How Season 10 Could Be The Best Season of Doctor Who Yet!

This weekend, the Doctor flew back onto our screens for its first series since 2015 and it did not disappoint. The new companion, Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) was great, Nardole (Matt Lucas) was amusing enough not to be annoying and The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) was at his electrifying best. The main monster, a girl called Heather who had somehow been turned into a strange water/puddle creature, was absolutely terrifying as well! Can this amazing start continue though? And if it is to continue, what will be the main reasons? How can Moffat turn his Doctor Who swansong into the best season since the show came back twelve years ago?

Keep a leash on Matt Lucas

I like Matt Lucas. In interviews he always comes across as a thoroughly nice chap and he's also quite funny, Little Britain aside. On the surface, his double act with an older and kinda cantankerous Doctor is genius. However, in last nights season premiere he did come perilously close to being annoying and in Doctor Who, annoying is not a good thing. As great as Catherine Tate was as Donna in the Tennant era, she is far better in her later episodes than in her earlier ones because she grew into the role. In her Christmas special debut, she was annoying and, in my opinion, is one of the main reasons that episode is cited as a series low point. If this season of Doctor Who is to be as great as it potentially could be, Nardole needs to be kept on leash and needs to become a foil to Capaldi as opposed to a side kick.

Make the show scary again

The long awaited return of The Mondasian Cybermen should
reintroduce the fear factor

Last nights monster was downright scary in my terrified opinion. If I'd had a sofa, I'd have been cowering behind it. That's what Doctor Who is about, being scared and that is one of the times when Doctor Who is at its finest. There's a reason that the likes of 'The Empty Child' and 'Blink' are favourites among the shows fan base, the monsters are bloody scary! The Daleks need to be scary again which might mean giving them a series off. Yes, they are iconic but they have been massively overused since the shows arrival. 

Make John Sims return more than a gimmick

It is now common knowledge that John Sim is set to return alongside Missy as The Master and it needs to be done right. Don't make it gimmicky, please! Have a reason for him being there. My preferred reason would be for us to meet up with The Master before his regeneration into Missy. We all know how Moffat has enjoyed making his mark on the show and by having a multi Master story, he would be the first to do that. It might be a good thing, to see The Master and Missy onscreen together however I'm not convinced and much prefer the regeneration idea. Maybe The Doctor causes The Master to regenerate, maybe they cause each other to regenerate. 

Be uncomplicated

Capaldi; a great Doctor hampered by Moffat?

For me, the Moffat era is one of complication and vast plots. That's not a bad thing really however I get how it could put some viewers off. Doctor Who  should be about escapism. As viewers, we should feel like one of his companions, travelling with The Doctor to improbable worlds for adventure. By over complicating things with impossible jargon, long overarching plots and having The Doctor forever questioning what kind of man he is, it takes some of the wonderment and fun out of proceedings. The Matt Smith years were complicated with the impossible astronaut arch and then the impossible girl yet with Peter Capaldi, Moffat has gone on complication overload which, for me, has tainted the Capaldi era somewhat. It's a huge shame really because Capaldi has often been fantastic in the role and clearly loves being The Doctor. 

What would you like to see in this season of Doctor Who? What are you looking forward to and what are you dreading? Will you miss Capaldi and do you think he's done a good job in the role? Leave a comment and thank you for reading!

In Defense of ... The Walking Dead Season 7

The viewing figures would have you believe that The Walking Dead is on a downward spiral, as would the negative Tweets and Facebook posts which seem to be on the increase. Yes, it's sure to say that season seven of The Walking Dead hasn't been to everyone's taste. The 'seeming' lack of walker action, Negan and the scattered group have all been given as reasons for switching off. In this post I'm going to, hopefully, provide a reason to keep on watching. Sure there are bad things but there's a whole host of good things to say about the show and in my opinion, humble as it is, most of those negatives can actually be seen as positives from the right angle.

The introduction of Negan brought a more sympathetic
side out of Rick 

First I'm going to deal with Negan. Prior to Negan and his menacing Saviors, The Walking Dead had lacked a real bad guy. The Governor was good but was dispatched too quickly in my opinion. Since then, we've had Gareth and his band of cannibals, the hospital in Atlanta and the Wolves. None of those provided a prolonged obstacle to our main group of survivors. With Negan we perhaps have the greatest threat our group has ever faced. Let's be honest, Rick needed bringing to his knees and Negan did just that. The effect has been, from my point of view at least, a new found sympathy for Rick. He's changed as a character and he's now someone I can get on board with again. Gone is the arrogance of the man who waltzed into Alexandria like he owned the place. As for Negan, for all of his pantomime villainy, he's actually a multi-layered character. Sure, some of his morals seem slightly off (he doesn't allow rape yet essentially has a harem of slave women of his own) but underneath his bluster, there's a man who once upon a time just wanted to do the right thing.

