Some writing groups I'm in often return to ideas about anthropomorphism and what it means for writers. Almost all aliens we see are humans with traits removed or magnified. Vulcans of Star Trek: basically human + heightened rationality. Daleks: remove empathy + hate & shove in metal box. Cybers: remove emotion and personal identifiers + … Continue reading Doctor Who: Identity Stakes
Reviews
Doctor Who: Doctor Memorius
There was banter, gallows humour, fight scenes, there was highway robbery, and, there was a fire-breathing alien lion. All this was more than enough to satisfy from The Woman Who Lived, but it wasn't even the main course. The main course was the thread of conversation between The Doctor and The Knightmare/Ashildir/Lady Me. For once, Clara's … Continue reading Doctor Who: Doctor Memorius
Doctor Who: Adding Mire
River Song accused the Doctor of making such a legend of himself all his enemies wanted him in a box. She noted his title meant warrior in some languages, rather than learned or healer. Yet, Doctor Who (the program) does this all the time: makes legends and messes them up. The enemies become legendary in … Continue reading Doctor Who: Adding Mire
NaNo Prep Info
I am in the midst of NaNoWriMo preparations. Tis probably ridiculous that a non-novelist is about to write a novel of 50,000 words in November. I don't mind though, there's nothing quite so freeing as being ridiculous and I have a cunning plan to ease myself into this new identity. However, I am not so … Continue reading NaNo Prep Info
Doctor Who: Hybrid History
Some of the appeal of Doctor Who is that a single episode can unfold in unexpected directions. A straight Vikings vs Aliens episode was made more frustrating and then heart-felt by its twists. I know it's a family show, and I know it's story, not history, but if programs are going to have a play … Continue reading Doctor Who: Hybrid History
Fake Authenticity / Real Theatricality
Since seeing Justin Kurzel's MACBETH the other day, I've all these half-formed paragraphs and attempted poetic phrases turning in my mind in an effort to do it justice and properly sum up the experience. It was still and moody, and balletic and brutal in the depiction of war and bloodshed. There was theatrical cinematography with … Continue reading Fake Authenticity / Real Theatricality
Doctor Who: Listening Tour
'Hear' be spoilers... I like a bit of writing like this. It bats you around the head with its cleverness, it's self-referential, and even didactic. That's not a bad idea sometimes, as it means we get a lesson in time travel, and we know what's at stake, because we've dealt with The Doctor messing about … Continue reading Doctor Who: Listening Tour
Doctor Who: Talking Cure?
I started writing this before I saw Under the Lake and having seen it, the episode reinforces what I've been thinking for a while. Of course it will though, because confirmation bias. I was thinking regardless how big a fan you may may not be of Doctor Who under Steven Moffat, you can't deny he can write, or … Continue reading Doctor Who: Talking Cure?
Doctor Who: Lying, the witch and wardrobe malfunctions
Review: The Witch's Familiar I think the Dalek loop is complete for the moment thanks to Steven Moffat. The Doctor has killed them, refused to kill them, transformed them, saved them, run away from them, and helped in a way, to invent them. Davros and The Doctor are the same and different. Scientist geniuses, the … Continue reading Doctor Who: Lying, the witch and wardrobe malfunctions
Doctor Who: Told You So
AKA remembrance of things that might be retconned So yes, it's just like I said in my last review. Lo and behold, with The Magician's Apprentice we get the double bill return of Missy and of Davros. No sweating on slow burn mysteries, Steven Moffat is leaping straight into the big themes of the season: … Continue reading Doctor Who: Told You So
Writing Bec 