Pimp My Dalek*

This seems to be quite a "controversial" episode, meaning that fans aren't sure whether to love it or to hate it, but after considering its good and bad sides I have to say actually I liked it.

Sure, I'm also starting to be tired of Amy getting too much attention, but apart from that it wasn't a really bad one. Well, an episode with Churchill and the Daleks in it can't be bad, can it?

Further I don't think that technicoloured Daleks are something bad. If I had a say I would have rather gone for the "iron-side" version, for the coloured ones look like some pepper-pots from the 6o's and 7o's standing on the shelf of a fast-food restaurant. And I loved the "All right, it's a Jammy Dodger,but I was promised tea!"-bit just as the tea-references in general.

It was strange to see that no-one believed the Doctor in the beginning, not even his own companion, bad girl. Now, that's how nightmares feel like (and I guess that's how Amy felt like about the crack when she was a child; only that hitting it with an oversized spanner wouldn't have had such an effect; but why was that necessary in the first place?) Still, I'm looking forward to finding out why and how those Journey's End Daleks could have been erased out of her mind.

Well, I guess no matter what fans are thinking about The Victory of the Daleks, it won't stop them watching the next episode because it is going to deal with one of the most discussed phenomenons in Doctor Who history: Who is Prof. River Song? I'm not saying we'll surely get that question fixed, but... let's wait and see.

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*yes, those who have read the Guardian review know these lines are not mine; but I wish they were....

This was different...

... but I'm not entirely sure whether that's good or bad.

So, Lawrence Miles is looking for "in betweens" (as mentioned here)? I really hope he stayed tuned in.

Right now, I'm going to do something which hopefully won't happen quite often: Considering The Best Below's plot it is very likely the worst Steven Moffat has written (yet?, that hurt).

I have nothing against star-whales, are surely lovely animals, and I liked the ending (letting Amy to save the day was a really nice twist), but the Big Moff's former stories used to be easy-going and light-hearted and this one seems to be a bit forced. Come on, what was the "being inside a star-whale" scene all about, or the Smilers?

Still, it could have been worse, especially because if you don't concentrate on the actual plot of the episode but on the in-betweens (should I put that in capital letters?) then it was great.

Well, let's say, this one wasn't about the story, but about character development. For it really was, especially, if we take in account that we have 2 strangers flying around in a tiny police box (or being in the mouth of a whale, I know, nice options) then we should have known that this is going to be an "in-betweens" one. But to be honest, I expected Moffat to do it a bit better. Nevertheless, the in-betweens we got were really good. I'm about to say that Amy has the potential of being a part of my "best companion" list (but sorry, she just can't be 21 years old, or am I missing something?). Further, I love Moffat for writing the Doctor less dramatic and more "alien-like". I have nothing against drama, but RTD overdid that constantly the last 5 years, so I'm quite enjoying the recent (although luckily not complete) lack of it.

So, next week the Daleks are back and it's Churchill having an appointment with the Doctor? We'll see...

Fishfingers And Custard

Moffat IS a genius, no news there, but even I wasn't quite prepared for the awesomeness of this story and the really quotable dialogues. Additionally, it was fast going, I for my part had quite long no idea how a computer virus should save planet earth from being incinerated. But it worked.

Further I loved how Moffat created a great mixture between a fairytale and a sci-fi story. Doctor Who starts to become something for "never going to be adult" grown-ups and children alike. Well, maybe the "trying food and spitting it out" scene was a bit... too childish, and Amy's job could have been something else but apart from that I really liked it. And that guy should get a BAFTA for the way he introduced Amy. People might point out that we already had a Moffat-story in which the Doctor becomes some sort of someone's imaginary friend , but even those have to admit that it's the first time that that someone knocks their imaginary friend down with a cricket bat.

Talking about Amy. She seems to be a bit random and she has definitely been a nice child. But in my opinion we don't really know a lot about her real character at the moment.

Then again, talking about randomness, I haven't mentioned Matt Smith yet, who had very likely the most difficult job of the three people I have mentioned above. And I have to say his interpretation of the Doctor was brilliant. There are certain Tennant-like features in his acting, I mean I could imagine the last Doctor talking in the way he does, but then again he also adds his own freshness, clumsiness and enthusiasm (or maybe more some kind of a fascination) to it. I just have to agree with Moffat who said "Matt's Doctor is bonkers." That sums it up pretty well.
Nice TARDIS - interior by the way, I liked the old colour of its outside more, but the interior outweighs it again.

So, that was a really nice start. Looking forward to next week.

Oh, am I the only one wondering what the title and the actual story had to do with each other? The only possible connection I can see is that the episode was about 6o minutes long, but apart from that - no idea. But shouldn't it rather say Eleventh's Hour then?

