Heads Up, Whovians!

I'm going to try to publish reviews of this series' episodes (that's Doctor Who, Series 6, starting today if you didn't know, look it up on BBC America if you have the channel) as they're aired. As I've never really done anything like this before, this is going to be a little adventure, but that's good! I'm still kind of figuring out how this is going to go, but if you are interested, read on. Here's a few pointers on how this reviewing business is going to be run.

1. My reviews will be spoilery. There's no real point in reviewing an episode if I'm not allowed to discuss the details of said episode, right? Therefore you probably shouldn't check out my reviews unless you have already watched the episodes. Unless you really want to.

2. Pictures? It's always fun to read reviews with screencaps, isn't it? I'm toying with the idea of including relevant photographs in each review. It'd be a bit more complicated and more work for me, but it also might be more fun. If you have a preference, let me know!

3. My review; my thoughts only. I'll write my reviews before reading anyone else's, because otherwise I'd probably be tempted to explore other people's ideas and what they took from the episode instead of just my reaction. My reviews will be my honest first reaction to what I just watched, so if that means I miss something obvious that all other reviewers on the internet noticed then I'll just be honestly ignorant . . . we can all laugh about it later XD

4. Classic Who, New Who, it's all just Doctor Who. I am a fan of the show as a whole, and so I don't really differentiate between the old episodes and the new episodes; they're all a part of the same canon and I have favorites all over the place. So I'm not going to restrict my digressions to just New Who episodes; I might mention things from Classic Who if parts of the new episodes remind me of something, like Eleven's adorable Troughton handrubbing in 'Victory of the Daleks'. If you haven't seen any Classic Who, you should, but I don't think my occasional references will be too confusing :)

5. Talk back! Feel free to argue with what I say/geek out/list your favorite quotes of the episode/ask for clarification/correct my mistakes/etc. in the comments! I'm going to be doing this for fun, but also because I love Doctor Who, and I know some of you who read my blog love the show as well. Let's all have fun together!

And with all that said, I am not sure what the posting schedule will be yet--maybe every Sunday, maybe every Monday--but I will be doing by best to keep the schedule regular. My first review, for "The Impossible Astronaut", will be up soon.

(PS: Happy Easter, everyone!!)

My life's shifting again . . .

On Monday I begin registering for my Fall classes, and as simply as that I am back in the university-going game. It's been a long time, and my life feels somewhat surreal at the moment: I devote my time to my writing and my family and my dance right now, and yet begin to feel subconsciously the pull of Hawaii and the duties of academia that await me there. There is a great pall of impermanence over everything I do at the moment, which is somewhat disheartening. I hate feeling the sand slipping under my feet.

Another event which has reminded me of how fragile things are is the sad news of the passing of Elisabeth Sladen, our Whovians' own Sarah Jane Smith. The character she played (along with Donna Noble and Tegan Jovanka) was my favorite female Doctor Who companion. The fact that her death comes so soon after that of Nicholas Courtney a.k.a. The Brigadier (who was, along with Jamie McCrimmon, Harry Sullivan, and Rory Williams my favorite male DW companion) just compounds the tragedy. If you haven't watched any episodes with these two, do so as soon as possible, you don't know what you're missing.

On the subject of Doctor Who, is anyone else excited about the new series beginning tomorrow? Well, okay, I know that there are many, many excited people out there, but HOW excited are you? I am absolutely bursting. I'm also very proud that I've managed to keep away from spoilers all this time--no mean feat for me, alas. There's some fish fingers in the fridge; I should make custard tomorrow and take video of me giving the combo a go, that'd be a laugh!

I've probably read over 2,000 pages this month already, which is fantastic. I'll have lots of books to talk about in my next Book Review post. Speaking of which, I'm open to suggestions on what to post about in this blog, since I'm usually either too busy or too lazy to come up with interesting topics on my own (yes, I'm a woman of extremes). A monthly writing update? More in-depth book reviews, perhaps a post for each book (I can always delve deeper when discussing the written word)? More artwork? Television or film discussions? Random day-in-my-life posts? Let me know in the comments!

Well, I'd best be getting to bed now. Tomorrow I have to get up early--maybe make that custard--clean up a bit--dance--maybe run, if this dratted cough will let me--paint--write--and read some more. Good Friday is always very quiet, a time for staying at home with family, for busying oneself with good works, and for a little bit of private contemplation. Then comes Holy Saturday--I've promised my younger sister I'll help her make a cake for Easter, or rather supervise as she attempts to bake one for the very first time, and then of course there's Doctor Who! And then comes wonderful Easter, a holiday I have not celebrated at home with my family for two years now.

. . . And first thing in the morning on Monday is my class registration. See what a jumble of the future and the present my life is contorting itself into at the moment? I need a TARDIS.

PS: I am currently again obsessed with the amazingness that is Jamie McCrimmon. Thanks for that, Linden :D