Doctor Who, Eleven For Eleven: Closing Time
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Oh, I’m the Doctor, I work in a shop now, here to help. Look, they gave me a badge with my name on it in case I forget who I am. Very thoughtful, as that does happen.”
There are times to get all bent out of shape over problems with plot, and logic, and diminishing returns, and other niggling concerns, and then there are times where it makes a lot more sense to focus on the positives of a story, the things that do work, the things that make the story enjoyable despite all those nagging flaws. The time to get all bent out of shape over the problems is when those are the chief elements on display, such as in a story like “Let’s Kill Hitler,” one of the big continuity episodes. “Closing Time,” Gareth Roberts’s sequel of sorts to last year’s “The Lodger,” is no such beast; the plot is a secondary concern to watching Matt Smith’s extra-alien Doctor once again invading the life of James Corden’s Craig Owens, this time during an all-important weekend where Craig is supposed to prove to his family and friends that he can take care of his baby Alfie on his own. Unfortunately, this also coincides with a Cyberman invasion from beneath a department store — not their finest hour, but it’s pretty much just an excuse to keep the Doctor around and give him something to do when he’s not tormenting Craig with his ability to speak baby, quiet less developed life forms with a mere “shush,” and the fact that everyone still seems to really, really like him. Again, you’ve probably already seen it, but if you haven’t, spoilers do follow. Read more »
Doctor Who, Eleven For Eleven: The God Complex
“The rooms have … THINGS in them.”
“Things? Hello! What kind of things? Interesting things? I like things. Ask anyone.”
“Bad dreams.”
“Well, that killed the mood.”
If modern DOCTOR WHO episodes were judged solely on the basis of how much they felt like classic DOCTOR WHO episodes, “The God Complex” would the king of the Eleventh Doctor stories. Certainly there are thoroughly modern elements to the story, most of all the deconstructionist climax and the heartstring-tugging ending, but the mystery, the setting, the use of a mythological story as a backbone, and the endless corridors are all very much in keeping with the formula of classic WHO. However, what puts it in the running for best of the season, to my mind, is the way the classic elements of the formula are executed, not just in a more modern way, but with such panache. And yes, while I’m coming to this a few weeks late, I will warn you on the off chance that you missed it, spoilers do follow. Read more »
Protocultural Artifacts: Changing of the Guard
Matchbox Rand, Scott Bernard, Armoured Cyclone, & Dana Sterling (1986); CM's Corp Ride Armor Blowsperior Yellow Type (2008); Matchbox Rook Bartley (1986)
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Protocultural Artifacts: Dana & Zor
Matchbox Dana Sterling & Zor Prime (1986) sitting at the feet of the Playmates Veritech Hover Tank (1995) & Bioroid Invid Fighter (1994).
Hovertanks and Bioroids are supposed to be approximately the same height. Also, Dana Sterling and Zor Prime are supposed to be at least reasonably attractive people. The folks at Matchbox seem to have missed both of those memos.
Protocultural Artifacts: The Robotech Masters
Background: Playmates Bioroid Invid Fighter (1994) atop a Matchbox Bioroid Hovercraft (1986), flanked by two Matchbox Bioroid Terminators (1986). Foreground: Harmony Gold Robotech Master (1992) flanked by two Matchbox Robotech Masters (1986).
Protocultural Artifacts: Sterling Family Reunion
Clockwise from top: Matchbox Dana Sterling action figure (1986), Playmates Exo-Squad Robotech Veritech Hover Tank (1995), Yamato GNU-Dou VF-1A Max Type TV Ver. (2009), Toynami Robotech Masterpiece Collection Maia Sterling's Shadow Fighter (2010).
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Protocultural Artifacts: Dana Sterling w/ Hovercycle
The dearth of merchandising available for SUPER DIMENSION CAVALRY SOUTHERN CROSS in Japan and the second generation of ROBOTECH in the United States means that fans of that show in either incarnation will, if the drive is strong enough, find themselves buying just about anything featuring its cast of characters and iconography. Consequently, I own a Harmony Gold-issued Dana Sterling doll (1992) and its matching Matchbox Hovercycle (1986). Yes, that makes me a thirty year old man who owns a doll, but alongside the small Dana Sterling action figure mounted on its Hovertank it makes a nice display piece. The Dana Sterling doll, oddly enough, was originally issued by Matchbox wearing a pink striped dress; only in this later Harmony Gold release was she released clad in her Southern Cross military uniform. Strange that they thought she’d sell better sans her iconic look.
Robotech, In Brief: Catastrophe
“I reject the structure of your civilization! I reject your values and your beliefs! I am an individual human being from the planet Earth!”
Robotech, In Brief: The Invid Connection
“What are they doing injecting the clones with anti-pain serum?”
“Because with the serum they become immune to pain and can stay in battle til the bitter end.”
“It has come to this?”
“That is their fate. War is their sacrificial altar. It is the Robotech way.“
Robotech, In Brief: Final Nightmare
“You yourself said there can be no forgiveness for somebody who betrays the people who trust him. Well, what do you think you just did? Are WE supposed to forgive YOU?“
