Or at least for a while. Maybe if I can get my head together, but right now it's just not gonna work. I did want to go on at least reviewing the new Doctor Who, but I don't think I'm going to be able to.
It's all gone black.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Wacky Races
Let us take a moment to discuss some of the intracacies of Dalek Geneology.
There has been a tendency in recent years for Dalek Empires to come and go with a frankly alarming regularity. And we're not just referring to them as a political entity here. The Daleks as a SPECIES have been wiped out and then recreated time and again, such that we now have a number of distinct races of Dalek to discuss.
The first great race of Daleks is of course that which debuted in, appropriatly enough, The Daleks. Despite a certain amount of hopping around in the timeline we have here the original race, genetically reengineered by Davros from mutated Kaled DNA on Skaro. In fictional terms lasting right up to the end of the Time War, whereupon they all died.
The second race of Daleks are also from the original series. Genetically reengineered by Davros from Human DNA. These were Davros second go as it were, loyal to him rather than the Emperor or larger Dalek race. Here we get into the whole confusing Dalek civil war situation, with Davros apparently declaring himself Emperor and nobody really having a clue who was actually in charge of what anymore. Though they presumably sorted all that out before going off to declare war on the Time Lords. In story terms they only lasted for a couple of storylines, but then the series was cancelled. Who knows what may have happened otherwise.
After many long years the series finally returns. We get a glimpse of the Daleks again in the episode Dalek. One lone Dalek, the last survivor of the Time War. The final remnant of the original race. Well, last survivor until the Emperor turns up at the end of series one, and we get the Third race of Daleks. Genetically reengineered from human DNA by the Emperor. Quitely plotting away in the darkness of space, rebuilding their strength until they are finally wipedin a giant deus ex machina by that bad wolf buisness. The great and powerful Daleks return for about an hour and then are eradicated down to their constituent atoms. Ho hum.
So, whats next. Series 2 brings us yet more last survivors of the time war. More remnants of the first race of Daleks. Who also last about an hour before being erased from the face of existence. But their not really that interesting for the purposes of this article, so whatever. Next we get the abortive attempt to resurect the Daleksas a race of wooden extras in human form. But I don't count them. If it isn't a squid in a space tank then it frankly isn't a Dalek.
Then series 4 comes along, and brings with it the fourth race of Daleks. Genetically engineered from his own cells by Davros. A mighty Dalek empire, at the height of it's power we're told. This translates into lasting about an hour and a half before being eradicated in a mighty conflagration. But it's longer than any other race has lasted in the new series, so I guess they get points there.
And all of this has been leading us where? 4 races of Daleks, each raised from a different source, and each finally destroyed completely. Or at least mostly completely. And as we all know, mostly dead is slightly alive. And that's kind of the point of Victory Of Daleks. The crux of the episode is, basically, that the new production is aware of how silly it's been getting with the Daleks. They have been completely wiped out one time to many. So here, whilst we're introducing yet another race of Daleks, the point is that they're coming back properly. No being wiped out at the last minute only to return again next series. The purpose of the episode is to reestablish the Daleks as a credible threat. Those huge looming new cases roll out of the factory and we're given more than an obvious merchandising opportunity (I personally can't wait for the boxed set) we're given a formal political structure. Drones, Scientists, Strategists, A Dalek Supreme to run the whole show and an Eternal who's role is basically to do something cool at some point in the future. Even if nobody knows what yet. My money is on Deus Ex proofing.
So out with the old, in the new, in a fantasticly entertaining way. There's a lot to love in this episode. Some of it isn't even the Daleks. I mean, Spitfires in space. Fighting a Dalek saucer. That is SO Doctor Who. As with all episodes there's a couple of niggles. Interestingly we have a similar problem to the pevious episode, with a large glaring and possibly fatal issue left unresolved because it doesn't quite fit in with the fairy tale aesthetic. I mean yes it's lovely that the climax hinges on the establishment of a characters humanity, but at the end of the day he's also anachronistic alien technology and possess the power to destroy the entire earth should someone work out how to detonate him. It wouldn't have hurt to have his power supply replaced with something a little less deadly. Maybe with a limited runtime, thus providing a human life with a human death? But I guess we just didn't have time.
