“After years of coming across “Moisturize me” jokes, references to a numbered Doctor, and some admittedly creepy photos of stone angels that moved while you weren’t looking, I decided it was high time I took a ride in the Tardis and met this ever-changing Doctor that everyone keeps talking about. Doctor Who is a Sci-Fi classic of British TV that for 26 seasons before its end in 1989 and 7 more after its revival in 2005 followed the adventures of the mysterious but utterly charming Doctor, the last of an alien race called the Time Lords, and his human companions through time and space. They come back and forth in time in the Tardis, visiting Earth and the farthest corners of the universe, always ending caught up in the middle of some catastrophe that the Doctor’s astonishing wit and the bravery of his human companions always end up saving. Low special effects budget aside, I’m really liking the series. I decided to start with the 2005 season and the 9th Doctor – right now I’m close to finishing the second season, having already met the 10th Doctor – and I’ve really enjoyed the scientific and historical aspects of the series. It’s a really engaging and entertaining show that’s very easy to get hooked on and that I would recommend to, well, whatever Sci-Fi fan left out there in the universe not watching it already.”
– Lorraine Acevedo Franqui, Staff Writer
“Having never watched a Hulu Original Series, I was skeptical of Misfits, but after seeing commercials countless times, I decided to give it a chance, got through the first season, and I haven’t been disappointed. The show features a cast of quirky young adults, each serving out probation for petty or half-hearted crimes. Within no time, we know who these characters are, or, at least, how they present themselves. Also within no time, a catastrophic event bestows the misfits with abilities, which are slow to emerge and unique to each character. While Misfits is presented as a comedy and is usually light-hearted, the series doesn’t shy away from internal and external issues such as isolation, abuse, and the realities of the criminal justice system. The misfits quickly realize that having unnatural abilities isn’t the same as having super powers, and that these abilities are just extensions of their own personalities, subject to futility and flaw. I’d recommend this show to anyone looking for a fresh take on the superhero genre, but hovers closer to reality.”
– Alan Beyersdorf, Staff Writer
“I’ve just started on Water For Elephants. Along with school work and my crazy life right now, I was very excited to get into a new book. Unfortunately the beginning of the book happens to deal with one of my fears: getting old. It discusses the protagonist’s life in his very old years, slowly taking us back to the past in which the majority of the book takes place. I’ve just now gotten to the circus. I’m really excited about it.”
– Christina Casano, TV & Film Writer
“I’m probably biased due to my incessant adoration of Nerdist and pretty much all things Chris Hardwick, but his new show @Midnight is awesome. Airing at midnight, it’s a panel/game show where the points don’t matter (sound familiar?) and three comedians compete to see who will be named the funniest person on the Internet for the next 23½ hours. They spend the half hour thinking up tweets to go along with ridiculous hashtags, determining whether an Etsy store is real or not, improving sketchy Craigslist ads, and more. Each episode has its own little gem moment, and it’s a fun, laid-back end/beginning to each day.”
– Allison Racicot, Audiobook Reviewer
“I checked out a Japanese film called A Story of Yonosuke at random. It tells the story of a young man named Yonosuke Yokomichi going from a small town in Nagasaki to college in 1987 Tokyo. It shows him making friends while also showing his friends reminisce about him. This is one of the few live action films that give me a sweet and fuzzy feeling like Miyazaki’s movies. With a charming and sweet title character, it’s hard not to like the movie.”
– Janelle Smith, TV & Film Writer
“I’d tried watching CW’s Arrow last semester but, after thinking that Oliver Queen was just another pretty rich boy a la Bruce Wayne, never made it past the pilot. A few weeks ago I was bored and tried it out again, and I got through all of seasons one and two in about a week. I’m hooked, and I can’t tell if it’s because of the smart writing, diverse cast of characters, or really intense character moments – or maybe it’s all of the above. Susanna Thompson is flawless as the Queen matriarch, and though she’s not in many episodes, Celina Jade’s Shado definitely left an impression on me, in more ways than one. And, of course, Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen is equal parts sympathetic, flawed, ruthless, and complicated. I’ve sold my soul and there’s no going back.”
– Gabby Taub, Fantasy Reviewer
