Episode: The Woman Who Fell to Earth
Airdate: October 7, 2018
Cast: Jodie Whittaker (The Doctor), Tosin Cole (Ryan Sinclair), Mandip Gill (Yasmine Khan), Bradley Walsh (Graham O’Brien), Sharon D. Clarke (Grace O’Brien), Johnny Dixon (Karl), Samuel Oatley (Tim Shaw)
Kleenex Required: Some – probably not a whole box
Anything You Need to Know Going In: There is one on-screen death and an additional one mentioned, depictions of heights, the monster has a thing for teeth.
BBC
I will stop writing about trailers when amazing ones stop getting released, I promise. Until then, let’s all collectively freak out over the new Doctor Who trailer, released just this morning. Giving us exactly enough to make even the most impatient of us wish we could grab a TARDIS and emerge on October 7th, the trailer features the Doctor and her companions, a spaceship, Jakku?, and hints at this Doctor’s personality. If anyone was worried that the show would fundamentally change, this trailer should alleviate those concerns. There seems to be just as much corridor running, sonic screwdriver using, and assertions of authority in unfamiliar situations as before.
It’s the middle of January, and chances are you’ve blown at least a New Year’s resolution or two. And that’s okay, it happens to everyone. When the year is fresh and our minds optimistic, it’s easy to feel overly ambitious about making dramatic changes to your life. After all, it’s a new year with new possibilities, why not resolve to make the biggest, most life-altering changes possible?
Earlier today, the BBC released the latest trailer for “Twice Upon a Time,” the Doctor Who Christmas special. It has quips, excitement, two TARDISes, and it hits you right in the heart. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so ready for the Doctor to present as a woman, and I am especially excited about Jodie Whittaker’s casting (I adore her). But I’m also no where near ready to let go of Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, or Bill as his companion. I mean, couldn’t a timey-wimey thing happen and we could somehow have both? No? Ugh. Fine.
Before you watch the trailer, there are obvious:
And also, be warned:
Okay, now that you’ve been adequately warned, take a look at the trailer below:
There is a lot going on for such a short trailer. It begins with a clip we have all seen before, the Twelfth Doctor encountering the First, played by David Bradley, who was perfectly cast in the role originally played by William Hartnell. Bradley also portrayed this Doctor in “An Adventure in Time and Space” – another multi-Doctor special.
Personally, I always enjoy multi-Doctor episodes. The dynamic between the versions of the Doctors is always interesting to watch. I’m particularly excited to see how judgmental of one the other is. For example, I love the sunglasses quip – the First Doctor is right, they do look ridiculous indoors.
The fun doesn’t last, and the trailer quickly reminds you that this is the last time we will see Twelve or Bill, in a way that just hurts. She literally tells him to come back alive, to which he responds “be here when I do,” and I sobbed “but he won’t, Bill, he won’t.” To rub salt in that wound, the trailer also gives you a brief glimpse of Capaldi regenerating, with a voiceover reminding us that “the regeneration is coming.”
Bill, the First Doctor, and the Twelfth Doctor are joined by a World War One Captain played by Mark Gatiss (who has appeared in and written several episodes throughout the show’s run). The Captain has been targeted by the Glass People, who freeze time to kidnap their victims.
The Doctor Who Christmas special airs in Canada on Space at 9:00pm Eastern.
BBC
One of the most anticipated casting announcements happened earlier this year, when Jodie Whittaker was confirmed as the next Doctor – becoming the first woman to step into that role in over 50 years. While there was the expected pushback from *ahem* certain fans, others were incredibly excited. Some people even responded by expressing a new, or renewed, interest in the series. It is a huge step in the right direction for representation, and something we should celebrate. As we all impatiently await further details about Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor, it’s the perfect chance to familiarize yourself with the accomplished British actress.
There is no way around it; we are living in some interesting, and stressful, times. Regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum, you have to admit that things in the States are anxiety-inducing. For everyone. It is obviously incredibly important to be as politically aware as possible. Positive change can only happen when it is initiated by the informed. But it is important to take time away from the political arena as well. Having a few geeky things to look forward to can help give you a bit of a reprieve from that stress.
Thinking about things you are curious about experiencing can also help when you begin to feel helpless or hopeless. Whenever I find myself in a low spot I remember the advice Matt Fraction (writer of Sex Criminals, Hawkeye, ODY-C, among others) gave one of his fans. Fraction received a question from a fan about feeling hopeless. In his response, Fraction suggested the fan find something that could hold his curiosity; something that he was excited to learn or experience or re-experience in the future. In that light, here are a few geeky things we can all look forward to.
I’ll be honest – Wonder Woman was never my favourite superhero. Don’t get me wrong, I have always loved her. But for whatever reason I was always drawn to the lesser known heroes. Batwoman, Black Canary, and Huntress were always higher on that list. Then I read Greg Rucka’s The Hiketeia
Gal Gadot’s brief appearance is, without a doubt, the best part of Batman v. Superman. In my eyes, she was perfect as Diana – strong, confident, and fed up with bs. I’ve been looking forward to this movie since it was announced. The recent trailer has made me seriously wish for a TARDIS or some way to wake up and have it suddenly be June 2nd.
