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Doctor Who

LastSurvivor

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Well, I have to admit that I really didn't like The Rings of Akhaten for numerous reasons, but this weeks "Cold War" was a huge improvement. For me, Mark Gattis' work on the series is a bit hit and miss but this time he more or less scores a perfect bullseye with this creepy, fun and very exciting episode which brings back the Ice Warriors for the first time since the Pertwee era (or since the Troughton era if you thinking of them as a fearsome presence).

The claustrophobic setting of a nuclear submarine lends the story much gravitas, particularly in making the Ice Warrior Skaldag appear menacing and pretty frightening (as or as frightening as Doctor Who can, or should get). What's more, there's a very impressive cast on hand here. Both Liam Cunningham and David Warner make considerable impressions, whilst Nicholas Briggs deserves special mention for his sterling voice-work as Skaldag. Indeed, the changing of the way of the Ice Warrior's speak is probably the biggest contention for shall we say, "classic" Who fans like myself, but it's well executed and Briggs still manages to pay homage to the old series by making sure there are the occasional "sssss" and hisses during some sentences.

The special effects/make-up department deserve huge praise for their work on the new Ice Warrior outfit too. Never have they looked so believable or impressive and yet, they're still definitely Ice Warriors. It's not as if they've redesigned them beyond recognition - far from it. I have to admit I was a bit concerned when it looked like they might turn Skaldag into an all CGI creation, but thankfully it doesn't come to fruition.

Alas, there are still a few problems here and there, but I'm afraid they are things which I feel have just become inherent in the new series. For the second episode running it looked like the sonic screwdriver might, just might get lost or be destroyed. It's become such an annoying sight to see the Doctor waving it all around the place (extremely over acted by Mr Smith), using it to solve so many plot problems even if it makes no sense at all, that I can't wait for the thing to seriously be destroyed. However, thankfully Gatiss doesn't rely on the device to save the day and instead harks back to some of the Ice Warrior's more noble traits which reside in their history, to bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion.

Cold War also feels refreshing because it's very much a standalone episode. It's not relying on the whole "Clara" story-arc which is running through this season. I always like these stories as I feel they're not bogged down, or don't get interrupted in efforts to tie in with what else is going on elsewhere.

Overall, a very solid episode and one which probably ranks alongside A Town Called Mercy as the best of the Moffat era to date.

So, for the second half of this season, I would score the stories as follows...

The Bells of Saint John - 6/10
The Rings of Akhaten - 3/10
Cold War - 8/10

What's your scores fellow Who fans?
 

bionicbob

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Interesting review LS.

For me, this was a good but average episode was that was gift wrapped in spectacular production design and presented by an incredible guest cast. And why no one spoke with a Russian accent BEFORE the TARDIS arrived sort of bugged be a little bit.

But I am just being nitpicky. I would love to see more these Ice Warriors as I have never seen their original episode appearances before. Thumbs up for me.
 

bionicbob

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"HIDE" -- good, solid episode for me. Nice balance of humor, horror and romance. The Clara storyline continues to evolve without overshadowing the main plot. Thumbs up for me.

What really excites me is they released the title for the final episode of series seven...."THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR"...
and yes, Riversong guest stars....

http://io9.com/doctor-whos-season-finale-title-has-been-revealed-and-476659714

check out the close up examination of the episode poster.... red herrings or possible clues?
 

LastSurvivor

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What really excites me is they released the title for the final episode of series seven...."THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR"...
and yes, Riversong guest stars....

I'm not too overjoyed at the thought of Riversong returning... and I have to be honest, if they actually reveal the real name of The Doctor I will probably pay a visit to Mr Moffat and slap him with a wet fish.
 

Omaru1982

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Have to say the pacing for these last two episodes has been just right.

But goddamn it next season, can we have some two part episodes, that is reason alone why some of these episodes just haven't worked too well.
 

LastSurvivor

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Omaru1982 said:
Have to say the pacing for these last two episodes has been just right.

But goddamn it next season, can we have some two part episodes, that is reason alone why some of these episodes just haven't worked too well.

Hmmm.. still feels very rushed to me, with The Doctor talking at 100 mph. More than that, Mr Smith is just becoming an over acting machine. The whole chess game and "Doctor vs Cyber Doctor" mind battle could have been brilliant... but it's just cringe worthy. Shame.
 

Aztek463

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My biggest issue with this season is that the Clara story hasn't really developed all that much. There's been a handful of mentions here and there, but it only felt like in the most recent episode that they remembered she was important. It doesn't really feel like there is much connective tissue between the episodes, sort of like it's doing a "monster of the week" type format. This episode had the potential to be a two or three part episode that tied in with the finale, but no dice. The episodes have been feeling rather cinematic of late, almost as if they want to be making movies rather than TV. I could get behind a Doctor Who outing on the big screen.
 

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I have had a somewhat divided attitude about this (half) season, but there are a couple of moments in this episode that I think are worth mentioning, since they may tie into the overall Clara story in an interesting way:

1. The Doctor just fought for control of his body and mind against a technology-based species, while we first met Clara when she was fighting to hold onto her humanity after being taken over by a different technology-based species, and her mind has been stolen by another technology-based threat before. Hmm...

