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mandypanhol
Reviews
Doctor Who: Love & Monsters (2006)
Has its moments!
I really like this episode, although many hate it. It has a different perspective, and shows the many ways common people are affected by the Doctor in both positive and negative ways. Elton even quotes Stephen King: "salvation and damnation are the same thing", damn! Too bad it's a mixed episode, with some bad moments too. The villain is too cheesy and the Ursula slab at the end is just plain weird, so those do weigh the episode down.
But I really liked Elton, his dynamic with Jackie, and Ursula, and his other friends, and his speech at the end where he signals that soon Rose and Jackie will feel the negative impact of knowing the Doctor.
The first scenes are also hilarious, with a Scooby Doo kind of chase, and Rose mixing up buckets. Not to mention the best joke in the episode: Clom?! This one stayed with me for years!
Doctor Who: The Girl in the Fireplace (2006)
It's indeed brilliant
I had really fond memories of this episode, when I first watched as a teen. The villains' look good, the period costumes and ambients are great, and the music is amazing. However, rewatching as an adult, something doesn't add up: why would the Doctor levar Rose and Mickey behind, essentially to DIE in a far away spaceship with no way back?
Also, the "we can't go in the Tardis, we are involved" makes no sense at all. In the previous season the Doctor and Rose went back TWICE to the scene where Rose's dad died. So... I don't know. If the Doctor had gone through to see Reinette alone once, ok, he can be impulsive and a bit of a jerk like that, but it happened so many times... Why even bring Mickey along then?
Also a bit uncomfortable with how the Doctor met Madame de Pompadour as a kid and hours later (for him) was snogging and 'dancing' with her, idk. Like many actors have Said before, the Doctor strikes me as fairly asexual, maybe demisexual at best. Like Cassandra says, so many parts, and hardly used! Moffat does have a reputation of writing horny stories for DW, and they don't always land, I think.
I am not much of a fan of rivalry between the women. In the previous episode with Sarah Jane this scenario was subverted, with them both starting out picking a fight but then ending up laughing their asses off at the Doctor.
However, the writing is touching in many points, specially in Madame's final letter to the Doctor. Some brilliance, yes, but some issues as well.
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After a while, I changed my mind (again) about this episode. I think the Doctor acting out of character might indeed be in character If we consider that he was messed up after reuniting with Sarah Jane, and acted impulsively here. In this sense... I give this episode a 9/10.
Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
Fun, endearing, unexpected
I went in with low expectations, although I love the Sandman, I knew that DBD was more of a teen comedy series, and not as dark as the Sandman comics or series. However, the characters in DBD have really caught my heart. Charles and Edwin are a classic "opposites-attract" duo who investigate supernatural cases, while running from Death and the afterlife. Crystal is a medium who lost her memories after being possessed by a demon and joins the duo. Niko is a sweet and lonely kid who also joins them after getting her case solved by the trio. I don't want to spoil much of the series but Jenny is another favorite of mine along with Tragic Mick and his Magic Tricks. Although the series is a comedy and is more lighthearted than what I usually watch, the cases were very interesting and you can see the characters are a work of love. I hope it gets a season two so we can continue to see where the story leads, as there are still many plots only starting out.
Danjon meshi (2024)
Exceeded my expectations, highly recommend it!
DunMeshi has an unusual concept, but the worldbuilding is so well done that It grows on you. In a dungeon the characters usually worry more about defeating monsters, but in this story they realistically have to worry about food, water, carrying weight, and other aspects of daily life. The animation is beautiful and the food actually looks yummy even if it is made from monster parts.
If you enjoy thinking about the ecosystem of an universe, I bet you will enjoy this show. Senshi is one of my favorite characters because he understands the importance of each being, from big to small, and shares his knowledge and wonder with the other characters. A great hit for TTRPG fans, for sure.