The Time Of The Doctor Review

 

 

"I will always remember when the Doctor was me."

This episode had all the things that have made me love Doctor Who.  It had humour, wit, drama, and emotion.  And even though it was Matt Smith's last, I still managed a big smile on my face at the end of it.The story followed the Doctor and Clara on Christmas day to Trenzalore where the Doctor's enemies were massing.  The Doctor pledged to protect Christmas Town, ended up dying there.

A fabulously written episode, it brought together lots of past stories.  The crack in the "fabric of reality" (wall crack) from season 5, River Song from season 6 and the "impossible girl- Clara herself from season 7.  It even included an appearance by Amy (Karen Gillian) at the very end.  It even brought threads in from the "Day of the Doctor (50th anniversary)- references to Gallifrey, the "war doctor" (John Hurt).

Some thought Clara's (Jenna Louise Coleman) Christmas cheerfulness a bit over the top.  I thought it was to cover up the fact she was worried about the Doctor. I felt sorry for her too as her family tried to keep setting her up. She ended up bringing the Christmas magic by convincing the Time Lords to give him another regeneration. As usual she believed in him.

It was an emotional ending.  Clara standing there in the Tardis helpless to do anything, watching it happen. "I will not forget one line of this, not one day I swear," he promised her.  It was simple, and sweet, making her feel like she mattered to him.  Amy's appearance: "Raggedy man, good night."  It was as memorable as Peter Capaldi's first line as the Doctor: "Do you happen to know how to fly this thing?"

Predictions
1. Peter Capaldi's Doctor will come in somewhere between Mad Hatter, and absent-minded professor.

2. We will see River Song again.  Tasha: "We sent a psychopath to kill you."  The Doctor: "I totally married her."

3. Maybe Tasha Lem is a Time Lord? (would explain her ability to fly the Tardis)

Longing in London

Writing prompt this morning from a friend: Write down your favourite colour, month of year, and city.  Here's my response. 

She walked along the jubilee trail beside the river.  The Thames had an iron grey look today, reflecting the clouds above.  It would rain later; she thought.  In London it always rained, when it didn’t there was a wet feeling on the air.  ‘It’s an island in the middle of the sea,’ she reminded herself.

She stopped looking south along the river; what an impressive sight.  Tate Modern loomed straight ahead.  She knew the path on that side of the river twisted, and turned through Southwark; past Shakespeare’s original Globe theatre, the London City Museum.   Straight ahead was probably the most impressive sights; the Victorian marvel that was Tower Bridge.

She knew without looking the north side was equally impressive; the Gherkin stood looking over the river.  St. Paul’s cathedral balanced out Tate Modern.  The tower stood; a stubborn fortress guarding the river, and the city as it had for centuries.  How could she give this up?

She was bored of the landscape; so much grey, white, and black.  She longed for colour; a splash of red in the fall leaves.  The trees would be changing colour at home; rich reds, and gold’s.  She closed her eyes leaning against the railing; she could almost feel the warmth sunlight on her face.  She took a deep breath opening them again.  She was surrounded by grey, and, white.  The red bricks even carrying a dull sheen. 

She couldn’t fault the city for that; she loved it here.  She loved its nooks and crannies; Carnaby Street tucked away almost as a private treasure.  Loved wandering through the museums; she could disappear into the British museum for hours at a time.  The Churchill War Rooms were her favourite, it was as if stepping through time into the 1940’s.  You expected the old bulldog himself to come wandering out of his bunk, asking you to take notes.

Home though held its allure.  She missed the changing seasons; the changing leaves in fall, the blossoms in spring.   She missed family, friends.  The homesickness was on her now, and she stopped to rest on a bench staring out at the river.

What was to stop her from going home? She knew almost before she thought about it.  Home wasn’t the same since he’d married her.  She’d been accused of stealing jewellery, and her dad took his new wife’s side over his original daughter’s.

What about her mother? Her mother had remarried, and made it clear there was no room for her there.  She’d had a second family.  So here she was in London; an amazing city, yet longing to be somewhere  else.

The death of the honour roll?

