10 and 1 Items About Amy's Choice

(Spoilers about Doctor Who 5x07, Amy's Choice.)Item 1! The Moffat fairy tale continues to beat its drum, as the impish Dream Lord puts our heroes to sleep and puts them to the test. Can they tell which is dream and which is reality? If Series 5 has sometimes felt like the 7th Doctor's whimsical era, here we find something of the black and white days of Hartnell and Troughton when such entities would sometimes pick on the TARDIS crew (in The Celestial Toymaker and The Mind Robber, most famously). I guess the point is that Moffat's take, although updated for the New Millennium, still has its roots firmly in the show's history. Doctor Who as Fairy Tale is not "new". It's always had that facet to it.

Item 2! Of course, there was no Dream Lord, it was ALL a dream. Normally that would be a big no-no, wouldn't it? Except the point of the story isn't the destruction of either threat, or even the choice between realities. It's really about Amy resolving her feelings for Rory. And while the former is "undone" (all a dream), the latter is not and creates a foundation for the stories to come and the Doctor/companion relationships around which they will be told. So while some might say the story is complete filler, I rather think it's a turning point in the series.

Item 3! And the choice is... Rory! Well, thank God for that. The last thing we need is another companion love-sick for the Doctor, especially one who was in a perfectly good relationship to start with (if we go by the wedding, anyway). I'm not saying she didn't "settle" (she's never told him she loves him), but at the ultimate moment, she did choose the person she'd forged a life with for the last couple years over the understandably attractive mystery man with the time machine. When faced with a choice between excitement and stability, she chose stability. Whether you agree with that choice or not, it does give a second life to Rory as a companion. Again, the natural comparison is to Mickey, who never got out of the Doctor's shadow and consequently spent half his time whining, and the other half trying to prove something. Rory's insecurities are (mostly) dispelled here (though comedy can still be had from Amy consistently pairing off with the Doctor rather than him), and in the next story, will have a frank "mates" relationship with the Doctor. Amy's Choice flattens that triangle.

Item 4! If the entire scenario was created by the Doctor's subconscious (tapping into Amy and Rory's dreams as well), could we not say then that the Doctor was subconsciously trying to drive Amy away to prevent another Rose/Martha problem? After all, The Vampires of Venice was something of a FAIL in that regard (or at least a "we'll see"). The Doctor's mind being as complex as it is would have seen the collective dream as an opportunity to straighten out the Amy/Rory relationship. The ambiguous moment at the end, with the Dream Lord appearing in a reflective surface in lieu of the Doctor's own face, might indicate that it wasn't so subconscious after all. Was it all a huge put-on? Was the Doctor guiding the dream after all? Did he put the psychic pollen in the TARDIS works himself? I don't really believe that, but the idea's there if you want it.
Item 5! When the Doctor says the Dream Lord could only be one person "I don't know how you can be here, but there's only one person in the universe that hates me as much as you do." Who is that? For New Who fans, it sounds like he's talking about the Master. And maybe he is. There's no reason the person he fingers at first is the same one (himself/pollen) he blames later. Older fans, of which I am one, will have to point out (as much as I hate to do so) that the Doctor's "dark side" has appeared before, as the Valeyard in Trial of a Time Lord back in the 80s. If that continuity is respected (and there's really no reason to), then this dark shard of the Doctor will split from him somehow in between his 12th and 13th incarnations. Could he prove to be a problem to the Doctor in psychic form 'til then?

Item 6! Is there dream symbolism in Amy's Choice? I'm no expert. I'm better with literary symbolism. If I go that route, I suppose I could look at Rory's domestic dream and see "growing old together" turned into a nightmare of monstrous old age and loss of control. Plus, Amy's pregnant and kids get turned to dust? There's a parental fear there. As for the dream aboard the TARDIS, what's a cold star supposed to represent? Is it the Doctor's manifestation of his non-passion for Amy, or simply a representation of his character's contradictions?
Item 7! Simon Nye wrote this episode, a comedy writer (best known for creating Men Behaving Badly) brought in by Steven Moffat, himself a sitcom writer of old. Strangely, though there's the usual patter, it's not a particularly funny episode. But then Moffat's first episode of New Who was a creepy horror story (The Empty Child). Just goes to show these guys are writers, first and foremost. I'm generally impressed with Moffat's new blood.

Item 8! If there IS comedy in the episode, it's dark comedy. Here's a story with pensioners turning children into dust, a joke about committing "self-harm" and Amy aborting her baby when she opts out of one possible reality. Then again, when said pensioners are attacking with chainsaws and getting whacked upside the head, it has to be considered comedy.

Item 9! Though it cheats the location, so to speak, Amy's Choice is only the second to take place entirely inside the TARDIS. The other was the Doctor's third adventure, The Edge of Destruction, way back in 1964!

Item 10! So the special effects are back up to snuff, right? After my comments in the previous review, I guess somebody listened. ;-)

Item 11! What's written on the emergency tool box in the TARDIS anyway? Let's take a closer look:
That's a lot of ridiculous nonsense, actually. Build date 1963? At the Gallifrey Blackhole Shipyards? Only qualified Time Lords may use this TARDIS by order of the Shadow Proclamation? Theft will result in extreme penalties and possible exile? Great nods to the show, but of course, that can't be right. Of wait, it's all in the DREAM!

