Doctor Who-Time Heist

I am really falling behind on these reviews, aren't I? Well that is to be expected in the coming months. I said I will try my best, but I think I can do better.

So Time Heist, an episode that really I didn't think much about when I saw the trailer. It looked kind of...well, average. Little did I realize that it's actually one of the more enjoyable episodes of the series. A type of Ocean's 11 meets Firefly plot, with good supporting cast and interesting antagonist (I call them that now, as no antagonist is really a villain, well, not all of them). I had actually missed it the previous Saturday, so I managed to get a marathon this morning, so I..Am...Pumped! 

PLOT! Taking place in an intergalactic bank, the Doctor, Clara and two others, an augmented human  named Psi and a Shape-shifting mutant named Saibra, are recruited, their minds wiped and told to break into the most secure bank in the galaxy. Hired by a mysterious Architect, they each want something more than anything in the Universe and in return they must steal something that bit more personal.

Again, the way Clara and the Doctor are written and portrayed meet the same high standard as every other episode. But what really makes the episode stand out is the supporting cast. They serve a purpose and we actually care since Moffat cared enough to give them a personality and motivation. I mean true they are only there for a short while, but they are neither expendable nor confined to one episode. I have a good feeling we will see them in a coming episode. But is it it me or do they feel like they have been based off of comic book characters. One is an augmented cybernetic human (geez, Cyborg, DC, much) and he wants his memories back(Um...Wolverine?), the other is a mutant with the ability to shape shift after coming into contact with human touch, but see's this as a curse and wants to be able to touch again (OH COME ON...ROGUE AND MYSTIQUE!). But yeah I hope they come back for the finale.

As for the twists and turns I dare not give them away, the plot allows for some tense and sneaky moments, all packed into 45 minutes. To tell the truth, I wish I saw some more parts where they were breaking in and cracking puzzles, those were the best parts of the episode. I also kind of feel the main antagonist wasn't as well developed, that they could have shown her as a deranged Dolores Umbridge (or at least, more deranged). Instead she was just, kinda quirky and not that interesting. But the Teller, now that was a good idea. Someone who amplifies the guilt someone has and leaves their brain like soup pouring out of their ears. The design is a much better idea for a monster, not like some of the others I have seen the past few episodes, a cross between the Judoon and the Beast from The God Complex. And at the end, everything is justified and everything makes sense.

A fine stand-alone episode of the series, with good side characters, good twists and tense action, it was lots of fun to watch, even if it had little to do with the story-arch. So far this series is doing very well. 

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Doctor Who-Listen

Yes, I know I should get on to the 100th update special, but I promise, after the series is done I will get right to it. Also I'm extremely sorry for the delay, I am getting even more busy these days. Next review out soon.

So 'Listen', the forth episode of the series and introducing a new monster for us to hide behind the couch, kind of! You know after watching this, it got me thinking of a famous quote from the cult horror film 'Peeping Tom'.

"Do you know what the most frightening thing in the world is. It's fear."

It was less about a monster and more about character development and the psychology of fear. It really is becoming apparent that this series is maturing. Rather than just remain the serial from the 60's and feature a mad adventure with a creepy alien, it is delving into the characters, focusing on plot rather than plot conveniences and feeling emotion rather than being told an emotion.

The story (as far as I know) concerns the Doctor delving into a deep rooted fear felt universally of whether or not we know we are alone. Assisting him after a poor date, Clara assists in the investigation. But after some close calls and confusing temporal displacement, the Doctor might finally find the answer at the end of the Universe. All the while, Clara is learning more about Danny than he know's himself, from meeting his younger self to meeting his descendant. It all get's quite confusing. (And I thought understanding Donnie Darko and Pulp Fiction was a walk in the park)

As far as the episode goes it's not the worst one I have ever seen. I mean episodes like 'Hide' or 'Love and Monsters', now those sucked. But I find this episode suffers from a lack of focus, is it trying to tell a scary story, is it trying to be psycho-analytically evaluation of the characters or is it trying to be quirky with it's overlapping time-lines and loopy romance. Don't get me wrong, the individual aspects are good, but melded together they just don't mix. Moffat, for this episode at least, may have bitten off more than he can chew. Then there is the attempts at being scary that are eerily reminiscent of 'Blink', as though this series is trying to recreate classic episodes that I love and approach them from a new angle. That instead of looking at the Angels, you cannot look at these creatures or else who knows what happens. But the episodes lack of a proper monster/antagonist is it''s downfall and only serves to confuse the viewer as to what it is and infuriate them as to what they can't see. It's like what John Carpenter (horror/sci-fi director) said when seeing the haunting. I pay my money, I want to see what the f*** it is!

So I commend the writers for trying something new, for developing the characters, trying to create a tense atmosphere and delivering a comforting morale that even the Doctor is afraid of the dark.
But none the less, I would have expected a new monster going into this episode and a focus on the actual thrills, plus it's a bit to romantic comedy cliche. Glad the two are attempting to date, but it could have been pushed aside. I fully believe they are trying to recreate a lot of the most popular episodes of previous episodes.

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Doctor Who-Robots of Sherwood

Apologies for any delays in my post, I have been quite busy and I am bound to get even more work in the coming months, so I might ask that you be patient. So let us get to my review.

