Dr Who — Episode 5 Series 7: The Angels Take Manhatten

You know, it’s got to be said, current Dr Who show-runner, Steven Moffat, is going down like Marmite on toast.

Fans either love him, or hate him: and if it’s the latter, tend to behave very badly.

That’s why he felt compelled, a few weeks ago, to leave Twitter: from the talk going around, he’d left due to some seriously nasty comments he was getting from some quarters.

Some, downright threatening.

Personally … ?

Personally, I know Mr M has his bad days —Asylum of the Daleks was good, but not necessarily his most stunning moment — and good days.

I’m happy to cut the man some slack.

Mostly because, when Steven Moffat’s good days turn up, they make you remember why you fell in love with his take on the show.

Tonight’s episode of Dr Who, The Angels Take Manhattan … ?

I think I can safely say The Angels Take Manhattan is one of Steven Moffat’s better days.

~~~~~

The Angels Take Manhattan sees the Dr Amy and Rory in 21st century New York, enjoying some much needed down time.

When Rory — suddenly — goes missing whilst try to find some of New York’s finest coffee.

Of course, what we realise … ?   Is that Rory’s actually been found by baby Weeping Angels.   And, as part of the Angels usual feeding routine, sent back in time.

It’s only when the Doctor, Amy and River — who’s been in 1938 New York, disguised as private eye, Melody Malone — get back to 1938, they realise that the Weeping Angels have turned an office block in New York — the Winter Quay building — in to a farm.

And it’s only then that Amy and Rory realise quite what they have to do, to wipe out the threat from the Angels.

~~~~~

Now …

I was saying about better days … ?

Lord, yes.   I’m thinking The Angels Take Manhattan is definitely one of those: for both Steven Moffat and the series regulars

Indeed, I believe this to be an all-round triumph for them all.

Now, I know I’ve possibly annoyed some people: that’s their issue, I think.

But being frank, here, I believe Moffat’s turn in a steamingly good episode.

I’ll let you tell me if you think otherwise: and leave you with this …

Oh, and just so you know what’s on between now and Christmas …

Dr Who Series 7: The Power Of Three

Well, blow me backwards, and colour me rhubarb … !

I THINK I’ve just wet myself … !

Actually, no, forget I said that: I might be getting old, but I’m not THAT old … !

What I am am … ?

What I am is something I know Grub will give me a ribbing for saying: is impressed.

And, before you ask … ?

Downright impressed with tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

You probably hadn’t guessed, had you … ?

He says … !

~~~~~

Written by Chris Chibnall, The Power Of Three sees the Doctor staying with Amy and Rory, in order to help puzzle out something of a mystery: the sudden and strange appearence of small black boxes, that are all over planet Earth.

Small black boxes that are — apparently — inert, for at least a year.

Until one of them … starts twitching …

~~~~~

Now …

I was saying ‘impressed’ … ?

Oh, LORDY , wasn’t I just … !

I am literally sitting here wondering if I’ve just seen the episode of Matt Smith’s Dr Who career.

Frankly … ?

Frankly, I don’t know: but equally frankly, both The Power Of Three and last week’s episode, A Town Called Mercy, are the highlights of the series of the season, so far, wit h The Power having the edge: both in writing quality, and in performances.

And I do mean performances: all three series regulars — Smith, Gillan and Darville — are on form, in this series.

As are the two guest stars, tonight, Jemma Redgrave as the Brigadier’s daughter, no less, and Steven Berkhoff as the episode villain, the Shakri.

As a question … ?   Where the HELL can you go wrong … ?

You can’t … !

And what’s more … ?

Moffat’s own babies — River Song AND the Weeping Angels — are back, next week.

Should be good … !

Dr Who Series Seven: A Town Called Mercy

Blimey … 

That seemed to go down rather well … !

Or, at least, I enjoyed meself: whether anyone ELSE did, I don’t know.

Unless they choose to leave me a comment, of course.

You know, I’m being terribly remiss, aren’t I: happily burbling on, whilst my readers sit there, on the other side of the screen, and wonder what the HELL I’m banging on about.

