Buffy Rewind Review - "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'
Season 1 - Episode 5
"Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"

True Blood – “It Hurts Me Too”

Review by Paul Steven Brown

‘True Blood’
Season 3 – Episode 3
“It Hurts Me Too”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

I'm a grown man and I love Harry Potter. I love the books. I love the movies. I will probably buy the Lego Harry Potter video game, too. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been on a continual loop on HBO for the last week and I can't help but be drawn in whenever I come across it.

The film version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows looks huge. So huge in fact that Warner Bros. has split it in two. The first installment will be out on November 19th, with the conclusion hitting the theaters next year on July 15th. This trailer looks fantastic. I better get to re-reading that book. -Paul Steven Brown

Doctor Who (UK) - "The Big Bang"

The fifth season of 'Doctor Who' in the UK is airing a few episodes ahead of that in the US. If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wished to be spoiled... GO NO FURTHER! Read only the reviews marked "Doctor Who (US)". If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the UK, read ahead if you've already seen this episode.

Review by Antony Ellis

'Doctor Who'
Season 5 - Episode 13
"The Big Bang"

Nerdy Wordy: A Conversation with B. Clay Moore

By Isaac Dilbert

B. Clay Moore is a talented American writer most notable for the acclaimed Hawaiian Dick from Image comics as well as other titles which have set the bar for crime noir and pulp comics. Great things, and people come from the Midwest and Clay Moore is one of those people. He's earned his place among the best the industry has to offer and continues to write great comics with a growing audience. He takes time from his work and scripting to gives us a few words on his plans, projects and his thoughts on things comic related.

Doctor Who (US) - Vincent and the Doctor

The fifth season of 'Doctor Who' airing in the US on BBC America is a few episodes behind those in the UK. If you are only following 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wish to be spoiled, read these reviews only and not those labeled "Doctor Who (UK)".

New Comics - Week of June 23, 2010

Reviews by Paul Steven Brown

Cultural Wormhole takes a look at Avengers #2, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #3, Justice League: Generation Lost #4, Wolverine: Origins #49, Wolverine: Weapon X #14, X-Factor #206, and X-Men: Legacy #237.

Eureka Pre-Season Analysis

By Matthew Rasnake

If you consider yourself a sci-fi fan, and you haven't been watching 'Eureka', well, you're missing out on something special.

DS9 Rewind Review – “Babel”

Review by Paul Steven Brown

‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’
Season 1 – Episode 4
“Babel”

Buffy Rewind Review - "Teacher's Pet"

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'
Season 1 - Episode 4
"Teacher's Pet"

True Blood – “Beautifully Broken”

Review by Paul Steven Brown

‘True Blood’
Season 3 – Episode 2
“Beautifully Broken”

Doctor Who (UK) - “The Pandorica Opens”

The fifth season of 'Doctor Who' in the UK is airing a few episodes ahead of that in the US. If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wished to be spoiled... GO NO FURTHER! Read only the reviews marked "Doctor Who (US)". If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the UK, read ahead if you've already seen this episode.

Doctor Who (US) - "Cold Blood"

The fifth season of 'Doctor Who' airing in the US on BBC America is a few episodes behind those in the UK. If you are only following 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wish to be spoiled, read these reviews only and not those labeled "Doctor Who (UK)".

Breaking Bad Rewind Review – “Pilot”

Review by Amanda White

Breaking Bad
Season 1 – Episode 1
“Pilot”

"Who's in 'Breaking Bad'? Bryan who? Bryan Cranston? Wait, that guy who played the dad on 'Malcolm in the Middle'? I don't want to see that."

New Avengers #1

Review by Paul Steven Brown

New Avengers #1

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Stuart Immonen w/ Wade Von Grawbadger & Laura Martin
Published by Marvel Comics

Other than a desire to generate more buzz and increase sales, there isn’t any need for Marvel Comics to restart New Avengers with a new number one. The previous incarnation of this series ran 64 issues and this book picks up on a plot that ran in the volume. Heck, it’s basically the same cast, plus the Thing, and the same creative team. Given Marvel Comics’ recent practices, I can see the numbering merged and New Avengers getting renumbered to #100 in about 35 issues.

DS9 Rewind Review - "A Man Alone"

Review by Paul Steven Brown

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 1 – Episode 3
“A Man Alone”

“A Man Alone” was actually filmed before “Past Prologue” but aired after. This was probably a smart move by the producers. “Past Prologue” was a cracking good hour that kept the momentum from “Emissary” rolling and provided some great character depth for Major Kira. The central plot thread of “A Man Alone” focuses on Odo, but the episode doesn’t come near to illuminating the shapeshifter’s nature in the way Kira was spotlighted in the previous show.

