2011 - A Year In General

Best Show (UK): Game Of Thrones. Technically, it is a UK show in some ways and it became one of the most exciting things on television all year.

Worst Show (UK): This Is Jinsy. It tried to be quirky and off beat and pretty much failed.

Best Show (US): True Blood. Season 4 certainly took the series to some interesting new heights.

Worst Show (US): The Cape. No wonder this superhero was put down before he could take flight.

Best Villain: Does Constance from American Horror Story count? She feels particularly villainous to me.

Worst Villain: Travis Marshall in Dexter. Thank God Dexter took him out in the end.

Best TV Death: Viserys getting quite the crowning in Game Of Thrones stuck out for me. Mitchell in Being Human came a close second.

Worst TV Death: Tara's in True Blood, going on the assumption that was her actual demise.

Shocking TV Moment: Deb finally learning about her brother's other job in Dexter.

Least Shocking TV Moment: River being revealed as Amy/Rory's daughter and marrying the Doctor in Doctor Who. It actually makes sense in retrospect.

Sexiest Male On TV: Matthew Rhys in Brothers And Sisters. I'm keeping that one for now.

Sexiest Female On TV: Jessica Brown-Findlay in Downton Abbey. I do love Lady Sybil.

Best Finale: Game Of Thrones first season ender, Fire And Blood hit the right spot.

Yes, Kids Are Annoying: Joffrey in Game Of Thrones. Also add tyrant into the mix as well and it's a fateful combination.

Neither Use, Nor Ornament: Sue in Glee. I believe her character is tethering on the pointless now.

Best Gay Couple: Kevin Walker/Scotty Wandall in Brothers And Sisters.

Worst Gay Couple: Brittany and Santana in Glee. Show more equality, Ryan Murphy.

Best Straight Couple: Amy and Rory in Doctor Who, with George/Nina from Being Human coming a close second.

Worst Straight Couple: Sybil and Branson in Downton Abbey. The writers made a hatchet job out of them. Also Matty/Franky in Skins.

Best Guest Appearance: Frances Barber as Madame Kovarian in Doctor Who. Who said the camp was dead on this show? Mark Sheppard as Canton comes a close second.

Worst Guest Appearance: Cody Kasch pointlessly returning briefly as Zach in Desperate Housewives. Did anyone actually care?

Killed Too Soon: Claudine in True Blood. What was the point of her character?

Difficult Season: Dexter. Season 6 wasn't unwatchable but the dip in quality was hard not to notice or deny though.

Best Male Character: The Doctor in Doctor Who. Contrary to what has been said about Series 6, Smith's performances have continued to impress.

Worst Male Character: Viserys in Game Of Thrones. Let's praise Khal Drogo for ensuring this idiot never became king.

Best Female Character: Daenerys in Game Of Thrones. Talk about a bloody character journey.

Worst Female Character: Holly in Brothers And Sisters, but thankfully she left.

Most Improved Show: Being Human. It might have had a shaky second year but Series 3 was a return to form.

Least Improved Show: Dexter. Again, Season 6 had it's drawbacks.

Best TV Partnership: Eleven/Amy/Rory/River became a much tougher and more formidable in Doctor Who, so them naturally.

Worst TV Partnership: Morgana and Agravaine in Merlin. Neither were particularly on fine form, were they?

Best Use Of Music: Skins. Season 5 provided some good music, except maybe Rich's episode.

HoYay Award: The Knights in Merlin. Let's face it, the poor lads didn't do much else during Series 4.

2012 Hopeful: Sinbad. Here's hoping it's a success for Sky1.

Misfits - Season 3 Review

Warning: Spoilers alert! You know the drill - you lose a big character, you hopefully can add a new one that will go down a treat. I think after eight weeks it was safe to assume that while Nathan might have left, Rudy more or less filled the void rather nicely.

Vegas Baby: This eight minute little scene pretty much shows us how Nathan actually left the show and it's a nice way of actually writing him out of the mix.

Episode 1: It's the debut of Rudy and he makes quite an impression, especially when we get to see more than one side to him. I'm not sure if the show needed to add a previous history with him and Alisha but it worked rather well and the gang's new powers are interesting enough.

Episode 2: Curtis has gotten some interesting episodes in the past and this was definitely an interesting one, especially when it comes to it's commentary on gender politics. Only this show would handle something like that in such an outlandish way and still do it well.

Episode 3: Okay, I suppose we had to have a comic geek obsessed with superheros at some point and Peter more or less is the epitome of that, right to the point of being a deliberate hindrance to Simon and Alisha as well.

Episode 4: Ooh, it's the Let's Kill Hitler and not succeed one. No, seriously, I know this episode generated mixed reviews but between Kelly and Seth's developing relationship and the former smacking Hitler one, it's actually one of my favourites from the series.

Episode 5: Another Kelly/Seth centred episode, only with the former spending most of the time in a coma. The only thing I learned from this episode more importantly was that it's just not worth the hassle being a probation worker on this show.

Episode 6: Rudy wronged a woman and nearly lost his manhood as a result while Curtis encountered a storyline that really shouldn't happen to a bloke before changing his powers for something else.

Episode 7: Zombie cheerleaders and Seth's not so dead ex-girlfriend. I think we all can guess the inspiration behind this episode but it's certainly amusing, especially for the reasons behind Rudy's aversion to cheerleaders as well.

Episode 8: Remember Rachel, Tony and Sally from the first year? Well, they came back and a series of chaos went down in it's wake. It was a hell of a way of ending this series and it'll be interesting to see where the next one goes as a result.

