Big Chief 11th Doctor with Stetson

I'm surprised that there was enough demand for this to happen. Not that I'm complaining. I love the stetson used in Series 6, and the 1/6 scale 11th Doctor looks a lot better with the new head. The Matt likeness is right on, though there's a slight blank stare look on his face.

Personal tastes vary, but it's well worth it if you like the look.

12th Doctor 3-3/4" Figure Photos

I found the new Twelfth Doctor figure at a random Walgreens about the tail end of December. Here are some random pictures I took. The Capaldi likeness is decent for the scale. The profile is stronger than the front view.  Kudos for using navy plastic/paint for the Doctor's outfit. (It's not black!) His arms are a bit thin, and the one shin piece looks crooked (?!), but overall, I'm happy with it.

One big happy family.

No cracks about the Clara figure, okay?

3.75" Doctor Who Wave 3 Photos & Review

Here are some photos of the new wave 3 Doctor Who figures that came out within the last month:

The Tenth Doctor with Trenchcoat: The sculpt looks like it's based on Tennant's appearance in "Day of the Doctor." The sculpting around the collar and tie look a little underwhelming. I think that's partially because there's not enough paint on the tie's knot, and there should be paint on the part of the tie going around his neck.

The 11th Doctor in Tweed (revised): The one on the left is from wave 2 and the one on the right is from wave 3.  Besides the different jacket opening in the front, I noticed that the newer version's jacket is a lighter color that is a little closer to the actual jacket color.  Also, the face on the newer one is a lot nicer, maybe by luck, and the skin tone is a lot more flesh tone and a lot less yellowish.    

What I did in the end was pop off the hands and head from the new figure, and swapped them for the Purple Coat 11, and now I have a much nicer Purple Coat figure.

And then there's the Gold Supreme Dalek. He's , um, gold.

The Big Five-OH

I guess it would be remiss of me not to take a little time to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. This day, fifty years ago, was when the first episode, "An Unearthly Child", broadcasted in the BBC. If I'm fortunate, I might even be here to see the 100th anniversary in 2063, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

It's surprising to learn how many pop culture ideas came from the 60s and all are celebrating their golden anniversary. James Bond did a few years ago.  Fantastic Four will next year.  Spider-Man and Ultraman will have theirs in 2016. This is just me skimming the surface, of course.

I suppose I'm a little jealous in that I have no idea or character that will outlive me.  No one will look fondly back, fifty years from now, at something that I wrote.  So, I just borrow a very old ideology, one of goodwill and self-sacrifice. Hopefully, that will see me through.

Goodbye, Number 11

Figures, the day I'm out of town, and there's a big announcement.

Matt Smith, Doctor Number Eleven, will be leaving "Doctor Who" following the Christmas Special later this year.

It's a real shame, because things have really seemed to pick up for the new series.  I liked the Doctor's new outfit, new companion, new TARDIS interior, and even the new opening with the first floating Doctor-head-thingy since 1989.

Matt Smith was the star of the Series 7.2. He brought all of the scripts, good and bad, to life.  He was especially delightful when he talked to himself in "Nightmare in Silver." He and new co-star Jenna Louise Coleman have great chemistry, and it's sad that they won't be able to build on it.

I don't know if it's the scripts or the new companion, but Matt's Doctor came off really effortlessly, and there was little to no usage of the catchphrases forced upon him in his first stories.  I will miss the bow ties, of course, and the new Doctor will probably stay far from it to distinguish himself from Matt.

That leaves only the 50th Anniversary Special in November and the Christmas Special in December.  I assume that both are written by Moffat whose two scripts in Series 7.2 were not the best for Matt.

Sigh, now on with the endless speculation on who will be Doctor # 12. (Please don't be some twenty-something skinny, white kid. Oops, sorry, Matt.)

Big Chief 1/6 Scale 11th Doctor With Long Coat

In less than a month (Easter, in fact), the new episodes of Doctor Who will start, and the 11th Doctor will be sporting a new outfit featuring a dark purple long coat and grey waistcoat.  I like the new look and was able to get some custom clothing made to fit my Big Chief figure.

Check out these pictures below:

Doctor Who Series 7

The first half of the new season of "Doctor Who" has already come and gone.  It has been a somewhat loose tradition for me to review new episodes on this blog. This year, I've made my opinions heard (and ignored) thru the WhoNA message boards.

What amazed me the most was that most of the new series is very polarizing. Meaning, that I could either watch any episodes over and over again or live a rich and fulfilled life without ever seeing a particular episode again.

Series 7 was completely different in a middle-of-the-road sort of affair. I wasn't really turned off by any episode, but I wasn't really compelled to see any of them again, even the Western one which I was looking forward to. It was high time we said goodbye to Amy and Rory, about one and half series too late.

In a few months, there will be a new Christmas special, a new companion, and, more than likely, a new look for "Doctor Who." I wish Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman all the best.

"I wear a waistcoat now. Waistcoats are cool."

Review: Junk (Yard) TARDIS

Doctor Who, the long-running science fiction television series, may not be one to lend itself to the concept of action figures, what with its hero's perchance to talk himself out of situations and only arms himself with a (sonic) screwdriver, but the new lease on life caused by the 2005 series has created many marketing venues, included action figures and play sets.