Ah, the Robots of Sherwood. A strange story that (FINALLY) gives us time-travel to a past that’s not Victorian England. It’s about time the series tries to take a more light-hearted, comedic tone for the viewers. I mean, there’s only so much angst one can take before it becomes repetitive and loses its charm, like slow-motion. And everyone gets one laugh in to help lighten up the audience, but thankfully takes itself seriously enough before it becomes to cheesy or campy. And the camp factor is borderline 1960’s Batman with Robin Hood.

So what’s the story? In 1150, Robin Hood roams the forest with his merry men, much to the Doctors discomfort as Clara forces his hand and visits the bunch in Sherwood Forest. This pleases Clara to no end, as she witnesses the famous archery challenge, engages in swashbuckling duels and helps bring down the Sheriff of Nottingham, who has been stealing all the gold in the land for his nefarious plot. But much to the Doctors chagrin, he can’t seem to believe in the idea of a hero as romanticized as Robin Hood actually existing and his exploits true.

As I said, the comedy is what makes the episode good. To tell the truth, the twist is slightly confusing, the villain is not very interesting and we are still getting the overarching plot of the Promised Land. Why is it we can never get a series without any contrivances’ or connect the dots sub plot, just give us a series with fun adventures, imaginative monsters and have the series finale just be Daleks, Cybermen, The Master or a rogue Time Lord.

Each character is plays there part well, as said for Capaldi and Coleman in previous weeks, with the Doctor suddenly facing a hero complex and Clara taking a much tougher act to get the bantering men to behave. This is actually the episode that made me realize how lost the Doctor has become and that this is a new stage in his life to regain the hero he once was. But the scene stealer by far is Robin Hood, who is just having a ball with the character, with brash daring-do, quick wit and cunning. He so perfectly encapsulates the character as we laugh along with him, much to the Doctors hilariously cynical annoyance. It’s also good for the Capaldi to get some proper Doctor moments, like sword fighting with a spoon or engaging in an archery battle with Hood, all the while using some proper Malcolm Tucker humour.

I suppose I should touch on the twist, considering it can be confusing. I mean, is Hood a legend, is he merely a pawn in a larger game or is he the real thing whose mind, along with everyone else’s, is warped by a radiation leak into believing he is the real thing? I guess we can only speculate, because that’s what I believe anyway, but it doesn't make his parting words to the Doctor any less true.

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Quite possibly my favourite episode in the series so far! Yeah, I know it’s a little early, but we’ll see how next week’s episodes attempts to be the scarier episode of the series. By the way I realize this is my one hundredth post and I should do something to celebrate, I will, in due course. 

Doctor Who-Into the Dalek

I am soooo sorry for my delayed update, I have just been so busy to get any work done! So I will make it up to you by giving another update this week, my 100th entry. But as for now, let us examine the 12th Doctors first appearance alongside the Daleks. 

Taking place on a spaceship in an asteroid belt in the future, a crew of soldiers are defending themselves against an onslaught of Daleks. One of them is saved by the Doctor, who is promptly taken to examine a captured Dalek. Picking up Clara from school, while there she meet's Danny Pink, a new teacher, and they are asked to cure the fault in the Dalek so as to determine a weakness to help the soldiers in this battle. In order to do this, they must venture into the most dangerous place in the universe, the interior of the Dalek. 

Watching this episode, I noticed something a bit too familiar in terms of the writing and atmosphere. I couldn't place it until the Dalek started going on a rampage throughout the base and then it hit me...THIS IS ALMOST AN EXACT CARBON COPY OF THE EPISODE DALEK FROM SERIES ONE! I mean its a Dalek that's sick from being morally compromised, is trapped by a military group against it's will and it brings to light some moral quandaries concerning the Doctors emotional well-being. As well as the claustrophobia evoked by the close spaces and being on the run from an insane Dalek. But at the same time, while a carbon copy, it does convey that atmosphere as well, not to mention the interaction between the Doctor and the Dalek. Part of me feels as though this could have been a very suspenseful and tense episode if, for example, the Doctor and Clara infiltrated the Dalek while it was on the run and thus it would become a race against time to stop the Dalek from wiping out the crew and contacting it's allies. But seeing the complicated science that goes into a Dalek is very cool, what with the anti-bodies and the feeding off organic matter in the form of gunk (best word for it).  

What I really want to compliment however is the characters in this episode. He seems much more cynical and critical to everyone, even Clara. We see a very dark, almost insane quality to Capaldi as he tries to reason between science fact and optimistic hope. Can a good Dalek exist or is it just wishful thinking? Not to mention the fact that darkness is the forefront of the Doctor's mind, inspiring the dalek to enact brutal carnage on the Dalek oppressors. And how can we forget the final parting message. This seriously left my mouth on the floor, that the only thing considered a good Dalek is one that performs amicably in the ways of a dalek. Again I have to compliment the excellent development and portrayal of Clara, taking a distinctive edge, using tactical brilliance and proving to be strict or playful where necessary. Man, I wish she was my teacher. Another whom I must compliment is Danny Pink (played by Samuel Anderson). In one episode I can already tell that I like him. He's like a less accident prone Mickey, with a hint of goofiness and tragedy to give his character some mystery. Just seeing him try to hold everything in, whilst in front 
of a class, and almost break down, it's just heartbreaking.

So for our final verdict and opinion, who is Missy and why is she recruiting all those whom the Doctor has "killed". I hope she doesn't become some second rate River Swan, because that's what I am getting from her. Overall, intriguing, if a bit familliar, could have been more tense. For what we got, an interesting dive into the psyche of a Dalek, not one of the stand outs among Dalek episodes, but definitely among the series. 

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