With impressive ratings and more innovative storytelling, it really does prove that this show can weather virtually any storm and come out the other side. I can't wait to see where the fourth year goes from here.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Soap Discussion - December 2011

Okay, not the last blog for 2011 but the last soap related one for this year at the very least.

Coronation Street: Well, this has been a better month than most. Still not loving the whole Peter/Carla affair or the increasingly pained rivalry between Tina and Kirsty but the rest has been good. Trust Tracy of all people to use a miscarriage to drive a further wedge between Steve and Becky and also trust this show to use a wedding between Sophie and Sian to ultimately be the couple's undoing. Well, that and Amber of course.

EastEnders: An excellent month. After becoming well too drawn out, Boxing Day finally done us all a favour and ended Yusef's reign of terror on Albert Square whilst taking the lazy route and revealing Ben to be responsible for Phil being stalked. On the plus side, there's something delightfully gratifying in seeing Denise dropping Phil in it for Kevin's death and Bianca's return was also another well done moment too. All that's left now is Janine's little surprise and the death of a beloved character to kick 2012 off in style.

Emmerdale: I remember there was a time when someone could actually kill someone on this show if they put their mind to it, but alas, Cain had to survive being clobbered and we'll have to wait a while before they reveal the actual culprit. Still, it would take Cain as a character to use a near death experience to drive both Charity and Jai apart, wouldn't it? And that's the best plot we've had because Ashley/Laurel's marital woes due to Marlon paled in comparison as did the latest spat between Debbie and Alicia.

Fair City: Yeah, I've more or less given up on this one and won't be discussing it from next month onwards. The affair plot with Tommy and Jo has taken up too much screentime and I have no interest in Leo and Dean's love lives either, though the Christmas episodes and Denzo's brief comeback were alright.

Hollyoaks: Another strong month for the programme - the Freshers became more integrated into the show, both Warren and Ethan were given reasonably good exits and Mitzeee managed to actually survive betraying the former while Doug got some ghostly advice in order to stay alive. All of which was better than the constant back and forth with Riley and Mercedes and the writers attempts of giving Dodger some depth.

Long Live The Queen

And here's my last TV jumble blog of 2011. Only three more blogs and we'll be in 2012.

American Horror Story: Yeah, I still have a lot more to go with this series but this mid series episode was interesting enough. It was nice (and a little overdue) to get a backstory for Larry and Tate's hatred for Constance seems pretty understandable. Fascinating as she is, Constance is not an easy person to like at all. I also liked the scheming with Moira to save the house from demolition but how many more episodes do we have to go through with Vivian thinking she's carrying a devil child though?

Downton Abbey: I absolutely loved this episode, it might actually be my favourite one so far and while I wish we had seen Sybil, I do love the fact that the whole business with Carlisle/Mary/Matthew and Pamuk debacle is finally out of the way. I'm not a big Mary/Matthew shipper and even I thought the proposal at the end was great. The special managed to justify it's two hour length and used both the Christmas and New Year's backdrop beautifully - plus every character had something worthwhile to do and Violet was on fine form with her barbs. Series 2 might have been shaky at times but this was an excellent return to form. So glad I got into this show after months of resisting it like the plague.

Merlin: As a finale went, this was one of the best ones we've had. Okay, so once again, Morgana lost and got her ass kicked by magic but I did love her confrontations with both Arthur and Gwen at different points in the episode and the last scene where she got a new ally was fantastic. Oh and Agravaine is finally no more - I will not miss that character at all and Gwen as Queen - thank you, show. Series 5 is looking more and more exciting now, isn't it? Even the disappointing handling of Tristan and Isolde didn't deter this episode.

Misfits: Another muchly discussed finale, you can't help but praise this show's ballsy attitude when it comes to the characters. In this finale, we lost two main players but in retrospect, perhaps their exits weren't all that shocking after all, though certainly fantastic to watch. The returns of Sally, Tony and Rachel and even the flashback featuring Nathan however were surprising but effective. It's gonna be interesting to see where this innovative series goes next.

- Rutina Wesley has joined the cast of The Walking Dead. Expect to see her in the second half of Season 2 when the show returns in February.
- While Antonia Thomas and Iwan Rheon have left Misfits, the show has been renewed for a fourth series.
- Lenora Crichlow has apparently hinted that she'll be leaving Being Human after it's fourth series airs on BBC3 next month.
- Julian Fellows Titanic: Blood And Steel has released a trailer. The mini-series will air on ITV in April.
- Helen Mirren has provided a voiceover for the first episode of Glee to air in January. She's voicing a main character's innermost thoughts.
- American Horror Story will have a new cast for it's second season when it returns in 2012 on FX.
- Desperate Housewives eighth and final season will air on Channel 4, Tuesdays at 10pm from January 10th.
- The opening episode for Showtime's new show, House Of Lies has leaked online for viewers to watch.
- Jennifer Carpenter has mentioned she'd like to guest star in Modern Family. Hire her for an episode, producers.
- Channel 4 have the rights to Showtime drama, Homeland and will air it in early 2012.

Skins - Season 6 Cast Pictures/First Trailer

And here are some more cast pics of the sixth series of Skins, including one of the new guy.

Alex (Sam Jackson): The latest member of the group and he's an openly gay character. We'll see him making out with a pirate in one episode.

Alo (Will Merrit): Last season his immaturity nearly cost his family everything but this year, it looks like he's beginning to grow up.

Franky (Dakota Blue Richards): The trailer for the new series sees Franky lashing out more and it seems that she's getting several sex scenes this year.

