An Opening … !!

*Spoilers*

You know, I think I’m impressed.

No, wait, scrub that.

I think I’m gobsmacked!

Seriously.

Because I’ve just watchedThe Pandorica Opens, the penultimate episode of series 5 of Doctor Who.

Now, I’m not too sure where, but I can remember reading, somewhere, a quote — from someone! — that referred to the new Dr Who’s reviver, Russell T. Davies, as “… Dr Who’s answer to P. T. Barnum”.

I can understand that.

After all, when RTD was on form with the series finale episodes, he’d write up — and then made sure got produced — a BIG finale!

And up until tonight, I’d’ve said Stephen Moffat and the crew would’ve had a job a a half to match some of the Russell T. Davies helmed two-parters.

Mr Davies had, after all, successfully revived the show, and set the standards, and raised it, year after year, after year.

Tonight, though?

Stephen Moffat and the cast and crew have managed to match that standard.

Can they match it in the second part, though … ?

The Pandorica Opens sees a warning from Vincent van Gogh getting delivered to the Doctor, via Winston Churchill, and by the hand of Alex Kingston’s River Song.

That the TARDIS is going to explode.

‹‹‹•›››

Wish I’d a screen grab of that, but maybe later … !

‹‹‹•›››

But the basics of the painting are simple.

That the TARDIS is due for destruction.

And that the much spoken of Pandorica …

Is under Stonehenge …

Phew!

And the Pandorica isn’t the fairy-tale that the Doctor had thought.

But it is a prison.

An incredibly tight, secure prison.

Designed by every single one of the Doctor’s foes still around.

Daleks.

Sontarans.

Cybermen.

Actually*, there’s a rather scary scene with an armless, headless Cyberman that’s rather gruesome: because you get the real scare when Amy has to deal with the cyberman’s head, first. Then the contents. Which was gross!

There’s Slitheen. (Yes, I know they’re Raxacorycofalipatoreansª, but I’m blowed if I could spell it!)

Judoon.

And one Auton.

One very special Auton.

One very familiar looking Auton.

That’s disguised as Rory …

Which is tragic.

But the Auton Rory has been constructed by the Nestene with one job, seemingly in mind: to distract Amy for the rest of the Axis of Evil …

‹‹‹•›››

Which is where the showmanship comes into play, of course.

Because lead writer, Stephen Moffat and the crew have done a stunner of a penultimate episode, here.

An episode that sees the Dr imprisoned by every single one of his foes.

An episode that sees River Songº trapped — and unable to help — in a rapidly disintegrating TARDIS.

An episode that heavily implies that The TARDIS is under the control of something …

And an episode that sees the Auton that turns out to be Rory shoot Amy …

‹‹‹•›››

Whoah … !

Like I said, earlier, this is a gobsmacking episode.

Because The Pandorica Opens is the emotional high point, thus far, of this series.

Going on this form … ?

Moffat, Smith and Gillan have settled in.

To answer my earlier question, about matching this in episode 13? I seriously think they can.

‹‹‹•›››

* Actually, I think that bit would’ve seriously had the former head of the National Viewers and Listeners Association screaming!

º Do you remember what River Song says in the Weeping Angels two parter, this year … ? That she’s in prison for killing one of the best men she ever knew … ? I’m wondering if that’ll come back to haunt us … !

ª Exactly how many ‘a’’s are there in that word are there, anyway … ? ComBom … ?