@ Mr. Mile's "In-Between Days"

... which, as I don't really need to mention, might disappear.

Sensible people know that Steven Moffar is actually one of the best script writers Doctor Who might have got to do the job of a main editor, and I guess it's not only me loving his episodes we have seen so far. And even if I have to admit that yes, I disliked the promised 6o second bit of the new episode (I know time is relative, but without the long trailer there are only about 2o seconds left) and yes, Blink wasn't Moffat's masterpiece, Lawrence Miles seems to forget that Blink was THE lowbudget episode of that season (s3), nevertheless it scooped a BAFTA, somehow. (Well, considering season 3's other episodes, that wasn't such a big surprise.)

Furthermore, in my opinion Doctor Who is still one of those TV shows where I actually do have the feeling that it lives of these "in between" parts (as Mr. Miles calls them). E.g. remembering Partners in Crime I for my part was much more enthusiastic about having Donna in it than about those extraordinary cute fat-chunks called Adiposes. And talking about Moffat's Girl in the Fireplace, it was all about those parts "in between". Now I won't quarrel about David Tennant's interpretation of the Doctor, I guess I couldn't be enough objective for that, although I really didn't liked a few things RTD wrote his Doctor into (I'm still trying to forget a few things about End of Time), but I have to say that some of the best Doctor Who stories I've seen so far belong to the 1oth Doctor's era.

Anyway, at least thanks for keeping those terms straight. I hate reading Doctor Who related articles not having their vocabulary right. Come on, I have just spotted the word "Tardis" in the rADIO tIMES, now how does that look like?

We could spend Avatar's budget and still ask for more

Now that's a statement, and I bet the Beeb isn't amused to hear it.

This article by the BBC includes some bits of a Steven Moffat interview about how the team deals with money issues for Doctor Who.

We know that producing such a science-fiction show isn't exactly cheap. So I love the fact that Moffat thinks of budge-cuts as a challenge instead of just saying that they are bad. At the same time he also adds that they "could spend Avatar's budget and still ask for more [...]" and that he wasn't considering the budget when writing episodes. Now that's true. Do you remember one of the most amazing stuff the Mighty Moff wrote? I'm referring to the sequence in Girl in the Fireplace" where the Doctor crashes through a mirror into a ballroom on a horse. IMO it's very likely that RTD wouldn't have done that, simply because it seems to be such a big and expensive effort to film (and after watching its confidential I have to say, indeed, that scene wasn't an easy one).

Further, Steven Moffat says that the TARDIS, maybe the best idea in sci-fi history ever, came into existence because of the then team having budget problems.
I like his point of view.

That Looks Awesome...

A few days ago the very first episode of the next season (5 or 31, just chose a number) had its premier and critics are not bad.* You can read here what The Guardian thinks it has to say about it, not much if you ask me. And this is SFX's opinion, which is worth reading. It's not giving away too much, but in a good way, although I have to admit I haven't highlighted that major spoiler. This is the BBC's statement, but somehow the writer doesn't seem to have been informed of the difference between "the Doctor" and "Doctor Who". I whish at least the BBC would get it right...

Furthermore, we have 2 new trailers (trailer 1, trailer 2, and that's the American version trailer 3). Additionally, there was a "The 11th Hour" Karen Gillan/Matt Smith interview, after which this short extract of the next episode was shown.

Somehow it's becoming hard to wait, good to know that in less than 2 weeks we are going to know how to spend our Saturday afternoons.
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*This is very obviously an understatement.

One to Zero for the Guardian...

And as if there weren't enough Matt Smith interviews around ATM here is another one, this time it's The Guardian doing it.

It's quite entertaining, and a lot better than the one our dear Telegraph printed a few days ago. But there isn't a lot to say about it. Matt seems to be a nice guy, who knows what to say and how to say it.

Additionally, he encourages us not to believe that there will be a lovestory (hurray) and I guess I'll like nr. 11's let's call it abstractedness.
I'm really starting to get excited about the new season...

An Odd Matt Smith Interview...

Well, maybe I could have put more effort into the title of this post. Anyway.

Our dear Telegraph has printed and partly commented some parts of a Matt Smith interview Esquire did with him (and which is going to be available tomorrow). Here is the link.

I'm not the biggest Matt Smith fan ATM, but to be fair, I have to add that actually Matt Smith doesn't say that he was destined for that role, it's the very ignorant interviewer who does so. And it's the even more ignorant Telegraph who gives that article that title.

Maybe in a few days some particular Esquire scans will have made it online. If I come across them , I promise to introduce them to you.