At the end of the day we have a nice well written episode, featuring some great performances and good ideas. At it's heart it is both a reestablishment of one of the series major villains and a declaration of intent. We're still seeing how differently it is that things are being done, and this episode serves very much as a line in the sand. As I suppose did both the preceeding ones. The new series has very firmly established it's new identity and intent. Perhaps now we can move on and see what it's really capable of.
There has been a tendency in recent years for Dalek Empires to come and go with a frankly alarming regularity. And we're not just referring to them as a political entity here. The Daleks as a SPECIES have been wiped out and then recreated time and again, such that we now have a number of distinct races of Dalek to discuss.
The first great race of Daleks is of course that which debuted in, appropriatly enough, The Daleks. Despite a certain amount of hopping around in the timeline we have here the original race, genetically reengineered by Davros from mutated Kaled DNA on Skaro. In fictional terms lasting right up to the end of the Time War, whereupon they all died.
The second race of Daleks are also from the original series. Genetically reengineered by Davros from Human DNA. These were Davros second go as it were, loyal to him rather than the Emperor or larger Dalek race. Here we get into the whole confusing Dalek civil war situation, with Davros apparently declaring himself Emperor and nobody really having a clue who was actually in charge of what anymore. Though they presumably sorted all that out before going off to declare war on the Time Lords. In story terms they only lasted for a couple of storylines, but then the series was cancelled. Who knows what may have happened otherwise.
After many long years the series finally returns. We get a glimpse of the Daleks again in the episode Dalek. One lone Dalek, the last survivor of the Time War. The final remnant of the original race. Well, last survivor until the Emperor turns up at the end of series one, and we get the Third race of Daleks. Genetically reengineered from human DNA by the Emperor. Quitely plotting away in the darkness of space, rebuilding their strength until they are finally wiped
So, whats next. Series 2 brings us yet more last survivors of the time war. More remnants of the first race of Daleks. Who also last about an hour before being erased from the face of existence. But their not really that interesting for the purposes of this article, so whatever. Next we get the abortive attempt to resurect the Daleks
Then series 4 comes along, and brings with it the fourth race of Daleks. Genetically engineered from his own cells by Davros. A mighty Dalek empire, at the height of it's power we're told. This translates into lasting about an hour and a half before being eradicated in a mighty conflagration. But it's longer than any other race has lasted in the new series, so I guess they get points there.
And all of this has been leading us where? 4 races of Daleks, each raised from a different source, and each finally destroyed completely. Or at least mostly completely. And as we all know, mostly dead is slightly alive. And that's kind of the point of Victory Of Daleks. The crux of the episode is, basically, that the new production is aware of how silly it's been getting with the Daleks. They have been completely wiped out one time to many. So here, whilst we're introducing yet another race of Daleks, the point is that they're coming back properly. No being wiped out at the last minute only to return again next series. The purpose of the episode is to reestablish the Daleks as a credible threat. Those huge looming new cases roll out of the factory and we're given more than an obvious merchandising opportunity (I personally can't wait for the boxed set) we're given a formal political structure. Drones, Scientists, Strategists, A Dalek Supreme to run the whole show and an Eternal who's role is basically to do something cool at some point in the future. Even if nobody knows what yet. My money is on Deus Ex proofing.
