Latest Reviews
True Detective: 102 “Seeing Things” Review
True Detective, above all else; beyond its crime/thriller/mystery narrative, is an intricate character study. The psychoanalysis of the characters that populate its story is the primary conceit; the plot of Dora Lange’s murder, along with Hart and Cohle’s investigation into it, is what enables this viewing platform into their characters. Papania and Gilbough’s questions often glean more about the two men on the other end of them than they do of the case itself… Continue reading →
Misfits Reviews
Misfits: Series 5 Episode 8 Review
And with that, it’s time to get the shovels one last time. Misfits, like so many of its probation workers, is dead and the underpass of the dearly departed awaits it. The question is, was its final episode a flourish or a flounder? Well, in truth, it was a bit of both… Continue reading →
Old Articles
Top 5 Deaths in The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is no stranger to slaughtering its characters, and this article is intended to celebrate the very best of the many demises that have occurred throughout its run. Deaths need to be levelled with an appropriate impact upon the viewers. Whether this is achieved through any uniquely harrowing circumstances in which a certain character’s cessation occurs, or simply due to it entailing the tragic loss of a fan favourite. The Walking Dead‘s proficiency in this expanse makes narrowing down five of its finest unceremonious killings a rather strenuous affair, but without further ado… Continue reading →
More Articles
Book Update #1
I promised regular updates about how I’m getting on with the writing of my book on my About Me page, and haven’t followed through on that since. The truth is, it’s not gone well, or anywhere at all… Continue reading →
Doctor Who: A Question of “Darkness”?
Peter Capaldi’s incarnation of the Doctor has been publicised as being “trickier, fiercer, madder”, and even a “snarling beast”. A desire that’s been frequently bandied around by a lot of fans is for him to simply be “darker”. It’s a vague term when referring to anything other than a literal lack of light, because what constitutes dark characteristics for one might not scratch the surface for another. Is it just a case of toning down the more whimsical attributes, and introducing more solemnity to his character? Or should more elements of amorality be more frequently factored in to the actions he takes? Or should the Doctor start doling out extremely violent punishments to all enemies that confront him, elevating his own status to that of judge, jury, and executioner? OK, that last one was an exaggeration, but the point is that “dark” is a subjectively defined term in this context…. Continue reading →
Doctor Who: ‘I will always remember when the Doctor was me’
‘It all just disappears, doesn’t it? Everything you are, gone in a moment, like breath on a mirror.’
It’s been over a month since Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor bid farewell, with a poignant speech about the inevitable nature of change. Having expended the last of his regeneration energy during the events of “The End of Time”, the Eleventh Doctor was granted a whole new cycle by the Time Lords in “The Time of the Doctor” to facilitate his thirteenth regeneration… Continue reading →
Doctor Who: A Few Thoughts on Capaldi’s Outfit
Amongst numerous other staples of change in Doctor Who is always the incumbent incarnation’s newly selected attire. Along with TARDIS redesigns (primarily, the interior), remodelled sonic screwdrivers, and of course, the all important regenerations themselves, the latest iteration of the Time Lord’s chosen garb is an invariable source of excitement and fervent speculation… Continue reading →
A Few Thoughts on The Night of the Doctor
Be still those beating hearts — it’s only bleedin’ Paul McGann, the short-lived (in televised Doctor Who, at least), but much loved Eighth Doctor. The fangasm (there really is no better word for it) that ensued at the sight of him, and his excellent nod-and-wink first line (“I’m the Doctor, but probably not the one you were expecting”) is simply too difficult to properly articulate… Continue reading →
Upcoming Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Project
A group of contributors to Doctor Who TV are collaborating on a feature intended to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who. All of the writers taking part will contribute a segment that briefly details their favourite incarnation of the show’s titular Time Lord, as well as their favourite episode/serial. The article will be completed, I understand, on the 9th of November, and will go up in multiple parts as we get closer to “The Day of the Doctor”. My part has been finished and sent to the person orchestrating this, but for those who visit this here blog (which are very few, I admit), I’ve decided to put it up in advance of the actual article’s completion… Continue reading →
Formula 1: Crossing the Line
A frequent occurrence in the last few years has been that of the drivers straying all-four-wheels beyond the bounds of the racetrack during qualifying and the races. The rules state that the white lines either side of the tarmac dictate what constitutes being within the confines of the track. The drivers are being permitted these liberties if it is deemed that no advantage has been gained in their doing so. But racing drivers, being who they are, wouldn’t be bothering to do it all if they weren’t seeking and garnering some sort of advantage from it… Continue reading →
Misfits: Series 5 Episode 1 Review
Misfits is bidding adieu with its fifth series, and if this first episode of its final run is to be principally indicative of the rest to come, then it’s still in the creative straits that befell the majority of last year’s output, and showing no signs of escaping them. It’s saddening to see a programme that transcended conventions as one of the boldest and most ingenuitive shows of its age plummeting to such trite depths. The profanities and vulgarity have begun to take precedence over any genuinely purposeful storytelling, and the coalescence of Overman’s lewd humour with the trenchant drama that formerly provided the requisite antithesis is all but absent. All that’s left is a veritable shell of what Misfits once was; the same array of inane gags we’ve heard a hundred times before (overuse of the word “cock” for comedic impact is a bothersome ongoing theme), and no depth to the storytelling whatsoever…
Game of Thrones Character Analysis: Edmure & Brynden
Let me start by stating two things for the record: Game of Thrones is my favourite programme (ever), and A Song of Ice and Fire my favourite series of books. It’s been a recent infatuation, I admit; I only discovered the TV series about six months back and subsequently sought out Martin’s original works to quench my appetite for more of his sprawling, fantastical storytelling. As with all novel adaptations, there are necessary and unnecessary alterations that occur in the arduous process of conversion. Over the next indeterminate period of weeks or months, I will be analysing some of the most substantial character changes and adherences of Game of Thrones… Continue reading →
The Walking Dead: 4×1 “30 Days” Review
Never mind “30 days without an accident”, it’s been a whopping 196 days since The Walking Dead was on our screens, basking us in all its inimitably gory glory. With Glen Mazzara’s departure, owing to creative disputes between him and Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimble has taken the helm in his stead (The Walking Dead goes through Executive Producers quicker than it goes through characters), who’s authored a number of fan favourites, such as“18 Miles Out”, “Clear”, and “This Sorrowful Life”. “30 Days” isn’t his absolute best outing, but if any evidence was needed that the show is still in very capable hands, this is it… Continue reading →
James Wynne 