Like the pictures aren’t a clue … 

Just in case you’ve not been following me for a while, I’m talking about tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

~~~~~

Written by Being Human head honcho, Toby Whithouse, tonight’s episode, A Town Called Mercy sees the Doctor, Amy and Rory arriving at the small US town of Mercy, some five years after the end of the Civil War.

The town has a problem: there’s something nasty coming for the town’s doctor.

Who’s not what you’d expect: the town’s Doctor has saved Mercy from Cholera … and also an alien war-criminal, who’s being hunted after building some seriously psychotic cyborgs.

That’s not the problem … 

The problem is the gunslinger who’s coming AFTER him … !

~~~~~

Now … 

Thus far, last week’s episode — Dinosaur’s On A Spaceship — is still the episode that’s pushing my boat out.

Bu A Town Called Mercy, with its Steampunk Western sensibility, certainly tickled my fancy: as did the one or two scenes that told me Matt Smith’s handling of his character’s angry moments is improving.

I’m ALSO thinking that the Moffat led production team seem to not be threading this season through with a story-arc.

Something of a mixed blessing, I think: Russell T Davies era of the show did it well, I thought, with each of his seasons having some form of theme to the season.

On the other hand … ?

On the other, the Moffat era Dr Who does seem to do individual stories on a par with any I’ve seen, including both RTD’s … *

And some of Robert Holmes’.

I’ll leave you you to chew that over, shall I … ?

See you in the morning … !

*        there was one other minor thing: I know the BBC’s tweaked the opening credits to make them a touch darker: but I’m thinking, here, that they’ve made them too dark.

Dr Who Series 7 Episode 2: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

Now, WAIT a minute, hold on … !

Oh, and before I forget to add it … ?

I SAY … !

That’s more like it!

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about … ?

I’ve just caught tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

And I’m actually thinking the shows producers, over at BBC Wales actually got episodes one and two of series 7 the wrong way around.

You see, while I’ll happily admit to having thoroughly enjoyed last weeks first episode, Asylum of the Daleks, I’ve actually preferred tonight’s second episode, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

Which does pretty much what it says on the tin, and has a lot of fun on the way … !

~~~~~

Dinosaurs on a Spaceship sees Matt Smith as the Doctor picking up Queen Nefertiti (Riann Steele) and Rydell (Rupert Graves), along with Rory, Amy and Rory’s dad, Brian (Mark Williams, of The Fast show) to help him deal with the little matter of a spaceship that’s going to crash into 24th Century Earth.

Of course, the dinosaurs on the spaceship are there because the ship is a millennia old Silurian ship: complete with a stock of dinosaurs acting as food and livestock for a long trip.

That goes wrong when the ship is hijacked, just before the start of the episode.

~~~~~

Now … 

I was saying fun … ?

Hell, yeah … !

Dinosaurs on a Spaceship is a heck of a lot more outright fun than Asylum of the Daleks.   By quite a considerable long shot.

I’ll be frank, I’d be be calling it the best episode of the series, thus far.

Except, of course, we’ve not even seen half of it, as yet.

Actually, while we’re on the subject … ?   Half you noticed how most of the listing have told us these first two episodes are episodes 1 and 2 out of 5 … ?

I have, I know that much!

What I‘m thinking will happen — having noticed the upcoming fifth series of Merlin is also listed for an autumn showing — is we’ll get the first five episodes of Dr Who, then all 13 Merlin’s, then the rest of Dr Who.

Which is annoying, I feel, but there we go.

At ANY rate … ?

At ANY rate, I’m off to bed: considering I’m on my second Horlicks.

See you in the morning!

Dr Who Series 7 Episode 1: The Asylum of the Daleks

Hmmm … 

Now, that I’m thinking, is an interesting opening to a season.

Possibly.

Hmmm … 

You’re possibly wondering what on Earth I’m talking about, aren’t you?   Aren’t you … ?

