Doctor Who: K-9 Christmas Tree Ornament

From www.bbcamericashop.com. No news on a UK release.

“Affirmative!” Secure your Christmas tree under the protection of Doctor Who and Sara Jane’s faithful companion. You’ll sleep peacefully, knowing that K-9′s laser nose and acute sense of responsibility are at your service. Glass, handcrafted and handpainted by skilled artisans. Ready to hang. 5″.

Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe - Review

The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe promo copyright BBC

This review contains plot points which may be considered spoilers for someone who has not seen the episode


 First of all,the Doctor Who Christmas Special has become as much a tradition in my house as me watching the Queens speech growing up and with that said, The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe was a fantastic mix of emotions from happy to sad to confused to "I simply don’t believe that…" Starts off with the 'I don’t believe that', the Doctor falling to Earth from an exploding space craft, already completely unbelievable how would he breath…have we forgotten about the vacuum in space, and why is the space ship exploding anyway... more questions than answers! Anyway something I’ve always really liked about Doctor Who is the “It might just be possible if….” story lines this was not one of them, and we seem to be finding more of them creep into episodes of late. However from then on, VERY much the Doctor we've come to know…

Nice introduction of characters, some loose ends but mostly stuff that can be ignored.  Set (originally) in the 1930's, with World War II around the corner (Steven Moffat's Favorite era I believe) we are set in the same sort of era as the stories original basis "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". However apart from the title, the era and the snowy landscape that's about it as far as similarity to the original, I think the similarities were just an excuse to have a cool title rather than retelling the Narnia tales...


You may recall that the universe believes the Doctor to be dead, and so he assumes the new title of Caretaker, and returns a favor to a woman who helps him after his unfortunate crash to earth wearing only a space suit (yes, that's the I just don't believe it scene) anyway he remodels an old mansion they just so happens to be the location outside of a war-torn London where this same woman takes her two children (Lily and Cyril) to spend Christmas. And when I say remodel, seriously the guys and girls of Changing rooms/Trading spaces could learn a thing or two! Everywhere you look there's something of interest, something shiny, something loud, something different and whether you love it or hate it its seriously Christmassy, from an impact suit that repairs its occupant, naturally-occurring Christmas trees, dancing chairs, a winter wonderland wrapped in a TARDIS-blue gift box, wooden monsters who really aren't monsters and not forgetting Bill Bailey looking like something out of Halo.

"What's the point of them being happy if they're going to be sad later? The answer of course, is because they're going to be sad later."

I've wondered how long before we see Bill Bailey in a Doctor Who episode, and finally here he is. Shame it was a small part and in all honesty the three storm troopers seemed a little redundant as far as character development, they didn't really offer a lot to the story.  And quite abruptly left the episode as quickly as they appeared.

Without giving to much away, it was as quirky and fun as the previous year perhaps more so and perhaps the best Christmas special so far, although I did rather like last years, anyway back to 2011. When Madge is piloting the craft through the time vortex (SPOILER ALERT) I did feel sad, not wanting to see her husbands death, the children learning their father had died was tear jerking, a GREAT emotional scene… I also like that I didn’t immediately think that the husband would have followed them through the vortex, least not straight away, I had figured it out as soon as she was telling the kids officially….  Whats this an entire episode of Doctor Who and no Ponds? Oh wait there they are... all in all this episode didn’t just have a fantastic ending, it had two weepy finales – even the Doctor was a little teary. Matt Smith continues to make it seem like he has played the role of the Doctor since 1963...  What a cracking way to spend the evening, snuggled up in front of the telly with your turkey sandwich and the Doctor Who Christmas special.  


Merry Christmas everyone.

Merry Christmas

PLEASE have yourselves a VERY Merry Christmas and a SAFE and Happy New Year, spend it with the ones you love, take time to reflect on what really makes all holidays so special! Friends, family and sharing time together REALLY is what makes this season so special! 

And remember its not all about the presents under the tree, but the presence of the people around you.

 

 

“I am very happy to stay. I love it" - Matt Smith

Matt Smith as reassured fans that he is staying put, stating on the Graham Norton Show “I am very happy to stay. I love it and love making the show.”

Matt Smith on Grahan Norton Show copyrighted BBC

With the news of Karen Gillan and Arthur Davills' departure from the show coming next season, the big question was will Matt Smith remain as The Doctor. Rumours have circulated the internet for sometime that Matt Smith was quitting however these rumours have hopefully now been quashed by Smiths response to questions.