So out with the old, in the new, in a fantasticly entertaining way. There's a lot to love in this episode. Some of it isn't even the Daleks. I mean, Spitfires in space. Fighting a Dalek saucer. That is SO Doctor Who. As with all episodes there's a couple of niggles. Interestingly we have a similar problem to the pevious episode, with a large glaring and possibly fatal issue left unresolved because it doesn't quite fit in with the fairy tale aesthetic. I mean yes it's lovely that the climax hinges on the establishment of a characters humanity, but at the end of the day he's also anachronistic alien technology and possess the power to destroy the entire earth should someone work out how to detonate him. It wouldn't have hurt to have his power supply replaced with something a little less deadly. Maybe with a limited runtime, thus providing a human life with a human death? But I guess we just didn't have time.
At the end of the day we have a nice well written episode, featuring some great performances and good ideas. At it's heart it is both a reestablishment of one of the series major villains and a declaration of intent. We're still seeing how differently it is that things are being done, and this episode serves very much as a line in the sand. As I suppose did both the preceeding ones. The new series has very firmly established it's new identity and intent. Perhaps now we can move on and see what it's really capable of.
Friday, 16 April 2010
.... IN MY PANTS!
It's taken me nearly a week to get around to actually typing up anything on The Beast Below. Sue me, I've busy. I only managed to get around to rewatching it last night. Not that I was putting it off or anything. I've just been, you know, occupied. With things that aren't Doctor Who. Criminal I know, but what can you do?
Anyway, what can I say? Firstly, despite the almost universal panning it's been recieving from the Doctor Who blogs I can actually be bothered to read I really like the new title music. It takes a couple of listens to get where it's coming from, but I find it to be a delightful fusion of old school and new school DW sensebilities. This is rather appropriate considering that that seems to be where they're going with the show itself. Hard to pin it down exactly, but things certainly seem a bit less... Frenetic now, despite the fact that we're still galloping through a 45 minute runtime for each story. I've seen it mentioned that this episode would work as a Seventh Doctor and Ace story, and I have to agree. Plus now we know why Song Of The Space Whale got pulled from Big Finishes Lost Season series of audios.
I'd like to say that the story itself has a kind of old school feel in that it clearly has some clever ideas going on but also has it's flaws. But then so does a lot of nu-who, so whatever. The ideas are good, the acting is on form, the production values are top notch. Matt Smith goes on to prove that he is a very Doctorish Doctor, being somehow naturally unnatural. There's something about the way he carries himself. It's very good, and I look forward to when he gets to something a little more meaty.
The whole fairy tale asthetic that we're hearing so much about is out in full force here, and whilst it does work very well it does also result in what for me is the major detraction from the episode. Now this is going to be a bit spoilery, but if you haven't watched it yet then frankly there's something wrong with you and I hate you. Or maybe you're American. Which is basically the same thing.
Anyway, racism aside for one moment. So when we start the episode we have a child being, at least on the face of it, KILLED for failing a test. The Doctor has a great little bit about the police state. Undesireables are vanished away by the shadowy powers that be. A society bent out of shape. We go on to find the terrible secret of the Star Whales enslavement and torture. The Whale is freed from it's bonds, continues on happily and the Doctor leaves. Without addressing the fundemental issue of the police state that KILLS CHILDREN FOR FAILING TESTS. Or at least tries to. The Whale was one issue yes. A serious one. But then so was the shadowy government that was allegedly oppressing the people. I terms of a fairy tale narrative then yes, once the Whale is freed then the badness is resolved. In terms of any other sort of story we still have the guilty unpunished and the mechanisms of an opressive regime in full working order.
But this is honestly a rather minor niggle in the narrative structure presented, stemming more from my own obsessive nitpicking as a fan than any major deficit in the writing. It was an interesting story, which kept me entertained, and face it, there's not many shows that get you thinking about stylistic conciets and narrative structure like Doctor Who does.
This is, I would say more of a good episode than a great one. We're still being introduced to this new version of the show, and it's perhaps still finding it's feet somewhat. This one is, most likely, going to be overshadowed by what is to come anyway. Daleks and Angels and such, oh my.
But I'm going to say that it's going to be good. It's ALREADY good. It does seem that it's going to get even better though. Rock on.
