, I haven't even seen the second episode yet. The next review should be up tomorrow or Thursday.

All of my Dollhouse reviews are archived here.
(Season 2, episode 9)

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NewsFlash: New/Old Fringe Episode

SciFi Wire reports that FOX is airing a "missing" Fringe episode Monday, January 11th. The episode is rumored to be from the first season, but it's also rumored to be a weird attempt by FOX to quash the ratings for Heroes.

The synopsis makes the episode sound like a stand-alone, but I think there might be more to it: 01.11.10 looks more like binary than an air-date, and has some interesting numeric resonances with 02.02.2010. I will review it, of course, as well as the regularly-scheduled Fringes that begin on January 14th.

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Doctor Who: The Stolen Earth (1)

Doctor: "I'm sorry. It's too late. I'm regenerating."

When I first saw the cliffhanger to this episode, I was totally blown away. When the credits rolled, I remember looking at my friend in bewilderment. Had they just stiffed us? Was the news that Tennant had signed on for five more episodes mere propaganda designed to disguise RTD's master plan? Was the Doctor really going to regenerate? And, more importantly... who was he going to regenerate into? This was way before we knew about Matt Smith. So, first time around, this episode was a real kick in the pants.

Seeing the Daleks again was less of a surprise. Their presence in a season finale is as predictable as rain on a Bank Holiday Monday. After the frankly diabolical "Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks", I was hoping they'd put the the pesky pepperpots out to pasture for a season or two (try saying that quickly). But no such luck. And this time they've brought a friend... ex-head of the Kaled Scientific Elite and former Dalek Emperor, Davros. So, that was surprise number two.

RTD has never been one to shy away from piling on the drama to pants splitting proportions. This episode featured just about every member of the New Whoniverse. We had former companions Rose Tyler, Martha Jones and Sarah Jane Smith. Gwen, Ianto and Captain Jack from the Torchwood Institute. Ex-PM Harriet Jones. Martha's mum, Francine. And when you add to the list the Doctor himself... Donna, Wilfred and Sylvia, I'd say we had pretty much the biggest cast ensemble ever to assemble in a single episode. Even fan-fiction writers daren't dream this big.

And although this all sounds cool -- and believe me, some of it was -- the size of the cast was its main weakness. There just wasn't enough story to do them all justice. For the long term fan it was an undoubtedly mouthwatering spectacle. But the casual viewer must have been left wondering "What the hell is going on here? Who are these people?"

The return of Rose totally worked for me. I promised myself I'd be nonchalant. But when the Doctor saw Rose again, and they started running towards each other, I threw my scheduled disinterest out the window and went into full-on lip wobbling mode. Finally, the Doctor and Rose... together again. Then BANG!... the Doctor's down... Jack teleports in from nowhere, retaliates with his massive weapon, and the Doctor's on the cusp of regeneration. Talk about unexpected.

But the rest of the cast... Francine... Gwen...Sarah Jane. Well, they just weren't given enough to do. Which was a real waste of talent. If you're going to bring them back, then at least give them something meaningful to do. That said, I did enjoy Jack and Sarah Jane's reaction to the Daleks. The last time Jack encountered the Daleks he ended up dead -- kind of. And I particular enjoyed Sarah Jane's reaction to hearing Davros again. Spine tingling stuff indeed.

Harriet Jones I was less impressed with. I mean, good on her for forfeiting her life for the sake of the world and all. But since when has she been a computer hacker? And the "we know who you are" joke, although vaguely amusing back in "Aliens of London", at this point in the game is wearing a bit thin. Even the Daleks couldn't resist joining in the fun... which was perhaps a joke too far. Still, now she's gone, the joke thankfully dies with her.

And they certainly pulled out all the stops for the cliffhanger. The Doctor, half way through a regeneration... Sarah Jane, Gwen and Ianto all about to be zapped by irate Daleks. Let's hope next weeks pay-off justifies the build up.

Bits and pieces:

-- Jack didn't waste much time. He tried to charm Sarah Jane almost instantly.

-- The Daleks don't appear to be incapacitated by paint on their eye stalks anymore. The paint blistered right off.

-- The Daleks are calling the Doctor the "Dark Lord" these days. Makes a change from the Oncoming Storm and the Destroyer of Worlds.

-- The Time War is time-locked.

-- There was a brief cameo by scientist, Richard Dawkins in this episode. Dawkins is married to Lalla Ward, who played Romana II.

