Category Archives: Fandom

Music Is All Around

Finally! This year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special, “A Christmas Carol”, aimed to be more Christmas than special and become the most special Christmas special of them all.

Fortunately, there was no world domination plot, no ridiculous villain to fight, no messianic Doctor, and it WORKED. At its core, this was a story of love, loss, and redemption….all the things that a Christmas special need. I don’t know where they found young Kazran, but that boy absolutely killed it. Actually, everyone was fantastic. I loved seeing Rory and Amy honeymooning, and the juxtaposition of their ultra modern ship crashing into the Old World-esque planet was a great way to tie them in.

The Eleventh Doctor has the benefit of a tremendous production team, and though I love Nine’s entire being, I would have to say that Eleven has become my second favorite Doctor, well on his way to becoming my favorite.

Halfway out of the dark has never been so grand.

2010 Favorite Character

“We present Lord Rahl, the Seeker of Truth and wielder of the Sword of Truth, the bringer of death, the Master of D’Hara, the ruler of the Midlands, the commander of the gar nation, the champion of free people and bane of the wicked, and the betrothed of the Mother Confessor.”

Would Richard Rahl be my favorite character had I not read the entire Sword of Truth series twice this year? Maybe so. Is there any doubt that Richard Rahl is my favorite character since I have read the entire Sword of Truth series twice this year? Definitely not.

“Boy fulfills destiny” is a brilliant concept, and one that I have enjoyed many times (Luke, Harry, Frodo, Eragon, Percy, et al.). Richard’s fate is far more complex than the others, and that’s what makes him my favorite character. Is he perfect? Nearly, but he can be rather singleminded (a trait which often serves him well, but when it doesn’t….oh, boy.) I think the things I love most about him are the little things; the way he “calls the target” to himself, the way he dances with death, the way he subjugates himself to make others better themselves, the value he places on those around him, and I could go on and on at this point….

Craig Horner, as TV!Richard gives us a good “face to go with a name” and I wish the television series could have gone on longer if for no other reason, to touch on the EPICNESS of the novels. Terry Goodkind, who gives us Book!Richard is the true hero, however, and I can’t wait for The Omen Machine to be released so I can get even more of my favorite character.

Riese’s Pieces

Do you like princesses? Do you like wolves? Do you like head goggles? Do you like medieval stories? Do you like steampunk? Do you like the 1940’s? Do you like robotic zombie children (or zombic robot children)? Do you like ascension? Do you like religious sects? Do you like the casts of every Syfy show? Do you like sub-standard video players?

If you answered, “YES!” to any of the above questions, head over to Syfy and watch the web series Riese: Kingdom Falling. I’ve just watched the 10 available episodes online, and I’m very curious to see where this phenomenon leads. It’s intriguing to say the least. I’d not call it good or bad, though I suppose I lean toward “good” since I would like to see more. Just go check it out and let us know what you think.