Having A Barney

I've thought for quite a while now that the new series of Doctor Who really should do a dinosaur episode at some point. After all, the BBC should already have access to plenty of CGI dinosaur models from their various documentary programs. And it's always seemed a bit odd that a show that go literally anywhere in space and time has basically avoided prehistoric earth for almost it's entire 50 year run.

There's no lizards so it doesn't count.

Imagine then my delight when it was announced that not only was there to be a dinosaur episode, but these dinosaurs would be on a spaceship. I mean, dinosaurs on a spaceship. Could you have a premise that was any MORE Doctor Who?


Even better than that though is the fact that this episode is actually really rather good. It's a cracking piece of solid Doctor Who goodness, and an immense relief after the rather troubled opening episode. Really the only problems in the story are the sort of thing that even obsessive fanboys like myself would dismiss in the face of  how much fun this episode actually is. Yes, it's a little bit odd that the entire universe thinks the Dr is dead except Futuristic Indian Space UNIT, but maybe they just hadn't got the memo yet. And sure, the Silurians had never displayed any aptitude for space travel or transmat technology before, but really who cares? It's not like we really know that much about them. The ship is big, weird and stony enough to be convincing as a bit of Silurian tech, and the teleports are necessary to keep the plot moving along at the required pace.

I suppose it could seem a little odd having the Doctor put together a crew to investigate the mysterious vessel. At least it might if he hadn't already done so in the previous season. What's great is that having assembled this somewhat disparate crew of extra companions everyone gets something useful to do in the finale. Really, the whole piece has that RTD era weird shopping list vibe: Dinosaurs on a spaceship, Queen Nefertiti, a big game hunter, a pair of huge camp robot villains. Hell, the bad guy is even only in it for the money. This is old new school at it's best.

Of course, it's the fate of the villain that serves up the most interesting twist of the piece. Up to that point it's been a light hearted romp in pretty much every way. All fast paced action and lots of comedy. Matt Smith does the whole light hearted funny part so very well that it becomes all the more chilling when it suddenly switches off. Clearly this is a Doctor that is through taking anyone's shit. Maybe it's that he no longer has to maintain a reputation, maybe it's evidently increasing estrangement from his companions. It's scary when he allows Solomon to die, because it's almost like he enjoys it. Not quite, but there is a certain glib flippancy to those closing lines. He could choose to save the mans life, despite everything. But he chooses not to and clearly does not regret it. This is interesting character development, and I'm intrigued to see if it's continued across the upcoming episodes. It's not going to end well if it does.

Really, it's hard to talk at length about this particular episode, simply because you can only write so many variations of "it was well good" before things get a bit repetitive. Good writing, action, direction etc. Good character moments and development. Tightly paced and all leading towards a satisfying conclusion.

More like this please.