Exterminagen!
I left out a few bits in my review piece of 'Journey's End' just posted. Rather than edit that post and mess up the flow, I'll just add in this briefer scribble.
Whether it was Russell, Nick Briggs or whoever came up with it, the Daleks in Germany was a stroke of sheer genius. I can't recall, and bear in mind, I've been watching the show since 1977 and have been a writer, reviewer and contributor to various magazines, websites and groups connected with the show for some 15 years, if we've ever heard the Daleks speak another language in any of their adventures. Whether it was brand new or not, it was fantasic and made me almost fall out of my chair laughing as the Daleks flew through the forests of Germany barking instructions and warning in German! My favourite moment had to be the 'Exterminagen!' which I thought was quite charming of the Daleks.
Also, Julian Bleach and Nick Briggs really made Davros come more alive than ever before, shot through with extra creepiness and wonderful villainous glee. His depressed eyes with the deep tissue scarring, his rotten metal covered razor sharp teeth, his tapping metallic claw and that evil open mouthed grin all combined to give us the best evil character since John Simm's uncomparable Master.
Davros's recognition of Sarah Jane was also a nice touch, and anything that gives Lis Sladen extra lines is always a good thing. As attractive as ever, her experience and older, wiser persona is perfect and welcome back to Who anytime she can do it. All the companions were on fine form with John Barrowman in usual scene-stealing form. Penny Wilton's (premature) death in 'The Stolen Earth' lost us a wonderful female character and really reminded us all of how under-written so many female characters on tv are and just how good some older female actors really are.
As for the David Tennant Double-act, I'm sure it thrilled many of his fan's hearts but for me, it was somewhat tacky and probably one gimmick too far. The genocide issue was interesting and nice to know Russell still refers back to classic Who every so often with the 'Genesis of the Daleks' footnote but it still just came across as a somewhat daft way of having Rose get her Doctor (sort of) and especially with the way Noel Clarke strolled off, the whole plot strand was a bit too forced and iffy for me.
As for DT himself, he did his usual bang-up job with some nice emotional scenes and shouty bits. Having said that, I do think it's time for him to move on to something else. I honestly don't think he has much else to contribute to the show or the character. The excuse for him deliberately staying the same in the regeneration scene was to my mind silly and arrogant ( Russell saying his boy is the best...sigh). Whilst good, DT is by no means the best Doctor ever. Chris Eccleston was a fantastic doctor and brought a lot of energy, passion, anger, intelligence and wonder to the role and to anyone who says DT is the best actor to play the role, I urge them to look at adventures from all of the previous actors, including Paul McGanns tragically cut short reign.
Whether it was Russell, Nick Briggs or whoever came up with it, the Daleks in Germany was a stroke of sheer genius. I can't recall, and bear in mind, I've been watching the show since 1977 and have been a writer, reviewer and contributor to various magazines, websites and groups connected with the show for some 15 years, if we've ever heard the Daleks speak another language in any of their adventures. Whether it was brand new or not, it was fantasic and made me almost fall out of my chair laughing as the Daleks flew through the forests of Germany barking instructions and warning in German! My favourite moment had to be the 'Exterminagen!' which I thought was quite charming of the Daleks.
Also, Julian Bleach and Nick Briggs really made Davros come more alive than ever before, shot through with extra creepiness and wonderful villainous glee. His depressed eyes with the deep tissue scarring, his rotten metal covered razor sharp teeth, his tapping metallic claw and that evil open mouthed grin all combined to give us the best evil character since John Simm's uncomparable Master.
Davros's recognition of Sarah Jane was also a nice touch, and anything that gives Lis Sladen extra lines is always a good thing. As attractive as ever, her experience and older, wiser persona is perfect and welcome back to Who anytime she can do it. All the companions were on fine form with John Barrowman in usual scene-stealing form. Penny Wilton's (premature) death in 'The Stolen Earth' lost us a wonderful female character and really reminded us all of how under-written so many female characters on tv are and just how good some older female actors really are.
As for the David Tennant Double-act, I'm sure it thrilled many of his fan's hearts but for me, it was somewhat tacky and probably one gimmick too far. The genocide issue was interesting and nice to know Russell still refers back to classic Who every so often with the 'Genesis of the Daleks' footnote but it still just came across as a somewhat daft way of having Rose get her Doctor (sort of) and especially with the way Noel Clarke strolled off, the whole plot strand was a bit too forced and iffy for me.
As for DT himself, he did his usual bang-up job with some nice emotional scenes and shouty bits. Having said that, I do think it's time for him to move on to something else. I honestly don't think he has much else to contribute to the show or the character. The excuse for him deliberately staying the same in the regeneration scene was to my mind silly and arrogant ( Russell saying his boy is the best...sigh). Whilst good, DT is by no means the best Doctor ever. Chris Eccleston was a fantastic doctor and brought a lot of energy, passion, anger, intelligence and wonder to the role and to anyone who says DT is the best actor to play the role, I urge them to look at adventures from all of the previous actors, including Paul McGanns tragically cut short reign.