The Subtle Knife (1997) – Philip Pullman

This week I returned to Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Trilogy by diving into the sequel, The Subtle Knife. It picks up right after the first novel, The Golden Compass, as we follow young Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon on her adventures. She finds herself in a strange world, having passed into another realm, unlike…

Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) – Dark Water and, Death in Heaven

Series Eight of the Time Lord’s travels comes to a dramatic conclusion in this two part finale, in which we see the return of the Cybermen, and the reveal of who Missy (Michelle Gomez) is. Dark Water written by Steven Moffat, first aired on 1 November, 2014. Clara (Jenna Coleman) and Danny (Samuel Anderson) open…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) – Emissary

Station log: stardate 46388.2 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine debuted on 3 January, 1993, and the series creators Michael Piller and Rick Berman penned the pilot episode which was debuted as an feature length series opener. Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) is given command of Deep Space Nine (and an all new Starfleet uniform) in…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – Unification I & II

Captain’s log: stardate 45233.1 Written by Jeri Taylor from a story by Michael Piller and Rick Berman, the first part of this crossover two-parter first aired on 4 November, 1991. With the final voyage of the original Star Trek crew preparing for release in December (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), and the death of…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – In Theory, and Redemption

Captain’s log: stardate 44932.3 Patrick Stewart directs this Data (Brent Spiner) story that was written by Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore. It first aired on 3 June, 1991. While investigating a dark matter nebula, another crew member, Lt. Jenna D’Sora (Michele Scarabelli)  becomes infatuates with the most emotionally unavailable man ever, the android, Data. Unable…

Doctor Who (Matt Smith) – The Rebel Flesh, and The Almost People

This week’s journey in the TARDIS brings us a two-parter written by Matthew Graham that aired on 21 and 28 May, 2011. The Doctor (Smith), Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) find themselves on 22nd century Earth, after getting caught in a solar tsunami. There, on a remote island, a factory and its employees…