Cultural Wormhole Presents: X-Nation Episode 17

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Med-Chun! In this installment of X-Nation we discuss seven classic issues in Days of X-Men Past: New X-Men #127, New X-Men #128, X-Treme X-Men #14, X-Treme X-Men #15, Mekanix #1, Uncanny X-Men #408, Uncanny X-Men #409.

Game of Thrones - "The Kingsroad"

Beware of smiling Lannisters (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), young Jon Snow (Kit Harington).
Photo Credit: HBO

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Game of Thrones'
Season 1 - Episode 2
"The Kingsroad"

The premiere had to do the heavy lifting of introducing the viewers to this fantastic world as well as the many faces that populate and shape it. This week, "The Kingsroad" gets to stretch its legs a bit and start the work of pushing the story. As a result, a few characters began to show some interesting growth and potential. However, others need to be deepened.

Stargate Universe - "Epilogue"

Alternate versions Greer (Jamil Walker Smith) and Park (Jennifer Spence) grow old together 2000 years in the past.

Photo Credit: Syfy

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Stargate Universe'
Season 2 - Episode 18
"Epilogue"

What really makes "Epilogue" work, unlike Lt. Scott's small town fantasy in "Cloverdale", is that the events are a "What if?" that actually happened within the context of the 'Stargate Universe'. Also, the historical data highlights the potential of a few people, the hint of possible romance, and the spectre of disease for at least one crew member. Once again, no communication stones or call backs to the previous two Stargate series. Not bad gang.

Cultural Wormhole Presents: The Merc Report Episode 7

Spinning out of X-Nation, The Merc Report is your monthly review of the many Deadpool comic books published by Marvel Comics. This episode Corwin and Scott takes us through the Month in Merc for March 2011.

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Reviewed this episode: Deadpool #33.1, 34, Deadpool Team-Up #883, Venompool, Deadpool Corps #12, 5 Ronin #5: Deadpool and Deadpool MAX #6.

Music by Jenki "Girls of Los Angeles"

Doctor Who - "The Impossible Astronaut"

Matt Smith returns as the Doctor.

Photo Credit: BBC

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Doctor Who'
Season 6 - Episode 1

"The Impossible Astronaut"

The powers that be at the BBC finally wised up and decided that it would be in their best interest if episodes of 'Doctor Who' aired in the UK, the US, and Canada on the same day. Before there was a lag of several weeks, resulting in those who were impatient and technologically inclined to download the episodes illegally. Because I do not want to pay extra for an expanded cable package just to watch BBC America, I have opted for the next best legal option: an iTunes season pass. While not instantaneous, this does allow me to watch the newest episode of 'Doctor Who' within less than twelve hours of the US broadcast.

Fringe - "6:02 AM EST"

Olivia (Anna Torv) and Nina (Blair Brown) discuss the mysterious Sam Weiss.

Photo Credit: FOX

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Fringe'
Season 3 - Episode 20
"6:02 AM EST"

This week's 'Fringe' was a very welcomed return to form. While the rest of the season has not been as strong as the opening eight episode "switched Olivia" arc, the only real weak hour was last week's "LSD". Season three has been the strongest yet for the show and "6:02 AM EST" is any indicator, we're in for a hell of closing run.

Stargate Universe - "Common Descent"

Lt. Scott (Brian J. Smith) checks out a new world on the other side of the gate.

Photo Credit: Syfy

Review Paul Steven Brown

'Stargate Universe'
Season 2 - Episode 17
"Common Descent"

Finally, after several lukewarm episodes, 'Stargate Universe' delivers one that not only builds on material generated from within this series, but with some compelling ramifications. No communication stones. No mix bag of unrelated subplots. No ideas that would make more sense if I had watched the other two Stargate programs. This was more like it.

Game of Thrones - "Winter is Coming"

Lord Ned Stark (Sean Bean) deals with a deserter.

