Silurians, Eocenes or Homo-reptilia - whatever they are they made an impressive return in Chris Chibnall's Hungry Earth.
I've always been impressed with this "monster" and the unique moral dilemma they offer. They're excellent to explore in a show aimed at children and perfectly bring up issues of tolerance in a non-preachy way. With them we get to see the Doctor at his most "non-human" looking for peace and deals where humans look for conflict and aggression. All the more relevant with Matt Smith's incarnation - the most alien for a while.
Smith's performance was agin the highlight this week - ranging from the cocky "the monsters are scared of me" to his aggressive "don't pretend to be the last of your race" face to face with Alaya he really has made this part his own.
The story itself was classic Who and "classic Silurian" too - with events sparked by a big drilling project which had forced our homo-reptilia friends into attack.
The only real problem of the episode was its pace. It felt a little ploddy after four perfectly timed 45 minutes of Who in a row and the cliffhanger didn't quite feel right. It's almost as if Amy falling through was ready made for that music to then kick in but just happened far too early.
All of that will be forgiven if the following installment fulfills the excellent potential laid down here and it's what makes rating this episode so tough. Either it's the perfect set-up for a belting 45 minutes or it is wasted time that would have been better spent dealing with the action to come next.
For now though a harsh 7/10
Saturday 29 May 2010
Thursday 27 May 2010
The beast from beneath
So the Silurians are back in Doctor Who. Ever since I first read Malcolm Hulke's adaptation of his tv show Doctor Who and the Silurians, I fell in love with them. I love all three stories especially Warriors of the Deep. So was their re imaging going to disappoint.
It didn't. Chris Chibnall who's previous scripts for Torchwood and his sole Doctor Who Script 42 were highly disappointing. So my expectations were low. However the script was solid. It moved along pretty sharply. The script had hints of several of the classics from John Pertwee.
It was nice to see Amy removed and the Doctor having to work with Rory. Rory has potential to get boring however he is a major part of the scripts and he is getting a decent amount of action and so I don't resent him being there. In fact the presence of a third crew member is a welcome change to recent years where we get companions mum, fella, mate etc... along for a ride. He is holding his own and how it all pans out we have yet to see but for the moment Rory you can say.
The Silurian redesign was amasing. The production team have done a great job in updating them and though I miss the third eye (perhaps that is only for the scientist) they work and look fantastic.
I don't really have any negative points about this story. It's a good solid start with what may not be the best cliff hanger but I am looking forward to seeing how it concludes.
8/10
It didn't. Chris Chibnall who's previous scripts for Torchwood and his sole Doctor Who Script 42 were highly disappointing. So my expectations were low. However the script was solid. It moved along pretty sharply. The script had hints of several of the classics from John Pertwee.
It was nice to see Amy removed and the Doctor having to work with Rory. Rory has potential to get boring however he is a major part of the scripts and he is getting a decent amount of action and so I don't resent him being there. In fact the presence of a third crew member is a welcome change to recent years where we get companions mum, fella, mate etc... along for a ride. He is holding his own and how it all pans out we have yet to see but for the moment Rory you can say.
The Silurian redesign was amasing. The production team have done a great job in updating them and though I miss the third eye (perhaps that is only for the scientist) they work and look fantastic.
I don't really have any negative points about this story. It's a good solid start with what may not be the best cliff hanger but I am looking forward to seeing how it concludes.
8/10
Saturday 22 May 2010
Daring to be different...
After two stories that went along the blueprint of classic Who tales from yesteryear Simon Nye's Amy's Choice gave us a refreshing romp from left field.
The previous three weeks stories were right up there with the best of "New Who" but it was good to see the team trying something creative for a splash of variety.
The episode felt a bit like a Doctor-lite story - i'm not sure they're doing one this year? - in that it was less about special effects and action and more about character and storytelling.
The dream idea worked well as a polt device and while an interesting bit of fun on one hand - had more depth that developed all three main characters if you wanted to scratch the surface, with echoes of Hartnell's "Inside the Spaceship".
The Dream Lord too was an interesting creation. A Valeyard-cum-Toymaker character who was revealed, far less "fanw***y-ly", to be the dark side of the Doctor's mind.