Grace (Jessica Sula): She's still with Rich but knowing this show, maybe something will go wrong.

Liv (Laya Lewis): She's still partying but is she also still pining for Matty? Er, let's hope not and that's in spite of me not being a Franky/Matty fan.

Matty (Sebastian DeSouza): Apparently less mysterious and elusive than the previous year. Perhaps that's a good thing.

Mini (Freya Mavor): She's done a lot of growing up but I think most viewers are hoping that there's more to her and Franky than subtext, despite the writers insistence of otherwise.

Nick (Sean Teale): He's mostly been trading in rugby for partying but will that have to stop soon?
Rich (Alexander Arnold): He looks brooding in his pic. That can't be a good thing, right?

And there's a thirty second trailer now released, primarily focusing on the gang's antics in Morocco as the sixth series opens up with the gang on holiday. The season is also ten episodes long as well.

Series 6 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZcut9ly5m4

My Review of Doctor Who's 6x14: "The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Farren Blackburn

Madge: “Caretaker?”
The Doctor: “Yes?”
Madge: “You’re fired.”

Christmas really wouldn’t be the same nowadays without some sort of a seasonal adventure from the Doctor and it’s interesting that in the space of seven years, how used to them that we’ve become as viewers. We expect them every year and the results tend to vary but a lack of Christmas visit from the Doctor would be a less interesting occasion indeed.

Last year, Steven Moffat decided to riff off A Christmas Carol and this year, it’s The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe that Moffat pays tribute to as the Doctor’s attempts to thank Madge Arwell and her children for an act of kindness manages to go completely wrong for him and everyone concerned.

You do have to wonder why the Doctor thought a gift to a safe planet would be a good idea for the Arwell matriarch and her children and you also have to wonder why he couldn’t simply have done this with the TARDIS rather than the portal disguised as a present under the tree of the house the Arwells had been evacuated to as well.

It’s an extremely reckless thing for the Doctor to do and the consequences are felt rather quickly with Cyril being the first of the kids to go through the portal into a magical land and the Doctor and Lily having to follow him rather quickly. Taking some inspiration from Narnia, the trees here can whisper and grow baubles but it’s the Wooden King and Queen who have to be the noteworthy.

As villains, this wooden couple aren’t even that. Instead they’re desperate to save the people of their forest from a bout of acid rain and for an interesting commentary on the female of the species; it’s only a woman that actually guide them to the stars. Lily is the first to almost succumb to this before it’s Madge who actually has to do it in the end.

Madge’s destiny to help the forest and actually fly into the time vortex is visually quite neat to watch but it’s also the sort of solution that I think most people will have predicted for the entire dilemma and seeing as we’ve had these kinds of solutions in a fair amount of episodes from time to time, it’s a little bit of a disappointment to see it recycled.

Something else that is rather disappointed are the Androzani Harvesters that we briefly meet in this story as well. I know Droxil was stubborn, Billis too receptive to Madge’s needs and Ven-Gerr having maternal issues but as guest characters they were not on screen nearly enough to really make an impact and the fact that two of them were played by Bill Bailey and Arabella Weir makes that fact also a little more disappointing.

However, keeping with a feel good element of the episode, I don’t think anyone was really surprised that Reg was going to survive this episode, even if Madge had been put in the situation of having to actually tell her children their father had perished. Should Moffat maybe have left Reg dead, considering that he was also a rather underused character in this episode? No, I think on repeat viewing of the episode, Reg turning up alive was actually a good thing for this story.

As for the rapport between the Doctor and the Arwells – I think it further cemented that Matt Smith does really work exceptionally well with nearly everyone he comes into contact with her. Both the Doctor and Madge managed to make each other better and I’m glad that Madge was also able to make the Doctor follow a piece of advice by the end of the episode.

The rapport with Cyril wasn’t as developed as it was it with Lily though. Lily managed to be both impressed by the Doctor and also took the time to challenge his irresponsibility as well. If the character was a bit older, she would’ve been good companion material, wouldn’t she? And that brings me to the last bit....

Amy and Rory – unless you’re clever enough to avoid spoilers, it should’ve been obvious that we were going to see them yet again. I liked that Madge’s words got the Doctor to show up at their door to confirm that he was alive and I loved that he was touched when he realised the Ponds always set a place for him during Christmas Day. Knowing that it’s going to be another while before Amy and Rory depart for good, I really am going to miss them when they’ve left the Doctor’s life once and for all.

Also in “The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe”

Claire Skinner’s name was in the opening credits but Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill’s names were above hers in the closing credits for this episode.

Madge: “There’s a street lamp.”
The Doctor: “I got that impression.”

What exactly was the Doctor doing on that spaceship before he landed on Earth? In the prequel for this episode, he did call Amy as well.

Madge (re the Doctor): “That man is quite ridiculous. You must stay away from him.”
Lily: “I like him.”
Cyril: “I like him too.”

Lily (re TARDIS): “Why would you rewire a wardrobe?”
The Doctor: “Have you seen the way I dress?”

The Doctor used the name of ‘caretaker’ in this episode. I wonder what other names he’s going to use from now when meeting new people.

The Doctor (to Lily): “There are sentences I should keep away from.”

Droxil: “Please say we can tell the difference between wool and side arms?”
Ven-Gerr: “We can tell the difference, sir.”
Droxil: “Can we?”
Ven-Gerr: “Not always, sir.”

Apart from the Androzani references, the Doctor made a reference to the Forest Of Cheem as well. I miss Jabe, so thanks for that Doctor.

