Recent Who review
Well, the Lazarus episode was okay. Pretty decent monster of the week fare, only tainted by the whole Martha's family thing. I really, really could do without the whole "oh, the companion has family at home and that's important" thing. I like the old model of them either having nothing to lose/live for where they come from, being essentially kidnapped, or choosing to leave what they have in order to go with the Doctor cause well, he's just so great. None of this "well, I'll go with you for NOW, but I'm not abandoning my family". Maybe that's just me.
42 sucked. Pretty much totally. The only redeeming thing, which should have been employed in a better episode, was having the Doctor actually be scared. Done right, there would be NOTHING scarier than the Doctor being scared, and admitting it. It was a crapped over redo of Impossible Planet/Satan Pit, and hell, they even reused the SAME SPACESUIT! Half the set looked recycled too. It was, overall, best not talked about.
Now, the last two here, the Family of Blood ones, were actually good. The first part was better than 42, but overall mediocre. Put together with part two, however, it was good solid storytelling. It did feel to me like it was an 8th Doctor novel rewritten for a 10th Doctor episode, but it was still solid, gripping storytelling overall.
If I have the guts next time I see Paul Cornell, I'm gonna tell him thanks for bringing good stories back to series 3, but GOD DAMN YOU FOR GIVING ME ANOTHER REASON TO BE CREEPED OUT BY MIRRORS!!!
I kinda didn't like how downright sadistic the Doctor was in his punishments for the Family. I mean, I know he has a dark side and all, but usually he's just kinda brutal, not THAT brutal. I think it went a little too far. Not a lot too far, but a little.
Also, they need to drop the whole Martha in love with the Doctor thing. Seriously. Like, five weeks ago.