An independent, unofficial series of Doctor Who reviews and analysis from a lifelong fan of the show
Fans are rejoicing right now, we really are. The man that brought us the new era episodes ‘The Empty Child’, ‘The Doctor Dances’, ‘The Girl in The Fireplace’, ‘Blink’, ‘Silence in the Library’ and ‘Forest of the Dead’ is going to be the man who takes over the show’s running when RTD leaves. This is old news now, but it needs to be pointed out again, especially after the episode we were all treated to on Saturday. Steven Moffatt isn’t just a writer who understands the Doctor- he also understands the medium of television and how fans old and new want to be drawn into a story. If his previous episodes are anything to go by, we are heading for an incredible time with future series. The layers that he works into each episode are incredible, subtle plot points become hugely important, characters are given motivation and closure, and the scale rarely dips beneath epic. It is going to be fascinating to see how RTD’s climax to the season tops this fantastic two-parter. As it is, Doctor Who just keeps getting better, and once Moffatt is at the helm, who knows what secrets, mysteries and ideas will be uncovered?
I have run out of superlatives. This second part defies any classification other than the best science fiction we have ever seen. Honestly. All concerns that the climax wouldn’t live up to the first part were washed away instantly pretty much as soon as the episode started. The production values were top notch again, the cast were unusually fantastic right across the board, and the story reached a massively satisfying conclusion that throws up all manner of questions about the future of the Doctor’s character. River Song is a perfect addition to the new era Doctor Who universe. Intelligent, determined and heroic, its easy to see why the Doctor (sometime in the future) falls for her. The moment she utters a portion of the Doctor’s real name had me gasping, and Alex Kingston was on top form in the role. The look on the Doctor’s face when she leans over and whispers his full name into his ear is sublime- david Tennant reached brand new heights of performance in this episode. The pacing of the thing is perfect- energetic and solemn in equal measure. Donna’s harrowing unreal life story with her imaginary children is a moving piece of drama that Catherine Tate handles with aplomb. The heartbreaking and subsequently uplifting ending made perfect sense, and the storyline of Cal’s imaginary, matrix-like world was beautifully handled. Perfect script, perfect production, perfect cast, perfect Doctor Who. I honestly cannot recommend this story highly enough. Immaculate.10/10
DOCTOR WHO NEWS
TRIAL OF A TIMELORD DVD SET DETAILSDetails on the DVD release of THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD storyline have come to light. The 14 episode tale, starring Colin Baker as the sixth Doctor, is to hit the shelves as a four disc box set featuring all manner of extras including extracts of other BBC shows of the time, extra scenes, a music video (for the atrociously bad but loveable ‘Doctor in Distress’ song) and a 55 minute documentary.
