Given that just the other day I argued that we needed to wait and see before passing any real judgment on Capaldi's brand-new Doctor, I'm going to dig deep and try to find nice things to say about yesterday's premiere episode instead of just ranting on ad nauseam.And the only real way I can think to … Continue reading Doctor Who’s Deep Breath: Pros and Cons
Matt Smith
Can Peter Capaldi Save Doctor Who?
Surely a new Doctor's first episode is always met with a strange mixture of hope, resentment and apprehension because part of what's kept Doctor Who on the air for so long (apart from that little decade-and-a-half-long break) is the fact that a new actor always brings a new set of possibilities to the role. And as … Continue reading Can Peter Capaldi Save Doctor Who?
Time of the Doctor Proves Moffat Can’t Write Death to Save His Life
Well, goodbye, Matt Smith. You were wonderful, but sadly I can't say that it's been a pleasure. Not only was last night's Doctor Who episode, Time of the Doctor, a Christmas special, it was also a farewell to Doctor 11 (or 13, apparently). Unlike Steven Moffat and his horrendous script, I won't meander around aimlessly … Continue reading Time of the Doctor Proves Moffat Can’t Write Death to Save His Life
What Steven Moffat Doesn’t Understand About Grief, And Why It’s Killing Doctor Who
There's a popular joke I've seen floating around on Tumblr for a while now. It goes like this: "Joss Whedon, Steven Moffat and George R.R. Martin walk into a bar and everyone you've ever loved dies." Here's the problem, though: George R. R. Martin and Joss Whedon are, of course, infamous for killing off the … Continue reading What Steven Moffat Doesn’t Understand About Grief, And Why It’s Killing Doctor Who
Why Peter Davison is Wrong About a Female Doctor
Time Lord #5 has recently given an interview saying the Doctor should never be a woman, which is a bit confusing. Prior to Peter Capaldi being named the 12th Doctor, there was a huge, raging, nasty debate about whether or not 12 should mark a change in the 50-year run of white dudes playing the time- and … Continue reading Why Peter Davison is Wrong About a Female Doctor
Doctor Who’s Girl Problem
This is unabashedly not about books, but I feel I've written enough reviews about the lacklustre 50th Anniversary short stories to merit this non-sequitur. I went into last week's season finale with more optimism than I expected. Mostly because I genuinely like Clara, although I give the majority of credit for that to Jenna-Louise Coleman … Continue reading Doctor Who’s Girl Problem
Review: A Big Hand for the Doctor by Eoin Colfer
So if you recall, the BBC had commissioned 11 British children's lit authors to write 11 short stories based on -- you guessed it -- the 11 incarnations of The Doctor for the show's 50th Anniversary this year. For those of you who, like me, started with Christopher Eccleston (also known as The Best Doctor), … Continue reading Review: A Big Hand for the Doctor by Eoin Colfer
Tea Leaves and Dog Ears 