It was that underplayed and sinister reveal that added to the interesting development of Smith's Doctor. Tennant handled the emotional portrayal well, even if it was overdone by the writers, so it is important that his incarnation was different. Those who feel Smith hasn't taken to the role have massively missed the point. If you think he feels far-off, unsettled and "not at home" then that means Smith has nailed it. He seems to be returning the Doctor to a time when the role was that of an alien who was at times unfeeling and irascible as well as dynamic and magnificient.
Amy's Choice was well-paced and thought provoking but, in spite of the praise spilled out above still lacked something for me.
I can't put my finger on it but when I'd finished watching it I felt it had been enjoyable but wouldn't necessarily lead to repeat viewing, especially once you knew the big twist. I felt the same after Midnight, but maybe it's just me.
7/10 (but probably worth more for the addition of variety and experimentation!)
The previous three weeks stories were right up there with the best of "New Who" but it was good to see the team trying something creative for a splash of variety.
The episode felt a bit like a Doctor-lite story - i'm not sure they're doing one this year? - in that it was less about special effects and action and more about character and storytelling.
The dream idea worked well as a polt device and while an interesting bit of fun on one hand - had more depth that developed all three main characters if you wanted to scratch the surface, with echoes of Hartnell's "Inside the Spaceship".
The Dream Lord too was an interesting creation. A Valeyard-cum-Toymaker character who was revealed, far less "fanw***y-ly", to be the dark side of the Doctor's mind.
It was that underplayed and sinister reveal that added to the interesting development of Smith's Doctor. Tennant handled the emotional portrayal well, even if it was overdone by the writers, so it is important that his incarnation was different. Those who feel Smith hasn't taken to the role have massively missed the point. If you think he feels far-off, unsettled and "not at home" then that means Smith has nailed it. He seems to be returning the Doctor to a time when the role was that of an alien who was at times unfeeling and irascible as well as dynamic and magnificient.
Amy's Choice was well-paced and thought provoking but, in spite of the praise spilled out above still lacked something for me.
I can't put my finger on it but when I'd finished watching it I felt it had been enjoyable but wouldn't necessarily lead to repeat viewing, especially once you knew the big twist. I felt the same after Midnight, but maybe it's just me.
7/10 (but probably worth more for the addition of variety and experimentation!)
Thursday 20 May 2010
Amy's Choice
Choices are the theme for this week’s episode. When I first heard about the concept for this episode I was sceptical. How could they pull this off without it falling flat on its face and to my surprise they have. It is this humble reviews opinion that the seventh episode of the last four series of the revamped Who have fallen flat on their face.
The Long Game was fine for a single showing but it had two main stories that muddled and overlapped each other poorly. Mark Gatis’s Idiot Lantern had a lot of interesting concepts but I found it dull due to the central plot revolving around Tommy’s family.
42 was rubbish. I’ve seen it once and that’s how I am going to keep it. I am not usre what I don’t like about it. Chris Chibnal scrip was weak. The concept of being in real time does not work with Doctor Who. It all felt very rushed and undeserving of being a Doctor Who story. Which means were left with The Unicorn and the Wasp which after Gareth Robert’s brilliant debut story, The Shakespeare Code, I was sorely disappointed with an attempt at a murder mystery with Agatha Christie. I love a good murder mystery; regally watching NCIS, CSI, Marpe, Morse, Lewis and so on. But this is was more of a Carry On film romp than a Doctor Who story or murder mystery.
So did Amy’s Choice fall flat on it face. Not even once. From the opening moment to the closing scenes this story did not disappoint. The plot is simple, the Doctor and his two companions Amy and Rory have to decide on which reality is real; the Tardis or Upper Ledworth.
Simon Nye, a writer who I’ve not really read or seen, has taken this simple plot and produced a wonderful little story. We are faced with two disasters. On one hand we have the Tardis slowly getting colder. On the other we have the elderly members of Upper Ledworth hosting an alien invasion force.
The story was so well crafted that the jumping between the two realties was not even a problem and I find myself eagerly wanting to get back to the other reality to find out what had happened to them.
