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BBC STUDIOS BRINGS VIRTUAL REALITY, SIGNINGS, FAN ART COMPETITION REVEAL, AND EXCLUSIVE DOCTOR WHO MERCHANDISE FROM BBC SHOP TO BBC AMERICA’S SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON BOOTH


Attendees traveling through space and time to San Diego Comic-Con can visit BBC AMERICA’s booth (#4129) to discover an immersive virtual reality experience, in-booth signings, the reveal of the winning artwork from theDoctor Who Fan Art Competition, and exclusive Doctor Who apparel, figures, and more from BBC Shop. The Doctor Who team is currently in production on their next season coming to BBC AMERICA.

Doctor Who: The Edge of Time VR Experience
You don’t have to be part of the TARDIS team to help the Doctor save the universe! New and returning fans visiting the BBC AMERICA booth will be among the first stateside to demo the upcoming virtual reality (VR) game Doctor Who: The Edge of Time, releasing in September 2019.

A feature-length VR experience, the game will transport fans into a globally-beloved world of monsters and aliens, mystery and wonder, letting them embark on a brand-new and fully-interactive adventure, inspired by the show’s 55-year history and starring the Doctor’s current incarnation, played by Jodie Whittaker.

Doctor Who: The Edge Of Time will launch on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, Oculus, HTC Vive, and Vive Cosmos in September. Doctor Who: The Edge of Time is a Maze Theory production for BBC Studios.

For more on the game, visit here

Signings
The BBC AMERICA booth will host signings with artist Kelly Yates and author Richard Dinnick:
  • Kelly Yates will be at the BBC AMERICA booth on Thursday, July 18 and Saturday July 20 from 2:00pm-3:00pm. Yates, an illustrator best known for his work on Doctor Who comics for both Titan and IDW, inspired the exclusive Kawaii Collection available through the BBC Shop. In addition, he writes and illustrates the creator-owned books Amber Atoms and MonstHer.
  • Richard Dinnick will be at the BBC AMERICA booth on Friday, July 19 and Sunday, July 21 from 2:00pm-3:00pm. Dinnick, author of Doctor Who: Myths and Legends and contributing author of the Doctor Who: The Missy Chronicles anthology, is a scripted writer for BBC, ITV, Disney XD and Amazon Prime. He has also written books and comics for Doctor Who and Lost in Space for IDW, BBC, Titan, and Legendary Entertainment, across all thirteen Doctors. He is currently working on his new TV show, Surface Tension and Rob (a retelling of Robin Hood) for Legendary.

Exclusive Merchandise
BBC Shop is bringing a slew of exclusive and first-to-market Doctor Who merchandise to San Diego Comic-Con:

Comic-Con Exclusives
  • Funko POP! Figurine: Pting (Retail: $15.00)
  • 3” Thirteenth Doctor TITAN Figurine (Retail: $10.00)
  • 3” Thirteenth Doctor & Materializing TARDIS Kawaii Figurine (Retail: $20.00)
  • Team TARDIS Hoodie (Retail: $50.00)
  • Thirteenth Doctor and TARDIS Kawaii T-Shirt (Retail: $25.00)
  • TARDIS Rainbow Galaxy T-Shirt (Retail: $25.00)
  • Team TARDIS Kawaii Mug (Retail: $15.00)
  • Blue TARDIS Tumbler (Retail: $20.00)
  • Rainbow Fleece Pullover (Retail: $45.00) – BBC Shop exclusive
  • POLICE BOX Pants (Retail: $45.00) – BBC Shop exclusive

First-to-Market
  • Fan Art T-Shirt: Winner Design (Retail: $25.00)
  • Fan Art T-Shirt: Runner-Up Design 1 (Retail: $25.00)
  • Fan Art T-Shirt: Runner-Up Design 2 (Retail: $25.00)
  • Fan Art T-Shirt: Runner-Up Design 3 (Retail: $25.00)
  • Fan Art T-Shirt: Runner-Up Design 4 (Retail: $25.00)
  • Noodle Bowl with Chopsticks (Retail: $10.00)
  • Thirteenth Doctor and TARDIS Enamel Pin Set (Retail: $15.00)
  • Pting Enamel Pin (Retail: $5.00)
  • TARDIS and Dalek Steampunk Tattoos (Retail: $5.00)
  • Thirteenth Doctor Costume Mini Backpack (Retail: $65.00)
  • Thirteenth Doctor Costume Wallet (Retail: $35.00)

For images of SDCC 2019 exclusive product, click here.

Fan Art Contest
Check out @BritiansBest and @doctorwhoshop for timing and countdown information, as well as reveals of the winning artwork. And then visit the BBC AMERICA booth daily to purchase exclusive shirts featuring the winning designs. 
  • Thursday, July 18: Runners up announced
  • Friday, July 19: Runners up announced
  • Saturday, July 20: Grand prize winner

Join the Family!
At the BBC AMERICA booth, scan your badge, and receive an exclusive Doctor Who button plus enter for your chance to win a daily giveaway. Come back each day to collect all five pins.
  
ABOUT BBC STUDIOS
BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programs are internationally recognized across a broad range of genres and specialties. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including seven production bases in the UK and production bases and partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which makes over 2,500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector. 
In the Americas, BBC Studios’ operates two production units – one in Los Angeles, responsible for ratings juggernaut and Emmy®-nominated Dancing with the Stars and multi-award-winning Life Below Zero, and the other in Brazil, where local productions Dancing Brasil and Bake Off Brasil have become breakout hits. The company manages joint venture relationships with AMC Networks for flagship channel BBC AMERICA (U.S.) – home of original series Killing Eve and global brands Dynasties, Doctor Who, and Top Gear – and with ITV for SVoD service BritBox (U.S./Canada), as well as strategic partnerships in Canada with Blue Ant Media for BBC Earth Channel and Corus for BBC Canada. The company also boasts a franchise management business and a robust linear and digital content sales and co-productions operation.

Doctor Who "Twice Upon a Time" Recap


The First Doctor is at the South Pole. After an encounter with the Cybermen, he is injured but refuses to regenerate. He fights off the change and walks out into the snow and as he's walking back to the TARDIS he encounters the Twelfth Doctor who is also refusing to regenerate following an encounter with the Cybermen. The Twelfth Doctor recognises the First Doctor but the same can't be said for the other way around. Twelve doesn't remember fighting off the change as One and presses him to understand that he needs to regenerate and carry on. But their conversation is interrupted as the snow around seems to freeze in place and a confused and injured World War One British military captain approaches them, asking for a doctor. Twelve realises that something has gone very wrong with time.

The Captain had been in December 1914 in a ditch in a gun-point stalemate with a German soldier when time froze. He walked up out of the ditch and spots a mysterious glowing figure that turns around and displaces him while claiming there is a timeline error. When he came to he was at the South Pole surrounded by snow frozen in the air. This is when he approached the Doctors and asked them for help, disoriented from his journey.

The trio head into the TARDIS together where One finally realises that Twelve is a future regeneration. After a bit of discussion they end up being abducted by a large spaceship where Bill is already waiting. The Doctor is skeptical that this could really be Bill since she had been turned into a Cyberman. She then tells the Doctor how the girl from the puddle had come from her but when questioned, she doesn't remember how she got onto the ship or where her girlfriend has disappeared to. They then encounter a glass figure that is the personification of a computer system that demands the Captain be turned over for Bill to be freed. The Captain offers himself up but Bill doesn't want the Captain to be captured on her account. Bill encourages Twelve to save the world and he becomes inspired to find out who the glass figure is and will stop them if he doesn't like it. The glass figure brings forth bubbles of all the different regenerations of the Doctor and announces all the names he has known over the years. One is overwhelmed by this swam of knowledge but Twelve sets off the release of the TARDIS and undoes the chains to release them. The group is able to drop down to get on top of the TARDIS from which they jump down while Twelve's TARDIS is pulled back up into the ship.

