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
Loki
Avengers: Never ending cast of thousands
I've been thinking about Avengers: Age of Ultron since I saw it a week and a bit ago. I'm not a huge fan of heroes creating their own problems to solve, vis a vie Ultron. But I get it is less complicated for the heroes to go around pulverising robots than killing people. We can … Continue reading Avengers: Never ending cast of thousands
Doctor Who: Relative Heroes
With Death in Heaven and Interstellar I've been thinking about relativity and time, cycles, and returns, and death and how these are represented in narrative. Then I remembered Buddhism. Ouroboros To be Buddhist is to be awake to reality. It occurs to me that to be in suspended animation sleep to cross space is like … Continue reading Doctor Who: Relative Heroes
Be the Hero?
The new Hobbit trailer is out, partly because of this, and because of The Hobbit fan competition, and Halloween and 'cons' I've been thinking about the fan phenomenon. As The Doctor explained to Charles Dickens it’s about fanaticism. I was going to say such devotion is usually motivated out of a deep appreciation or love, … Continue reading Be the Hero?
Fellowship of the Orb: Review of Guardians of the Galaxy
If you like Marvel films you'll like Guardians of the Galaxy. You may like it even more if you don't like everything Marvel has done. I liked it. It was smart and sweet and nostalgic, with some great performances from the cast, plus with added bonus surprise cameos and shout outs for long-term comic readers. … Continue reading Fellowship of the Orb: Review of Guardians of the Galaxy