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walkwithheroesI'm watching Doctor Who's fifth series. Or rather catching up on the series. I have to admit that this series has been very uneven in the writing and almost nonexistent in the character development department. The truth is Steven Moffat is a genius at making scary monsters and great/fun episodes - The Doctor Dances, Blink, etc - but he's really lacking in making his characters, well, human. At least for more than an episode.
I think the last episode I spoke about was Flesh and Stone or Vampires in Venice. I will say that I thought Flesh and Stone was really well done and River Song was slightly less annoying than usual. However, the only saving graces of Vampires in Venice were Rory and a few quotable lines from the Doctor.
There have been six episodes since then, and my goodness is this series going fast! Spoiler-filled thoughts ahead. And, yes, I still really dislike River Song and still think Steven Moffat is bad at long character development.
Amy's Choice - I really enjoyed this episode, simply because we got to see Amy's true emotions about Rory. She'd rather be dead than without him. She'd pick him over the Doctor. That's brilliant, because we spent most of the series thinking she could take or leave her own boyfriend. I also thought the fact that Doctor hates himself more than anyone could hate him is a great plot point that I love explored. I like when the Doctor angsts.
This was the seventh episode of the series and honestly one of the first episodes with some real character development; it was written by Simon Nye, a first time writer for the show.
The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood - Episodes eight and nine of the new series. Both written by Chris Chibnall, he's mostly written for Torchwood. And, yes, he did write some of the best episodes of that series.
I really have mixed feelings about this episode. It had some really solid scenes and I thought some interesting concepts came up; such as military vs political issues and people fighting each other for stupid/misunderstood reasons. I also liked that they showed dyslexic as not a disability, but just another part of who a person is. Another thing - I adored Rory's strength in these two episodes; Amy's grief for him was heartbreaking.
However these two episodes just felt, I don't know, silly and un-fulfilling. The Silurians more or less came off as asses - especially the warrior ones. Even the doctor Silurian was horrible - he cut people open while they were awake. I think we were supposed to feel for them, but I just didn't. Truthfully, I hardly cared for any of the guest cast. It was a set of episodes that took a step back after the good episode that was 5.07.
Vincent and the Doctor - This was 5.10 and written by Richard Curtis, a first time writer for the show. Some may disagree, but this is my favorite episode of the series. Richard Curtis wrote Vincent von Gough brilliant - especially his issues. Plus, Tony Curran was Vincent. I adored that they went back to Rory, with Amy unknowingly crying for him and the Doctor calling Vincent 'Rory' at one point.
I loved the way the episode was much more about Vincent/Amy/the Doctor than the alien creature. This episode was very much about loneliness and misunderstandings to me. I loved the last five minutes because of how emotional it was with Vincent seeing his artwork in a museum and hearing that people love and nearly worship his work. And, Amy running to see all the new works - only to find that nothing changed, that dispute everything Vincent still killed himself.
It was a beautiful episode.
The Lodger - Good Lord. 5.11 written by Gareth Roberts was the filler episode of the series. Every series, since the start of the new Doctor Who in 2004, has had the tenth or the the eleventh episode of the series as a filler. It's the 'We spent all the money' type episode. Gareth Roberts has written some Doctor Who episodes, some of which were good and some of which. . .weren't.
I think the issue with this episode is that it's, well, boring. It's basically the Doctor hanging out for a week and trying to figure out what's upstairs. It's, uh, just. . .alright. I don't know, it's rather straight-forward and nothing really happens, like, at all. Plus, some of the sci-fi elements don't make all that much sense - even if the Whoverse!
The Pandorica Opens - I just watched this episode and I liked it. It's the first part of the series ending two-parter and is written by Steven Moffat. I felt that this was just the set-up episode and that's why not too many things happened. I will totally admit to being annoyed with the first ten minutes or so - I'm sorry but River Song annoys the hell out of me. "Hello Sweetie" are the first works in the history of the universe? *rolleyes* I just. . .I just can't.
All the Doctor's enemies coming together to lock him up, because they think he'll destroy the universe? That's kind of cool, and it will be interesting to see where it goes. Amy's memories being the thing that has made the Roman soldiers, Rory, and indeed the Pandorica is also a brilliant twist.
I loved loved seeing Rory again - even if it isn't totally Rory. He's just so lovely and sweet and he loves Amy so so much. Amy remembering him was just so sad, especially as he kills her a moment later, both of them crying. . .my heart breaks.
Some Other Thoughts:
What's cool about this series, and I don't even know if Moffat is doing it on purpose, is the way that people with "disabilities" and "mental issues" - Amy (everyone thought she was crazy during her childhood/teen years), Vincent (because of his 'visions' and manic depression), the boy with dyslexic from the mid-series two-parter, etc - are the people who are great and can save the day in their own way. I really love that.
Also, I've found that my favorite episodes of the season are written by first time Doctor Who writers or writers who haven't written for the Eleventh Doctor and Amy before. Weird.
I also found that Steven Moffat kind of sucks at real, true, human moments and continuity - in The Beast Below Amy and the Doctor end up in the Beast's mouth and at the end, we see its mouth is, uh, in space; Rory's name tag; how River learned to fly the TARDIS; etc. Basically, I think he comes up with cool stories and scary monsters, but sucks at characters staying consent.
I think the last episode I spoke about was Flesh and Stone or Vampires in Venice. I will say that I thought Flesh and Stone was really well done and River Song was slightly less annoying than usual. However, the only saving graces of Vampires in Venice were Rory and a few quotable lines from the Doctor.