Well … 

Now’s as good a chance as any to try and explain, isn’t it?

~~~~~

As both my regular readers — and most of my friends — will tell you, I’m something of a Doctor Who fan: and have been for years.

So today, I’ll happily admit to having headed out to mow my Mum’s garden, and babysit my nephew Jude, and pick a couple of bits and bobs from the Brentwood High Street branch of both the Co-op, and Wilkinsons.

I like toilet roll: at least, I hate running out of it … !

And on top of this … ?

I wanted to make sure I got back home in time to cook myself some dinner and settle in to watch the opening episode of Series 7, Asylum of the Daleks.

Which was … 

Interesting … 

Yes, interesting, let’s put it that way.

~~~~~

Asylum of the Daleks sees the Doctor being summoned by the mysterious Darla von Karlstein to the original Dalek homeworld of Skaro: she — seemingly — wishes him to rescue her daughter from a Dalek prison camp.

As it turns out … ?   Darla is actually a Dalek agent: primed to kidnap the Doctor, Amy and Rory, to bring them before what’s called The Parliament of the Daleks.

It seems the Doctor’s oldest foe has a little job for the Doctor.

Helping them clean out the Asylum of the title: the planetoid where the Daleks keep the most rabidly deranged members of their species.

They’ve got … an intruder …

And the only person they trust to get into the Asylum to help them clean out both intruder and patients is the Doctor …

~~~~~

Now, I have to admit, I enjoyed tonight’s episode, I did.

It’s seemingly set up the oncoming series, briefly reintroduced us to the main characters whilst updating us about what they’ve been doing — modelling and getting divorced, I should add, here — and given  us an introduction to Jenna Louise Coleman, who’ll be debuting as the new companion later in the year.

And seemingly … ?

I’m thinking the few episodes we’ve been told constitute this first batch of stories — show-runner, Steven Moffat has been adamant that Series 7 will be 13 episodes — don’t seem to tie off any of the questions raised in series 6.

The whole thing with The Silence didn’t seem very well finished to me, in other words.

I guess we’ll have to see what happens, won’t we … ?

The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe: The 2011 Christmas Special

(Originally posted on Nik Nak and Grub’s Who Peculiar, 25 December 2011 20:32:00)

You know, I’ve got to confess, I’m a thinking I’ve had a rather good Christmas, on the whole.

Generally speaking, that is …

After all, I’ve ended up with loot: of gifts appropriate to the season, I should say.

And what’s more … ?

My nephew, Jude — who’s 1 year old, tomorrow — was decidedly impressed with the toy mobile phone I’d got him as a combined birthday and Christmas present.

Oh, and happy distracted by one of the labels from one of his other presents, I should add.

Always the way, isn’t it … ?

And what’s more … ?

I’m also thinking I’ve seen a very good Christmas special of Dr Who.

Hmmm …

And that’s an impressed, “Hmmm”, I think I should add.

««·»»

The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe sees Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor being rescued from the hole he’s in — or impact crater, I should say — by Marge Arwell: who, played by Claire Skinner, is the Widow of the title, after her husband is killed during WW2.

And fortunately or otherwise … ?

Marge decides to take herself and her children to relatives in Dorset: where she plans to spend the Christmas season trying to give her children some measure of happiness, before she breaks the terrible news to them of their father’s death.

A plan that only goes slightly astray, when the family meets the old manor-house’s new caretaker …

««·»»

Now, I told you I was impressed …

Oh, yes, that I am!

I know that series six had it’s spotty patches — being shown in two parts definitely being a contributing factor, there — but I also believe that an on-form Steven Moffat is certainly equal of the best the show has ever been.

Granted, I feel he’s not the outright genius Russell T. Davies was and is with co-ordinating a story-arc: I’m thinking he’s possibly finding it work.

But it seems to me that his major strength is in individual stories.

(Which is QUITE a list, however one looks at it.)

