This Star Wars: Andor article contains spoilers.
Andor Episode 8
In episode 8 of Andor, half of the action is a Star Wars version of the Shawshank Redemption, and there’s something about this specific incarceration that feels a bit on the fake side of the Force, like the Disneyland version of a space prison. Andor episode 8 is good, but as we watch humans literally build the cogs that make the machines of the Empire work, one can’t help but wonder, are we getting a bit too granular with the logistics of Star Wars?
At the point at which Cassian gets thrown into a forced-labor Imperial prison, nobody wanted Andor to suddenly turn into Alien 3, but there’s still something a bit too sanitized about these Star Wars prison sequences. Essentially, this Imperial prison motivates the inmates to be really good at building cogs(?) and pits various teams of workers against each other.
Andor Episode 8
In episode 8 of Andor, half of the action is a Star Wars version of the Shawshank Redemption, and there’s something about this specific incarceration that feels a bit on the fake side of the Force, like the Disneyland version of a space prison. Andor episode 8 is good, but as we watch humans literally build the cogs that make the machines of the Empire work, one can’t help but wonder, are we getting a bit too granular with the logistics of Star Wars?
At the point at which Cassian gets thrown into a forced-labor Imperial prison, nobody wanted Andor to suddenly turn into Alien 3, but there’s still something a bit too sanitized about these Star Wars prison sequences. Essentially, this Imperial prison motivates the inmates to be really good at building cogs(?) and pits various teams of workers against each other.
- 10/26/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Andor article contains spoilers.
Andor Episode 7
The story of Cassian Andor has reached the point of no return. We’re beyond the halfway mark in Andor season 1, and if you’re still into this aggressively different Star Wars show, you’re certainly not going to stop watching now. The tone of episode 7, “Announcement,” seems to reflect this feeling, as the events in this episode all reinforce the same theme: the status quo of every single character is in flux, and everything has already changed irrecoverably.
In a somewhat unsurprising, but refreshing move, Cassian’s first decision after ditching the Rebels in “The Eye” is to return home to Ferrix and pay off his debts. Cassian’s homecoming is pretty horrible, and both Bix and his adoptive mother Maarva tell him to get lost for his own sake. The Empire is now on the planet in a big way,...
Andor Episode 7
The story of Cassian Andor has reached the point of no return. We’re beyond the halfway mark in Andor season 1, and if you’re still into this aggressively different Star Wars show, you’re certainly not going to stop watching now. The tone of episode 7, “Announcement,” seems to reflect this feeling, as the events in this episode all reinforce the same theme: the status quo of every single character is in flux, and everything has already changed irrecoverably.
In a somewhat unsurprising, but refreshing move, Cassian’s first decision after ditching the Rebels in “The Eye” is to return home to Ferrix and pay off his debts. Cassian’s homecoming is pretty horrible, and both Bix and his adoptive mother Maarva tell him to get lost for his own sake. The Empire is now on the planet in a big way,...
- 10/19/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Quantum Leap review contains spoilers.
Quantum Leap Episode 5
Leaping through spacetime is not solely the domain of quantum physicists Ben Song (Raymond Lee) and Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula). In this week’s installment of Quantum Leap, episode five “Salvation or Bust,” an unknown leaper appears just as Ben and Addison (Caitlin Bassett) are celebrating their success at putting things right in Salvation, a diverse Old Western town built for outcasts circa 1879.
The revelation that there are other leapers doesn’t require any suspension of disbelief since “other leapers,” specifically evil ones, were a part of the Quantum Leap universe thirty years ago when Sam was bounding through history. In fact, many humans today experience a form of quantum leaping regularly when driving their cars with the help of the Global Positioning System (Gps). Gps engineers tally the spacetime continuum in relation to a satellite’s orbital speed and position...
Quantum Leap Episode 5
Leaping through spacetime is not solely the domain of quantum physicists Ben Song (Raymond Lee) and Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula). In this week’s installment of Quantum Leap, episode five “Salvation or Bust,” an unknown leaper appears just as Ben and Addison (Caitlin Bassett) are celebrating their success at putting things right in Salvation, a diverse Old Western town built for outcasts circa 1879.
The revelation that there are other leapers doesn’t require any suspension of disbelief since “other leapers,” specifically evil ones, were a part of the Quantum Leap universe thirty years ago when Sam was bounding through history. In fact, many humans today experience a form of quantum leaping regularly when driving their cars with the help of the Global Positioning System (Gps). Gps engineers tally the spacetime continuum in relation to a satellite’s orbital speed and position...
- 10/18/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Warning: this Doctor Who review contains spoilers.
