Your Morning Linc: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS Clip, River and Jack Want a Spinnoff, Steampunk AT-AT, and the Cost of Being Iron Man

Well, despite its valiant efforts, the mockingbird that just would not stop singing outside my window last night has not deterred me from getting a good night's sleep, and waking up ready to share some of the Internet's geeky goodness!

1. Doctor Who: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS Clip

Next week's episode has been long anticipated by Whovians for generations (re-generations?). When Clara goes missing inside the Blue Box, it's up to the Doctor and a questionable salvage team to find her. Word is that we are going to see the heart of the TARDIS itself, many nods to the past, a library containing a book on the Time War....and yes.....the swimming pool.

Here's a clip, which does nothing to make me stop wanting Saturday to come as quickly as possible:

   

2. John Barrowman and Alex Kingston Want a Jack/River Show

What do you get when you cross a time-traveling bi-curious madman with a time-traveling, overtly sexual madwoman? You get a show that I'm pretty sure could only be called "Sexing Through Time". Doctor Who alumni John Barrowman and Alex Kingston, who work together on the CW's Arrow, seem to have really hit it off an want to make a spinoff show starring Captain Jack Harkness and Professor River Song.

Also in the works: Innuendo, the Musical.

As Barrowman, who is still hurting over his 50th snub and is pessimistic about Torchwod's return, explained to TVAddict:

“Then as we talked more, we realized that we’re both born on the same day.  We’re both March 11th babies and we have so much in common.  We like a lot of the same things and our attitude towards stuff is very, very similar.

“It struck a chord with us because that’s why River and Jack are very similar characters, in their attitude and their fun and their aggression, we are the same in real life – which is really ironic.  So we struck it off."

 Frankly, I think they should make a 60's-style sitcom and call it "Hello Sweetie!"

3. Crushing Rebellion With Industrial Revolution: Steampunk AT-AT

Because intercontinental railroads are for wimps, a pretty insane and really cool-looking steampunk AT-AT has popped up on Flickr.

Dubbed Captain Bayley's Mechano-Perambulator, its creator, named Mark, apparently made this as an engagement gift for his fiance. If this is the kind of gift she'd appreciate, I'd say that girl's definitely a keeper. And you know this bad boy can go toe-to-toe with a Mechanical Spider any day.

Let's see Will Smith hook this with a harpoon and tow cable.

Check out many many more photos here.


4. The Cost of Being Iron Man

Think you need to be a billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist to wear the suit? Well, you're absolutely right. MoneySupermarket has detailed the real world cost of being Iron Man (big ol' infographic below):

I'll be setting up my Kickstarter campaign soon...

And that's it for now folks. Hope you all continue to have a fantastic morning!

- Joe

Doctor Who Review: Hide

You know when writer Neil Cross steps up to pen a Doctor Who episode, you're going to get something different. Whether it was the instant classic "The Doctor's Wife" or the still hotly debated "Rings of Akhaten", Cross always puts his unique touch on familiar tropes. Hide not only is no exception, but it is a perfect example.

The Doctor and Clara arrive at Caliburn House, a giant mansion beset by a wailing spirit known throughout history as "The Witch of the Well". Set in the 1970's, this episode used every ghost story antic without seeming cliche. Stormy night? Check. Candelabras? Check. Hard science mixed with psychic abilities? Checkaroo. Splitting up in order to catch something that you're clearly outmatched by? Oh, so much Check! Yes, this episode touched on everything from The Ring to Scooby-Doo and mixed it all together to create a really dynamic, suspenseful, and kind of creepy episode.

You can't die after seeing The Ring if you can't see without your glasses!

