It’s Going to Be a Long Weekend of Post Writing

The 10th Doctor, TARDIS & sonic screwdriver, but you knew that already.

Sorry, no recaps for this week—yet.  I’ve been on a Doctor Who kick.  OnDemand has been featuring old episodes of the new Doctors.  Once I started watching, I just couldn’t pull myself away until last night.

However, for all my fascination with the program, I apparently have not reached Whovian status.  Why?  Because I wasn’t totally thrilled with “The Day of the Doctor,” the 50th anniversary episode.  It was good, but it didn’t move me as much as it did true fans.  Perhaps it’s because I haven’t watched the episodes in order, or spent seven years experiencing the Doctor’s regret and guilt over the destruction of his own people.  Or maybe it’s because Billy Piper was in it and I’m not a big fan of Rose.

The 11th Doctor, Amy Pond (one of my favorites). And the TARDIS of course.

Since last weekend, I have watched some of the Matt Smith episodes, and have enjoyed them quite a bit.  But I’ve had a fascination with David Tennant for awhile now, so naturally those with the 10th Doctor are my favorites (notwithstanding the Rose year).

And in case you didn’t know, David Tennant has a long association with the How to Train Your Dragon universe.  He’s read all the books for audio editions except the first one, and he had a teeny-tiny part in the movie.  He’s not listed in the credits for How to Train Your Dragon 2, but he has voiced the character of Spitelout, Snotlout’s father (movie and television versions) in two episodes of DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk (season 1) and Defenders of Berk (season 2).  How awesome is that?!?

Thoughts on Almost Human (good), Supernatural (not so good), Sleepy Hollow (which I haven’t fully watched), and Agents of SHIELD (which I haven’t watched at all), will be forthcoming after tomorrow.

Because tomorrow is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, which will debut a new balloon of Toothless the Night Fury!  You think I’m silly for my love of Toothless?  Check this out!  (Of course I’m probably a generation or more older than other fans, but it keeps me young at heart).

And just because I’m filled with Toothless love, here are a few DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk user pics I created for my LiveJournal account.

Toothless practices his smile.

Hiccup takes Stoick for a ride.

Don’t forget the fury in Night Fury.

Hiccup must leave Toothless behind.*

*Don’t worry, Hiccup returns shortly thereafter.

Grown-ups Like Cartoons, Too!

The new fall television season has begun!  Time to fire up the ol’ DVR to check out the new shows as well as season premieres of returning favorites.

Yum! (One of my favorite caps)

Several websites list new series’ debuts and returning shows’ season premiere dates, the most comprehensive being TV Line‘s printable premiere calendar.  However, as comprehensive as it is, NOWHERE does it list DreamWorks Dragons: Defenders of Berk, which premieres on the Cartoon Network this Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Is it because no one considers shows airing before prime time?  Do they think the Cartoon Network is only for kids?  (You wouldnt know it from the irads,)  Or that the series isn’t appealing to adults?  C’mon, everybody loves Toothless!  The graph says so!

DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk— Watch!

We interrupt this Supernatural review-a-thon to bring you a “Sunday Seven” based on my other favorite sci fi show.

Hiccup takes Stoic for a ride on the back of Toothless.

Cartoon Network is showing reruns of DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk nearly every day.  If you haven’t seen this award-winning series, I highly recommend you catch up.  Although it’s classified as a children’s show, just like the movie, there’s something for everyone.

The series picks up shortly after the end of How to Train Your Dragon.  Now that the Vikings of Berk are no longer killing dragons, living with them takes some getting used to.  Along the way, we watch Stoic and Hiccup become truly father and son.  What are my favorite episodes?  I thought you’d never ask.

1. Animal House (103).  The farm animals have to learn to live with the dragons before a severe storm sets in.  Toothless leads the other dragons to protect the humans and animals when they get caught in the storm.
2. The Terrible Twos (104).  Hiccup discovers a little dragon of unknown species, who causes all sorts of problems for Toothless.  Toothless appears to be jealous, but he’s actually trying to help everyone, including the new little guy.  (I loved this episode so much, I did a previous Sunday Seven on it.)
3. How to Pick Your Dragon (107).  Stoic gets a dragon of is own, but not before riding Toothless ragged.
4. Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man (108).  A inaccurate portrait of Chief and son leads Hiccup to believe Stoic would prefer a more Viking-like son.  To prove himself, Hiccup and friends set off in search of a legendary treasure.
5. Thawfest (112).  For the first time in history, Hiccup has a chance at beating Snotlout in the annual Thawfest games.  But, as Astrid notes, Hiccup is not a very gracious winner.
6. When Lightening Strikes (113).  Homes on Berk are being crushed by the weight of  dragons sitting on roofs.  After building iron perches, Berk is besieged by severe lightening strikes.  The townsfolk believe the Night Fury is the cause, and force Toothless to leave the island.
7. Breakneck Bog (117).  When Trader Johann is late in bringing something important to Stoic, Hiccup and the gang go in search of it.  Hiccup learns the package is actually for him, from his mother.  However, the package is trapped on Breakneck Bog, home of the fabled Fog Monster.