And — with it’s time travelling, inter-dimensional slant on both The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and The Railway Children — The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe … ?

Is one hell of a story.

Dr Who Episode 13: The Wedding of River Song

Wow …

I’m …

Oh, to heck with it: I know Grub’s going to complain.

But I am decidedly impressed.

Although with a … reservation … or two, maybe.

Actually, maybe not …

»»·««

Hmm …

You can’t tell I’m tired, can you … ?

Or burbling …

I’ve an excuse, though: I’ve actually been to both my kid sister, Ruth’s birthday, this afternoon, along with the rest of my family!

»»•««

2/10/2011

Which is sort of why I’m actually finishing this post off, today, rather than last night.

I couldn’t actually stay awake, much longer, I know that much … !

But let’s move on, and talk about last night’s Dr Who, shall we … ?

»»•««

Series Six finale, The Wedding of River Song, starts 5:02pm on 22nd April, 2011.

In a version of the universe that has been frozen.

In a way that sees Holy Roman Emperor Winston Churchill forcing his Soothsayer — a version of The Doctor that’s he’s imprisoned in the Tower — quizzing the Dr on what’s happened.

And being told that time has been frozen …

By a woman …

»»•««

Now, Grub, bless him, will probably tell you I’m impressed.

Well, possibly impressed, debatably gobsmacked, and possibly possessed of a side order of awe.

He’d possibly be right … Or wrong … Or something …

On the level of last night’s episode … ?

He does have a point: I thoroughly enjoyed The Wedding of River Song, and found it a satisfying conclusion to a puzzling story-arc.

Saying that … ?

Saying that, I’ve got to admit, I feel disappointed by a few things, this series.

I think the main thing to get off my chest … ?

Is the obvious and simple one.

The the fact that series six came in two halves.

Now, I don’t know about you, but after some 5 years of new Dr Who, I’ve kind of got used to a thirteen week run.

This half and half mix … ? Was something I personally found a touch irritating, even though I’m very aware that it’s probably been done to line up series 8 — or whatever they decide to number it — so that it starts — or finishes, more likely — on Saturday, 23rd November, 2013.

And to get next years series around the VERY large hump that’s the BBC’s coverage of the London 2012 Olympics.

Given the amount of talk about whether next years series is to be a full thirteen episodes … ?

Well …

I’m not sure if the two halves we’ve seen, this year, bode well.

»»•««

Dr Who Episode 12: Closing Time

(Originally posted on 24 September 2011 20:10:00, on Nik Nak and Grub’s Who Peculiar)

Hmmm …

I might even go as far as Hmmmmmm …

Although don’t tell Grub I actually said so, please … !

You see …

I’m actually not impressed with tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

Hmmm …

Maybe that’s not the right phrase, there.

But I’m fairly sure that episode 12 — Closing Time — is going to go down in history as something of a lightweight.

At any rate …

Closing Time sees the Doctor — without Amy and Rory — paying a visit to his old friend — and former landlord — Craig — Daniel Corden, reprising his role from last years The Lodger — just when a series of strange power cuts start hitting both Craig’s home town: focused on a nearby department store called S & Gs.

Those cuts … ? Along with the associated disappearances … ? Are all tied in with the Cybership that’s stuck under the department store: and using tunnels and it’s one remaining cybermat to drain electrical energy to rebuild the crew.

»»—««

Now …

I was saying about unimpressed … ?

Yes, I think that’s DEFINITELY the case, here, with Closing Time.

And here’s WHY, though …

You, for this sixth series, Moffat and co have — as you’ve probably already noticed — been running that Silence Will Fall/Impossible Astronaut story line.

And what I’m thinking, here, is that, while each individual story is good, as is the overarching story, I don’t think they’ve been as sewn together as well as one could possibly have thought.

I can’t complain too much: I doubt VERY much if I could do as well. I’m also thinking that this is new territory to Steven Moffat. AND to the show, itself: after all, that through-story has only been done — to my knowledge — only twice before, with The Key To Time and The Trial of a Timelord.