But, of course, this is Doctor Who we're talking about, so we know we're not in for a mere ghost story (the Ninth Doctor episode "The Unquiet Dead" comes to mind). As the story progresses we find that our ghost is actually a pioneering time traveler stuck between our universe and a pocket universe (perhaps a nod Neil Cross' "The Doctor's Wife"). In an interesting turn of events, the Doctor discovers that every time they see the ghost they are seeing one brief moment in her timeline, stretched out over hundreds of years. Usually, it's the Doctor who seems to pop in and out of people's lives, but this time it was the other way around. When the Doctor goes through the history of the world, taking pictures in order to piece together Hila's flashes through time, it has a startling effect on Clara. To him, she surmises, they must all seem like ghosts, since the Doctor can witness the birth and death of a world in minutes and not even blink. The Doctor assures her she is "the only mystery worth solving". This very much echoes Rose's sentiments in "The End of the World" (again with the parallels!), but I don't think the Doctor was as successful in comforting her this time.

What? It's just the end of everything and everyone you ever knew! Get over it.

I also like how the contentious relationship with Clara and the TARDIS, first hinted at in "The Rings of Akhaten", was further explored. Clara lets the Doctor in on her suspicion that the old girl doesn't like her, and the Doctor likens the TARDIS to a cat that has to get used to someone. And when the Clara runs to rescue the Doctor from the pocket universe, she has to first get past the TARDIS audio/visual matrix, which sarcastically takes the form of Clara ("the person you most esteem"). Eventually the blue box relents, lets Clara in, and the two rescue their man. I have a nagging belief that their story isn't over, and will come to a head next week.

When the Doctor does find himself in the pocket universe, it is just plain creepy. It's misty, disintegrating, and completely void of life....well, except for one thing. The monster that inhabits this world doesn't look or move like anything we've ever seen. It actually reminded me a lot of old claymation monsters with its jerky movements and that definitely was unsettling. Even though we eventually learn that it (credited totally un-cringe-inducingly as "Crooked Man"), like Hila and the Doctor, was stuck there and just trying to reach its one true love back at Caliburn House, seeing it's face made me jump, and most definitely scared the bejeezus out of younger viewers.

Ladies?

But yes, folks, it turned out that this was a love story, after all. No villains to defeat, no apocalypse to stop, just the simple saving of a girl and the reuniting of lost (if incredibly ugly) loves. I think that's something that a lot of people lose in the new Who, that these stories don't always have to be dark and serious. The show, at its core, is about the power of love and good versus all the badness in the universe. In a way, we were actually treated to three different types of episodes in one: A ghost story, a classic timey wimey story, and a love story. Each one flowing effortlessly into the next.

And this episode, Whovians, more than any so far, should have your inner geek tingling. For one, the Doctor uses the space suit he used during his Tenth incarnation in the two-parter "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit" and "The Waters of Mars". Also, in order to boost Emma's psychic powers and her connection to the pocket universe, not only does the Doctor fetch a Metebelis crystal from the TARDIS (a reference to the last adventures of the Third Doctor), he does so utilizing a subset of the Eye of Harmony (last seen as the focal point for the 1996 movie starring Eighth Doctor Paul McGann)! There was also an interesting bit where the Doctor directs Clara to hang up her umbrella, only to remember that he's since removed the coat rack he had in his previous TARDIS (and that of earlier incarnations). And, of course, when things start going wrong (as they inevitably do), we heard the familiar ring of the Cloister Bell.

Also that one episode where the Doctor runs a lot...

A unique twist on a familiar story type, tons of references, a nice and different ending, and a deepening of the mystery and character of Clara, "Hide" definitely delivered! And it was great to see the TARDIS fully in action once again! The episode also touched on unrequited love, fulfilled for Emma and Alec, and the monsters, but perhaps not for Clara? Will she be Eleven's Rose, or will she find her feelings rebuffed like Martha? And what about the Doctor's search to find the answer as to exactly who Clara is...and why she is? Emma's empathic powers were no help, and in fact were used to warn Clara not to trust him. No matter how that story plays out, "Hide" will definitely go on the list of top Eleventh Doctor episodes for many fans (yours truly included.)

Women? Amiright? 'eh? 'EH? Ahhh you know.

 What did you all think? And where do you think this is all leading? Sound off in the comments below and I'll see you next week for the eagerly awaited "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS"!