He went on to say “I’ll miss Karen because she’s my best mate. She’s mad as a box of cats but she’s a firecracker!”

Adding: “There comes a time when a story reaches its conclusion and the essence of the show is that it constantly reinvents itself”

The interview will air on Friday, December 23rd on the Christmas edition of The Graham Norton Show at 10.35pm on BBC1 and for the US, 10:00pm Saturday, December 24th on BBC America

A sneak peek at this years Christmas special...

Watch a fantastic sneak peek clip from the 2011 Christmas Special, Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe, before the Christmas Day premiere at 9/8c on BBC America

Synopsis: Matt Smith (The Doctor) is joined by Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Bill Bailey (Black Books), Arabella Weir (Skins, The Fast Show) and Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong & Miller) in the new festive special packed full of Christmas thrills and chills from lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat (The Adventures of Tintin).

It’s Christmas Eve, 1938, when Madge Arwell comes to the aid of an injured Spaceman Angel as she cycles home. He promises to repay her kindness – all she has to do is make a wish.

Three years later, a devastated Madge escapes war-torn London with her two children for a dilapidated house in Dorset. She is crippled with grief at the news her husband has been lost over the channel, but determined to give Lily and Cyril the best Christmas ever.

The Arwells are surprised to be greeted by a madcap caretaker whose mysterious Christmas gift leads them into a magical wintry world. Here, Madge will learn how to be braver than she ever thought possible. And that wishes can come true…

Go directly to jail... Do NOT collect £200

Something I bought earlier in the year was the limited edition (limited to 5000) Doctor Who monopoly, now before you rush out and get yourself one I want to share some of my knowledge and experience with this particular 'collectors' item.   Hasbro really didn’t pull out the stops with this, and didn’t really put much effort into making this a collectors piece at all. I think the main thing that strikes me as perhaps... lazy, is the game pieces.

Hasbro could very easily have supplied the small pewter figures of the Doctor, K9, a Dalek or even Cyberman but no, the game pieces are the same as the original, the Hat, Iron, Car, dog  etc.  The only thing they added was a TARDIS, even the hotels are the same small plastic hotels but are yellow and blue rather than red and green…  Such a shame.  It just seems to have this unfinished feel about it, like they gave up or something half way through and decided just to throw in the original pieces thinking no one would notice.

Yes the board has the Doctor Who theme, the cards and locations are all themed but the pieces don’t relate to Doctor Who at all and at $159 from Amazon you may want to think twice about purchasing this game.

With the 50th Anniversary coming up in 2013 I would hope that Hasbro would re-release this game with more Classic Who and with the EVERYTHING correctly themed, maybe have the hotels as TARDIS's and the game piece as described above.  I'm pretty sure that anyone who has purchased this will be disappointed, and it may very well put them off getting the newer version when the time comes.

Hasbro, take note.....

Daleks and a nice cup of coffee...

Tis the season to be "Exterminated", well no its not but still I couldn't resist the opportunity to bake some festive cookies in the shape of the TARDIS or the Daleks.  However, my first problem was I didnt have any Doctor Who cookie cutters.  Second problem, I couldnt find anywhere on the internet where to buy them, so this led me to only one option, to make my own.  Using some old metal Halloween cookie cutters I set to work with a pair of pliers bending a reshaping til finally I had something to work with....

Home made Doctor Who cookie cutters by Paul Bradford

A TARDIS, a Dalek, K9 and two Sonic Screwdrivers...

Dalek, Tardis and K9 Cinnamon and Applesauce cookies

Dalek Salt Dough cookie decorations

How to make Cinnamon and Applesauce Decorations:

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

Cinnamon
Applesauce
Cookie cutters
Cookie rack
Fabric Paint
 

STEP 1: MAKING THE DOUGH.Mix 2 parts cinnamon to 1 part applesauce.
Mix dough into firm ball.
Roll dough out 1/4 inch thick on flat surface.
Cut into different shapes using the cookie cutters.
Make a small hole in the top that you will thread ribbon threw later (I used a drinking straw to make the hole)
Place on cookie rack, bake 150 degree, for 4-5 hours.

STEP 2 : DECORATE
Use fabric paint as icing, the small fine point of the bottles really allow you to get that iced cookie effect
I used ball bearings for additional details but really there is no limit to how you can decorate them.