The BBC has release a new trailer for the upcoming series of “Doctor Who”! Along with some new footage, we catch some glimpses of some guest stars – some new, some returning – such as Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”) and Missy (aka The Master).
I am definitely looking forward to this new series (season). Last year’s didn’t quite do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love Capaldi as The Doctor, and Clara no longer annoys me as much as she once did, but there was just something missing that I can’t put my finger on . . . But I am probably being a bit nitpicky. I enjoyed the season well enough, just not as much as some of the past seasons and I for one am more than ready to welcome The Doctor back to my television set.
Series 9 of “Doctor Who” premiers on September 19th and stars Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman.
Mark requested we open the show with Britney Spears, after accusing Andy of being a “fan.” Who makes a music video based on “Earth Girls are Easy”? Who REMEMBERS “Earth Girls are Easy”?!??! We’re not buying Iggy Azalea albums.
“Fear Her” The Olympics tie-in was gimmicky. Child abuse is super scary and dark. How did Brits know the Kookaburra song?
“Army of Ghosts”/”Doomsday” Rose is toast, right? Andy feels robbed she didn’t die. Torchwood– they’ve got cool tech, but they’re not quite ready for prime time. The return of Mickey. Daleks throw some serious shade:
But seriously, Daleks AGAIN? Best use of sonic screwdriver ever.
The lovey-dovey stuff: falling in love with alternate universe versions of our significant others. The problem of “cute.”
The end of this episode is NOT tragic.
Do you want to build a snowman?
We never bought into the love story of The Doctor and Rose. The Doctor is a dick. You had your chance for a Han Solo moment and you wasted it. Oh, but the fanfiction. . .
Next week I’m gonna start watching Torchwood!
TALKIN’ TV!!!
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is amazing. They saved the best for the last two episodes, and the very best for the last five minutes. Leave Fitz and Simmons alone!!! Glad there isn’t going to be a Bobbie and Hunter spinoff show. That Gordon vs. Coulson, Mack and Fitz fight scene. Coulson joins the running gag of Marvel Phase 2 movies. More Blair Underwood, not necessarily with Agent May. Whither HYDRA and Ward? Kyle McLachlan unhinged and awesome. Agents of SHIELD’s ratings and it as a “loss leader” for ABC/Disney/Marvel. That finale– more Inhumans are coming?!?
The DC shows: Flash, Arrow, Supergirl. Flash is great. That Supergirl trailer. It does look a little like the Black Widow SNL trailer, but then she pulls a plane out of the sky. How to fix Arrow Season 4.
What shows we’ll re-watch and catch up on over the summer. Buffy. Binge-watching Buffy. Supernatural.
Every week we’re bringing you recommendations for great movies or TV shows streaming on Netflix. This week’s selection is…
“The Science of Doctor Who” Written by Brian Cox, Directed by Steve Smith, Starring Brian Cox, Matt Smith, Dallas Campbell, Jim Al-Hkalili, Charles Chance, and Rufus Hound. Originally aired November 14, 2013.
Everyone knows that “Doctor Who” is on Netflix, it’s one of the most popular programs they have, so much so that when the fans found out the license was running out and it would be pulled from the streaming service they rallied enough support to keep it around, thank Crom.
What you may not know is that there is also a one hour special called “The Science of Doctor Who” written and hosted by physicist Brian Cox.
Cox is an English scientist, professor of particle physics at the University of Mancheser, and science popularizer. He also plays a mean keyboard. His credentials along with English citizenship makes him the perfect scientist to tackle the science of the longest running sci-fi series on television.
During the course of the hour Cox makes the case that while “Doctor Who” is a work of fiction and was never intended to represent real science, that much of its content can be explained or at least explored through what we know about the universe, astrophysics, and the nature of time.
Cox covers such topics as the possibility of alien life in the universe, how each of us travel through time relatively, and the most easily digestible explanation of spaghettification at the event horizon of a black hole.
The program is primarily a recorded lecture held at the Royal Institution’s lecture hall, but the content is intercut with segments of Cox in the Tardis with the eleventh Doctor played by Matt Smith.
The interplay between the Doctor’s fictional knowledge of time and space with Cox’s real knowledge allows for a few well earned laughs.
