Steve McQueen Highlights Necessary Histories with New Documentaries

September 25, 2021September 25, 2021 Jamal Michel

Director Steve McQueen’s newest Prime Video documentaries on West Indian and Caribbean life in 20^th century London are necessary viewing. In a style similar to Ava DuVernay’s 13^th, the Academy Award-winning director stitches together archival footage and thoughtful interviews that spotlight the violent history of some of London’s most vulnerable communities. Subnormal: A British Scandal, Black Power: A British Story of Resistance, and Uprising document the racially motivated atrocities that plagued black and brown neighborhoods across London in the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, and captures the delicate maneuverings of McQueen’s cinematic eye.

Streaming, Television

Academy Award-Winning Director Steve McQueen’s New Documentaries

August 31, 2021September 1, 2021 Jamal Michel

The masterful work of Academy Award winning director Steve McQueen spans an impressive set of genres, from films to anthology series, and now the 12 Years a Slave director has three new documentaries coming to Amazon Prime. Last year, we spoke to the talented leads in McQueen’s anthology Small Axe that examined the real-life experiences of West Indians living in mid-20th century London.

Interview, Streaming, Television

NOC Interview: Rosie Dwyer Discusses the New Season of Netflix’s ‘The A List’

July 23, 2021 Sophia Soto

Rosie Dwyer brings the character of Alex to life on The A List. The show first premiered in 2018 on BBC and was then picked up by Netflix. The second season just hit the streaming platform on June 25, 2021 and continued the mystery that left fans on the edge of their seat in season 1. The A List is definitely the binge-worthy supernatural teen drama you’ve been craving.

Interview, Streaming, Television

NOC Interview: Lisa Ambalavanar Talks All Things ‘The A List’

July 22, 2021 Sophia Soto

Lisa Ambalavanar stars as Mia in The A List. The show first premiered in 2018 on BBC and was then picked up by Netflix. The second season just hit the streaming platform on June 25, 2021 and continued the mystery that left fans on the edge of their seat in season 1. The A List is definitely the addictive supernatural teen drama you’ve been searching for.

Streaming, Television

NOC Interview: Faith Omole of ‘We Are Lady Parts’

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 Swara Salih

Nida Manzoor’s We Are Lady Parts, a British series featuring a punk rock band of all Muslim women of color, premiered here in the US on NBC’s Peacock streaming service! It’s a landmark in Muslim representation for so many viewers worldwide, who haven’t been able to see themselves represented on screen like this in such a subversive, yet bold, way like this before.

Continue reading “NOC Interview: Faith Omole of ‘We Are Lady Parts’”

Streaming, Television

British Romantic Comedy Series ‘Starstruck’ Coming to HBO Max

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Have you ever had a dream that you met a famous hot actor and instantly become inseparable?

Well, in the new HBO Max series Starstruck, Jessie (played by comedian Rose Matafeo), a millennial living in East London juggling two dead end jobs and navigating the awkward morning-after-the-night-before when she discovers the complications of accidentally sleeping with famous movie star Tom (Nikesh Patel). What she thought would become an amusing anecdote soon turns into something more, as the couple realize they can’t keep away from each other. The ensemble cast also includes Sindhu Vee, Emma Sidi, and Minnie Driver.

Sci Fi, Television1 Comment

13 Thoughts I Had After the ‘Doctor Who’ SDCC Panel

July 19, 2018July 20, 2018 Constance Gibbs

I didn’t know two years ago I’d be itching for new Doctor Who content. I’d quit the show after season 7 and many people’s impressions of 8 left me wanting, so I dropped it from my very full TV schedule. It always going to be one of my favorite shows, even if I took a break every now and then, but with the announcement of Pearl Mackie as Bill and her glorious fro, I jumped back into the TARDIS and haven’t left since.

Continue reading “13 Thoughts I Had After the ‘Doctor Who’ SDCC Panel”

Fandom, Podcasts, Sci Fi, Television

Loving ‘Doctor Who’ as a Black Woman

June 22, 2018July 3, 2018 Bayana Davis

I came to Doctor Who in 2013, after my cousin Robyn came to my house to commandeer the television for the 50th anniversary of the show. I had only vaguely heard of Who at the time and was wary about delving in deeper because I was sure I would get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of episodes there were. However, after sitting with my cousin to watch “The Day of the Doctor” — and with her assurance that I could start with New Who and not wade all the way back through episodes from the ‘60s — I decided to take the leap into time and space.