2. The Doctor quotes/paraphrases a Churchill quote in musing about Clara towards the end of the episode. This same quote is spoken by Joe Pesci in JFK referring to the conspiracy surrounding the assassination. This may strengthen my earlier theory that somehow, Clara Oswin Oswald is analogous to Lee Harvey Oswald. Hmm...

3. From the "next time" teaser, it looks like the Great Intelligence is back (not to mention Strax, Jenny, and Madame Vastra), for the third time since we've met Clara. Hmm...
 

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finally got caught up with Who. have to say that Clara has been awesome. Nightmare in Silver was a nice cyberman episode. also cool seeing Warwick Davis. with all references from past seasons, actually going to go back and watch some of the Classic Who eps.
 

Zarius

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LastSurvivor said:
Hmmm.. still feels very rushed to me, with The Doctor talking at 100 mph. More than that, Mr Smith is just becoming an over acting machine. The whole chess game and "Doctor vs Cyber Doctor" mind battle could have been brilliant... but it's just cringe worthy. Shame.

I didnt mind that battle really. I thought it was good cheesy fun.
 

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I know you're all expecting me to be the huge Moffat apologist, but I'll gladly admit that this half-season has been somewhat lackluster.

Maybe it's the all-too-short season that requires episodes that should be two-parters to be crammed into one and therefore not have proper breathing room. Maybe it's the actors talking so fast that many Americans (including myself) have trouble understanding what the plots are even about.

Maybe, as has been mentioned, it's that Clara seems like just another generic modern Companion. I loved Clara in "The Snowmen"--I wish she had come along instead. In the classic series, the Doctor sometimes picked up Companions from the past or the future instead of the present. Why can't we have a Companion like that again?

I agree that Clara's story hasn't been developed enough. We should have been getting clues throughout this half-season to keep us trying to guess what her story is. Instead, in two different cases where the Doctor inquired about her, he was told, "She's just a normal girl." Well, thanks for that non-information.

I'm not ready to throw Moffat overboard as many people are. I just think changes need to be made next season to make the series more satisfying again. Not least of those changes: Let's please have a full 13-episode season straight through with no breaks!

That said, I did enjoy the many callbacks to the classic series over this past set of episodes. And Murray Gold continues to deliver innovative scores week after week.

Quick reviews:

Bells of St. John - Fun, good re-introduction of Clara. A-

Rings of Akhaten - The opening is one of the best set pieces ever, with that bazaar full of imaginative creatures. The villains are underdeveloped, though (those cool-looking henchmen show up in two scenes and then abruptly disappear), and the ending is sort of an anti-climax. I give this one a C, although it earned bonus points for the Doctor saying that he had previously been there with Susan.

Cold War - I was really looking forward to the return of the Ice Warriors, and their new design was certainly cool. But the characters talked way too fast, and the tension never developed. And so Clara just sings a Duran Duran song at the end and that somehow saved the day? Whaaaaaaaat? This is the weakest episode of the bunch. D+

Hide - Now we're back on track with an episode that's a seeming nod to "Ghost Light." The haunted-house theatrics weren't very effective, but when the Doctor is trapped in that other dimension with apparently no way out, I was genuinely afraid for him. Also, the notion that the TARDIS doesn't like Clara - one of the few intriguing developments in the season arc. B+

Journey to the Center of the TARDIS - I've been wanting a TARDIS-centric episode since the first season of new Who, and it finally came, and delivered quite well. Creepy and suspenseful, with lots of cool twists. A-

The Crimson Horror - Sadly, this is another derivative episode, sparked only by the return of Strax and by the old-timey film footage in the flashback, accompanied by a wonderfully old-fashioned Murray Gold score. Also, points for mentioning Tegan. But the Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to get rid of MASSIVE BURNS all over his body? The sonic screwdriver has gotten to the point where it can do so much that it actually kills the suspense. "Someone needs a cure for cancer? Well, let me just wave my magic wand - er, sonic screwdriver - and that'll fix the problem!" C

Nightmare in Silver - Not as revelatory as Neil Gaiman's previous effort, "The Doctor's Wife," but still a fun romp with some genuinely scary Cybermen and a great guest appearance by Warwick Davis. And say what you will, but I really liked the back-and-forth between the Doctor and the Cyber-controller. Add in the Doctor saying "Fantastic" like the Ninth and "Allons-y" like the Tenth, and this one gets an A-.

I'm looking forward to the twists and revelations in the finale!
 

TomH1138

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In preparation for tomorrow night's season finale, here's a fan-made trailer that was made about a year ago using the 50th anniversary and the name of the Doctor as its themes. It's truly a masterpiece of fan editing.

 

Zarius

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That was a great episode, had to put my thinking caps on for some of it. Real treat

So The Silence were either trying to prevent the GI from tampering with history just to kill The Doctor, or they wanted to prevent the murderous Doctor portrayed by John Hurt from being unleashed again on the universe...probably both reasons qualify.