Geronimo!

- Joe

Your Linc at Lunch: The Doctor's Name Revealed? Plus River Song Returns and New Series 7B Posters

UDATE: Considering today's Who news, I decided to add the amazing fan-made trailer called "The First Question" below. I get goosebumps every time.

Well Whovians, this might just be it. We might finally learn the true name of the greatest Time Lord in history. The final episode of Series 7, the one that will lead into the 50th Anniversary Special, is titled:

Don't worry, I gave a manly squeal....

That's right. As showrunner Steven Moffat told Radio Times:

 "There’s going to be a revelation. I’m not teasing. I’m not wrong-footing you – you’re about to learn something about the Doctor that you never knew before. And I think you’re in for a shock."

 Will we see the fields of Trenzalore and the fall of the Eleventh? What will the Doctor's answer be to "The Question", at a time when he cannot fail to speak or utter falsely? Will it be an unpronounceable Gallifreyan name? Something with the word "Who" in it? (Like 4th Doctor companion and fellow Time Lady Romanadvoratrelundar (or Romana) or even like Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose real name is Mitth'raw'nurodo?)

Or will it not be anything like we're expecting? I trust in Moffat's genius to give us something truly shocking, wholly unexpected, and something truly revelatory. And, as always, some fan will hate it no matter what.

Also some really great news is that this episode will see the return of the Doctor's wifey, River Song.

Whose real name, we all know, is Jk093laksklo Jones.

Now, In the Tenth Doctor two-parter "Silence in the Library" and "The Forest of the Dead" where, in an order to prove that she knew him, whispered the Doctor's name in his ear. He said that there was only one time where he would ever, could ever, tell someone his true name. Will we see this moment at the end of Series 7?

While we're waiting, we still have some great episodes coming up, including the spooky-looking "Hide" tomorrow. And the folks at the BBC have released more movie-style posters for the following episodes:

All in all it's shaping up to be an exciting few weeks! Well, I think that's enough to fill you up right now! I'll be back soon with more news and geekery from around the web. Share your thoughts below on your theories on the answer to the oldest question in the universe....Doctor WHO?

 

Geronimo!

- Joe

Doctor Who Review: Cold War

Hello Whovians and Whoviettes! As of this writing The Missing Linc has been viewed 2,025 times in just over a month and a half! Thank you all again for your support. Please don't forget to visit the Facebook page and follow me on Twitter and share it with your friends!

Or else!

Now, onto last night's thrilling episode of Doctor Who: "Cold War". This was a wet and wild thriller featuring the Doctor and the crew of a Russian nuclear submarine against the mightiest of Mars' soldiers. I really felt the suspense in this episode, especially when Clara went to speak to Skaldak herself and when the Martian Grand Marshall was slithering around the sub and grabbing soldiers left and right. And kudos to the cast and crew for making a fast-paced, exciting episode take place in a small, cramped submarine. We're so used to the Doctor going on big adventures in space and time, and this episode proved that excitement and danger can be found even (and especially) in the closest of quarters.

Depicted: Fun and Excitement

I think the episode was stolen by none other than the Ice Warrior himself, Grand Marshall Skaldak. From the get-go we see him as an imposing warrior, a cunning villain, and a really creepy escapee. Watching those bony, sharp hands caress his next victim was as uncomfortable as it was suspenseful. Nicholas Briggs, the voice of the Daleks, did a phenomenal job making Skaldak's voice both menacing, authoritative, and cunning. The scenes where he is angry and frustrated about being frozen for 5,000 years, and his daughter being nothing but dust now, made you feel just the slightest bit of sympathy for the ugly, merciless, deadly cyborg.

"D'oh...he's right behind me isn't he?"