Cox leverages the long running and recently increasing popularity of “Doctor Who” to trick the audience into being educated and enlightened. He talks about heady scientific hypotheses and theories through the framework of the Doctor and his adventures and while the ultimate conclusion is that humanity is nowhere near unlocking the secrets of traveling through time and vast distances of space, he lays the groundwork for why these things might be possible at some point in the future, and how, in at least some small way, we’re all time travelers.
‘Who Virgin’ Ep 10: “The Devil’s in the Decennial”
“The Idiot’s Lantern” – It’s so meta. We liked the bit with the family. The plot was ripped off of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Is the sonic screwdriver a crutch?
“The Impossible Planet”/”The Satan Pit” – We get freaked out by the devil monster and the Ood. Rose gets to be a badass. It’s cool when the Doctor is surprised or has to change his views. Science vs. myth. Is it ethical to have a slave race? If a woman chooses to wear a burqa or otherwise cover their bodies, is that ethical? Is it ok that Andy doesn’t drink? The ethics of Ex Machina.
Mad Max: Fury Road. Andy’s review here. Why we love the Alamo Drafthouse. There’s not a lot of plot or dialogue– it’s a 2 hour chase scene. It’s like seeing Elliot and ET fly across the moon.
We’re prophets about Avengers 2: Age of Ultron. Black Widow replaced by Cap in a toy of her best scene. Mark and his daughter can’t find Black Widow toys. We swear. We were totally wrong about who FemThor was. Sony leaks email about female led superhero movies. We need more women screenwriters. . . but Andy has a great idea for a Black Widow movie. . .he’s ok with Kelly Sue DeConnick writing his movie. We love Mark Ruffalo. We’re almost exclusively a feminism podcast now.
And if you wanted to watch the livestream of the episode, including all the stuff we say in between cuts, and you can see Mark playing with the Google Hangout costumes, watch that here:
This episode we’re joined by the amazing Melissa Martinez, who brings the power to disagree with us, as we review “School Reunion,” “Girl in the Fireplace,” “Rise of the Cybermen” and “Age of Steel.” And we talk a ton more about Avengers 2 and the place of “strong female characters” (TM Joss Whedon) in sci-fi, fantasy, comics, etc. .
Cinco de Mayo/May the Fourth brought to us by Obi Juan Kenobi.
Introducing Melissa!
Maisie Williams coming to Doctor Who. “Strong Female Characters.” Does Moffat not know how to write women? Sherlock.
“School Reunion” Anthony Stewart Head! How we’d use godlike powers. Dick Cheney punishments. Sarah Jane and K9.
“Girl in the Fireplace” Consequences of time travel, the Doctor’s mortality vs. the passage of time for the people he leaves behind. The writers’ strike ruined tv.
“Rise of the Cybermen”/”Age of Steel” The perils of alternate dimensions. Ricky/Micky is the dog in the car. The Farnsworth Parabox. Rose has daddy issues. Who is our best version of us in another universe?
The second half of the show is just lots of talk about Avengers 2, the SNL “Black Widow” trailer. And feminism.
Seriously, after we ended the episode, we hung out for another hour discussing feminism and comic books and tv and movies and feminism. It’s mostly Mark and Melissa arguing, but it’s pretty great. If you want to watch that whole thing, it’s here:
‘Who Virgin’ Ep 8: “Avengers, Zombies & Werewolves- Oh My!”
This week we review “Avengers 2: Age of Ultron” in the second half of the show with guest Bryan Young, but first, “The Christmas Invasion,” “New Earth,” and “Tooth and Claw.” And we welcome Rebecca Frost from the Hello Sweetie Podcast!
You can also find us on iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever fine podcasts are sold.
PS– for those who don’t know why we keep calling Rebecca “Rachel,” please watch this: (some NSFW language)
And now, the episode:
Mark hates us. Having a Marvel movie come out on your birthday is the best. Avengers highs.
Tennant is Rebecca’s Doctor.
“The Christmas Invasion”– Is this the first scary aliens? Mannequins vs. Christmas Trees. The aliens rock. Prime Minister Harriet Jones. Is The Doctor a hypocrite? Sexism in politics. Confusion with regeneration?
“New Earth”– Cats are sociopaths. Rebecca’s three-legged cat. Cassandra is the worst. Cat people’s claws and running skills. Zombies! There’s always one button– why?!?! Billie Piper’s acting skills. She’s Britain’s answer to Mandy Moore. Robin Sparkles. Andy’s HIMYM idea with Avengers. We almost start fighting about HIMYM. The Face of Bo– again! Torchwood.
