“Don’t Blink.” scary words muttered the Tenth Doctor to Sally Sparrow via the medium of DVD. He was trying to protect her from perhaps the best monster that has been devised for Doctor Who, if not ever. They are the perfect killers, as they move when you do one of the most basic of bodily actions, blink. Blink is one of my favourite episode of Doctor Who, ever.
So did their return disappoint me? No. The Time of Angels was the first of a two parter. Written by Steven Moffat we get the return of the Weeping Angels and River Song. Who, unlike her previous appearance in Silence of the Library/ Forest of the Dead, was different. She was younger and more adventurous; not unlike a certain Lara Croft. A refreshing change in my opinion. When you bring back character they need to be different.
The story was quickly paced and the 45 minutes rattled along and unlike the previous two stories that did not fit the time slot, this one did. Perhaps it was because the story was over two parts we got to know the characters a little better.
The fact we were expecting a single Angel to do a lot of damage and then it did very little was a good twist as we hardly saw it. His was a great way of building up tension as we sit at the edges of our seat, waiting for it to appear out of the darkness. But we were not given this, as we discover its motive for crashing the Byzantium, to reawaken its army. A great little twist there.
If I had one problem with the story is that they do have problems getting the sound levels right. The music does seem to drown out various bits of the dialogue, though by being away in London and watching the episode on the Iplayer I did not have to put up with Graham Norton reappearing.
All in all I enjoyed this episode. More comment will follow after seeing the second episode. However a good solid 8/10 for this story.
Monday 26 April 2010
Sunday 25 April 2010
Norton didn't outshine the outstanding Angels
Graham Norton made a second, equally unwitting and unwelcome, appearance on Doctor Who last night but I hope that does not outshine the fact that The Time of Angels was fantastic.
After two weeks of stories packed full of good ideas, but not enough plot to expand on them, this gave me the "meat" I was craving for.
River Song, a character who dangerously veers towards irritating at times but just about stays clear, was a well-rounded and enjoyable addition that immediately added intrigue to the tale.
Matt Smith continues his new age-Troughton Doctor routine superbly while Karen Gillan gets to handle the key "frights" this week.
The Maze of the Dead was absolutely classic Who - as indeed are the wonderfully sinister and genuinely scarely Angels. This episode developed along nicely at a tense pace - with the predictable loss of a couple of characters that had their fate written all over them as soon as they appeared on screen.
The Doctor's sadness at the lack of "vworp vworp" was a highlight and I even enjoyed the cliffhanger - which borrowed from the Eccleston "I'm coming to get you" style. That's destined for the Smitt-era highlights reel already.
This was exactly what I'd wanted to see from Moffat-era Who. It looked great, contained fleshed out three-dimensional characters and benefitted from the chance to build up the tension steadily across the episode. Here's hoping for a similarly superb 45-minutes to polish off the story.
9/10
After two weeks of stories packed full of good ideas, but not enough plot to expand on them, this gave me the "meat" I was craving for.
River Song, a character who dangerously veers towards irritating at times but just about stays clear, was a well-rounded and enjoyable addition that immediately added intrigue to the tale.
Matt Smith continues his new age-Troughton Doctor routine superbly while Karen Gillan gets to handle the key "frights" this week.
The Maze of the Dead was absolutely classic Who - as indeed are the wonderfully sinister and genuinely scarely Angels. This episode developed along nicely at a tense pace - with the predictable loss of a couple of characters that had their fate written all over them as soon as they appeared on screen.
The Doctor's sadness at the lack of "vworp vworp" was a highlight and I even enjoyed the cliffhanger - which borrowed from the Eccleston "I'm coming to get you" style. That's destined for the Smitt-era highlights reel already.
This was exactly what I'd wanted to see from Moffat-era Who. It looked great, contained fleshed out three-dimensional characters and benefitted from the chance to build up the tension steadily across the episode. Here's hoping for a similarly superb 45-minutes to polish off the story.