The Doctor: “Why is there honey in a honey trap?”
Lily: “Because it’s a trap?”

Wooden King: “You are not the one, you are weak.”
The Doctor: “I’m really not.”

This is the first episode of the new series not to have a Confidential for it. However, there are some online content for the episode on the BBC site.

Lily: “What’s happening?”
The Doctor: “No idea. Do what I do – hold tight and pretend it’s a plan.”

Madge: “Oh, Caretaker, what if I require you again?”
The Doctor: Make a wish.”

Because nothing for the seventh series has been filmed yet, we got a trailer for the second series of Sherlock, which also looks rather exciting.

Amy: “So you’re not dead?”
The Doctor: “And a happy new year.”

Chronology: 1938 at the start of the episode, 1941 for most of it with the Arwells and December 2013 when we saw Amy and Rory again.

As a Christmas special goes, “The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe” definitely had moments where it could’ve been better or a little less predictable but at the same time, it was a rather feel good episode, the Arwells continued a tradition of good one-off companions and it’s mainly EastEnders job to be grim on Christmas Day anyways, so for those reasons alone, this was a still an enjoyable episode if not a classic.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Sherlock - Season 2 More Pictures

And with eight days to go, here are some pictures of the second series of BBC's Sherlock to behold.

Andrew Scott certainly looks dapper in a suit as Jim Moriarty and considering that we've got him in both A Scandal In Belgravia and The Reichenback Fall, he should be causing more headaches for Sherlock and Watson.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock Holmes and John Watson respectively. A second year working together and also there's a moment where they, er, punch each other. Should be interesting to see.
Russell Tovey as the tormented Henry Night. I have to admit, I am looking forward to seeing how Mark Gatiss reimagines The Hounds Of Baskerville.

Lara Pulver as Irene Adler, who in this version is supposed to be a lesbian dominatrix who also manages to prove quite the intellectual match for Sherlock.

Mark Gatiss - when he's not writing episodes for the show, he's guest starring again as Sherlock's brother, Mycroft. Hopefully he's better utilised this series.

Series 2 Trailers: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00msw6y

Series 2 airs January 1st at 8.10pm on BBC1.

My Review of Doctor Who's: "Up All Night"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Richard Senior

Craig (to Sophie, re Alfie): "I still can't believe I'm allowed him."

Aww, isn't that sweet? No, seriously, Craig, I think most kids out there would love to have you as a father. You're kind, funny and your sense of exasperation is rather endearing. Plus the Doctor thinks you're so great, he came to see you while on his farewell tour.

This little snippet dealing with Craig having to look after his son while Sophie went out with her mates was lovely to watch. It's a shame we didn't get to see as much of Sophie as we did in The Lodger but this was a nice way of making it up to viewers.

Oh and there's some nice sense of occurring as Sophie is intrigued by some of the recent disappearances while Craig frets about having to give Alfie a bath. Maybe this sounds trivial compared to the other scenes but it's a joy to watch nonetheless.

- The Doctor, Amy, Rory and River are neither seen nor mentioned in this mini-scene at all.
- This is basically also a prequel to Closing Time as well.
- Anyone not only see the electrics going off but also hear the Cybermen noise? I thought that was a lovely touch to this.
- Chronology wise, pretty could've been part of the opening to Closing Time.

A great little round up of this series of mini scenes. I really hope these Night And The Doctor style scenes factor into the next series because they've been a joy to watch.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Skins - Series 6 First Picture

With the new series scheduled to air late next month, a cast picture of the sixth and final season (I'm assuming we're not getting a fourth generation) of Skins has finally been released and while it looks like Franky, Mini, Matty, Nick, Alo, Liv, Rich and Grace are back, there's also a new guy called Alex added into the mix as well played by Sam Jackson. Oh and the character is gay - Gay Times have an interview with the actor, out now. Linked below is an interview with some of the cast, containing spoilers.

Article: http://skinsfans.livejournal.com/2214967.html#cutid1

Series 6 of Skins airs Mondays at 10pm on E4 from January 23rd.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Movie Not A Go?

Remember a while ago when we were all panicking that a potential Buffy movie without Joss Whedon was going to surface? Well, in news that won't shock (but will undoubtedly please) people, it seems that the writer for that proposed movie has been fired, according to Geoff Boucher from The LA Times. Apparently writer Whit Anderson's script has been seen as 'unworkable' and was rejected. I guess we can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being, right?

Press Release: http://blastr.com/2011/12/remember-that-joss-less-b.php

My Review of Dexter's 6x12: "This Is The Way The World Ends"

Written by Scott Buck And Wendy West
Directed by John Dahl

Dexter (re being caught by Deb): “Oh God.”

Well, this season has been about religion, so maybe Dexter’s final words of the sixth year are appropriate considering what just happened. You wait so long for a moment like this and it’s fantastic that when it happens, it still manages to come out of nowhere. Warning – there are spoilers here, so if you’ve not seen this episode, don’t read any further.

And if you have seen the episode, you know where I’m going with this already – Deb actually caught Dexter in the act of killing Travis. It was certainly a gratifying moment to watch but considering that she had headed to the church to declare her feelings for him, it made for an even more complicated reveal than usual.

I really, really do hate that the writers have decided that Deb somehow has romantic feelings for Dexter, even more so for the fact that the show didn’t need to resort to desperate shock tactics like this to boost attention and also due to the fact that this storyline has come out of absolutely nowhere.

