Doctor Who is back and a handful of us at Sub-Cultured are fans so with two episodes under our belts, we wanted to do a short general consensus. Is this better than Series 7? Are we on board for Capaldi? Where’s River (“dead” yes, but….)? Jen, Tushar, Sam and myself got together to discuss Series 8 thus far. The consensus? Cautiously if not generally optimistic.
MOFFAT & CAPALDI
Capaldi is amazing and no doubt will be curbing some of Moffat’s ish.
General reactions to the past two episodes have been relatively positive, we already think it’s better than Series 7 thus far with, surprisingly enough only Jen (and not myself) being more of the outlier with a more frustrated and neither here nor there opinion on some things, most of her complaints having to do with Moffat as head writer and a desire to have a new person in charge for a fresher feel.
I agree with the sentiment to a degree, many of the “Moffat” problems are noticeable (and eye rolling) and the last two episodes had some pacing issues. I myself am not liking the new “control freak” characterization of Clara and being chastised by the Doctor and other characters for it which seemed to come out of nowhere. Unless I’ve been missing something.
To answer one of our initial questions, between all of us we’re completely on board with Capaldi as the Doctor and enjoy the new “non-flirty” dynamic established between The Doctor and Clara with his return to a more mature personality and appearance. Tushar in particular noted he’s glad there’s no romance there. The Doctor’s dislike of soldiers seems to be a plot theme for this series, particularly with Danny Pink eventually joining the cast. Clara’s sympathy for soldiers, particularly Journey Blue (who I’m not quite sure we’ve seen the last of considering Jenna may be leaving and that look Jenna gave her) and her obvious attraction to Danny may mean some interesting developments to come regarding this thematic thread.
SOLDIERS
We discussed that the young, virile and “flirty” Casanova swashbuckler and Peter Pan Doctors of 10 and 11, The Man Who Regrets and the Man Who Forgets, were overall needed after the War Doctor and 9. They were reactionary coping mechanisms after 9 who was still war grizzled. The Doctor’s current dislike of soldiers in this body could be seen as stemming from his dislike of himself as The War Doctor, who was indeed a soldier. Does the Doctor actually remember that he didn’t actually destroy Galifrey?
THE GIRL IN THE FIREPLACE
Think we’ll be seeing more of Journey Blue? I think we might!
Sam additionally discussed that Capaldi was supposedly the originally the first choice for 11 and asserted they changed direction and went with Matt Smith instead and thus the script apparently changed, so we wonder if all the narrative elements tying to the series 2 episode “The Girl In The Fireplace” that are suddenly cropping up are them trying to backpedal to a narrative they wanted to tell long ago.
“I think the better question maybe why does Moffat use “The Girl in the Fireplace” to establish the doctor’s humanity and then wait for a Doctor and half to use another story of the Clockwork people to call into question the Doctor’s Humanity. Moffat rarely lets plot points go to waste.”
Jen voiced her need for more consistent narrative threading, had some of this appeared in smaller doses earlier it wouldn’t have seen so strange to come back to it after all this time. We’re cautiously optimistic about Missy.
CLARA
Clara’s increased dialogue and firmer conviction have been much needed. Jen still wants a more consistent psychological arc for her.
Clara was a subject of conversation; most of us agree they’re finally treating and writing her a bit better, now that her mystery is more or less answered and as Sam pointed out, she’s gone from plot device to an actual character. She’s been given some quite meaty monologues and a more gutsy presence. Jen still does not care for her much and that hurts her perception of the show:
“I don’t like the show right now because I want more talk of Trenzalore and because I don’t like Clara at all. And I feel like the companion is at least 40% of the show, so if I can’t like the companion, I can’t LOVE the show.”
We all saw some lost opportunity with the second episode with the dalek considering a future version of Clara actually became in a way, a good dalek, which was more or less the last time Jen liked the character.
When it comes to Clara I voiced I am disappointed that some elements they were making seem important regarding her character; Clara’s birthdays, her Atlas book, possibly her mother’s death have all seemingly been dropped, but I am glad she’s finally developing.
Slap the Doctor. Not a euphemism.
I posited much of her character being a mess could be owed to the Victorian Clara originally being the one to actually go with 11 and them then changing their minds, killing her and shoehorning in an additional new “modern” Clara. That may explain some of Clara’s vague writing in the past but still doesn’t excuse the bad writing that’s also occurred.