9/10
Friday 23 April 2010
The Doctor vs the iDaleks!
For the second week running this was a stroy chock full of elements that are absolutely "up my street". The historical setting, Churchill and devious Dalek seems the perfect recipe for a Doctor Who story.
And once again it had its very strong points. The first 15 minutes or so were fabulous. Matt continues his form as a galloping, cheeky but passionate Doctor, Karen is a successful foil and Ian McNeice was fabulous as the cigar-smoking war leader of legend. Yes it was a slight caricature but this is Who and, for me, he absolutely nailed the role without ever becoming a camp imitation.
The wasn't anything essentially wrong with the next 30 minutes either. The re-birth of the Daleks in bold colours is excellent for the marketing team - but also gave a fresh start to the oldest of old foes - and secure their place to come back to haunt the Doctor.
The fact they "won" and the fact that Amy does not recognise them also leaves a chilling background thought to add to yet another "crack" in the universe.
The Star Wars with Spitfires section also added a suitable splash of action and adventure.
The problem for me was not the first 15 or the last 30 but the fact that they did not have anything in between. The beginning set the scene beautifully and I loved the close up shot of the Doctor leaning in to the camera in which the Dalek passed the door way behind. But there simply wasn't enough deviousness and scheming for me - virtually as soon as the Doctor confronted them they were off to re-boot and we were denied extra Churchill and Dalek screen time.
Just like last week there was a superb set-up but barely no "middle" before the story passed into the end.
I enjoyed this story, and even more so on second viewing it has to be said, but I think I would have absolutely loved it if it were expanded to include more period intrigue over the two parts (with the Daleks turning bad again as a cliffhanger).
Thankfully next week's two-parter may just provide that meaty middle that these last two have lacked.
7/10
And once again it had its very strong points. The first 15 minutes or so were fabulous. Matt continues his form as a galloping, cheeky but passionate Doctor, Karen is a successful foil and Ian McNeice was fabulous as the cigar-smoking war leader of legend. Yes it was a slight caricature but this is Who and, for me, he absolutely nailed the role without ever becoming a camp imitation.
The wasn't anything essentially wrong with the next 30 minutes either. The re-birth of the Daleks in bold colours is excellent for the marketing team - but also gave a fresh start to the oldest of old foes - and secure their place to come back to haunt the Doctor.
The fact they "won" and the fact that Amy does not recognise them also leaves a chilling background thought to add to yet another "crack" in the universe.
The Star Wars with Spitfires section also added a suitable splash of action and adventure.
The problem for me was not the first 15 or the last 30 but the fact that they did not have anything in between. The beginning set the scene beautifully and I loved the close up shot of the Doctor leaning in to the camera in which the Dalek passed the door way behind. But there simply wasn't enough deviousness and scheming for me - virtually as soon as the Doctor confronted them they were off to re-boot and we were denied extra Churchill and Dalek screen time.
Just like last week there was a superb set-up but barely no "middle" before the story passed into the end.
I enjoyed this story, and even more so on second viewing it has to be said, but I think I would have absolutely loved it if it were expanded to include more period intrigue over the two parts (with the Daleks turning bad again as a cliffhanger).
Thankfully next week's two-parter may just provide that meaty middle that these last two have lacked.
7/10
Thursday 22 April 2010
And here come the Daleks
So, episode 3 and here are the Daleks. From the early rumours of the similarity to the Patrick Troughton debut story Power of the Daleks I was looking forward to this episode. My eagneress was increased when I heard that Mark Gatiss would be writing this episode.
Did they let me down? Yes and No. I loved the new look Daleks. I loved the Spitfire attack on the Dalek Ship. Every thing about this story was great. Ian McNiece was brilliant as Winston Churchill. He portrayed him as a man who will do anything to make sure that Britain survives.
The Doctor was, as he should be, in the centre of this story. He had to stop the Daleks once and for all and failed. But yet, when he attacked the Dalek, we saw the scarred sole survivour of the time war. A man who has to carry the burden of being the last of the Time Lords.