I really don’t believe for one moment that Deb is in love with Dexter – I’m sorry but I can’t. I’m also hoping that now she knows her brother (yes, he’s her brother) also snaps some sense into her as well. I don’t want a Dexter and Deb romance but I also don’t see how one can come along anyways.

When Deb told Dexter she loved him and he replied the same, it was obvious that he meant it in a sibling manner. Dexter doesn’t have romantic feelings for Deb and I don’t relish the idea that her therapist would be encouraging Deb to drop that kind of a bombshell on Dexter. The writers need to drop this storyline and they need to do it fast. If anything, it’s going to cost them their credibility and no show can afford to lose that.

It’ll be interesting to see where they go next season with Deb knowing that Dexter is a serial killer. Will Dexter end up dispatching of her to protect his secret or is Deb going to have to turn a blind eye to her brother’s nocturnal activities (though she did catch him in the day). That’s definitely something I can’t wait to see unfold in 2012.

As for Travis himself – I cheered when he was killed. Not just because he kidnapped Harrison and would’ve killed him if Dexter hadn’t stopped him but because as a villain, he bored me senseless and I was happy to see the back of him. In the end, it was rather amusing how easily he was outsmarted by Dexter as well.

Here’s hoping that next year when it comes to a big bad, the next person is definitely more interesting than some ranting religious freak counting down to the end of the world. Sorry, Travis but it looked like your timing was off when it came to the expiration of Earth.

Thankfully though, you have been expired as a villain from our screens. Maybe in hell both you and the Skinner can lull over where you both went wrong as antagonists while Rudy, Miguel, Arthur and Jordan laugh at you. Stay away from Lila though.

As for next year’s villain – maybe it’s Louis. He did after all mail out that little parcel to Dexter and he’s also tried his hand at getting Masuka to keep him on at Miami Metro as well. I also doubt the writers would’ve bothered introducing this specific storyline if they didn’t intend to go further with it next year.

Last but not least – Quinn is going to pretend to have an alcohol problem so he can stop himself being transferred by Angel. Oh yay – so that means another year where Quinn can be an absolute liability, I can’t wait to see that. No wonder Angel was pissed off for most of this episode. Quinn really does know how to sour someone’s mood.

Also in “This Is The Way The World Ends”

There was a nice little subplot at the start of this episode where Dexter had to kill a robber after being rescued by a boat.

Dexter: “I guess it’s fitting I end up where I left so many others. I only wonder if the world will be a better place without me.”

The trailer for this episode made it look like Travis was going to kill Jamie. I’m relieved that she actually made it out of the episode alive.

Travis (to dead woman): “I can’t stay here much longer if you’re gonna stink like that.”

Dexter (to Harrison): “If some God or some force did save me today, I’m sure it was for you and not for me.”

It was nice to see Maria on Deb’s side over the latter’s attempts of capturing Travis during the eclipse but it doesn’t make up for her horrible behaviour this season.

Deb: “Do we need to talk?”
Dexter: “I don’t know. Is there something we need to talk about?”

Maria: “Matthews put his dick before the department.”
Deb: “And you cut it off. You didn’t hesitate to take advantage of that situation. Was that really the best for Miami Metro?”

Why did Travis borrow one of Dexter’s shirts and did no-one cop on that Dexter was in the beast picture at all?

Travis: “You’re supposed to be dead.”
Dexter: “How is the world going to end if the beast is still alive?”

Dexter: “I am a father, a son, a serial killer.”

Chronology: Picks up from where “Talk To The Hand” left off. Also Harry managed to not appear in this particular finale.

As a finale went, “This Is The Way The World Ends” was certainly better than a lot of the other episodes we’ve had this season but this has been a rather disjointed year and next year, the show is going to have to improve massively to regain its former glory.

Rating: 8 out of 10

My Review of Doctor Who's: "Last Night"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Richard Senior

River: "Doctor, you and your secrets. You'll be the death of me."

Oh, River if you only knew. Actually, come to think of it, at least one version of River is not that far off from her own demise as we managed to sneak a peek at a version of River and the Doctor on their way to the Singing Towers of Darillium. You just know that's a plot we're going to have to actually see on screen within the next two years. I don't think Steven Moffat can put it off for much longer.

As for the rest of the Rivers, I'm surprised none of them twigged there was more than one version of them on the TARDIS but it led to some amusingly comic scenes when the Doctor was trying to deal with all three of them. Equally as interesting was our present version of the Doctor talking about River with his future self.

The last moments with just the Doctor and River have a lovely poignancy to them. It's been quite a madcap ride with these two but this little scene does seem to indicate that River is getting closer and closer to her fate in the Library and that is sad to think about.

- The second River taunted Sontarans about attending a hen night. They always seem to get ridiculed, don't they?
- Also the first River was told to check the bulb on the top. Amy asked about that in Meanwhile In The TARDIS Scene 1.
- Like Jack, River's mind was excited at the prospect of multiple Doctors. I swear if those ever meet, the Doctor is going to have his (wandering) hands full.
- Chronology, this picks up from where First Night left off.

The best of the scenes - delightful flirting, brilliant dialogue, a superb performance from both Matt Smith and Alex Kingston and some hints to the future. Thanks Moffat for this delight.

Rating: 10 out of 10

My Review of Doctor Who's: "First Night"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Richard Senior

River (to the Doctor): "I knew you'd come back here, you nostalgic idiot. Hold me."

Now I can't be alone in saying that out of all the Night And The Doctor scenes on the Series 6 DVD set, the ones involving River would be the ones I was most looking forward to. I mean, they were going to have to be important, right?