I’ve written at length about my love for the Doctor’s new companion, Bill Potts. Now that we are five episodes in I can say, without a doubt, that she is my new favourite companion. The team of Bill and the Twelfth Doctor is perfection. The only horrible thing about it is that it will only last one series with the departure of Peter Capaldi (the Doctor) and the rumoured departure of Pearl Mackie (Bill Potts) later this year.
Still, together they are absolute perfection. This season seems to be revisiting old plot lines, consistently enough that I wonder if it is on purpose, as part of Steven Moffat’s swan song. The mystery of the vault is another intriguing aspect of the show. Who, or what, is there? Is it the Master? Missy? The next Doctor? The first Doctor? Amy Pond from series six’s “The Girl Who Waited”? River? River-as-Melody? Susan gone rogue? While we’re at it, what’s up with Nardole? There was definitely something strange about him in this episode. Is he the Master’s new form? Is someone else’s consciousness (maybe River’s?) stored in his head? Can Nardole’s interesting comments be explained away by a fascinating former life, and the fact that now his head is attached to an artificial/nuts-and-bolts body? This geek needs to know.
Most Star Wars fans have been looking forward to The Last Jedi since before it even had a name. In fact, I bet many of us began eagerly awaiting for Episode VIII immediately following the final moments of The Force Awakens. The promotional material for this movie, from the posters to the trailers, have been amazing.
This movie will be a bit bittersweet, especially for long-time Star Wars fans. It marks Carrie Fisher’s last appearance as the iconic Princess Leia. Fisher’s tragic death last year was a blow to the film’s fans as well as its cast and crew. Seeing her grace the big screen for the last time is sure to be emotional.
Even if you can’t afford to go, you have to admit that convention season can be pretty exciting. For starters, there are a ton of panels to follow. There is bound to be one to match almost every fandom. Cosplay roundups are always a fun part of following any convention. Looking at the creative ideas of other likeminded geeks can inspire new cosplay ideas, or even be the starting point for some fantastic fanfic.
The announcements are the other huge perk of convention season. Comic book companies and production companies often wait until there is a huge panel before making major announcements. These may include titles or release dates for upcoming films, casting announcements, book launches, and creative changes. For the nerd-at-heart, convention season is like Christmas.
The last season of Daredevil was so-so and Iron Fist was barely watchable. Still, I, and many other likeminded geeks, are incredibly excited for this series to begin. Why, you may ask? Well, for starters:
Jessica Jones, pictured using her super-strength the exact same way I would use mine
And also:
Think he’d want to get some coffee with me?
The series will follow Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist as they fight (villains and seemingly one another) to save New York City. Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, and Finn Jones reprise their respective roles. We can probably expect to see an episode or two of “I work better alone” monologues and sullen looks, but after this, the series looks like it will be amazing.
Guys! Bill is gay! Like actually gay! Not LeFou gay or tragigay or vague-hints-but-we’re-not-going-to-show-anything-onscreen gay. She’s actually, openly gay.
I wish Bill would flirt with me
After watching last week’s premiere, I sent that message to a few of my close friends in celebration of Bill Potts, the Doctor’s latest companion. I’ve watched the episode a few times, and I still can’t get enough of Bill. Sure, Captain Jack was unquestionably pansexual, but his limited time with the Doctor often keeps him from being considered a companion along the same lines as Rose or Donna or Clara (don’t @ me). This makes Bill the first openly gay companion*. Not only that, but this isn’t your typical questioning or coming of age story. Bill isn’t trying to figure out if she is a lesbian, she just is a lesbian.
DoctorWhoTV
We all like a good scare every now and then. That rush of adrenaline, a slightly execrated heartbeat, and a desperate need to know what happens next drive many of our favourite scary shows and movies. Doctor Who in particular has an interesting relationship with scares and frights. It is both a family show and one that has featured some of the scariest monsters in sci-fi history. In fact, the phrase “hide behind the sofa” was literally created to describe the experience many children had while watching the show in its early days. If you’re a Doctor Who fan and you like nothing more than a really good scary episode, check out these creepy episodes from the revival series. Be warned, there are spoilers ahead.
It looks like despite the slightly longer days, winter has returned. For some of us, the dreary snow reflects our dreary moods. I, for one, am tempted to crawl back under the covers until at least spring. Sadly, that isn’t always possible. Don’t worry, though, there are still things you can do even if semi-annual hibernation isn’t possible. We’ve compiled a short list of geeky things guaranteed to cheer you up (at least for a little bit).
Escaping to a world of fantasy, where (most of the time) someone is able to save the day is a great way to cheer yourself up. Feel-good television and Doctor Who aren’t usually synonymous with one another. However, there are quite a few amazing episodes that are sure to leave you smiling before the end. Take a look at our list of the happiest Doctor Who episodes and let us know if we’ve left your favourite out! We are always on the hunt for more happy, geeky tv! Be warned, there may be spoilers below if you aren’t up-to-date.