Next time: The Silurians are back!

Star Trek 1266: Thanatos

1266. Thanatos

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #16, Marvel Comics, May 1998

CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Javier Pulido and Steve Moncuse (artists)

STARDATE: 2390.5 (follows the last issue)

PLOT: The Temazi are a pre-industrial people who built their religion around the aliens who once visited their world and, it is rumored, left a cache of weapons there. Pike, Spock and Boyce have infiltrated the Temazi to find this cache before the equally disguised Klingons do the same. Pike hopes to get inducted into the temple's mysteries, and a young Klingon woman boards his as a temple official, hoping this inductee will lead her to the temple's sanctum. When the plan is about to be pulled off, her leader, Kaaj, recognizes Pike and attacks him. This alerts the temple guards...

CONTINUITY: Robert April is in command of the Enterprise (as per issue #12). Kaaj last appeared in issue #7.

DIVERGENCES: See previous issues (stardates).

PANEL OF THE DAY - Robert April, not the nice guy I was execting
REVIEW: Kaaj returns and Pike almost falls for the wrong girl in this tale drawn in a pleasant Parobek style by Pulido and Moncuse. It's a fun enough plot and looks good, can't ask for much more. The meat of the issue takes place on the Enterprise, however, with April showing unexpected colors. He gives a very strict assessment of the crew, finding them lacking, and the implication is that he doesn't trust women in high ranking positions. Is Pike unusual then, and the sexism as prevalent in the TOS era as Turnabout Intruder said it was? Or is this a way to make April old-fashioned? I can't very well go and say the writers are sexist because they've been having the female characters kick ass since issue #1. Engineer Grace finally gets a subplot (a grating Australian second engineer), but with the end of the series looming, I'm not sure it can really be resolved (nor will that Aussie's romantic triangle with Colt and José). It's really too bad.

Cat of the Geek #63: M.A.D. Cat

Name: Unrevealed (if any)
Stomping Grounds: Inspector Gadget (cartoon); dies in Robot Chicken
Side: Evil
Breed: Maine Coon
Cat Powers: His own metal cat scratcher (Dr. Claw). Some jet fighter piloting skill.
Skills: Eat 6, Sleep 8, Mischief 3, Wit 4, Sympathetic moods 9
Cat Weaknesses: Victim of Dr. Claw's mercurial moods.

Star Trek 1265: Now and Then

1265. Now and Then

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #15, Marvel Comics, April 1998

CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Patrick Zircher and Steve Moncuse (artists)

STARDATE: 9522.0 (follows the last issue)

PLOT: Sulu is killed in the Klingon attack before Number One and the Excelsior arrive to save the day. The latter captain is convinced to help them get to Algol once she sees Yeoman Colt. The planet is being used as a Klingon outpost by Chang and more battle ensues. A landing party brings Colt to the surface where a Guardian of Forever-type entity entreats her to throw herself in and repair the timeline. As she falls through, much of the combined crew give their lives fighting the Klingons. She falls into the arms of José and her experiences are classified. History is back on track.

CONTINUITY: See previous issues (alternate timeline TOS crew, Algol, General Chang, Excelsior). The "you're breaking up" "bless you" scene from The Undiscovered Country is replayed with Number One and Pike. Many other lines are ripped off the various films (including Generations). Number One's last name is again given as "Robbins" (issue #1). Falling into the well, Colt sees Mirror Spock (Mirror, Mirror), the TNG crew, the Enterprise-E, Deep Space Nine and the Borg. In the glass bauble, Pike sees his terrible accident (The Menagerie).

DIVERGENCES: None.

PANEL OF THE DAY - How bat'leths actually work
REVIEW: This alternate timeline story goes where many alternate timeline stories have gone before. The death toll gets so high that it removes any remaining dilemma from the characters' hands. The new timeline can't possibly be any worse, right? The issue doesn't quite hit its character marks either, with many moments recycled from the Star Trek films, stale homages to what's gone before, not made better by replacing the principals by Early Voyages'. It kind of loses its way and fails to surprise. I've seen it all before. Many characters don't get a significant scene, and those that do, often end up dying like chumps. Perhaps a story like this could only ever disappoint, but it's not what this creative team prepared me for.

Star Trek 1264: Futures

1264. Futures

PUBLICATION: Star Trek: Early Voyages #14, Marvel Comics, March 1998

CREATORS: Ian Edginton and Dan Abnett (writers), Patrick Zircher and Steve Moncuse (artists)

STARDATE: 9521.9 (follows the last issue; the stardate is in the alternate future, placing the events during The Undiscovered Country in our own timeline)

PLOT: At first Pike wants nothing to do with Kirk's reckless ass, but when he sees a time displaced Colt, he sits down and listens. After it's been ascertained that the timeline is rejecting Colt and that she will die within four days, Pike decides to follow Kirk's original plan to return her to Algol deep inside Klingon space. Number One, captain of the Excelsior, is called in to prevent the Enterprise from causing an interstellar incident... which is already under way. Chang has returned with a few more birds-of-prey...