And they are - River's serving her sentence at Stormcage and the Doctor busts her out for a little night out on the tiles. Cue much discussion about a dress, River having to write everything they do in her diary from now on and another River fainting in the Doctor's arms.

Yes, it's a good hook for ending the first of the two River related scenes and I certainly can't wait to see what predicament both the Doctor and his missus have gotten themselves into.

- This is a rather shot scene compared to the others we've had on the DVD set and that dress - wasn't it the same one River did wear in Day Of The Moon?
- Love the Doctor in his white tuxedo, akin to A Christmas Carol here but seriously, there's a planet of chip shops? Doesn't sound particularly exciting.
- River is serving twelve thousand consecutive life sentences at Stormcage for 'killing' the Doctor.
- Chronology, hard to tell but after The Wedding Of River Song, perhaps?

A great hook and while you don't have to be a fan of the Doctor/River pairing to actually enjoy this, it probably does help a bit.

Rating: 9 out of 10

My Review of Doctor Who's: "Good Night"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Richard Senior

Amy (to the Doctor): "My life doesn't make any sense."

And there are the words that Amy finally managed to get off her chest. I was wondering why the Doctor was so resistant in letting Amy tell him her secret - maybe he feared she had romantic feelings for him or maybe he just didn't want to confront the issue of Amy's life not making sense. I'm thinking the latter on this one.

At least this story finally got the idea out of the way and Amy's knack for remembering her life, before and after the Doctor rebooted the universe certainly gives her an interesting turmoil here, that's not dissimilar to Rory's memories of being a Roman/Auton either.

The only thing is - Amy's saddest thing at the time is an ice cream she lost at five years old? Bit silly, even with the timey twist of her current self giving her past self another ice cream. Then again, I did like the ending of the Doctor telling her to get him an ice cream too, so maybe it is a perfect ending to this one.

- River was mentioned again but not actually seen. Then again, so was Marilyn Monroe and biplane lessons too.
- I think this episode really could've used Rory in it. I'm disappointed he only got to appear in one of these Night And The Doctor scenes.
- Amy's knack for remembering the same event but different versions of it will crop up again during The Wedding Of River Song.
- Chronology wise, I guess early in Series 6 but again, I'm not sure when.

Definitely the stronger one from the first two scenes, I did like this little character moment from the Doctor and Amy but I can't help wondering if this is something we should've actually seen in an episode though.

Rating: 9 out of 10

My Review of Doctor Who's: "Bad Night"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Richard Senior

The Doctor: "What have you done?"
Amy: "I thought it was a fly."

Okay, considering that the Meanwhile In The TARDIS scenes for the Series 5 DVD went down a treat with viewers, why am I not surprised that for the Series 6 DVD we'd get something in a similar vein?

Except these scenes are billed more as mini- episodes and this first one is a rather madcap story where the Doctor is trying to keep the peace between two different factions. Again, not an easy thing to do when the Queen has been reduced to a fish (and not even the right one) and her enemy has been reduced to a fly that Amy swatted.

Of course the most interesting aspects of this first instalment is down to Amy trying to have a serious conversation with the Doctor and him passing her off to Rory. Come on, Doctor, there's only so much you can avoid when it comes to Amy's need for a big heart to heart. Let the girl get it out of her system and fast.

- River is mentioned in this story but not seen. Apparently the Doctor does sneak off to parties with his wife.
- Loving the Doctor in his tux, top hat and tails again. Matt Smith really does work that look extremely well.
- This isn't the first time Amy has answered a phone to a historical figure.
- Bad news in the sense that this is the only Night And The Doctor scene that actually features Rory. I'm also unsure of the chronology for this episode as well.

A fun, goofy opening scene. I'll be reviewing the remaining four scenes during the week in the lead up to The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe on Sunday, so hope you enjoy.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Here Piggy Piggy

And here's a blog covering some of the stuff I've been watching over the last few weeks.

American Horror Story: Hmm, this show is continuing to interest me, even if I'm having a little bit of a hard time actually liking the main characters. The Halloween two parter, introducing us to murdered gay couple, Chad and Patrick was interesting, Luke the security is the nicest character we've probably met on the show, Hayden's batshit crazy in death and Tate's secret of murdering a bunch of students in the 1990's felt horribly in character for that guy. Why Violet is willing to give him a chance after knowing that is baffling. And as for Addy's death and the Piggy, Piggy legend - those were things I didn't expect. Vivian's baby being potentially evil though - yeah, who wouldn't have seen that coming?

Glee: This show has had an odd set of weeks. From absolutely deserved criticism over the mishandling in parts of Santana's coming out to the rather quick way of dealing with Quinn's vendetta towards Shelby, it's fair to see why people have criticised the writing for the show but there have been some enjoyable moments. The Christmas special for all it's cheesiness was the slice of feel good banter the show's needed for a while and I can't help but enjoy Kurt's verbal smackdown of the odious Sebastian as well, even if the writers love affair with Blaine is beginning to do harm to the show. Oh and Sam returned but honestly, it actually felt like he never left in the first place though.

Him And Her: An interesting set of episodes. It's amazing how I've gone from being rather unimpressed with the series when it started to actively enjoying it's second run. I think it's the cast whose flourished the most because the writing hasn't changed dramatically. Even the finale, which introduced Steve's annoying ex and could've easily split him and Becky for a bit ultimately decided not to go down that path. Still, there was at least one episode where I felt bad for Dan and Laura managed to utilise that bitchy streak of hers in a good way. Interesting that both of those things came directly from the unpleasant Anita.

