The latest episode of Doctor Who acts as a sequel to the events of the 50th anniversary episode “The Day of the Doctor”, where the humans and Zygons made a peace treaty so both races could live their lives in harmony. This episode shows the Zygons breaking the peace treaty and invading Earth.
The episode features the return of UNIT, Kate Stewart, Osgood and Jac (Kate and Jac had already appeared this series in “The Magician’s Apprentice”). I’ve always liked UNIT and it was great to see them make a full return in this episode.
I have to be honest though, I didn’t like that they didn’t give us a clear answer on which Osgood was killed in the Series 8 finale (human or Zygon). I understand what they were trying to do in the context of the episode (making it harder to tell who is human and who is Zygon), but I felt like they ended up making it too complex and I think that the writers should’ve just given a straight-forward answer to the question.
Getting to what I really liked about the episode, I really enjoyed how the opening sequence of the episode used footage from “The Day of the Doctor”. As mentioned in the first paragraph, this episode is like a sequel to the events of that episode so it was a great idea on the writer’s part to include footage of that episode in this one.
From a certain point of view, this is technically the second companion-lite episode of the series (and both of those episodes airing back-to-back). In a shocking twist, it’s revealed that Clara Oswald was turned into a Zygon (when she had been trying to help a little boy earlier in the episode) and so we see very little of Clara in this episode. Instead, most of Clara’s screen-time in this episode is really her Zygon duplicate going by the name “Bonnie”. Doctor Who has had some surprising twists in its run but this one had to be one of the best, in my opinion.
Regardless of whether you are or not a fan of Clara, it has to be said that Jenna Coleman looked extremely convincing playing the evil Zygon duplicate. Coleman hasn’t had many opportunities to play villains in her career but I think casting directors will note that she can play bad characters very well. I’m looking forward to seeing more of “Bonnie” in the next episode of Doctor Who.
The ending of the episode sees “Bonnie” firing a missile at the airplane that The Doctor and Osgood are in, with a promise that the plane will never land. The Doctor’s situation seems hopeless, so we’ll have to wait and see how he gets out of this dilemma, considering that the situation has already seemed hopeless twice in this series alone- “The Magician’s Apprentice” and “Under the Lake”.
In my opinion, this was another excellent episode of Doctor Who. I really liked that the writers decided to expand on the events set-up in “The Day of the Doctor” with the Zygons inevitably breaking the peace treaty. The Zygons are interesting villains and it’s great that they’re finally getting their own episodes on the modern series. It was great to see the return of Kate Stewart, Osgood and Jac along with UNIT. The revelation that Clara is now a Zygon was a shocking twist and the episode ends on a major cliff-hanger with The Doctor in peril. How will The Doctor and Clara get out of this mess? We’ll have to keep watching to find out…
My rating: 9/10
By Ruari Williamson
Random note: Anyone notice the similarities between Norlander’s transformation to a Zygon in this episode and Kate Stewart’s in “The Day of the Doctor”? Both make a reference to getting into character before transforming. Coincidentally, the former transforms into a Zygon in front of Kate in this episode.
The latest episode of Pokémon XY fills fans with emotion, as well as featuring the show debut of a new Pokémon.
The episode is the first Bonnie-centric episode since “So You’re Having a Bad Day” (around 15 episodes ago) and while there are rarely any major events in the episodes focusing on Bonnie, I’ve liked how the writers find brand new ways to make the character entertaining- which is especially difficult when Bonnie is too young to be a trainer and limits what the writers can do with her. In my opinion, this is one of (if not the) best Bonnie focused episode of the show. It’s not one of the best episodes of the XY series itself, but I do feel it’s the best Bonnie episode.
The plot of the episode focuses on Bonnie taking care of a Tyrunt that Team Rocket stole. Team Rocket had captured it with the intention to evolve it to a Tyrantrum, but it escaped and ended up coming across Bonnie, Clemont, Ash and Serena. While the plot in itself is pretty straightforward (in my opinion), there are numerous twists in the episode that make it really heartfelt and (at times) difficult to watch because of how sad it is.
Team Rocket returns to try and catch Tyrunt again, with Bonnie (not for the first time) showing that even though she isn’t a trainer she can still battle when necessary. When Team Rocket succeeds in catching Tyrunt, Bonnie (in a way similar to Ash) recklessly attempts to get Tyrunt back. Bonnie’s willingness causes Tyrunt to evolve into Tyrantrum (making its debut in the anime) and Team Rocket are sent blasting off again.
Random note: Anyone else think it’s strange Tyrantrum was only officially introduced in this episode, yet Bonnie has been wearing Tyrantrum pyjamas for the whole of the XY series? Just a little strange…
If Tyrunt evolving into Tyrantrum wasn’t a big enough twist, there was another twist to come in the episode. Bonnie decided she wanted to take care of Tyrantrum permanently, but Clemont’s Pokéball bounced back off it indicating that it already has a trainer. Two members from the Pokémon Fossil Research Lab show up and it’s revealed that Tyrantrum belongs to them.
