Sunday 28 September 2014

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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