And I’m also aware — from various sources — that the main cast have been booked up for series 7.

So, as disappointing as I may have found Closing Time — an episode struggling to both enough time to it’s story AND to the story-arc* — I’m ALSO aware that Moffat and co are doing something fairly radical for Dr Who.

Introducing a story arc: one I think’s certainly going to last until next year.

Here’s hoping it pays off.

After all, what with one thing and another, it seems that a fairly significant date in 2013 …

Is going to be a Saturday.

* To borrow an old phrase from Terry Pratchett, it’s too short for Richard and too long for Dick.

Dr Who Episode 11: The God Complex

(Originally posted on Nik Nak and Grub’s Who Peculiar, 17 September 2011 20:07:00)

Oh, now, wait a minute, HANG ON!

I’m SOOOOOO jealous!

Toby Whithouse is officially a jammy what’sit!

Not only has he writing a stinker of an episode of Dr Who — the instalment shown tonight, episode 11, The God Complex — but him and his two children got a tour of the Dr Who props department!

I mean, talk about your WOW factor!

Really … !

Hang on, deep breath …

Now …

Let me see if I can’t relax just a touch, and not overdo the exclamation marks, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

~≈§≈~

Tonight’s episode — episode 11, as I’ve said — is called The God Complex, and was penned by Toby Whithouse, the man behind smash BBC 3 hit, Being Human.

It sees the Doctor, Amy and Rory finding themselves in what turns out to be a fake hotel.

A fake 1980s era, Earth hotel.

A fake 1980s era, Earth hotel that has no way out, corridors that double-back on themselves, a handful of other guests, rooms that have individually crafted nightmares for all comers …

And something large, hairy and unpleasant, that seems to be feeding on the fear generated by the things in each of the rooms.

~≈§≈~

Dr Who Episode 10: The Girl Who Waited

(Originally posted on Nik Nak and Grub’s Who Peculiar on 10 September 2011 20:11:00.)

Grub … ?

Were you impressed … ?

I was impressed … !

Seriously … !

I’m in enthusiastic burble mode.

You can tell, can’t you … ?

Ooooh, hang on, the Focus Puller … !

Yes …

I’m definitely burbling, aren’t … !

Right, hang on …

Cup of tea, deep breath …

And let me tell you about tonight’s episode of Dr Who … !

‹‹•››

Episode 10, The Girl Who Waited sees the Dr, Amy and Rory heading off for the resort world of Apalapucia: which the Dr happily claim’s is a lot less touristy than the universe’s best resort.

The trouble is, of course … ?

The one thing you EXPECT to be a problem on ANY foreign trip, really.

Getting caught up in Quarantine, on the way through.

Seemingly … ?

One will affect both the Doctor, and the natives, and kill either within a day.

The unfortunate thing … ?

Is that while the Doctor manages to get he and Rory back to the TARDIS, Amy is caught up in a mildly parallel time stream, initially designed to isolate infected visitors.

Notice I say mildly parallel … ?

Mildly parallel …

And slightly faster.

With the net result that Amy is left stranded for thirty-six years, being chased by the robots, the Hand-Bots.

‹‹•››

Now …

I’ll be frank, again, I don’t know if you actually caught The Girl Who Waited, tonight, but if you didn’t … ?

If you didn’t, I personally believe you’ve missed a cracker of an episode!

For starters, Karen Gillan’s performance, as both the older and younger Amy was amazing.

Yes, I know: and I’m honest enough to admit 5’11” of cute redhead’s very hard to ignore … !

But there’s a scene where ‘our’ Amy is interacting with her older self, through a magnifying glass that’s a joy to watch.

I’ll let you catch that for yourself.

But if you’ve missed tonight’s four-handed episode?

Well …

You’ve missed a treat … !

Dr Who Episode 9: Night Terrors

(Originally Posted on Nik Nak And Grub’s Who Peculiar, on 3 September 2011 19:59:00)

You know, I’ve GOT to confess …

I’m impressed.

Rather definitely!

Impressed is the word … !

Although LORD know’s what Grub — and more importantly his daughter — will make of tonight’s episode of Dr Who.

You see …

I’m thinking I’ve not necessarily seen the best episode of the entire new series of Dr Who: but am personally convinced I’ve seen the best episode of series 6.

