Author: Gareth

Transmedia developer — writer, consultant, game designer, graphic artist, and publisher. A sharp tongue, a sharp blade, and on a good day, a sharp mind.
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O brave new world…

Sometimes I love living in the 21st century.

Somebody in Canadian Broadcasting leaked a screener copy of the premiere episode of the new Doctor Who series to the internet this weekend. The DVD copy had been sent out by the BBC to sell the series to broadcasters outside of the UK. So, thanks to bittorrent and my iMac’s ability to burn DVDs, and I watched the episode, entitled “Rose”, last night…two and half weeks before it’s set to premiere in the UK.

My review:

Aside from the pacing, it very much felt like the original series — which, in my obsessive, fanboy opinion is brilliant.

I can see why the Sci Fi Channel passed on it, since it’s not too glossy. Definitely shot on video, very “British TV” look to it. Besides, Sci-Fi has to keep filling their schedule with giant alligator and bug movies, after all. We US sci-fi fans obviously need “Mansquito” more than we need “Doctor Who.” Or something.

There are one or two elements that made me groan a bit due to cheesiness (but that happened with the original series as well), but overall, it felt like I was watching Doctor Who….except the pace was very 21st-century: lots of quick cuts, the show starts with action, has several scenes of action throughout, and ends with a bang. The whole story is told in 45 minutes. I think if this was done in the old series, they would have padded it out with a few “sneaking around or running around in corridors” scenes, and made it a McCoy-era 3-parter, at 66 minutes. On the whole, I don’t really miss the padding, but I am looking forward to the “meatier” two-parters that are coming later in the season.

Christopher Ecclestone’s Ninth Doctor reminds me very much of Tom Baker’s Fourth. (The sudden swings from darkly alien to grinning maniac, etc.) He had been onscreen for mere seconds when I felt “yup, he’s the Doctor.” There was no period of adjustment at all. Gone is the foppy Edwardian gentleman look–the Doctor wears a beat-up thrift story leather coat, and speaks with a working-class accent. (Favorite line: Rose: “If you’re an alien, how come you sound like you’re from the North?” The Doctor (in a huff): “Lots of planets have a North.”)

There are 12 more episodes coming this season. God bless my DSL connection.

Posted on

O brave new world…

Sometimes I love living in the 21st century.

Somebody in Canadian Broadcasting leaked a screener copy of the premiere episode of the new Doctor Who series to the internet this weekend. The DVD copy had been sent out by the BBC to sell the series to broadcasters outside of the UK. So, thanks to bittorrent and my iMac’s ability to burn DVDs, Laura and I watched the episode, entitled “Rose”, last night…two and half weeks before it’s set to premiere in the UK.

My review:

Aside from the pacing, it very much felt like the original series — which, in my obsessive, fanboy opinion is brilliant.

I can see why the Sci Fi Channel passed on it, since it’s not too glossy. Definitely shot on video, very “British TV” look to it. Besides, Sci-Fi has to keep filling their schedule with giant alligator and bug movies, after all. We US sci-fi fans obviously need “Mansquito” more than we need “Doctor Who.” Or something.

There are one or two elements that made me groan a bit due to cheesiness (but that happened with the original series as well), but overall, it felt like I was watching Doctor Who….except the pace was very 21st-century: lots of quick cuts, the show starts with action, has several scenes of action throughout, and ends with a bang. The whole story is told in 45 minutes. I think if this was done in the old series, they would have padded it out with a few “sneaking around or running around in corridors” scenes, and made it a McCoy-era 3-parter, at 66 minutes. On the whole, I don’t really miss the padding, but I am looking forward to the “meatier” two-parters that are coming later in the season.

Christopher Ecclestone’s Ninth Doctor reminds me very much of Tom Baker’s Fourth. (The sudden swings from darkly alien to grinning maniac, etc.) He had been onscreen for mere seconds when I felt “yup, he’s the Doctor.” There was no period of adjustment at all. Gone is the foppy Edwardian gentleman look–the Doctor wears a beat-up thrift story leather coat, and speaks with a working-class accent. (Favorite line: Rose: “If you’re an alien, how come you sound like you’re from the North?” The Doctor (in a huff): “Lots of planets have a North.”)

There are 12 more episodes coming this season. God bless my DSL connection.

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Friday Music

Decided to post this early, because I’ll be busy most of the day and wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get to it.

This week’s tracks:

Grab this one ASAP, since I’m not sure how long it will be available (the filename indicates that it’s been up for almost a month already): Dierdre Dubois – “Firefly”. This track by a french singer (this one’s in English, though) has no relation to the Joss Whedon SF series, but I’ll admit that possibility is why I first took a listen. Once the drums kicked in, I was hooked, and there was no looking back.

I still find myself absorbed by the Dresden Dolls debut CD. Here’s another track from it, another of my faves: Dresden Dolls – “Missed Me”. Not many songs manage to be playful and creepy at the same time, but this one pulls it off.

Supreme Beings of Leisure – “Never The Same” I first became aware of this song in a clothing commercial (I think it was for JC Penny or something), and then it was used during the first season of “Alias” (Along with another SBL song, “Under the Gun”). I ran out and got the album. Great trip-hop spy-beat kinda stuff.

For the cover fans in the audience: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – “For the Longest Time” Everybody’s favorite goofy punk cover band does Billy Joel. Sorta works, consider the fact that the original was a pastiche of doo-wop songs, this pastiche of a pastiche seems just as valid.

Slowing it down and jazzing it up, I present Tom Waits – “Alice” I don’t know what to say here: It’s Tom Waits, fer chrissakes. (For those of you poor benighted fools who don’t know the man, he’s the guy who played Renfield in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, and just happens to be a musical GOD.)

….and, for our last track of the week: I had mentioned that I was a big fan of downtempo. So, I figured, why not post some old-school “chillout” music? Little River Band – “Reminiscing”. Yes, it’s cheesy. Yes, it’s 70s “lite rock” mush. Shaddap. It’s pretty and I like it. So there.

There ya have it. Another week’s musical biscuits, fresh outta the oven.

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