Riders of Berk: A Gem of a Different Color (118)

Fishlegs is perhaps my favorite Dragons character, after Toothless and Hiccup, of course.  In the books, he’s Hiccup’s best friend, and he looks more like Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who voices Fishlegs—a skinny dark-haired kid with glasses.  But for all the physical dissimilarities, they’ve kept the essence of the character, a nerdy and loyal friend who recognizes Hiccup’s brain over brawn.  So I was happy to see a Fishlegs-focused episode.

Fishlegs and Meatlug find a glowing, color-changing stone.

Wednesday First Takes

In an effort to be slightly more timely, I present First Takes—my initial reaction to the shows I enjoy.  Quick Takes will likely be more feelings than thought.  In other words, don’t expect any deep thoughts or earth-shattering witticism.

Since it’s Wednesday, we begin with not one, but two Quick Takes.

Dragons: Riders of Berk:  Breakneck Bog

Whatever it is, it must be scary to frighten Astrid! (1)

What can make you laugh uproariously yet bring tears to your eyes?  This show!  We learn a bit more about Hiccup’s mother, we get a new dragon, and Fishlegs saves the day!  I tend to judge this show by how often I laugh out loud.  And it was several times tonight.  Astrid beating Tuffnut with a skeleton hand (for scaring her, Hiccup and Fishlegs—see photo above), followed by Ruffnut pounding him (for no particular reason), followed by one last excellent blow by Astrid.  Yet I knew there would be something tender the minute Trader Johann mentioned Hiccup’s mother.  And the scene with Stoic and Hiccup (and Toothless sweetly looking on) was lovely.

Supernatural:  Remember the Titans

Dean and Sam. Or is it Sam and Dean? (2)

It has to be hard after 8 years to come up with something new, but Supernatural managed to do it.  We’ve had pagan gods before, but this was the first reference to Greek mythology that I’m aware of.  And while I love me some Greek mythology, what sold this episode was, and always will be, the brothers.  Sam hasn’t said anything yet about the worrisome side effect he’s experiencing, but Dean knows something isn’t quite right.  Dean’s prayer to Castiel just emphasized how well he knows his little brother, and how desperately he wants to protect him.  (Lots more on the magnificence that is Jensen Ackles in my recap.)

Now we have to wait three weeks for the story to advance.  😦

[Photo credits:  (1) DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk on Facebook; (2) Cate Cameron, © 2013 the CW ]

Riders of Berk: More catching up

The ultimate symbiotic relationship

Wednesday has become my favorite tv night, boasting my two most favorite shows, Dragons: Riders of Berk and Supernatural.  It leaves me with the dilemma of which to review first.  As you can tell, Riders of Berk generally takes the back seat.  It doesn’t help that Dragons‘ schedule is a bit more erratic.  And there’s that pesky “It’s a kid’s show” mentality.  Would anyone reading a blog geared toward the general audience find it relevant?

It doesn’t really matter, because I love the show for many, many reasons.  And so, it’s discussed here.  On to the reviews…

Rating Dragons, part 3

Let’s finish up our series of rating Dragons: Riders of Berk episodes.  It’s been overdue.

Astrid is not amused it took so long to get Part 3 posted.

The Five Most Facinating Characters

The end of the year brings with it a plethora of “best of” and “worst of” lists, and SciFi Chick(s) is not above such frivolity.  But instead of the mundane “best and worst of,” how about a look at some of the most intriguing characters on sci fi television?

Rating Dragons, part 2

[We still have no votes for Once Upon a Time‘s Who’s Your Baddy poll. 😦  C’mon, I know there are fans out there!  Don’t be shy.]

Now, let’s continue our rating of the Dragons: Riders of Berk episodes.

In Dragons We Trust (105)

The dumbest members of the “Dragon United Monitoring Brigade” (DUMB)

There’s a rash of vandalism on Berk, and that pesky Mildew blames it on the dragons.  Hiccup gets proof that Mildew, using dragon-like accessories, is actually the real culprit, but Mildew throws away all the evidence before Hiccup can make his accusation.

Rating Dragons, part 1

Toothless is happy the show is rated PG.

Hmm, I haven’t rated any of the Dragons: Riders of Berk episodes.  (Maybe I figured every one would be 5 stars.  But some are better than others.)  So, lets rectify that situation and give the episodes their due.  Here’s a look at the first 4 episodes, complete with stars, mini-synopses and comments.