Oh, Stephen Greenhorn...
Odd things have been happening around here that have prevented me from posting my responses to "Planet of the Ood," this week's Sarah Jane episodes, and Season 18 (I've just said goodbye to Romana and K-9), but, assuming I am not dead or in hospital, I will hopefully be able to post at least some of that tomorrow. For now, I wanted to say a few things about 406.
Helen Raynor absolutely killed the momentum last series, and Stephen Greenhorn didn't do much to revive it. Considering the Sontaran episodes were even less to my liking than her Dalek offerings*, I was really quite worried that Greenhorn was going to give another sub-par (in Who terms) performance, and it was going to drag the series down past the point of revival**. And then, of course, the teaser made it look like a colossal canon Sue wankfest***. I had my reasons for wanting desperately for it to work, but I was...you know...apprehensive.
I didn't choose the icon I did just because it mirrors a scene in the episode.
The episode was visually gorgeous, well-written, humourous, touching, thought-provoking...all those things that Doctor Who should be. And talk about your subtle and completely unexpected Four references - I appreciated the cat toy more than I can say. The Sueness was present, of course, but it wasn't anywhere near as rampant as the preview suggested, and I'm rather glad they did it that way, since it would have seemed much more objectionable if they hadn't made the teaser so cringe-inducing. And I am utterly, utterly in love with Donna Noble (and her blue fingernails).
I do have a couple of complaints, only one of which can be voiced without spoiling anything: STOP DOING THAT TO THE POOR MAN!
(Okay, so maybe that was a little spoilery, but any of you who know what I'm referring to had certainly worked it out on your own, right?)
In other news, the date has ticked over, and it is now the 7th anniversary of Douglas Adams' death. [raises a cup of tea in salute and towels away a few tears]
* I'm really psyching everyone up for this week's SciFi premiere, aren't I?
** All we've got left at this point is a Gareth Roberts, a double dose of Moffatt, and four Davies episodes, though, so he would have had to REALLY tank it.
*** I've tried to come up with a better word, but
scudthefish got it in one****.
**** Thar be spoilers for "The Poison Sky" in tha' thar link.
(Please excuse the random horrible pirate imitation; I be losin' me mind. Arr.)
Helen Raynor absolutely killed the momentum last series, and Stephen Greenhorn didn't do much to revive it. Considering the Sontaran episodes were even less to my liking than her Dalek offerings*, I was really quite worried that Greenhorn was going to give another sub-par (in Who terms) performance, and it was going to drag the series down past the point of revival**. And then, of course, the teaser made it look like a colossal canon Sue wankfest***. I had my reasons for wanting desperately for it to work, but I was...you know...apprehensive.
I didn't choose the icon I did just because it mirrors a scene in the episode.
The episode was visually gorgeous, well-written, humourous, touching, thought-provoking...all those things that Doctor Who should be. And talk about your subtle and completely unexpected Four references - I appreciated the cat toy more than I can say. The Sueness was present, of course, but it wasn't anywhere near as rampant as the preview suggested, and I'm rather glad they did it that way, since it would have seemed much more objectionable if they hadn't made the teaser so cringe-inducing. And I am utterly, utterly in love with Donna Noble (and her blue fingernails).
I do have a couple of complaints, only one of which can be voiced without spoiling anything: STOP DOING THAT TO THE POOR MAN!
(Okay, so maybe that was a little spoilery, but any of you who know what I'm referring to had certainly worked it out on your own, right?)
In other news, the date has ticked over, and it is now the 7th anniversary of Douglas Adams' death. [raises a cup of tea in salute and towels away a few tears]
* I'm really psyching everyone up for this week's SciFi premiere, aren't I?
** All we've got left at this point is a Gareth Roberts, a double dose of Moffatt, and four Davies episodes, though, so he would have had to REALLY tank it.
*** I've tried to come up with a better word, but
scudthefish got it in one****.
**** Thar be spoilers for "The Poison Sky" in tha' thar link.
(Please excuse the random horrible pirate imitation; I be losin' me mind. Arr.)