As the middle child in a run of Doctor Who specials, ‘Legend of the Sea Devils’ finds itself in something of an unenviable position. Much like Easter 2009’s ‘Planet of the Dead’, the episode can’t rely on the star power of foes like the Daleks or Cybermen, and people are already looking past it in anticipation of upheaval and an upcoming regeneration later in the year.
Of course, the same was true of ‘The Waters of Mars’, and that more than earned its place in fans’ hearts thanks to its great premise and performances, so it’s still possible for a stand-alone story to surprise us if it’s told well. ‘Legend of the Sea Devils’, it must be said, is not a surprising story, although the tone it takes is rather unexpected.
When hearing that Doctor Who would be tackling its...
As the middle child in a run of Doctor Who specials, ‘Legend of the Sea Devils’ finds itself in something of an unenviable position. Much like Easter 2009’s ‘Planet of the Dead’, the episode can’t rely on the star power of foes like the Daleks or Cybermen, and people are already looking past it in anticipation of upheaval and an upcoming regeneration later in the year.
Of course, the same was true of ‘The Waters of Mars’, and that more than earned its place in fans’ hearts thanks to its great premise and performances, so it’s still possible for a stand-alone story to surprise us if it’s told well. ‘Legend of the Sea Devils’, it must be said, is not a surprising story, although the tone it takes is rather unexpected.
When hearing that Doctor Who would be tackling its...
- 4/17/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 4
After several episodes of what was essentially a very complicated set-up, it finally feels as though Star Trek: Picard’s second season is ready to kick into high gear with “Watcher”. The crew of the La Sirena has made it back in time to 2024 and they have a task to complete with demonstrable results. Find the mysterious Watcher who supposedly will be able to help them identify whatever has gone wrong with the timeline and therefore prevent it, preventing Earth’s descent into an authoritarian hellscape where the Federation morphs into an organization that’s down with conquest and genocide.
Despite its more clearly defined narrative goals, there’s still an aspect of this episode that feels a bit like watching three different series fighting under a blanket. In one corner, there’s Raffi and Seven’s Excellent Adventure,...
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 4
After several episodes of what was essentially a very complicated set-up, it finally feels as though Star Trek: Picard’s second season is ready to kick into high gear with “Watcher”. The crew of the La Sirena has made it back in time to 2024 and they have a task to complete with demonstrable results. Find the mysterious Watcher who supposedly will be able to help them identify whatever has gone wrong with the timeline and therefore prevent it, preventing Earth’s descent into an authoritarian hellscape where the Federation morphs into an organization that’s down with conquest and genocide.
Despite its more clearly defined narrative goals, there’s still an aspect of this episode that feels a bit like watching three different series fighting under a blanket. In one corner, there’s Raffi and Seven’s Excellent Adventure,...
- 3/24/2022
- by Lacy Baugher
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who: Flux Episode 6 ‘The Vanquishers’
The Doctor Who: Flux finale came and went with the chaotic clanking of a milk float taking a corner too fast. It had a billion plot threads, a dozen villains, twice as many companions, and four Doctors, one of whom didn’t count because she was really Time. If you’re in need of a more thorough explanation than that, we can offer this.
Even if it did skimp on coherence, Series 13 did not skimp on ambition. Considering that the whole thing was made during a pandemic that slowed production and stole episodes of run time, what it put on screen was pretty remarkable. This fairground ride of a series ended with the universe – or what’s left of it – saved, along with everyone except for thousands of planetary populations, almost all of the baddies, and Professor Eustacius Jericho, Scourge...
The Doctor Who: Flux finale came and went with the chaotic clanking of a milk float taking a corner too fast. It had a billion plot threads, a dozen villains, twice as many companions, and four Doctors, one of whom didn’t count because she was really Time. If you’re in need of a more thorough explanation than that, we can offer this.
Even if it did skimp on coherence, Series 13 did not skimp on ambition. Considering that the whole thing was made during a pandemic that slowed production and stole episodes of run time, what it put on screen was pretty remarkable. This fairground ride of a series ended with the universe – or what’s left of it – saved, along with everyone except for thousands of planetary populations, almost all of the baddies, and Professor Eustacius Jericho, Scourge...
- 12/7/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Doctor Who Series 13 Episode 6 Review
Warning: this Doctor Who review contains spoilers.
Several regenerations and over a decade ago, more than ten million people sat down to watch ‘Journey’s End’, which at the time was intended to be Russell T. Davies’ last regular episode of Doctor Who before a handful of seasonal specials ended his tenure as showrunner. The extra-long finale saw a huge ensemble cast from the show’s history facing the ‘Reality Bomb’, a wave of energy that would wipe out absolutely everything. Fortunately, due to some last-minute technobabble, we effectively had three Doctors working in tandem to stop it, with the added advantage that one was also the magnificent Donna Noble.