-- I don't like the Daleks as much when they're flying through that air. Them being able to hover is an ingenious way of solving the stairs issue. But aerodynamically they look awful.

-- The bees leaving earth reminded me of the dolphins leaving earth in Douglas Adams' The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

-- 90 years old is considered a kid's age on Gallifrey.

-- Maximum extermination? Isn't regular extermination enough?

Billie says...

Twenty-seven planets. Twenty-seven freaking guest stars! I must admit that putting practically every important character in the Doctor Who universe in one episode had me in a fan-like dither. Outer space Facebook, indeed. Yes, it probably should have gotten down to Rose, Jack, Martha and Sarah Jane a lot sooner. And I just didn't believe at this point that the Doctor would regenerate just when he and Rose had found just each other again.

The magical laptop was a bit lame, but I loved that Harriet Jones redeemed herself and saved the world. "We know who you are." Yes, telling people to stay indoors when the Sun has disappeared is ridiculous, but the Earth disappearing and the twenty-seven planets together were definitely cool. And there's another episode to go. Here's hoping that it's mostly about all of the Doctor's companions together, and not so much about Daleks doing Darth Vader impressions.

Quotes:

Jack: "Ianto, you okay?"
Ianto: "No broken bones. Slight loss of dignity. No change there, then."

Wilfred: "It's gone dark. It's them aliens, I bet my pension. What do you want this time, you green swine?"

Donna: "It's like an outer space Facebook."

All of our Doctor Who reviews are archived here
(Season 4, episode 12)

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Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars

Doctor: “Is this it? My death? Is it time?”

This was a real landmark episode. In terms of quality, it was head and shoulders above "Planet of the Dead". It was beautifully plotted, featured terrifying monsters and was thick with complex adult themes. Tonight, the Doctor attempted to change the rules of the game. Instead of being hampered by the constant restrictions of being a Time Lord, he tried to use his abilities to change an event fixed in time. Unfortunately, it all went wrong. People died. And despite his best intentions, the tenth Doctor moved one step closer to his own destruction.

Tonight's episode was a brooding, sometimes harrowing parable on the dangers of power. Events are spiralling out of control. The tenth Doctor has just two episodes left to live, and the haunting, all pervasive, spectre of his inevitable extinction is beginning to take its toll. He seems terrified by his own mortality. I did wonder at one point whether his metamorphosis into "Time Lord Victorious" was all part of some grand scheme to defy his own fate. If he can successfully change a fixed moment in time, without significant repercussions, then what's to stop him trying to change his own destiny? If the Time Lords were the custodians of time, and all that responsibility now rests solely upon his shoulders, then who is there to check his hand? The implications are potentially far reaching. If successful, would he be able to bring Rose back from her parallel Universe? Or even save his own people from annihilation?

Yet, despite the Doctor's irresponsible defiance of time, nothing changed. Or rather nothing appeared to change. Bowie Base One still blew up. But the details did change. Captain Adelaide Brooke was destined to die and she did die. But instead of dying on Mars, she died on Earth. The outcome was the same. The difference was, this time her death was the Doctor's fault.

But what a terrible moral dilemma to face. Would Donna, Rose or Martha (had they been there), have allowed him to just walk away? I very much doubt it. So morally he did the right thing (eventually). But realistically there was just no way he could stop the base from going nuclear. It was an event too encased in historical significance. So in the end, all he could do was appeal to his authority as Time Lord, before wrongly concluding that altering time was now firmly within his remit.

Unfortunately, it was this arrogance which precipitated disaster. He grossly overestimated his own ability to manipulate time, and ended up making an already impossible situation that much worse. One thing this episode really brought home was the Doctor's utter helplessness. He could literally do nothing to stop Bowie Base One from exploding. Which forced him into breaking the very laws he'd been born to protect. The question now remains: what exactly has the Doctor done? Did Brooke die and the time line snap back into place? Or have his actions caused untold damage elsewhere? Has the Doctor unwittingly contributed to reintroducing the Master back into time? And where is he now headed? What exactly was he saying “no" to in the episode's dying seconds?

I found most of the secondary characters a touch uninspiring. Not surprising really, as they were nothing more than cannon-fodder for the cracked mouthed nasties. But Captain Adelaide Brooke was as well rounded and real as they come. They wove a marvellous back story around her. The Daleks killing her parents should have tainted her views on both aliens and space exploration. But seeing that Dalek through the window -- rather than fuelling a desire for revenge -- instead inspired her. She saw beauty and hope in the stars and it drove her on to great things. And in the end it was Brooke who had the courage to rectify the Doctor's mistake. Afraid that history might be changed forever, she took her own life, and in the process preserved the integrity of the time stream; thus ensuring her granddaughter's place in history. She didn't see the Doctor as her saviour. She saw him as a self-appointed god, exercising powers of life and death, seemingly on a whim.