So, long story short, it's 2011, Matt Smith's second year as the eponymous hero, and "The Doctor's Wife" aired on May 14th. In the episode, the Doctor and Idris build a makeshift TARDIS console out of rubbish TARDISes so that he can chase after his own stolen TARDIS. This "Junk" TARDIS was designed by Susannah Leah, a schoolgirl who won a competition.



On to the actual review, the "Junk" TARDIS console is brought to life with great accuracy. There are little things that I could nit-pick about, but over all I was very impressed with the execution of this set. (The nit-picking would include the cardboard inserts for walls, that look a lot better than expected, and the almost zero paint work.) You can recreate everything that was done in the episode:

- The Doctor inserts the central time rotor (Removable time rotor - Check)
- One-sixth of the console falls out during flight (Removable console piece - Check)
- The console room spins in flight (Ingenious spinning action - Check)

Actually, the most fun you can have with this is that you, like the Doctor, get build the entire set by hand. It's almost a shame that the "Junk" TARDIS was only used for one story, but it was one of the better stories of the season at least. The only other quibble is the price. Roughly, $35 - $40 for a chunk of plastic is a bit harsh. (eBay is a great place to find it cheaper.) If lights and sounds had been added, this set would have been near perfect. It really is something that you have to see yourself to admire.

Doctor Who in Utah

God Bless Nick and Lis

Recently, Britain has lost two of their most talented actors. Both were well known for their roles in the science fiction show, Doctor Who. I am talking about the untimely deaths of Nicholas Courtney and Elisabeth Sladen.

Courtney's death, I learned by happenstance, was in late February. The exact cause of death was not given, but it sounds like it was cancer. Courtney has worked, in one way or another, in various roles throughout the 26 years of the original Doctor Who, working along side six of the seven incarnations of the lead character. He most often portrayed the character Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, one of the most beloved characters in Doctor Who. He reprised the role in more recent audio adventures of Doctor Who.

Then, not two days ago, I heard that Elisabeth Sladen died. She played Sarah Jane Smith, one of the most popular Doctor Who companions, and certainly one of the first headstrong, independent female characters in the show's history. She worked alongside the incomparable Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker for three and half years. She reprised her role in an episode of the new Doctor Who series, which led to a new spin-off show. Sladen became an icon for a new generation of children, and sadly, now she is gone.

I shall miss them both.

Doctor Who's New Season

I've decided to cautiously optimistic about the new season of Doctor Who, as I am of most things. I like Matt Smith as the Doctor, though his interpretation is much more light and innocent than his predecessor's incarnation. The new season starts around Easter, which makes me wonder why the new series is fixated with Christian holidays.

I had watched the first couple episodes from the previous season, Smith's first, but I wasn't terribly happy with them. I'm willing to give the rest of the season a second chance, but BBC America has decided not to show them prior to the new season. Either case, the opener two parter sounds interesting (I guess) with the Doctor bouncing around Monument Valley and Area 51.

Neil Gaiman is also on tap to write a story about the Doctor's wife. Why him, but not Stephen Fry, I don't know. Fry was too busy, unfortunately, and season three lumbered on without him.

Well, how bad could it be anyway?

Eleventh Doctor

This is way old news. but David Tennant stepped down as the current Doctor Who and was replaced by Matt Smith. I'm tempted to watch the new series to see if there's any improvements now that Russell Davies has left. But that's not the point of this article other than to mention that the Doctor's apparently Benjamin Button now.

I've seen ads for the new series, and it's good to know that the Eleventh Doctor stole his new outfit from Buckaroo Banzai.

Or Pee Wee Herman...

First Impressions

I had broken down and listened to the Dr Who and the Daleks compilation soundtrack for the two Dr Who movies (I should say the two Dalek movies) of the 1960s. I was throughly warned that it was very sixties type music, but having just listened to the thirty-plus minutes of Malcolm Lockyer's score to the first music, I have no regrets.

Last of the Doctor Who Reviews

The Satan Pit:
The only really interesting thing about this episode is that the Doctor actually finds himself with a bit of a moral dilemma when he faces the demon in the pit. Unfortunately, the resolution's cheesy. Also, there's no closure or explanation as to what the devil-creature is. The Doctor literally just shrugs and leaves. C

Love & Monsters and Fear Her:
Honestly, I tried watching both of these episodes, but found that I couldn't. David Tennant is what makes this series at all interesting, so an episode he's barely in isn't going to rank very high with me. "Fear Her" is just a typical "modern" Doctor Who story, one with the Doctor lighting the Olympic Torch. What's with that? D both.

Army of Ghosts and Doomsday:
These two episodes give me hope for season three. A tense and competient story directed by Gaeme Harper, the Doctor starts off investigating the appearance of ghost-like creatures. This leads him to Torchwood, and the meat of the story. Cybermen. Daleks. Parallel Earths. While last season's big wolf fell on its face, this really pays off, and I hope that Tennant's second season as the Doctor is better. B

Season Overall: C+

More Doctor Who Mini-Reviews

The Idiot's Lantern:
I suppose the title of last week's episode refers to the televison, though my parents always called it the idiot box, since it's a box that sits in your room and wasn't used to light it. Yet again, the episode takes place in London, although this time in the 1950s, which, I guess, makes it a period piece. I remember liking Mark Gatiss' New Adventures novel, but this episode is lacking with another lame alien invasion story.

