Sunday 30 September 2012

Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhattan

Amy: 'Tell her this is the story of Amelia Pond. And this is how it ends.'

Thus endeth the saga of Rory and Amy. A much better episode this week—in fact, this was my favourite of the season so far. My main gripe with 'A Town Called Mercy' was that it wasted a perfectly good location shoot on a decidedly average story. Thankfully, tonight's story was worthy of Manhattan. Yes, it was a lower key exit than we're used to, and I didn't experience quite the same depths of despair as when we lost Rose or Donna, but it felt right that Amy should finally choose Rory over the Doctor. Like we ever doubted she would.

Sunday 23 September 2012

Doctor Who: The Power of Three

Rory: 'What you do isn’t all there is.'

All week, the press have been touting tonight's episode as reminiscent of the Russell T. Davies era—which, let's face it, is hardly a ringing endorsement. As it happens, they were mostly right. All the hallmarks were there: the urban setting, the amusing parent, the earth in peril, celebrity cameos galore. It even managed to have an abrupt, reset-button style ending, which made absolutely no sense. But, as with the RTD era, when it worked, it felt like the sun coming out.

Sunday 16 September 2012

Doctor Who: A Town Called Mercy

Doctor: 'Yes, I wear a Stetson now.'

If I'm honest, I was expecting Rory and Amy's final adventures to focus more on them, yet despite only having two episodes left, this story could quite easily done without them. That's not to say that it was a dud—it was a typically solid, dependable, Toby Whithouse effort—it just didn't have the shock factor of 'Asylum of the Daleks', or the fun of 'Dinosaurs on a Spaceship'. It did, however, have a horse called Susan.

Sunday 9 September 2012

Doctor Who: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

Doctor: 'I know! Dinosaurs! On a spaceship.'

A decidedly kid-friendly episode, with something for everyone—providing your interest in Who isn't restricted to Moffat's more adult oriented, time twisting high jinks. This felt like Jurassic Park in space, with lots of running around, ineffectual camp robots, and more ham than the Hammer House of Horror wrapped in bacon. There was some nice foreshadowing regarding Amy's departure, too. Of course, now the Doctor and Rory are kissing buddies, we needn't worry too much about Rory being alone. And I dare say there'll always be a place for him around the Weasley table.

Sunday 2 September 2012

Doctor Who: Asylum of the Daleks

Oswin: 'Run, you clever boy. And remember.'

Well, there goes the fourth wall, and a big hello to television's best kept secret. You remember the horse manure they've been feeding us all summer about Jenna-Louise Coleman's debut being in the Christmas Special? Well it was all a big, beautiful, pepperpot shaped lie. Not only did she turn up within the first five minutes, she also managed to flirt with Rory, poke fun at the Doctor's chin, and then save the whole bally lot of them. Brilliant! Now, if I could fathom out how they're going to bring her back.