A big part of what made this so suspenseful is the fact that Skaldak could not be defeated. He had the edge on the Doctor and the crew from the moment he defrosted to the moment his people picked him up. He toyed with the Doctor and Clara when he pretended to be in his armor, as he picked off the crew one by one, and when he went back into his armor and became a juggernaut. At the end, when Skaldak was seconds from launching the nukes and starting World War III, The Doctor was left to either appeal to his sense of honor and mercy, or blow up the sub with everyone in it. Even after Skaldak departed, the Doctor could only hope and pray that he would release his electronic hold on the launch sequence. In a show with many surprises, but often a sense of safety, this episode kept me on pins and needles the whole time.

"Drat! Metal chains from 1983! My one weakness!"

This was also an important episode for Clara. There comes a time for every companion when he or she realizes exactly what the cost is when the Doctor materializes into your life. Seeing the mutilated bodies of the dead crew members made her realize that for all the fun and excitement, things can get very serious very quickly. And not all companions have made it through their adventures unscathed.

"Great, now you tell me."

And speaking of Clara, I cannot help but note a very important reference that might be a clue as to her true identity. When Professor Grisenko and Clara are searching the sub together, he mentions that he likes to keep his spirits by singing a song. A voracious consumer of 80's Western pop culture (what would the Kremlin think?), he mentions to her that his new favorite song is "Hungry Like a Wolf" by Duran Duran. Clara herself even shakily sings the song towards the end as they wait for Skaldak to cease his transmission to the submarine's nuclear missiles. What's important about this is that another companion was very closely associated with the Wolf....namely....The Bad Wolf.

"I'm on the hunt I'm after you.."

I'm actually working on a post detailing all the rumors and theories about Clara. One is that she is somehow linked to Rose Tyler. Throughout her three incarnations there have been roses (Oswin has a rose in her hair, Victorian Clara works at the Rose & Crown, and the Doctor lays roses on her bedside table as she rests in "The Bells of St. John") and, in "The Bells of St. John", she was told by a girl in a shop to call the TARDIS number. Rose worked in, would repeatedly reference, and would again in the parallel universe work in a shop. The inclusion of "Hungry Like a Wolf" cannot be a coincidence. I'm pretty sure Steven Moffat has outlawed them. Also reminiscent of Rose is when Clara approaches Skaldak by herself as the Doctor watches from a screen in another room. The scene reminded me very much of when Rose first encountered the Dalek in Series One's "Dalek". Coincidence or not, it makes you wonder just how this all will lead to Rose's appearance in the 50th Anniversary Special.

And that's it for another amazing episode in Series 7B! Next week's episode "Hide" looks to be a proper ghost story. Doctor Who was said to make little kids hide behind the couch during its classic run...it might do the same to this blogger next week.

Oh, and Professor Grisenko? He's played by David Warner. You may know him as Professor Jordan Perry from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze.

The fan in me would love to see this cross-over.

'Til next time!

- Joe

Doctor Who "The Bells of St. John" Review

Alrighty folks, this is no post-April Fool's joke. Better late than never, so here's a dynamite review for one of the best shows on television. And no, I'm not talking about "The Neighbors".

No...not you....never you.

Doctor Who: The Bells of St. John

Before we jump into the first new Doctor Who episode in three months (guh...), I have to mention the unbelievably exciting news that David Tennant and Billie Piper will reprise their roles as the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler for the 50th Anniversary Special! 

Seriously, try not to squeal.

Whether or not Tennant will actually play the Doctor or the meta-crisis, hand-grown, one-hearted, overly-hyphenated version remains to be seen. Either way, I'm more pumped for the big 5-0 than ever before!. Allons-y!

Back to the present (if you believe time is linear) and Saturday's episode "The Bells of St John." I thought it was a fabulous re-introduction to the series and a great third "first" appearance by Jenna-Louise Coleman. The two have such a great dynamic and play off of each other really well. It's fun to see the Doctor so intrigued by Clara, only to have the new companion put him off his stride with a quick remark.

The episode was really interesting. Once the monk ran to get the Doctor, I knew immediately that "The Bells of St. John" had to be the ringing of the TARDIS phone (which, technically, isn't a real phone). That's something we haven't seen since the Ninth Doctor episode "The Empty Child".

