Doctor Who 7.02

[selenak]

In which the author of Cyberman brings back velociraptors, even if they're not called Myfanwy, and the result is surprisingly enjoyable.



Chris Chibnall has, shall we say, a very mixed record of episodes on Torchwood and Doctor Who both, but I really liked this one. It helps that I love Invasion of the Dinosaurs, the second Sarah Jane outing in Three's era, and the moment when Eleven first sees the dinosaurs is such a call back to when Three sees them and tells the Brig to drive towards them in glee. But it's also an episode that handles its ensemble well, unlike the Chibnall one from DW's t hird season when the ship's crew was hardly distinguishable from each other - I suppose all that Torchwood practice of writing for multiple characters did come in handy? Anyway. Making the justification for dinosaurs on a space ship a Silurian ark was nifty in-universe continuity, and the Doctor's quiet rage once he realises Solomon killed all the Silurians on board was well done. Also the way he doomed Solomon in the end reminded me of Nine transporting Cassandra to her doom (well, not quite, as it turned out in later seasons, but intent counts).

Nefertiti looking for an exciting man could have made me side eye Chibnall again but her scenes emphasized her queenliness and sense of responsibility more, so, okay then. As we don't have a definite death, historically speaking, for Nefertiti (she stops being mentioned I think about two years before Akhenaten's death in the monuments and records, so theories vary from death to disgrace), her ending up in a different period actually works. And "I'm Rory's queen" from Amy was such a great line in context. Amy basically making Nefertiti and Riddell her companions for her subplot was highly enjoyable. Riddell didn't get much characterisation beyond adventurous Edwardian hunter, but was played by Rupert Graves bringing him his charisma and charm, so that worked, too.

Season continuity: Amy talking to the Doctor about her suspicion he's "weaning" her and Rory off him, and him denying it (not that convincingly, though maybe he only then realised that was what he's doing, and that either way his time with them is coming to an end).

Rory's dad: was played by Arthur Weasley, which totally works. Methinks Chibnall & Moffat might have tried for a Bernard Cribbins/Wilf effect there, for which you need more episodes (we didn't get misty eyed over Wilf after Voyage of the Damned already), but Brian was alright.

Trailer for the next episode: that's the one with Ben Browder, right?

Comments

[arduinna]

Here via Network, for what that's worth. Could you possibly put the casting spoiler under a second cut that says it's a spoiler for next week, or add a note to that effect to your existing cut-tag text?

I'd managed to stay completely unspoiled for that bit of casting news until I clicked to see your reaction to this week's ep, and I'm really wishing I hadn't clicked now. (I realize that everyone probably assumes that there can't possibly be an unspoiled person left so there's no point trying to hide the info, but I try really, really hard to stay unspoiled, and I really didn't know. And I may not be the only one.)

Thanks!

[kalypso]

I was a bit confused because I thought I heard Nefertiti saying her husband was called Imhotep and that he was very dull (something about a sleeping draught?). So I immediately said "But wasn't she married to Akhenaten?" On checking, I was reminded that Akhenaten was originally Amenhotep before the whole Aten-for-Amun thing. So I am now thinking that, as one could call Akhenaten many things before coming up with dull, and there's no obvious reason for her not to use his current name, this adventure must take place before the Aten revolution, and Nefertiti must eventually return home. Possibly something in her adventures caused her to change her husband's religious thinking?

I'm also wondering when I will first see Lestradefic mentioning his mysterious Egyptian grandmother.

[selenak]

So I am now thinking that, as one could call Akhenaten many things before coming up with dull

Indeed, and you make a good point about the name being an indication this is meant to take place before the Aten revolution. Then again, why a stint in the early 20th century should be an advertisement to introduce monotheism is beyond me.:)


I'm also wondering when I will first see Lestradefic mentioning his mysterious Egyptian grandmother.

Tell me if you do, as I want to read it!

[jesuswasbatman]

I've seen it suggested that she meant dull as in "constantly banging on about theology".

[selenak]

That would work except for the part where Nefertiti was very much a part of the whole Aten revolution according to what I recall from the books. Then again, it's all speculation of various tablets, so who really knows?

[skywaterblue]

The entirety of the Nefertiti storyline doesn't seem to work with her history. (I could buy 'dull' though - Akenaten seems like the sort of guy to endlessly talk about his life philosophy over dinner, no?)

The Ponds are 31 now?

[selenak]

Well, living with a religious revolutionary if you're not into religious revolution would be a trial. Though she's mentioned nearly as often as he is in the Aten inscriptions, but then again, who knows whether or not that was her idea.