Anyway, what can I say? Firstly, despite the almost universal panning it's been recieving from the Doctor Who blogs I can actually be bothered to read I really like the new title music. It takes a couple of listens to get where it's coming from, but I find it to be a delightful fusion of old school and new school DW sensebilities. This is rather appropriate considering that that seems to be where they're going with the show itself. Hard to pin it down exactly, but things certainly seem a bit less... Frenetic now, despite the fact that we're still galloping through a 45 minute runtime for each story. I've seen it mentioned that this episode would work as a Seventh Doctor and Ace story, and I have to agree. Plus now we know why Song Of The Space Whale got pulled from Big Finishes Lost Season series of audios.
I'd like to say that the story itself has a kind of old school feel in that it clearly has some clever ideas going on but also has it's flaws. But then so does a lot of nu-who, so whatever. The ideas are good, the acting is on form, the production values are top notch. Matt Smith goes on to prove that he is a very Doctorish Doctor, being somehow naturally unnatural. There's something about the way he carries himself. It's very good, and I look forward to when he gets to something a little more meaty.
The whole fairy tale asthetic that we're hearing so much about is out in full force here, and whilst it does work very well it does also result in what for me is the major detraction from the episode. Now this is going to be a bit spoilery, but if you haven't watched it yet then frankly there's something wrong with you and I hate you. Or maybe you're American. Which is basically the same thing.
Anyway, racism aside for one moment. So when we start the episode we have a child being, at least on the face of it, KILLED for failing a test. The Doctor has a great little bit about the police state. Undesireables are vanished away by the shadowy powers that be. A society bent out of shape. We go on to find the terrible secret of the Star Whales enslavement and torture. The Whale is freed from it's bonds, continues on happily and the Doctor leaves. Without addressing the fundemental issue of the police state that KILLS CHILDREN FOR FAILING TESTS. Or at least tries to. The Whale was one issue yes. A serious one. But then so was the shadowy government that was allegedly oppressing the people. I terms of a fairy tale narrative then yes, once the Whale is freed then the badness is resolved. In terms of any other sort of story we still have the guilty unpunished and the mechanisms of an opressive regime in full working order.
But this is honestly a rather minor niggle in the narrative structure presented, stemming more from my own obsessive nitpicking as a fan than any major deficit in the writing. It was an interesting story, which kept me entertained, and face it, there's not many shows that get you thinking about stylistic conciets and narrative structure like Doctor Who does.
This is, I would say more of a good episode than a great one. We're still being introduced to this new version of the show, and it's perhaps still finding it's feet somewhat. This one is, most likely, going to be overshadowed by what is to come anyway. Daleks and Angels and such, oh my.
But I'm going to say that it's going to be good. It's ALREADY good. It does seem that it's going to get even better though. Rock on.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Tales Of The Black Wanker
So an unspecified amount of time ago I decided to attempt to write a sonnet. In Iambic Pentameter. I'm not really sure why. Maybe I was attempting to flex my creative muscles, maybe I was just bored. Maybe I just wanted to know what the hell Iambic Pentameter actually was.
Either way, the end result is now presented to you, the reader, in the form of an emergency filler post because I haven't got anything better to put up right now.
As to the subject matter, well I'd been reading Watchmen. I guess the Pirate bits stuck with me for some reason.
Either way, the end result is now presented to you, the reader, in the form of an emergency filler post because I haven't got anything better to put up right now.
As to the subject matter, well I'd been reading Watchmen. I guess the Pirate bits stuck with me for some reason.
the dark and secret tides of passion black
upon frayed and breaking tides born down
the cruelest moon shall rise and stars shall crack
afore naked bleeding spent rises morn
yet drowned corpse in such waters still whirl
no respite to cling to much less a shore
still hopes to see such friendly flag unfuled
a bastion o'er lonely tempest bore
yet nought to see on that horizon grim
bourne solitary on waves bleak and cold
the craved for comfort shall come not to him
into the bosom of the deeps enfold
to lie there frozen still in solitude
an unmarked grave beneath the tempest rude
Thursday, 8 April 2010
We Control The Horziontal.... Wait, No We Don't.