Get it??

And so we come to the first mystery of the the second half of Series 7. Just who is the woman in the shop who told Clara to call the TARDIS number? River Song? Sally Sparrow? Rose Tyler (and thus setting up the 50th)? Hopefully that wasn't just a one-off comment....and knowing Steven Moffat, it probably wasn't.

When Clara is attacked by one of the newly-minted monsters, the Spoonheads, it takes the form of a character from Clara's favorite childhood book....which is written by none other than Amelia Williams.

Why...why did you have to leave me?

The Doctor comes to the rescue and, together, the two embark to discover exactly what is taking people's souls into the WiFi. I really enjoyed how Miss Kizlet hacked into and used the people of London to interact with the Doctor. It gave the episode a sense that they were facing a real villain who had them playing right into her hands. Of course, we learn later that Miss Kizlet is being controlled by none other than our old friend, The Great Intelligence, who has ditched the snowglobe (so 1800's) and taken on the form of Dr. Simeon.

Peek-a-GAH!

There were some other really cool bits thrown in for the fans as well. Making the WiFi password "rycbar123", Clara tapping into her inner geek by saying "Oswald for the win...Oswin!" and adding more layers to Clara's secret. Where does the leaf in her book come from and why is it "page one?" Speaking of "101 Places to See"...did anyone notice that two ages are missing from the book?

Must have been during her goth phase...

Ages 16 and 23 are somehow left unwritten. Could these be the ages of Clara and Oswin in "The Snowmen" and "Asylum of the Daleks" respectively? Does it mean that this Clara, the "woman twice dead", is the same person as the others? We'll just have to wait and see.

"I wonder just how long I have to wait to say 'April Fools'?"

Overall the episode was really exciting. Between great actions scenes on the plane and on the motorbike (especially when the Doctor-Spoonhead races up the Shard), and classic Doctor Who tropes ("bigger on the inside", donning of a new costume, asking of "The Question") there was a lot to enjoy about the return of the Time Lord. The creepiness of the Spoonheads turning their heads around, the arch-villainy of the Great Intelligence, and the furthering of the mystery of exactly who Clara is, made the Bells of St. John very intriguing.

Now run you clever boy (and girl)...and remember....to tune in next week!

Linc-prechaun: New Doctor Who Trailer, Star Wars books, Whedon Talks Firefly, Jurassic Park 4, and More!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Thanks for coming to my side of the rainbow. I've got some cool stuff for you today:

1. New Doctor Who Trailers, Clips, and Posters

As we count down the days until Doctor Who returns (Literally. Look to your right), the folks at the BBC are treating us to a whole bucketload of a new trailers, clips, and posters. The trailers show a lot of the people and places we'll see as the Doctor tries to answer the question (no, not that Question) of just who exactly Clara is. And it looks like a lot of old and new villains will be out to get the Time Lord and his new companion. The first trailer is below, the second is over at Entertainment Weekly and can't be embedded.

 

And next up is a preview clip from the first new episode, The Bells of St. John. And frankly, I've had it with these Dalek-fightin Time Lords on this Gallifreyan plane!

Is it just me or is Eleven's sonic screwdriver look a little more blue than green this time around? And finally, we have the posters for the upcoming episodes, which look like they could be movies in that episode's genre (the Rings of Alkhaten, in particular, looks like an Indiana Jones poster!)

"I am a Doctor Who fan......and I am excited!"

2. New Star Wars books feature Maul, Old Ben, nd Shakespearian Droids!

It promises to be a big year for Star Wars novels. Sith Lords, Crazy Old Wizards, R2-D2 doing soliloquies, and a whole lot more. Here's a glimpse at what's coming up:

Maul: Lockdown

Because this worked so well with Hannibal Lecter

Joe Schreiber is penning a novel that ties in directly with James Luceno's groundbreaking Darth Plagueis novel. That's all we know for now, but since the Clone Wars series ended, fans will be clamoring for more Maul. 

