DW Review: "The Angels Take Manhattan"

The Ponds depart in an emotional episode, but not one that's actually too sad. The weeping angel aliens return in a takeover of Manhattan, creating a farm of people to live their lives after temporal displacement, giving them energy source after energy source. The doctor finds his way there after Rory is displaced, and Amy and Rory die together to cause a paradox, seemingly saving time, but really just buying a bit more time. Finally, their caught, Rory is displaced, and Amy decides to join him. The doctor is alone again, with River in and out of his time. And the wait until Clara returns now begins.

Overall, it was a good episode, if not great. The core was the emotional bond between the three. I don't quite buy the silly notion that he can't go back because it's a fixed time. Timey wimey plot device. The fact that they decided to live their life together in the past, it was sweet. It also seems like a rather final ending point for them.

I felt that something like this was going to happen, after we knew the weeping angel aliens were returning. I didn't think the Ponds would die outright, but be displaced, maybe together. So no big surprise there. I was surprised to see River, as I didn't really see any previews for this beforehand. Overall, it was a good episode, but I wasn't too sad to see the Ponds depart. The end was also odd, with the doctor going, possibly, to visit young Amelia, waiting for her raggety man to return.

Next time: Clara in a Victorian era!

DW Review: "The Power Of Three"

This was a nice episode. It started off akin to something like The Lodger, with the doctor trying to adapt to normal life. Not my favorite type of episode, but it turned into something more. The imminent departure of the Ponds was palpable, as there were certain foreshadowing conversations. One was with Brian, Rory's dad, and the doctor, talking about what happened to his former companions, including those that died. Another was with Amy and the doctor, regarding how the doctor loves them, and is running to them. And at the end, the Ponds realize that their real life isn't what they want. They want to travel with the doctor.

The cubes themselves served as a decent storyline. An ancient gallifreyan legend of universal pest controllers sent cubes to analyze and destroy humanity before they spread across the galaxy. Decent backstory, but it's really the story of how the three came back together at the end, before they seem to be ending their journey one way or another. The saddest episode of DW ever, a friend called it, the one coming up.


I like how we focus more on Brian here. I wish he was present more, because he's actually a good character, and his presence with trying to keep the Ponds safe, almost like a guardian, is nice. Because even though their ten years apart from The Eleventh Hour, Amy still seems like that little girl yearning for her raggety man.


Next time: Goodbye, Ponds.

 

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Adele, Meet Skyfall

Yes! It's sad that Amy Winehouse never got to sing a bond theme, but now we have Adele singing the upcoming one. Her voice is suited for it. The hardest part for me is going to be avoiding listening to it until the film!

DW Review: "A Town Called Mercy"

This episode was the most standalone, basic episode of this series, akin to something like the episode with the dolls last year. The doctor, Amy, and Rory land in a town called Mercy, during an attempt to go to Mexico. There, they are confronted by the townsfolk, who think he's the alien doctor, and send him across the town line to be killed. Isaac, the marshall, saves the doctor, and the doctor realizes there's another alien doctor aboard. The doctor meets him, and he says he crash landed here. When the doctor goes to find the crashed ship, he sees footage of this doctor performing cyborg experiments on people, and this gunslinger cyborg in the town is really here to get revenge. The doctor first tries to sacrifice the alien doctor, but then Amy talks sense into him, and the gunslinger arrives and kills Isaac by accident. The doctor, appointed the new marshall by Isaac, devises a plan to save the alien doctor, and eventually to save the town, the alien doctor sacrifices himself, and the gunslinger takes up the mantle as the protector of the town.

The story of this episode was decent, but felt like basic science-fiction fare. Western setting, redemption, yadda yadda. The strength of this episode was the actual arc that seems to be running through this season, time and time again. First the doctor kills daleks and appears proud of it, then he lets Solomon fall to his doom, and now he offers to sacrifice the alien doctor. The doctor is turning angry, unforgiving, without mercy. And it's dangerous. But why? Because he was traveling alone? Is it because of the revelation at the end of the series finale last year?


The alien doctor was an excellent mirror to the doctor. The doctor committed atrocious war crimes as well, intending to commit genocide of both the daleks and his own race. Yet, here he is, trying to pretend he's fighting the good fight, and willing to judge and dole justice out on the alien doctor. Yet, he's the same. And I don't think he realizes this. I hope this was intentional, and will be delved into more as the series progresses. I. Soe ways, I like this character change in the doctor, and how this is the actual arc of the season. There are strengths to last years story as well, but the doctor's death was palpable in every episode last year, basically. This time, there's more breathing room, and time to just let loose and do a complete western, or a complete prison escape. But, as we near the fields of Trenzalor, I'd like to see the return of a story-based arc as well.


Next week: Cubes galore?

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Pixar Retrospective: "Finding Nemo"

It's been quite a while since I've seen Finding Nemo. I saw it many, many years ago. At a time when I was too immature to truly appreciate pixar. I remember thinking it was decent. Now that's here again in theaters, in 3D, I couldn't wait to see it again. But first, we got a Toy Story short with one of my favorite characters, Rex. After being a party pooper, Rex throws a truly wild party. This short felt more akin to the Toy Story spirit than the last one. Good new characters, really solid humor, and a sweet story. Yay!

Back to Finding Nemo. Beautiful film, extremely. Ice animation. The shots through the ocean floor, during Nemo's first day at school, was just so beautiful in 3D, stunning animation. The story itself was solid, with heart, and although I didn't get any UERs, I had a few chills. It's on the lighter side of the pixar library, but had more adult themes of letting go of your children and facing your fears than the themes in the most kid-friendly pixar film, Cars 2.