Merlin: Oh dear, this show has had some strange episodes over the last four weeks. The worst ones have involved Elyan talking to ghosts and Arthur with another almost love interest in Mithian. Fortunately, the use of magic and Lancelot meant that Morgana finally had one successful plan with tearing Arthur and Gwen apart and the season finale tradition of invading Camelot managed to deliver a solid episode that also managed to introduce both Tristan and Isolde. Here's hoping the last episode will rid us of the tedious Agravaine while we're at it.

Misfits: This show has been hitting it out of the ballpark for the last few weeks now. Coma patients taking over Kelly's body, Rudty nearly having his wang removed, Simon/Alisha's relationship still a solid point and even Curtis/Melissa getting pregnant. All of that obsolete to the sheer madness of zombie cheerleaders in last week's episode and tonight's finale looks similarly mad as well. TV would be a duller place without this bonkers show, wouldn't it?

- Amy Acker will be guest starring in an upcoming episode of Once Upon A Time as a love interest for Grumpy and Leroy.
- Gloria Estefan has been booked to play Santana's mother in an upcoming episode of Glee. Ricky Martin will also play a Spanish teacher in a seperate episode.
- Michael C. Hall has recently stated that he doesn't believe things can end well for Dexter.
- Jane Fonda will appear in Aaron Sorkin's new drama, Newsroom, which will air on HBO in 2012.
- William Devane has signed up for two episodes of ABC's Revenge, playing Grayson patriarch, Edward.
- The identity of the mysterious A will finally be revealed in the second season finale of Pretty Little Liars, due to air in March.

My Review of Dexter's 6x11: "Talk To The Hand"

Written by Manny Coto And Tim Schlattmann
Directed by Ernest Dickerson

Michelle: “Are you getting upset?”
Deb: “Fuck yeah, I’m becoming upset because you’re making it sound like I want to be with him or something.”
Michelle: “Do you?”

Wait – what? Please do not tell me this show is even thinking about going there with Dexter and Deb. I mean, I know there are plenty of shows out there who will do virtually anything to keep viewers in but if the show goes down the incest route with Deb and Dexter, all it’s going to do is have viewers switch off in their droves. This show is better than that, even if this season has been sadly below par to previous years.

I can agree that Dexter and Deb’s relationship isn’t entirely a straightforward sibling thing but there has never been any indication in the show’s duration that either character fancied the other, so Michelle’s analysis of Deb’s relationship with her brother seems to have completely come out of nowhere.

As a brother, Dexter had had his moments. The last few weeks, he has been rather distant with Deb and this week, thanks to his quick thinking, he saved his sister from being infected by Travis’s Wormwood concoction at the police station. Of course Deb is going to be grateful that Dexter saved her life – why would it mean that she has sexual or romantic feelings for him?

I really hope that this is going to end up becoming more of a catalyst for Deb to question Dexter and not accept everything he tells her at face value because the idea of Dexter and Deb in that kind of relationship is just something the show should not even contemplate trying. They might not be biologically related but they’re siblings and have lived the majority of their lives as siblings too. Let’s not rock the boat on this one, eh?

Speaking of boats – Dexter ended up tied up on one of them while Travis completed his lake of fire. Yet again, Dexter underestimated one of his enemies but he’s been in worse situations than a boat of fire. If this was Travis’s efforts to get Dexter out of his hair forever, then Travis really is a dope, isn’t he?

Travis didn’t really anything too interesting this week come to think of it. He could have killed Angel with setting fire to a room but Quinn managed to man up and save his partner in crime and he got gazumped by Dexter when it came to constructing a new tableau as well. To be honest, the sooner Travis winds up as a member of Dexter’s slide collection, the happier I’ll be. Ultimately, he’s failed as an interesting or effective and I can’t wait to see the back of him.

Even Louis’s plot with the mannequin hand that he marked and wrapped up for Dexter has more potential. Actually it’s becoming another reason why I’m glad that we’ll have another two years because Louis’s storyline is clearly something that has to be seen through the next season. I don’t know where the writers are going with this but it does seem like Louis is being shaped up as a next big threat for Dexter. He at least has the advantage of being a lot more interesting than Travis or Gellar have been all season.

Keeping with the interesting plots – did I actually feel a bit bad for Matthews? I hate to admit, but yes, I felt a little bad for him. After all, he didn’t kill Jessica but was more too cowardly to admit that he was the last person to see her alive (for that, I’m less sympathetic towards him) and it was nice that he explained his side of the story towards Deb, even if he did his damndest to make sure she didn’t go to anyone higher up about it.

Unfortunately when he was exposed, Matthews was quick to blame Deb, despite the fact that Maria had been sitting on the information for weeks and had previously blackmailed him for a promotion in the season. The writers have really done a number on Maria this year. In past seasons, she’s had some humanity but this year, she’s been reduced to a cold bitch and not exactly a very interesting one either.

It’s enough to make me think that Deb might be better off stepping down as a lieutenant because the idea of her becoming Maria’s whipping girl next season is not one that fills me with happiness. Deb is far too fantastic and with a decent moral compass to be reduced to that – that is, unless Maria has a just desserts coming her way.

Last but not least – I’m glad Angel’s alive and I’m glad that Quinn saved him. I’m also glad that Angel explained to Quinn that he needed a partner he can trust in the same way I was also glad that Deb called both of them out on screwing up. Quinn needs to get his priorities in order or simply get lost. Angel could’ve been killed because of his incompetence this week. Luckily for everyone involved, Angel wasn’t but Quinn’s screwed up too many times this year.