We all, however really liked Clara being more outspoken and contentious with the Doctor; the lines “You’re not my boss you’re one of my hobbies” and the big slap from Clara in “Into The Dalek” was a resounding hit with us (as was Clara getting pelted with the newspaper in ‘Deep Breath”, which should have been horrible).
Jen:
“I want her to stand up to him way more often. I like that she slapped him and I like that she’s not his companion.”
We thought the phone call to Clara in “Deep Breath” was a nice touch, and 11 expressing dismay over getting old only further cements his Peter Pan-ness and was a good buffer for the fan base, particularly young fans who indeed, like Clara, may be having a hard time adjusting to an older man on screen again.
It’s all agreed we want a sole young male companion without any romance or coupling with a female companion to justify his going to change things up, but overall it looks like a good ride after series 7’s rather clunky delivery. Clara and Danny clearly mirror Barbara and Ian, fitting for the 50th, all we need now is our Susan. What do you think? Have you been enjoying Capaldi thus far? Let us know!
Max Eber
Staff Writer
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
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It was officially announced yesterday, June first, both by the BBC and Matt Smith himself that after much speculation and rumors, Matt Smith is indeed stepping out of the blue police-box this Christmas.
Say what?
In the official press release Matt writes:
“Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show. I’m incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day, to realize all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience. Many of them have become good friends and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years.
Having Steven Moffat as showrunner write such varied, funny, mind-bending and brilliant scripts has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career. It’s been a privilege and a treat to work with Steven, he’s a good friend and will continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor.
The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I’ve never seen before, your dedication is truly remarkable. Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of the Time Lord, number Eleven, who I might add is not done yet, I’m back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special!
It’s been an honor to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with ‘the ginger, the nose and the impossible one’. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys.” Matt.
I’m coming guys.
Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer also states:
“Every day, on every episode, in every set of rushes, Matt Smith surprised me: the way he’d turn a line, or spin on his heels, or make something funny, or out of nowhere make me cry, I just never knew what was coming next. The Doctor can be clown and hero, often at the same time, and Matt rose to both challenges magnificently. And even better than that, given the pressures of this extraordinary show, he is one of the nicest and hardest-working people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Whatever we threw at him – sometimes literally – his behavior was always worthy of the Doctor.
But great actors always know when it’s time for the curtain call, so this Christmas prepare for your hearts to break, as we say goodbye to number Eleven. Thank you Matt – bow ties were never cooler.
Of course, this isn’t the end of the story, because now the search begins. Somewhere out there right now – all unknowing, just going about their business – is someone who’s about to become the Doctor. A life is going to change, and Doctor Who will be born all over again! After 50 years, that’s still so exciting!”
Since Matt Smith succeeded David Tennant as The Doctor on the long running Doctor Who series in 2009, and his debut 5th series premiering in 2010, Matt’s Eleventh Doctor with his Peter Pan boyish demeanor, odd body and facial proportions, general clumsiness and BAFTA nomination worthy crying and tantrums acting have helped broaden the show’s global viewership especially in America where the show has won fan-favorite contests and landed on the cover of Entertainment Weekly twice. Each series premiere and finales since Matt’s debut in series 5 have brought record breaking viewership for BBC America each time with the Series 7 premiere Asylum of The Daleks raking in 1.6 million live viewers, up 23 percent from series 6’s 2011 former record breaking premiere. America’s viewership keeps going up exponentially whilst British viewership has stayed rather static if not loosing base viewership overall since the series’ revival in 2005.
Much speculation has been swirling around concerning Matt Smith’s continuation of the role anyway given his casting in Ryan Gosling’s film To Catch a Monster and his obvious interest in an American film and theater or directing career much like other invading UK imports like perennial favorite Emma Watson, the half-British Andrew Garfield, fellow ex-doctor Christopher Eccleston, Henry Cavill, Carey Mulligan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Dancy and former co-star (and totally his wife) Karen Gillan. All these actors have made comfortable or up and coming film and television careers across the Atlantic (while other ex-Who companions such as Catherine Tate have just wrapped up her time on The Office whilst Freema Agyeman, John Barrowman and Alex Kingston have all made debuts or returned to American television, with Karen Gillan also joining a sitcom on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block later this year. Arthur Darvill is currently making his Broadway debut in the play Once as well) and have effectively flooded our superhero film market with Andrew serving as the current Spider-Man and Henry Cavill donning the unabashedly American red and blue of Superman this month. Karen too (man she’s busy) was just announced as being cast as head villain (that’s right villain!) in Marvel’s quirky risk-taking but star-studded Guardians of The Galaxy film.