That's why we need a Dalek on every street corner.

I just came across this Guardian article about today's Doctor Who auction. It is highly entertaining and very true and a good way to check what kind of Doctor Who fan you are.

Personally, I would love to have a real sonic screwdriver, but as the Doctor is in desperate need of his one (to save the universe) I don't really have a choice.

Hold on, Miss Foster's sonic pen would also do the job...

Voila - the Trailer

First things first, here is the link.

Honestly, it looks slightly too 3D-ish for my taste and that's not exactly a compliment. And does it have a plot?

I mean a proper one.

Well, I have to admit the fist and last seconds (the Doctor and Amy are lying on the ground and having a chat about the universe) are good, even excellent, but the parts in between are only, and exclusively trying to show off. Remembering Steven Moffat's "back to the roots" campaign; — that didn't come close to it. I'm glad that Doctor Who isn't done in wiggly studious anymore (with the oldest police box which happens to be available), but I hope that the Beeb remembers the reason why that show was and (trusting Moffat) still is successful, and by this I mean the stories and not only David Tennant's amazing acting abilities, although I quite admire him for what he did.

Anyway, back to the trailer, I guess it looks good on a big screen and if the audience happens to wear 3D-glasses, but in my world trailers which are not teasing things are a tiny bit pointless.

The Big Moff speaks and the Whoniverse listens

When I finished reading this (that's the DWM 418 Steven Moffat interview, BTW) almost 2 weeks ago (sry, I have been busy) I couldn't help loving it.

Well, I think there is no need in pointing out that Moffat is a genius, and I have to admit he used every single trick I could (and couldn't) think of to get us on his side. Additionally, he knows in what fans are interested, or at least why fans are reading interviews in the first place. And he made sure we get served.

I loved the story about how Matt Smith's (and Karen Gillan's) Doctor Who-Casting was like, how they finally found his costume (fans LOVE last-second decisions) and I guess Moffat is also very aware of the effect the words "conservative" and "2nd Doctor" have on fans. So all in all, he knows that he managed to do a quite nice combination: He gives us a pretty young Doctor who gets the job of bringing back some of the good "old" Doctor Who magic a few fans missed during the RTD era.

Furthermore, Moffat also destroys at least one not entirely uninteresting rumour about the show's rather recent past.
I guess there isn't a fan to whom the date "29th Oct. 2oo9" doesn't ring a rather sad bell, when David Tennant won that particular BAFTA award during which's thank-you speech he announced that in the next season there will be a different actor doing the "best job in the word", as he liked to call it. For this many optimistic fans couldn't help themselves speculating about what would have happened if he hadn't won that one. Thanks to Moffat we do know now: it wouldn't have changed a thing. David Tennant had to make up his mind about this somwhen after the "library 2 parter" shootings got finished, so this wasn't such a spontaneous decision as it may have seemed to a few fans out there.*

Moreover, this also tells us that Moffat had more than just "a lot of time" to think about his first "main editor" episode and season.

And he seems to be also very aware of what his audience expect of him or of a good series, maybe more than RTD ever did, (I guess Moffat's "Tim Burton"-ishness isn't just a fancy of him) and there is evidence that he will combine this brilliantly (I'm very sorry to use that word) with the show's heritage. Firstly, he knows this show has a history on its own and secondly, he does so as a fan. Maybe I'm repeating myself, but I can't possibly think of someone whom I would have rather liked to do this job than him.

Finally, I guess I'm not the only one who starts being a bit enthusiastic, or at least curious about, what Moffat's heritage is going to be.

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*Well, there had been also more unpleasant ones... E.g. looking back, it seems obvious that around then the Beeb knew that it won't be able to spend as much money on its "flag-ship"- show as it did in the past, so a few people said that maybe that decision was also about money... but now that has been busted. Hurray.

All in all, the future doesn't look that bad...

The whoniverse is still busy mourning the 1oth Doctor and/or it is going on about Russel T Davies incompetency of writing proper scripts*, however the world does what it does best, it keeps on spinning.

The most recent evidence for this is that in a few days the new Doctor Who Magazine is going to be available , featuring a few remarkable interviews. But ATM there isn't even a lot from last month's issue on the net, still, I have found this. That's the complete DWM 417 Matt Smith Karen Gillan interview (from last month, sry poeple, I have been busy) which's middle part has made it to YT a few weeks ago.

If you haven't read it yet then give it a read-through, it deserves it.

After reading it I think Matt Smith will do a good job. He seems to be, let's say, less enthusiastic about the show, but he respects it. And in this case "less enthusiastic" isn't equal with "not enthusiastic at all". But I guess it's impossible to be more enthusiastic about Doctor Who than David Tennant was during his time.
So, it looks like Matt Smith and Karen Gillan are having a lot of fun while standing in front of the camera, what isn't bad for a start.

