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lostcarparkAs usual, James waits till after this week's episode to post his review of last week's.
I'm a fan of Stephen Moffet's writing, so was pretty excited when he took over RTD's job. His first couple of episodes this series were perhaps a little disappointing. I enjoyed them, but they just weren't all that they could be. But I had faith that the old Moffet that brought us some of the most loved stories of Doctor Who.
Fortunately this two parter doesn't disappoint. Moffet bring back several of his creations from older episodes to back up a heavy hitter.
First there's River Song. She appears as some sort of secret agent investigator on board a starship. With amazing shoes. Exiting sharply left with a hat tip Douglas Adams into the arms of the Doctor. I really liked the jumping between two times, with the scene unfolding across twelve thousand years.
River is played out brilliantly, expanding her character from the last time we saw her. There are hints at things from her past. It would be great to see this story unfold over several years, even regenerations of the doctor, though that will be tricky to do.
The soldier clerics were a great touch, especially with titles like "bishop second class." There wes some wonderful dialogue between them and the Doctor, who one gets the feeling, isn't terribly religious.
And, of course, we have the return of the angels. Only badder, because now not only must we not look away, we mustn't look at their eyes. And they don't seem so concerned about covering their eyes any more - probably because they know they are in a cave and will be able to move as soon as the lights go out.
Somehow they didn't seem quite as scary in this episode, though the scene with the angel coming out of the television was pure behind-the-sofa stuff. I think this is because the episode was more story driven than fright driven than Blink.
The army of angels gradually growing in strength was another brilliant touch. Having them start as half formed creatures and gradually get more of their power back helped to build tension.
This plot worked brilliantly as a two parter, the first in the caves, the second in the ship. Moving from one ssetting to the next gave it a sense of progression.
The forest scene was especially clever, putting Amy surrounded by enemies where the one thing you mustn't do is close your eyes, except the one thing she must do is keep her eyes closed.
I was also rather glad to see the crack actually play a part in the story. I was worried that the story arc would follow the pattern of RTD where we're given little clues thrown into random episodes and when it's drawn together in the final episode we're supposed to think how very clever it all is. So I'm very glad to see this crop up in the middle of episode 5. It should make for a much more interesting story arc if the Doctor knows there's something the matter, and he's working to fix it across multiple episodes.
I thought it quite brilliant how the Doctor defeated the angels - or rather, how they defeated themselves. But before that, a clever dilema they offered the Doctor - give up your life so that your friends might survive. Of course the Doctor counters by telling his friends to get a grip - echoing River's line at the start of the story.
Overall, this episode is brilliantly contrived and executed, adding a number of new ideas to the Who universe as well as expanding several existing ones, all while poking fun at itself, for the Doctor should never be accused of taking himself too seriously.
And this is definitely one two parter where the second half really lives up to the first.
I'm hoping plenty more episodes of this calibar during the rest of this season. Well done Mr Moffett.
I'm a fan of Stephen Moffet's writing, so was pretty excited when he took over RTD's job. His first couple of episodes this series were perhaps a little disappointing. I enjoyed them, but they just weren't all that they could be. But I had faith that the old Moffet that brought us some of the most loved stories of Doctor Who.
Fortunately this two parter doesn't disappoint. Moffet bring back several of his creations from older episodes to back up a heavy hitter.
First there's River Song. She appears as some sort of secret agent investigator on board a starship. With amazing shoes. Exiting sharply left with a hat tip Douglas Adams into the arms of the Doctor. I really liked the jumping between two times, with the scene unfolding across twelve thousand years.
River is played out brilliantly, expanding her character from the last time we saw her. There are hints at things from her past. It would be great to see this story unfold over several years, even regenerations of the doctor, though that will be tricky to do.
The soldier clerics were a great touch, especially with titles like "bishop second class." There wes some wonderful dialogue between them and the Doctor, who one gets the feeling, isn't terribly religious.
And, of course, we have the return of the angels. Only badder, because now not only must we not look away, we mustn't look at their eyes. And they don't seem so concerned about covering their eyes any more - probably because they know they are in a cave and will be able to move as soon as the lights go out.
Somehow they didn't seem quite as scary in this episode, though the scene with the angel coming out of the television was pure behind-the-sofa stuff. I think this is because the episode was more story driven than fright driven than Blink.
The army of angels gradually growing in strength was another brilliant touch. Having them start as half formed creatures and gradually get more of their power back helped to build tension.
This plot worked brilliantly as a two parter, the first in the caves, the second in the ship. Moving from one ssetting to the next gave it a sense of progression.
The forest scene was especially clever, putting Amy surrounded by enemies where the one thing you mustn't do is close your eyes, except the one thing she must do is keep her eyes closed.
I was also rather glad to see the crack actually play a part in the story. I was worried that the story arc would follow the pattern of RTD where we're given little clues thrown into random episodes and when it's drawn together in the final episode we're supposed to think how very clever it all is. So I'm very glad to see this crop up in the middle of episode 5. It should make for a much more interesting story arc if the Doctor knows there's something the matter, and he's working to fix it across multiple episodes.
I thought it quite brilliant how the Doctor defeated the angels - or rather, how they defeated themselves. But before that, a clever dilema they offered the Doctor - give up your life so that your friends might survive. Of course the Doctor counters by telling his friends to get a grip - echoing River's line at the start of the story.
Overall, this episode is brilliantly contrived and executed, adding a number of new ideas to the Who universe as well as expanding several existing ones, all while poking fun at itself, for the Doctor should never be accused of taking himself too seriously.
And this is definitely one two parter where the second half really lives up to the first.
I'm hoping plenty more episodes of this calibar during the rest of this season. Well done Mr Moffett.
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no subject
Date: 2010-05-09 11:24 am (UTC)Doctor: Ah, Bishop Octavian!
Octavian: Bishop? It's just Father, if you don't mind.
River: Spoilers!
no subject
Date: 2010-05-09 02:07 pm (UTC)