If there was a running theme to last nights concert then it was, rather sadly, one of "technical difficulties". Which is what we say when we're being to polite to say "fuck ups".
In the fine tradition of almost evey gig I've ever been to the doors did of course NOT open on time, and then after that delay the first band on, Fen, experienced some degree of hassle resulting in them starting even later and only having time to play about 3 songs. Which was a shame, as their Drudkh like blend of melancholic keyboard infused black metal was actually rather good. I can't honestly say it was massively unique, but it was certainly enjoyable.
Next up were Fyoergyn, some sort of german thrash type thing. Frankly I didn't find it particularly gripping. Not that they were bad at what they did, simply that what they did wasn't really to my taste. But they managed to plough through their set without having to cut too much out, and seemed to go down fairly well.
After a brief interlude for changing the equipment, Alcest started their set is what I would like to say. But thats not what happened. After a brief interlude for changing the equipment Alcest started to fiddle with a broken amp for an interminable age, thus fucking the schedule all to hell again. Not their fault of course, but when you're running that far behind is it REALLY necessary to play a final song that lasts about 7 hours? Seriously, I appreciate a bit of epic, but this seemed like it was going to end about 15 times and then KEPT GOING. Musically I guess they were okay, with a fairly impress wall of guitar. But when the falsetto "aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh" ing occured all I could think was "ELF METAL". And suffice to say, elves are about the least metal thing possible. I can't honestly say they impressed me much, but maybe that was simply because I was getting somewhat impatient as the published schedule was blown all to hell and they JUST. WOULDN'T. FINISH.
Still, finally, a good half hour or more after the stated stage time, The Vision Bleak take the stage. After sitting through all the hassle and uninteresting performances my patience is at last rewarded. They come about and play a vey good set, even if it does seem a little truncated. The grandiose gothic metal comes over very well in the live setting. The new songs they play sound awesome, and the old favorites are of course rather rocking.
They even manage a brief encore.
It's quite frustrating that things went so tits up across the course of the evening, as it would have been nice to actually feel like you were getting a full set. Despite overrunning there was a definate sense that there should have been a few more tracks played. Maybe if someone could have taught Alcest the meaning of "shut the fuck up". But despite all that it was a good show, and I'm certainly glad I finally got to see The Vision Bleak in action, having missed them last time around.
It would be awesome to get them playing at something like The Great Exhibition though. They certainly match the asthetic sensibilities required. And that event really could have been a bit more metal.
But anyway, a good night was (almost) had by all. Rock on and such like.
In the fine tradition of almost evey gig I've ever been to the doors did of course NOT open on time, and then after that delay the first band on, Fen, experienced some degree of hassle resulting in them starting even later and only having time to play about 3 songs. Which was a shame, as their Drudkh like blend of melancholic keyboard infused black metal was actually rather good. I can't honestly say it was massively unique, but it was certainly enjoyable.
Next up were Fyoergyn, some sort of german thrash type thing. Frankly I didn't find it particularly gripping. Not that they were bad at what they did, simply that what they did wasn't really to my taste. But they managed to plough through their set without having to cut too much out, and seemed to go down fairly well.
After a brief interlude for changing the equipment, Alcest started their set is what I would like to say. But thats not what happened. After a brief interlude for changing the equipment Alcest started to fiddle with a broken amp for an interminable age, thus fucking the schedule all to hell again. Not their fault of course, but when you're running that far behind is it REALLY necessary to play a final song that lasts about 7 hours? Seriously, I appreciate a bit of epic, but this seemed like it was going to end about 15 times and then KEPT GOING. Musically I guess they were okay, with a fairly impress wall of guitar. But when the falsetto "aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh" ing occured all I could think was "ELF METAL". And suffice to say, elves are about the least metal thing possible. I can't honestly say they impressed me much, but maybe that was simply because I was getting somewhat impatient as the published schedule was blown all to hell and they JUST. WOULDN'T. FINISH.
