3x10 Blink
3x10 “Blink”
Grade: B+
Don't blink. Blink and you're dead. Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. Good Luck.
I know, it’s heresy to grade “Blink” anything below an ‘A’, and if you’d asked me to grade this episode a year ago, an ‘A’ or ‘A-‘ is what it would have gotten. Unfortunately, series 5 happened and made this episode approximately 27.3% less cool. Don’t get me wrong, it is still an entertaining enough story, but Moffat kind of ruined what he had with the Weeping Angels in series 5. Sally and Larry are basically proto-Amy and proto-Rory, doing no favorites for any of those characters.
Also, in case you haven’t noticed, my favorite thing about Doctor Who is the characters and I love doing character analysis. Unfortunately, this episode doesn’t have a lot of character stuff going on. Most of its entertainment value comes from the novelty of the timey wimey stuff, but after the first few viewings, that kind of wears off and you’re left with this entertaining, but (in retrospect) not brilliant episode.
The plot of this episode is definitely fun and a good episode to use to introduce new viewers to the show, if only to convince them that it’s not your typical cheesy sci-fi show. The first time I saw it, I was completely hearts in my eyes at the scene in the house where Amy is “talking” to the Doctor. And I still love the way that the Tardis disappears around Sally and Lary. Also the episode is really beautifully framed and shot, so kudos to the director.
And I love the reveal of the Angels’ faces. At the start of the episode you see them holding their hands over their eyes at all times, so the reveal of their slightly monstrous faces is pretty cool.
Now let me spend a brief moment on how Moffat made this episode 27.3% less awesome than it used to be. ALL SALLY AND LARRY HAVE TO DO IS TO PRETEND LIKE THEY CAN SEE THE ANGELS. JUST WALK AROUND IN THE DARK LIKE YOU HAVE NIGHT VISION, SHEESH. WALK LIKE YOU CAN SEE. It makes the basement scene 100% less creepy. Also, shouldn’t Larry be turned into an Angel by the time he and Sally ran into the Doctor at the end of the episode? He was definitely staring into their eyes.
The characterization of Sally and Amy feels a bit similar to me. Amy’s story is more in line with Reinette’s in the whole meeting the Doctor as a kid. But the end where Sally can't commit to Larry until after she gets over her encounter with the Doctor is pure Amy. … And I have to say, I like Sally better. I think that Carey Mulligan brings a warmth to the performance that is missing from Karen’s portrayal of Amy that leaves me feeling a bit cold towards Amy. Although they aren't exactly the same. I think Amy is more feisty than Sally, but Amy does feel like she was based off of Sally. Sally has this wryness to her that I sort or love.
Kathy Nightingale: What did you come here for anyway?
Sally Sparrow: I love old things. They make me feel sad.
Kathy Nightingale: What's good about sad?
Sally Sparrow: It's happy for deep people.
For me, the best thing character wise is Sally’s connection with Billy. They're really cute together down in the the garage with the cars and the Tardis, and Sally is really sweet when she goes to see him in the hospital. It allows for a lovely little quiet moment as she waits with him as he dies. Unfortunately, it also illustrates why the Angels... aren't that awful. Now might be a good time to mention that as freaky as the Angels can be while they’re on screen, they’re not nearly as horrific as other Who monsters. I mean, they send you back in time, which sucks to be sure. But it’s not like they kill you like the Daleks or Cybermen. You still get to live your life… just not in the way you wanted or expected.
Sally Sparrow: Aren't you on duty, *Detective Inspector Shipton*?
Billy Shipton: Nope. Knocked off before we came down here. Told them I had a family crisis.
Sally Sparrow: Why?
Billy Shipton: Because life is short and you are hot. Drink?
Old Billy: No, gorgeous girl, you can't. There's only tonight. He told me, all those years ago, that we'll only meet again this one time, on the night I die.
Sally Sparrow: Oh Billy...
Old Billy: It's kept me going; I'm an old sick man but I've had something to look forward to.
[sighs]
Old Billy: Life is long, and you are hot!
[laughs, pause]
Old Billy: Look at my hands. They're old man's hands - how did that happen?
[pause]
Sally Sparrow: I'll stay. I'm gonna stay with you ok?
