Mr. Universal's Blog

When we last saw Amy Pond in last week's "The Hungry Earth", things weren't going so well for the Doctor's latest companion. Taken hostage by an ancient race of reptilian humanoids called the Silurians, it seems that live dissection is, quite literally, on the table for her and fellow captive. Not to fear, as the Doctor and engineer Nasreen have managed to infiltrate the underground Silurian city looking for them, when they're not being entranced by the magnitude of their subterranean surroundings, that is.

Meanwhile, Rory, Tony, and worried mum are on the surface, charged with the safe keeping of their Silurian hostage, Alaya, who has become morbidly prophetic. Not helping is Tony's vicious wound, inflicted by Alaya's deadly tongue-lashing that's slowly creeping through his increasingly emerald-colored veins. It's a deadly game our heroes are playing this time around, and let's just say that not everyone makes it through alive this time around - including a major character.

If all this sounds like a right mess, that's probably because you skipped last week's equally-exciting opening chapter "The Hungry Earth". I'll wait right here while you catch up (go ahead), and when you think you're ready to proceed, simply keep reading for the rest of the spoiler-ridden of the Doctor Who "Cold Earth" micro-review!

After promising Amy and Rory a trip to Rio de Janeiro (a nice excuse to get Karen Gillam to show off those legs), it seems the good Doctor still can't pilot his own Tardis correctly after nearly a century, as the trio end up in the slightly less lush Welsh countryside of Cwmtaff. Only it's ten years in the future, and sandy beaches are nowhere in sight. But as you'd imagine, strange things are afoot, as graves are missing bodies, and the local mining rig has been coming up with the most peculiar readings as their massive drill digs deeper into the earth's core than ever before. Oh, and it seems that the drilling has angered an ancient human-like race of reptilian warriors that have a major beef against the current rulers of the surface - and they're taking hostages.

And thus begins the second two-parter in the latest series of the Matt Smith-era of Doctor Who. This one ain't for the squeamish, that's for sure, and you'd better keep reading for the rest of the "The Hungry Earth" micro-review!

It's been five years since Amy and Rory last saw the Doctor, and much has happened since. The two are now happily married, as evidenced by a very-pregnant Amy, while Rory has since graduated from mere nurse and now seems to be a doctor, himself. With her bulging midsection and his colonial ponytail in tow, the pair seems resigned to their fate as a growing family right smack dab in the middle of quite possibly the most serene village in all of England. But then - go figure - the familiar noise begins and is followed by the prompt appearance of the Doctor himself. A quick reunion is followed by the nagging feeling that something isn't quite right with this picture-perfect scenario. Then they wake up back in the Tardis, realizing they apparently just had a shared psychic experience masquerading as a dream. Then they wake up again. Oops.

Sounds like this one is going to be, in the Doctor's own words, a tricky one. Keep reading for the rest of the dreamy "Amy's Choice" micro-review!

The conclusion of last week's "Flesh and Stone" episode saw companion Amy Pond getting rather amorous with the universe's most popular time traveler, which may have been a dream come true for most hot-blooded heterosexual males (and some ladies), but this is the Doctor we're talking about. He does practically everything EXCEPT romance, and it isn't long before he plays cupid for his most recent companion and her fiancé, Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill). After hilariously busting up - and through - Rory's bachelor party, he suggests the two take a romantic vacation in quite possibly the most romantic spot in history - Venice, Italy.

Only one problem, as this particular version of the city of love is infested with a problem, of the blood-sucking variety. Beautiful women with big bosoms - and even bigger fangs - in 16th century Venice? Sounds like fun, although be careful, as there be spoilers ahead for the uninitiated. Keep reading to see the rest of "The Vampires of Venice" micro-review!

When we last saw the Doctor and his group of militarized clergymen, they were surrounded by a motley group of perhaps the most deadly creatures in the known universe - the Weeping Angels. Stranded on a dead planet absolutely brimming with half-starved Angels looking for a kill, the Doctor (Matt Smith) and his companion Amy Pond (Karen Gillam) and wayward companion River Song (Alex Kingston) may have finally met their match.

The Doctor, River Song, and more Weeping Angels...oh my! Keep reading for the conclusion of last week's stellar "The Time of Angels" with this week's equally-outstanding (if not better) "Flesh and Stone" micro-review!