And we must surely heap praise upon Tennant's performance tonight. He was immense. He got across the Doctor's angst magnificently. For much of this episode he was impotent -- a mere bystander in a nightmare over which he had absolutely no control. But his inner conflict was plain to see. Particularly poignant was his slow walk back to the TARDIS... the screams of the dying crew ringing in his ears. And his sorrow at Adelaide's suicide was tangible, as was the dawning realization that he'd overstepped the mark, and that there would be a terrible price to pay. I teared up a little when Sigma Ood appeared. The Doctor looked so frightened... fearful that his time had come... that his mistake had somehow brought about his own end. And it was chilling to see him stood alone in the TARDIS, the cloister bell ringing in the background -- a harbinger of impending disaster.

But for a fleeting moment he shone. In full-on Time Lord mode he took control control of the situation, and his brilliance and daring-do saved them all. He embraced his destiny. He took on the responsibility of being the last existing Lord of Time, and for one glorious moment it even seemed possible that he could stave off his own demise. He was a force of nature. But in the final analysis, all he did was bring about Adelaide's death and start the countdown to his own regeneration. In Doctor Who Confidential (which followed immediately after this episode), Tennant made the comment that "The Waters of Mars" was a story which could only be told once. The reason why is obvious. There can only be one ending. And we're just two episodes away from seeing it.

Bit's and pieces:

-- This episode was dedicated to the memory of long time Classic Who producer, Barry Letts (1925-2009).

-- The Ice Warriors appeared several times during the Troughton/Pertwee era.

-- Would things burn on the surface of Mars?

-- Gadget reminded me of Johnny 5 from the movie Short Circuit. Except Gadget was as charmless as his operator, Roman Groom.

-- The TARDIS' cloister bell can be heard ringing in the dying moments of this episode. The cloister bell rings when the TARDIS and its inhabitants are in grave danger -- usually as the result of a time paradox or the clashing of alternate realities. It can be heard in "Time Crash", "The Sound of Drums", "Turn Left", "Logopolis", "Castrovalva" and "Resurrection of the Daleks".

-- Bowie Base One > David Bowie > Life on Mars.

-- This story was originally entitled "Red Christmas" and was supposed to be a Christmas Special; hence the snow and residual festive references.

-- They totally gypped us in the trailer for this episode. There were four knocks in the trailer. In the episode itself there were only three.

-- The last time the TARDIS' cloister bell rang was during "Turn Left", where it signified the end of the Universe.

-- Was the Doctor wearing the same red space suit he wore in "The Satan Pit"?

Quotes:

Doctor: "The laws of time are mine, and they will obey me."

Adelaide: “Is there anything you can't do?”
Doctor: “Not any more.”

Doctor: “For a long time now I used to think I was just a survivor. But I'm not. I'm a winner. That's who I am. The Time Lord victorious.”
Adelaide: “And there's no one to stop you?”
Doctor: “No.”

Doctor: “I've gone too far.”

All of our Doctor Who reviews are archive here
(2009 Specials, The Waters of Mars).


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Doctor Who: Turn Left

Fortune Teller: "Turn right and never meet that man. Turn right and change the world."

Choices change lives. Even seemingly insignificant decisions can alter our lives irrevocably. Tonight, Donna was faced with a relatively small dilemma. Should she turn left? Or should she turn right? This episode explores the would-be consequences of her turning right.

In the alternate timeline that's created, Martha and Sarah Jane are dead. Buckingham Palace has been destroyed by a plummeting Titanic. ATMOS is slowly poisoning the earth's populace. The staff and patients of the Royal Hope Hospital never made it back from the moon alive (with the exception of Dr Morgenstern) -- and all because the Doctor wasn't there to save them. He died fighting the Racnoss. There was no one there to save him from himself, and now the world is without its protector.

When I first saw the alien of the week, my initial thoughts were "Oh, please God, spare us the ignominy." The time munching beetle looked like one of those novelty backpacks you sometime see kids wearing to school. Definitely not the show's finest hour. RTD explained in Doctor Who Confidential that "Turn Left" was a low budget episode and, unfortunately, at times, it showed. But the story itself more than made up for the low-tech alienage. And let's face it, we've seen worse (Wirrn grubs, anyone? Pee-yew!!)