As time and circumstance place Chris Chibnall in a similar situation, it’s no surprise that he might look to the past for some inspiration. But while ‘Journey’s End’ was criticised by some for wrapping everything up too neatly,...
Warning: this Doctor Who review contains spoilers.
Several regenerations and over a decade ago, more than ten million people sat down to watch ‘Journey’s End’, which at the time was intended to be Russell T. Davies’ last regular episode of Doctor Who before a handful of seasonal specials ended his tenure as showrunner. The extra-long finale saw a huge ensemble cast from the show’s history facing the ‘Reality Bomb’, a wave of energy that would wipe out absolutely everything. Fortunately, due to some last-minute technobabble, we effectively had three Doctors working in tandem to stop it, with the added advantage that one was also the magnificent Donna Noble.
As time and circumstance place Chris Chibnall in a similar situation, it’s no surprise that he might look to the past for some inspiration. But while ‘Journey’s End’ was criticised by some for wrapping everything up too neatly,...
- 12/5/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
The holiday season is almost here and Amazon Prime is getting in the mood with its list of December 2021 releases. Sure there are the usual Christmas movies to be found but the real gift this month are two big original titles.
The sixth and final season of beloved sci-fi series The Expanse premieres on Dec. 10. Amazon is doing its usual release strategy of three episodes on the premiere day followed by a weekly schedule so there’s still some time to be spent with the crew of the Rocinante. The other big ticket item is the Desi and Lucy biopic Being the Ricardos on Dec. 21. Sure, Aaron Sorkin seems to be completely disinterested in I Love Lucy and Nicole Kidman bears no passing resemblance to the iconic comedienne whatsoever but uh…it’s a movie!
Read more TV The Expanse Season 5 Ending Explained By Michael Ahr Books How Science Fiction...
The sixth and final season of beloved sci-fi series The Expanse premieres on Dec. 10. Amazon is doing its usual release strategy of three episodes on the premiere day followed by a weekly schedule so there’s still some time to be spent with the crew of the Rocinante. The other big ticket item is the Desi and Lucy biopic Being the Ricardos on Dec. 21. Sure, Aaron Sorkin seems to be completely disinterested in I Love Lucy and Nicole Kidman bears no passing resemblance to the iconic comedienne whatsoever but uh…it’s a movie!
Read more TV The Expanse Season 5 Ending Explained By Michael Ahr Books How Science Fiction...
- 12/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Doctor Who Series 13 Episode 5 Review
Warning: this Doctor Who review contains spoilers.
If there’s one thing you can say about Flux, it’s that no two episodes have felt quite the same. For better or worse, each chapter has worked to establish its own tone and tempo, which has helped add to the sense of scale the story possesses. It also means members of the audience will appreciate some episodes more than others, depending on which flavour of Doctor Who they prefer. A selection box rather than a king-sized Toblerone, in other words.
This week, we’ve gone from the creeping horror of Weeping Angels in misty Devon to an Indiana Jones-style, globetrotting adventure that’s heavy on banter and physical comedy. The breakneck pace, unfortunately, means that there’s little or no attention given to wrapping up some dangling plot points from last week’s episode and...
Warning: this Doctor Who review contains spoilers.
If there’s one thing you can say about Flux, it’s that no two episodes have felt quite the same. For better or worse, each chapter has worked to establish its own tone and tempo, which has helped add to the sense of scale the story possesses. It also means members of the audience will appreciate some episodes more than others, depending on which flavour of Doctor Who they prefer. A selection box rather than a king-sized Toblerone, in other words.
This week, we’ve gone from the creeping horror of Weeping Angels in misty Devon to an Indiana Jones-style, globetrotting adventure that’s heavy on banter and physical comedy. The breakneck pace, unfortunately, means that there’s little or no attention given to wrapping up some dangling plot points from last week’s episode and...
- 11/28/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Doctor Who Series 13 Episode 4 Review
Warning: This Doctor Who review contains spoilers.
Remember Class? Nobody would blame you if you didn’t, as Coal Hill Sixth Form’s finest failed to make much of a splash when the show originally landed. If you did stick with it to the end, though, the final episode revealed that the mysterious School Governors at Susan’s old stomping ground were, in reality, Weeping Angels. Creator Patrick Ness was intending to script an angelic “civil war” if a second series had gotten the go-ahead, which indicates just how tempting a prospect the Angels can be to a writer – every showrunner wants a chance to tackle the Lonely Assassins.
