TV Show Reviews

Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time – Christmas Special

Doctor Who Twice Upon a Time Christmas Special

Network:

BBC

Director:

Rachel Talalay

Starring:

Peter Capaldi

David Bradley

Pearl Mackie

Plot:

The Twelfth Doctor, still refusing to change, goes on a last adventure with the First Doctor.

Review:

The Doctor meets up with his original self in this Christmas special in a story that honestly didn’t need to be. The first Doctor, David Bradley, apparently didn’t want to change either, which goes against what we’ve always known, but whatever. The twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, is thinking about refusing to regenerate because he’s old and tired and people aren’t watching him as much as when David Tennant was the Doctor. Instead they stumble across each other and fuck up some time shit and they decide they should move on with their lives and regenerate.

It was awkward seeing the first Doctor because he was very much a product of the times he was created in, which goes against what you think the Doctor should be. The Twelfth Doctor was embarrassed by him and his old school sensibilities, which could have been amusing, but since they were all gender stereotypes which the Doctor really never should have had, it was just awkward.

Bill, Pearl Mackie, and Clara, Jenna Coleman, showed up as well because the companions are always there at the end, but since I greatly dislike Clara and Bill never grew on me it didn’t really mean much.

I feel like Peter Capaldi never got to shine as the Doctor. He is a good actor, but the storylines were just never there. I am so happy that Moffat is no longer going to be the lead and I hope we can return to the stories that made the Tennant years so wonderful. Even the first Matt Smith year was good, but these last few years have almost turned me off Who completely.

3/5

Future Man (2017-?)

Future Man (2017-?)

Network:

Hulu

Starring:

Josh Hutcherson

Derek Wilson

Eliza Coupe

Plot:

Josh Futturman, a janitor by day and a gamer by night, is recruited by mysterious visitors to travel through time to prevent the extinction of humanity.

Review:

Alright, so it’s a time travel show, I had to watch it. I started the first episode and my husband happened to see it, huge mistake. Future Man is hilarious and because of that now I can’t binge the show like it was made to be consumed. I have to watch an episode a night, at most, because my husband is loving it and wants to watch it with me.

The humor is crude, the future bleak, and there are several time jumps. I’m really enjoying the show, I’m not finished yet, but I’m already hoping there’s a second season.

If you want to watch all episodes are currently available on Hulu.com and the way each episode ends it’s made to be binged. Since they’re only thirty minutes long it’s easy to consume and so much fun.

4/5

Side note: Wolf is freaking hilarious and gets better with each episode.

The Gifted (2017-?)

The Gifted (2017-?)

Network:

Fox

Starring:

Stephen Moyer

Amy Acker

Sean Teale

Plot:

In a world where mutated humans are treated with distrust and fear, an institute for mutants battles to achieve peaceful co-existence with humanity.

Review:

For anyone that doesn’t frequently read my blog, I watch a lot of superhero stuff. Movies and TV, if it’s superhero related I will probably watch it. However, I’m starting to get burnt out. I’ve dropped all but Legends of Tomorrow for the CW superhero shows. I didn’t enjoy the last two seasons of the Netflix Marvel shows. I’ve dropped Marvel’s Agents of Shield and I’m probably only going to end up hate watching Inhumans because it’s going to be so short. Legion is the only superhero show right now that I’m actually excited for.

With that in mind, when I heard the premise of The Gifted I was planning on not watching. I was interested, but figured I’d wait until it was finished and binge the entire thing, maybe. Then I saw that Amy Acker was in it and that combined with my mild interest meant I could no longer do that, I had to at least try out the first episode. I’m really glad I did.

Based on what I’ve read of the show it technically doesn’t take place in any of the already established mutant timelines, but there are a number of nods to X-Men story and people. The main thing though is there aren’t so many that someone who isn’t familiar with all the X-Men stuff will feel lost.

The world is not a friendly place for mutants and when two kids find out they have powers things get complicated for them. I really like that their parents find out quickly and the episode starts out with them on the run. We aren’t dealing with them trying to hide while continuing to live a normal life. They are immediately thrust into a hard new world and fighting to survive.

I liked the episode a lot, not as much as Legion’s first episode, but it was definitely enough to get me to continue watching the season as it airs.

4/5

Marvel’s Inhumans (2017-?)

Marvel’s Inhumans (2017-?)

Network:

ABC

Starring:

Anson Mount

Serinda Swan

Ken Leung

Plot:

An isolated community of superhumans fight to protect themselves.

Review:

If you’ve seen the trailer you already know that this show isn’t going to be any good. I have no idea what ABC and Marvel were thinking, but here it is. If you have to watch superhero stuff, I guess you’ll have to watch this too. First episode was about as good as NBS’s Emerald City, maybe worse. I will probably end up hate watching this because it’s so short, but then again, I might not. Who knows?

2/5

Ghosted (2017-?)

Ghosted (2017-?)

Network:

Fox

Starring:

Craig Robinson

Adam Scott

Ally Walker

Plot:

A skeptic is forced to work with a firm believer of the paranormal on unexplained occurrences in Los Angeles.

Review:

I waited until I’d watched the second episode to write my review because the pilot seemed really rushed, like it wanted to set everything up in the first thirty minute episode so that the rest of the season could be more focused. I’m not sure if it accomplished that goal, but the second episode was less rushed, however it still felt short. Maybe it’s because the concept as a comedy is new to me? I’m not sure.

The pilot had some funny moments, but it was mainly world and character building. The second episode was a bit funnier, but I still don’t think they’ve quiet hit their stride.

I love Craig Robinson and Adam Scott so even though I’m still unsure about this show I’m going to stick it out and hope it gets better.

3/5