Doctor Who: "A Town Called Mercy" (7.3) - "The Bells of Saint John" (7.7)
It's been ages since I've discussed Doctor Who, but I have kept up with season/series seven of the show. I'll give some brief thoughts about episodes three-six and than discuss episode seven.
- Toby Whithouse (whose widely rumored to take over DW in S8) wrote "A Town Called Mercy". It was an alright episode, but not the best thing that Whithouse has ever written. A lot of it felt like a filler episode to further hint at the leaving of Rory and Amy. And to let us know that the Doctor needs people; he's getting dark.
- "The Power of Three" was actually a really fun episode. I loved seeing flashes of Pond/Doctor adventures and I loved seeing Brian again. UNIT is always cool, too. It reminded me a lot of RTD's run on Who. But that ending. Um, so underdeveloped. It was like they just couldn't think of anything, so they ended it as quickly as possible and hoped no one would notice.
- "The Angels Take Manhattan" or "Don't Worry, I'm Sure Rory and Amy Will Be Back In November". The episode all of series seven (and the end of series six) has been leading up to. (And the return of River Song. Seriously, her character gets more and more Mary Sue-ish. Plus, I hate that Moffat keeps trying to force her as the love of the Doctor's 1000+ year life.)
More than anything, this felt like an emotional goodbye for the actors rather than the characters. But, I'm so glad that Rory and Amy were able to be together for the rest of their lives; that she became a writer and they adopted a son and they probably had a beautiful life together.
"The Angels Take Manhattan" was really a nice end to the mini-run of S7. It was easily the best of the first half of S7: full of some beautiful moments between Rory/Amy, Amy and the Doctor, and the Doctor and his Ponds. Though the pacing was frantic at times. I thought Amy's sendoff and goodbyes to River (or Melody - loved that she called her that) and the Doctor was outstanding. But Rory's sendoff was a let down. Arthur Darvill was the perfect Rory and Rory was a perfect man and he was totally underused for most of his time as a Companion. That was a huge let down, actually.
I would say that I liked the first, fourth, and fifth episodes of the first half of S7. I didn't love any of them, but they were enjoyable and Matt, Karen, and Arthur had great chemistry. Plus, Amy/Rory will always be one of my OTPs for Doctor Who.
Now, let us discuss the Christmas Special: "The Snowmen" aka episode 7.6.
- Firstly I hated that Eleven was so depressed and determined not to help anyone because Amy and Rory are gone. He's lost countless people before, why were Amy/Rory the final straw? Willing to let the world burn because he lost his two first friends (in his eleventh body). It left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
- Secondly, Richard E Grant and Sir Ian McKellan were woefully underused as the villains of this story. Though, I suppose the Great Intelligence will appear again in S7.
- Vastra, Jenny, and Strax are great and I almost want them (and maybe another character or two) to be in a spin off set in Victorian England. They could solve crimes! It could be darker than the Sarah Jane Adventures, but not as dark as Torchwood. It could be fun and exciting. (But I seriously doubt Dan Starkey and Neve McIntosh would want to do that alien make up everyday for months at a time.)
- Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman have amazing chemistry. Like I seriously want them to tease each other and than make out ala some classic Hollywood duos. Just amazing. They play off some another so well. I would dare to say they have better chemistry than Matt has had with anyone on the show.
- I was happy that this Christmas Special was so character driven - actually the best since "The Christmas Invasion".
- Clara was a great character and her playfulness, curious nature, and her fearlessness made her great. While her death didn't make me cry (and she didn't look hurt at all), I thought it was really well done and emotional in its way. It's very clear that the Doctor was attracted to Clara (maybe not romantically, but certainly in a way that was important and in a way he hasn't been attracted to anyone in years) and I think there could have been something there ala Nine and Rose or Ten and Rose. No one has really challenged the Doctor in this way since Rose challenged Nine way back in '05.
Now we have "The Bells of Saint John" aka episode seven of series seven.
- Clara Oswald is brilliant. Most people are ready and willing to fly off with the Doctor. Her reaction to be asked to travel time and space? For him to ask her tomorrow. Ha.
- Amy became an author of children's books! 'Amelia Williams' became a writer of what looks like children adventure novels; how awesome.
- So, do you think the Doctor was just sitting around for years, staring at Clara's painting, and waiting. Oh my.
- Again, the Doctor and Clara have amazing chemistry ala Katherine and Spencer or Fred and Ginger. They play off one another very well. He clearly already has a bit of a crush on her, and she makes him nervous. It's sort of cute.
- The plot was similar to "The Idiot's Lantern" but the idea of the Great Intelligence using Wi-fi to take over (any alien using technology) is actually clever. I mean how many hours is the average teenager-30-something on the 'net during the course of a day? A lot, actually.
- Clara could be a very interesting character. 16 and 23 were missing from her book. Plus, this is apparently her third life: she was Oswin Oswald, Clara Oswin Oswald, and is now Clara Oswald. I look forward to finding out what that means. (Knowing Moffat he'll fuck it up, but. . .I'm still interested.)
- Oh! Who do you guys think the woman in the shop was? She had the Doctor's number and knew that Clara would need him. My guess is River, because she has to be involved in everything.
- Plus, UNIT!
I honestly think that Matt and Jenna have amazing chemistry and play really well off one another. I just wish someone else was in charge of their overall story. I just have a horrible feeling that Moffat will screw it up in favor of River Song or a dramatic ending or something. So help me, I'm 'shipping Eleven/Clara.