However it did have one major flaw and that flaw is that it need to be longer. Since 2005, Doctor Who stories, I felt generally needed to be ten to fifteen minutes longer to carry the story a little better. the only exception to this is Blink.
So my score for the Victory of the Daleks. 7/10, a good story but let down by the fact it need to be longer.
P.S. Also Daleks with Webbing. Brilliant.
Did they let me down? Yes and No. I loved the new look Daleks. I loved the Spitfire attack on the Dalek Ship. Every thing about this story was great. Ian McNiece was brilliant as Winston Churchill. He portrayed him as a man who will do anything to make sure that Britain survives.
The Doctor was, as he should be, in the centre of this story. He had to stop the Daleks once and for all and failed. But yet, when he attacked the Dalek, we saw the scarred sole survivour of the time war. A man who has to carry the burden of being the last of the Time Lords.
However it did have one major flaw and that flaw is that it need to be longer. Since 2005, Doctor Who stories, I felt generally needed to be ten to fifteen minutes longer to carry the story a little better. the only exception to this is Blink.
So my score for the Victory of the Daleks. 7/10, a good story but let down by the fact it need to be longer.
P.S. Also Daleks with Webbing. Brilliant.
Sunday 18 April 2010
Amy first trip.
So here we are, the first trip in the Tardis and we are taken to New England (that's in the future and not America) This story had a lot going for it. The Smilers, Steven Moffat, and a space whale and that's before I even mentioned the Demon Headmaster, a man who helped terrify me in my childhood.
This story should have been about a society in decay, worshiping the great unseen monster that slumbers in the depths and to an extent we got this. However the story lacked something that would push it into the truly terrifying. As my esteemed reviewer has already commented on, Terrance Hardyman was a wasted opportunity. It may have been typecasting, but he should have been in a role where he was the baddy, controlling the country.
However despite the story's failings there were two highlights. Firstly I thought Amy Pond was brilliant. The crux of the story rested on her and she made it work. She saw the Space Whale as she saw the Doctor, a benevolent old guy who came to rescue crying children. Karen Gillan was, on the basis of this episode alone, the perfect cast. She's brilliant and I expect more from her in the future.
The second was Matt Smith as the Doctor. I loved the moment where he proclaims the only thing he can do is kill the space whale and then have to find a new name as he won't be the Doctor. He knew what he had to do was not the Doctor and if he did it, he would have to become something new.
Also the ending was great. Winston Churchill calling the Doctor and the shadow of a dalek/ ironside on the wall. All in all an episode of missed chances, but still enjoyable. 6 / 10
This story should have been about a society in decay, worshiping the great unseen monster that slumbers in the depths and to an extent we got this. However the story lacked something that would push it into the truly terrifying. As my esteemed reviewer has already commented on, Terrance Hardyman was a wasted opportunity. It may have been typecasting, but he should have been in a role where he was the baddy, controlling the country.
However despite the story's failings there were two highlights. Firstly I thought Amy Pond was brilliant. The crux of the story rested on her and she made it work. She saw the Space Whale as she saw the Doctor, a benevolent old guy who came to rescue crying children. Karen Gillan was, on the basis of this episode alone, the perfect cast. She's brilliant and I expect more from her in the future.
The second was Matt Smith as the Doctor. I loved the moment where he proclaims the only thing he can do is kill the space whale and then have to find a new name as he won't be the Doctor. He knew what he had to do was not the Doctor and if he did it, he would have to become something new.
Also the ending was great. Winston Churchill calling the Doctor and the shadow of a dalek/ ironside on the wall. All in all an episode of missed chances, but still enjoyable. 6 / 10
Friday 16 April 2010
I'm still on board, but.....
The Beast Below, by Steven Moffat
This was an odd one for me. All the signs said I should have LOVED this. The Orwellian undertones of the society that choses to forget, the Smilers, the ruddy Demon Headmaster!