The lack of Walker action is something that I've seen suggested by a few people as a negative. The thing is that there are still lots of Walkers featured in the show. It's just that they are no longer the threat they once were. Remember, in The Walking Dead time, we are perhaps 2-3 years into the apocalypse. It's not that Walkers are suddenly no longer dangerous, it's just that our survivors are bloody good at dispatching them. Regardless of this fact, to suggest that the show has gone Walker lite is just plain wrong. What about the highway in the mid season premiere? What about the Ocean side walkers in episode 15? What about Rick and Michone at the fair? What about the Alexandrian Walkers on the fence? What about the lake walkers in the mid season finale? Walkers are featured in pretty much every episode. The truth of the matter is that after 7 years, they just no longer add shock value.

Would've been great to have seen more of the King and his
tiger in the first half of the season.

The scattered group is a problem, I completely agree with that. However, it becomes less of a problem if the show handles it correctly. When we get stand alone episodes featuring one group of characters as happened at the start of this season, then it becomes a problem. Tara's first visit to Ocean side was great but that fact that it happened in one episode meant that we actually didn't care for the newly introduced characters. The same can be said of the kingdom, which featured twice in that first 8 episode run. Now though, with recent episodes splitting time between different characters things are looking better. It allows for better story lining in my opinion as each strand connects.

My final point is that this season has an endgame in sight and I guess will probably be viewed better as part of a marathon in years to come. In the comics, these events we're witnessing on screen are part of the famed 'All Out War' arc which sees our coalition of settlements take on the Saviors. Most of that war will encompass season 8, I'm sure, with what we're seeing now being the build up. If next season is going to be the 'All Out War' season, then this season is the 'Rise Up' season. Let's not forget where this season started! With Rick and his group on their knees in the dirt as Negan bashed in the skulls of two of their friends! That's not something you get over easily. Trust me, in the wider context this season makes total sense.

What do you think about this season? What do you love or hate about it? What would you change? Feel free to leave a comment below and thank you for reading.

Is Coronation Street the right place?

Coronation Street has recently come under fire for a plot involving 16 year old teenager Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon). Centered around the subject of grooming, the plot has already seen naive Bethany fall prey to an older man called Nathan Curtis (Chris Harper) with recent scenes seeing her lose her virginity to him after having her drink spiked. The story line is set to gather pace in the coming weeks as Nathan tries to pimp the vulnerable schoolgirl out to his friends. While the controversial story line has been praised by some children's charities, it is still receiving its fair share of backlash with many believing the ITV soap has gone too far this time. Has Coronation Street gone too far? Or do these stories need to be told and if so, are pre-watershed soap operas the place to tell them?

The controversial 'grooming' plot has horrified some people

The world is a messed up place. Screwy things happen all the time. That's not to say that we would still know how to react were something like that happening to us. Nor, it's fair to say, would we know the signs of something messed up however obvious they may be. In many ways, the soaps give us lessons in what things we should look out for. In the case of Bethany Platt, she's suddenly started talking about this mysterious friend called Mel, a character Bethany's mother has never met. She's also started acting strange at home and disappearing suddenly. As a character, Bethany is also portrayed as naive and vulnerable having recently been involved in a bullying story line which then led onto her becoming addicted to diet pills. Add onto that, her recent crush on older man Gary Windass (Mikey North) and the signs are all there.

Sarah Platt controversially gave birth
to Bethany at just 13! 

In terms of how Coronation Street is servicing this extremely sensitive story line, they seem to be doing it justice. It would be so easy to sensationalize the subject, so easy to go wrong and I guess that it's probably a good thing that our oldest soap is the one covering it. They have over fifty years of experience after all and while Coronation Street is often seen as the more gentler of our soaps, they have shown in the past that they aren't afraid to tackle hard hitting stuff, the most famous story line also concerning Bethany Platt. In 2000, at the age of 13, Sarah Platt gave birth to Bethany which was the culmination in their controversial teenage pregnancy plot.

While controversy is all well and good, it is still important to tell the story well. These stories do NEED to be told, that much I'm sure we can all agree on. But is a pre-watershed soap opera the right place to do it? What do you think? Please, comment below and thank you for reading.

What's Hot This Week - Monday 27th Feb to Sunday 5th Mar

Broadchurch Season 3


When:- Monday 27th Feb at 9 pm
Where:- ITV 1

Broadchurch makes it's long awaited return this week after a break of over two years. While it's fair to say that the second season hardly set the world alight, the third (and final) season returns to the formula that made the first season so great. Both David Tennant and Olivia Coleman reprise their roles to hunt a rapist spreading fear in the close-knit community. Set three years after the events of season two, new characters are set to be introduced alongside many familiar faces. Julie Hesmondhalgh, Lenny Henry and Georgina Campbell are just some of the big names making their Broadchurch debut as the final season gets set for what is sure to be an emotional run.


