Doctor Who 7.02
Sep. 9th, 2012 08:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn 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?
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?