The group escapes into One's TARDIS and it takes them to the planet Villengard which is located in the centre of the universe. Bill is amazed to learn that she in the presence of one of the past regeneration of the Doctor. Twelve determines that they should try to figure out what the original face is that the glass figure is modelled after. They are searching for answers on the origins of this latest threat. Twelve encounters the rogue Dalek Rusty, who is hiding out from the other Daleks hunting for it. Twelve convinces Rusty to give him access into the Dalek Hivemind for all the data contained within it.

Bill is revealed to be a Testimony avatar created from her memories. The glass pilot and its ship are known as the Testimony created on New Earth. They were created in order to extra people from their timelines at the moment of their death so their memories could be channeled into glass avatars. It wasn't something designed with a malicious intent, leaving Twelve confused about what to do. He is also conflicted on his feelings regarding Bill and whether it is really her. The philosophical dilemma is whether or not a collection of memories amounts to a person's existential identity.

The Doctors see that there is no evil foe for them to fight and acknowledge that they were the ones that caused the time error that displaced the Captain to where they were. By trying to refuse to regenerate, they created a whirlpool through time. They decide to return the Captain to his timeline, with Twelve remembering that everyone is important to someone. As they drop the Captain off to the moment in the ditch where he will meet his demise. The Captain asks the Doctors to look after his family and introduces himself as Archibald Hamish Lethbridge-Stewart. He will have no memory of his experiences with the Doctors and all the visitors to his timeline will be rendered invisible when time resumes. Archibald is an ancestor of the Doctor's close friend, the Brigadier.

Once time resumes, the Doctors watch the stand-off carry on but it's then that soldiers on both sides of the conflict begin to sing "Silent Night". This causes the fighting to stop and the stand-off stops, as the men agree to put aside their differences for now since it's Christmas. Twelve tells One how he had shifted the Captain's timeline so this stand-off would be happening on Christmas and save the Captain's life. Only on Christmas could such a miracle have taken place and the opposing soldiers would agree to come together and stop their fighting. The Captain calls for medical attention to tend to the injured German soldier that had been about to shoot him.

One says goodbye to Twelve, now feeling at peace with his decision to regenerate. One wishes Twelve luck and heads back to his TARDIS where he resumes his regeneration and is returned to the South Pole. Twelve reunites with Bill's avatar and insists that she is not the real Bill. She replies with a further explanation that memories are what define a person. She further emphasises her point by leaving him with a goodbye present, that of returning his memories of Clara Oswald. An avatar of Nardole appears next but the Doctor still won't give over the testimony of his life to the avatars. He hugs them both goodbye and they leave him to be alone in his final moments. He goes back into the TARDIS and prepares a bit of advice for his next incarnation before regenerating.

The Thirteenth Doctor gazes upon her new reflection, amazed by what she sees. But when she tries to start the ship, it malfunctions badly due to damages caused by her most recent regeneration. The doors to the TARDIS open and it falls on its side. Despite her best efforts to hold on, the console room suffers an explosion and she falls out towards the Earth, watching as the ship dematerialises in space.

Doctor Who will return for series 11 in 2018 on BBC One.

Doctor Who S9E7 - "The Zygon Invasion" Recap


Osgood and the Zygon duplicate of her explain to viewers about the peace treaty signed between the human race and the Zygons. These events took place during the Day of the Doctor. They have become linked as a result and refer to each other as sisters. Through Operation Double, UNIT implemented a plan to relocate all Zygons into the human population by having them take the place of the duplicates of Britain. The 'sisters' have the "Osgood Box" which will e used if the ceasefire breaks; this is known as the Nightmare Scenario.

One Osgood is in a desert town and running away from the Zygons. She texts the Doctor with the message "Nightmare Scenario" before being zapped and taken captive by a Zygon. After receiving the message, the Doctor calls Clara but only gets her voicemail. In present day Britain, the Doctor tracks down the two commander Zygons at a school playground as they have taken on the form of two primary school girls. He pleads with them to not break the ceasefire but negotiations stall when another Zygon arrives, throws a smoke bomb and captures the two commanders.

Clara returns to her apartment and finds that she has 127 missed cals from the Doctor. She is going to call him back but then sees a boy on the stairs who is looking for his parents. She helps the boy get back to his apartment and the father takes him away kicking and screaming. Both the father and mother are exhibiting strange behaviour.

Clara meets up with the Doctor and together they go to UNIT where they learn that when one Osgood died, the other was overcome by grief. The ceasefire had started to break down. They receive a video message from the Zygons who are shown to force the primary school girl-Zygons to resume their normal form before they are destroyed.

The Doctor decides to go to Turmezistan to find the missing Osgood and keep UNIT from bombing and destroying it. Clara will keep looking after the ongoings in England, while Kate will head off to New Mexico to visit their stateside base. Unfortunately, the military members that are tasked with taking down the alien hostiles are overcome when the Zygons take on the appearance of the military members' loved ones. The Doctor is able to find Osgood trapped in a basement and frees her. Osgood warns that the Zygons are headed back to England.

Kate is being lead around a ghost town in New Mexico by a sheriff and observing the remains of dead Zygons in dumpsters that have been reduced to stacks of hair-balls.

Clara discovers a hive of Zygon duplicates that have been grown... except that's not how Zygons work. They kidnap the originals, so the Clara we've been watching for most of the episode is her Zygon duplicate. When Clara went to help the young boy, she was zapped and her duplicate took her place.

The Doctor and Osgood are questioning a Zygon and begin to piece together everything that has been happening. Meanwhile, Kate realises that the sheriff she has been led around with is actually a Zygon and is attacked and swapped out for a duplicate. Duplicate-Clara calls the Doctor and informs him that Clara and Kate are dead, before shooting a bazooka at the plane he is flying in on.

Doctor Who airs on Saturdays on BBC One.

Atlantis S2E12 (FINALE) - "The Queen Must Die" Recap


With Icarus' "help," our trio of heroes sneak back into Atlantis. Of course they don't know that Icarus is leading them into a trap. They're planning to break someone out of the amphitheatre and sneak towards it through the sewer system. Pasiphae gets the news from her soldier with whom Icarus is in correspondence. Medea is horrified at the notion that Pasiphae intends to let Jason die.

The gang is able to break the prisoners out of their cells in the amphitheatre with the intention that they'll help them fight to regain Atlantis but with Icarus' betrayal, a great deal of the prisoners end up dead due to an ambush by Pasiphae's soldiers. Pythagoras immediately deduces that Icarus is responsible for this. Medea helps Jason survive the encounter but is spotted by Pasiphae's general, who relays this news to to Pasiphae.

Icarus visits his father who questions why he still hasn't been executed. Icarus doesn't want to tell him what he has done but his father knows that he is hiding something. He demands to know and Icarus finally admits what he has done. His father is disgusted by his actions and says he would rather die than have a traitor for a son, and promptly sends him out, saying he has never been so ashamed.

Pasiphae visits Medea in her room and warns her that if she doesn't stay away from Jason then she will kill her herself.

The trio and remaining ex-prisoners make it back to where Ariadne is waiting in the forest and once again, she asks Jason to marry her and this time he accepts. Hercules marries them in the middle of the forest.

Medea kills a guard and escapes from Atlantis. On her way out, she visits Jason while Ariadne is still sleeping and gives him advice on how to kill Pasiphae. She tells him to go to a particular temple which is the seat of Hecate's power and only those touched by the gods may enter. She also gives him the nectar of the passion flower that will help weaken Pasiphae's power. Medea then leaves to return to her home, now realising that Pasiphae manipulated her into becoming just like her. Medea tries to make a move on Jason once more but he pushes her off, saying he is married to Ariadne. Medea leaves and Jason relays what he has learned to the rest of the group but they still don't trust Medea. He says he is going to follow her advice and go after Pasiphae.

