Quadruple Z Episode #010 – Review of Doctor Who 4×11 – “Turn Left”

Join Tabz and Emma as they discuss the Doctor Who Season 4, episode 11, “Turn Left.”

TV.com Recap:

Whilst attending a carnival on the Chino-planet of Shan Shen, Donna is cajoled into having her fortune read, where her past is carefully examined. With the Doctor missing, Donna must work with Rose, a traveller from a parallel universe, to prevent darkness encompassing the whole of the universe.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Leave them below or email us at betweenthelinesstudios-at-gmail.com. We’ll read them on an upcoming episode!

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(Photos from Emma-Jane)

Retelling Stories in New Mediums (Supernatural Anime)

I’ve been thinking a lot about retelling modern stories, especially with the debate a couple years ago about rebooting the Buffy movie (without Joss Whedon). Is it possible for good stories to be retold by different people in different settings especially?

Supernatural is getting a its own reboot, but in anime style. The new series combines and retells seasons 1 and 2 in a different way than the original TV series. It sounds promising that the creators can do what they want without fear of a budget. Without worrying about CGI and SFX (which are already amazing on the TV show) they can tell the story again in new ways.

While fans seem torn about Buffy Season 8, it seems that Season 9 might bring back some of the elements they were missing. Switching genres can be hard for fans who only know a story told in one genre (how many times have we heard book fans whine about movies being ‘told wrong’).

I for one, try to be a bit more open minded. I think good stories transcend a particular medium. Great stories can live comfortably in graphic novels, anime, books, TV, movies, heck.. even music. If the rabid fans can open their minds to a new interpretation they can really enjoy what the new story has to offer.

Want to see how it plays out for SPN? Check out this scene (that mirrors a scene in the finale of Season 2)

Order your copy of Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD or Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/p0WOMq!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Supernatural: the Anime Series

One thing I’ve always loved about Supernatural is the focus on family. While Buffy and Angel are about your found family, Supernatural shows the importance of your blood family. Sam, Dean and their father are linked in a bond so tight that all three will stop at nothing to protect their family.

As much as I love found families, I really love exploring family bonds too. My family has usually been very close and, even though we’ve had our own difficulties, in times of crisis I know they’d be there for me. Just like Sam and Dean are for each other.

The TV series has been reimagined as an anime series and it looks like that focus on family hasn’t been lost in the transition.

I’m very excited to see how seasons 1 and 2 of the TV show were taken and created into this anime show.
Order your copy of Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD or Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/p0WOMq!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Review of Star Wars vs. Star Trek by Matt Forbeck

It’s safe to say that I’m an uber geek girl. I cut my teeth on Star Trek and met Riker at my first Star Trek convention when I was like 8 years old. My dad watched the original Star Trek (ST:TOS as it’s referred to by fans) when it first aired, but he also watched the Star Wars movies as they were released. Geekdom, it runs in my blood.

So when I got the chance to read and review Matt Forbeck’s “Star Wars vs. Star Trek” I jumped at it. Long has there been a stalemate in which future franchise reigns supreme. Is it Star Trek with it’s “wagon train to the stars,” optimistic vibe of explorers and tusslers or Star Wars, with it’s small flame of hope against an oppressive regime? Both are near to my heart, so I read the book with gusto.

If you’re looking for a very serious, in-depth look at the cultural, political, social implications of two fictional world mega-franchises — this is not the book for you. And kudos to Matt for not making it another academic discussion. Instead Matt pits similar characters against each other based on their roles in a head to head combat that’s heavily influenced by both stories. My favorite parts are the show downs themselves that are written in semi-fictional prose (want to see Obi Wan and Picard battle? It’s here). Long time fans of both series will enjoy the depth of information and the (sometimes surprising) mashups. At the end of each meeting there’s a decision – who wins? Sometimes clear, sometimes a draw, the characters themselves will determine the winning franchise at the end.

Great fun to read and it often had me giggling like crazy. I highly recommend Star Wars vs. Star Trek to any uber geeky fan who just needs to know who wins.

Buy it now on Amazon:  http://t.co/8ZLyWRF

Supernatural Boys and Epic Road Trips

Season 2 of Supernatural is appearing on Blu-Ray (much to delight of fans) and it’s hard not to think of the show without thinking about road trips. The boys travel the US, mostly in the small backroads, searching for their mother’s killer and, in the end, the truth about their lives.