Photo Credit: HBO

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Game of Thrones'
Season 1 - Episode 1
"Winter is Coming"

I remember when 'Deadwood' premiered on HBO several years ago. The very first scene ended with lawman Seth Bullock holding an angry group of men, hellbent on killing his prisoner, at gun point while he performed the hanging himself, lawfully. That was a hell of a way to kick off a show. Then again, HBO can do things that other networks can't.

Fringe – “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide”

At least Broyles (Lance Reddick) had fun during this episode.

Photo Credit: FOX

Review by Paul Steven Brown

‘Fringe’
Season 3 – Episode 19
“Lysergic Acid Diethylamide”

I wonder if this is going to be a tradition now. Last season, right before the very few remaining episodes of season two, the creators of ‘Fringe’ delivered the very strange, but rather lackluster “Brown Betty”. It was a half-hearted attempt at a noir/musical episode. As with this week’s “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide“, “Brown Betty” was named after and fueled by a drug of Walter Bishop’s choice.

Stargate Universe - "The Hunt"

Varro (Michael Dopud) nd Greer (Jamil Walker Smith) realized that they're the ones being hunted.

Photo Credit: Syfy

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Stargate Universe'
Season 2 - Episode 16
"The Hunt"

"The Hunt" is a little all over the place. Despite the visceral nature of the main story, this episode felt like a pause between major plot developments to the show's overall narrative. For the most part, we're given some opportunities to look at a few characters in a different light and to see how their experiences on Destiny have changed them.

Cultural Wormhole Presents: X-Nation Episode 16

You go, girl! In this installment of X-Nation we discuss seven classic issues in Days of X-Men Past.

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Days of X-Men Past: Uncanny X-Men #405, Uncanny X-Men #406, Uncanny X-Men #407, X-Treme X-Men #12, X-Treme X-Men #13, New X-Men #125, & New X-Men #126.

Stargate Universe - "Seizure"

Robert Picardo and Lou Diamond Phillips on 'Stargate Universe'.

Photo Credit: Syfy

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Stargate Universe'
Season 2 - Episode 15
"Seizure"

I've only seen about half of the first season of 'Stargate SG-1' and have never seen an episode of 'Stargate Atlantis', the installments of 'Stargate Universe' that either tie back to plot lines or characters from the two previous programs tend to be of less interest to me. Ever since the Lucian Alliance invaded the narrative of 'SGU', I've been fearing the injection of more Stargate lore to this show. I know it's silly, since this is part of a franchise. Still, 'SGU' started off and was promoted as being new viewer friendly and for the most part it has been so. Unfortunately, "Seizure" had too much of the old to win me over.

The Killing - "Pilot" & "The Cage"

Linden (Mireille Enos) and Holder (Joel Kinnaman) at a crime scene in 'The Killing'.

Photo Credit: AMC

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'The Killing'
Season 1 - Episodes 1 & 2
"Pilot"
"The Cage"

AMC has yet to disappoint me with the network's crop of television series. 'Mad Men' never disappoints, though we'll have to wait until 2012 for season five. 'The Walking Dead' is off to a great start, despite having a very brief first season. 'Rubicon' had extremely poor ratings, but I found that show deeply engrossing. The only misstep there was its inability to stick the landing. I still haven't gotten around to watching 'Breaking Bad', but I plan on remedying that before the fourth season kicks up in July.

Cultural Wormhole Presents: X-Nation Episode 15

In this installment of X-Nation we take discuss the latest news in the X-Buzz and we take a look back at the Month in X for March 2011.

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The Month in X: X-Men: Legacy #246, New Mutants #23, Age of X Universe #1, Daken: Dark Wolverine #6, Daken: Dark Wolverine #7, X-23 #7, X-23 #8, Wolverine #7, Wolverine & Jubilee #3, X-Men #9, X-Factor #216, X-Factor #217, Uncanny X-Force #5.1, Uncanny X-Force #6, Generation Hope #5, Uncanny X-Men #534, & Uncanny X-Men Annual #3.

Special thanks to Ryan for the sound level tips.