Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “T.R.A.C.K.S.” (spoilers!)

This is the face of someone who is going to eviscerate you via your nostrils. © ABC/Marvel Studios
This is the face of someone who is going to eviscerate you via your nostrils. © ABC/Marvel Studios

It’s less than a week until Christmas, so let’s dive into another episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., fresh off of my Netflix streaming queue: Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “T.R.A.C.K.S.” (spoilers!)”

Around the Water Cooler: Doctor Who – “The Time of the Doctor” (spoilers!)

Because who wouldn't want a naked Doctor for Christmas? © BBC
Because who wouldn’t want a naked Doctor for Christmas? © BBC

With Boxing Day having come to a close, it’s time to sit down and have a spoiler-filled discussion about the Christmas special episode of “Doctor Who”, now available to purchase on iTunes. Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Doctor Who – “The Time of the Doctor” (spoilers!)”

Pop-Culture Catch-Up: Doctor Who — “The Day of the Doctor” (spoilers!)

Want to get excited about a new thing, but aren’t completely up to date on the fandom and don’t mind spoilers? We here at Geeking Out About are happy to help provide you with everything you need in order to stay current with your geeky passions in our new column, “Pop Culture Catch-Up.”

“The Day of the Doctor”
Directed by Nick Hurran
Written by Steven Moffat
Starring Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman
Guest Stars: David Tennant, John Hurt, Billie Piper, Jemma Redgrave, Joanna Page, Colin Baker, and more
Rating: TV-PG

Three Doctors, all alike in dignity. © BBC
Three Doctors, all alike in dignity. © BBC

Like many people, my first Doctor was Christopher Eccleston, aka the Ninth Doctor. His single season in 2005 as the eponymous character of the long-running BBC series Doctor Who introduced me to everything Whovian and I came to have a layperson’s understanding of the show and how it worked. I watched some episodes featuring Tenth Doctor David Tennant, including the special movies, and part of the first season with Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith; however, once I fell behind I lost interest.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first episode’s airing and Doctor Who fans both old and new were a-buzz when news came forward that there would be a special episode celebrating this anniversary. Rumors and speculation flew around the world. Would it reunite several of the previous actors who have played the Doctor in a large over-arching plot as the 20th anniversary special “The Five Doctors” did? How much interaction would the upcoming Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi have in this special? Or would the inclusion of any former Doctors be more poignant and heartfelt as was the meeting between the Tenth Doctor and the Sixth Doctor (Peter Davison) in the Children in Need short “Time Crash”?

Simulcast around the world on November 12, 2013, “The Day of the Doctor” proved to include all of these things—and none of them at the same time. Continue reading “Pop-Culture Catch-Up: Doctor Who — “The Day of the Doctor” (spoilers!)”

Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “Repairs” (spoilers!)

I would be smirking, too, if this were a part of my morning routine. © ABC/Marvel Studios
I would be smirking, too, if this were a part of my morning routine. © ABC/Marvel Studios

After a hell of a morning, I definitely needed to relax with this commentary on the latest episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, now available to watch on the official website. Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “Repairs” (spoilers!)”

Pop Culture Catch-Up: X-Men: First Class (spoilers)

Want to get excited about a new thing, but aren’t completely up to date on the fandom and don’t mind spoilers? We here at Geeking Out About are happy to help provide you with everything you need in order to stay current with your geeky passions in our new column, “Pop Culture Catch-Up.”

X-Men: First Class
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, and more
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some sexual content including brief partial nudity and language

Two men fight for truth, justice, and genetic equality in X-Men: First Class. © 20th Century Fox/Marvel Studios
Two men fight for truth, justice, and genetic equality in X-Men: First Class. © 20th Century Fox/Marvel Studios

When I first saw the X-Men: Days of Future Past trailer, I expressed a ton of confusion about it, and was told that I needed to see X-Men: First Class to really understand what’s going on. I was a little reluctant at first, but upon remembering that my local library has DVDs you can rent, I immediately requested it.

See, while I saw and loved X-Men when it came out in 2000, the two subsequent sequels left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. However, with the help of some friends who were kind enough to let me know that First Class was a much better movie than X-Men: The Last Stand I dove into this viewing of the DVD with much pleasure. Continue reading “Pop Culture Catch-Up: X-Men: First Class (spoilers)”

Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “The Well” (spoilers!)

And the awesome guest star streak continues with Peter MacNicol. © ABC/Marvel Studios
And the awesome guest star streak continues with Peter MacNicol. © ABC/Marvel Studios

Beware of the spoilers in this commentary on the latest episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, now available to watch on the official website. Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “The Well” (spoilers!)”

Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “The Hub” (spoilers!)

"If a scene could launch a thousand 'ships, then where is your fanfic?" © ABC/Marvel Studios
“If a scene could launch a thousand ‘ships, then where is your fanfic?” © ABC/Marvel Studios

Watch before you read on, for spoilers abound abound in this commentary on the latest episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, now available to watch on the official website. Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “The Hub” (spoilers!)”

Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “F.Z.Z.T.″ (spoilers!)

I love how Simmons' face says what we're all thinking about Ward's machismo. © ABC/Marvel Studios
I love how Simmons’ face says what we’re all thinking about Ward’s machismo. © ABC/Marvel Studios

After a one-week delay, spoilers abound abound in this commentary on the latest episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, now available to watch on the official website. Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “F.Z.Z.T.″ (spoilers!)”

Trailer Watch: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

I loved seeing Captain America interact with the Black Widow in these scenes from the trailer, and it shouldn’t matter to me that in the comics they worked together; their relationship now seems to be just as interesting and still as exciting as those old stories were when they were first published. I may be the only person in my household going to see this movie during the release weekend, and I think I’m totally okay with that.

The more I cover “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, the more I internalize that the new Marvel movie-verse is for folks like me who like their properties and their heroes but don’t want to be bothered with umpteen years of comics continuity or having to catch up with all the comics continuity on a weekly basis. And there should be nothing wrong with that.

Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “Girl in the Flower Dress″ (spoilers!)

There's something beautiful about two Agents drinking whiskey together. © ABC/Marvel Studios
There’s something beautiful about two Agents drinking whiskey together. © ABC/Marvel Studios

Spoilers abound in this commentary on the latest episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, now available to watch on the official website. Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – “Girl in the Flower Dress″ (spoilers!)”