Still, finally, a good half hour or more after the stated stage time, The Vision Bleak take the stage. After sitting through all the hassle and uninteresting performances my patience is at last rewarded. They come about and play a vey good set, even if it does seem a little truncated. The grandiose gothic metal comes over very well in the live setting. The new songs they play sound awesome, and the old favorites are of course rather rocking.
They even manage a brief encore.
It's quite frustrating that things went so tits up across the course of the evening, as it would have been nice to actually feel like you were getting a full set. Despite overrunning there was a definate sense that there should have been a few more tracks played. Maybe if someone could have taught Alcest the meaning of "shut the fuck up". But despite all that it was a good show, and I'm certainly glad I finally got to see The Vision Bleak in action, having missed them last time around.
It would be awesome to get them playing at something like The Great Exhibition though. They certainly match the asthetic sensibilities required. And that event really could have been a bit more metal.
But anyway, a good night was (almost) had by all. Rock on and such like.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Sunday, 4 April 2010
I See What You Did There.
It would be, I think, prudent to attempt to set down my thoughts on the new Doctor Who before I read too many reviews by other people and get my brain all coloured by other peoples opinions. Or at least so that I can discuss it without knowing I'm repeating what everyone else is saying.
So, new series, new doctor, new production staff, new everything. Where do you start? Well, the beginning would be a logical place. The precredit scene with the TARDIS hurling down towards the earth is very nice and all, but when you contrast it to the rest of the episode it actually feels curiously old school. It's like a last gasp of RTD style spectacle and thunder before we crash down into the new series proper. I can't help but want to use the word anachronistic, which I realize full well is stupid, but there you go.
It's of course not until after the crash and the newly regenerated Doctor clambers up out of the depths of the TARDIS that you really start to appreciate the difference. It's a strange thing about Doctor Who, that the various eras can be so completely different and yet so entirely the same show. And it's difficult to compare or contrast these differences without sounding like you're writing one of in favour of the other. Which is silly. Because X isn't better or worse than Y. It's just different.
And that's what we have here, a different take on the whole show. The whole feel has changed subtely, we're clearly moving in a new direction. And it's looking like it's going to be a rather brilliant one.
The obvious question that I need to address of course is the new boy. BOY. Because he's YOUNG. I mean, whats that all about?
I'm being fecetious of course. Matt Smith bursts out of the TARDIS and is immediatly pure DOCTOR. You can see why it was he got the part like he did, despite the purported plans for an older Doctor. As the invariable comparisons to Tom Baker will show, the guy simply IS the Doctor. Obviously this story is very much about the Doctor settling into his new regeneration, but you get a pretty clear picture of what the character is like now. He's the Doctor. A rather tautological description perhaps, but we have such a full on performance of sheer Doctorishness hat it's rather hard not to be.
Moving on, let us next address the very short skirt. I mean companion. Yes, it's a girl in a short skirt, but there's obviously a bit more to it than that. And it's not like it's nearly as distracting as Katy Manning in The Claws Of Axos. THAT was a short skirt to remember. So yeah, desperatly trying to focus on character here. It's going to be difficult to really discuss her without trotting out all those ghastly cliched superlatives that they always do when introducing a new companion. Particularly the word "feisty". Why are they always "feisty"? But yeah, she kind of is. Certainly got some balls to her, and we're clearly going to be getting a rather different dynamic to the companion relationship than previously. Which is all good. I also have to say I actually really liked young Amy. I can't help but think it would have been fun for her to actually get a trip or two, purely because it would be so WRONG. The Doctor sweeps up this little girl and goes of for an adventure, only to then calm down from his post regenerative euphoria and realise he's dragging a 12 year old girl into mortal danger. But then of course we wouldn't get the character as she is now. So never mind.