Since this was a Doctor-lite episode, Tennant was only on-screen briefly. But, in contrast to previous years, instead of it being companion-lite too, Donna was given the starring role. Unfortunately, for her, she had a pretty rough time of it. Sylvia was horrible to her. Being told by your mum that you'll never amount to anything must be soul destroying. And the sad thing is, I think Donna believed it. Which made it all the more poignant when Donna sacrificed herself for the sake of Doctor (and by extension, the whole world). Not that Sylvia would ever know the great deed her "useless" daughter had done. I'm not sure, exactly, why Sylvia is so hard on Donna. Is it just grief over her husband's death? Whatever the reason, I didn't enjoy seeing Donna being mentally beaten down like that.

It was impossible not to like Rocco. He was one of life's optimists. He also made Donna and her family welcome, despite their cramped living conditions. In truth, their situation was intolerable. And later, he even faced up to the prospect of captivity with a smile on his face. Of course, it was all fake. Both Rocco and Wilfred knew the probable fate which awaited his family. So it was harrowing to watch them being driven away -- and sad to see Wilfred so helpless; doomed to stand by and watch history repeat itself.

I enjoyed seeing Rose again. I grew tired of her in season two, but season three didn't benefit from her departure as much as it should have. And Rose works well as a returning companion. At least her character has direction. But what was up with Billie Piper's accent? One minute it was fine... the next she sounded as though she had a lisp... and at times she seemed to drop the accent altogether. According to Doctor Who Confidential, Billie had problems remembering how to play Rose. So maybe that accounts for the accent in flux. It was also rumoured at the time that Billie had undergone some sort of cosmetic lip surgery; which (if true) may explain the slight impediment.

But dodgy accents aside... Rose's return was suitably mysterious and I look forwards to seeing how her story pans out. A reunion with the Doctor seems inevitable. The question is: how's it all going to end?

Bits and pieces:

-- If Donna had never met the Doctor, would the Doctor ever have met the Racnoss and been killed by it? Wasn't him meeting the Racnoss a result of him meeting Donna?

-- The actress who played the fortune teller, Chipo Chung (no, I'm not making her name up,) also played the character Chantho in season three episode “Utopia”. Thankfully, she was far less annoying this episode.

-- A free reading for gingers? Nice.

-- Awful northern stereotyping. I don't live too far from Leeds and I don't own a whippet. Of course, I'm allergic to dogs. Otherwise I would. Whippets are awesome. As are flat caps and scrofula. *sighs*

-- Another reference to missing bees tonight.

-- It was sad to see the TARDIS with the Doctor dead. It looked so dark inside, derelict almost. Rose said it was dying, and that's how it looked.

-- "The Trickster" was a reference to a character from the Sarah Jane Adventures.

Billie says...

And to think that when Donna was introduced, I didn't like her.

I loved this episode. It wasn't just about an alternate universe where all the terrible things happened and the stars went out. It was about how anyone can be a hero, how our decisions can make the world better or worse. Donna believed that she was ultimately unimportant, but her unselfish choice saved the universe. Wonderful performance by Catherine Tate. She made me cry.

This one was also like the other side of "Midnight," pun intended. We saw the worst side of people in "Midnight", and the best here. Donna, ready to do what she had to to save the world despite being told constantly by her mother that she was worthless. The foreigner, Rocco, who showed the world such a brave face under such horrible circumstances. Rose, traveling across universes to do what she had to do.

The bug was an unfortunate entry in the special effects department, yes. But it was also a really interesting metaphor for the burden Donna carried. It was all on her shoulders, all the time.

Quotes:

Alice: "There's something on your back."

Sylvia: "At least you got the hole punch. And a raffle ticket."

Donna: "Pop your clogs and and go feed whippets."

Sylvia: "Even the bees are missing. You don't see bumblebees any more."

Rose: "I think you dream about him sometimes. It's a man in a suit. Tall thin man. Great hair. Some really great hair."

Donna: "I'm nothing special. I'm a temp."
Rose: "Donna, you're the most important woman in all of creation."

Donna: "If I change things, I don't die. That's right, isn't it?"
Rose: "I'm sorry."

Donna: "Doctor, what is it? What's Bad Wolf?"
Doctor: "It's the end of the Universe."

All of our Doctor Who reviews are archived here.
(Season 4, episode 11)

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