The Dream Lord was a brilliant creation. An omnipotent being who likes to play games. He was played superbly with hints of not only the Master but the Celestial Toymaker as well.
The only negative point to the story is that it was all wrapped up very quickly again. I find that after spending forty minutes of the story, sitting on the edge of my seat to have it resolved in a few minutes, instead of gradually over the last ten minutes or so highly disappointing.
I enjoyed this story. It had a lot of potential to being dull and falling flat on its face. However it rose to the challenge and stood up proudly. I even joyed the quick reference to William Hartnall story, the Space Museum. All in a very well made story where special effect and fancy graphics took second fiddle to the story.
9/10
The Long Game was fine for a single showing but it had two main stories that muddled and overlapped each other poorly. Mark Gatis’s Idiot Lantern had a lot of interesting concepts but I found it dull due to the central plot revolving around Tommy’s family.
42 was rubbish. I’ve seen it once and that’s how I am going to keep it. I am not usre what I don’t like about it. Chris Chibnal scrip was weak. The concept of being in real time does not work with Doctor Who. It all felt very rushed and undeserving of being a Doctor Who story. Which means were left with The Unicorn and the Wasp which after Gareth Robert’s brilliant debut story, The Shakespeare Code, I was sorely disappointed with an attempt at a murder mystery with Agatha Christie. I love a good murder mystery; regally watching NCIS, CSI, Marpe, Morse, Lewis and so on. But this is was more of a Carry On film romp than a Doctor Who story or murder mystery.
So did Amy’s Choice fall flat on it face. Not even once. From the opening moment to the closing scenes this story did not disappoint. The plot is simple, the Doctor and his two companions Amy and Rory have to decide on which reality is real; the Tardis or Upper Ledworth.
Simon Nye, a writer who I’ve not really read or seen, has taken this simple plot and produced a wonderful little story. We are faced with two disasters. On one hand we have the Tardis slowly getting colder. On the other we have the elderly members of Upper Ledworth hosting an alien invasion force.
The story was so well crafted that the jumping between the two realties was not even a problem and I find myself eagerly wanting to get back to the other reality to find out what had happened to them.
The Dream Lord was a brilliant creation. An omnipotent being who likes to play games. He was played superbly with hints of not only the Master but the Celestial Toymaker as well.
The only negative point to the story is that it was all wrapped up very quickly again. I find that after spending forty minutes of the story, sitting on the edge of my seat to have it resolved in a few minutes, instead of gradually over the last ten minutes or so highly disappointing.
I enjoyed this story. It had a lot of potential to being dull and falling flat on its face. However it rose to the challenge and stood up proudly. I even joyed the quick reference to William Hartnall story, the Space Museum. All in a very well made story where special effect and fancy graphics took second fiddle to the story.
9/10
Saturday 15 May 2010
Style and substance from Venetian adventure
Following on from a rip-roaring two-part adventure story came Toby Whithouse's wonderful romp around 16th century Venice.
Whereas episodes two and three seemed to struggle with the 45 minute format this story excelled - perfectly paced with a decent splattering of serious, laugh out loud and eerie bits.
The whole thing looked great and, importantly, had a story to match the visuals. When the team re-created Pompeii a couple of years ago there was no doubting that the story looked the part, but the plot just didn't quite do it for me. This, while was not exactly displaying groundbreaking storytelling, used the setting and characters to make for a very entertaining show.
Vampires are certainly in fashion at the moment and made for an effective villain of the piece - with a suitable leader for the Doctor to play moral table tennis with.
Matt Smith was the real star though - coming over well whether in popping up from a cake and gatecrashing Rory's stag do or saving Venice from its doom.
And those cracks in the Universe continue to loom. More of this and we're in for some gripping stuff.
8/10
Whereas episodes two and three seemed to struggle with the 45 minute format this story excelled - perfectly paced with a decent splattering of serious, laugh out loud and eerie bits.
The whole thing looked great and, importantly, had a story to match the visuals. When the team re-created Pompeii a couple of years ago there was no doubting that the story looked the part, but the plot just didn't quite do it for me. This, while was not exactly displaying groundbreaking storytelling, used the setting and characters to make for a very entertaining show.
