Takeaways from Doctor Who Series 11

Doctor Who

The latest season of Doctor Who being led by a new showrunner and after a  massive binge-watch and rewatch, I found the season has its specific hits and misses. Chris Chibnall is at the helm of the series now and he is best known for developing BBC’s Broadchurch. Instead of intense drama, five episodes of the ten-episode run plays with the concepts traditional in many a tale of terror. The two most prominent were “Arachnids in the UK” and “The Witchfinders.”

Jodie Whittaker is very likable as the new Doctor. She gives the character an erratic quality similar to David Tennant’s time in the role and has the tendency to be scattered. As the later episodes show, there’s an energy that’s undeniable. She’s more empathetic to others, and this can make for interesting contrasts to previous incarnations.

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The Vintage Tempest’s Picks for a Streaming Holiday Season

Getting into the yuletide spirit is not tough these days. There’s plenty of Streaming Holiday Season options for those counting down to the holidays online.

Doctor Who
Celebrating with Wicket!

Getting into the yuletide spirit is not tough these days. There’s plenty of Streaming Holiday Season options for those counting down to the holidays online.

These days, that means putting a film, special or television program in the queue to watch via Netflix or iTunes. Even YTV has its own app, and I can have them playing in the background. This Canadian station has fond classics dating well back to the 90s. Here, I’m tackling the difficult choice of wading through what’s available for streaming.

Online services offer a mix of old and new shows to enjoy. This list includes both and these are programs which made an impression on me. These shows are or will soon be easily accessible on services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Crave, iTunes or Hulu.

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Orchestra Director Dedicates YouTube Video in Touching Tribute to ‘Allo ‘Allo! Star

Gorden Kaye w/ 'Allo 'Allo! cast members Carmen Silvera (left) & Vicki Michelle (right).
Gorden Kaye w/ ‘Allo ‘Allo! cast members Carmen Silvera (left) & Vicki Michelle (right).
By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

In a touching tribute to a ‘Allo ‘Allo! star, the director of the Gimnazija Kranj Symphony Orchestra has dedicated a YouTube video to actor Gorden Kaye. Kaye who died in a Knaresborough care home on January 23rd at the age of 75 played café owner and lady’s man René Artois on the popular television series. Kaye’s career started in the 1960’s and spanned theatre, radio, television, and film. Kaye played Bernard Butler, Elsie Tanner’s nephew, in the ITV television series Coronation Street and as middle class Ray Benge in the Thames comedy drama Born and Bred. He also guested on such series as Are You Being Served?, Come Back Mrs. Noah, Last of the Summer Wine, and All Creatures Great and Small.

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Poirot’s David Suchet to Guest Star in Doctor Who Series 10

DrWhoSeries10
By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

It has been revealed through Doctor Who‘s Official Twitter that Agatha Christie‘s internationally renown sleuth Hercule Poirot, David Suchet, will appear in an episode of series 10. Suchet, who is currently being filmed in the BBC adaption of Decline and Fall with Eva Langoria and Jack Whitehall, will guest star as the Landlord. One can guess the role will be integral to the story.

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Doctor Who Gets Medieval in The Doctor’s Meditation, An Analysis

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

The-Doctors-Meditation-capaldi-bors-chalice

Two prequels mark the coming of an individual who is both an old friend and enemy of the Doctor’s prior to the broadcast of the season nine episode, “The Magician’s Apprentice.” If this series writers are clever, they better be making connections to season 26 when the Doctor was first referenced as Merlin (“Battlefield“).

The latest prologue premiered after the cinema screening of season 8’s finale (“Dark Water” and “Death in Heaven”) and it shows that The Doctor has fled to the Middle Ages to meditate. Comedy ensues as he’s the type who can barely last three hours in a quiet state, and he needs fresh water to quench his palette. More humour gets added as he guides a would-be knight, Bors, with his soldiers across a field in search for the perfect spot for a well.

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Pompidou TV Review: Silent Comedy Lacks the Stroke of Genius

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Pompidou

Mention the words silent comedy and only the best creators in the field, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and Rowan Atkinson will come to mind. After viewing of the first episode of BBC2’s Pompidou, Matt Lucas’ name may also be considered to be among them — considered but not yet chosen. There is much to enjoy about the newest series from the man who gave such wonderful performances such as Toad in the 2006 TV film The Wind In the Willows, but like many pilot television series, the first episode is usually the one with the most bumps in the road.

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