The episode concludes with an emotional scene, as Bonnie says goodbye to Tyrantrum after a tour of the lab and promises to visit it again someday.
In my opinion, while I don’t consider it among the best episodes of Pokémon XY, it’s definitely one of the most heartfelt episodes and leaves an impact on viewers. The development of Bonnie and Tyrunt (later Tyrantrum)’s relationship was handled really well and hopefully we’ll see Tyrantrum make a return in another episode.
My rating: 8/10
By Ruari Williamson
Fox’s X-Men cinematic universe may be popular, but one complaint many fans have against it is their deviation from the comics. Small or large changes, fans view Fox as the company that changes comic book characters when putting them on the big-screen.
One of these characters is Colossus, who is Russian in the comics but wasn’t in the X-Men films. Next year’s Deadpool film will be basing the character on the comic version a lot more, and keeping him Russian is just one of the ways they plan to do that.
Deadpool director Tim Miller is quoted as saying the following:
“I don’t know why he wasn’t like that before. Those are the kinds of things that I think as a fan… nothing against the movies that were made before but I feel like if there’s not a real reason to change those sorts of things then you should stay true to the comics as much as you can. As a fan it bothered me when he didn’t speak with a Russian accent. I expect that.”
Due to the alternate timeline established by X-Men: Days of Future Past, it is possible for some characters to be shifted around in the universe.
Deadpool is scheduled to be released on February 12th, 2016.
Thoughts on this news?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
The first photos from the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have been released, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.
The photos follow this week’s reveal of the film’s official logo.
Eight images have been released in total, including looks at Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), Katherine Waterston (Porpentina “Tina” Goldstein), Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein) and Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski).
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is scheduled to be released on November 18th, 2016.
Thoughts on the photos?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
Emma Caulfield (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Darkness Falls, General Hospital, Once Upon a Time) has been cast as DC Comics character Cameron Chase in Supergirl.
A description of the character in the show is below:
“After her father’s violent murder, Cameron Chase decided to dedicate her life to law enforcement. Now a stern, no holds barred FBI agent, Chase’s weapons of choice are manipulation and manpower. With little sympathy, and plenty of suspicions, she pursues her targets with ruthless determination.”
Thoughts on this casting?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
Marvel’s Agent Carter series has cast Ken Marino (Wet Hot American Summer, Party Down, Burning Love, Marry Me, Children’s Hospital, We’re the Millers) as comic series villain Joseph Manfredi.
Manfredi will be a recurring character and he is described as a “volatile leader in the Maggia crime syndicate” working with other enemies of Peggy Carter.
Marvel Head of Television Jeph Loeb said the following on the character:
“At Marvel, even our villains need a certain degree of charm as they make life difficult for our heroes. Ken brings a quality to Joseph Manfredi that only serves to make him even more menacing, adding another layer of depth to our already outstanding supporting cast.”
Interestingly, in the comics Manfredi is the son of Silvermane and most of his clashes in the comics came with Daredevil.
Thoughts on this casting?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
Following the reveal of the official logo for the spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling (who is the screen-writing the spin-off) has confirmed that the muggles will be called a different name in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Muggles will be called “No-Maj”, which will be the American-English equivalent of the word “muggle”. Next Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) will encounter many Wizards using this name in New York when he travels there in 1926.
“No-Maj” is pronounced as “no madge”.
Thoughts on this news?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
Nicole Kidman (Grace of Monaco, Moulin Rouge, The Others, The Golden Compass, Batman Forever) is reportedly in talks for a role in DC’s Wonder Woman film, starring Gal Gadot.
The role in question is said to be a “high-ranking Amazonian warrior.”
The Wonder Woman film is scheduled for release on June 23rd, 2017. The film is expected to begin shooting later this month.
Thoughts on this report?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter, Skyfall, Spectre, Schindler’s List) has been cast as the voice of Alfred Pennyworth in The Lego Batman Movie.
Ralph can currently be seen as M in the new James Bond film Spectre.
The Lego Batman Movie is scheduled to be released on February 10th, 2017, in the UK.
Thoughts on this casting?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
Lucasfilm and Disney have released five character posters for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens online. The posters include Han Solo, Leia Organa, Finn, Rey and Kylo Ren.
The posters were released online by the Star Wars social media accounts and the respective cast members who are on social media.
Given the quality of these posters, hopefully we’ll see more posters of characters in the film very soon (particularly Poe Dameron, Captain Phasma and General Hux).
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens opens on December 17th in the UK/Ireland.
Thoughts on the character posters?
Source
By Ruari Williamson
Page 261 of 314 « First ... « 259 260 261 262 263 » ... Last »
