Cardiff Comic Con and Meeting Alex Vlahos

Today I went with my friend Molly to Cardiff Comic Con. Truth be told I was only going because of Alex Vlahos and wasn't holding out much hope for the actual convention. However, the convention itself was absolutely incredible and so much fun. There were loads of stalls selling postcards, badges, posters, wrist bands, you name it they sold it with Doctor Who to The Hunger Games to Game of Thrones to The Avengers to Harry Potter and so much more. My self and Molly spent ridiculous amounts of money but it was totally worth it.

We queued to get Alex Vlahos' autograph and we had a small conversation: I was so shocked by how nice he is and was a little bit speechless for a while so thank God for Molly, however, after I got some courage I spoke to him and gave him a letter with some sweets in it, he got quite excited about the sweets, haha.

We shopped around for a while more until we literally had about £1 between us and queued to get our photos with Alex, it was pretty quick and so I am really glad we queued up to meet him before so at least we got a conversation with him. He was so lovely and funny and I honestly cant believe how brilliant he is. So I'm going to stop now before I gush too much but overall I had an amazing day and my room is looking even more fandomy than before, which I didn't even think was possible, but there we go.

*Sadly I am going back to school tomorrow and that means summer is obviously over and so I will be posting less frequently.*

The twelfth Doctor is...

Well its not Alex Vlahos like I wanted but its Peter Capaldi. 

I can't say I am thrilled if I'm being completely honest. Whilst I am not a massive fan of the 'ship whouffle' (Clara and Eleven) but I just cant help but feel that the relationship between them will be slightly awkward, at least in the first episodes. However, he could end up having a relationship like Donna and 10 which would be awesome because the Doctor needs a new best friend. I find it slightly odd that he has already been a pretty significant character in the Fire Of Pompeii in series 4, I wonder if they will address this or just sweep over it, I'm not sure. I will keep my judgement until I have seen him in action but he's definitely not who I would have chosen but who knows he could end up being my favourite Doctor yet.

When life gives you lemons

Obviously the most imminent thing that I am looking forward to is my trip to London and of course seeing Colin Morgan (*internally screaming*). Honestly I cant believe that this has come around so quickly, I remember when it was like 200days until when we first booked the tickets but nope its only 4 days until London and 5 days until the Tempest(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

Then on September 1st I am meeting Alex Vlahos at Cardiff Comic Con! I am so excited because I have paid to have a photo with him so I know 100% that I will be meeting him! Its great because he is my favourite Merlin knight.

Then two days after that I am starting sixth form (well, if I get the results I need from my GCSEs). I am looking forward to sixth form more than any other year because I finally get to meet new people and hopefully make new friends because the schools in the area combine their sixth forms to let you have more range of subjects. Also I am looking forward to doing subjects that I like and not doing them because I am forced to (Maths, science, I'm looking at you). 

Then possibly the most exciting thing possible that is happening this year... Florida in October! Honestly, I don't think I have been more excited for a holiday ever. When we booked this holiday I think we had about 412 days until or something like that and I thought it would never come around, but it is and I couldn't be more excited. I am also looking forward to buying a Mr Potato Head, Sully and Mike toys and Despicable Me Minion along with many other things I am sure. Despite my age I'll never grow up.

After Florida, it doesn't end there, oh no, I am then going to a Doctor Who convention on the 23rd of November with my friend Molly in London. It will be the last Doctor Who convention that will have Matt Smith as the current Doctor and hopefully we will get to see him if not meet him and all of the older Doctors as well! Very exciting stuff!

I have also decided that whilst I am on summer I will continue to post whenever I want but when school starts back I will probably only post once a week, probably on a sunday, just so you know.

My kind of decoration

My bookcase is my pride and joy. I know it sounds ridiculous but honestly it is my favourite part of my room, so in saying that I like to spend a lot of money to make it look awesome. Apart from obviously housing my books it also showcases a couple of my favourite action figures.