Doctor Who (UK) - "The Lodger"

The fifth season of 'Doctor Who' in the UK is airing a few episodes ahead of that in the US. If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wished to be spoiled... GO NO FURTHER! Read only the reviews marked "Doctor Who (US)". If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the UK, read ahead if you've already seen this episode.

Buffy Rewind Review - "Witch"

Review by Paul Steven Brown

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Season 1 - Episode 3
"Witch"

Now, that was a little bit better.

Doctor Who: City of the Daleks - Game Review

Review by Andrew Griffths

Doctor Who: City of the Daleks is an interesting game to review. On one hand it's a stand alone game, perfectly adept at holding its own, yet on the other, it opens itself up to be seen as an episode fitting into the middle of the season five TV series. On top of this conundrum there is also a need to review it differently from different sides of the ocean. From a British perspective, the game is a freebie, thanks to our television licence fees, but for anyone reading this in the States, you're unfortunately going to have to pay for it!

True Blood - "Bad Blood"

Review by Paul Steven Brown

True Blood
Season 3 - Episode 1
"Bad Blood"

Last season's 'True Blood' started off strong but really fell apart during the sprint towards the finale. I love Michelle Forbes, but the Maryann plot got repetitive rather quickly and had very little to do with any of the more interesting vampire politics of the first half of the season. There was a few really empty scenes with vampire queen Sophie-Anne, but they were weakly played by Rachel Evan Wood. The last episode of the second season at least delivered a number of enticing cliffhanger and subplot elements that made me hopeful that season three would be more exciting than the end of the second.

Stargate Universe - Season One in Review

By Paul Steven Brown

Before the series premier of ‘Stargate Universe’ in October of last year, I had only watched one episode of a Stargate series. Out of curiosity, I watched the first episode of ‘Stargate SG-1’ on Hulu. It picked up from the feature film that I saw many years ago in the theater, but I wasn’t really impressed. There were some interesting concepts, but the basic plot and the acting left a lot to be desired. The reason that I never took a hard look at this show or its first spin-off, ‘Stargate Atlantis’ was due to timing. ‘SG-1’ premiered while I was in college and it was on Showtime. When I finally was able actually devote some time to regular television watching; it was already in its sixth season. Also, I held some resentment towards the show since it went on for ten seasons and had spin-offs, while my beloved ‘Farscape’ was cancelled after four. To add insult to injury, ‘Farscape’ stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black became members of the ‘Stargate SG-1’ cast.

Doctor Who (US) - "The Hungry Earth"

The fifth season of 'Doctor Who' airing in the US on BBC America is a few episodes behind those in the UK. If you are only following 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wish to be spoiled, read these reviews only and not those labeled "Doctor Who (UK)".

Doctor Who
Season 5 - Episode 8
"The Hungry Earth"

Review by David Lowbridge

Smallville Rewind Review - “Metamorphosis”

'Smallville'
Season 1 - Episode 2
"Metamorphosis"

Review by Antony Ellis

Tom Welling has lovely, manly hands. He really does! A bit veiny, mind you, especially when using them to delve into lead-lined boxes to retrieve meteor-stone necklaces for secret loves. This is just one of the things I learned from the second episode of ‘Smallville’ – this and lots of random facts about bugs.

Story vs. Gameplay - A Quick Look at 'Final Fantasy XIII'

By Paul Steven Brown

Back in the early days of video games, story was an afterthought, if even a thought at all. It was all concept and gameplay. Pac-Man ate pellets in an attempt to clear the board while being chased by brightly colored ghosts. Mario climbed scaffolding to rescue the damsel in distress from Donkey Kong. As games moved towards the home system, stories began to flesh out a little more. Usually, there was some form of introductory text that set up the reason for the hero's journey, whether it was Mega Man or Link.

New Comics – Week of June 9, 2010

By Paul Steven Brown

Cultural Wormhole takes a look at Invincible Iron Man #27, Justice League: Generation Lost #3, and Uncanny X-Men #525.

Nurse Jackie - Season Two in Review

Review by Branden Barker

From the start of ‘Nurse Jackie’s’ second season, I had no idea where the show was going to go. And that’s interesting because the show didn’t go anywhere. All season.

Doctor Who (UK) - "Vincent and the Doctor"

The fifth season of  'Doctor Who' in the UK is airing a few episodes ahead of that in the US. If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wished to be spoiled... GO NO FURTHER! Read only the reviews marked "Doctor Who (US)". If you are watching 'Doctor Who' in the UK, read ahead if you've already seen this episode.