Hercules asks Pythagoras to open up about what is wrong, knowing that it must have something to do with Icarus, with whom Pythagoras has been romantically involved with. Pythagoras doesn't want to talk about his feelings at this time. Jason reaches the temple and finds Pasiphae there performing a ritual for the gods. He tells her he pities her since everyone she has ever loved has abandoned her. He also tells her that Medea is the one who tole him where to find her. Pasiphae tries to perform magic to kill Jason but her powers are failing her because Jason used the nectar that Medea gave him. Jason knows that he doesn't have it in him to kill her himself so he knocks her out and carries her out so others can do the deed.

When Pasiphae is brought back to the camp, she plants seeds in Ariadne's head, telling her about Jason's unfaithfulness and his fling with Medea. Jason says his goodbyes to Pasiphae and she is brought out to a clearing where Hercules executes her after she says her prayers. Jason and Ariadne plan to return to Atlantis as King and Queen. However, they must trick Cilix so they may kill him since he will never agree to what they are doing. Pythagoras suggests that they use Icarus' betrayal in order to do so. Pythagoras meets with Icarus at the cabin in the woods and confirms that Pasiphae is now dead. He also says that Jason genuinely wants to make peace and return to the city. Goran agrees to release Icarus' father and Cilix begins to make plans to take over the throne for himself.

At the meeting in the clearing, Cilix orders the men to kill the band of heroes but they end up killed before he can make his orders. Goran orders his men to stand down and once Jason throws a dagger into Cilix's back, Goran delivers the killing blow. They make an agreement that none of the men will be killed for following Pasiphae's orders so long as they swear loyalty to Jason and Ariadne as rulers of Atlantis (once they ave received the blessing of the gods). Those who do not swear loyalty will be free to leave Atlantis and never return. Ariadne and Hercules remain skeptical of Goran's newfound loyalty to them, noting how much quicker to trust Jason is than they. But for now, they must put their faith in Goran's word.

The group all returns to Atlantis and all the men in the army swear loyalty to Jason and Ariadne. Preparations are made for Jason and Ariadne to get the blessings of the gods the following morning. Ariadne admits to Jason that Atlantis doesn't feel like home the way it used to. Ariadne is feeling doubts because of what Pasiphae said but before she can share what exactly was stated, Jason says that Pasiphae is not to be trusted and Ariadne decides to put her doubts to rest. Meanwhile, Pasiphae is shown to have been resurrected through the powers of dark magic.

Pythagoras goes to Icarus and tells him about what has transpired, including everyone's return to the city and the fact that Jason and Ariadne will soon be on the throne. Pythagoras is preparing to lay a verbal smackdown on Icarus but before he can say anymore, he asks what happened to Daedalus whom is lying asleep, bloody and battered. Pythagoras then says how this is clearly why he betrayed him and Icarus learns how Pythagoras used his betrayal for their plan. They admit their feelings for each other but Pythagoras says he can never forgive Icarus for what he has done. Just as Pythagoras leaves, Daedalus wakes. He comforts his heart-broken son, understanding the hard place his son now finds himself but showing him compassion nonetheless.

Pasiphae re-appears in Atlantis and takes the storm with a new face scar and more angry vengeance in her sorcery than ever. She kills Goran because he refuses to swear loyalty to her and the remaining soldiers swear loyalty to her because they fear her wrath. The soldiers then strike before Jason and Ariadne can receive their blessing from the gods. A battle breaks out in the temple, and Melas ends up dead at the hands of Pasiphae while Cassandra runs off with Jason and the rest of our heroes. Yet again they must flee Atlantis, though they must hide until nightfall when they can make their escape. Fearing the worst, Ariadne asks Jason what happened between him and Medea. He admits that they had a moment during his darkest times but that whatever happened is over and he will never see her again. Icarus and Daedalus create a distraction to help our heroes get out of Atlantis, which consists of Icarus using some home-designed wings to fly overhead and drop bombs of fire-powder (basically gunpowder) onto the soldiers.

While most of the group is making their escape, Pythagoras goes chasing after Icarus since he sees he's about to get shot. He cradles his injured love, and then Hercules then comes to grab them so they can get back on track to flee the city. The following morning, Jason speak with Cassandra, who has had a vision of how Jason may defeat Pasiphae. It will be difficult, but not impossible. He must find the source of her power and destroy it. There's a golden fleece with unimaginable power in Colcous that he must retrieve on this quest. He must also get help from Medea to accomplish this all. All this would-be drama that we'll never get to see since the series has been cancelled!

Jason tells Hercules and Pythagoras of what he must do, saying there will never be peace until Pasiphae is defeated. He tells Ariadne next of what he must do. She wants to come with him and wants to know who will protect him from himself. He must go at it alone. Atlantis is being torn apart under Pasiphae's menacing rule while the group makes their way to the shore to set up camp. Cassandra has another vision of Jason aboard a ship called the "Argo" and being unfaithful to his Queen-wife. Again. Meanwhile, Medea is somehow in on this vision and learns of Jason's impending arrival. Which we will never see.

Atlantis S2E11 - "Kin" Recap


Jason is still on the run and Medea has returned to the palace, though Pasiphae is none the wiser about Medea's helping Jason.

Hercules expresses guilt to Pythagoras over letting his emotions get in the way of things with Jason and the two carry on their search for him without realising that Jason is hiding nearby, listening to the entire conversation. Aeson expresses guilt to Ariadne that he doesn't have a close relationship with his son and she tells him that it's not too late.

Jason gets captured by Pasiphae's men and admits to her when she visits him that he does feel a bond between the two of them. Cassandra, the new Oracle, reveals that the gods oppose the execution of Jason, and Pasiphae is discretely relieved to learn this because she had been rather reluctant to kill him. Jason is instead sent to the arena to fight for his life. He wins his first bout, though the encounter leaves him injured. Unbeknownst to him, one of the men that helps him off the field is his father, Aeson. Jason recognises him from their previous encounter in the salt mines but it isn't until later that Aeson reveals himself to be Jason's father. Though Jason pushes him away at first, Aeson's words eventually begin to sink in. Aeson shares how he loved Pasiphae dearly but it couldn't work once she gave in to the dark side of magic. Aeson's love is enough to bring Jason back to the light and he gives Jason a potion to fake his death so that they may escape.

Icarus visits his wounded and imprisoned father, Daedalus. He wants to help him escape but his father is not interested in doing so if it means doing anything immoral or put his son in harm's way. He is none the wise about Icarus helping Pasiphae's men in exchange for helping Daedalus.

Jason takes Aeson's draft and it makes him appear to be dead. Aeson sneaks him out of the cell and revives him once they're out of the prison. He tells Jason to lie still, as he is being wheeled on a cart of the dead. They are spotted by Icarus who is skulking around like the filthy traitor he is. Though Aeson and Jason make it out of the city alive, they are shortly thereafter attacked by guards. Hercules arrives in time to help the two make their escape out of the fight but Aeson has been mortally wounded. Hercules apologises to Jason and the two make amends and then continue to help the wounded Aeson on till they make it back to where Ariadne and Pythagoras are waiting. Unfortunately, Aeson dies in Jason's arms.

Pasiphae is informed of what has happened and she is emotional and angry that Jason chose his father over her. She berates Medea for making her believe that it was the right thing to let Jason into her heart and orders her to leave.

Atlantis airs on Saturdays on BBC One.

Atlantis S2E10 - "The Dying of the Light" Recap


Jason and Ariadne make it back to Pythagoras and Hercules but now that he has learned the truth about his mother's identity, his heart has been blackened. Jason goes after a set of guards that is pursuing them and fights them off. Pythagoras and Ariadne come to help him and when there is but one survivor, a lone boy who surrenders himself to them, Jason kills him despite Ariadne's orders to stand down. When they return to Hercules, he picks a fight with Jason who strikes him repeatedly. The group is shocked by Jason's harsh and arrogant ways.

Pasiphae is concerned about the threat Jason poses. Medea assures her that now that Jason knows the truth, he will return but Pasiphae is still determined to have him killed. Mother of the year, that one.