This is trickier than it sounds. As early as their second appearance in ‘The Time of Angels’, Steven Moffat was already having to rewrite the rulebook for his beloved baddies, trying to counter all the ways...
Warning: This Doctor Who review contains spoilers.
Remember Class? Nobody would blame you if you didn’t, as Coal Hill Sixth Form’s finest failed to make much of a splash when the show originally landed. If you did stick with it to the end, though, the final episode revealed that the mysterious School Governors at Susan’s old stomping ground were, in reality, Weeping Angels. Creator Patrick Ness was intending to script an angelic “civil war” if a second series had gotten the go-ahead, which indicates just how tempting a prospect the Angels can be to a writer – every showrunner wants a chance to tackle the Lonely Assassins.
This is trickier than it sounds. As early as their second appearance in ‘The Time of Angels’, Steven Moffat was already having to rewrite the rulebook for his beloved baddies, trying to counter all the ways...
- 11/21/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
This Star Trek article contains minor spoilers for The Next Generation Season 2 and Lower Decks.
If you’ve been watching Star Trek: Lower Decks, then you’ve probably noticed that Dr. T’Ana is clearly based on the notorious Dr. Pulaski from Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s not that Gillian Vigman is trying to channel the performance of Diana Muldaur—because she’s clearly doing her own thing—so much as the entire vibe of Dr. T’Ana is as though our collective opinions about Dr. Pulaski were channeled into a cranky, sentient cat-alien. Pulaski was human, but if you were going to reboot the character as an alien species in Star Trek, everyone would choose to make her a Caitian, or perhaps, the other cat aliens, the Kzinti. (There are a lot of cat aliens in Trek!)
The larger point is simple: Dr. T’Ana is, in some ways,...
If you’ve been watching Star Trek: Lower Decks, then you’ve probably noticed that Dr. T’Ana is clearly based on the notorious Dr. Pulaski from Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s not that Gillian Vigman is trying to channel the performance of Diana Muldaur—because she’s clearly doing her own thing—so much as the entire vibe of Dr. T’Ana is as though our collective opinions about Dr. Pulaski were channeled into a cranky, sentient cat-alien. Pulaski was human, but if you were going to reboot the character as an alien species in Star Trek, everyone would choose to make her a Caitian, or perhaps, the other cat aliens, the Kzinti. (There are a lot of cat aliens in Trek!)
The larger point is simple: Dr. T’Ana is, in some ways,...
- 9/18/2021
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
This Star Trek article contains minor spoilers for Lower Decks Season 2, Episode 6.
Tasha Yar deserved better. When the oil slick creature known as Armus killed off Tasha in The Next Generation episode “Skin of Evil,” the fandom let out a collective groan. As its first season wrapped up, Tng was already down one fantastic character and the franchise wouldn’t get another female head-of-security on a regular basis until Nhan appeared in Star Trek: Discovery, 31 years later. But, like some kind of self-aware rogue A.I., the canon of Star Trek itself seems to want justice for Tasha Yar. The latest example comes from the coda of the Lower Decks episode, “The Spy Humongous,” further proving that, decades later, Trek canon is still looking to avenge Tasha Yar. Here’s how the hilarious Lower Decks Easter egg went down…
At the very end of “The Spy Humongous,” after wrapping their...
Tasha Yar deserved better. When the oil slick creature known as Armus killed off Tasha in The Next Generation episode “Skin of Evil,” the fandom let out a collective groan. As its first season wrapped up, Tng was already down one fantastic character and the franchise wouldn’t get another female head-of-security on a regular basis until Nhan appeared in Star Trek: Discovery, 31 years later. But, like some kind of self-aware rogue A.I., the canon of Star Trek itself seems to want justice for Tasha Yar. The latest example comes from the coda of the Lower Decks episode, “The Spy Humongous,” further proving that, decades later, Trek canon is still looking to avenge Tasha Yar. Here’s how the hilarious Lower Decks Easter egg went down…
At the very end of “The Spy Humongous,” after wrapping their...
- 9/16/2021
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
With the recent announcement that star Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall will be departing Doctor Who following the next season, we have confirmation that Season 14 will be yet another opportunity to regenerate the long-running science fiction show. In that spirit, we reached out to the many Doctor Who viewers amongst our writers to get their personal fan perspectives on what they’d like to see from the next iteration of Who. Here’s what we came up with. Add your own wish-list items below…
Make the Doctor a Bit of a Bastard
My number one wish-list item for season 14 is I want the Doctor to be a bit of a bastard. Steven Moffat had his flaws, but one thing I loved was his interpretation of what the Doctor *is*. The way Moffat sees the Doctor is that there is this vast, ancient alien god, full of loneliness, grief, and...