Vampires are certainly in fashion at the moment and made for an effective villain of the piece - with a suitable leader for the Doctor to play moral table tennis with.
Matt Smith was the real star though - coming over well whether in popping up from a cake and gatecrashing Rory's stag do or saving Venice from its doom.
And those cracks in the Universe continue to loom. More of this and we're in for some gripping stuff.
8/10
Thursday 13 May 2010
Vampires and no dodgy Southern American Accents
So the wedding of Amy and Rory is on the rock and there is only one man who can save them is in a cake. That’s how the Vampire in Venice starts. It’s a great start and we are soon back in time in Venice and it looks beautiful. Well done for the production team and the CGI team on merging the Czech location and the footage shot in Venice. It looked fantastic.
So the story moves on and the Doctor soon discovers that the city famous school has something mysterious is going on. Creepy girls with an aversion to sun light. With my love of vampires was I disappointed with this story. No.
It was nice to see Rory come into the story. He’s the love of Amy’s life or maybe. However unlike the RTD era he’s an integral part of the story, not just a stopping point to get the story moving. We kept coming back to Jackie and Micky. Martha’s family or Donna’s Granddad, Wilf. They rapidly became annoying. However Rory, is not that and long may he continue.
Toby Whithouse has come out with a simple story. Aliens using the school as a cover to convert women into aliens, however this story rattles along. The fact that the Aliens are not vampires is revealed quite late on in. The suspense is kept and we have a nod back to State of Decay and William Hartnell in a library card.
The only downside is that the machine that would destroy Venice is switched off with a simple switch. It’s a downside, but it’s bearable. All in all a great solid story, memorable but not nessacrily a classic like Blink or Talons of Weng Chiang.
8/10
P.s. I have also missed the fact there maybe 2 different versions of the Doctor running around
So the story moves on and the Doctor soon discovers that the city famous school has something mysterious is going on. Creepy girls with an aversion to sun light. With my love of vampires was I disappointed with this story. No.
It was nice to see Rory come into the story. He’s the love of Amy’s life or maybe. However unlike the RTD era he’s an integral part of the story, not just a stopping point to get the story moving. We kept coming back to Jackie and Micky. Martha’s family or Donna’s Granddad, Wilf. They rapidly became annoying. However Rory, is not that and long may he continue.
Toby Whithouse has come out with a simple story. Aliens using the school as a cover to convert women into aliens, however this story rattles along. The fact that the Aliens are not vampires is revealed quite late on in. The suspense is kept and we have a nod back to State of Decay and William Hartnell in a library card.
The only downside is that the machine that would destroy Venice is switched off with a simple switch. It’s a downside, but it’s bearable. All in all a great solid story, memorable but not nessacrily a classic like Blink or Talons of Weng Chiang.
8/10
P.s. I have also missed the fact there maybe 2 different versions of the Doctor running around
Friday 7 May 2010
Angel's delight
After last week I was braced for the second part to not quite match my high expectations but Flesh and Stone was another cracker from the pen of Steven Moffat.
The plot trundled along nicely while setting up a host of high points - such as Amy's "blind walk", her chilling countdown during the excellent chase through the Byzantium, and the Doctor and Octavian's final chat - as well as adding lashings of intrigue into the mystery melting pot surrounding both the season "story arc" and the tale of River Song.
River could have proved a cumbersome piece of baggage but, handled in this way it greatly improved my views towards her character and the ending left us crying out for the next installment of her and the Doctor's adventures. Does she kill him?! What exactly is the nature of their future relationship? How does she know his real name?!
The story looked great too. The Angels themselves are a fantastic monster that must become a regular feature but the ship, forest and last week's Maze of the Dead looked great and added to the wonderfully eerie atmosphere.
Yet again it is a tad frustraing that events at the end have dominated much of the "post match" discussion. This week it wasn't Graham Norton but Amy's advances on the Doctor that raised a few eyebrows. It did grate a little bit for me but the Doctor's wonderfully slapstick awkward-ness in those moments was amusing and, like it or not, it does not take away from a top-notch two-parter.
