Sunday 31 May 2009

Karen Gillan as new Doctor Who companion


This is a bit of a redundant post as I'm sure if you follow Doctor Who you will have seen this already over the weekend. But just in case you haven't... Karen Gillan has been announced as the new companion for the fifth series of the new Doctor Who.

The new episodes won't be on TV until Spring 2010 but I assume they are gearing up to start filming around now.

Karen was in the Roman episode from the last series so I need to go back and watch that one again.

She is also the first red-haired companion since... well, the last one I suppose.

I have high hopes for the new series as Stephen Moffat is taking charge. He was responsible for the episode "Blink" in the third series. I still maintain that story was one of the best episodes of any TV series I have ever seen.
Ever.

Here's the news as reported on the BBC News website:

Lara Pulver in Robin Hood 3.09


Another strong episode this week, and one that could be subtitled "Isabella Turns to the Dark Side".

It's Isabella's first day as Sheriff. She gets off to a good start and frees a girl called Meg who didn't want to marry any of the chinless wonders her father had lined up for her. Isabella obviously makes a connection with the girl. Then Isabella announces the forthcoming execution of her brother Guy.

Then enter Thornton, Isabella's bad husband. You can tell he's bad because at various points in the episode he chases her, makes her cry, makes her dig for gold coins in a burial mound and grabs her face roughly.

Isabella is rescued by Robin and promises she'll support King Richard and give him the gold if he gets rid of Thornton. However later she discovers that Robin has eyes for Kate. After being terrorised by Thornton she decides that Robin's deal is another threat hanging over her and double-crosses him. She is so wary of being betrayed that she also condemns the Meg to death for trying to free Gisborne.

Robin's intervenes and Gisborne and Meg escape the execution, although Meg is mortally wounded.

Thornton returns and Isabella kills him, her "first murder" as Robin calls it. By the end of the episode Isabella is dressed in suitably dark clothes and promising vengeance on Robin.

Lara Pulver does another terrific job with this episode. She dominates the screen in her journey to the dark side.

Special mention of Holliday Grainger who did a good job playing Meg. Most of her scenes were shared with Richard Armitage in the cells. Her character appears pivotal in at least partially rehabilitating Gisborne.
Now here are 36 screen grab type images of Lara...










Not happy to see Thornton












Making the deal with Robin



Realising Meg has betrayed her
Giving Robin the "gold"




At the executuion


Thornton returns



Rebecca Hall article in Sunday Times

There's a good Rebecca Hall article in today's Sunday Times. It takes up two pages of the Culture section and largly covers her current stage work.

I've had a go scanning the big full-page photo and it turned out not too shabby:



You can read the words at
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/article6379392.ece

Wednesday 27 May 2009

Lara Pulver in Sunday Express "S magazine"

Lara Pulver was featured in the 17 May 2009 issue of the Sunday Express "S magazine" where they took a look in her closet. Here are my scans:




Sunday 24 May 2009

Lara Pulver in Robin Hood Episode 3.08

After a missing a week due to Eurovision it's nice to have robin Hood back on a Saturday night. In this episode Prince John is a bit impatient for a coronation so produces a waxwork of the "dead" king. Most of the episode revolves around Robin and his chums trying to get the fake body and then the crown to prevent the coronation from happening.

Also this week Isabella hears of an opening for the position of Sheriff and is trying to get the job. She captures her brother to sweeten the deal but it all goes a bit wrong when he escapes. Never mind, she gets back in the prince's good books by throwing herself between the prince an arrow aimed at him.

As usual Toby Stephens excels at the vain prince. His call of "do you LOVE me?!" to the crowd is worth this week's share of the licence fee alone.

And as usual I am smitten by Lara Pulver as Isabella. She's really very good.

Here are a bunch of screen-grab type images of Lara. And as a bonus for the ladies there's a glimpse of Richard Armitage about halfway down the page.