- Toby Whithouse (whose widely rumored to take over DW in S8) wrote "A Town Called Mercy". It was an alright episode, but not the best thing that Whithouse has ever written. A lot of it felt like a filler episode to further hint at the leaving of Rory and Amy. And to let us know that the Doctor needs people; he's getting dark.
- "The Power of Three" was actually a really fun episode. I loved seeing flashes of Pond/Doctor adventures and I loved seeing Brian again. UNIT is always cool, too. It reminded me a lot of RTD's run on Who. But that ending. Um, so underdeveloped. It was like they just couldn't think of anything, so they ended it as quickly as possible and hoped no one would notice.
- "The Angels Take Manhattan" or "Don't Worry, I'm Sure Rory and Amy Will Be Back In November". The episode all of series seven (and the end of series six) has been leading up to. (And the return of River Song. Seriously, her character gets more and more Mary Sue-ish. Plus, I hate that Moffat keeps trying to force her as the love of the Doctor's 1000+ year life.)
More than anything, this felt like an emotional goodbye for the actors rather than the characters. But, I'm so glad that Rory and Amy were able to be together for the rest of their lives; that she became a writer and they adopted a son and they probably had a beautiful life together.
"The Angels Take Manhattan" was really a nice end to the mini-run of S7. It was easily the best of the first half of S7: full of some beautiful moments between Rory/Amy, Amy and the Doctor, and the Doctor and his Ponds. Though the pacing was frantic at times. I thought Amy's sendoff and goodbyes to River (or Melody - loved that she called her that) and the Doctor was outstanding. But Rory's sendoff was a let down. Arthur Darvill was the perfect Rory and Rory was a perfect man and he was totally underused for most of his time as a Companion. That was a huge let down, actually.
I would say that I liked the first, fourth, and fifth episodes of the first half of S7. I didn't love any of them, but they were enjoyable and Matt, Karen, and Arthur had great chemistry. Plus, Amy/Rory will always be one of my OTPs for Doctor Who.
Now, let us discuss the Christmas Special: "The Snowmen" aka episode 7.6.
- Firstly I hated that Eleven was so depressed and determined not to help anyone because Amy and Rory are gone. He's lost countless people before, why were Amy/Rory the final straw? Willing to let the world burn because he lost his two first friends (in his eleventh body). It left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
- Secondly, Richard E Grant and Sir Ian McKellan were woefully underused as the villains of this story. Though, I suppose the Great Intelligence will appear again in S7.
- Vastra, Jenny, and Strax are great and I almost want them (and maybe another character or two) to be in a spin off set in Victorian England. They could solve crimes! It could be darker than the Sarah Jane Adventures, but not as dark as Torchwood. It could be fun and exciting. (But I seriously doubt Dan Starkey and Neve McIntosh would want to do that alien make up everyday for months at a time.)
- Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman have amazing chemistry. Like I seriously want them to tease each other and than make out ala some classic Hollywood duos. Just amazing. They play off some another so well. I would dare to say they have better chemistry than Matt has had with anyone on the show.
- I was happy that this Christmas Special was so character driven - actually the best since "The Christmas Invasion".
- Clara was a great character and her playfulness, curious nature, and her fearlessness made her great. While her death didn't make me cry (and she didn't look hurt at all), I thought it was really well done and emotional in its way. It's very clear that the Doctor was attracted to Clara (maybe not romantically, but certainly in a way that was important and in a way he hasn't been attracted to anyone in years) and I think there could have been something there ala Nine and Rose or Ten and Rose. No one has really challenged the Doctor in this way since Rose challenged Nine way back in '05.
Now we have "The Bells of Saint John" aka episode seven of series seven.
- Clara Oswald is brilliant. Most people are ready and willing to fly off with the Doctor. Her reaction to be asked to travel time and space? For him to ask her tomorrow. Ha.
- Amy became an author of children's books! 'Amelia Williams' became a writer of what looks like children adventure novels; how awesome.
- So, do you think the Doctor was just sitting around for years, staring at Clara's painting, and waiting. Oh my.
- Again, the Doctor and Clara have amazing chemistry ala Katherine and Spencer or Fred and Ginger. They play off one another very well. He clearly already has a bit of a crush on her, and she makes him nervous. It's sort of cute.
- The plot was similar to "The Idiot's Lantern" but the idea of the Great Intelligence using Wi-fi to take over (any alien using technology) is actually clever. I mean how many hours is the average teenager-30-something on the 'net during the course of a day? A lot, actually.
- Clara could be a very interesting character. 16 and 23 were missing from her book. Plus, this is apparently her third life: she was Oswin Oswald, Clara Oswin Oswald, and is now Clara Oswald. I look forward to finding out what that means. (Knowing Moffat he'll fuck it up, but. . .I'm still interested.)
- Oh! Who do you guys think the woman in the shop was? She had the Doctor's number and knew that Clara would need him. My guess is River, because she has to be involved in everything.
- Plus, UNIT!
I honestly think that Matt and Jenna have amazing chemistry and play really well off one another. I just wish someone else was in charge of their overall story. I just have a horrible feeling that Moffat will screw it up in favor of River Song or a dramatic ending or something. So help me, I'm 'shipping Eleven/Clara.