So starting with those from Harry Potter

Harry Potter from the first year and I believe that this figure is limited edition because of the cobwebbed cloak, however, that's just a guess. 

We have a broomstick, a TimeTurner and Hedwig in his cage, which if you would like to see the two latter items in more detail, click HERE

This is Professor Quirrel and if you turn his turban around it has the face of Voldemort on it which is a pretty cool feature.

Then we have probably my favourite trio of figures. Harry Potter, Fred and George Weasley in their Gryffindor Quidditch uniforms and a broomstick.

Then we have a Goblin from Gringotts Wizard bank and a cart full of 'jewels'. 

And a small Harry Potter Lego figure of him by a potions 'classroom'.

 Next up is Toy Story

Buzz Lightyear and Woody and Buzz again

These are actually on my DVD bookcase but I thought I'd show them anyway. They are Woody and Buzz in cars.

Next is random stuff

Batman, Spiderman, a small Cyberman and a broomstick, because I like to represent the fact that I am multi-fandoms.

Stitch, Rex from Toy Story and a jar of sweets in a Honeydukes jar from the Studio Tour.

Dalek and Cyberman from the Doctor Who experience.

Again these are on my DVD bookcase but oh well, it still counts. Woody and a PygmyPuff called Arnold obviously from the Harry Potter studio tour.

Then we have the top of my bookcase

Scooby Doo, a killer whale from Sea World that is made of rubber and is pretty heavy actually, a Mickey Mouse trophy saying Best Daughter because obviously I am, a large Buzz Lightyear.

A Rex from Toy Story, Papa Smurf, Simba from the Musical The Lion King, Stinky Pete, Eeyore, a Radley box with batteries in it and china dove birds and finally my Elder wand.

Phew, so that's it!

Top 5 Doctor Who Monsters/Creatures

Over the past 50 years, Doctor Who has seen some pretty magnificent (and some not so great) creatures. With the help of my new Doctor Who Encyclopedia I am going to look through my top five favourite monsters from the new era of Who (2005 onwards).


By the way if you are a fan of Doctor Who, I'd definitely recommend you getting this book, it has literally everything that you need to know about the new era of Who. However, little tip, try not to get it from shops because it is so much cheaper to get it online! Instead of paying 25 pounds I paid 12.70 pounds including P&P.

My ultimate favourite monster is possibly the scariest creature in Who history. These are of course The Weeping Angels, first appearing in the episode Blink with Sally Sparrow. They can only move when you are not watching them: which in my opinion makes them so much more scary than something that the Doctor can defeat with force, because you simply cannot defeat it, at least not simply. To destroy them you have to get them to look at each other (like the Doctor did in Blink) that way something is always looking at them and they turn to stone.




My second favourite are the Daleks because they have been in Doctor Who history for the entire 50 years: they are possibly the Doctors greatest enemy.  They have changed throughout the years and have developed new traits, for example, they can fly/hover now whereas in the older series of Who they could not. The Daleks are possibly the most famous of monsters and the first thing that most people (other than the TARDIS and the Doctor himself) relate to Doctor Who.





Next up are the Cybermen. They appeared in series 4 in 1966 and most recently in Nightmare in Silver which in my opinion was an extremely weak storyline (but thats a story for another day). All of their humanity is taken away from them and their key aim is to upgrade everyone whom they seem weak.









Next is Vashta Nerada, their first and last appearance was in series 4 (of the new era). I find them extremely scary because you cant escape them, the follow you around and lurk in the shadows and feast on your soul. I also find the episodes Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead so strange, they kind of trip your brain out a little bit.

The last on my list are (and I'm going to count these together) are Madame Vastra and Strax who are from the Silurian and Sontaran race, they along with Jenny, are great friends to the Doctor and help him out a lot in The Snowmen Christmas episode and in series 7: they are a pretty badass trio.