Continue reading “Loving ‘Doctor Who’ as a Black Woman”

Fandom, Sci Fi, Television2 Comments

Six Thoughts On The 13th Doktah’

July 17, 2017July 17, 2017 Dennis R. Upkins

So this weekend Doctor Who regenerated for the 13th time and is now a woman. Jodie Whittaker is replacing Peter Capaldi as the iconic Timelord.

As with all things speculative fiction and social justice, social media has been lit, to put it mildly with everyone expressing opinions for and against the new Doktah.

I have a thoughts on the new casting as well. Hence me writing this piece and you reading.

Allons y!!!!!!!!

Continue reading “Six Thoughts On The 13th Doktah’”

Fantasy38 Comments

Going Medieval

February 11, 2016February 13, 2016 Dennis R. Upkins

I’m always amazed at how many people are so quick to argue that people of color did not exist in Europe during medieval times or that black people, for instance, weren’t around during the Greek and Roman eras. And to include said PoCs during such time periods would be unrealistic and another example of shoving a PC agenda down our throats OH-EM-GEE.

This usually comes up in medieval fantasy stories. Like say for instance, Guinevere in BBC’s Merlin. Actress Angel Coulby caught heat for daring to be a beautiful powerful black queen.

Continue reading “Going Medieval”

Fantasy, Television10 Comments

BBC’s Merlin: A Retrospective

December 10, 2015December 24, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

Originally published at Geeks Out

This month marks the three year anniversary of the series finale of the BBC’s Merlin. By no means is it an all-time favorite show and more than a few formulaic eps I could’ve done without. But the show had its charms and when it brought it’s A-game, the show delivered moments that were nothing short of magic. See what I did there?

All the same, I find myself plagued with all the feels. So much so that it’s forced me to break out into song.

Continue reading “BBC’s Merlin: A Retrospective”

Sci Fi, Television11 Comments

Character Study: Doctor Martha Jones

October 21, 2015October 21, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

In honor of #BlackSpeculativeFictionMonth

[Scene: Attending a party where friends are discussing their favorite Doktah.]

Partygoer 1: I love the Classic Who’s. Tom Baker is my guy.
Partygoer 2: Eccleston, through and through.
Partygoer 3: Tennant. The only 10 I see.
Partygoer 4: My Doctor was Eleven. Denny, who is your favorite Doctor
Denny: stops typing on iPhone Huh?
Partygoer 4: Who’s your favorite Doctor?
Denny: Oh that’s easy. Dr. Martha Jones, followed closely by 10.

Resumes typing on iPhone and departs while others stand in confusion.

Continue reading “Character Study: Doctor Martha Jones”

Sci Fi, Television6 Comments

Rewatching Torchwood: Children of Earth

June 17, 2015June 17, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

So in honor of Pride Month and celebrating exceptional LGBTQ characters in speculative fiction, this weekend I did a rewatch of Torchwood: Children of Earth. There’s so much I want to convey and in the hopes of doing this review justice I’m going to break down my review into points and expound upon them in that manner.

Someone else said it best, Children of Earth was the series that should’ve gotten 10 episodes and the subsequent Miracle Day is the series that should’ve been limited to five episodes. Nevertheless, I must say that the Doctor Who spinoff brought its A-game. Not surprising considering that creator Russell T. Davies was at the writing helm.

Continue reading “Rewatching Torchwood: Children of Earth“

Sci Fi, Television3 Comments

Why The Tomorrow People Didn’t Take

May 23, 2015May 23, 2015 Dennis R. Upkins

With more than a few articles revolving around a certain Scarlet Speedster (I so wouldn’t know anything about that), our fearless leader Keith Chow has deemed this unofficial Flash Week here at the N.O.C.

In keeping with the theme, I wanted to switch gears and review another CW series that featured a few Flash alums, The Tomorrow People.

Continue reading “Why The Tomorrow People Didn’t Take”

Guest Post, Television12 Comments

Luther Remake Stalls: What Happened to Colorblind Casting?