To shift gears and join the crowd in that manner seems a natural progression for Matt, who took the role of The Doctor at a fresh-faced age of twenty-six and is now thirty years old. Besides, the ubiquitous”Fall of the Eleventh” buzz phrase and the trip to Trenzalore has always clued that Matt’s tenure was never meant to be terribly long and and since we have arrived at Trenzalore, it most likely ends there. Matt currently edges slightly past David Tennant (basically neck to neck) as the longest running Doctor of the revived series anyway, with Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond being (not surprisingly) the longest continuous companion of the revived series to match.
And while it’s sad to see Matt go, we here IhoGeek (mainly Jen and I, okay mostly Jen) have long predicted his exit this season. With River Song’s poignant final farewell to her husband post Library saving in “The Name of The Doctor”, it makes sense Eleven would shortly go thereafter without any remnants of the Ponds left in any manner despite the Doctor’s already longstanding mourning for them and River’s most likely departure to the Library in between The Angels Take Manhattan and The Snowmen. It just makes sense given Eleven’s strong intertwined history with Amy Pond. I swear to not have a flashback, mentioning, or featuring even a cameo of an elderly Amy in NYC this Christmas before he regenerates would be a travesty.
Married. And very sad. Just how writer’s like it. They drink your tears. I should know.
Matt’s current companion, the affable but underdeveloped (in my humble opinion) Jenna Louise Coleman’s Clara Oswald, her mystery now seemingly solved is stated to to be aboard into 2014 for Series 8 as a companion. Having left both Clara and The Doctor inside the Doctor’s own timeline at the end of Series 7 finale and meeting the speculated “lost” or rather rejected Time War regeneration of The Doctor’s played by John Hurt, we are now left all summer to wonder if the 50th Anniversary, Christmas Special, and impending regeneration into Twelve are repercussions of the Doctor having dived in his own timeline and what happens when or if he is able to pull Clara and himself out safely. Similarly will mysterious other elements of Clara’s life such as (as per Coleman’s insistence) her outfits, the scratched out 23rd birthday, parallels with the Amy penned Summer Falls lead Kate as well as the nature of her mother’s death and death date will ever be addressed or are they to be cast aside as red herrings or dropped plot-points. We shall have to wait and see.
In the meantime, thanks Matt for the ride, now stay in America and marry Karen Gillan as she turns into a supervillain. You’re playing a villain. She’s playing a villain. Just make lots of villainous babies. Shh. It works. It just does.
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
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Since dear readers Jen and I cover this weekly, I thought I should not do an immediate in depth spoiler-tastic reaction and review for my article this week like as I would usually be compelled to do especially for a series finale.
I will gripe though this entire season has been lacking two-parters and as such a lot of the emotional impact and narrative build-up that had been so strong in the past two seasons during two parters is very much missing. Even the best of episodes this season have suffered from being crammed into one episode. This finale was no different and while impactful (in a HUGE way) it is a whole lot less epic than it could have been with the even more intricacies and revisits to what I guess are now red herrings that could have been allotted if they had allowed this to breathe across two episodes. And, as I stated in our response for last week’s episode this week’s finale was five minutes shorter than “The Pandorica Opens” and “The Big Bang”. You can fit a lot in 5 minutes. Overall while pretty good, this episode without a doubt could have been much more effective and much more compelling as a two-parter and better for it. Hello Silence? Where are you? You don’t want the Doctor to go to Trenzalore. Also the “fall” of the Eleventh has come to be in a VERY different manner than expected. Additionally, I will say, a lot of my speculation for the plot and what would occur was correct. Were attentive viewers in the same boat?
I really don’t know why I put up with this television show.
Also, there may be a further mystery when it comes to Clara than we thought. Or so it may seem if going by a single line that seems to suggest there is something else there. The tone of the delivery was more than suggestive. Otherwise, this episode wasn’t without its emotional punches. AT ALL.
Nevertheless, dear readers, I give you my no-spoilers (sweetie) overview of the episode for those who have yet to watch it in the convenient form of a knock-knock joke:
“Knock Knock”
“Who’s there?” (Oh god let me die this pun is too much)
“HERE HAVE SOME EMOTIONS”
“No really I didn’t want that, no, please tell me who’s actually there?”
” I HEARD YOU LIKE BEING UPSET”
“No, no please just tell me who is there, what is your name.”
” I’M BREAKING THOUGH THE WINDOW!”