Car-centered road trips are quintessential Americana, but the idea of setting off to find yourself is esential to the hero’s journey from the earliest forms of literature. It’s easy to see why, journeys expose you to other forms of ideas, cultures, and customs that are different than your own. In the case of the WInchesters it expands their own beliefs on their morals (especially in the Season 2 episode “Bloodlust” when they’re confronted with the concept of “harmless” vampires).

Trips have always expanded my own horizon. I remember as a little girl traveling across country and realizing how different the world was from California (where I lived all my life). Other places were lush, green and covered with trees or vast, expansive deserts without a shade tree in sight.

In the end the important part of the journey is not actually the end. As we’ve learned with the SPN boys there’s always more truth to discover and more monsters to face. To risk the cliche the journey is the most important part and I can’t wait to rewatch Season 2 on Blu-Ray and enjoy the trip all over again.

Order your copy of Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray here today: http://bit.ly/k3Lbpz!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray.

Celebrating Supernatural S2 on Blu-ray: Monster Hunting

I’m super excited that Supernatural Season 2 is coming out on Blu-ray. It’s actually the first season of the show I watched and so it holds a special place in my heart. The special features look great (like the Devil’s Roadmap that Eric talks about in the YouTube clip above). Having just completed a rewatch through all the seasons of Supernatural (in a week I think), I jumped at the chance to write about the new Blu-ray release.

The nostalgic thing for Supernatural fans going back and rewatching Season 2 is that the episodes are more monster hunt focused rather than the big huge season arcs that, while fun, can be a bit draining. One of my favorite parts of Season 2 is the variety of monsters the boys must hunt. From vampires to killer clowns (okay, it really was a rakshasa), the season has some traditional baddies and some interesting second-stringers.

One of my favorite monsters that the brothers hunted was “The Trickster” (aka Loki), who appears in the episode “Tall Tales.” Subsequent episodes with the Trickster are always funny, kind of heart-breaking and just plain great television. Other than killing his victims, it seems appropriate that he makes jerks pay for their behavior.

Of course, watching the Winchesters fight monsters every day makes you wonder how you’d handle a situation with a monster yourself. Would you take up arms, illegally dig up graves, salt and torch bones? I don’t think I could. Mostly my strategy would be run away and find someone who could. Of course, running straight for the Winchester boys wouldn’t be a bad thing.. would it? I’ll leave the slaying to the professionals.

Order your copy of Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray here today: http://bit.ly/k3Lbpz!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray.

Smallville: What Superhuman Power Would You Choose?

When you get a bunch of comic book enthusiasts together eventually the discussion must go to the question: which superpower would you want if you could only get one? I think it’s one of those safe topics because there’s really no right answer and you can’t really harm your friendship while discussing the relative merits of invisibility vs frost-touch. With the series finale of Smallville over, I’ve been thinking about the same question. Which of Clark Kent’s Superman abilities would you want?

Of course, there’s super strength and super speed, which Clark discovers early on in Season 1. But invulnerability, super healing, X-ray vision, heat vision, super-hearing, super-breath, and flight. But which would you choose out of the set. Especially, given Smallvile’s take on Superman, all of those abilities grow over time and with practice. Clark’s flight ability especially took the ten seasons to really develop and be used.

With all of these powers on the table it’s hard to know which one to take. While some are easy to give up (X-ray vision, do I really need that every day?) others seem to be linked together (invulnerability and super-healing). Do you need invulnerability to travel at super speed or flight? What if you run into something by accident?

I think if I were able to pick one of Clark’s super powers it’d be super healing. Mostly because it would cut down on a lot of pain. I’m pretty annoyed with pain in general so healing quickly would be a nice super power to have. So what power would you take (if you could)? And why?

Rewatch the entire series of Smallville and follow Clark’s superpowers grow from the Pilot when he discovers his super speed by running through the cornfield until Season 10 where he and Lois hover while dancing.