Pythagoras decides to sneak back into Atlantis to get help from Melas, believing he will hold the key to helping Jason. Upon meeting with Melas, Pythagoras is advised that Jason's father is the key to restoring the balance of dark and light within Jason. Only he can provide the love needed to counter Pasiphae's influence. Pythagoras' friend Icarus turns over where Jason's group is headed, in the hopes of getting his father Daedalus free. Though his father has been spared an execution now, he is still to be locked up.

Pythagoras has tracked down Aeson, Jason's father, and tells him what has happened. Jason's heart is blackened and turned to anger and hatred. Pythagoras pleads with Aeson to help Jason. Aesop doesn't believe he can be what Jason needs.

While soldiers makes plans to hunt down Jason, Medea eavesdrops. It is worth noting that Jason has been having mysterious dreams in which Medea appears.

Pythagoras prepares to leave without Aeson since he has not agreed to help and delivers an impassioned speech which changes Aeson's mind. Ariadne has convinced Hercules to reach out to Jason and try to mend fences. Hercules says that though he cannot deny his own anger, he should not have fought with Jason. Hercules asks some questions about Medusa's decision to sacrifice herself, and Jason answers them. Things are still tense though because Jason tells Hercules he needs to move on. Hercules wants to leave, despite Ariadne's pleas with him to stay.

As Pythoagroas and Aeson are making their journey, they are spotted by a soldier who returns to Atlantis to tell Pasiphae, who decides to ride off after them with soldiers in tow. Medea is following after them in secret. Pythagoras and Aeson are arriving back to Jason and Ariadne but the group is ambushed by Pasiphae and her soldiers before any conversations can be had. A fight breaks out and just as Jason is about to be killed by a soldier sneaking up from behind, Medea uses magic to save her. While Ariadne is fleeing, Hercules grabs her to keep her hidden.

Medea heals a wounded Jason, using magic to do so. She advises him to sleep, which he does. Ariadne and Hercules catch up to Hercules and Aeson, who is still alive. Pythagoras reveals that Aeson is Jason's father but none of the group have any idea where Jason is. Jason wakes, feeling better, and asks Medea why she is helping him. She says they're more alike than he knows. The two then kiss.

Atlantis airs on Saturdays on BBC One at 9PM.

Atlantis S2E9 - "The Gorgon's Gaze" Recap


The new Oracle, Cassandra, declares that the Gods are angry because the rightful heir to the throne is not ruling. The gods have not recognised her as Atlantis' ruler. Pasiphae orders her to be taken away and begins to panic but is advised by her seedy sidekick to force Ariadne to publicly renounce her title and swear allegiance to Pasiphae. Ariadne refuses to do so, so Pasiphae has Delmos taken away to be tortured for her disobeying.

Ariadne gets a still-loyal guard to go to find Jason and the others. Medusa and Pythagoras are the ones met by the guard and Medusa advises him not to tell Jason for fear that he will do something rash. She does, however, have a plan. Pythagoras will go back into the city, since Hercules and Jason are both wanted men.

Delmos is returned to Ariadne's cell, badly wounded, but he makes her promise not to give in no matter what. Pasiphae later returns to the cell to press Ariadne again to give in but she refuses, preferring to die instead. But Pasiphae will not kill Ariadne. Instead, she kills Delmos.

Pythagoras makes it into the city to meet with friends Daedalus and his son Icarus. He says he needs to get back into the temple in order to retrieve Pandora's box. The plan works and Pythagoras makes it into the temple. Melas catches him and nearly calls the guards but Pythagoras convinces him that it is for the good of the city to help undo the bad he has done and so Melas helps him escape.

Pythagoras returns to Medusa and tells her she doesn't have to go through with her plan. She says she doesn't plan to live for long with this cursed state. She begs Pythagoras to not tell Hercules or Jason. Pythagoras only tells them that though Ariadne is still alive, others in the city have not fared so well. Jason want to run into the city but Pythagoras warns him that doing so without a plan would mean certain death and then Ariadne would have no one to help her.

Pasiphae has Ariadne strung up in the cell so Medea can torture her into giving in. Despite all the torture, Ariadne refuses to break.

Medusa says her goodbyes to Hercules and drugs his food so he won't be able to stop her from going through with her plan. It's then that Medusa and Pythagoras let Jason in on the plan. Jason doesn't want to use this plan but Medusa says she cannot live with the guilt of what she has done. She cannot live a happy life with everything she's done but her death can save Atlantis. She wants Jason to just use her head as the rest of her would "only slow them down." Medusa leaves, saying she will wait in a cave for Jason. Jason is the only one immune to her cursed gaze so he must be the one to wield her power. Alone in the cave, Medusa revives her curse.

Jason arrives and Medusa begs him to do this to save everyone. He leaves the cave with his bloody sword and Medusa's severed head in hand. Hercules wakes and Pythagoras must deliver the bad news. Hercules is devastated.

Jason enters Atlantis and turns guards to stone with Medusa's severed head. When Pasiphae hears the news, she orders him killed but no one can do so because of the gaze of the Gorgon. Perspire takes a sword from a guard and declares that she will take care of this herself. Pasiphae and Jason meet alone and she reveals that she is immune to the Gorgon's gaze, to which Jason responds that he will kill her himself. He easily disarms her and prepares to kill her but she then reveals that she is his mother. Jason seems to know that this is true so he moves his sword away from her throat. But when Pasiphae tries to escape, he knocks her out. Still, Jason is unable to kill her and tosses his sword aside in a fit of rage. Medea appears and confirms Pasiphae's statement. She then says that he, like Pasiphae, is touched by the gods and this is why he can wield the sword better than others and he is immune to the Gorgon's gaze. Medea also claims that the two of them have feelings for each other. Jason says he only feels hatred for her.

Jason heads to the cell and lets Ariadne out, also giving her a gauze to cover her eyes, warning her not to take it off no matter what. The two then walk out together, hand in hand.

Atlantis airs on Saturdays on BBC One at 9PM.

Atlantis S2E8 - "The Madness of Hercules" Recap


Hercules goes and meets Medusa in the cabin they agreed to meet at. She is still distraught over killing the Oracle and believes she is cursed forever.

Jason has been sentenced to death but believes that Ariadne will find a way to get him out of this death-sentence. The High Priest is reunited with the future Oracle Cassandara, who is like a daughter to him, who is being held hostage so he will do as Pasiphae wishes. The High Priest doesn't see why they can't just let Jason go free, as he doesn't even seem like a threat. Pasiphae believes that Jason might not be a threat yet but could very well be some day. Pasiphae says she will free Cassandra the moment she herself is on the throne.

Ariadne tries to convince the High Priest to petition the council and overturn the sentence but he won't be moved, though he says he is not her enemy. He pleads with her to not defy the gods but our dear Ariadne won't let her one true love go without a fight. Pythagoras and Hercules visit Ariadne to plea for Jason's life and she says that she can't contradict the gods without Medusa's testimony. She says that they must follow the will of the gods. Of course she has to say this to keep up appearances and play this political chess game. Jason is hurt to learn of this, beginning to wonder if her feelings for him were ever true and decides he will ask for an audience with her and just by looking in her eyes, he will know what her feelings are.

Hercules admits to Pythagoras that he has seen Medusa but he won't give up her location. He can't sentence her to death. Pythagoras tells Hercules he needs to decide between Jason or Medusa. It's a tough decision but Hercules says that if anyone's going to tell Medusa she needs to come forward, it will be him. He goes to see her but can't bring himself to tell her of what is happening, as she is just so happy to be with him again and to have another chance. The next morning, Medusa asks what the people are saying of her in Atlantis and he says they all blame Pasiphae, as they should, and says he must leave once more to tend to some things in Atlantis.

Jason asks Delmos to request an audience on his behalf with Ariadne but he returns to say that she has refused his offer. Hercules is arrested after getting into a drunken brawl with a man who cheated him during a game of dice but once they're arrested it's revealed that the two were in cahoots to get them in jail. They then knock a guard out and lock him in the cell. Hercules thanks the man for his help and heads out on his own to break Jason out. The two attempt to make their escape and have to fight off some guards along the way and eventually find themselves surrounded.

