Doctor Who and the Squealers of Doom
I think I must actually be the adult audience that the new series of Doctor Who is aimed for. After last night’s episode, the series finale, I decided to have a quick look at one or two fan sites to see what they said and was quite surprised at the amount of - well, I don’t know what but I think it may have involved flaming torches, pitchforks and probably tar. And feathers. And no small amount of radishes (but not this dinky little british ones - those mediterranean jobbies that are the size of a small house.)
You see, I quite enjoyed last nights episode and I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. Spoilers, obviously, ensue.
So yeah, he didn’t regenerate. This actually is not a surprise because, well, it wasn’t. Of course, I slapped myself hard for not mentioning the hand last week - especially as I noticed the deliberate close up on it bubbling away which was a real Chekov’s gun moment and I remember thinking “I wonder how that’s going to come into play again?” but didn’t put 2 and 2 together. And the HandDoctor? A genius way of taking the hand out of play so that trick can’t be pulled again.
Speaking of - I thought he was brilliant as was the DoctorDonna. Come on - you had to laugh. I was giggling away like a fool.
Davros - once again brilliant but the descent into insane raving was fantastic. Excellent. Couldn’t help wonder, if the Dalek’s plan had succeeded, who they would have fought against next mind you. Everlasting Civil War just like on Skaro? (When I was a youngling, I used to borrow all the old Dr Who books from my local library and the only one I ever really remember was the one on Skaro - Genesis of the Daleks perhaps? The one where the Kaleds became, obviously, the Daleks. Sure that was all about a civil way but it was a long time ago.)
Surprisingly, the only bit I didn’t like was the German Daleks. Having them shout orders in German is one thing but shouting “Extermineeren!”? Come on! That was just silly. If you’re going to annihilate a race, you don’t bother being polite about it and learning their language first. It was a nice touch but totally ridiculous.
So, the rest of it? Well, yes, there was a lot to get through in an hour with all the companions and everything and it was just as silly as it’s always been but hey, they all got out. As for Donna’s fate? Personally I thought it was perfect. It was tragic and yet ever so poignant. We’ve already seen her die and we’ve seen so many people give their lives for the Doctor this season that losing her too would have been, well, predictable and unimaginative. So having her be Men-in-Blacked was gutting but somehow the right way to end her particular journey.
I was glad I was wrong about the Sontaran’s coming back but I’m extremely disappointed that the Doctor’s Daughter didn’t put in an appearance (more than the flashback to her “death”). But generally, after not really liking Stolen Earth, I was quite entertained by this episode thank you very much.
Woo-hoo! I think you’ve made one of the most whole-heartedly positive comments yet read on the episode! And that includes mine: not because I don’t feel positive about but because I felt I needed to temper my review to acknowledge what the bile was doing.
*sigh* I watched again tonight and loved it even more - including Freema breaking the 4th wall!
Comment by Rullsenberg — July 6, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
I liked it too, although you kind of have to throw story logic (and science logic) out the window for the finales. And yes it was ‘Genesis of the Daleks’- I have that novel too! That was what Davros was referring to when he said to Sarah Jane: “You were there at the beginning.” which was my favourite moment because that’s what it reminded me of! (the novelization, not the episode, which I don’t recall, but I read the novelization countless times).
Comment by Destructor — July 7, 2008 @ 12:43 am
Yep, I’d add myself to the “I enjoyed it” list. I was actually impressed by David Tennant’s acting in it as well - a definite first - and thought that I could now see why he was cast in the role. Up til now it’s been too much grinning and gruning for my liking, but the stuff in the finale was top-notch. Mind you, my response to Donna improved over the series, too - wildly annoying at first, but interesting to see the purpose behind her being there, and the way it had all been engineered throughout.
I particularly liked the idea that actually, despite the Doctor not being a killer, that he caused others to do it for him, and thus was still a destroyer of worlds/races etc.
And yes, the final ten minutes, closing off the alternate reality etc. was just about perfect, as was the way of dealing with Donna.
All told, dead impressed - although, as Destructor says, you did have to put a fair amount of logic out the window. And German Daleks were just silly. And it was good to see the way that all the different sidekicks/colleagues came together - and who would likely be the team for the next Torchwood season…
Comment by Lyle — July 7, 2008 @ 10:09 am