Make the Doctor a Bit of a Bastard
My number one wish-list item for season 14 is I want the Doctor to be a bit of a bastard. Steven Moffat had his flaws, but one thing I loved was his interpretation of what the Doctor *is*. The way Moffat sees the Doctor is that there is this vast, ancient alien god, full of loneliness, grief, and...
- 8/3/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
In 2014, when Doctor Who Magazine asked its readers to rank the show’s first 50 years, out of 241 options, Season 24 stories ‘Time and the Rani’ came 239th, ‘Paradise Towers’ 230th, ‘Delta and the Bannermen’ 217th, with ‘Dragonfire’ thought best of in 215th place. This was largely a repeat of its 2009 poll, although then readers rated ‘Delta and the Bannermen’ above ‘Dragonfire’. Season 24 was also ranked bottom in a GQ article ranking every series of Doctor Who – a combination of words I never thought I’d write.
Season 24 of Doctor Who went into production just as its 23rd season, the 14-episode ‘The Trial of a Time-Lord’ was finishing up on TV. By late 1986, producer John Nathan-Turner was expecting to be moved onto another show and had lost both his script-editor and the show’s most prolific writer.
A surprised Nathan-Turner was given 13 months to hire a new script editor and produce 14 episodes...
Season 24 of Doctor Who went into production just as its 23rd season, the 14-episode ‘The Trial of a Time-Lord’ was finishing up on TV. By late 1986, producer John Nathan-Turner was expecting to be moved onto another show and had lost both his script-editor and the show’s most prolific writer.
A surprised Nathan-Turner was given 13 months to hire a new script editor and produce 14 episodes...
- 6/17/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
A scene that did not appear in New Year’s Day’s Doctor Who Special, ‘Revolution of the Daleks’.
Scene: Ext. 10 Downing Street, A Press Conference Is Being Held
Prime Minister Jo Patterson: …and so I introduce to you, our new, fully automated defence drones!
A “Defence Drone” Glides Into View.
Journalist (Raises A Hand): Hello, Jeff Typeface, Daily Exposition. Sorry but, um, isn’t that just a Dalek?
Pm: A what?
Journalist: A Dalek? About twelve years ago they transported the entire planet through space then rounded humans up in the streets and exterminated them?
Pm: Hmmm. Doesn’t ring a bell.
Another Journalist: Yeah, and a few years before that a bunch of them came flying out of Canary Wharf?
Pm: Sorry, I’m completely drawing a blank.
Journalist: Come on! They murdered one of your predecessors!
Pm: Excuse me, but you can’t honestly expect...
Scene: Ext. 10 Downing Street, A Press Conference Is Being Held
Prime Minister Jo Patterson: …and so I introduce to you, our new, fully automated defence drones!
A “Defence Drone” Glides Into View.
Journalist (Raises A Hand): Hello, Jeff Typeface, Daily Exposition. Sorry but, um, isn’t that just a Dalek?
Pm: A what?
Journalist: A Dalek? About twelve years ago they transported the entire planet through space then rounded humans up in the streets and exterminated them?
Pm: Hmmm. Doesn’t ring a bell.
Another Journalist: Yeah, and a few years before that a bunch of them came flying out of Canary Wharf?
Pm: Sorry, I’m completely drawing a blank.
Journalist: Come on! They murdered one of your predecessors!
Pm: Excuse me, but you can’t honestly expect...
- 1/6/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Sometimes you’ve just got to look at the general vibe of 2020 (the furnace bit in Toy Story 3 but half the toys are drinking lighter fluid) and decide to write something positive. On my way to nursery, another dad was telling me how he found Sacha Dhawan’s performance as the Master in Doctor Who a high point of the last series, so inspired by that, let’s celebrate what was good about each actor to play the role on television. If nothing else, it’ll probably be good for my mental health and give someone a chance to type ‘Of course Roger Delgado was the original and best’ in context, so hopefully that’ll make them happy too.
Roger Delgado (or to give him his full name ‘Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto’ – which is Spanish for ‘Of course Roger Delgado was the original and best’) originated the role,...
Roger Delgado (or to give him his full name ‘Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto’ – which is Spanish for ‘Of course Roger Delgado was the original and best’) originated the role,...
- 11/3/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
‘The truth is it never goes away’ says David Tennant. ‘It’s 15 years since I did it and I’m here today!’ He’s talking, of course, about Doctor Who. To mark the show’s arrival in the Us on streaming service HBO Max, Tennant united for an online panel with fellow Doctors Matt Smith and Jodie Whittaker to reminisce about their respective tenures in the Tardis.