Doctor Who Experience

Today my Dad took me to the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay; I'd been wanting to go for absolutely ages and it certainly didn't disappoint! The interactive part just before you go into the museum section of the Experience was pretty good. It's definitely got some of its ideas from America and their type of attractions but for the younger children I am pretty sure that this part of the experience would be their favourite. I even got to fly the TARDIS which I'm not sure many people could say!

After the interactive part of the tour you go into the museum part where they have all sorts of amazing WHO related props, outfits and models. I've compiled some of the photos I took into small collages because other wise this post would go on forever!

"Don't Blink" 

The Weeping Angels

Cybermen

"EXTERMINATE" 

Daleks

The First to the Tenth Doctors outfits

Various monsters/creatures

The Eleventh Doctor and the various TARDIS'

A Doctor is nothing without his trusty companions

I of course couldn't go to a Doctor Who exhibition without making some purchases and so I brought a small Dalek to put on my bookshelf (well, after I've stopped being a five-year-old and playing with it), a small Cyberman (which was only a £1 in one of those little machine things), a fridge magnet for my dad and a TARDIS poster.

If you are ever in the area and you are a Doctor Who fan, I strongly recommend you take a visit, its well worth it!

Who-Ology book review

First of all: if you are any sort of Doctor Who fan then buy this immediately. This book is full to the brim with facts, figures and funny quips from all 50 years of Who. For someone who is a fan of the show but doesn't have access to the older Doctor Who episodes, this book enables you to get closer to the past regenerations and learn just as much as if you were to watch the episodes.

 I'm going to let it speak for itself and show you a few pictures from the book.

It goes through all eleven Doctors and gives you general facts about each man. Including what they did before Who, date of birth, first and last regular episode of Who, etc.

This was interesting because it shows you exactly who is in his family and for a man who thinks he's alone he certainly has a decent size family. 

This is my favourite page in the book: it shows you all of the first and last words from the Doctor, I personally think that these two sentences from each magnificent Doctor captures their personality and the way the captured and made their Doctor different from the others extremely well.

So there are a few pictures of pages from the book; but so as not to spoil it completely for you, I will give you the advice to go out and get it straight away. It also would make a pretty amazing present for any Who fan: past or present.

My week in pictures

I'm sorry but I have serious writers block because I think my brain is going into meltdown with the amount of exams and revision I have done. Still, only four more to go and its my birthday this week as well!

1. I made some cakes for my Nan's birthday. (Vanilla: her favourite)

2. I found my name! There is something very satisfying about drinking some Diet Coke with your name on it.

3. Cakes after being iced and decorated. They went down a treat!

4. Revision will be the death of me

5. My new favourite app at the moment: Sims Freeplay. I wouldn't recommend it if you have exams like myself because you will get addicted and revision will be put behind you.

6. Nothing makes me happier than new books, I cant wait to get my teeth into these

7. I have started re-watching Merlin again and am already on series 4 (I only started last Monday, woops)

8+9. I decorated my hamsters cages with some stickers. They are very pleased I'm sure. The blue one is Merlin and Arthur's cage but I cant seem to find Merlin stickers anywhere so they had to settle for Doctor Who and Fred's cage is called the Burrow (she shared it with my other little hamster George) and so she gets Harry Potter stickers. 

So as you can see I am doing everything possible to procrastinate revision but on the 17th they will all be over 10 down 4 to go. So not long until my super duper long summer holiday! 

Who I want as the twelfth Doctor

As I'm sure you have heard by now that Matt Smith is leaving his role as the loveable Doctor in hit BBC series Doctor Who. Whilst his exit from the show is causing an emotional breakdown in the fandom, people are now speculating about who will fill his awfully large size 10 shoes.

My main contender and favourite is Alex Vlahos 

He made it onto the scene by playing Mordred in Merlin and since has been in several other small series or side projects. He is set to be in a production of Macbeth and he has also recorded new episodes of The Confessions of Dorian Gray, the popular BBC radio production, as well as an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. 