Also in “Talk To The Hand”

Despite his best efforts, Dexter did get infected with the Wormwood. It was the reason why Travis overpowered him towards the end of the episode.

Travis (to Beth): “This is a great day. It’s the beginning of the end.”

Dexter’s tableau with bloodied Angel statue and Gellar’s hand was a nice way of getting everyone else aware that Gellar was actually dead.

Dexter (re Matthews): “There are worse secrets you can have, Deb. I’m just saying, maybe you should keep an open mind.”

Dexter: “I don’t have time. I have to find Travis.”
Harry: “You have no leads. He could be anywhere.”
Dexter: “It’s time for a Hail Mary. I’m gonna make Travis come to me. Maybe it takes a beast to catch a beast.”

Travis clearly thought of Dexter as the beast when he painted his image on his painting after the false tableau with Gellar’s hand.

Michelle: “I don’t think you’re crazy.”
Deb: “Can I have that in writing?”
Dexter (to Travis): “The beast is coming for you.”

Keeping with Jennifer Carpenter, she’s become the latest person from this cast to join the ranks of Twitter. I’m really trying not to think of that dream sequence here.

Deb: “One minute everything’s perfect, the next minute -,”
Dexter: “- Next minute, what?”
Deb: “You’re always rushing off.”

Chronology: Picks up from where “Ricochet Rabbit” left off.

This was certainly a better episode but “Talk To The Hand” has now opened up a storyline possibility that I really hope the writers do not venture into. Oh and the sooner that God bothering muppet Travis is off my screen, the better. Put the fear of God into him, Dexter.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Doctor Who - Series 7 Important Announcement

In news that might not come as a shock, it has been confirmed that both Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will be stepping down from their respective roles as married couple/companions, Amy Pond and Rory Williams. Steven Moffat has confirmed at a press event for The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe that the characters will leave in a heartbreaking manner half way through Series 7, slated to air in late 2012. Moffat has also confirmed that he thinks both River Song (Alex Kingston) will return for the new series but he has also confirmed that a new companion will join the Doctor during the seventh run, though casting for 'him/her/it' hasn't been done yet.

Personal Thoughts: I'm not surprised. I was expecting this to happen in relation to Amy/Rory leaving but the heartbreaking bit worries me a little. Amy/Rory have endured a lot, I'm not sure I want to see them suffer. Still though, they've been amazing companions but at the same time, I am excited to see the new companion as well. I have a feeling casting will have to be announced in early 2012, even if we don't see them until the end of next year or the start of 2013. Here's hoping Amy/Rory's exit is the Christmas 2012 special. Surely they deserve it, right?

The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe airs on Christmas Day on BBC1 at 7pm and filming for Series 7 begins in February 2012.

Being Human US - Season 2 Cast Pics

I'm not gonna lie. When I watched the first series of the US version of Being Human, I wasn't overly impressed but it got somewhat more solid in it's second half. Now pictures for the second season have emerged.

Aidan (Sam Witwer) looking incredibly pale in this one. There's supposed to be more exploring into his darker side in the second year as well as a new vampire called Suren (Dichen Lachman) entering the fray.

Josh (Sam Huntington) is dealing with Nora (Kristen Hager) becoming a werewolf at the end of the first season. I'm actually surprised they went there so quickly with that storyline but here's hoping it's as well handled as the UK version's is.

Sally (Meghan Rath) is still living with the lads in the second series. Not too sure where they're going with her character this year.

And one more cast picture of all three housemates together. I have to admit, they are a good looking bunch and I will probably watch Season 2 a little more closely than I did with the first year.

Season 2 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojf8Byz7kPk

Season 2 of Being Human US begins on SyFy, Mondays at 9pm from January 16th 2012.

We'll Take Manhattan Preview

The first picture of the upcoming biopic has been released and can I say that Karen Gillan is looking wonderful as 60's model Jean Shrimpton as does Aneurin Barnard as Vogue photographer/Shrimpton's love interest, David Bailey in the 90 minute one-off, scribed by John McKay.

We'll Take Manhattan airs on BBC4 from January 26th.

Game Of Thrones - Season 2 Trailer

Following the second season finale of Boardwalk Empire, HBO have released a trailer for the upcoming second season of Game Of Thrones and it's looking like we're going to have another epic series on our hands and Cold Winds Are Rising. Warning: Spoilers ahead.

It's crunch time for Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and Ser Jorah (Iain Glen). She's got an army to command, a kingdom to regain and three new dragons in her care. Filming pics have shown that she's got baskets for her little babies to sleep in. It'll also be a convenient way of making sure they're not in every episode.

Meanwhile Catelyn Stark (Michelle Farley) and Sir Loras (Finn Jones) seem to have forged an alliance of sorts as the former makes herself known to Renly. Here's hoping for Catelyn's sake, she does lose anyone else from her family at the hands of Joffrey as well.

Arya (Maisie Williams) isn't particularly having the best time of it either, what with an unfortunate haircut and being sold into slavery. Still, her fate is almost better than the one her older sister is enduring.

Sansa (Sophie Turner) and King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) - if ever there was an unhappy pairing, it's probably them two at the moment. Here's hoping Joffrey gets his just desserts in the second season of the show.

Renly (Gethin Anthony) is back and he's a king but whether or not he can take down his tiresome nephew or not remains to be seen. As trailers went, this was a nice way of building anticipation for the new season.

Season 2 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyuwGzYIAns

Game Of Thrones Season 2 will air on HBO and SkyAtlantic from April 2012.