Star Wars: Kenobi

He's thinking "Why couldn't the Lars' live on Naboo?"

I'm just going to let the blurb say it all.

"In this original novel set between the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi comes to the aid of the residents of Tatooine during his exile. But he struggles with his new mission when he realizes that protecting Luke Skywalker-the last hope of the galaxy-means setting aside his compassion and his Jedi warrior training, for the future of the galaxy lies not with Obi-Wan Kenobi, but with a mystical recluse known only by the name of Crazy Old Ben."

Star Wars: Shakespeare

Search-eth thine feelings, thou wilst know it to be sooth!

Verily! Head on over to TheForce.net for more on this book that combines the vision of the Maker with the words of the Bard!

3. When Joss Whedon Talks Firefly, You Listen

Joss Whedon is over the moon at the prospect of a Kickstarter funded Veronica Mars movie. But he knows that the next question will be: "萤火虫呢?"  (For those of you not from the 'verse, that means "What about Firefly?") His answer is as brilliant as the man himself:

"Couple years from now, when Nathan [Fillion]'s no longer [on] Castle and I'm no longer the Tom Hagen of the Marvel Universe and making a giant movie, we might look and see where the market is then. But right now, it's a complete non-Kickstarter for me."

"You motivation is: You're still canceled."

Now see if we had hired a war-time director, a Sicilian....Anyway, read more of the interview here at Buzzfeed.

4. Jurassic Park 4 Gets A New Director

You can't stop it. Jurassic Park 4 is happening and the man behind the camera will be Colin Trevorrow. Trevorrow is the director of the award-winning indie movie Safety Not Guaranteed, and was a rumored contender to direct Episode VII. The film is set to hit theaters in June 2014.

Jurassic Park 4: How T-Rex Got Her Groove Back

That's all for now, guys! Stay tuned to the Missing Linc for more geekery as it comes out. But before you go, a blessing for you on this St. Patrick's Day:

May the Jedi protect you
May the light side keep you
May the dark side not tempt you
May the Force Be With You

-Joe

The Missing Linc's Doctor Who Viewing Guide - Series 1

Hello, time travelers! A few months ago a friend of mine expressed an interest in watching Doctor Who, but didn't know where to start. He admitted to seeing the first episode of the revamped series, but wasn't impressed. Whovians will tell you that "Rose" is not the best episode, but the first series does indeed have a lot of great moments. And so, I decided to write up a Doctor Who viewing guide for him, highlighting episodes that, I think, exemplify what the show is about. So, if you're reading this for the first time, get ready to dive into a show that has captivated audiences for 50 years. If you don't realize you're reading this for the ninth time due to a temporal shift in the time vortex.....welcome to Doctor Who!

A Brief Introduction (Or: Doctor WHO?)

Doctor Who is a British institution with humble beginnings. In 1963 we were introduced to the Doctor, a man who travels in a ship called the TARDIS that can go anywhere in time and space. Disguised as a police box from 1960’s London, the TARDIS (short for Time and Relative Dimension in Space) has played host to the Doctor and his many companions over the years. The show was put on an indefinite hiatus in 1989, tried to regain its footing with a TV movie in 1996, and ultimately came back with a bang in 2005. The Doctor is of a species known as the Time Lords, purveyors and protectors of all time and space. Time Lords have a unique ability: When they are fatally injured, they can regenerate with a new face and personality, but retain all the same memories. All told, there have been 11 men thus far to play the Doctor, each of whom has put his own unique spin on the character while continuing this great story of time, space, adventure, love, mystery, and danger. So, let’s dive into the newest chapters (called “Series” to distinguish them from the classic “seasons”). Or, as my favorite, the Tenth Doctor, would say: “Allons-y!”

Series 1: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)

Time Ladies?

Must Watch Episodes

1. Episode 6: Dalek

I'm skipping to halfway through the season because I think this is where Christopher Eccleston really shines as the Doctor. From taunting one of his oldest enemies, to caring for Rose, to showing his true compassion for the people and things of the universe, Eccleston delivers a fantastic performance. Want to know how a giant pepper pot can be scary? Watch "Dalek". This, more than any other episode, is the one that got me hooked.