” NO STOP I WILL OPEN THE DAMN DOOR – WAIT, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU”
” DOESN’T MATTER HERE HAVE SOME TEARS I HEARD YOU ENJOY THEM SO MUCH”
” I REALLY DON’T WANT THESE JUST TELL ME WHO YOU ARE THERE BEHIND THE DOOR”
” FINE I’LL JUST BREAK DOWN THE DOOR ON TOP OF YOU WITH EMOTION”
” WAIT NO I STILL DON’T KNOW WHO IS THERE WHAT IS YOUR NA-“
“EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW WAS A LIE”
*Is crushed by a door*
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
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M: Oh ho you started it [our document] this time.
J: HELL YES I DID!
M: So yes. It’s time once again, for Max and Jen’s our slightly delayed but always reflective Doctor Who episode review, recap, revelry, and other “r” words. This week we’re looking at Neil Cross’s second episode for Doctor Who “Hide”.
J: Yes. Also my nails look fresh to death in Versailles colors. But this week’s episode of Doctor Who was NOT Fresh to Death, because it SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH.
Aw yes, terrifying. Look it’s me Jen whenever your back is turned.
M: But it was a really, really, good episode. Definitely better than Neil’s other offering with Rings. Perhaps the best episode from this half of the series so far. I’m tough, I was really spoiled by Series 5, care for the awful Silurian two-parter, those episodes just feel so long but in a good way. The episodes are starting to get a bit meatier and more cinematic again. I’m glad they returned loosely to the Clara plot-line with the Doctor wanting to speak to the empathic psychic Emma Grayling to “check” if she was normal.
J: Yeah the Doctor is definitely manipulating the places they land. Sort of like when he checked in with the flesh when he was suspicious of Amy… something big is going on here and I like that we’re just getting tiny tidbits of information.
M: It’s a lot more subtle than some of other Moffat’s plotlines. Themes aren’t subtle though.
J: NEXT week we’ll get tons of TARDIS action. And if this week’s little tiff between Clara and the TARDIS was any indicator of what we’re going to see next Saturday…I can’t wait!
Clara: Let me in.
TARDIS: Naw. No. Nope. Sheesh. No. Well may- No.
M: I think we should talk a little bit more about some of the themes we’re picking up in these episodes. Tumblr in particular is going rabid over Clara’s rose motifs; posters, boxes and floral patterns and thus literal the character Rose allusions. Like “ ROES OMG ROSE ROAAAAAAASEEEE ROSE”, I’m not really sure what to think, I feel like we’re getting a lot of intentional red herrings a la Flesh Doctor. Moffat didn’t (used to not) like Rose. (Btw Susan’s real Gallifreyan name, Arkytior meant ‘rose’ as revealed in a short story!.)
J: I don’t know how much of the rose stuff is intentional and how much is coincidence. Like the rose in her hair in Asylum was definitely a reference to Carmen, but if it turns out to be a connection to Rose and ten two… PLUS ALSO TEN AND TWO IS TWELVE AND WHEN TWELVE SHOWS UP SILENCE WILL FALL OMG BS;DLFJK;LKJCAWLRKNSZDCL;JSWAEOFIJS’LCJS
M: Yes. Again there is a lot to speculate about. But I think there are a few theories that I think we both side with a bit more. Once again FAMILY is put front and center. Mothers. Grandfathers and Granddaughters. Mentioning Susan. The reveal that the time traveler stuck in the pocket universe was the empath and the scientist’s great x granddaughter, immediately, immediately sent off bells to me. The scientist aboard the submarine talking about his daughter, the alien talking about his daughter. It’s just everywhere.
J: Yeah but I’m glad next week is a TARDIS episode, because it’s becoming almost a tedious theme at this point to have everyone related every week.
M: Well I was more thinking in regards to Clara and the Doctor shippers. MARK MY WORDS SHIPPERS YOUR SHIP WILL SINK. IT WILL SINK SO FAST. IT WON’T EVEN FLOAT.
J: Like a sinking submarine?
M: Yes. Like a sinking Soviet submarine with atomic warheads and an irritated alien on board.
“Hiya babe lemme hold that fer just a second”
Clara are Whouffles, I am Skaldak.
J: I knew what you meant about the Doctor and Clara–their relationship is definitely that of a grumpy old man and his young whatever following him around. Like Inspector Gadget and Penny or something. But still, I’m glad next week is about the TARDIS. I can’t stress that enough. Even though we should talk about the scary stuff from this week. Hold on one second I have to build a blanket fort……
M: Ah yeah the “ghosts” and monsters in this one were fantastic. Things got a little Scooby-Doo when Clara thought the Doctor was holding her hand, but in general them NOT showing the monster thumping around the house much, or in the forest and focusing more on the character’s paranoia and sounds I think is so much more scary than throwing monsters at you that you can see.