Pythagoras is called to the palace by Delmos who informs him that Hercules has been sentenced to death in the bull along with Jason. Ariadne cannot do anything to interfere with the will of the gods and poor Pythagoras cannot even see his friends while they are being purified. Hercules apologises to Jason for not telling him about Medusa but Jason is not holding any grudges.

Just as the execution is being prepared, a knock comes at Pythagoras' door. When he opens it, he finds a note with instructions. Meanwhile, Delmos has drugged some guards and broken Jason and Hercules out and given them some cloaks to hide themselves. With the help of another co-conspirator, Jason and Hercules scale their way down the side of the palace wall where Pythagoras is waiting for them at the bottom. He tells them where to meet him, as he must run along after them since he has been spotted by guards.

Delmos relays the news to Ariadne, who thanks him for his loyalty. But he warns her that they must be careful, since it isn't over yet.

Pasiphae remains determined as ever to get the throne and says that Jason is Ariadne's weakness and will be the reason that she falls.

The High Priest is instructed to manipulate the public by claiming bad omens in order to sway them into believing as they should. Ariadne and Delmos know that the High Priest is no longer to be trusted but must keep up the charade as the council is called. The council tries to make claims that the gods want blood and that a sacrifice must be made. They try to goad her into admitting fault and make her swear on the golden bull that she did not aid in their escape. She then says she won't swear because Jason is innocent. The council then orders Ariadne to be arrested.

Jason and Hercules are still in the forest waiting for Pythagoras but the guards are hot on their trail. Hercules proposes that perhaps Pythagoras ratted them out but Jason remains confident as ever that their friend is on their side, regardless of the fact that he's not there. Pythagoras is attempting to pack up provisions to go meet with Jason and Hercules but is visited by one of Delmos' men that word must be sent to Jason that Ariadne has been arrested. He finally catches up to Jason and Hercules to deliver the bad news. Jason wants to go back and save Ariadne but Pythagoras says that there is one person that can save Jason and Ariadne. Hercules sees now that there is no choice but to go to Medusa.

Delmos gets thrown into Ariadne's cell and Hercules goes in to tell Medusa of all that has happened. Medusa does not blame Hercules and says her only regret in all of this was leaving Hercules. She says that ever since she opened that box, her fate has been sealed. She must now pay the price. Hercules is devastated, perhaps even more so than Medusa, who says that they must both be brave. The foursome all begin their journey back to Atlantis. But upon reaching the city, they find that it is largely empty and quickly realise that something is terribly wrong. They stay hidden from the guards that run past and make their way to the palace, where they find Pasiphae is being sworn in as Queen.

Atlantis airs on Saturdays on BBC One at 9PM.

Atlantis S2E7 - "A Fate Worse Than Death" Recap


Pasiphae gets news that Jason and Ariadne are to be married. She would rather see her own son die than lose out on the opportunity to seize the throne for herself. Meanwhile, Ariadne is being advised by her military adviser, Delmos, that her union with Jason is a bad idea because he is not of noble blood. Ariadne decides that they must seek the council of the gods to get approval for the union. The Oracle will need to take a blood offering from both of them. After Ariadne and Jason offer their blood to the Oracle, they along with all of Atlantis must wait to hear whether the Gods will give their blessing.

The Oracle tells her closest adviser that the Gods have blessed the union but mere moments later, she is kidnapped. Masked assassins have infiltrated the city and Ariadne knows immediately that Pasiphae is to blame. Pasiphae and the Oracle argue with each other about what is the right course of action. But Pasiphae has an ace up her sleeve in the form of Medusa, whom she and Medea are apparently immune to. Medusa is desperate and would rather die than carry on living like this. Pasiphae offers Medusa the opportunity to have her misery ended if she will take someone's life…

The victim to-be is the Oracle. She seems to know what's coming before she even turns around and promises Pasiphae that the gods will have their vengeance. By the time Jason, Pythagoras, and Hercules arrive to Pasiphae's hide-out, it is too late to save the Oracle, for she has already been turned to stone. Hercules is devastated at the idea that Medusa could have done something like this and takes off running to try to find her. Jason is wracked with guilt, blaming himself for the Oracle's fate. He promises that they will pay for what they have done.

When Hercules catches up to Medusa, he finds that she is cured. It's an emotional reunion, as they have waited a long time to be reunited. Medusa feels terrible for what happened to the Oracle, not knowing that it was going to be her when she entered the room. Hercules is happy to have his love back but tells Medusa that she needs to run or else vengeance will be had upon her. He promises to come meet her as soon as he can get away.

Jason and Pythagoras catch up to Hercules, who lies and claims to not know where she is and that she must have fled before they could catch her. The trio must now return to Atlantis and deliver the bad news to Ariadne. Hercules tells the further truth that Medusa was the one to kill the Oracle but regardless, Ariadne orders that Medusa be hunted down. Hercules begs for mercy on Medusa's behalf but no one will listen.

Pythagoras tries to reason with Hercules, saying that after everything she went through, she may not be the same Medusa they once knew. Meanwhile, Jason is blaming himself for all that has happened since he agreed to marry Ariadne. Pythagoras tries to make him see that blaming himself is unreasonable. Jason ponders that perhaps the price of marrying Ariadne is too high. He relays these concerns to Ariadne, saying that he loves her a great deal but whether going through with it is in the best interest of the people. Ariadne presses the issue, saying that the Oracle will have died for nothing if they don't follow their hearts. In the end, they agree to pursue the marriage and Ariadne orders that the plans for the wedding be set in motion.

Hercules sneaks out with some food to go meet Medusa. The High Priest, who was in cahoots with Pasiphae, is upset over Pasiphae's killing the Oracle but another of his co-conspirators chides him for assuming that Pasiphae would let her go and reminds him that he will regret if he doesn't stop the wedding. That same guard then order Jason to be arrested for the murder of the Oracle. Pythagoras then puts it together, that the High Priest would have been the first to receive news of the gods blessing the union. They would only have taken the Oracle if they had blessed the union. Ariadne is woken from her bed by Delmos, who tells her what's happening. As accusations go flying, Ariadne and the High Priest find themselves in a stand-off. Ariadne says that people should pay for crimes they have actually committed, and the High Priest says they must all answer the Gods. She eventually agrees that they must all answer to the Gods, but there's a sort of look in her eye that makes us think she has a trick up her sleeve. The High Priest says Jason has been found guilty but come on, there's no way he's going to die. Can't wait to see how he gets out of this one!

Atlantis airs on Saturdays on BBC One at 9PM.

The Musketeers S2E3 - "The Good Traitor" Recap


Rochefort is revealed to have developed quite the uncomfortable-to-watch infatuation with the Queen, as he hires a prostitute to don a fancy gown and pretend to be the Queen, profess her love for Rochefort and her disdain for the King, and plead with him to make love to her. Apparently The Musketeers writers wanted to up Rochefort's 'creep' factor. Job well done on that front.

Enter one General Tariq Alaman, a Moor exiled from Spain who is offering to sell the king the formula for a powerful gunpowder. He only wants the Musketeers to help rescue his daughter Samara who is being held captive by the evil General Baltasar. Tariq and Samara had fled to Paris but his enemies came and kidnapped her, but Tariq believes it's himself Baltasar wants. In actuality, Baltasar plans to kill both of them just as soon as Tariq come for her. There's some very powerful themes here about racism.

The king summons General Baltasar to the palace; he denies having kidnapped Samara but he was previously shown to be determined to get his hands on Alaman's gunpowder.

The royal baby is sick with a fever. The King is furious and determined to make him better. The Musketeers learn of the sickness and Aramis must be discrete about his extra concern regarding the matter. Meanwhile, Milady is shown to be bribing her way into the palace. She is able to get to the King and introduce herself but though he's happy to see her, he won't grant her a private audience because of the commotion regarding "his" baby. She is supposed to be escorted out but manages to stay hidden within the palace.