However, I think seeing as he lives in Wales (where a lot of the series is filmed) and is a fantastic actor who is still relatively unknown as Smith was at the time of his casting I believe that Vlahos would make an excellent new Doctor: plus he just kind of has that Doctor-ish look about him doesn't he?

One thing for certain though I definitely do not want a woman to be the next Doctor; I know all the feminists want this to happen but honestly I think it would ruin the whole dynamic of the show. Also seeing as Jenna-Louis Coleman is staying on as the companion to have a woman be the Doctor their relationship just wouldn't be the same. Another possibility is a black Doctor; whilst colour doesn't matter to me, I don't see why there has to be a black Doctor and why there is so much pressure on the casting agents for the BBC. At the end of the day they will pick someone with amazing talent regardless of their colour. I think that the BBC should really think about casting someone relatively unknown like Vlahos so we are not tied down to other personalities or prejudgement before we even see his/(possibly her's) first episode. Either way I physically cannot wait until that announcement is made about who will be the next in a long chain of incredible Doctors all popular for their different personalities. Maybe this is what the show needs: a new Doctor to breathe a new ray of light on the show.

My opinion on Doctor Who

*This article is inspired because of this article here* whilst I cant honestly say I wholeheartedly agree with the article. There are parts that I do sadly agree with; I say this because I love Doctor Who I honestly do, however, when I say that I am talking more so about the earlier series (1-4). I watch it every week that it is on and I will be buying the series when it comes on out on Itunes. That being said, I cant honestly say that I am 100% happy with the direction that Doctor Who has taken in the past few years. I want to clear one thing up, I don't think that Doctor Who is sexist just because the companions follow the Doctor around. Isn't that the whole point of the companion role? The Doctor is supposed to be a hero and I don't see what is wrong with that.

My biggest problem with Matt Smith's Doctor is that he doesn't seem to have any emotion and in fact the reason why the finale of the seventh series was so good was because it showed the Doctor showing emotion like the good old days of Nine and Ten. He connected with the audience which I don't think he has done all series and to be perfectly honest I haven't liked this series very much. Its left me feeling bored and deflated whereas older episodes left me feeling exhilarated and as if I had been travelling at 100 mph. I don't believe that it is Matt Smith's fault I think its more so the scripts fault.

The best thing about the old companions (Rose, Martha and Donna) is that they had their moments of weakness but they all aided to help save the world on numerous occasions. Amy and Clara haven't had this kind of moment of saving the world but only moments of weakness and being the damsel in distress or in Clara's defence she obviously helped to save the Doctor but that's about as far as her heroic efforts go. Doctor Who used to be about the saving the universe with the help of his friends from inside his little blue box. His life definitely wasn't at the heart of every single episode in a series.

Another thing I am not keen on is River Song. Her storyline into the Doctors life was ridiculously and unnecessarily complicated. I dislike her character a lot and I hate that she is married to the Doctor; they don't show nearly as much chemistry as Ten did with Rose for example and if the Doctor is supposed to be married to her then I would have expected fireworks. I hate that River can fly the TARDIS, because I'm sorry but that's the Doctors job. I just generally don't like her and think she is an annoying character who thinks that she is better than the Doctor.

The kids in this series were also pretty shocking. They were completely and utterly stereotypical which made them one dimensional and boring. You didn't feel connected to them at any point during the 'Nightmare in Silver' episode and just thought that they were pointless and with hundreds of thousands of children all over the world who would kill to be in an episode of Doctor who it makes me question why they chose these two children above anyone else.

I watch Doctor Who more so out of routine but I do still get excited about episodes only to get disappointed 45 minutes later. I feel that Moffat sometimes writes some cracking episodes but then the amount of not so great episodes completely outnumber that. Its upsetting to see that Doctor Who has gone downhill because it really has. Take my dad for example, he has watched Doctor Who since he was about 5 years old and has been an avid fan ending after series 5. He now doesn't have the time of day for it because he doesn't like the writing and the monsters and boring and repetitive and I must say I agree with him.