And the reason The TARDIS doesnt like Clara is because SHE was the one who suggested The Doctor take the ship, contradicting the TARDIS claim (probably a lie to save face) that she chose The Doctor as much as he had chosen it. Sexy doesnt like being upstaged

I know a lot of fans will be of two opinions in this. Let's tread carefully this 50th year.
 

white43

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Overall, as I often find with Who, the setup is large, the payoff is disappointing. This episode was more of that. Resolution of 'impossible girl' was kinda meh. All got kinda silly really.

First of all, I thought it was going to be something cool - like she's a Gallifrean...but then it was because she entered the time stream, which we'd previously been told would kill someone....then it didn't kill her and all is well. Was all a bit 'solved in the end' simply.

John hurt appearing as the 'forgotten' 9th generation was much more WTF?(there's spoilers all over teh interwebs on that one). However, as much as that is setting up for something cool - I fear I'll be let down again. Matt Smith's overacting is beginning to grate.
 

Zarius

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I am rarely dissapointed by Moffat's set-ups and resolutions, but I'm probably not alone in thinking that the "everybody lives" thing has completly eroded the consequential drama and sapped all investment from the series in the high-stakes department at times, Jenny's death was stirring and effective...and then she's revived like it's nothing in a few extra minutes.

Back in Davies day, people died all the time. Kids can handle a bit of brutality Moffat, just trust them. I grew up on bloodbaths in 80s Who and I turned out....actually, I'd rather not say how I turned out...
 

white43

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Zarius said:
I am rarely dissapointed by Moffat's set-ups and resolutions, but I'm probably not alone in thinking that the "everybody lives" thing has completly eroded the consequential drama and sapped all investment from the series in the high-stakes department at times, Jenny's death was stirring and effective...and then she's revived like it's nothing in a few extra minutes.

Back in Davies day, people died all the time. Kids can handle a bit of brutality Moffat, just trust them. I grew up on bloodbaths in 80s Who and I turned out....actually, I'd rather not say how I turned out...


I'd forgotten about Jenny's death. Well said - no-one does die in Moffat era. Clara classic case. Three times now and not really dead. Even River Song won't seem to die. No high stakes. Hard to invest in.
 

LastSurvivor

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white43 said:
Overall, as I often find with Who, the setup is large, the payoff is disappointing. This episode was more of that. Resolution of 'impossible girl' was kinda meh. All got kinda silly really.

First of all, I thought it was going to be something cool - like she's a Gallifrean...but then it was because she entered the time stream, which we'd previously been told would kill someone....then it didn't kill her and all is well. Was all a bit 'solved in the end' simply.

John hurt appearing as the 'forgotten' 9th generation was much more WTF?(there's spoilers all over teh interwebs on that one). However, as much as that is setting up for something cool - I fear I'll be let down again. Matt Smith's overacting is beginning to grate.

Couldn't agree more. Whilst this was probably the best episode of a very patchy season, Moffat's problem in not allowing a logical or understandable conclusion to his story arcs yet again came to bite the show on its arse. Impossible girl... eh, yeah, okay.... but do we actually have any idea why, what, who she is....

and why she has the ability to save the Doctor ever since he first left Gallifrey? Nope. Unless I missed something that is. All the "leaf: nonsense came back, and then there was the reintroduction of River Song which I'm sorry, leant no weight or importance to the story... not to mention the sight of seeing the Doctor passionately snogging someone, well I'll just never get used to it. Worse however, is Moffat's insistence on using catch phrases.. "Run you clever boy" is joined by River's "Sweetie".... God help us. All this is a crying shame, as there's some good material here too. The Gallifrey opening was awesome, and I couldn't help but get very excited when we saw William Hartnell's Doctor leaving Gallifrey with Susan for the first time. Seeing all the Doctors was also fun, but come on, where the hell was Paul McGann? For once, Matt Smith reigned-in his performance somewhat, giving us a glimpse at the kind of Doctor he could be, rather than the over-acting mess which he's slowly but surely become. As for the John Hurt reveal as The Doctor... WOW, that was the best finale to the series since its return. I then had all these wishes in my head, that maybe the Anniversary story is Smith's final outing and we then get Hurt's Doctor taking over for one season... I can but dream. Overall then, a good story in principal, but one which is ruined by the whole "impossible" girl mess which makes no bloody sense whatsoever.
 

hebrides

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Just a very quick note on something I missed:
as someone pointed out on Den of Geek, McGann's Doctor (as a double, like with Colin Baker and Eccleston) is there, very, very briefly. He rushes past Clara right before we see her with Troughton's Doctor. It's not much, but it's something. I do think we will learn more about him and his fate in the 50th, whether or not we see McGann, which of course I hope we will.

Also, though we catch glimpses of 1-9, do we see 10? At all?
 

Zarius

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Yes, a shot of Ten from the back of the head was spotted when Clara (or what appeared to be her guise as Oswin) was watching that sunset in the future
 
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