“Tooth and Claw”– Anagrams. Royal Baby Werewolf Watch 2015. Queen Elizabeth is like 1,000. She has a Lazarus Pit. Martial arts and then Monster of the Week. “Supernatural” is so meta.
Quick reactions on Jared Leto’s Joker photo. We have mixed reactions.
Argument about Matt Smith!
Avengers Review starts at 46:30 featuring Bryan Young! Beware: Some minor plot spoilers, but no more than what is in the trailers. Then we get REALLY spoilery. But we warn you first.
Welcome to another episode of Who Virgin, our weekly podcast chronicling my journey into Doctor Who for this first time. This week we finish off Series 1 and talk about all the trailer goodness we’ve had.
Next week, Rebecca Frost will hopefully join us, and we’ll review Avengers 2: Age of Ultron!
We get confused and think this is episode 6 instead of 7 and make Star Wars references and do Emperor Palpatine impressions.
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances – Captain Jack Harkness is chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. How to manipulative b-list celebrities on social media. The Blitz. We talk for a long time about abortion. Seriously. A lot about abortion. The kids who stare at Mark.
Boom Town – The return of farting aliens. Breakfast of Champions. Nuclear power. The dinner scene. Second chances. The death penalty.
Bad Wolf/The Parting of Ways – Reality TV will destroy humanity. The Weakest Link? Seriously? Blasphemy! Why a Bad Wolf?
Eccleston post-mortem: Mark likes Eccleston more than Tennant. Is his northern accent too much? British regional accents. Dan le Sac vs. Scroobious Pip. Eccleston’s “creative differences.”
Disney XD showing Doctor Who reruns. We want the Doctor at EPCOT.
TRAILERS!!! Man tears from “Chewie, we’re home.” Ant-Man. We only know actors by the parts they play. Congressman Pete Russo from “House of Cards” and Kate from “Lost” are in Ant-Man. Andy loves Scott Lang. THAT TRAIN.
“Terminator” has too many spoilers. Fool me three times? Jai Courtney. Quick review of “The Water Diviner.” Kyle Reese is just a sperm donor. Helena Bonham Carter will have to show up at least three times to explain the plot.
“Fantastic Four” – Andy watches it live for the first time. Differing views of Chronicle. There’s a lot of Freddy the Barbecue Guy from House of Cards.
THE FORCE AWAKENS!!! So much awesome. Oscar Isaac might be Andy’s new favorite actor. “Ex Machina” review– it’s all sorts of amazing. Battlefront trailer– We need to get next gen consoles. Boba Fett lives? The Good, The Bad, and the Fett? “Rebels” trailer. Old Rex. Rogue One. Young Porkins?
Batman v Superman: we have a Marvel vs. DC throwdown and lovefest. Frank Miller really hates Superman. Why Andy loves Superman. Daredevil. The sharp edge of justice. Superman is the America we want to be, Batman is the America we are. Hey, Warner Bros– hire us!
We’re spoiled by awesome movies. What were the worst 80’s and 90’s comic book movies?
It’s the sixth episode of our weekly podcast, Who Virgin, where Citizen-Bot watches Doctor Who for the first time and talks about all sorts of other things. This week, an extra long episode stuffed with Daredevil.
Andy’s got bats in his belfry. ANNOUNCEMENT: We’re doing an Avengers: Age of Ultron Review for Episode 8. Distracted by Flash/Arrow.
Dalek – Andy/Big Shiny Robot’s connection to Utah. Utes vs. Utahns. Utah is the nerdiest state. Ayn Rand. Mitt Romney should blame Doctor Who. What makes great science fiction. Commentary on America – hoarding, torture. Yin and Yang: Good and Evil, Timelords and Daleks, Mormonism, Aristotle, Dragonlance, Alien, Jedi and Sith. Troll the respawn, Jeremy!
The Long Game – Fun to see Simon Pegg as a villain. The media. Hierarchy. Searching for Truth. Police shootings.
Father’s Day – fixed points in time. Viewing the past through rose-tinted glasses. Rick Astley. Romanticizing the 60’s. Don’t touch yourself.
Bond: Christoph Waltz thinks we’re idiots. Is it a spoiler that Cumberbatch was Khan? Do we need the mystery box? We’re addicted to the marketing.