The ‘Smallville: The Complete Series’ DVD lets you experience the exciting journey Clark Kent embarks upon to realize his destiny! With over 24 hours of special features and 2 hours of never before seen footage, the complete series on DVD is the ultimate resource for the Smallville fan! http://amzn.to/mkjtv4

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Smallville.

Love and Marriage on Smallville

I expected, when I first watched Smallville, to only root for Lois Lane and Superman, but I admit that the more interesting relationship for me was between Chloe Sullivan and Clark Kent. Despite her non-canon-ness she turned to be more deep and fascinating. The friendship and unrequited love (and finally requited love and then friendship) made for interesting television. In the end Chloe became more than a misfit with a puppy crush, she became a strong, empathetic and selfless character.

The relationship is not all roses, but it’s resolved like good, strong relationships are. In the season 3 episode “Whisper” Clark and Chloe resolve their relationship after Clark discovers that Chloe has been helping Lionel Luthor uncover information about him in exchange for a job at the Daily Planet.

With the complete Smallville series in one collection it will be easy to rewatch their relationship from episode 1. I look forward to watching unfold all over again.

With the ‘Smallville: The Complete Series’ DVD, fans will be able to relive all of Clark Kent’s romantic encounters, from start to finish! With an Exclusive Daily Planet newspaper written by DC Comics that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show, the Smallville Complete Series is a must-have for all Smallville fans! http://amzn.to/mkjtv4

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for the Smallville DVD release.

Smallville: What’s Your Favorite Rivalry?

When I first heard about Smallville, back before the first season ever aired I was really intrigued with the idea of exploring the infamous Superman/Lex Luthor rivalry. After all, it’s one of the best super-hero and super-villain pairings ever.

To date, I still think it’s one of the best explored relationship/rivalry on the Smallvile series. First, because Michael Rosenbaum, plays Lex to a tee. Second, because the writers didn’t make Lex a straight up evil villain from season 1. Lex Luthor is allowed to play the fine line between good and evil. Even though you ultimately know he’ll chose evil, the audience gets to see what choices led him to that path. Exactly what you’d want to see in an origins series like Smallville.

Finally, what really makes the tension between Clark and Lex wonderful is their beginning friendship that disintegrates into becoming each other’s mortal enemy. While not a unique story-telling method, it keeps the relationship between those two characters fresh and all the more painful.

Relive the epic battles and the iconic rivalries with the “Smallville: The Complete Series’ DVD!” Includes 62 discs, never before seen production art and behind the scenes photos from the set!

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for the Smallville DVD release.

Music is the Soundtrack of My Life

I learn so much about my life from music. Doesn’t matter the genre or even how “good” the song is, there are certain songs that are touch points to important moments in my life. So many songs have had a strange connection to motivating and inspiring me. Looking through my iPod or iTunes is almost like flipping through a scrapbook. There’s “Irish Hymn” by Kevin Max, a rallying cry for a friend of mine who was suffering depression. The lyrics, “This one’s for all you people, who hit the rock bottom but climbed it back up again,” gave her hope that my reassurances could not.

Then there’s “Wordplay” by Jason Mraz, a song that always rallies me to enjoy writing and remember what the real reason for writing is — the wordplay. In the song Jason sings, “are you prepared to take a dive into the deep end of my head?” Every time I say, “yes.. yes I am.”

Because of this it’s easy to see how the amazing songs on the Pretty Little Liars soundtrack can be part of the soundtrack of not only the characters on the TV show, but viewers as well. Of course, the immediate connection is the theme song, which brings back the show almost instantly.

For example Fay Wolf’s cover of The Outfield’s “Your Love” is the song played in the season’s 14th episode, “Careful What U Wish 4,” when Sean (Chuck Hittinger) breaks up with Hanna (Ashley Benson) at the dance for dancing with Lucas (Brendan Robinson). With lyrics like the haunting line, “I just wanna use your love tonight, I don’t wanna lose your love tonight.” it’s easy to see why this song can match perfectly the emotions of the scene and the experience of the viewers. (I should also point out that the cover by Fay Wolf is only available on the Pretty Little Liars sountrack and very popular). You can watch this video of Fay talking about the song:

Catch Pretty Little Liars Mondays 8/7c on ABC Family, and visit iTunes to preview songs and pick up a copy of the album here: http://bit.ly/e2S527.

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote the Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack.