Doctor Who Audiobooks: Where to start

A couple weeks ago, my British boss and I were talking about the BBC 4 audio player and I commented on how when I had been traveling in the U.K., I heard audiobooks playing on the radio, which is a rarity in the U.S. without special channels. My boss nodded and replied, "Just like there is nothing like a Hollywood movie, there is nothing like a British audio drama."

I mention this because if you are a Doctor Who fan who has not discovered the DW Audio dramas produced by British company, Big Finish, you are missing out. These are fully cast and scored stories with all the elements of an episode except the visuals. And like any good audio story, they do a great job of compensating for that.

Now when you visit their website, you might initially be overwhelmed by the selection and have no idea where you want to start. Fear not, I'm here to help. Here's an overview of what I think are the best spots to enter, based on my own experiences. Your choices will of course hinge on which Doctor or characters you are interested in exploring. The stories mostly add extra adventures to what we already know, but in some cases, they fill in gaping holes in the mythology that fans have long been curious about.

The Marvel Movies: You're Either In All the Way Or You're Out

Back in 2012, just after The Avengers came out, I was talking to a friend about it and he told me he hated the movie. He didn't understand what Thor and Loki were fighting about, he didn't get what the deal with the Tesseract was, he didn't know what was going on with Black Widow, or what SHIELD was supposed to be. When I explained that all that info was in the previous movies, he replied, "What? I have to watch other movies to understand this one? That's stupid. This movie should explain everything I need to know."

A couple years later, I was marathoning the MCU films with my step-mom's family. Cumulatively, they had seen about half of them. When we finished Iron Man 2, my aunt said, "so now we watch Iron Man 3?" I said, "No, now we watch Thor, Captain America, The Avengers, and then Iron Man 3." She was puzzled. She wanted to watch Iron Man 3 and didn't understand why we had to wait.

Earlier this year, my friends and I were making plans to go see Captain America: Civil War. Everyone was excited, but one friend asked, "I haven't seen Captain America 2, is that bad?" I was honestly astounded that he was excited enough to see it opening weekend, but hadn't bothered to see the previous one. I explained that not only did he need to see The Winter Soldier, he also needed to see Avengers: Age of Ultron and, if he had time, Ant-Man.

All these cases are people coming from the same general assumption; that each Marvel film, even the team ups, is self-contained and the only thing that matters is watching the individual character lines in the right order. That's been the Hollywood model for superhero films up to this point, but as the loyal Marvelites know, it's no longer the case. The entire Marvel line is one giant series. Each one contributes to a larger story that feeds into the next one. You wouldn't expect The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King to explain what the ring is and how it works, because that was already explained in the first film which you presumably saw. Likewise, the Marvel films will always assume you've seen the previous installments.

Guide to the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 1 & 2

PHASE I
Iron Man 
This is the first film and assumes as much. It very gradually introduces the audience to a superhero character before dropping the bomb of that it's only the beginning of a larger universe. 

The Incredible Hulk
This film is stylistically similar to Iron Man and expands on the "larger universe" that Iron Man promised. We get our first character with actual powers. 

Iron Man 2
This film escalates the universe and begins really putting pieces in place for The Avengers. The post credit scene sets up Thor. 

One Shot: A Funny Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (on the Captain America Blu Ray)
This is an optional little interlude that expands on Agent Coulson on his way to the events of Thor. 

Thor
Expands the cosmic side of universe and gives the biggest glimpse into SHIELD. It further sets up The Avengers by introducing its villain and the terrasect. 

One Shot: The Consultant (on the Thor Blu Ray)
Functions as an epilogue to Thor and explains the closing scene from Hulk and precisely when those events took place. 

Captain America: The First Avenger
Though chronologically the first of the series, it relies on Thor to make sense. The bookend scenes also take place almost immediately before The Avengers. 

The Avengers
An act one finale to the events to date. This is the climax to stories from all five previous films and sets up the future of the series. 

Beginner's Guide to Classic Star Trek

Let's face the sad fact that J.J. Abrams new Star Trek films are here to stay.  While they are increasing the number of people who are aware of Star Trek and have seen the movies, most of these new people are often viciously reprimanded that they chose the wrong installment to enter Trek.  Indeed, the new films are truly dumbed down action pieces with little substance and lackluster plots.  Action was never the lure for Trekkies, it was the gravy.

Speaking personally, every time I've told someone to try to watch the older Trek, they usually express intimidation at the size of the franchise, and with 726 episodes plus 12 films, I don't blame them.  What I've done for them is pare the franchise down to absolute essentials.  Instead of watching six full series, they only watch a sampling of each of them to get gist of them.  Ideally, this is enough to hook them into watching more, but if not, they can at least counter the reprimands of the die hard trekkies with an informed decision.

A Completionist Guide to Battlestar Galactica

Most people I know who start watching this series view it in the order of release.  Well, that's not really necessary or even beneficial.  There are prequel series, TV movies, and web series that are scattered throughout the series run and only rarely appear in the proper order with the main series.  Now, after careful analysis, I've determined that a chronological viewing is equally, if not more, acceptable as the release.    

Caprica: (all episodes)
Movie: Blood & Chrome (available on DVD/Blu Ray or digital download)
Webisodes: Razor Minisodes (available on Razor DVD)
Season 1: (all episodes)
Season 2: Scattered - The Captain's Hand
Season 4 Movie: Razor
Season 2: Downloaded - Lay Down Your Burdens
Webisodes: The Resistance (available on DVDs and online)
Season 3: (all episodes)
Season 4: He That Believeth in Me - Sometimes a Great Notion
Webisodes: Face of the Enemy (only available online)
Season 4: A Disquiet Follows My Soul - No Exit
Movie: The Plan
Season 4: Deadlock - Daybreak

If you're planning to enter the Battlestar saga for the first time, I suggest you follow the order I've laid out and tell me what you think.  Caprica and the first two web series are optional, but recommended.  It's also all or nothing.  If you skip Caprica, then jump straight to Battlestar Galactica season 1.  Neither Blood & Chrome nor the Razor Minisodes function very well as introductory material.  

If you're familiar with BSG and are planning to introduce someone to it, read on and I'll outline my reasons for this order.  

A Look Back at James Bond 007, 1962-2012

The latest Bond film is coming soon and as the new installment is bringing back some of the older staples, I thought it was time for a look back at the previous incarnations of the silver screen.  

Aliens, Predators, and Gods, oh my!

The upcoming Prometheus is a prequel to Alien, the first of four films and two crossovers. With a new story and direction in the series, let's take a look at what this universe contains so far.

SPOILERS OF THE ALIEN AND PREDATOR MOVIES AHEAD.

Primer for The Avengers

The release of Marvel's big crossover film, The Avengers, is coming out this week.  Now, despite what AMC Theaters would have you to believe, there is a chronological viewer order that differs from the release order.  This post lists the Marvel films in that order, with all information needed to watch The Avengers.  

REVISED ON 06/15/13