Daredevil: origin stories. Frank Miller, Bendis, Brubaker. Opening sequence. Catholicism. How the action sequences are shot. Oldboy. Man of Steel – chopping up the origin story so it works thematically. The first three episodes are a slow, satisfying burn. Using the Netflix model to your advantage. The violence level – violent in the name of furthering plot and character. Ben Urich. We’re not going to get a Season 2 for a while. Netflix stock jumped 2.5%. Karen Page. Foggy is a damsel. Scott Glenn is my Stick. Terrence Stamp and the terrible Elektra movie. Episode 4 in the garage– that was a Batman scene. They nail the Russian mafia stuff — you’re missing out with only reading the subtitles. Fisk and Murdock are the same person. D’Onofrio as Fisk is amazing. Gentrification. Spoilers.
It’s the fifth episode of our weekly podcast, Who Virgin, where Citizen-Bot watches Doctor Who for the first time and talks about all sorts of other things.
We’re joined by new subscribers, including from New Zealand. Mark proceeds to insult the Kiwis. Flight of the Conchords. Andy’s Odyssey-like journey to Louisville.
We want a TARDIS. Actual Doctor Who this week! Is The Doctor bad at running the TARDIS? Charles Dickens. The Amazing Randi. Farting aliens. Backbench MPs. Cardiff. Torchwood. San Antonio politics.
Easter Candy. Star Wars Action Figures. Trading Cards app.
MOVIES: “Furious 7.” (Review here) Doritos. Did they get Jason Statham a box to stand on? You will believe a car can fly. That’s your next Star Trek movie. “Woman in Gold.” Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds. Heavy-handed, dry legal drama with Nazis. “Danny Collins.” (Review here) Al Pacino. John Lennon. Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Garner. Annette Bening. Amazing cast, great performances. “While We’re Young.” (Review here) Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as Generation X vs. Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried as Millenials. Trigger Warning: vomit.
TV: brought to us by Mark’s dinner shame. Agents of SHIELD. Daredevil. Next week will be all Doctor Who and Daredevil. Will Daredevil be in Civil War? Marvel Butt Numb a Thon. Winter Soldier trivia contests.
(Also, please forgive any technical difficulties in this episode or what might seem like weird edits. We blame Google for kicking us randomly out of Hangouts On Line. Thanks Obama!)
On March 26, 2005, audiences were introduced to a new Doctor for the 21st century. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The episode “Rose” introduced us to the eponymous Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) being chased by Autons through London, and Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor. This kicked off eight seasons (so far) and five actors inhabiting the roles of the Ninth through Twelfth Doctors. . .and a War Doctor.
More importantly, it’s led to a renaissance of Who fandom. Whovians are now a major force in the broader geek community, generating a passion unrivalled by all but the most ardent Trekkies and Star Wars fans.
And what would an anniversary be without some presents? We got you some free stuff. . . and a new feature and podcast.
Do you love Who? Win $150 shopping spree from Superhero Stuff!
The good folks over at SuperHeroStuff.com are always adding a bunch of cool stuff to the site, and they want to give all of you a chance to take some home for free! The winner of this contest will receive a $150 gift card while nine runners-up will each get a “Doctor Who” shirt. To enter, just click on this link and follow the directions.
Whovians will definitely want to spend some time checking out all the really amazing stuff they have for fans. Whether you’re looking for shirts, beanies, a certain scarf, Weeping Angel Masks, a sonic screwdriver or just some Tardis-related stuff, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for over there, so click here for all things Who!
So, a confession on my part.
I have never watched Doctor Who. Until now.
On today’s tenth anniversary, I will celebrate tonight by firing up this first season on my Netflix, and then watching Doctor Who for the first time. And lucky you, I’ll be chronicling my descent in Who fandom. And every week you’ll be able to join me with. . .
So, we’ve already got three episodes in the can and I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with this all before diving in to actually watch. But, in the immortal words of The Doors, “The time to hesitate is through.”
Follow me on Twitter @WhoVirgin as I live-tweet my binge-watching (more things that are new since 2005! Special!) and hopefully one of these weeks we’ll get some of my fellow robots on the show to guide me through.
Every Sunday we host a Google Hangouts to record the episode. If you’d like an invite, send me an email or tweet or contact me through the website. Or just keep an eye on our Google + page, which will have all the info there.