The episodes are as I say repetitive and too confusing, Doctor Who is supposed to be a children's programme and to be honest I'm sure that grown adults find it confusing and hard to follow. I just miss the old fun Doctor Who where the companion was just as important as the Doctor and who was just as badass and fearless as him. I loved when The Doctor showed emotion and learned from the companions, rather than now when he is the only main character and the companion is just someone he takes along for a ride. (Also why do none of the new companions actually travel with the Doctor all the time? (Like Rose and Donna and Martha did).

The recent series has seen the Doctor on the hunt to try and save his real name from ever being identified, this story had the ability to be amazing: So far it hasn't been. I understand that it has all been in the run up for the fiftieth but come on! add some excitement! Doctor Who isn't about him, its about saving the planet and those far beyond our planet!

I think that Moffat should just stick to writing Sherlock because he does a stellar job doing that but I wish he had left Doctor Who alone. I feel as if this is a really negative review and I am sorry for that but I wouldn't for a moment make you think that I don't love Doctor Who because I certainly do although I do feel as if its going through a rough patch. But I will continue to watch because its Doctor Who and its bound to get better again sometime soon I just hope I don't have to wait 2000 years like Rory did.

What's on my birthday list?

Over the course of the last month or so I have compiled a list of items that I really want for my birthday. I of course, don't expect to get all of this but if I don't I shall buy it with my own money.

Merlin: the Complete Guide

I love books like this that are companions to the show as I feel that it gets you to know the characters better. Probably going to buy this myself when I get my birthday money because its weird pricing on Amazon and the cheapest is on Random House for some reason, so yep, I am excited to get my paws on this.
*edit* I just purchased this as I simply couldn't wait any longer!

Doctor Who: Who-ology

It is said that this is a must have for fans of the show: I am a fan of the show therefore I must have it. Again as I have said before love books like this and I think that will be be really cool to read more about the older generations of the Doctors and I know for sure that my dad will be borrowing this off me!

The Sims 3: University Life (PC DVD)

Yes, I know, I'm a child but I love the Sims and once I start playing I get completely hooked. I really enjoyed this expansion pack in Sims 2 and so I'm hoping its just as good for the Sims 3.

Downton Abbey: A Journey to the Highlands (Christmas Special 2012) [DVD]

This is something I must insist I get and is top of my list. I have waited this long so that the price can come down, but I simply cant wait any longer. I need to get my fix of Downton Abbey!

Doctor Who Tardis Door Poster 53x158cm

My room is completely covered with posters and as of yet I don't have any Doctor Who posters, so what's a better start than to have the TARDIS on my door?

Merlin Top Trumps

Top Trumps is my game, I am great at it. I always start bad then end up winning so I think that these will definitely be welcomed into my collection of top trumps. I also love playing them on holiday with my mum and dad so this will be a lot of fun on the plane. 

THE ADVENTURES OF MERLIN ACTION FIGURES - SET OF FOUR

These are ridiculously overpriced for what they are, I am perfectly aware of this. I am also aware of the fact that they are toys and I'm going to be sixteen, however, I want them to join my Harry Potter figures on my bookshelf.

And that's about it! As you can see I really am never going to grow up and this list is only confirming this, am I bothered? Not really. I can't wait for my birthday and I hope I get something on this list from any of my family or whoever else gets me a present. :-)

Favourite actors, actresses, films, TV shows and books.

Favourite actors: 

• Daniel Radcliffe

He brought to life my all time favourite fictional character and therefore he will always be a very special part in my heart. I also admire that although Harry Potter is over, he has continued to work and branch away from the franchise but still completely smashing everything that he does. 

• Colin Morgan

The way that he puts so much emotion into every single thing that he does is incredible. I also really love his personality and I think he is just genuinely a nice guy. I don't think I could say enough good things about Colin. I would give anything to meet him face to face.