Old Billy: Thank you Sally Sparrow.
[pause]
Old Billy: I have til the rain stops.
As far as Larry goes, he is pretty much proto-Rory. A bit of a dope and a loser. Sure, he works in a video store while Rory is actually a nurse, but they still have the same demeanor (and same haircut too). Plus (as evidenced by the fact that Rory is a doctor in “Amy’s Dream” and the way that he's treated by the doctor in "The Eleventh Hour") you KNOW that Moffat didn’t make Rory a nurse because he thought it was a great job for him to have, but because he wanted to paint Rory as a beta male and LULZ ONLY THEM WIMMEN ARE NURSES, SO RORY IS GIRLY AND THEREFORE WEAK. Ok, I’m getting off track again. Anyway, Larry is not quite as endearing as Rory, but I still like him well enough.
Also, LOL at the ending. Oh Moffat. Women CAN have happy endings outside of getting together with a man. Just so you know because I'm not sure you do. The ending came out of nowhere and had no purpose other than to show that Sally was happy now because how could she be happy without a boyfriend? Duh!
Beng a Doctor and Companion light episode, the Doctor and Martha are barely in “Blink”, so there isn’t much to say. The Doctor is Doctor-ish and Martha is Martha-ish. I do really like her in this episode, but that one throwaway line about Martha working in a shop bugs me. Now, I know that outside of the context of the series, it wouldn't bother me. But in the context of her hero worship of the Doctor and the fact that this episode is right after she has spent three months working as his servant... yeah.
Sally Sparrow: [to The Doctor] Who are you?
The Doctor: [on the DVD] I'm a time traveller. Or I was. I'm stuck in 1969.
Martha Jones: [Martha interrupts on-screen] We're stuck. All of space and time he promised me. Now I've got a job in a shop, I've got to support him!
The Doctor: [gesturing at the screen] Martha!
Martha Jones: [suddenly realizing she's on-screen] Sorry.
But then at the end we see her being more like the Martha that we see from The Last of the Time Lords on. That is to say, we see her taking the initiative and being a hero. Yay Martha!
Grade: B+
Don't blink. Blink and you're dead. Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. Good Luck.
I know, it’s heresy to grade “Blink” anything below an ‘A’, and if you’d asked me to grade this episode a year ago, an ‘A’ or ‘A-‘ is what it would have gotten. Unfortunately, series 5 happened and made this episode approximately 27.3% less cool. Don’t get me wrong, it is still an entertaining enough story, but Moffat kind of ruined what he had with the Weeping Angels in series 5. Sally and Larry are basically proto-Amy and proto-Rory, doing no favorites for any of those characters.
Also, in case you haven’t noticed, my favorite thing about Doctor Who is the characters and I love doing character analysis. Unfortunately, this episode doesn’t have a lot of character stuff going on. Most of its entertainment value comes from the novelty of the timey wimey stuff, but after the first few viewings, that kind of wears off and you’re left with this entertaining, but (in retrospect) not brilliant episode.
The plot of this episode is definitely fun and a good episode to use to introduce new viewers to the show, if only to convince them that it’s not your typical cheesy sci-fi show. The first time I saw it, I was completely hearts in my eyes at the scene in the house where Amy is “talking” to the Doctor. And I still love the way that the Tardis disappears around Sally and Lary. Also the episode is really beautifully framed and shot, so kudos to the director.
And I love the reveal of the Angels’ faces. At the start of the episode you see them holding their hands over their eyes at all times, so the reveal of their slightly monstrous faces is pretty cool.
Now let me spend a brief moment on how Moffat made this episode 27.3% less awesome than it used to be. ALL SALLY AND LARRY HAVE TO DO IS TO PRETEND LIKE THEY CAN SEE THE ANGELS. JUST WALK AROUND IN THE DARK LIKE YOU HAVE NIGHT VISION, SHEESH. WALK LIKE YOU CAN SEE. It makes the basement scene 100% less creepy. Also, shouldn’t Larry be turned into an Angel by the time he and Sally ran into the Doctor at the end of the episode? He was definitely staring into their eyes.