There have been six episodes since then, and my goodness is this series going fast! Spoiler-filled thoughts ahead. And, yes, I still really dislike River Song and still think Steven Moffat is bad at long character development.
Amy's Choice - I really enjoyed this episode, simply because we got to see Amy's true emotions about Rory. She'd rather be dead than without him. She'd pick him over the Doctor. That's brilliant, because we spent most of the series thinking she could take or leave her own boyfriend. I also thought the fact that Doctor hates himself more than anyone could hate him is a great plot point that I love explored. I like when the Doctor angsts.
This was the seventh episode of the series and honestly one of the first episodes with some real character development; it was written by Simon Nye, a first time writer for the show.
The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood - Episodes eight and nine of the new series. Both written by Chris Chibnall, he's mostly written for Torchwood. And, yes, he did write some of the best episodes of that series.
I really have mixed feelings about this episode. It had some really solid scenes and I thought some interesting concepts came up; such as military vs political issues and people fighting each other for stupid/misunderstood reasons. I also liked that they showed dyslexic as not a disability, but just another part of who a person is. Another thing - I adored Rory's strength in these two episodes; Amy's grief for him was heartbreaking.
However these two episodes just felt, I don't know, silly and un-fulfilling. The Silurians more or less came off as asses - especially the warrior ones. Even the doctor Silurian was horrible - he cut people open while they were awake. I think we were supposed to feel for them, but I just didn't. Truthfully, I hardly cared for any of the guest cast. It was a set of episodes that took a step back after the good episode that was 5.07.
Vincent and the Doctor - This was 5.10 and written by Richard Curtis, a first time writer for the show. Some may disagree, but this is my favorite episode of the series. Richard Curtis wrote Vincent von Gough brilliant - especially his issues. Plus, Tony Curran was Vincent. I adored that they went back to Rory, with Amy unknowingly crying for him and the Doctor calling Vincent 'Rory' at one point.
I loved the way the episode was much more about Vincent/Amy/the Doctor than the alien creature. This episode was very much about loneliness and misunderstandings to me. I loved the last five minutes because of how emotional it was with Vincent seeing his artwork in a museum and hearing that people love and nearly worship his work. And, Amy running to see all the new works - only to find that nothing changed, that dispute everything Vincent still killed himself.
It was a beautiful episode.
The Lodger - Good Lord. 5.11 written by Gareth Roberts was the filler episode of the series. Every series, since the start of the new Doctor Who in 2004, has had the tenth or the the eleventh episode of the series as a filler. It's the 'We spent all the money' type episode. Gareth Roberts has written some Doctor Who episodes, some of which were good and some of which. . .weren't.
I think the issue with this episode is that it's, well, boring. It's basically the Doctor hanging out for a week and trying to figure out what's upstairs. It's, uh, just. . .alright. I don't know, it's rather straight-forward and nothing really happens, like, at all. Plus, some of the sci-fi elements don't make all that much sense - even if the Whoverse!
The Pandorica Opens - I just watched this episode and I liked it. It's the first part of the series ending two-parter and is written by Steven Moffat. I felt that this was just the set-up episode and that's why not too many things happened. I will totally admit to being annoyed with the first ten minutes or so - I'm sorry but River Song annoys the hell out of me. "Hello Sweetie" are the first works in the history of the universe? *rolleyes* I just. . .I just can't.
All the Doctor's enemies coming together to lock him up, because they think he'll destroy the universe? That's kind of cool, and it will be interesting to see where it goes. Amy's memories being the thing that has made the Roman soldiers, Rory, and indeed the Pandorica is also a brilliant twist.
I loved loved seeing Rory again - even if it isn't totally Rory. He's just so lovely and sweet and he loves Amy so so much. Amy remembering him was just so sad, especially as he kills her a moment later, both of them crying. . .my heart breaks.
Some Other Thoughts:
What's cool about this series, and I don't even know if Moffat is doing it on purpose, is the way that people with "disabilities" and "mental issues" - Amy (everyone thought she was crazy during her childhood/teen years), Vincent (because of his 'visions' and manic depression), the boy with dyslexic from the mid-series two-parter, etc - are the people who are great and can save the day in their own way. I really love that.
Also, I've found that my favorite episodes of the season are written by first time Doctor Who writers or writers who haven't written for the Eleventh Doctor and Amy before. Weird.
I also found that Steven Moffat kind of sucks at real, true, human moments and continuity - in The Beast Below Amy and the Doctor end up in the Beast's mouth and at the end, we see its mouth is, uh, in space; Rory's name tag; how River learned to fly the TARDIS; etc. Basically, I think he comes up with cool stories and scary monsters, but sucks at characters staying consent.
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Date: 2010-06-20 03:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-20 05:52 am (UTC)Rory was erased from the universe, he never existed. So, how is there a picture of him at Amy's house? The only reason the ring is still there is because it was in the TARDIS. Also, the Rory we saw today is an Auton (sp?) and it was established in S1, Episode 1 that the only way those things can function and even be made is if the person is alive and kept safe somewhere. Rory died and his body disappeared. Yes, there is a part of him in Amy's memory, but the picture should not existence as he was erased from the universe. And, since Rory died and there is no body, the Auton (sp?) should not have been able to be made. I REALLY hope this is explained. Because, if not. . .it's a huge error/ plot hole.