DISCUSSION ABOUT CLASS - SPOILERS...

DISCUSSION ABOUT CLASS - SPOILERS...

DISCUSSION ABOUT CLASS - SPOILERS...

DISCUSSION ABOUT CLASS - SPOILERS...

BBC APPROVED SPOILERS...

BBC APPROVED SPOILERS...

BBC APPROVED SPOILERS...

The first “big” episode in the new incarnation of Dr Who and I found it impossible not to like it, despite its issues. The first return of the daleks was a damp squib – just the one – so to ramp that up to half a million brought a broad smile to my face.

Rose becomes a goddess quite literally- invulnerable, total knowledge, power over life, dea…[Read more]

Not a big favourite of this episode, but it managed a few moments. I wasn’t looking forward to a follow up to the earlier Slitheen storyline- didn’t really think there was much reason for one. And in the end this is really primarily a set-up for Torchwood.

The positives:

The scenes alone between the Doctor and the Slitheen are quite strong,…[Read more]

Here’s the quote:

Clara: Doctor, do you want to be alone with that thing?
The Doctor: It’s a command computer. You operate it by titivating the fronds.
Clara: Are you enjoying that?!
(Wet squelching)
The Doctor: I snogged a Zygon once. Old habits…
(Polyp gurgles)
The Doctor: Still got the old magic.

I took this as fairly tongue in c…[Read more]

@ichabod

I mean, how did you feel about that throwaway line in Zygon Inversion, where the Doctor says, “I snogged a zygon once — ” WHAT?

It refers I think to the events in The Day of the Doctor where the 10th Doctor kisses a Zygon disguised as Elizabath I. So not quite the same as deliberately kissing a Zygon in its natural form 🙂

@winston

I can certainly see where you’re coming from. The Doctor needed distraction at this point in his life. The wounds of the Time War were too fresh. Plus he does seem to function better with a companion.

I don’t know that I’d characterise the relationship as master / puppy though. Even at this point in the series, there have been a numbe…[Read more]

@winston

I agree about them not fitting in to the “lore” of Doctor Who but overall the emotion of this story made me forget about the creature and concentrate on the family of Rose,Pete and Jackie.

Agreed- the creatures were peripheral to the emotional centre of the story, so any quibbles with them didn’t really detract from the main impact of…[Read more]

Possibly the strongest episode of series 1. Emotionally it’s got a heart, with personal consequences for Rose and those she loves. And a time-travel paradox plot, without getting confusingly complex and losing those new to such concepts. Access to a time machine doesn’t allow free reign to change things however you choose. If you create…[Read more]

I don’t have that much to say about this one. Reasonably solid story, even with the satire laid on with a trowel. It was perhaps the first time that I thought the Doctor’s character was falling into a pattern recognisable to long-time viewers, so while this wasn’t a stand-out episode by any means, it did feel like it was returning towards somet…[Read more]

I’ve got to agree with the comments saying that the episode shouldn’t be entitled “Dalek”, since that completely spoils what appeared to be set up as a big reveal during the episode. I guess the return of the daleks to the series was just too big a drawcard at the time to avoid having them in the title and shown in the promo. In the end, to those…[Read more]

There were some good elements in the episode:
* the core idea of aliens infiltrating the government and trapping the alien experts
* the Number 10 setting
* the impact Rose’s travels had on others
* the Doctor’s inability to keep Rose 100% safe
* Harriet Jones

But in the end, the tone of the episode, in particular the juvenile fart jokes, mean…[Read more]

Continuing my rewatch and finding details I’d forgotten – in that case that Eve Myles made an early appearance in this episode prior to her regular appearance on Torchwood. Good to see her here as Gwyneth, a distant relative of Torchwood’s Gwen.

An enjoyable episode and the idea of including Charles Dickens was a nice one. He did actually tra…[Read more]

Until rewatching this, I’d forgotten how good some of the effects were this early in the run. Some really strong creature effects and CGI in places, although overall a pretty generic environment. I particularly appreciated the makeup for Jabe, which I though was convincing and not as derivative as some of the other creatures. The swinging blades I…[Read more]

The ABC in Australia is currently replaying series 1, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen them, so I’m taking the opportunity to watch them again, and offer some quick thoughts.

This episode is played rather too much for comedy for my liking, with Micky in particular played basically entirely for comedic effect, Jackie heading that way, and t…[Read more]