Speaking from their UK homes to IGN’s Terri Schwarz, Tennant and Smith spoke about their experiences handing over the role, while Whittaker gave her advice to whoever would take up the mantle next. She told the eventual next-in-line (whoever they may be) that the pressure of the show’s history needs to be forgotten and the newcomer isn’t expected to repeat what’s been done before, only to continue to make it different and new.
Asked to pick their favourite episodes...
Speaking from their UK homes to IGN’s Terri Schwarz, Tennant and Smith spoke about their experiences handing over the role, while Whittaker gave her advice to whoever would take up the mantle next. She told the eventual next-in-line (whoever they may be) that the pressure of the show’s history needs to be forgotten and the newcomer isn’t expected to repeat what’s been done before, only to continue to make it different and new.
Asked to pick their favourite episodes...
- 6/24/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
In Doctor Who terms, Douglas Adams will be forever remembered as the co-writer of ‘City of Death’. To fans, he’s the purveyor of undergraduate humour, a man who despaired of actors doing funny walks and silly voices when presented with jokes in a script. Thanks in part to an extreme and vocal reaction against Adams’ comedy from the production team that followed, his reputation is one of rampant silliness that made it hard to take the show seriously.
And yet, in his first ever script for the series, Adams wrote about a vampire planet that materialised around other planets and drained them of all their resources, killing the entire population. In a particularly vicious detail, the remains of the planets are kept in a trophy room. This wholesale slaughter founded a life of comfortable complacency for the unquestioning citizens. The whole point of this, it transpires, is to keep...
And yet, in his first ever script for the series, Adams wrote about a vampire planet that materialised around other planets and drained them of all their resources, killing the entire population. In a particularly vicious detail, the remains of the planets are kept in a trophy room. This wholesale slaughter founded a life of comfortable complacency for the unquestioning citizens. The whole point of this, it transpires, is to keep...
- 5/27/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
This article contains major Star Trek: Picard spoilers.
Can Synthetics do everything that organics can do, only better? In Episode 9 of Star Trek: Picard, “Et in Arcadia Ego Part 1,” we see an android bust-out a classic Star Trek superpower, that previously, we only thought flesh-and-blood aliens could manage. In fact, isn’t the Vulcan mind meld only reserved for aliens who are actually, you know, Vulcans? Everybody assumed androids couldn’t do a mind meld, but what Picard presupposes is… maybe they can?
If you’re confused about this latest twist, it turns out there’s actually several precedents that make this possible. Let’s get into it. My canon thoughts to your canon thoughts…
When the yellow-eyed android Sutra (Isa Briones) decides to use the Vulcan mind meld to extract information from the mind of Dr. Jurati, the groan from inflexible Star Trek fans was as audible as...
Can Synthetics do everything that organics can do, only better? In Episode 9 of Star Trek: Picard, “Et in Arcadia Ego Part 1,” we see an android bust-out a classic Star Trek superpower, that previously, we only thought flesh-and-blood aliens could manage. In fact, isn’t the Vulcan mind meld only reserved for aliens who are actually, you know, Vulcans? Everybody assumed androids couldn’t do a mind meld, but what Picard presupposes is… maybe they can?
If you’re confused about this latest twist, it turns out there’s actually several precedents that make this possible. Let’s get into it. My canon thoughts to your canon thoughts…
When the yellow-eyed android Sutra (Isa Briones) decides to use the Vulcan mind meld to extract information from the mind of Dr. Jurati, the groan from inflexible Star Trek fans was as audible as...
- 3/19/2020
- by Kayti Burt
- Den of Geek
This article contains major Star Trek: Picard episode 9 spoilers.
As the ambitious — and compact — first season of a Star Trek: Picard comes screaming down the transwarp conduit, the epic two-part finale is revisiting countless references to the entire history of the franchise. Because each episode of Picard is so densely written, and packed with nuance, it’s hard for Trekkie geek detectives to notice every, single tiny Easter egg and reference. But, in the name of Q, we’ll try!
From a famous form of Klingon martial arts, to several sideways references classic ‘60s Trek episodes, and more than one huge callback to Star Trek: The Next Generation, here are all the Easter eggs and references we caught in the lead-up to the big Star Trek: Picard season finale, “Et in Arcadia Ego Part 1.”
“Et in Arcadia Ego”
The title of this episode is not the first Star Trek episode to sport a Latin phrase.
As the ambitious — and compact — first season of a Star Trek: Picard comes screaming down the transwarp conduit, the epic two-part finale is revisiting countless references to the entire history of the franchise. Because each episode of Picard is so densely written, and packed with nuance, it’s hard for Trekkie geek detectives to notice every, single tiny Easter egg and reference. But, in the name of Q, we’ll try!