Honour Roll at my high school was around the 75% mark.  I managed to make it three times in five years; I still have the certificates somewhere.  There was always a special breakfast once a semester for honour roll kids.  It gave me something to aim for; to see if I could make it again next semester.  Usually I'd try my best, but wouldn't necessarily get it.  My attitude was "there's always next term." And no matter what I always felt I had done my best.

School boards in Alberta are doing away with the honour roll, and all year-end awards.  No more most-improved, no more best mark, or best attendance.  Officials at St. Basil Catholic School in Calgary argue in a Calgary Herald article that awards eventually lose their shine.  They're also citing the effect on self esteem of students singling them out. 

It's unrealistic.  In the real world you're singled out for doing a good job, and told when you're not.   What better place to teach kids this key lesson than the relatively sheltered environment of a school.  Recognition for doing a good job is never a bad thing; it encourages people to keep doing it.  And it inspires others to join them.

Awards lose their shine.  I'm at the point in my career where it matters more that I can get the exclusive, or make the front page of a newspaper than whether I made the honour roll in high-school.  The work ethic involved in making the honour roll never goes away, and that can be attractive to universities, and future employers.

It makes me wonder about this generation of kids coming up.  If they have no hope of recognition for a job well done, then what will they be like in the work force? Will they try as hard? Will they learn as much? If they can't understand failure, and success what hope is there? If we don't teach them the importance of achievement then what kind of Canada are we making?

What role do parents have to play? When I was at school, my marks were always okay by my parents as long as I could look them in the eye and tell them I'd done my best.  Even now as I'm taking an online class as an adult, I'm finding the mark means less than the knowledge.


Keep the honour roll in place; give kids something to aim for.  Achievement inspires excellence.

Six Shows I'll be watching This Fall

It's September, and that means it's time to answer the immortal question: What should I watch on television?  TV Guide presented a comprehensive list of new, and returning shows.  I've picked out some of my highlights.

1.    Agents of Shield:
Premise: From This is what happened after the Avengers.
Airing: Tuesdays at 8 on CTV

I'm looking forward to this because: Of two words: Joss Whedon.  If you haven't heard of him, check out Buffy The Vampire Slayer, that should tell you why he's so great.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Crossing Lines:

Premise:  Crime fighting with an international twist: a team of agents representing the International Criminal Court (ICC) solve crimes others can't.

Airing: Tuesdays at 9 beginning October 2, on CBC

I'm looking forward to it because... Of 2 words: "Donald Sutherland."  He plays the team leader Michael Dorn.

 

 

 

3. Sleepy Hollow:

Premise: It brings the old tale forward to 2013, literally immortalizing Ichabod Crane and his headless quarry. 

Airing: Mondays at 9pm on Fox

Looking forward to this because... It just looks interesting

 



 

4. The Originals:

Premise: A "Vampire Diaries" spin-off featuring Klaus (Joseph Morgan), as he takes his act to New Orleans

Airing: Thursday's at 9 on the CW.  Haven't seen an air time/ channel for it in Canada yet, but I'm sure eventually there will be one.

Looking forward to it because... of the eye candy.   Also if you've loved the Vampire Diaries you'll love this one.

 

 

 

5. Reign

Premise: What happens when Mary, Queen of Scots heads to France for a diplomatic marriage? lots of intrigue, love triangles, and castle mysteries

Airing: Thursdays at 9pm on CTV2

Looking forward to this because:  I'm a history buff, and you don't see very much of this period from Mary's perspective. 

 

 

6. Dracula

Premise: Bram Stoker's immortal vampire is back, and out for revenge.  This time  he's working  with the mysterious Order of the Dragon impersonating an American businessman in London. 

Airing: Fridays at 10pm on NBC, and Global

Looking forward to this because... of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who was previously seen on television as King Henry VIII in the Tudors, which he was great in. I'm sure he'll have his own take on Dracula.  I'm a little worried about this one because it is on NBC; they have this awful habit of pulling their shows just as I'm getting into it.  I hope they give this one a chance.

 

 

 

 

 For a full list of shows visit TVguide.ca's Fall preview.    Tomorrow: Returning Shows.  Got something I missed or a different take on one of these picks? Leave a comment.



