Which, to be fair, would probably be more entertaining than this bullshit.
So, how good was a Town Called mercy exactly? Quite good actually. Quite good indeed.
I must admit a certain fondness for the idea of the sci-fi western. I think it's the combination of awesome hats with lasers. In this regard I think the Gunslinger is quite the success. He's an action figure waiting to happen, although I doubt we'll have to wait very long. It certainly beats another trotting out of the same goddamn Dalek mould that they've been releasing basically every series since the beginning of the line. Although obviously I'm still holding out for an inflatable Erato.
Guess where you blow.
Anyway, what we have on offer is a production that I think can safely be described as a solid bit of Dr Who. After the sheer rompiness of last weeks Dinosaurs On A Spaceship we're now having a take on the base under siege trope, but with some very interesting twists. After all, the only thing keeping the enemy out is his own moral code. It's great to see a villain with a specific goal that they actually don't want to involve innocents in. The theme for the episode seems very much one of grey areas and moral ambiguity. Indeed, it feels wrong to label anyone involved as a villain. Sure, both the Gunslinger and Jex have done terrible things and taken lives, but they each have valid reasons for the paths they've taken.
Indeed, I think one of the highlights is the performance of Kahler Jex himself. He's... complicated. He's never entirely sympathetic as he clearly doesn't regret what he's done and is willing to stand up for the necessity of his actions even as he regrets having to have carried them out. Seeing that collide with the Doctor is just great.
The Doctor does seem to be an interesting place, dramatically speaking. The theme does seem to be concentrating on the humanising effect of his companions, and how travelling without them exposes those more dangerous edges. Honestly I would have expected him to have had a little more sympathy for Jex initially. After all, if there's one man in the universe who knows something about doing terrible things for the greater good and trying to live with it afterwards then it's The Doctor. It is a little odd seeing him take up a gun so readily.
Because that's never happened before.
But, as we've seen in the last episode, this Doctor has become a lot less tolerant and forgiving. There's only one real problem I have with this concept as it is being played out. And that's The Deadly Assassin.
See, if there's one thing I think that this series really needs, it's The Deadly Assassin. Or rather a comparable tale. Something dark and uncompromising to be sure, but more specifically something where the Doctor is ALONE. After all, all the episodes are supposed to be occasional visits. The Ponds are not travelling with Doctor regularly any more we're told. But it's not something we really get to SEE. I just think it would be nice to see what happens to the Doctor in between those visits, where he doesn't have anyone there with him to provide that balance.
"It's... ummmm... a healing rock. Shut up Chessington."
Still, maybe they're saving that for the expanded media. One thing you've got to give Moffatt credit for is that there's plenty of room built in for Big Finish to work with in another 10 years or so. Plus all the books, comics and sundry what have you's.
So yeah, once again shaping up to be a good season, despite the terrible plot holes of the opening episode. But I suppose the big question right now is going to be will the Power Of Three be reusing all the tropes from The Lodger (again) or will it be something a little bit different?
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