Benidorm Season 9


When:- Wednesday 1st Mar at 9 pm
Where:- ITV 1

It's back to the Solana Hotel this week as we make a ninth trip to Benidorm. Many of our old favourites are back such as Mateo, the Maltbys and hotel manageress Joyce Temple-Savage. Plus, a whole lot of guest stars are also alongside for the ride. Mark Heap joins the cast as Pauline Maltbys boyfriend Malcolm while Uri Geller and Madness are also set to appear. One well loved character who will be conspicuous by her absence will be Lesley following Tim Healey's health scare last year. Despite that, it's sure to be a welcome return for what has become a bit of a TV institution.


Prime Suspect 1973


When:- Thursday 2nd Mar at 9 pm
Where:- ITV 1

Following on from the success of Morse prequel series Endeavor, Prime Suspect unveils it's own look at the early years of it's iconic lead character. Set twenty years before the events of its parent show, Prime Suspect 1973 details the early years of Jane Tennison, previously played by so memorably by Helen Mirren. Taking on the role of Tennison is Stefani Martini who you may recognise from Dr Thorne. Set in 1970's Hackney, the six part series will see Tennison start as a WPC before being thrust into a brutal murder inquiry.




New on Amazon Prime


What:- Black Sails - Season 4

Not technically a new show, having been back on the streaming giant for the best part of five weeks. However, if you've not seen Black Sails, the previous three seasons are available on Amazon to binge watch at your leisure. The show is basically a four season prequel to Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island featuring characters like Long John Silver, Captain Flint and Billy Bones and putting them alongside real pirates such as Charles Vains, Jack Rackham and Blackbeard. Often violent, the series is more Game of Thrones than Pirates of the Caribbean. Currently trundling through it's final season, it is definitely worth a look!

What shows are you looking forward to watching this week? Did you, or will you, enjoy what I've suggested? Please leave a comment below and thanks for reading!

Why the long wait?

It's an agonising wait for the 3rd season of Outlander

Doctor Who will be back in April following a sixteen month break since season 9 finished. Since then we have had two Christmas specials but the wait for a full season has still been painful. In June, Game of Thrones will air its season 7 premiere, a full two months later than normal. Only a couple of days ago, it was announced that Outlander's third season wouldn't be airing until September, a full fourteen months since the season 2 finale. It seems that the makers of some of our favourite shows delight in making us wait, but why?

In Doctor Who's case, it isn't a new thing to have long breaks between seasons from time to time. David Tennant's departure aired seventeen months after his last full season aired! As for Game of Thrones, the later season is down to the crew having to film in Winter to account for the more wintry scenes they require. For Outlander, the reason is that they simply want to put out the best series they possibly can and you can't blame them for that.

Of course, having a long wait between seasons can be a good thing for the viewer. More time means for time to film a show. It also means that the show gets to spend more time in post-production which then means that we get a more polished product. It also means that we are more likely to get a full uninterrupted season as opposed to the split season model favoured by shows such as The Walking Dead and Once Upon A Time.

We had to wait 3 months for Rick to finally meet
King Ezekiel

The split season model, where we get a two or three month break in the middle of a season, is something that often frustrates the viewer. With a show such as The Walking Dead which has a standard sixteen episode season, eight episodes just seem to fly by. Often we are still getting over the premiere when the mid season finale airs. The good thing with this model though is that we only get a six month break between seasons as opposed to the nine months we'd get if The Walking Dead aired an uninterrupted season.


What do you think of the long wait for your favourite shows? Would you prefer shows like The Walking Dead to have a full uniterupted season or are you a fan of the split season model? Please, feel free to comment below...

What's Hot This Week - Monday 20th Feb to Sunday 26th Feb

Inside Number 9

When:- Tuesday 21st Feb at 10pm
Where:- BBC2

How do you follow The League of Gentleman and Psychoville? With Inside No. 9 of course, the Pemberton and Shearsmith penned anthology series which returns for it's third series this week. Following an extremely simple premise (what goes on behind closed doors) the show has proved extremely popular with each standalone episode often twisting and turning towards some often truly shocking and surprising twists. With a forth series already commissioned, this truly brilliant show shows no sign of ending any time soon.

The Brit Awards 2017

When:- Wednesday 22nd Feb at 7:30pm
Where:- ITV

Taking place at Londons O2 Arena, this years ceremony is set to be hosted by Dermot O'Leary and Emma Willis after Michael Buble had to pull out. Both are seasoned presenters of two of the biggest music shows in the world in The X Factor and The Voice respectively so with them at the helm it should be a good show. Also, with the likes of Ed , Robbie Williams, Little Mix, Emile Sande, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, The 1975 and grime sensation Skepta performing, this years show is one NOT to be missed.

