shawThings.net : a collection of shaw things ...

The daleks are back, but what on Earth are they up to? Perhaps more significantly, why can't Amy remember who they are? A mysterious and occasionally hilarious episode that sees the daleks regenerate yet again into something more dangerous.

This is the first "normal" episode of the new series, ie. not a regeneration episode or a special. And I think we are starting to see the more thoughtful approach of Steven Moffat. As with The Eleventh Hour it's something hiding in the shadows (in this case the beast below) and the Doctor's ability to notice things and understand what's going on while Amy sees nothing. What follows is a gripping episode with lots of suspense, just a few snippets of humour and a difficult decision for the Doctor.

After a long wait - let's face it, just four episodes in 2009 was insufficient - the Doctor is back. A new theme/intro, a new logo, a new producer, a new face, a new companion, a new TARDIS, even a new sonic screwdriver, and yet, so many references to the past. This blend of old and new looks very, very promising. For a first episode, this is up there with the best. Better than Eccleston's or Tennant's. Bring it on, I say.

When we moved into the area about 10 years ago, we started ordering take-away from the local Thai restaurant. Jamie would order and I would go and pick up. The first time we did this, I picked up the order in Jamie's name. Since then the staff have addressed me as Jamie.

Spotted this while driving and just had to follow until I could get a snap. You've got to admire the ingenuity. It appears to work too.

This should have been a straight-forward match and it basically was. We were at home against a team that couldn't qualify and needed only a draw. A scrappy match, but the A-League players got the job done. 1-0 and we're through to the Asian Cup finals in 2011. We'll need to improve for the World Cup and the Asian Cup though.

Is it possible to mourn the ending of a TV series? I've just finished watching Series IV of Battlestar Galactica on DVD and it was a little sad to finally come to the end of a great story.

More space opera from Russell Davies as his reign comes to an end and David Tennant finishes his time as The Doctor. But for all that, it was a pretty solid episode. A little over the top, but not as much as some other season endings. Many loose ends were tied up and David Tennant given ample opportunity to farewell his role in style.

The first half of two-part finale to Season IV, David Tennant as the 10^th Doctor and Russell Davies as Producer. The episode begins with the resurrection of the Master (can he ever be killed?) and ends with the Master taking over humanity. But this is portrayed as only a small thing in comparison to an underlying event - the return of the Time Lords!

A new year and time to look back on the old one. (Last year's review.)