And considering I thought the two part Rebel Flesh/Almost People was the prize winning pairing of the season, that’s saying something … !

Night Terrors — written by Mark Gatiss and directed by Richard Clark — sees the Doctor, Amy and Rory summoned to Earth by telepathic cries for help from a very scared little boy called George, on an unnamed housing estate, somewhere in England.

A little boy who is both not entirely what he seems.

And one who’s incredibly scared “… of the monsters” …

Seemingly … ?

George had got something nasty in the wardrobe.

Which sounds ambiguous, I know …

Until we find that George, unbeknownst to his parents, is something of a benevolent cuckoo child: a member of a species called the Tenza, whose mild telepathic ability are causing havoc in the flat where he lives.

Havoc that includes trapping his father, and the Doctor and his crew, in a dolls house in the bottom of the wardrobe.

»»·««

Now …

About impressed … ?

Yes, I am, actually …

You see, I’ve been loving the feel of this series, over all.

But HAVE to admit that the overall story arc — about River/Melody and whoever it is that she kills — is …

Well, isn’t boring: it’s entertaining and wonderful to watch.

But Night Terrors … ?

DOES mark a nice break, a nice little change of pace.

AND a nice little episode in and of itself …

AND adds what I think are one of the three creepiest monsters I’ve seen in new Dr Who.

Dr Who Series Six Continues. Episode 8: Let's Kill Hitler.

(Originally posted on Nik Nak and Grub’s Who Peculiar on 27 August 2011 20:12:00.)

You know …

I’m going to be frank, here.

I’m really not sure if I’m impressed or not …

You see, I’ve just seen Let’s Kill Hitler: the series six mid-season opening, that kicks off part two of series six of Dr Who.

In point of fact, I’m still actually umming and ah’ing about it …

Hmmm …

Let me try and summarise, shall I … ?

You see, Let’s Kill Hitler follows on some time after When A Good Man Goes To War: and sees Amy and Rory — complete with Amy’s apparent childhood friend, Mels* — rejoining the Dr in an attempt to find Amy and Rory’s daughter, Melody.

There’s a twist, obviously.

It turns out, of course, that Mels … ?

Is actually Melody: and, as a result of crash landing in 1938 Berlin — in Hitler’s office, of all places — regenerates into the Alex Kingston version of Melody.

After having been brought up by her parents, and having received an (unscreened) brainwashing, to force her to kill the Doctor.

There’s other things, here, too, that add to the series six story arc: the fact that River has been brainwashed to kill the Dr — hinted at in When A Good Man Goes To War — is confirmed here, and we’re given more information about The Silence.

»»·««

Now, when I say ‘I’m really not sure if I’m impressed or not’ … ?

I’ll be honest, I think I’m not.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve actually enjoyed Let’s Kill Hitler, tonight.

Steven Moffat is, after all, a very accomplished writer, who‘s alway’s had a beautiful way with dialogue and character, and writing for an established group of characters.

But … ?

As entertaining as I found tonight’s episode, I also can’t help but feel … hmm …

Not let down, per se, but … hmmm … rushed.

Yes, rushed is exactly the word, here: or possibly hurried.

You see, I don’t think we got to see enough of the Mels version of River Song: or of the intervening years since her kidnapping by Madame Kovarian.

And on top of that … ?

There’s the whole matter of the Teselecta: the robot vehicle with a crew from an unnamed culture’s Ministry of Justice, that finds criminals, so it can ‘gives them hell’ that I think I’d’ve appreciated knowing a little more about. I mean, APART from the fact it’s shape changing ability is REALLY bloody cool … !

There’s a whole intervening lot of back-story that I think we’ve been done out of, here: and back-story, at that, that I think I would’ve appreciated knowing about.

I’m entertained by Let's Kill Hitler.

But I think I want to see the rest of series 6, so I can put it in some form of perspective.

I’ll leave that there, shall I … ?

* Nicely played by Nina Toussaint-White, I should add: someone who I’d’ve appreciated seeing more of. (And why oh WHY do I hear assorted female friends of mine saying “Yeah, of COURSE you would!”? Honestly … !)