DW5x08: The Hungry Earth
Only one watch, so far, so here's some first impression rambles. Not cappy-review like like usual.
1. I don't know why, but this ep felt rather ordinary after Vampires of Venice and Amy's Choice. Don't get me wrong, the Silurians look wonderful, and the whole 'scary-monsters-in-a-quiet-Welsh-village' thing is very Who. It felt like a 'normal' episode again, decent story, great opening with family bonding scene, etc etc etc. But ... ahhh I don't know. I guess what I'm trying to say is it did not wow me immediately like the previous two eps had. What did make this episode pop was Matt Smith. He had some wonderful lines which were delivered so brilliantly, and more proof of how well he can carry the mantle of the Doctor. The utter heartbreak when Amy was pulled into the ground and he couldn't save her, the desperation in his face when trying to explain it to Rory, the deep-simmering anger when confronting the captured Silurian ... FANTASTIC.
2. The lack of Amy Pond in this ep made me sad. I guess they're building up for more of her next week, but I still missed her today. I guess that's makes her even more important BECAUSE she's missing? They're all working hard to save her, so it's not just let's-go-save-the-captured-villagers and gives more gravitas to the situtation. The few scenes she had were marvellous, though. Still so sassy in the face of danger ("Did you just shush me?!"). So like Rose and Donna. WIN!
3. I'm disappointed that they cut the scene between the Doctor and Amy discussing Rory (it was shown in Confidential). I guess it's logical enough to cut it because the episode was way over-long and it didn't really tie in with the plot much and that the producers wanted to go straight to the storyline about the Silurians. But after watching it, I did wish that they would've found something else to cut instead. The Doctor and Amy were discussing about Rory - the Doctor likes him VERY MUCH - and talking about the future Amy and Rory who were waving at them in the beginning, lots of timey-wimey things involved and how the time is not fixed ... I felt it would have connected the previous ep and this one really well.
4. The lack of Amy meant a bit more Rory, including him being mistaken for a policeman who's been called to investigate missing graves! LOLOLOLOL. Gosh, I love Rory. Honest. So many other additional characters left him a bit in the background later in the ep, though. (I'm not immediately attached to those characters yet). But that scene when the Doctor was trying to convince Rory that he will get Amy back, I think that was wonderfully acted out by Matt and Arthur. Rory was all intent on blowing up at the Doctor, but realized that only by working with the Doctor can they get Amy back, so he manned up and was wonderful and brilliant and amazing. Hurrah. And, when Rory dissed the sonic screwdriver about its inability to sonic wood! Eleven channeled some of Ten's indignant replies there. HILARIOUS.
I'm assuming that next week's ep will be a big-blowing continuation of today. Hopefully. More action, please.
1. I don't know why, but this ep felt rather ordinary after Vampires of Venice and Amy's Choice. Don't get me wrong, the Silurians look wonderful, and the whole 'scary-monsters-in-a-quiet-Welsh-village' thing is very Who. It felt like a 'normal' episode again, decent story, great opening with family bonding scene, etc etc etc. But ... ahhh I don't know. I guess what I'm trying to say is it did not wow me immediately like the previous two eps had. What did make this episode pop was Matt Smith. He had some wonderful lines which were delivered so brilliantly, and more proof of how well he can carry the mantle of the Doctor. The utter heartbreak when Amy was pulled into the ground and he couldn't save her, the desperation in his face when trying to explain it to Rory, the deep-simmering anger when confronting the captured Silurian ... FANTASTIC.
2. The lack of Amy Pond in this ep made me sad. I guess they're building up for more of her next week, but I still missed her today. I guess that's makes her even more important BECAUSE she's missing? They're all working hard to save her, so it's not just let's-go-save-the-captured-villagers and gives more gravitas to the situtation. The few scenes she had were marvellous, though. Still so sassy in the face of danger ("Did you just shush me?!"). So like Rose and Donna. WIN!
3. I'm disappointed that they cut the scene between the Doctor and Amy discussing Rory (it was shown in Confidential). I guess it's logical enough to cut it because the episode was way over-long and it didn't really tie in with the plot much and that the producers wanted to go straight to the storyline about the Silurians. But after watching it, I did wish that they would've found something else to cut instead. The Doctor and Amy were discussing about Rory - the Doctor likes him VERY MUCH - and talking about the future Amy and Rory who were waving at them in the beginning, lots of timey-wimey things involved and how the time is not fixed ... I felt it would have connected the previous ep and this one really well.
4. The lack of Amy meant a bit more Rory, including him being mistaken for a policeman who's been called to investigate missing graves! LOLOLOLOL. Gosh, I love Rory. Honest. So many other additional characters left him a bit in the background later in the ep, though. (I'm not immediately attached to those characters yet). But that scene when the Doctor was trying to convince Rory that he will get Amy back, I think that was wonderfully acted out by Matt and Arthur. Rory was all intent on blowing up at the Doctor, but realized that only by working with the Doctor can they get Amy back, so he manned up and was wonderful and brilliant and amazing. Hurrah. And, when Rory dissed the sonic screwdriver about its inability to sonic wood! Eleven channeled some of Ten's indignant replies there. HILARIOUS.
I'm assuming that next week's ep will be a big-blowing continuation of today. Hopefully. More action, please.