Before the Flood
For once I was right, the Under the Lake/Before the Flood two parter is my favorite Toby Whithouse contribution to Doctor Who. With back-to-back two parters and such a spectacle of a series opener, it was nice having a typical-feeling Who story: TARDIS drops Doctor and companion in an unexpected place. Doctor and companion meet locals facing an unknown monster. Tension between Doctor and locals on how to approach the situation. All seems lost. Doctor outsmarts the monster.
Okay, the hologram was predictable and a bit of a cop out, but I may be willing to overlook it because it was incorporated into the bootstrap paradox, and the Doctor gave an entertaining, straight to camera explanation of the paradox at the top of the episode. The nerd in me loves it when science fiction incorporates science. And this Doctor's more frequent bouts of educating the audience and speaking to camera is fun.
And more rocking out by the Doctor! I truly want Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson to get their band back together.
The hints that Clara's getting carried away are being layered on pretty thick. She's challenged again on how traveling with the Doctor may have made her more callus, and her pleads to the Doctor are screaming her unhealthy dependence on him. I do like these themes, but I hope they take more subtle forms through at least some of the episodes this series.
That said, one of my favorite moments was at the end when Clara explains how you have to keep going after losing a loved one. Such a sweet speech. Not over the top or overly sentimental. It had just the right tone and delivery to indicate understanding without being preachy. It allowed us to think of Danny, feel a twinge, but then carry on.
The Girl Who Died
Moving on - I am very excited for the next episode, featuring our beloved Arya from Game of Thrones, Maisie Williams. The pre-series teasers have implied that Maisie Williams' character may have some previous connection with the Doctor. I would love for it to be a connection we know and not a connection from the Doctor's past that has just been written in this episode. Actually, it'd be nice just to have it be a connection and not have been tricked by teasers taking things out of context again. (I fall for it every time!)
Think there's any chance they'll throw in a Game of Thrones reference? The reboot, particularly under Moffat, loves slipping in those under-the-breath one-liners acknowledging the real world.
In case you missed it or just want to watch it over and over, here's a trailer for this Saturday's episode.
Okay, the hologram was predictable and a bit of a cop out, but I may be willing to overlook it because it was incorporated into the bootstrap paradox, and the Doctor gave an entertaining, straight to camera explanation of the paradox at the top of the episode. The nerd in me loves it when science fiction incorporates science. And this Doctor's more frequent bouts of educating the audience and speaking to camera is fun.
And more rocking out by the Doctor! I truly want Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson to get their band back together.
The hints that Clara's getting carried away are being layered on pretty thick. She's challenged again on how traveling with the Doctor may have made her more callus, and her pleads to the Doctor are screaming her unhealthy dependence on him. I do like these themes, but I hope they take more subtle forms through at least some of the episodes this series.
That said, one of my favorite moments was at the end when Clara explains how you have to keep going after losing a loved one. Such a sweet speech. Not over the top or overly sentimental. It had just the right tone and delivery to indicate understanding without being preachy. It allowed us to think of Danny, feel a twinge, but then carry on.
The Girl Who Died
Moving on - I am very excited for the next episode, featuring our beloved Arya from Game of Thrones, Maisie Williams. The pre-series teasers have implied that Maisie Williams' character may have some previous connection with the Doctor. I would love for it to be a connection we know and not a connection from the Doctor's past that has just been written in this episode. Actually, it'd be nice just to have it be a connection and not have been tricked by teasers taking things out of context again. (I fall for it every time!)
Think there's any chance they'll throw in a Game of Thrones reference? The reboot, particularly under Moffat, loves slipping in those under-the-breath one-liners acknowledging the real world.
In case you missed it or just want to watch it over and over, here's a trailer for this Saturday's episode.
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