March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 Guest N.O.C.

by Marc Bernardin | Originally posted at Playboy.com

Fox wants to bring the BBC’s award-winning, frankly awesome detective thriller Luther to the U.S., but they’ve got a problem: Finding an American Idris Elba — who brought a ruthless intelligence and rugged sexuality to the role of haunted detective chief inspector John Luther — has proved too daunting a task. So, according to The Hollywood Reporter, they’ve put their remake on hold — after, apparently, entertaining the thought of Marlon Wayans as the lead.

Continue reading “Luther Remake Stalls: What Happened to Colorblind Casting?”

Television22 Comments

Why ‘Elementary’ is Far Superior to ‘Sherlock’

March 11, 2015April 15, 2020 Dennis R. Upkins

[Ed. note: In most geek circles, the BBC’s modern interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories — starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman — gets most of the praise and attention from fans. In 2012, CBS put its own Sherlock Holmes adaptation on the air in the form of Elementary with Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu as the iconic Holmes and Watson. Needless to say, we at the NOC prefer the latter. Here are ten reasons why. — KC]

Oh yes, I go there.

Continue reading “Why ‘Elementary’ is Far Superior to ‘Sherlock’”

Animation

NOCs of the Roundtable: Danger Mouse Returns

June 20, 2014June 23, 2014 The Nerds of Color

[UPDATED: Bleeding Cool has the first look at the newly redesigned Danger Mouse and Penfold.]

If you have an affinity for cartoons about a British mouse with an eye-patch who lives in the North Pole and also happens to be a spy in the mold of an Ian Fleming novel, then you’re in luck! It turns out that the BBC is in the process of reimagining Danger Mouse for an all new generation. The network has ordered new episodes of the classic series to air in 2015.

Upon hearing this news, two of the NOC’s biggest Danger Mouse fans — the two Shawns — and Raymond took to the Roundtable to share their feelings about the character’s resurrection.

Continue reading “NOCs of the Roundtable: Danger Mouse Returns”

Recaps, Sci Fi, Television

Live-Tweets from Doctor Who‘s 50th Anniversary Special

November 24, 2013October 1, 2014 Julie Kang

On Saturday, at 11:50 Pacific Time, the 50th Anniversary episode of Doctor Who, “The Day of the Doctor,” premiered in homes and movie theaters worldwide via simulcast. The Nerds of Color held a live-tweet during the entire 75-minute episode, dishing with other Twitter Whovians about the War Doctor, the charm and cheek battle between Ten vs. Eleven, all the surprise twists, the winningest quotes, and of course… the surprise guest star appearing near the end of the episode.

Here are some highlights (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT):

Here we go! Wow, old school theme song! ooooWEEEEooooo #TheDayOfTheDoctor #DoctorWho50th #NOCtorWho

— The Nerds of Color (@TheNerdsofColor) November 23, 2013

Continue reading “Live-Tweets from Doctor Who‘s 50th Anniversary Special”

Recaps, Sci Fi, Television4 Comments

NOC Recaps Doctor Who: Which Who? That Who!

November 14, 2013February 17, 2014 Julie Kang

“The Night of the Doctor,” secret webisode by Steven Moffat

The mini-episode starts chaotically, with a brown-haired British girl at the helm of a crashing spaceship. It takes us a couple seconds to realize that it is not Clara, the current companion to the Eleventh Doctor. Her name is Cass, and she is very brave and snarky even in the face of certain death, which makes her prime companion material. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.

A flash! Then a very familiar face appears on board.

Paul McGann's surprise return — “I’m a doctor. But probably not the one you were expecting.” NO ONE was expecting The Eighth Doctor, but what a sight for sore eyes!

At this point, all of Who-fandom raised their fists into the air, growling “MOFFAT! I love you, you sneaky bastard!” This webisode was a complete surprise, you see, and now we are getting the feeling that this is a direct prequel to the 50th Anniversary episode premiering in 9 days.

Continue reading “NOC Recaps Doctor Who: Which Who? That Who!”

Sci Fi, Television7 Comments

Calling All Whovians!

November 13, 2013November 13, 2013 Julie Kang

If you have ever eaten fish sticks and custard or felt the urge to stroke a blue police box and call it “Sexy,” you probably have November 23 circled in TARDIS blue on your calendar. That is the worldwide premiere date for “The Day of the Doctor,” a special episode of Doctor Who meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the epic British sci-fi drama.