J: I feel like that’s the kind of scary Doctor Who does best–like the Silence and the Angels are scariest when you can’t see them.
M: I wish more horror films did this more, they do, but only so they can have the pop-out scare. Also nice inversion at the end there with these so called monsters are actually pretty goofy.
Dashing.
J: THAT LOOKED GOOFY YOU YOU? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I ACTUALLY HATED THAT PART.
M: The reveal? They were ugly but in a really “Ohhhhh bless” kind of way, my reaction was the same as the Doctor’s. Pinhead stick monster. Hurr.
J: I was under my blanket. What was the significance of the “Hide” title this week? I don’t get it. Actually, as far as the sci-fi goes…I was kind of in Akhtan again and didn’t understand what the hell was going on through most of the episode. Obviously I understood that the woman was in the pocket universe and ——–oh crap. Tennant’s suit. We have to talk about Tennant’s suit.
M: Oh yes. These are great little throw-backs going on like this. It’s subtle but not? If that makes sense.
J: Yeah, it does make sense. I think it’s like nods to the fans that have stuck around for a really long time–but you have to have a sharp eye to catch the references.
Also dashing. No. That’s a lie.
J: Additionally, I just got a chill thinking about the day when David returns.
M: And then leave again.
J: I should probably just start crying now, save future me the trouble.
M: No, don’t. Moffat wants your tears. He feeds off of them. Never let the writers have your tears! WE SHOULD KNOW THIS JEN WE ARE WRITERS WE SHOULD KNOW THIS!
J: But…the emotional whiplash is coming. I can feel it. I can feel it right down in these stubby bow legs of mine.
M: Meanwhile OH we should probably gush about River. River’s back. In the finale. My dreams have come true. She’ll be like “Hi love, this is our granddaughter, she got caught in a machine and spread throughout the time xo”
J: **mouth gaping**
M: Well, she might know something. We’ll find Clara’s purpose/secret then too. Coincidence River showing up? Well it is the Fields. I think? NOT SURE. I think the love triangle they’re talking about for the finale will be the TARDIS, River and Clara, not the Doctor. Never the Doctor.
J: That is one ghey triangle. I have been avoiding almost all the news on this season because I don’t want it spoiled. All I can do is speculate on what I hope things will be. And all I want for the finale is like thirteen days worth of Rose and Ten Two kissing.
M: I’m wondering if it is Ten Two or not, they were filming Ten and Queen Elizabeth scenes. That might be a bummer. But Tentwoo was supposedly given a Tardis chunk too. So. I DUNNO. I hope it’s them.
J: Dun no dun care. I stand by my desires from last week for a ton of domestic Doctor Who. I feel like we’re leaving something out this week though…
M: I dunno. A good episode overall?
J: There was a lot of high fiving this week.
M: Yes. Lots. I really don’t understand how anyone can ship them. It’s too…naw.
J: Uh, I think that ends our recap of the week. Weird, since we learned some stuff about Clara. Like how she’s human and normal.
M: She hates whiskey. Eleventh most disgusting thing ever.
J: Fifth. but nice try. The Doctor did however take a selfie.
M: Pretty sure she said eleventh. He did take a selfie.
J: I’m sorry I just saw this on my sister’s tumblr and I can’t stop laughing
(•_•)
) )z
/
you are the dancing queen
(•_•)
) )z
/
young and sweet
(•_•)
) )z
/
only seventeen
dancing queen
(•_•)/
<) )
/
feel the beat
(•_•)
~) )~
/
of the tambourine
(•_•)
) )-@*jingle*
/
(Source: http://megahomo.tumblr.com/post/48484341933/o-o-z-you-are-the-dancing)
M: That’s the Doctor. Or Clara on tambourine for Karen & The Babes.
J: My cheeks hurt I can’t
I can’t stop laughing I’m—I legit just choked.
M: That’s it folks, we’ve lost Jen.
J: Its the jingle at the end that does it. But yes this week’s episode of Doctor Who was terrifying and if we never have an episode that scary again it will be okay.
M: For clarification I made her watch it at like 1:30 am.
J: In my room. My ATTIC. ROOM. ALONE. Anywho, I don’t think I have anything more to add except I really liked the aesthetic this week; it was a genuinely scary ghost tale, and next week looks awesome.