The characterization of Sally and Amy feels a bit similar to me. Amy’s story is more in line with Reinette’s in the whole meeting the Doctor as a kid. But the end where Sally can't commit to Larry until after she gets over her encounter with the Doctor is pure Amy. … And I have to say, I like Sally better. I think that Carey Mulligan brings a warmth to the performance that is missing from Karen’s portrayal of Amy that leaves me feeling a bit cold towards Amy. Although they aren't exactly the same. I think Amy is more feisty than Sally, but Amy does feel like she was based off of Sally. Sally has this wryness to her that I sort or love.
Kathy Nightingale: What did you come here for anyway?
Sally Sparrow: I love old things. They make me feel sad.
Kathy Nightingale: What's good about sad?
Sally Sparrow: It's happy for deep people.
For me, the best thing character wise is Sally’s connection with Billy. They're really cute together down in the the garage with the cars and the Tardis, and Sally is really sweet when she goes to see him in the hospital. It allows for a lovely little quiet moment as she waits with him as he dies. Unfortunately, it also illustrates why the Angels... aren't that awful. Now might be a good time to mention that as freaky as the Angels can be while they’re on screen, they’re not nearly as horrific as other Who monsters. I mean, they send you back in time, which sucks to be sure. But it’s not like they kill you like the Daleks or Cybermen. You still get to live your life… just not in the way you wanted or expected.
Sally Sparrow: Aren't you on duty, *Detective Inspector Shipton*?
Billy Shipton: Nope. Knocked off before we came down here. Told them I had a family crisis.
Sally Sparrow: Why?
Billy Shipton: Because life is short and you are hot. Drink?
Old Billy: No, gorgeous girl, you can't. There's only tonight. He told me, all those years ago, that we'll only meet again this one time, on the night I die.
Sally Sparrow: Oh Billy...
Old Billy: It's kept me going; I'm an old sick man but I've had something to look forward to.
[sighs]
Old Billy: Life is long, and you are hot!
[laughs, pause]
Old Billy: Look at my hands. They're old man's hands - how did that happen?
[pause]
Sally Sparrow: I'll stay. I'm gonna stay with you ok?
Old Billy: Thank you Sally Sparrow.
[pause]
Old Billy: I have til the rain stops.
As far as Larry goes, he is pretty much proto-Rory. A bit of a dope and a loser. Sure, he works in a video store while Rory is actually a nurse, but they still have the same demeanor (and same haircut too). Plus (as evidenced by the fact that Rory is a doctor in “Amy’s Dream” and the way that he's treated by the doctor in "The Eleventh Hour") you KNOW that Moffat didn’t make Rory a nurse because he thought it was a great job for him to have, but because he wanted to paint Rory as a beta male and LULZ ONLY THEM WIMMEN ARE NURSES, SO RORY IS GIRLY AND THEREFORE WEAK. Ok, I’m getting off track again. Anyway, Larry is not quite as endearing as Rory, but I still like him well enough.
Also, LOL at the ending. Oh Moffat. Women CAN have happy endings outside of getting together with a man. Just so you know because I'm not sure you do. The ending came out of nowhere and had no purpose other than to show that Sally was happy now because how could she be happy without a boyfriend? Duh!
Beng a Doctor and Companion light episode, the Doctor and Martha are barely in “Blink”, so there isn’t much to say. The Doctor is Doctor-ish and Martha is Martha-ish. I do really like her in this episode, but that one throwaway line about Martha working in a shop bugs me. Now, I know that outside of the context of the series, it wouldn't bother me. But in the context of her hero worship of the Doctor and the fact that this episode is right after she has spent three months working as his servant... yeah.
Sally Sparrow: [to The Doctor] Who are you?
The Doctor: [on the DVD] I'm a time traveller. Or I was. I'm stuck in 1969.
Martha Jones: [Martha interrupts on-screen] We're stuck. All of space and time he promised me. Now I've got a job in a shop, I've got to support him!
The Doctor: [gesturing at the screen] Martha!
Martha Jones: [suddenly realizing she's on-screen] Sorry.
But then at the end we see her being more like the Martha that we see from The Last of the Time Lords on. That is to say, we see her taking the initiative and being a hero. Yay Martha!