“Time of the Angels”, the 4th episode of the new series of Doctor Who brings back one of my personal favorites of the new monsters; the Weeping Angels. In the episode “Blink” from the 3rd Series with the 10th Doctor and Martha Jones, Steven Moffat introduced these eerie beings that move in an instant, but quantum lock when they are looked at by a sentient being. “Blink” was such an awesome episode, that we were all dying for their return. And they do, but with some missteps. The biggest misstep for me is the return of River Song. In “Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead”, River was a great character. She knew the Doctor and had a journal of her adventures with her even through he didn’t know her. “Forest of the Dead” was her last. In “Time of the Angels”, she’s back as a past incarnation of herself. And this past River is really obnoxious. She’s brash, and very forward with the Doctor. Yes, I know they were married, and he’s trusted her some really important things (like his name), but seeing her in this episode really makes you wonder what he saw in her. I know Moffat…
“The Beast Below”, the second episode of the new Doctor Who series is one that takes the Doctor and Amy to the far future, where humanity has been forced to leave the Earth, and whole countries become space ships searching for a new home. Of course, they land on Britain’s ship, where the Doctor immediately pulls Amy into mystery and adventure in an underworld that is dark in more ways than one. This episode is a good example of why I enjoy Steven Moffat’s writing style so much. He throws the characters into an unknown situation, usually with a dark or menacing feel to it, but is able to turn it around at the end, and it doesn’t feel forced. There is a dark secret on Starship UK, one that keeps the people in check with creepy Smiler enforcers, and in blissful ignorance. I won’t say anymore, as I try to keep these impressions as spoiler free as possible, but suffice to say, it’s a national shame, all the more because it didn’t have to be that way. Amy really shines in this episode, as she first tries to save the Doctor from the truth, and then later saves him…
Recently the TV show Bones showed it’s 100th episode. Usually these episodes are about fun, looking back and celebrating making it for 5 years, an accomplishment that a lot of shows don’t get. The episode “The Parts in the Sum of the Whole” got only one of these right. This episode retconned a whole case from before the first episode, where Booth and Brennan met and worked together. It was nice to see Zac Addy again (yeah Zac! How I’ve missed you!), and Brennan was her old “straight-forward, resort to violence” self, but the whole dynamic of the lab was off. Zac and Hodges were at each others throat. Angela was dragged in to do the reconstructions, and Booth and Brennan were trying to jump into each other pants. So over the course of one year, Angela creates and becomes a compute graphics whiz, Zac and Hodges are the best of buddies (most likely, but still doesn’t feel right), and Booth and Brennan then take on 4+ years of cases without a hint of what happened in the first case? I don’t think so. It stretches my suspension of disbelief just a little too far. What was the real deal…
It’s the third episode of the new season of Doctor Who. In the first two episodes (reviews to follow), Matt Smith has proven himself to be the Doctor, and no one can dispute this taking the role. Karen Gillian, his new companion of Amy Pond, proved herself a worthy companion in the second episode. This episode hits it’s marks and follows the pattern first set up by Russell T. Davies with the revival of the series. And I guess I’m alright with it. Some consistency is good, but at the same time I’d hate for the series to get into a rut. Just like every season before it, this season is following the patter of first taking the new companion to the future, and then they taking them to the past to meet some historical figure. In this episode, it’s to meet Winston Churchill, during the blitz of London. Now, I wasn’t bother with the Doctor already knowing Churchill. It was a nice change to see him know a historical figure instead of always seeing him meeting them for the first time. He’s traveled throughout Earth’s history for a good amount of 900 years. You’d think he’d know some of…
After my Christmas Haul, it’s time to make more space on my manga shelves, and that’s a boon for you! Here are the titles I have up for sale this week on eBay: Buso Renkin vol 5-8 Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President vol 1-5 (Complete) Inuyasha vol 6-10 Princess Resurrection vol 1-3 Good luck, and happy bidding!
I’ve put up a few more titles for sale on ebay. My overflow box is now half empty, and next I’ll be working on more shelf space. Here are the auctions: Buso Renkin Vol 1-4 Buso Renkin Vol 5-8 Mamotte Lollipop Vol 1-4 Vampire Game Vol 9-15 Please check them out and Happy Bidding!
I sold most of my manga from the first batch I put up on eBay. Thanks so much if you bid! But I’ve still got more I have to move out. The next batch has gone up. Please look and bid if you’re interested: Inuyasha Volumes 6-10 Inuyasha Volumes 11-15 Hunter x Hunter Volumes 1-5 Hunter x Hunter Volumes 6-10 Hunter x Hunter Volumes 11-14 Tsukoyomi Moon Phase Volumes 1-5 Tsukoyomi Moon Phase Volumes 6-9 Starting bids are the price of one manga, so you’re essentially getting 5 (sometimes 4) for the price of one. I will combine shipping for multiple wins. Thanks for looking!
Why do I read so much manga instead of American comics? Let’s take Marvel’s latest story line in Amazing Spiderman as a good example. It’s riled up a lot of comic fans, and been kind of hard to avoid if you follow the forum boards at all. Basically, in the story line called “One More Day”, Aunt May is dying. She’s old, it was bound to happen. Peter, who’s been married to Mary Jane for the last 10 years, just can’t seem to accept that. Peter “with great power comes great responsibility” Parker decides he can’t live without Aunt May, and goes to the Marvel Universe’s version of Satan to make a deal (like those always turn out soooo well). He gives up the last 10 years of his life, and his wife, so Aunt May can live. He’s doing this over Aunt May’s protests, by the way. Mr. Responsibility turns into a selfish 2 year old. So what’s Marvel done here? In technical terms, it’s called the “Big, Red Reset Button”. They are wiping out 10 years of continuity to turn Peter Parker back into a young bachelor, unencumbered by the hassles of a wife, to be a carefree…