From a famous form of Klingon martial arts, to several sideways references classic ‘60s Trek episodes, and more than one huge callback to Star Trek: The Next Generation, here are all the Easter eggs and references we caught in the lead-up to the big Star Trek: Picard season finale, “Et in Arcadia Ego Part 1.”
“Et in Arcadia Ego”
The title of this episode is not the first Star Trek episode to sport a Latin phrase.
- 3/19/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who series 12
The dust has now settled on the Earth-shattering finale of Doctor Who series 12, and in hindsight, not all my predictions were on the money. It was hasty to say “The big reveal in the finale is almost certainly something to do with Rassilon”, or that “There’s no way the Ruth Doctor can be an incarnation before Hartnell”. Meanwhile, other people have had better luck with their predictions. For instance, my then eight-year-old son predicted this two years ago:
My son is playing Doctor Who and is telling me that the Doctor has had 2 trillion lives "Not on TV, in real life" and I am both heart-warmed and *outraged* by this flagrant disregard for canon.
— Chris Farnell (@thebrainofchris) November 14, 2018
Two trillion is probably the figure we’re looking at, given we’re covering at least ten million years of Gallifreyan history, probably more...
The dust has now settled on the Earth-shattering finale of Doctor Who series 12, and in hindsight, not all my predictions were on the money. It was hasty to say “The big reveal in the finale is almost certainly something to do with Rassilon”, or that “There’s no way the Ruth Doctor can be an incarnation before Hartnell”. Meanwhile, other people have had better luck with their predictions. For instance, my then eight-year-old son predicted this two years ago:
My son is playing Doctor Who and is telling me that the Doctor has had 2 trillion lives "Not on TV, in real life" and I am both heart-warmed and *outraged* by this flagrant disregard for canon.
— Chris Farnell (@thebrainofchris) November 14, 2018
Two trillion is probably the figure we’re looking at, given we’re covering at least ten million years of Gallifreyan history, probably more...
- 3/17/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Chris Farnell Jan 28, 2020
Did the latest Doctor Who series 12 episode finally prove a 35-year-old fan theory right? With major spoilers, Chris investigates
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers.
The words “Big Twist” are in the headline, so obviously if you’ve not seen Sunday night’s Doctor Who, well, probably turn off your computer and try not to speak to anyone until you’ve watched the episode because we have got spoilers aplenty right here!
Ready?
Right, Wow! Did you see? And then the bit where Captain Jack was all… and Ruth was like, and you knew it had to be a Chameleon Arch didn’t you? And then her name began with an R so I was all “Wait, are they going to bring back the Rani?” and then Boom.
I had to rewatch it with breakfast to just to reassure myself I wasn’t making it up. Yes,...
Did the latest Doctor Who series 12 episode finally prove a 35-year-old fan theory right? With major spoilers, Chris investigates
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers.
The words “Big Twist” are in the headline, so obviously if you’ve not seen Sunday night’s Doctor Who, well, probably turn off your computer and try not to speak to anyone until you’ve watched the episode because we have got spoilers aplenty right here!
Ready?
Right, Wow! Did you see? And then the bit where Captain Jack was all… and Ruth was like, and you knew it had to be a Chameleon Arch didn’t you? And then her name began with an R so I was all “Wait, are they going to bring back the Rani?” and then Boom.
I had to rewatch it with breakfast to just to reassure myself I wasn’t making it up. Yes,...
- 1/27/2020
- Den of Geek
Chris Farnell Jan 18, 2020
These are the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes that will tell you everything you need to know about Jean-Luc Picard.
Before Star Trek: Picard launches, it’s perfectly natural to want to remind yourself what Jean-Luc Picard was up to last time we saw him. Sadly, we don’t have anywhere near enough time to binge all 172 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, let alone the four additional movies.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help, with a manageable(ish) list of Picard’s highlights throughout the series, giving you the backstory you need for the plots we think are going to turn up, as well as just the highlights of Jean-Luc Picard himself.
Before we begin, a note on spoilers: We’ve only seen the trailers, so we’re guessing at which of these episodes will turn out to be super important to the new series,...
These are the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes that will tell you everything you need to know about Jean-Luc Picard.
Before Star Trek: Picard launches, it’s perfectly natural to want to remind yourself what Jean-Luc Picard was up to last time we saw him. Sadly, we don’t have anywhere near enough time to binge all 172 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, let alone the four additional movies.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help, with a manageable(ish) list of Picard’s highlights throughout the series, giving you the backstory you need for the plots we think are going to turn up, as well as just the highlights of Jean-Luc Picard himself.