Doctor Who
Season Five - Episode Ten
"Vincent and the Doctor"

Review by David Lowbridge

Doctor Who (US) - "Amy's Choice"

The fifth season of 'Doctor Who' airing in the US on BBC America is a few episodes behind those in the UK. If you are only following 'Doctor Who' in the US on BBC America and do not wish to be spoiled, read these reviews only and not those labeled "Doctor Who (UK)". 

Doctor Who
Season Five - Episode Seven
"Amy's Choice"

Review by David Lowbridge

Best of Blanche

By Branden Barker

We said goodbye to a great comedienne last week when Rue McClanahan, 76, died following a stroke. Her passing leaves Betty White as the sole ‘Golden Girl,’ but Rue forever lives on through her most notable character, Blanche Devereaux. Who could ever forget the Southern belle’s sexual appetite, “perky bosom” and that impeccable comedic timing? Not me. Not us.

TekWar

Review by Matthew Rasnake

It's been twenty-one years since William Shatner's first novel, TekWar, hit the shelves and spawned a tenuous media empire, held together, I imagine, by the force of Shatner's will, his creative drive, and his charisma. There have been, according to Wikipedia, nine novels, four made-for-TV movies, eighteen episodes of a subsequent TV series, two comic-book series (one of which entered publication just last year, with a third on the docket for this year, I believe), a set of trading cards, and a video game. Since 1989, Shatner's Tek universe has found its way into every major form of media, making it a prime candidate for the Cultural Wormhole treatment.

'Torchwood' Lives Again!

By Paul Steven Brown

Looks like 'Torchwood' will be returning simultaneously in the US and the UK next summer thanks to a partnership between BBC Worldwide and the US cable channel Starz. Starz had branched out into original programming with the bloody 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' and the critically acclaimed 'Party Down'.  For those who do not subscribe to Starz, the channel's shows can also be found on Netflix for streaming.

The Hard Times of RJ Berger

Review by Paul Steven Brown

It's pretty easy to be cynical about any new original programming that MTV decides to trot out. This is the network whose biggest shows at the moment are 'The Hills' and 'Jersey Shore'. Even 'The Real World', while not always the most sophisticated of programs, has devolved into casting towards the lowest common denominator in the last decade. Remember when the roommates had careers or goals before they came on the show? Now it seems like the goal and the career is to be on 'The Real World' or some other similar reality show. At least 'True Life' continues to be the one shining star in the MTV unscripted line up.

“Past Prologue”

Review by Paul Steven Brown

Two episodes into ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ and Major Kira Nerys is shaping up to be the standout character of the series so far. She is obviously loyal to Bajor first, but she knows that having the Federation around is in her world’s best interest. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.

"Pilot"

Review by Antony Ellis

It was a bit of a strange experience; going back to a show that I used to love, and watching it again for the first time in years – and only, if memory serves, for the second time ever. But I wanted to rediscover what captivated my imagination so much in the autumn of 2001 when I was a young lad of eighteen slowly beginning to make my first steps in the adult world. I also wanted to, as the mature and sophisticated (well – mostly!) man of twenty-seven years, look back at ‘Smallville: Superman The Early Years’ (as the show was subtitled here in the UK) and see if it held up almost a decade later as the action-packed ‘Dawson’s Creek’ with superpowers that I remember it being.

“The Harvest”

Review by Paul Steven Brown

Oh, this is going to be a painful first season, isn’t it? I shouldn’t expect a miracle right away, but two episodes in and I’m having a hard time believing that this is the show that launched the Whedon media empire. If I had seen both “Welcome to the Hellmouth” and “The Harvest” the night they actually premiered back in 1997, I probably wouldn’t have been back for the second week.

Blood and Advertising

By Paul Steven Brown

Two shows that are returning during the season that I would like to track on this site are ‘True Blood’ and ‘Mad Men’. HBO's 'True Blood', based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries books by Charlaine Harris, returns for its third season on June 13th. ‘Mad Men’, the highly acclaimed drama about ad men in the 1960s, returns to AMC on July 25th. Both are scheduled for Sunday night, but hopefully when 'Mad Men' returns, about a month into the new season of 'True Blood', they'll air at different hours. My bet is that it will be vampires at 9PM EST, while cigarettes and booze will flow freely at 10PM EST. If both air simultaneously, I'll watch 'Mad Men' 'live' and catch 'True Blood' 'on demand' on Monday.

"Emissary"

Review by Paul Steven Brown

There are a number of considerations to be made when launching a spin-off of a successful television series. The new show should contain enough familiar elements to bring over the fans of the first series while presenting the correct amount of variance to allow it to establish its own identity. Also, the new program should be able to attract and retain new viewers that have never seen the prior series.