2. Episode 7: The Long Game

Right on the heels of "Dalek" comes a really creepy episode, and one that showcases just how weird the show can be. Also, this is the one with Simon pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Star Trek) playing the eerie Editor. Something is not right on Satellite 5, the entertainment and news hub orbiting Earth that transmits to the entire Human Empire. Once people are promoted to floor 500....they never come back.

3. Episodes 9 and 10: The Empty Child and the Doctor Dances

Another fairly creepy two-parter set in London during the Blitz. A strange boy wearing gas mask is stalking a group of orphans, and the Doctor wants to know why. When the bombs fall on London and everyone is in hiding, that's when the Empty Child appears. And if he touches you...you'll become just like him. Want to send shivers up a Whovian's spine? Just go up to them and ask "Are you my Mummy?"

4. Episodes 12 and 13: Bad Wolf and The Parting of Ways

The two part series finale that ends in our very first regeneration, "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of Ways" is Doctor Who at its finest. At first, the Doctor, Rose, and Captain Jack Harkness are back on Satellite 5 and forced to compete in futuristic versions of popular games shows (including "Big Brother" and "The Weakest Link"). What they don't know is that something much more sinister is lurking behind the scenes. When the ultimate evil force is revealed, the Doctor has to make a very hard choice: In order to destroy evil, he must also destroy the Earth. His choice ultimately ends up with his regeneration, and he goes out in the most "fantastic" fashion. Watching a regeneration for the first time is a unique and powerful moment for any viewer.

Episodes For Greater Context

1. Episode 2: The End of the World

Doctor Who at its most sci-fi-y. Cut to the year 5 billion and a viewing party for the destruction of Earth by the Sun. A Mos Eisly Cantina's worth of aliens, a murder plot, and tiny killer robots makes this a quintessential Who episode. What makes it poignant, though, is that Rose touches on a very human question: What does it mean to be you when everyone and everything you've ever known has been gone for billions of years?

2. Episode 8: Father's Day

Rose asks the Doctor to travel the day her father died, so that she can be with him instead of him dying alone. This episode deals with that happens when you interfere with fixed events in time. Hint: Nothing Good.

3. Episode 3: The Unquiet Dead

Another thing Doctor Who does well is visiting historical eras. This is the first jaunt back into the past, where we meet up with none other than Charles Dickens! But something isn't right in old London town. The dead seem to not want to stay dead. Is it ghosts, or something not from this world? 

Silly But Necessary

1. Episode 1: Rose

Well, if you watch it you'll know why this one is on the "SBN" list, but it is the episode that relaunched the series. The first episode of Doctor Who in almost 20 years introduces us to Rose Tyler, whose life will change forever when she meets a mysterious man called the Doctor. He is a man who has just lost his people, the Time Lords, in a terrible war, and is unwilling to risk the life of young Rose. But, as is appropriate of the first companion of the modern era, she keeps right up with him. Killer mannequins and an unearthly consciousness, as well as one hungry trash can, terrorize the citizens of London and it's up to the Doctor and Rose to save the day.

2. Episodes 4, 5, and 11: Aliens of London, World War Three, and Boomtown

This trilogy is a two-parter followed up by episode 11. Aliens take over wearing human suits and fart a lot because of the gas pressure. Kinda silly overall, but it does introduce an important secondary character, sets up events for the finale, and reminds you not to take the whole series too seriously. 

Well, there you have it, folks! I hope that however you decide to watch Doctor Who, that you really do enjoy it. By the end of of the first series I was absolutely shocked at how much I really liked the show. Now, I've watched the entire modern series to date as well as a bunch of the older episodes. I can definitely see why after 50 years it's stayed in the hearts and imaginations of people all over the world. In short, it's "Fantastic...absolutely fantastic!"

And you know what? So was I.

-Joe