But somehow it just didn't quite "click". Liz 10 was cringeworthy, the Smilers didn't really do anything, and Terrence Hardiman was sadly wasted in a largely irrelevant role.
This was one tale that could have done with being a bit longer for me. Maybe use Hardiman as more of a red herring "baddy", get more frights out of the fantastic looking Smilers and just generally add lashings of mystery.
There were other high points though - Matt Smith continues to impress, Karen Gillan was excellent and the "cracks in the universe" thing is suitably intriguing.
So don't worry Steve (although I'm sure you won't!!) - I wasn't quite with you on this one but next week's looks mouth-wateringly good and the signs are still there for a brilliant series. I guess with this one I just felt that, with such strong ideas and cast, it could have been so so much better...
6/10
This was an odd one for me. All the signs said I should have LOVED this. The Orwellian undertones of the society that choses to forget, the Smilers, the ruddy Demon Headmaster!
But somehow it just didn't quite "click". Liz 10 was cringeworthy, the Smilers didn't really do anything, and Terrence Hardiman was sadly wasted in a largely irrelevant role.
This was one tale that could have done with being a bit longer for me. Maybe use Hardiman as more of a red herring "baddy", get more frights out of the fantastic looking Smilers and just generally add lashings of mystery.
There were other high points though - Matt Smith continues to impress, Karen Gillan was excellent and the "cracks in the universe" thing is suitably intriguing.
So don't worry Steve (although I'm sure you won't!!) - I wasn't quite with you on this one but next week's looks mouth-wateringly good and the signs are still there for a brilliant series. I guess with this one I just felt that, with such strong ideas and cast, it could have been so so much better...
6/10
Tuesday 13 April 2010
The Eleventh Hour
I liked the Eleventh Hour, a lot. Perhaps, a little too much. As I sat down to watch it for the first time, I was nervous. Not because I thought Steven Moffat was going to ruin Doctor Who. I was wondering if I was going to like it. Since Russell T Davis brought back Doctor Who in 2005 there have been four season openers. Two of them have been good (Smith and Jones and Rose) and two of them, which I thought, had been a little average and could, have been just another story and not a season opener (New Earth and Partners in Crime). However, my fears were soon put to one side.
Doctor Who came back with a bang and almost destroyed Big Ben, again. Steven Moffat gave us a superb season opener. We met the new Doctor, a little unhinged by his recent regeneration. In Matt Smith portrayal of the Doctor we got flashes of the kindness of the fifth Doctor, the action hero that was the third doctor and of course the bizarreness of Tom Baker’s forth Doctor. Matt Smith is definitely the Doctor.
Moffat’s plot was simple and this is what I like about it. A monster has escaped to Earth (through a crack in a wall) and the Doctor has to stop it. We have our running down corridors. We have a beautiful alien creature and even the CGI space ships were nice. Something, which I felt, that Doctor Who in recent years has not been very good at.
I won’t mention Karen Gillan as the wonderful Amy Pond as, having seen The Beast Beneath; I’ll discuss her more there. However she gives a strong performance and I am happy with her as the new companion
To sum up my opening review; I enjoyed this episode. It had a great plot that rattled along, not once did it feel as if it was dragging. It was silly when it needed to be, but that was put to one side when it was time to get to business.
8/10
Oh and unlike my esteemed colleague I loved the new title sequence and music.
Doctor Who came back with a bang and almost destroyed Big Ben, again. Steven Moffat gave us a superb season opener. We met the new Doctor, a little unhinged by his recent regeneration. In Matt Smith portrayal of the Doctor we got flashes of the kindness of the fifth Doctor, the action hero that was the third doctor and of course the bizarreness of Tom Baker’s forth Doctor. Matt Smith is definitely the Doctor.
Moffat’s plot was simple and this is what I like about it. A monster has escaped to Earth (through a crack in a wall) and the Doctor has to stop it. We have our running down corridors. We have a beautiful alien creature and even the CGI space ships were nice. Something, which I felt, that Doctor Who in recent years has not been very good at.