Summer Reading: 2013 Inferno Review

I broke down and grabbed a copy of Inferno by Dan Brown, from the library last week.  It was a one-week loan; one of their frequent flyers.  I only made it halfway through because I worked last weekend, and it wasn't very good.

Brown is known for his stories rather than his writing.  They're thriller-mysteries, involving a lot of travel, a bit of killing, and are successfully wrapped up with a conclusion.  Inferno meets all of these; it takes place in Florence, begins with a suicide, and ends with the main character safely on a plane (I skimmed the epilogue).  As an added bonus; it includes Robert Langdon one of Brown's enduring characters.

Where this book failed was the pacing.  Every few pages it hit the pause button to go on at length about a painting or a sculpture.  I'm a history buff; I understand the significance of the setting, and the many gorgeous works of art created throughout the renassiance.  But is it necessary to go on, and on about them? Seriously I could've cut this book's length by a good 50 pages by asking the question: "How is that relevant to the plot?" 

What happened to the style of the DaVinci Code? It was  faster paced, with enough dialogue to make it a really easy read? The characters led the action, not the writer.  Inferno is written as if Dan Brown is more impressed with himself, than into telling a good story.

With the time spent on Florence, and its history it reads like a travelogue.  And if I wanted one of those, I would've picked one out, instead.   I have no idea how this is still on a best-seller list. 

Broadchurch Season Finale Review

Broadchurch is a British mystery series featuring David Tennant (aka the 10th Doctor) as a tired, cynical Detective  Inspector Alec Hardy called upon to solve a child's murder.  The series followed him, and his partner DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) as they followed the clues, and unravelled Town secrets better left hidden.

The brilliant part of this show is that it kept the tension up right until the very last episode.  I couldn't guess at it, I had ideas but they were proven wrong, I really had no theories other than it might be someone close to the child's family.  I purposefully stayed spoiler free, and didn't tweet about it outside episodes. 

Last night the killer was revealed, and in true British fashion it was the person you least expected. I won't reveal the name, but I will say the killer was related to a police officer.  This show is best viewed without spoilers.

The first season covered about 2 months, following the police every step of their investigation.  It was about the town, and family of the dead boy himself.  It gave a taste of what life was like; how the family dealt with losing a son, and how the community dealt with this sudden violent crime was committed by someone living among them.

Broadchurch will be back.  There are rumours of season 2 as a possible prequel focusing on Tennant's character.  In a recent Digital Spy article, series creators refused to confirm if David Tennant or any other cast member will return to the show.

Short Story Writing Workshop: The Results

A while ago I took a short-story writing class at the library.  One of our homework assignments was to write a 300 word story based around two sisters.  Here's what I came up with.

The Visit

Mary stared out the windshield at the barren winter landscape.   “While you were away on vacation Gary and I split up; we’re getting a divorce,” she blurted.  Patty opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again without saying a word.  All Patty talked about since she got in the car was her latest exotic trip. ‘Misery loves company,’ she childishly thought.

“He cheated on me.  Late nights, weekend business meetings the whole clichéd bit.  He’s Facebook friends with her; that’s how I found out... she tagged him in a status update when they were at some hotel,” Mary explained.

“The kids,” Patty asked. 

“They know dad’s away on a trip.  I haven’t told them he’s not coming back,” Mary answered.

“They’re not stupid,” Patty pointed out.

“I know that,” Mary snapped.  They were both quiet for a while lost in thought.  Patty counted the snow banks until they arrived at the house.

“Do you still love him?” Patty sought to understand her sister’s bitterness.

“Yes... No... I don’t know.  He’s the father of my children.  He was supposed to be my one great love.  But people grow apart you know.  Maybe that’s what happened with us?” Mary speculated.  Someday she might be able to buy that; after the bitterness and anger faded.

“That’s likely,” Patty suggested.  Mary parked the car, and started to open the door.  Patty put her hand on Mary’s back.  “For what it’s worth I think you’re making the right decision. 

Mary audibly sighed climbing out of the car: “Kids! Aunt Patty’s here.  She’s got presents,” Patty found herself hugged almost before she could stand up.   Another visit had begun.