CONTINUITY: See previous issues (alternate timeline TOS crew, Algol, General Chang). The character I tentatively identified as Mr. Kyle is actually an older José Tyler. Carlotti is now CMO, Grace is still chief engineer, Boyce is retired, Number One got her own command (Excelsior, which we see) and under her, we find Nano and Chekov.

DIVERGENCES: None.

PANEL OF THE DAY - Hey, that's Sulu's cup!
REVIEW: This great alternate timeline story continues to rock, with the revelation of where Pike's crew has wound up over the years (makes me wonder what happened to them proper). Really neat to see Number One on Excelsior, highlighting the fact that Sulu never got his own command. Maybe it's because he's weapons officer, never landing in the pilot/command seat because Pike kept José in that chair. Sita is the only who doesn't rate a mention (sadly). The combination of the Pike/Kirk crews provides a couple nice moments, such as Pike knocking Kirk's block off and Scotty visiting Grace's engines. The romance subplot between José and Colt is well used here to create pathos, and again makes Colt the stronger character. It's going to be rock'n'roll until they get to Algol, but I hope to see more character moments along the way in the next issue.

Ironic Brightest Day Versus Ironic Heroic Age

As both of the "Big Two" comic book companies apparently enter a brighter, more positive era, we look at just how well each of their "show runners" are handling it...

From Brightest Day #2
Firestorm's face getting shredded!
A mom pulling her face off after killing her entire family!

Hawkman vowing murder!
From Avengers #1 (Heroic Age banner)
Some future teen Avengers committing murder most noir!

Wolverine on the team!
I can't believe Steve Rogers actually put him on the team for his "ruthlessness". Real "Heroic".

And I can't really find any other moments, but that's because Bendis just has them talk for most of the issue. So it's business as usual. The "Heroic" hits keep on coming.

Fiend Folio: 10 Best and Most Enduring Monsters

Last week, I had some fun with the original Fiend Folio and its many silly monsters. But I've got to admit there are some strong, classic creatures in there as well. FF's major contributions were to extra-planar monsters, and these had their longevity ensured by high-level summoners and later, the Planescape setting. Here then, to balance things out, a grab bag of Fiend Folio favorites (fill in your own) and the book's contributions that have had the longest-lasting impact on the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. We'll start with a couple of my personal favorite horrors, to then plunge into the real winners.

10. Penanggalan
Strictly a persona favorite (replace with one of the Daemons if you like), but the Penanggalan is one of the creepiest, most horrifying new undead to come out of the Fiend Folio (and there were a LOT). It's a flying vampire head with its guts hanging out of its neck! Aerodynamic hairdo aside, you gotta admit, that's pretty freaky.

9. Son of Kyuss
Speaking of freaky, here's my other favorite FF undead, and it's all down to the graphic maggots animating it. Though not particularly powerful, they made a nice medium-level alternative to the usual skeletons, zombies and ghouls, and were much more memorable.

8. Giant Two-Headed Troll
I'll freely admit that I'm something of a comedian when it comes to playing NPCs. This Troll variant is a natural double act, so how could I not want to put him in my games? I think the possibility of two-headed trolls as PCs is the only reason I bought the Hahlmabrea RPG too...

7. Death Knight
You say Death Knight, I say Nazgûl, let's call the whole thing off. These guys ride Nightmares into the PCs' camp and try to get the One Ring from you. Or something else you hold dear.

6. Mephit
I don't know how much I thought of Mephit before Planescape, but these hot elemental pixies became my favored wizard's familiar after. Choose from Fire, Smoke, Steam and Lava to suit your outfit!

5. Slaad
When looking to populate the Outer Planes, Limbo was handed over to the Slaadi of various colors. I'll question their "hierarchy" (they're Chaotic Neutral after all), but not their place in the Planescape universe. It's lovely to be sitting in an inn across from a giant frog.

4. Githyanki
On the one hand, they got the cover. On the other, while Planescape didn't make these Astral Plane nomads into a player character race, that's exactly what happened to their mortal enemies, the Githzerai. Since one implies the other, and the Githzerai look like humans and are pretty boring, all told, I've only included the cool side of that combo. But feel free to think of the Githzerai as #4.5.

3. Kuo-Toa
It helps when you put in an appearance BEFORE the Fiend Folio came out (in Gary Gygax's Shrine of the Kuo-Toa). Basically Lovecraftian Deep Ones, the Kuo-Toa have a Polynesian vibe going as well, which makes them perfect for that vacation your players wanted to take down south.

2. Oriental Dragons
Though they were bound to show up eventually thanks to Oriental Adventures, this is where they first did (along with a few other oriental monsters). Their longevity is undeniable, but then, they were around long before the role-playing revolution.

1. Drow
The obvious winner. Not only did Dark Elves appear in adventure modules before Fiend Folio came out, but it's almost a crime that the Monster Manual didn't think to mention them. They've since become the ninja of the D&D racial set, thanks to the Forgotten Realms character of Drizzt. And just look at that pic. Cool as hell. No wonder players all want to play a reformed Drow.

But perhaps you have other favorites? The comments section is yours!