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 … !)