Karen Gillan also solves Amy Pond's job - mystery, she tells us that it was she who asked for the short skirt. Moffat originally wanted her in trousers, so it's likely that in his scripts she is referred to as a police-woman after all.

I also like that the big Moff is not tapping into the "love-story" trap, at least Matt Smith describes the Doctor as "conservative" and that sounds good to me. Additionally, he says he (and not his Doctor) is clumsy, but that's something Moffat may add to the next Doctor's character. Well, I would like it.

Another bit we, at least I , liked was Matt Smith announcing that there will be a "Tim Burton-ish" touch about the new show. Doctor Who is a bit like a fairytale, and I guess Moffat won't overdo this aspect.

Good, that interview did its job, we are looking forward to the next season... although maybe still with somewhat mixed feelings.
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*BTW, you can read Mr. Miles' opinion about Doctor Who's future (I'm referring to the show!) here, it's the column on the right... In my opinion he has made a few points, but I trust Moffat with Doctor Who. I think the show couldn't possibly be in better hands.

Before ending this era...

...there is one more thing I have to do.

This is the Allons-y confidential link.
I think it's not really worth watching except for one moment, David Tennant's far-well-speech. Actually that was more touching than any of End of Time's two parts.

Ps: Still, I didn't come close to need a tissue (although David Tennant is and always will be my Doctor) but at least it wasn't meant to be that way unlike End of Time.

Maybe not the worst possible send off of the best Doctor we very likely are ever going to have

Sometimes I wonder what is on scriptwriters' minds  while writing an episode. Maybe RTD had a check-list with topics which a good episode should include and ticked them off as he was including them. That may be the reason why the whole story seems a bit overloaded. Nevertheless, yes, we had our promised regeneration, yes, there were scenes which were good, deep and dramatic, and maybe RTD asks us to forget about the rest. Actually I would really love to forget about "the rest" and each of "Part 1"'s 75 minutes as well. But I have to admit, "Part 2" could have been worse; a lot worse.
Still, I can't help being a bit disappointed. It was David Tennant's last episode and I expected more, not from him, he and Bernhard Cribbins did an amazing job, actually it's them saving this episode from being torn into pieces by review writers; but from  Davies.  At least it was also RTD's last attempt to do his best.

I mean, on the one hand we had a few "overdone" scenes, come on RTD, you can't expect us taking you seriously after we saw the Doctor crashing through that giant glass dome from that height. And the "prophet" of the Time Lords was rather a spoof of something with which I haven't come across yet, not to mention that very "playstation-like" situation when those missiles hunt the alien space craft.

But to be fair, on the other hand it wasn't bad enough to deserve the adjective "bad". And to be even fairer no matter how good this last episode would have possibly been it wouldn't have been good enough to be the "swan song" of the 1oth Doctor.  And noone can deny that there were very "Doctor"-ish moments one has to fell in love with: The Doctor correcting Wilf's grammar followed by the "worst rescue ever!" scene put a smile on my face.* For me the most emotional scenes were Wilf and the Doctor having that chat in the space craft and when the Doctor explains to the Master the big privilege of SEEING that universe out there. I think these were the moments fans loved the most, mainly due to some great acting performance. And these were also the scenes missing in "Part 1".

So, I'm not saying it's RTD's worst script, it surely isn't, but it's also not his best one and that's because it might be impossible to write a really bad regeneration scene. Well, 1oth last line "I don't want to go." wasn't such a great idea. He is a Time Lord knowing he is just about to regenerate so it doesn't really make a lot of sense...

Then again, 11th's first line wasn't better. "I have legs!" Wow. Who can we blame for that one, was that Moffat's or RTD's line?** I have to admit, the last time we had "new teeth, that's weird." - it's hard to top that and I'm serious for a change. Talking about Matt Smith. If (some) of those explosions taking place in the TARDIS were real, and they really looked like that, then this was very likely Matt Smith most difficult shot of his entirely "Doctor Who" career. But apartf rom this I think we don't know enough about his Doctor's character or Matt's acting abilities to say something substantive about number 11 but for his first appearance this wasn't bad.

Anyway, back to the episode. There were also a few nice twists, especially when we realised that after all the Doctor will have to sacrifice his life to save Wilfed. I didn't have tears in my eyes, but when Wilf started tapping, I bet it wasn't just me who thought "Wilf, just stop it!". This was maybe one of the best done moments in DW's history ever.