Favourite actresses:

• Dame Maggie Smith

I simply cannot put into words how much I love Maggie Smith; not only is she Professor McGonagall another of my favourite literacy characters but her part as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey is brilliant, she takes such a brilliant part in the show and completely steals the lime light from every other character in the shot. I also seriously admire her so much, the fact that she carried on filming the Harry Potter films despite the fact that she had breast cancer, is something you really must tip your hat off to.

• Jennifer Lawrence

Seriously though when have you ever seen a bad film that Jennifer Lawrence has been in? Never.

• Emma Watson

She completely is Hermione Granger and she flies the flag high for all of the nerds. I love how much she loves acting and not only was she brilliant in Perks but it just shows that actually, yes, she can be a diverse and brilliant actress, who is such an incredible role model for young girls.

Favourite books:

(I am excluding Harry Potter from this one, but if you want to read why it is my favourite of all time click here)

• The Hunger Games (series)

Its a crazy popular book for a reason: It has some truly brilliant writing and anything that has such a big franchise as The Hunger Games; deserves to be credited. This series is the type where I can see myself re-reading them for years and years to come. 

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Totally cliché of me I know: However, this book seriously captures the crappy and the good parts of being a teenager and shows the vulnerable experiences of 'teenhood' that we find so hard to describe brilliantly.

• The Woman in Black

How a book can scare me so very much I will never know however, this book captures your heart in your mouth so brilliantly that you can literally envision the Woman In Black creeping up behind you. (argh, it still sends shivers down my spine) Definitely don't read before bed!

• Here Come the Girls

A completely harmless, obvious but such a feel good book that whenever I am cheesed off  is one of the first books I pick up off my shelf. If you have been on a cruise before then you will love this book as it is all described so well you can just imagine yourself on the boat with the girls in the story.

Favourite films:

(again excluding Harry Potter)

• Any and all Disney films

I couldn't name all of my favourites because to be honest I just love them all and so if you put a Disney movie on I will quite happily sit there and watch it. Although my absolute favourites include Tangled, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and Monsters INC.

• Just Go With It

Yes, its a chick flick and obviously the two main characters fall in love at the end; but with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in it then you really cant go wrong. It's light hearted and funny and is just a generally good film to watch with anyone.

• The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror

Another Disney film, but an old one. In fact the ride at Disney is based on this film and I do believe that they used the very same ride as a set (although I could be making that up, I'm not too sure). Anyway, its not scary at all (it is a Disney film after all) but its a film I never tire of watching, my only problem is that I cant find it on DVD anywhere! *sad face*

Although I have only listed three, I am a major movie junkie and will watch probably anything that you sit me down in front of, just hand me some food and I'm set!

Favourite TV shows:

• Merlin

Possibly and this is a very bold statement but I think Merlin could be my favourite TV show of all time *gasp*. It will come as no surprise to you all of course, but I just simply love it and my love for the characters, plot, actors and the clear affection between the cast both on and off screen is getting slightly ridiculous. (read more about why I like it here in a five series review)

• Downton Abbey

I simply cannot stress to you how much I love Downton, its one of those shows that should be boring but is so exciting and just amazing that you simply cannot stop watching. I am craving series four extremely badly right now after the cliffhanger on the Christmas episode (which I reviewed here). It is a program for everyone and is only going from strength to strength.

• Doctor Who

More so the older ones from series one to about series 5, but I am still enjoying the show a lot despite some dodgier ones in the most recent series'. I don't really need to go too much into detail because I'm pretty sure every human in the world has at least seen one episode of it!

• Call the Midwife

Again, very much the same as with Downton but I really just cant seem to get enough of this kind of show. It really warms my heart and again here is review I have done of the show previously.

So thats it for now, but I will be doing another post shortly on more things that are my favourites (link to follow).