The baby isn't responding to whatever backward archaic medicine they're using and the "doctor" says that if these don't work they'll have to use leeches. To bleed the baby. Go ahead and process that. Rochefort is also planning to use this time of crisis to manipulate the Queen into getting more attached to him because this whole plot line wasn't full of enough 'ice' already.

The Musketeers try to help Tariq with the pretend-exchange so he can get Samara back but it all goes wrong. At least it leads to some terrific action with a dramatic score to go right along with it. Our team of good guys is still alive but Samara is still in the hands of the enemy. There's also plenty of destruction and a few dead and injured civilians on top of all that. Aramis was distracted during the fight because of a crying baby, reminding him of his ailing son. The Musketeers are furious with Tariq for not giving over the cypher as he was supposed to, especially since Porthos has also been taken captive. Tariq if forced to admit that he doesn't have the cypher; Samara does.

The King warns the physician that his son must be saved or else he will lose his head. He tries to claim that bleeding is the only option left. Constance tries to object, saying it may only weaken him further, but quickly back-peddles when she receives an icy glare from Rochefort. Speaking of the blonde creep, he follows the crying Queen out to get all creepy and "concerned" while giving her a pep talk. He confesses his love but quickly covers by saying his love is like that of any subject towards their Queen.

An injured Porthos wakes in captivity with an arrow in his leg and ends up speaking with Samara. The two talk about issues of race and being in a country other than their roots. Samara warns him that France will turn on him for being an outsider, just as Spain turned on her. She eventually reads him some poetry from a book that is revealed to hold the cypher. Porthos implores Samara to pull the arrow out of his leg, which he does, to which Porthos proudly proclaims that they now have a weapon.

The King returns to one of his private apartments and finds Milady waiting in there for him. He rewards her persistence by telling her to return later that night and to wear that same dress, which he finds "pleasing to the eye." *gags* They meet for dinner and she returns the ring which she had kept safe on a ribbon tucked into her cleavage. She keeps working him and the two eventually kiss and hook up under the dinner table. He also gives back the ring that she had returned as a token of his good favour.

The Musketeers agree to hand over Tariq in exchange for Samara and Porthos. In private, the King tells Captain Treville to get the cypher and in exchange, he'll never say a harsh word about the Musketeers again. Meanwhile, Constance sneaks out with the baby to try to help him. Her husband discovers her but he agrees to keep it secret. When Rochefort discovers the baby is missing, he has the other hand maidens arrested and demands that Constance be found and arrested.

The Queen and other royal attendants go into the room where the King and Milady are still romping under the table and the King crawls out and orders everyone but the Queen out. She is further devastated to see Milady also crawl out but relays the news that the Dauphin (royal baby) has been kidnapped.

Tariq is being beaten but he won't give up any answers to his captors until they bring Samara to him and threaten to cut off her fingers (as a start). He relents and admits that the cypher is in Samara's book. The Musketeers break in, and Porthos had also gotten free using the arrow from his leg. They must bargain the circumstances of their exchange. Samar will go free. Tariq volunteers to go peacefully with the Spanish and help them decode the cypher. Athos warns that they are only relenting for now.

Rochefort tracks down Constance who has been keeping the Dauphin near some steam (formed by laundry being done). Rochefort says he will have Constance executed. He then heads off to apprehend the Spanish and retrieve Tariq or something but Tariq tricks Alaman by throwing the cypher into the fire. Alaman shoots Tariq and pulls it out of the fire but Tariq had only done all of this so he could retrieve his remaining gunpowder, toss it into the fire, and destroy them both. Outside, Samara is devastated.

Constance is reprimanded by the King and Queen and she implores them to see that she was just trying to save the baby since the doctor's treatments weren't working and that the steam is a remedy used amongst the common people. The King gets all snobby about "common people" being riddled with disease, orders her to be hanged, and she is escorted from the room. Later, the "doctor" brings the Dauphin back into the room and says that the baby's lungs are clearing and concludes that the steam indeed saved the baby and that Constance should receive the credit. The King then says that perhaps they shouldn't hang her. Gee, you think? Of course this quack doctor still needs to get the last word in and tell Constance that generally, leeches are an infallible cure. Please cease this fool's chatter before I knock him upside the head.

The King isn't happy about losing the gunpowder. Captain Treville notes that at least the Spanish don't have it. The King admits this is true but notes how the Musketeers have once again let him down just as they have been continually doing. He leaves the room with Rochefort and intends to discuss affairs of the state with him.

Samara stops by to visit Porthos and shares that she is leaving to go home to Morocco that evening. She advises him to search for his own home (in Africa) one day. He says that he is home, with the Musketeers. She gives him the book of poems and thanks him for trying to save her father. He says that he never knew his father and tells her to cherish the memory, which she will at least have to keep once the grief has faded.

The Musketeers airs on Fridays on BBC One at 9PM.

The Musketeers S2E2 - "An Ordinary Man" Recap


King Louis informs the Musketeers that he wants to experience the life of an ordinary Frenchman so they take him out in disguise. When the King provokes a fight in a tavern, D'Artagnan leads him out the back to safety while the other Musketeers fight those in the tavern. Unfortunately, the tavern keeper had tricked them and so they are taken captive by slave traders who plan to sell D'Artagnan and the King as galley slaves for a Spanish ship.

They must hurry because the infant's Christening is tomorrow and there is no way that the King can not be present. The King wants to admit his true identity to his captors but D'Artagnan insists that he keep quiet if he wants to stay alive. D'Artagnan also helps to carry an injured slave while the Musketeers and Captain Treville are on the trail to find the Spanish ship that their friend and King are meant to be on.

As it turns out, Milady de Winter is working for the slaver-traders. She is able to help D'Artagnan and the King from being killed without revealing who they are. Meanwhile, Rochefort tries to manipulate the Queen to act in a way that would benefit Spain. Later that night, Milady lets D'Artganan and the King out of their restraints and they take off running into the night. They're eventually caught up to the following morning while the Musketeers are on their way, having done some investigative work of their own. The Kind admits who he is and some gunfire break out. Milady has also made off with the money but before leaving, she kills the lead slave-trader.

During the ongoing chaos, the newly introduced black character dies (seriously, BBC? Atlantis and now The Musketeers? Are any of your shows immune from this tired old trope?) Back at the palace, Rochefort is trying to convince the Queen into holding the throne in order to protect her son and she signs a document that will be delivered to the Spanish ambassador. Constance tries to talk her out of it beforehand but its to no avail.

Milady catches up to the King and D'Artagnan with horses. D'Artagnan momentarily rides off to see if the coast is clear and while he is away, Milady uses all her powers of seduction to charm him. He appears quite smitten by her and the two share a kiss. The Musketeers ride up and they try to warn the King that this woman may not be who she claims to be but the King insists on pardoning her for any and all crimes. The King is sent back to the palace with Porthos and Milady while the others stay behind to fight off the remaining slave-traders in a shootout.

The King arrives just in time for the baby's christening, and Rochefort decides to hold onto the secret of the Queen's actions until he finds the most opportune moment to use it. The King also orders a man to be executed though he had promised him immunity if he helped the Musketeers fight off the other slave-traders. D'Artagnan tries to stop him but Rochefort goes ahead and kills the man anyway. The King now blames the Musketeers for taking him to the tavern, which he had requested in the first place.  The rift between the King and the Musketeers is thus further divided. Finally, the Musketeers visit the wife of the black slave that had unnecessarily been sacrificed for some cheap feels, and combine the money they have on them to give to the man's widow and child. They tell the woman that the man died in service of the Crown.

The Musketeers airs on Fridays on BBC One at 9PM.

