Triumvirate of Awesome
So much fun in one day! I watched Doctor Who's Utopia and Torchwood's End of Days and read Buffy #6.
End of Days
Following up on the best episode of the season, EoD lays a good foundation for a finale but fails to deliver a satisfactory ending. The conflict between the group was the best part of the episode but it was ultimately failed by a completely lacklustre ending. Each of the Torchwood crew being visited by a lost loved one was very effective and haunting and was a good way to get them to open the Rift. The setup of The Rift cracking open with things from the past and future being released was very well done and brought a great deal of tension to the episode.
All of this great setup and tension was ultimately destroyed by a hastily explained CGI demon (who's back story was like a watered down version of the Beast's from the Impossible Planet). Bilis Manger was such an excellent villain that Abaddon fell completely flat. The defeat of the monster by somehow 'overloading' it with life was complete nonsense. If it died from life overkill, why would it want to feed off life? Abaddon's defeat didn't even involve the entire cast which meant that Gwen's major role was as a chauffeur to Jack so he could defeat the monster.
The cheap everyone-magically-comes-back-to-life ending was just as nonsensical as the villain. Why on earth would closing the Rift reverse all the damage it caused, yet not revive Jack? I also fail to see why they brought back Rhys. It would of been far more interesting and alot less cheap to keep him dead so Gwen has more character to her.
Utopia
Awesome! I thought this episode was really great and set everything up very well especially compared to EoD. All I've got for the episode is praise so I won't write too much about it. A few points though:
- The blue alien's Chan - To speech was a cute character trait, but very annoying after awhile. I have to agree with the Master about wanting to kill her.
- I've read all about the Master (I have an urge to add 'bator'... stupid Dracula) on Wiki and I'm pretty sure I've read that he's lost all of his regenerations, so how did he regenerate into Mister Saxon?
- I love that they brought back the Fob watch and that that is how the Master escaped from the Time War. The revelation that YANA stands for 'You Are Not Alone' was brain shattering.
- All of the flashbacks to previous episodes were great, I especially liked the one to TPotW.
- The explanation that the Doctor left Jack because he was a 'fixed point' and how Time Lords find it unsettling was a great idea and very well done.
- The chemistry between Jack and the Doctor was great, especially when the Doctor kept on telling him off for flirting. I'm betting someone's already read jealous subtext into that.
- Was I the only one who thought that the Future Folk sounded Russian?
- I really can't wait to see how the Doctor gets out of this, especially with the crazy cannibals after him and being without the TARDIS.
Too lazy to post about Buffy right now so I'll put it off until tomorrow!
End of Days
Following up on the best episode of the season, EoD lays a good foundation for a finale but fails to deliver a satisfactory ending. The conflict between the group was the best part of the episode but it was ultimately failed by a completely lacklustre ending. Each of the Torchwood crew being visited by a lost loved one was very effective and haunting and was a good way to get them to open the Rift. The setup of The Rift cracking open with things from the past and future being released was very well done and brought a great deal of tension to the episode.
All of this great setup and tension was ultimately destroyed by a hastily explained CGI demon (who's back story was like a watered down version of the Beast's from the Impossible Planet). Bilis Manger was such an excellent villain that Abaddon fell completely flat. The defeat of the monster by somehow 'overloading' it with life was complete nonsense. If it died from life overkill, why would it want to feed off life? Abaddon's defeat didn't even involve the entire cast which meant that Gwen's major role was as a chauffeur to Jack so he could defeat the monster.
The cheap everyone-magically-comes-back-to-life ending was just as nonsensical as the villain. Why on earth would closing the Rift reverse all the damage it caused, yet not revive Jack? I also fail to see why they brought back Rhys. It would of been far more interesting and alot less cheap to keep him dead so Gwen has more character to her.
Utopia
Awesome! I thought this episode was really great and set everything up very well especially compared to EoD. All I've got for the episode is praise so I won't write too much about it. A few points though:
- The blue alien's Chan - To speech was a cute character trait, but very annoying after awhile. I have to agree with the Master about wanting to kill her.
- I've read all about the Master (I have an urge to add 'bator'... stupid Dracula) on Wiki and I'm pretty sure I've read that he's lost all of his regenerations, so how did he regenerate into Mister Saxon?
- I love that they brought back the Fob watch and that that is how the Master escaped from the Time War. The revelation that YANA stands for 'You Are Not Alone' was brain shattering.
- All of the flashbacks to previous episodes were great, I especially liked the one to TPotW.
- The explanation that the Doctor left Jack because he was a 'fixed point' and how Time Lords find it unsettling was a great idea and very well done.
- The chemistry between Jack and the Doctor was great, especially when the Doctor kept on telling him off for flirting. I'm betting someone's already read jealous subtext into that.
- Was I the only one who thought that the Future Folk sounded Russian?
- I really can't wait to see how the Doctor gets out of this, especially with the crazy cannibals after him and being without the TARDIS.
Too lazy to post about Buffy right now so I'll put it off until tomorrow!