I also don't like the new series' British-centric attitude. The old series was much more cosmopolitan: no thick accents, no obscure British references, etc. In other words, the old series was much more accessible, while I feel like an outsider who's out of the loop when I watch the new series. C

The Impossible Planet:
This week's episode, however, is a nice breath of fresh air. It has an air of mystery lacking in many other episodes. The plot revolves around a planet impossibly orbiting around a black hole, thanks to a strange power source at the core of the planet. The whole "we've lost the TARDIS so now we're stuck here forever" thing has been done to death, but the Doctor's finally showing off some of his scientific knowledge instead of sharing a giggle with Rose. Like most episodes, this is mainly generic sci-fi at best, but it has the best cliffhanger done so far. B

Doctor Who : Season 2 Continues...

The Age of Steel:
Despite a lame resolution to a typical cliffhanger (the Doctor just kills the Cybermen), this episode contains a few great moments among a lot of average ones. Tennant's Doctor is still somber compared to past episodes, as if the Doctor's finally taking an episode seriously for once. The confrontation with the Cyber Leader is Tennant at his best and he doesn't look bad in a tux either.

The rest of the episode is pretty standard horror/action film stuff. Cheap scares. Cybermen coming to life. Falling of a blimp into a huge ball of flames. That sort of thing. It's this sort of uninventive storytelling that's plagued the new series, and made me less than impressed with all of it. It's like Russell Davies, ironically a New Adventures alumni, is trying to erase the last ten years of original novels and much better ideas than what's been presented so far. B-

Doctor Who Season 2: Part 2

School Reunion/The Girl in the Fireplace:
These two episodes have two things in common: 1.) They're better than the previous episodes and 2.)both have the Doctor as more of a love interest. I thought we learned from the McGann movie that kissing compassions was a no-no. Reunion features the return of Sarah Jane Smith and K9, and I wish the villains were from the old series, because the whole "My Teachers Are Aliens" thing was lame. Fireplace, on the other hand, had a plot that was original and strange enough to belong to the Who canon, if it wasn't for the overly-sentimental tone of the episode. B each.

Rise of the Cyberman Pt.1
This is my favorite episode so far. Even though it still takes place on (parallel) London, Earth, Tennant's Doctor is less the glib tourist the new Doctors usually are, and acts more like, well, the Doctor. He's pensive, barks at his companions, and much more reserved. Maybe this has to do with the fact that the episodes directed by veteran Whoian Graeme Harper. The villian, bound in a wheelchair, seeks immortality and is more believable than the Werewolf Monks and the Cat Nurses put together. Despite a dull cliffhanger, I can't wait until next week. B+

Doctor Who: Season 2 So Far

Christmas Invasion:
Most post-regeneration stories have the new guy (in this case David Tennant) run around acting weird, but Tennant sleeps through most of the episode, leaving 80% of the show to a weak supporting cast. But when the Doctor is revived (by tea of course) Tennant gives a great performance and shows a darker side of the Doctor. (Finally!) If I overlook that whole hand business, I'd give it a C.

New Earth:
Zombies on Doctor Who? This is almost as bad as the farting aliens. Almost. There's nothing spectacular about this episode, and it feels like it should have been in season one. B-

Tooth and Claw:
The worst thing about this episode is that it's so been-done-before. The Doctor lands in the wrong time. Aliens want to take over the British government via Queen Victoria. And a monster that kills off half the supporting cast. What doesn't help is that neither Tennant or Piper seem to be taking the episode seriously. Why should I? C-

A New Doctor Already?!

The new Doctor Who series has become a big hit in Great Britain, and it has already been renewed for a second series (season). Unfortunately, the offical ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, will not be returning. Eccleston cites that he's not returning because of a "grueling" schedule and the large amount of attention the role's brought him, including the tabloids.

Billie Piper, who plays companion Rose Tyler, will be returning for the second series. David Tennant has been offically chosen as the tenth Doctor.

In other news, U.S. fans may only get a look at the newest series from a DVD release sometime after the U.K. release in late Fall of 2005. There will be separate episodic DVDs and a collected DVD season set with extras.

And Now Something Completely Different

Here's a bit of silliness that I found while surfing around:

There's an animated UK movie coming out in February called the Magic Roundabout, where an assortment of different characters team up to save the world from this guy with a spring for legs who wants to turn the world into an eternal winterland. (I believe this is a movie version of a British kid's show. Anyone care to elaborate?)

Why am I impressed? Let's check out the cast, shall we: Jim Broadbent, Joanna Lumley, Sir Ian McKellan, Doctor Who himself Tom Baker, with singers Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. (Americans, I'll explain who they are later. Rest of the world, you guys already know who they are.)

There's a trailer you can already see on the official web site. I wonder if they'll be any kind of US release of the movie?

Probably not.