I thought the story as a whole did well at evoking some of the classic elements of old school Who, with the right blend of the modern day thrown in for good measure. I hope that, after a couple of stories that lacked a little depth, this proves the blueprint for things to come.
Episode 8/10
Story 9/10
The plot trundled along nicely while setting up a host of high points - such as Amy's "blind walk", her chilling countdown during the excellent chase through the Byzantium, and the Doctor and Octavian's final chat - as well as adding lashings of intrigue into the mystery melting pot surrounding both the season "story arc" and the tale of River Song.
River could have proved a cumbersome piece of baggage but, handled in this way it greatly improved my views towards her character and the ending left us crying out for the next installment of her and the Doctor's adventures. Does she kill him?! What exactly is the nature of their future relationship? How does she know his real name?!
The story looked great too. The Angels themselves are a fantastic monster that must become a regular feature but the ship, forest and last week's Maze of the Dead looked great and added to the wonderfully eerie atmosphere.
Yet again it is a tad frustraing that events at the end have dominated much of the "post match" discussion. This week it wasn't Graham Norton but Amy's advances on the Doctor that raised a few eyebrows. It did grate a little bit for me but the Doctor's wonderfully slapstick awkward-ness in those moments was amusing and, like it or not, it does not take away from a top-notch two-parter.
I thought the story as a whole did well at evoking some of the classic elements of old school Who, with the right blend of the modern day thrown in for good measure. I hope that, after a couple of stories that lacked a little depth, this proves the blueprint for things to come.
Episode 8/10
Story 9/10
Sunday 2 May 2010
The crack has opened.
So Flesh and Stone, the concluding episode to last weeks Time of the Angels, was show last week and I enjoyed it. The story carried on from where we left off last week and we had a simple resolution to the cliff hangers. A good cliff hanger can be spoiled by a silly way out, an example of this is the way the Doctor escaped the clutches of the Cybermen in Age of Steel.
The story moves on at a quick pace as the survivours attempt to elude the Weeping Angels until, one by one, they get picked off. I loved the fact that we found out a bit of the story arc so early on in the season. Before it has just been a word, or a phrase. Now we know all about it. There is a crack in time and space, caused by the Doctor taking Amy away on the night before her wedding.
However, more of that later. The story had some high points. I loved Matt Smith at the Doctor. He is portraying him incredibly well. The Docotr is normally one step ahead of everyone else and Matt Smith is pulling this off incredibly well. He is also bring the emotions of the Doctor off very well. His love, maybe, for River Song. The way he cares for Amy Pond. Bravo Matt Smith.
The story ends well and we are teased with the fact River Song will return. When? Who knows, but she will be back. I also loved the fact that we are finding out lots of little bits and bobs about her. I really want to know what the Stormcage is.
The last scene inside Amy's bedroom, was a downside to the whole episode. I do feel that sex is not something that should be really touched on in Doctor Who, it is after a family show. However the scene did remind me of the last chapter of the New Adventure Book Dying Days, which you can read online at the BBC website.
So all in all another good episode. 7 /10 and for the story as a whole. 9/10.
The story moves on at a quick pace as the survivours attempt to elude the Weeping Angels until, one by one, they get picked off. I loved the fact that we found out a bit of the story arc so early on in the season. Before it has just been a word, or a phrase. Now we know all about it. There is a crack in time and space, caused by the Doctor taking Amy away on the night before her wedding.
However, more of that later. The story had some high points. I loved Matt Smith at the Doctor. He is portraying him incredibly well. The Docotr is normally one step ahead of everyone else and Matt Smith is pulling this off incredibly well. He is also bring the emotions of the Doctor off very well. His love, maybe, for River Song. The way he cares for Amy Pond. Bravo Matt Smith.
The story ends well and we are teased with the fact River Song will return. When? Who knows, but she will be back. I also loved the fact that we are finding out lots of little bits and bobs about her. I really want to know what the Stormcage is.
The last scene inside Amy's bedroom, was a downside to the whole episode. I do feel that sex is not something that should be really touched on in Doctor Who, it is after a family show. However the scene did remind me of the last chapter of the New Adventure Book Dying Days, which you can read online at the BBC website.
So all in all another good episode. 7 /10 and for the story as a whole. 9/10.
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