The Musketeers S2E1 - "Keep Your Friends Close" Recap


It's been ten months since we last saw the Musketeers and their arguably biggest foe, Cardinal Richelieu is dead. There's not a whole lot of delving into the who and the why, as we are instead introduced to Comte de Rochefort, one of the Cardinal's most trusted lieutenants. The Musketeers rather reluctantly save him from being hung, as they're not all that fond of Rochefort, but he claims to bear important news for the King.

Speaking of the King, he's a new "father," as his Queen has just given birth (but remember… that baby was actually conceived by an affair with Aramis). The King offers Captain Treville a job on his council but Treville's not fond of politics and thus turns it down. This does not please the King one bit, making him all the more ripe to be won over by the newly arrived Rochefort.

Constance is given a position by the Queen which will entail her living in the palace. She warns D'Artagnan to stay away from her. Aramis is able to steal a close-up glimpse at his son, the future King, and Athos warns him not to be so careless.

Rochefort is actually a spy for France's enemy nation and he is shown to be arguably even more ruthless than the Cardinal. He even slits the throat of a holy man who had overheard an incriminating exchange between Rochefort and Spain's ambassador Don Fernando.

The deceased Cardinal's spy in Madrid has news that General De Foix, France's chief military strategist has been captured. The king orders him to be rescued and the Musketeers and Captain Treville are thereby forced to work with Rochefort. Rochefort informs them that their orders are to not allow De Foix to remain alive if they cannot remove him from Spanish hands. While on the road, the group is attacked by a band of assassins as part of a plot organised by Rochefort to get rid of the Musketeers.

The Musketeers carry on with their rescue and reach the castle. D'Artagnan infiltrates the castle and meets Lucy, General De Foix's sister. Together, they reach De Foix and just as D'Artagnan is about to carry through on his orders to kill De Foix, they are interrupted by the rest of the Musketeers and Rochefort, whom Athos overrules by saying that De Foix's sister Lucy will be brought along to be rescued. De Foix also seems to know Porthos, though the circumstances of how and why are not yet revealed.

With a lengthy, well choreographed, and entertaining action sequence, Team Musketeers is able to get away. Rochefort does away with the Spanish prisoner they had taken while making it appear that he was trying to get away. De Foix is returned to the King, and Rochefort accepts the King's offer to work as a member of the King's court.

D'Artagnan confronts Constance for not pursuing her love for him and she chides him for not understanding that she is a woman living in a world built for men and that they would not be able to be married, and if they had any children and he died in battle, she would be left penniless and likely have to resort to prostitution to provide for them.

Aramis and Athos learn that Adele Bessette, the former mistress of the Cardinal as well as the woman who loved and was loved by Aramis, is now dead. Her grave is inscribed with, "Died For Love." They are also left with a cryptic message about the Cardinal knowing all of Aramis' secrets, which he can expose from beyond the grave (a thinly-veiled threat regarding Aramis' being the father of the Queen's baby).

De Foix also speaks in private with Captain Treville about Porthos. They apparently knew Porthos' father, and they had done something horrific, leading to the death of her mother in which she died of a broken heart after being abandoned in the slums. De Foix is insistent that the truth be revealed, and hopes to make amends before he dies (he is on the brink of death). Captain Treville, however, is less keen on doing so.

Finally, Rochefort is shown to be planning to try to drive a wedge between the King and Queen that will tear the country apart.

The Musketeers airs on Fridays on BBC One at 9PM.

Doctor Who - "Last Christmas" Recap


It's Christmas Eve and there's something on Clara's roof. She goes to check what it is and discovers Santa Claus, two elves, a sleigh, and reindeer. Clara isn't inclined to believe in him but Santa seems to hint at Clara's still believing in fairy tales. The discussion is interrupted by the Doctor arriving to bring Clara on another adventure but Santa tells the Doctor that he'll need Santa's help before the night is over and offers him a tangerine. Once inside the TARDIS, Clara notes how much she has missed the sound it makes, and the Doctor asks Clara if she believes in Santa. Clara, being very much swept up by the moment, says that she does.

A group of scientists at the North Pole are trying to rescue some of the other crew members from some crab-like creatures. They're deaf, blind, and telepathic. They can only see those that see them by honing in on the images of themselves in someone else's brain. The Doctor and Clara arrive and must act fast, as they find themselves under attack. The Doctor and Clara get into an argument in which Clara reveals the truth about Danny Pink being dead. Just when it seems as if they're all done for, an explosion goes off and a tangerine comes rolling through the gaping hole in the wall, followed by some toys. That's right, folks, Santa Claus has come to the rescue.

Santa explains that the creatures are Dream Crabs that induce pleasant, euphoric dreams in the minds of their victims before devouring the person's brain. Now they must all band together to save Christmas and the world as a whole. While the group is trying to determine a course of action, the Doctor and Clara both admit their lies to each other. Clara lied about Danny's return from the Nethersphere and the Doctor had lies about finding Gallifrey.

The team are continuing their investigation and determine that the Dream Crabs use telepathic connections to their victims to see their surroundings. Also, they wake up any time they are being thought about and watch some recorded surveillance footage. During this research, a specimen they had previously thought to be dead and awoken before escaping from the jar. Clara had left the room and was attacked by it.

Clara wakes in a dream world where Danny is alive and they are together for Christmas. She receives warnings on chalkboards about it all being a dream and the fact that she is dying but she ignores them, wanting to be with Danny instead. She momentarily hears the Doctor trying to wake her but shuts out his voice. The Doctor asks Santa for help in retrieving another creature so the Doctor can enter her dream world and make her face the reality of the predicament she is in. Danny is the one that's able to convince Clara that she must accept his death and go on living. She can give herself five minutes to mourn him each day but carry on the rest of the time. He also says that their reunion was simply a Christmas bonus. She agrees and says goodbye, and both she and the Doctor wake up. The creatures are sent flying off their faces and turn to dust.

The Doctor realises that the feeding being interrupted is what kills them. He then deduces that they are all in a dream since they have the same "ice cream pain" on the side of their head and there's no way they could have made it out from that first attack when they met. The final proof is when he has the team of scientists check the manual they had all been issued, since the beginning word of each page is different but they should all be identical. The Dream Crabs, however, were unable to stop their subconscious from fighting back; their subconscious came to them in the form of Santa. Santa helps them to put things together and wake up.

The Doctor and Clara realise that they have to wake up once again, since "Santa" had visited Clara on her roof. He notes that upon asking everyone why they are at the North Pole, they all answer, "It's a long story." They also only have four manuals even though they had a crew of eight. They're probably not even in the same place but have simply been transported into the same nightmare. The four infected personnel are manifestations of the crew's minds that have already surrendered to death. During this discovery, they then lose one of the crew members. It appears as if they'll be cornered and done for until they dream up Santa, who rescues them and flies them "home." On the way back, the "crew" beings to remember that they're not scientists at all, but people from a variety of backgrounds and possibly other parts of the world. One by one, they begin to wake up and find disintegrated crabs by their side. They also don't seem to remember one another after waking up.

After the crew wake, the Doctor wakes and only Clara is left. She delays waking up and then the Doctor goes to Clara's and uses the sonic screwdriver to zap the crab on Clara's face and remove it. But once Clara turns on the light, the Doctor finds that it has been 62 years since he last saw Clara. The Doctor catches up with Clara and learns the various things she has gotten up to in her life. The Doctor eventually apologises and expresses regret for not coming back sooner. But they are then interrupted by Santa, who tells him to wake up, which he does for real this time. He rescues Clara for real this time and finds that she is the same age he knew her as. The Doctor then offers Clara all of time and space, and invites her to join him in the TARDIS again, which she agrees to do. As the two run off to get inside, they are left unaware of there being a tangerine left on Clara's windowsill.

Doctor Who will return on BBC One in 2015.

Atlantis S2E6 - "The Grey Sisters" Recap


Jason's chasing Medea through the forest and shouts out to her that he will find her and kill her eventually, as Medea has just mortally wounded Ariadne. But he must put his chase on hold and get Ariadne back to Atlantis so she may be tended to by healers. It's rather annoying to have Ariadne's agency interrupted like this. Let's get back to her coming into her own as Queen of Atlantis instead of being a source of man-pain for Jason.