Plus, I understand why RTD wanted the Doctor visiting his more or less companions. It wasn't really my taste, although "The Journal of Impossible Things" scene was an extraordinary idea. It was a bit sad, even sadder than RTD's "1o minute before the end" scene. At least she got her happy life, while he, well... we know. Then, Rose was a bit pointless. I understand why she was there, and I have no idea how it could have been done better, still, I can't help thinking it wasn't a necessary scene. Oh, and Martha and Mickey are married? Nice for them.

So, all in all it was nice and sad, there are certainly explanations missing*** but I have to say finally it wasn't the "worst possible send off" of the best Doctor we very likely are ever going to have. And that's one of the biggest compliments RTD has ever got from me.

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* I'm ignoring the fact that that escape scene had to be filmed as well. I'm curious to see the confidential explaining how they actually did that stuff with those stairs....

**It's Moffat's. Well...

*** like was that woman really the Doctor's mother? Was she a Time Lady in the first place? Becuase, if yes, then how could she scape the timelock? She spoke to Wilf a few times and if she were really from Gallifrey she couldn't have done that. Maybe we'll never find out about it but review writers who can't write TARDIS properly or refer to the Doctor as "Doctor Who" shouldn't be speculating about such things. Then, what about the Oods? I hope Moffat has an idea for them. Oh, and what happened really to the Master?

Much ado about nothing...

...so far

What can one say after watching "End of Time" (part 1) except for "I hope there is going to be a better part 2.", or maybe "come on Davies, you can do much better than that!" or something else less polite? Fact is that "End of Time" Part 1 (am I the only one who wants individual titles?) was highly disappointing so far. And after reading a few reviews I'm glad I'm not the only one having this opinion. You can read Mr. Mile's one here* and the good old Guardian-blog review here. Don't miss the comments, I think that's the best about it.

Maybe the reason why the whoniverse quite agrees about the "quality" of this episode is that our expectations were too high. However, even then "End of Time" isn't really a good one. Sometimes it remembered me of "Journey's End" and when it didn't do so it was because of the far too long scenes in which the Master demonstrates his craziness. Oh, and I missed he reason WHY he has those superpowers in the first place. Until know they are quite pointless. Talking about pointlessness. I know the "Master-race" is a sci-fi novelty and the idea behind it is certainly scary, but somehow those scenes manage to be involuntarily comical.

Ok, to start at the very beginning. I guess most British are familiar enough with their own history to find the first 5 minutes rather 'not amusing'. I have no idea why it was necessary to include an  Elizabeth I reference into the finale, as RTD should have known in the first place that most 'Doctor Who' fans are going to complain about that sentence...

Then there is the (now) famous Café scene. Some people say those are maybe the best minutes of the episode, but (there is always a but, isn't there) come on, the Doctor isn't supposed to care that much about himself. Fans know that! The best thing about it is Donna having a very Donna-like chat about her car and I have to admit the Doctor saying "oh, another wedding" puts a smile on every fan's face.

But this episode does have also an even bigger (well, that shouldn't be that difficult) brownie-point: Wilfred. He is the main reason why I'm almost looking forward to next week. He does a great job as the Doctor's companion. I just love the scene in which he is not satisfied with the TARDIS'# tidiness. We have always known Wilf is "special", we admired him protecting Donna from her mum we loved everything about him, especially when he defeated that Dalek with paint balls. I'm not a big fan of "Stolen Earth" but when I saw that scene I knew it was worth watching it. I really hope RTD won't go for the cheapest way of getting a dramatic effect,and kill him (or Donna) off.

Furthermore,  I know everyone is getting exited about the Time Lords coming back, but are they really good? There is a reason why the Doctor used to travel the universe in a stolen (well, 'borrowed') TARDIS when Gallifrey's suns were still shining on a happy(-slappy) planet inhabited by control-freaks.

All in all, while "End of Time" has its moments, it is inevitably getting a bit awkward. Well, then again, being awkward is one of the key recognition features of most RTD scripts.

Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed for "Part 2", it HAS to be better, well, it could but won't be really worse simply because 10th deserves a better departure than another version of the last final. So, let's increase our tissue-inventory until next week, we may need it, and let's hope for the best.
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*It's immensely short and as the whole world say how much they disliked it his has to be for his standards pretty positive, well, he may change it, the title says "part one part one" this has to have a meaning, at least I would be highly disappointed if it hadn't one.

#Dear editors and review writers. Maybe Catherine Tate doesn't know this, and I really don't care about it as she did a dazzling good job as a companion, but you should, it's part of YOUR job: that police box is a TARDIS and not a Tardis and the name of the show is "Doctor Who", the character is called "the Doctor". How difficult is it to get these things right?