M: Agreed. Center of The Tardis. Bring it on BBC. Bring. It.
J:
(•_•)
) )-@*jingle*
/
Max Eber and Jen Schiller
Staff Writers/The Doctor and Amy Pond
Twitter.com/Jenisaur
comealongpondofftoneverland.blogspot.com
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So. Much. Screaming.Right. Now. Okay that’s a lie. I really didn’t scream. Maybe just like the Doctor, there was a bit of licking things (also a lie unless you count spoons). This is short but explosive piece this weekend because if I type too much, it may just degrade into actual screaming and thus readers you would be subjected to LINE AFTER LINE OF CAPS LOCK. That’s another lie, I can control myself (no I can’t). Truthfully I am sort of dead, this is blogging from beyond the grave (also a lie, I just made spiced plum and berry compote and am contemplating having to make an Easter cake for it).
Case study of all the excitement:
This Saturday was, to put it lightly, a sweet double whammy for Who fans. Double team. Oh god now it’s getting dirty. To put it simply, not only has the Doctor come back with Clara now officially in tow in a solid new episode, but they did it wonderfully and the Doctor’s back….more ways than one too! Spoilers ahead (sweetie).
Vroom Vroom
The Bells of Saint John was pretty fantastic with many, many new plot threads and mysteries that have sparked lots of attention and speculation. Loving nuggets of affection and possibly more in regards to the now deceased but presumably well known children’s author Amelia Williams, the mysterious shopgirl who gave Clara the Doctor’s number (River are you causing problems?). Clara’s puntastic sandwich layer name “Os-win”. Her missing ages. What’s with the number twenty-three? Curiouser and curiouser. Above all it was nice to see a relatively less sad Doctor, acting boyish and enthralled and taking charge while not delving into the dark sad place that the Ponds unfortunately sent him. The new energy is very much appreciated. Jenna is pretty solid as Clara, who dared to try to keep her cup of tea upright as they attempted to land a plane and that my friends is enough to like her (for me). The Doctor’s doting on her while setting up her recovery bed after being downloaded and then put back into her body was rather sweet. There are LOTS of questions. UNIT? Oh god. Moffat what are you doing?
In all the episode was rather well done, it felt a bit more old school, a bit less fairytale than Moffat’s usual tendencies but there is still the Moffat touch with the personification of Amy’s book heroine in her vintage dress and his tendency to I dunno, be able to create or revisit things that are so utterly terrifying you pretty much want to cry. Family show? Moffat you really want to scare kids. Spoonheads. That is ALL. While the episode was good it does have it’s faults, it was touted as a big James Bond action adventure and while certainly it reveled in that entire genre it wasn’t quite as swanky and smashing as I thought it would be but I love big stylization so I’m rather picky. The next episode screams of Lucasfilm-style Star Wars and Indiana Jones meets Classic Who (and has a gorgeous red color palette) type storyline and aesthetic and for the first time more or less in Eleven’s run we are I think exploring a new (or revisted) alien race and civilization, something Moffat very much cut down on; we’ve seen aliens but haven’t been really immersed in a culture as we have in the past under his direction. And as a lover of Indiana Jones and child-centric episodes, I am about to punch a hole in reality just to get to it sooner. (Oh god that wasn’t funny. I’m not very funny today – I really do need to make a cake.)
So yes. Great job Who crew and Moffat, the series is steering in an interesting direction, I’m intrigued to see where this and Clara goes.
AND NOW the second part that made Jen scream and myself smile; simply, this:
Billie. Billay. Billllllllllie Pipah.
Aw yeah here they come
your faves could never
The return of David Tennant and Billie Piper are officially confirmed for the 50th Anniversary Who Special. In an official statement announced prior to the series 7 part 2 premiere the BBC finally, after months of speculation, confirmed their involvement as co-stars to Matt and Jenna in the special (alongside many more I reckon):
David Tennant and Billie Piper will join current Doctor and companion, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman, while John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alien, Harry Potter) will also co-star.
Yes, now both Billie and David’s awful and unconvincing attempts at lying can be exposed as…well unconvincing attempts at lying. Rose Tyler and I’m going to assume Ten-Two will be featured! Whether their involvement will be a meaty supporting role or more of a cameo, it’s in the air, I’d like to think it’s somewhere in between. Let’s cross our fingers shall we?
In the meantime I really need to find baking powder if I’m going to make this cake….
Happy Easter (if you celebrate!)
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
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