Jason worries that his faith in people, in Medea to be exact, will lead to Ariadne's demise. Hercules has a quiet moment with Orpheus, who says that he will be reunited with Eurydice again someday, even if it's in the Underworld. Ariadne's wound isn't healing so the Oracle is summoned and begins tending to her with incantations and other mystical devices. The Oracle determines that Medea's dagger was enchanted with dark magic - a death curse that is beyond the Oracle's powers. Jason is distraught and determined to find a way to save Ariadne. The Oracle suggests Jason seek the council of the Grey Sisters, who are danger and may share thing he will not wish to hear, but at this point, it's Jason's only option.

The trio ride out to find the Grey Sisters and Hercules laments how he has done nothing to help Medusa and her plight, whereas Jason would ride to the ends of the earth to save the woman he loves. The trio reaches the Grey Sisters and Jason holds their eye ransom for answers. They say that the wound must be treated by the blood of the enchantress, so now Jason must find Medea. They also tell him that his and Medea's fates are entwined so he apparently cannot kill Medea. Presumably this is a plot point that will be developed further throughout the season. They also offer up the location of Medea and the trio head off.

The trio reach their destination and are attacked by some flying creatures. Hercules is injured and he's forced to stay behind while Pythagoras will look after him and stop the bleeding, meaning Jason will have to go in alone. Jason reaches Medea, who tells him they were both "touched by the gods" and that they have some sort of connection. It does appear that there is some tension and Jason opts to simply knock Medea out and steal some of her blood but ends up knocked out too and locked up by Pasiphae's men. Medea lies to Pasiphae, saying that he only said he intended to kill her, and Pasiphae tells Medea about Jason being her son.

Pasiphae converses with Jason after he wakes, seemingly wanting to genuinely connect with him. She even brings him food, much to his surprise. He asks why she spared him and she says that perhaps they're more similar than he thinks. Pasiphae claims that Atlantis is a great city and Ariadne is too weak to rule and defend the city from its enemies. Pasiphae adds that Ariadne is not so simply the rightful heir since her father had wrongfully usurped the throne. Pasiphae says that they must put their differences aside if they hope to save the city. She continues to try to reason with him but Jason attacks her instead when she gets close enough in proximity and the guards intervene.

Pasiphae seems saddened by the turn of events with Jason and his hostility, while Pythagoras and Hercules are able to make their way to the castle and fight their way past the guards to release Jason from his prison cell. Thankfully, Jason has still managed to get away with Medea's blood (not sure how he managed that but whatever saves our fave, Ariadne, will have to do). Jason and Medea share some intense eye contact before the trio get away.

Jason admits to Pythagoras and Hercules that he was unable to kill Medea, just as the Grey Sisters had said, and expresses his confusion over why Pasiphae spared his life when she could have ended it. The two keep quiet about the truth they know. They make it back to Atlantis with the blood, and Ariadne is restored. She asks to see Jason and says that she'll deny herself no longer, and proposes to him. He is surprised, to say the least, but he accepts.

Atlantis airs on Saturdays on BBC One.

Atlantis S2E4 - "The Marriage of True Minds" Recap


This just in: Telemon is working for Pasiphae. As if his getting in the way of our favourite Atlantian couples, Jason and Ariadne, wasn't enough to dislike him. Pasiphae is worshipping the dark gods and has promised Telemon a place in her court when she rises to power, so long as he helps to lead Ariadne to her death. So there's officially nothing we like about this bloke. But at least the Atlantian trio are spying on him, and learn from a spy that he has secretly been out of of the city.

Telemon tells Ariadne that he cannot marry her without receiving his father's blessing on their union. He wants Ariadne to travel with her out of the city, but at least Ariadne's adviser Dion is insistent that he will be the only one to know the route that they shall take to travel. Jason doesn't want Ariadne to leave and risk her life but Pythagoras and Hercules warn him that simply trying to keep her from going will only look like him lashing out due to jealousy.

Jason visits Ariadne to express his concerns but is unable to change her mind about her plans to travel and she once again apologises that there is no way she can be with him. But she agrees to let him, along with Pythagoras and Hercules, accompany her on the trip to ensure that she is protected. The group is attacked on the their travels but when the moment comes for Telemon to kill Ariadne, he is unable to go through with it. He asks that she forgive him before riding out of the battle on a horse. When he reaches Pasiphae, she is enraged that he didn't follow through so she stabs him and leaves him stranded with only a pouch of water, which Medea punctures with a sword she throws into it. At least the "servant of Poseidon" has a weapon.

Jason and the other remaining members of the team continue to try to get Ariadne to safety. On the way, Dion is injured. He tells Jason he and the others go on without him but Jason refuses to abandon him. Pasiphae and her team are still in pursuit of Ariadne, following their trial. They find help from a small party of people, including a man named Orpheus and a woman named Eurydice. Jason tells the group that they are merchants so as to ensure Ariadne's safety.

Though Orpheus is blind, he is able to see much and determines that Ariadne is queen simply by touching her hand (and perhaps magical abilities… though it's not explicitly stated). He apparently knew Ariadne's father and notes that the king was consumed by pure evil in the form of Pasiphae. Ariadne privately admits to Jason that she fears for the safety of those that protect her more than she fears for her own life.

As Pasiphae and her company draw neared to Jason's now-extended group, our heroes must take refuge in the Necropolis. It is claimed that no one who enters the Necropolis will return so Pasiphae's troops are weary to go inside. Pasiphae claims that they may find death inside it or they will find it at her hand. She even kills one soldier to prove her point but they still refuse to enter. Pasiphae heads to the entrance with Medea following after her.

Ariadne is emotional as Dion dies in her arms. Jason comes face-to-face with Medea, who moves backward as Jason moves in towards her. Ariadne comes up from behind and shoots an arrow into Pasiphae. Medea become emotional and seemingly unleashes some magic, which causes a rockslide and sends both herself and Jason falling down below while Ariadne screams out for Jason.

Atlantis S2E5 "The Day of the Dead" will air on Saturday, December 13, at 20:25.

Atlantis S2E2 - "A New Dawn: Part Two" Recap


Pasiphae's army unleashes their attack on Atlantis while Hercules and Pythagoras carry an injured Jason through the cave while being followed by a cyclops. Hercules decides to fight the cyclops alone while Pythagoras continues to move Jason and Hercules is able to blind and injure the cyclops before catching up to his friends. They're able to escape from the cave by jumping into a body of water that leads them out.

Lord Sarpedon admits his betrayal to Ariadne, who orders him to be locked up. Jason, Pythagoras, and Hercules run into the deserters while on the way back to Atlantis. Jason shows that he has the Palladium, causing all of the deserters to kneel. Ariadne sends Lord Sarpedon back to Pasiphae to be a double agent but he fails to kill her, as Medea reveals magical abilities that stop him from completing his mission, and Pasiphae executes him herself.

Jason and the others return to Atlantis and bring the Palladium back to Ariadne. The battle resumes and the deserters return just in time to help the forces of Atlantis defeat Pasiphae's army, forcing them to retreat. There is a moment where one of Pasiphae's men is about to shoot Jason but Hercules sees her kill him first so Jason is spared. He keeps this secret to himself but appears alarmed at what and why this happened.

Ariadne tearfully tells Jason that she won't be able to be with him since he is not of noble blood and she needs to maintain the good opinion of the other nobles so they do not turn against her in the fight against Pasiphae. Meanwhile, Hercules goes to the Oracle to ask why Pasiphae saved Jason's life and she denies knowing anything. He says he will ask Jason if she doesn't tell him so the Oracle admits that Pasiphae is Jason's mother. Meanwhile, Ariadne orders her general to hunt down Pasiphae and her army, and to kill Pasiphae as soon as she is caught.

Atlantis S2E3 will air on Saturday, November 29, on BBC One at 20:15.
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