Before we begin, a note on spoilers: We’ve only seen the trailers, so we’re guessing at which of these episodes will turn out to be super important to the new series,...
- 1/15/2020
- Den of Geek
Chris Farnell May 14, 2019
In real-life and on screen, there are some crazy ideas about how time travel would work. Here comes the science...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Maybe it’s just the constant, looming sensation that someone has got hold of a sports almanac they shouldn’t have, but there’s been a bit of an explosion in time travel lately. Whether it’s the time-heisting shenanigans of Avengers: Endgame, the red angel mystery in Star Trek: Discovery, the apocalyptic warnings of The Umbrella Academy, or the upcoming Spike Lee-produced See You Yesterday, time travel is our favorite retcon, the ultimate in foreshadowing, the best deus ex machina.
These stories largely use time travel as a plot device, rather than partaking in a serious exploration of how time travel could work, and audiences don’t really care about that so long as the internal logic of the story remains consistent.
In real-life and on screen, there are some crazy ideas about how time travel would work. Here comes the science...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Maybe it’s just the constant, looming sensation that someone has got hold of a sports almanac they shouldn’t have, but there’s been a bit of an explosion in time travel lately. Whether it’s the time-heisting shenanigans of Avengers: Endgame, the red angel mystery in Star Trek: Discovery, the apocalyptic warnings of The Umbrella Academy, or the upcoming Spike Lee-produced See You Yesterday, time travel is our favorite retcon, the ultimate in foreshadowing, the best deus ex machina.
These stories largely use time travel as a plot device, rather than partaking in a serious exploration of how time travel could work, and audiences don’t really care about that so long as the internal logic of the story remains consistent.
- 5/14/2019
- Den of Geek
Chris Farnell May 8, 2019
Having to fight another version of yourself is always inconvenient. Here are some tips gleaned from onscreen doppelganger dust-ups...
This article contains Avengers: Endgame spoilers.
As it says on the death screens of various military first-person shooters, "'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles' - Sun Tzu’s The Art Of War." But what about when your enemy is yourself? Not in a figurative “I’m my own worst enemy” kind of a way but in a far more literal “I’m my own worst enemy and I’m coming at me with a Samurai Sword” kind of a way?
Knowing how to win such a battle is a journey through philosophy, causality, self-knowledge and fighting dirty, but it will also require some Avengers: Endgame spoilers, The Lego Movie 2 and more. I mean, sorry, but this...
Having to fight another version of yourself is always inconvenient. Here are some tips gleaned from onscreen doppelganger dust-ups...
This article contains Avengers: Endgame spoilers.
As it says on the death screens of various military first-person shooters, "'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles' - Sun Tzu’s The Art Of War." But what about when your enemy is yourself? Not in a figurative “I’m my own worst enemy” kind of a way but in a far more literal “I’m my own worst enemy and I’m coming at me with a Samurai Sword” kind of a way?
Knowing how to win such a battle is a journey through philosophy, causality, self-knowledge and fighting dirty, but it will also require some Avengers: Endgame spoilers, The Lego Movie 2 and more. I mean, sorry, but this...
- 5/8/2019
- Den of Geek
Chris Farnell May 3, 2019
There's some seriously complicated business going on in Avengers: Endgame. Warning: risk of head explosion. Also spoilers.
This article consists of nothing but massive Avengers: Endgame spoilers. You’ve been warned. We have a completely spoiler free review right here.
As a wise man once said, “No one should know too much about their own destiny.”
So if your destiny involves going to see Avengers: Endgame you should walk away right now. Seriously, turn around, you want no part of this. Really you probably shouldn’t have read the headline. We're not 100% sure what you’re doing on the internet as a whole.
One of the most surprising things about Avengers: Endgame was the thing it didn’t do. We came out of Infinity War emotionally gutted, flabbergasted that they would end the film the way they did, but in the full knowledge that Spider-Man: Far From Home,...
There's some seriously complicated business going on in Avengers: Endgame. Warning: risk of head explosion. Also spoilers.
This article consists of nothing but massive Avengers: Endgame spoilers. You’ve been warned. We have a completely spoiler free review right here.
As a wise man once said, “No one should know too much about their own destiny.”
So if your destiny involves going to see Avengers: Endgame you should walk away right now. Seriously, turn around, you want no part of this. Really you probably shouldn’t have read the headline. We're not 100% sure what you’re doing on the internet as a whole.
One of the most surprising things about Avengers: Endgame was the thing it didn’t do. We came out of Infinity War emotionally gutted, flabbergasted that they would end the film the way they did, but in the full knowledge that Spider-Man: Far From Home,...
- 4/26/2019
- Den of Geek
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