Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: The Book
By Joss Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon, Zack Whedon
160 pages
Buy it on Amazon.
Titan Books
Welcome to Very Aware’s first book review. I don’t expect many at our site but when a book like this one comes along I think it makes sense for us to give it a read. DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG is one of the most successful web series of all time, spawning soundtracks, DVDs, toys, and countless Comic Con costumes. Not only that but the series took big screen talent and brought it to your computer monitor. Never before had stars from television and screen done something like this. It really was one of a kind.
The book, published by Titan, is really a collection of memories and behind-the-scenes photos and insight from the making of DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG. It’s hard to review a book like this. You see, unless you’re a fan of the series this book doesn’t really serve a purpose. That doesn’t make it bad by any means, just limited in its appeal. However, fans will want to grab this thing because it has the original shooting script, clever commentary by series creators plus linear notes from all the songs. Been dying to play “My Freeze Ray”? Well, your prayers are answered.
While some of the book won’t feel new (if you’ve seen the show then you’ve basically read the script) some of the production notes from Whedon and company are really fascinating. The Whedon brothers and Maurissa Tancharoen tell us how the series came to be. Basically, Joss Whedon was still on a high after his successful musical episode of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. He was writing music in his spare time and kicking around ideas for a podcast or something to distribute online. That happened to coincide with the writer’s guild strike and the project was born. The group gets into detail about writing the music, casting the series, shooting it for a very limited budget (out of their pockets). We also get cool photos of the show’s success, from Comic Con to various awards shows (they even won an Emmy!). The whole crew seems really passionate and proud of what they created and they should be. Their commentary about the entire experience is worth the read for any fan. And, yes, Joss Whedon is just as witty in text.
Also worth the read are cool little tidbits like a look at the costume design and notes from series stars Nathan Fillion (who gives us a haiku), Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day. I wish we were given more interviews from them but their little additions are nicely peppered throughout the text. As mentioned before, the behind-the-scenes photos are special, showing Whedon really devoting himself to the project and Fillon looking like a playful and fun-loving guy.
Are there things missing from the book? Sure, we could always use more photos, more cast interviews, more making-of segments. But a book like this isn’t intended to be a in-depth account of the show’s production. Instead this is for the fans, something to put on your coffee table or bust out when you want to sing with friends. It’s comparable to the special features on a DVD you really love. You won’t watch the special features a lot but they’re important to have around.
If you’re a huge devotee of DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG then this book is a perfect gift or addition to your bookshelf. It’s lacking in some areas but also loaded with pictures and other neat tidbits that fans will love. Put it on your bookshelf, your coffee table or your piano.
3.5 out of 5
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