I'm not going to go into great detail about the plot, because that would be spoilery. Suffice to say that it does the job of introducing a new Doctor, companion and indeed ethos rather well. There's scary touches and lighthearted moments, interesting ideas and a cool monster or two. It's very Moffat. Shockingly enough, what with him writing it. It's a very good start, and shows much promise for the series to come.
And finally I should mention the new TARDIS interior. Because it's really awesome. Like the TARDIS, only more so. A TARDISier TARDIS as it were.
In fact I suppose thats the general vibe here. It's Doctor Who, only slightly moreso.
One could perhaps say it's been turned up to eleven?
So, new series, new doctor, new production staff, new everything. Where do you start? Well, the beginning would be a logical place. The precredit scene with the TARDIS hurling down towards the earth is very nice and all, but when you contrast it to the rest of the episode it actually feels curiously old school. It's like a last gasp of RTD style spectacle and thunder before we crash down into the new series proper. I can't help but want to use the word anachronistic, which I realize full well is stupid, but there you go.
It's of course not until after the crash and the newly regenerated Doctor clambers up out of the depths of the TARDIS that you really start to appreciate the difference. It's a strange thing about Doctor Who, that the various eras can be so completely different and yet so entirely the same show. And it's difficult to compare or contrast these differences without sounding like you're writing one of in favour of the other. Which is silly. Because X isn't better or worse than Y. It's just different.
And that's what we have here, a different take on the whole show. The whole feel has changed subtely, we're clearly moving in a new direction. And it's looking like it's going to be a rather brilliant one.
The obvious question that I need to address of course is the new boy. BOY. Because he's YOUNG. I mean, whats that all about?
I'm being fecetious of course. Matt Smith bursts out of the TARDIS and is immediatly pure DOCTOR. You can see why it was he got the part like he did, despite the purported plans for an older Doctor. As the invariable comparisons to Tom Baker will show, the guy simply IS the Doctor. Obviously this story is very much about the Doctor settling into his new regeneration, but you get a pretty clear picture of what the character is like now. He's the Doctor. A rather tautological description perhaps, but we have such a full on performance of sheer Doctorishness hat it's rather hard not to be.
Moving on, let us next address the very short skirt. I mean companion. Yes, it's a girl in a short skirt, but there's obviously a bit more to it than that. And it's not like it's nearly as distracting as Katy Manning in The Claws Of Axos. THAT was a short skirt to remember. So yeah, desperatly trying to focus on character here. It's going to be difficult to really discuss her without trotting out all those ghastly cliched superlatives that they always do when introducing a new companion. Particularly the word "feisty". Why are they always "feisty"? But yeah, she kind of is. Certainly got some balls to her, and we're clearly going to be getting a rather different dynamic to the companion relationship than previously. Which is all good. I also have to say I actually really liked young Amy. I can't help but think it would have been fun for her to actually get a trip or two, purely because it would be so WRONG. The Doctor sweeps up this little girl and goes of for an adventure, only to then calm down from his post regenerative euphoria and realise he's dragging a 12 year old girl into mortal danger. But then of course we wouldn't get the character as she is now. So never mind.
I'm not going to go into great detail about the plot, because that would be spoilery. Suffice to say that it does the job of introducing a new Doctor, companion and indeed ethos rather well. There's scary touches and lighthearted moments, interesting ideas and a cool monster or two. It's very Moffat. Shockingly enough, what with him writing it. It's a very good start, and shows much promise for the series to come.
And finally I should mention the new TARDIS interior. Because it's really awesome. Like the TARDIS, only more so. A TARDISier TARDIS as it were.
In fact I suppose thats the general vibe here. It's Doctor Who, only slightly moreso.
One could perhaps say it's been turned up to eleven?
Friday, 2 April 2010
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