Person of Interest

When:- Wednesday 22nd Feb at 9 pm
Where:- 5USA

Created by Jonathon Nolan (brother of Christopher Nolan who also executive produces the the show), Person of Interest is sadly entering its fifth and final season having been cancelled by CBS. The show follows a relatively simple premise. A machine can predict terrorist acts/crimes before they have been committed. However, with Nolan at the helm the story is twisted into an exploration of artificial intelligence which has won the show pretty major critical acclaim. If you've seen the action packed trailer then you'll know that the show seems determined to go out on a high!

The 89th Academy Awards

When:- Sunday 26th Feb at 1:30 am
Where:- Sky Movies Oscars

Okay, so La La Land is pretty much expecting to sweep the board at this years Oscars but there's still plenty of reason to watch. Although it will be Jimmy Kimmels first shot at hosting the ceremony, he still has a wealth of experience at hosting high profile events on his CV having done the Emmy's, ESPY Awards and the American Music Awards in the past. Although La La Land is quite rightly expected to walk away with a truck load of awards, it has still been a good year for films with Arrival, Hacksaw Ridge, Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea all expected to challenge the musical for the coveted best picture award.

New on Netflix

What:- American Crime Story - The People V O. J. Simpson

A spin off from American Horror Story, and executive produced by anthology series master Ryan Murphy, American Crime Story has already been given a four season run with each season exploring a true American Crime. First up, it's the turn of the crime that shook the 90's, when O. J. Simpson stood trial for the murder of his ex-wife and her lover and was then acquitted. Staring some true Hollywood stars in the form of Cuba Gooding Jr, John Travolta, Sarah Paulson and David Schwimmer, this first season has won pretty major acclaim receiving 22 Prime-time Emmy Award nominations. Finally arriving on Netflix, this outstanding show is definitely worthy of a weekend binge watch.

What shows are you looking forward to watching this week? Did you, or will you, enjoy what I've suggested? Please leave a comment below and thanks for reading!

The Walking Dead: S7 Mid-Season Premiere Glance

So, The Walking Dead is back after its winter break. When we left our main characters before Christmas, they had soon grown tired of Negan's dictatorship over them and knew it was a system that just couldn't continue. Reuniting with the previously held prisoner by the Saviors Daryl, the smell of an uprising was in the air. The mid season premier built on that feeling although it also let us know that this uprising would be anything but easy.

The first thing to say about the episode is that it definitely benefited from a lack of Negan. I'm a big fan of the character and of Jeffrey Dean Morgans portrayal of him. However, because he is such a big character I found that he overshadowed pretty much everyone else he appeared on screen with. Aside from a couple of voice overs courtesy of a stolen Savior , he was absent but I don't think that was a bad thing. If anything, I didn't really notice that he wasn't in the episode. Of course, while Negan himself may not have appeared, his right hand man Simon certainly made his presence known.

Simon the Savior is a truly terrifying
antagonist.

Steven Ogg is excellent as the psychotic Simon. In many ways, he plays the role like his GTA5 character Trevor. He's menacing, unpredictable and truly terrifying because of that. While Negan 'plays' by a set of rules, you get the feeling that were Simon in charge he wouldn't. For that reason, while the removal of Negan is obviously of the most import, at least he keeps Simon on a leash. If Simon were in charge then life for the other communities would probably be far worse. In the premiere, he seemed to take delight in smashing up Alexandria during a failed hunt for Daryl.

Rick and Michones impressive new way of dispatching
walkers was a great scene!

Possibly the biggest talking point, well one of them at least, of the whole episode has to be the cable dispatch of a walker herd. Upon coming across a steel cable laced with explosives that ran across a highway (to keep a herd away from the Saviors base no doubt), Rick knew that they needed the dynamite and rockets for their fight against Negan. However, the herd was soon upon them so Rick and Michone each drove a car which was attached to the cable down the highway, slicing walkers in two. Arguably one of the most impressive ways we've seen walkers be dispatched so far!

In an episode with so many talking points, it's hard to pick a second and final one to talk about. However, that ending has to at least get a mention. The episode was titled Rock in the Road and Ricks smile said it all. In any other time, being surrounded by a huge gang of armed people would've spelt danger. Here, it means that Rick has found a way of moving his particular rock; Negan and the Saviors. With the Kingdom refusing to have any part in a potential uprising (although that is sure to change), Rick knew he was short of people and weapons. This new group, should he manage to get them onside, solves both of those problems and will only help our survivors in their upcoming fight against the Saviors.

What did you think of the season 7 midseason premiere and what do you think is next for our survivors? Also, where the hell is Father Gabriel? Please, feel free to comment below...