11th Doctor Specials
I just watched the last two Doctor Who specials, with predictably mixed results.
"The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe" was overly sentimental, simplistic, and silly. It was clearly targeted at the child market, with a few bits thrown in to entertain the parents. The Doctor sets up the situation, quickly loses control of it, and then trails along as a spectator for the rest of the story. The resolution seems too magical, and the time vortex pops out of nowhere for no reason other than to rescue the wandering plot. But despite much disappointment, the show does manage a few brief moments of worth, when the Doctor sets aside his manic performance to reveal glimpses of his true character. Still not enough for me to recommend or rewatch.
On the other hand, "The Snowmen" was delightful, if perhaps too mired in recent continuity -- it does not stand so well on its own. Humor, touching moments, a decent character arc, good visuals, effective supporting cast, nice direction. It's not perfect -- one wonders why the Doctor was where and when he was, the villains are kinda sketchy (even though they're connected to old-school canon), and the big twist doesn't make much internal sense. But I had too much fun to mind much; I even cheered once or twice. Jenna-Louise Coleman again delivers a great performance; she works very well with Matt Smith.
The first half of Season 7 disappointed me, but I think "The Snowmen" (taking place at the halfway point) almost redeems it. I have some small optimism for the second half of the season, but worry that the energy won't be sustained. :/
...for completeness, I should mention that I didn't like the first of Moffat's three Christmas specials -- "A Christmas Carol" -- mostly because the script abused the concept of time travel, especially in context of the rest of the show. I realize the goal was to mimic Dickens, but if we let the Doctor retcon his way out of present difficulties, we destroy dramatic tension. Even surrendering dramatic tension, the mechanic didn't make sense -- the Doctor's changes to the past affected the future, but not the present. Fool script gave me a headache. :(
"The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe" was overly sentimental, simplistic, and silly. It was clearly targeted at the child market, with a few bits thrown in to entertain the parents. The Doctor sets up the situation, quickly loses control of it, and then trails along as a spectator for the rest of the story. The resolution seems too magical, and the time vortex pops out of nowhere for no reason other than to rescue the wandering plot. But despite much disappointment, the show does manage a few brief moments of worth, when the Doctor sets aside his manic performance to reveal glimpses of his true character. Still not enough for me to recommend or rewatch.
On the other hand, "The Snowmen" was delightful, if perhaps too mired in recent continuity -- it does not stand so well on its own. Humor, touching moments, a decent character arc, good visuals, effective supporting cast, nice direction. It's not perfect -- one wonders why the Doctor was where and when he was, the villains are kinda sketchy (even though they're connected to old-school canon), and the big twist doesn't make much internal sense. But I had too much fun to mind much; I even cheered once or twice. Jenna-Louise Coleman again delivers a great performance; she works very well with Matt Smith.
The first half of Season 7 disappointed me, but I think "The Snowmen" (taking place at the halfway point) almost redeems it. I have some small optimism for the second half of the season, but worry that the energy won't be sustained. :/
...for completeness, I should mention that I didn't like the first of Moffat's three Christmas specials -- "A Christmas Carol" -- mostly because the script abused the concept of time travel, especially in context of the rest of the show. I realize the goal was to mimic Dickens, but if we let the Doctor retcon his way out of present difficulties, we destroy dramatic tension. Even surrendering dramatic tension, the mechanic didn't make sense -- the Doctor's changes to the past affected the future, but not the present. Fool script gave me a headache. :(