I won’t mention Karen Gillan as the wonderful Amy Pond as, having seen The Beast Beneath; I’ll discuss her more there. However she gives a strong performance and I am happy with her as the new companion
To sum up my opening review; I enjoyed this episode. It had a great plot that rattled along, not once did it feel as if it was dragging. It was silly when it needed to be, but that was put to one side when it was time to get to business.
8/10
Oh and unlike my esteemed colleague I loved the new title sequence and music.
Saturday 10 April 2010
Back with a bang...
The Eleventh Hour, by Steven Moffat
And we're off! Ok, so I'm not immediately fond of the music or titles but I always did think they'd struggle to change the last one for the better. And while we're at it the in-episode music was far too loud! As much as I like Murray Gold's work I'd rather here the dialogue!
Right, that said (and I wouldn't be a-British, b-a Doctor Who fan, without a good old moan) this was a barnstorming good start for the Matt Smith/Moffat era. Series openers can be hit and miss but Smith's incarnation brings instant other-worldly appeal and edge-of-your-seat excitement to the role.
Bringing the Doctor in as the companion's "imaginary friend" was a master stroke, offering a new and interesting take on the Doctor-companion relationship that wouold appear to have good mileage for forthcoming adventures. The look and feel was refreshing too - the good-old English village green a welcome change from the London bubble of previous years.
The alien threat, albeit not always the sole focus of the episode, was decent fare - giant eyeballs chasing shape-shifting lizard/snakes, menacing things in the corner of your eye, an unnerving crack in the wall - all classic Who-style elements that Moffat does very well.
I also enjoyed the slightly more "pat on the back" stuff when the Doctor warns the Atraxi that Earth is defended. It was a long-ish sequence that can only be done in a first episode but gave Matt chance to win us over once more and set the tone for the series to come.
On this evidence it could be a thrilling few weeks ahead...
8/10
And we're off! Ok, so I'm not immediately fond of the music or titles but I always did think they'd struggle to change the last one for the better. And while we're at it the in-episode music was far too loud! As much as I like Murray Gold's work I'd rather here the dialogue!
Right, that said (and I wouldn't be a-British, b-a Doctor Who fan, without a good old moan) this was a barnstorming good start for the Matt Smith/Moffat era. Series openers can be hit and miss but Smith's incarnation brings instant other-worldly appeal and edge-of-your-seat excitement to the role.
Bringing the Doctor in as the companion's "imaginary friend" was a master stroke, offering a new and interesting take on the Doctor-companion relationship that wouold appear to have good mileage for forthcoming adventures. The look and feel was refreshing too - the good-old English village green a welcome change from the London bubble of previous years.
The alien threat, albeit not always the sole focus of the episode, was decent fare - giant eyeballs chasing shape-shifting lizard/snakes, menacing things in the corner of your eye, an unnerving crack in the wall - all classic Who-style elements that Moffat does very well.
I also enjoyed the slightly more "pat on the back" stuff when the Doctor warns the Atraxi that Earth is defended. It was a long-ish sequence that can only be done in a first episode but gave Matt chance to win us over once more and set the tone for the series to come.
On this evidence it could be a thrilling few weeks ahead...
8/10
Thursday 8 April 2010
Welcome!
Welcome to the Phantom Piper - a blog set up by two fans who promise to offer an honest appraisal of each of Matt Smith's new adventures in the Tardis. Although largely growing up in the dusty wasteland of the non-Who TV world we've both immersed ourselves in the good Doctor over the years, through countless hours of VHS, UK Gold, CD and now DVD. But how will Matt measure up to messers Hartnell, Troughton et al? Can Steven Moffat sustain his magic as show runner? We'll give you our brief, digestable take on each of this series' screen outings - and feel free to argue furiously, agree entirely or anywhere in between with a comment!
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