Dory was hilarious. Sometimes trying a bit too hard to be funny, but overall solid humor. And the creepiness of the realism of the sea was palpable. Being stuck in open water is a fear of mine. Imagining the ocean floor, the jelly fish, was slightly unnerving, and it just speaks to the quality of the animation.


Overall, the strength of this film is in the animation and the heartfelt story. The Perth of the ocean life we see, from sharks to jellyfish to deep sea monsters, was fascinating. The supporting cast, from Nigel to Bruce to Crush to the tank fish, were funny, full of character, and enjoyable to watch. And you gotta love the "mine" cry of the seagulls.


Is it my favorite pixar? No. It probably is in the third of fourth tier. But again, that's more a testament to the superb quality of pixar's other work. I can't wait to see this again on blu ray, such stellar animation.

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DW Review: "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"

Dinosaurs! On a spaceship! That's how this episode began, as the doctor and Queen Nefertiti land on a ship bound for earth, with earth bound to destroy it. With a quick pickup of a game hunter and the Ponds, with Mr. Williams included, the story sets off. After escaping dinosaurs galore, and playing fetch with a triceratops, the gang encounters the true threat and truth behind this ship. It's the equivalent of an ark for the Silurians, preserving their time in a ship as their species faced extinction. A trader named Solomon landed there by accident, saw the cargo, and murdered the Silurians. Unfortunately, he couldn't pilot the ship, which was defaulted back to earth. The doctor was able to stop Solomon, repilot the ship back, and save the day.

This was a fantastic standalone episode. I really don't like episodes on a spaceship, mostly because of the largely throwaway characters, but Chibnall did well here. The game hunter was reminiscent of Muldoon from Jurassic Park. Its all in the accent. But he brought a good amount of comedy in his dealings with Nefertiti, who was portrayed as a truly strong, independent woman. Mr. Williams was a fantastic addition, and it was mostly believable how he went from experiencing the TARDIS for the first time, to helping save the day. And he even got inspired to travel afterwards.

One of the best parts was the doctor's dealing with the Ponds. They have come to value their own private, home life now. They still like adventures with the doctor, but that's only a part of their life. But we can see that for the doctor, that's a major part of his life. You can feel the sadness on his face when they want to return home. And how distraught he was at the thought that he may outlive the Ponds. They hinted a bit that the Ponds may depart prematurely, and I wonder if they'll hint more at it in the next two episodes.

And shockingly, the doctor let Solomon die instead of saving him. It's a real change of character, and somewhat scary as well. I hope this was an intentional move, and if so, I'm so curious to see where it leads. 

Overall, a very strong episode, which was about more than its seemingly superficial title. Next week also looks like a fun standalone, in a good western setting. A strong continuation of the season thus far, and I can see how each episode is almost like a standalone blockbuster. Good stuff.

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DW Review: Series 7, Episode 1: "Asylum of the Daleks"

Freaking baller! Moffat manages to surprise us in this episode, in a way I truly didn't ever see coming. I'm so glad I avoided spoilers for this episode, because the entire time, I was left wondering if my suspicions were correct. I'm not the best at facial recognition, but I seriously thought that looked like Clara at the start. Maybe not right away, but a few minutes into it. And as she revealed more about what a genius hacker she was, I was becoming more and more suspicious that it really was her. And finally, in the end credits, we see that it was indeed Jenna Louise-Coleman playing her. What a way to introduce the new companion. And rather sad, as I assume this is the end of her story, and we're gonna see how it began with the doctor earlier on. Did she know him? Probably, but I can't wait to find out more. And if this is a hint of things to come with their relationship, I'm liking it so far. Almost a match intellectually with the doctor, not a young girl pining for her imaginary friend. Don't get me wrong, Amy is fantastic and is my favorite companion, but change isn't a bad thing.

The episode itself was decent. Not nearly as stellar a series opener as The Eleventh Hour or The Impossible Astronaut, but I suppose the entire episode was constructed around a different purpose. Not to introduce a new doctor, or set up a series-long arc, but to introduce us to a new companion. And, the echo of "doctor who" at the end, mirroring the end of The Wedding of River Song, was a nice touch. I wonder if that's the real question; what if everyone forgets the doctor? Is that why the question is asked? And why is the doctor running from it? I can't wait to hopefully find out these answers.

Clara has such a strong personality. She knows about how much hatred the daleks have for the doctor, I'd imagine. I wonder if she somehow summoned him to the planet itself, or was it really the daleks who did it? And those dalek-human hybrids were cool, and although a bit odd (and thus very DW-ish), I'm glad the daleks are being updated to something a bit more overtly scary. Although, I think the scariest things about the dalek is their very nature; no fear, pure love for hatred, no mercy.

I was hoping we'd see River here, but alas, no such thing. Which is odd, because if I remember right, River was in every Moffat-scripted episode since he started running the show. I do hope we see her in this first half of the series. As for Amy and Rory's marital issues, it links in well with the end of Pond Life, and as to why Amy was so upset. I also like how they focused on how much Amy personally sacrificed, letting Rory go. And also, how the events of Demon's Run continue to plague her life. I wonder why the doctor left them back home at the end, though. Is he going to keep picking them up for each adventure this half-series? Because in the trailers, it seems in A Town Called Mercy, Amy hasn't seen the doctor in a while.... again.

The new credits are a bit.... odd. I'm not a fan of the blurred TARDIS and wormhole. The appearance of the names looks nice, but the new DW symbol looks a bit weird. A bit old-school, though, so maybe they're giving a 50th anniversary vibe. 

Moffat finds new ways to surprise us, and I'm so thrilled and surprised with how he did it here, with Clara. Next week looks very meh, from the preview to the title, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. I feel like the next two episodes will be standalones, but I guess I'm really waiting to see what Moffat does with the Ponds' departure. Clara! Things are looking good for the rest of the season, albeit not the same arc-style storyline as last time, if this episode is any indication.