While series 1 had one hell of a slow start it was all in all a great start to the series obviously enough to get a second series and pull the entire franchise out of the grave.Christopher eccleston said in a recent (possibly recent-ish) interview that he was proud of the season he did but more or less he was just happy to have pulled the series out of the water and adamantly says he is done with the series and doesn't regret leaving after just the first series.Personally I do have to admire his persistance on the matter.
but taking his place was what many people consider to be the best doctor in the series some say even over tom baker,David tennant.This was not only the first series for david but on a personal note the first episodes I saw were from this series and again mostly due to billie piper being familiar to me from my childhood I decided to stick with the series and again here we are.But again before I repeat myself for the 10,000th time let's get into how the cast has changed since the previous series
The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant)
While the 9th doctor felt like a fallen angel being the cause of the destruction of both the dalek and time lord races his redemption at the end of the previous series caused this doctor to feel like he was free from the guilt at least in other people's eyes.I think the best way to describe him actually is his theme.While often people just call it the 10th's theme I think the proper name is the lonely angel and it just says it all but when it comes down to it his personality and charisma and his spectacular acting makes it easily understandable as to why people think he's the best doctor though again I do prefer matt smith but I'll get to that later.He's alot more light hearted and peaceful then the ninth and I have to say it works for the character arc for the doctor in the revived.
Rose tyler (Billie piper)
once again she takes a good position as the viewers place in the show reacting as we would at least until her character takes over fully as the doctor's girlfriend.In the beginning just like near the end of the last series she seemed a bit...how do I say this.....obsessed with the doctor.I mean it's not really anything she does in particular and in fact I believe we're meant to side with her on these but at first it does come off a bit....well off.But once the adventures continue on she seems alot more like how they meant it to seem.she seems more in love.
Though after a while I do have to say a different change started in her.She still acted like her still the average girl but she began mutating into a version of the doctor almost.She seemed alot smarter and even a bit more eccentric namely two moments a smirk she gave the jackass father in the idiot's lantern that was brilliant on billie piper's part and the running joke of trying to get the queen to say she isn't amused that just come off very doctor-esque moreso the smirk though.
and yes she's still hot
Mickey smith(noel clarke)
It's ironic that one of mickey's traits half way through was that he thought he wasn't good enough and that he was just a third wheel or as he said it "The tin dog" since in my opinion his character arc is one of the best in the revived.In the first series (And by the way if you haven't noticed I keep switching between series and season. I swear I will pick one and stick with it one of these days ) He basically had no choice but to help rose get back to the doctor pretty much admitting that he lost his girlfriend to the doctor.oddly at first this season there is a bit of sexual tension between the two and had I not known how it ended ahead of time I think I would've thought that's how she was going to leave the doctor at the end of the series
but from that to seeing an alternate version of himself die he became a much stronger person only to have a damn cool comeback at the end of the series and I have to say it made him a damn cool character.I won't spoil it but watch the series and see what you think or if you already have leave a comment on it I'm curious since I'v not seen many people mention mickey.
Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth sladen)
It would be callous of me not to start off by mentioning the obvious elephant in the room.April this year elisabeth sladen passed away and It did make the episodes of her come back to doctor who a bit hard to watch If only because of how talented and realy how nice she was in the behind the scenes extras I've seen.But that aside with the fact I'm really bad with these kinds of things her performance is excellent and it really does feel like she just came back to the role after a few days not a number of years.And I have to say this now her interaction with billie piper is amazing I don't know if the two did anything else together but it would've been a damn blast to watch cause these two are awesome
Seriously if you take anything away from this series it's that companions talking to each other is often hilarious and I really hope they do something like that for series 7.But all I can say really is that sarah jane came back for one hell of a performance and I'm glad she did. While I've never seen her spinoff myself I have to assume with this start it had to have been good at least.
There is really only one villain I could pick for the series spotlight this time....well okay maybe the Cult of Skaro but they're awesome and I did the daleks last time so there really is just the one.
The Cybermen
again I came in late series 2 so I can't say for myself how It felt seeing this version as the new cybermen but I love this design.I mean they look badass.The design and voice and may I also say their theme is just incredible and leads to one of the more awesome moments in the army of ghosts.Similar to the slitheen the cybermen appear twice this series in both the age of steel two parter and the doomsday two parter and I have to say some people may say it's just lazy or oversaturating a certain villain but I personally think it makes sense.I meanVillains can just take a short break then start swinging again a few days later.I've already said a bucnh in my villain countdown but the robotic menace of the cybermen is put simply awesome.
As you can tell between the fact that this series starts off stronger then the first and the fact that this is the first series I saw if only the last few episodes I have a small if important attachment to this season. But really is this series one of the better ones or is being better then series 1 just a squeek out a win.Well while the first series got off to a slow start this one got off to a slightly better start...slightly
Episode 1: The Christmas Invasion
Much like how series one took a little while to get going as did the now traditional christmas specials. this episode is kind of weak for one reason.The doctor is bearly in it and it's the same reason peter davison got off to a weak start as the 5th doctor.The regeneration to the 10th went a little bad and required some time to rest and it results in a very small amount of the new doctor which is a bit of a tease really.The episode did resolve the story of the new prime minister put in place after the slitheen,Ms. Harriet Jones.
Her use of a new group called torchwood to destroy the alien menace when they were already running away caused the doctor to cause her eviction from office using I think less then 8 words.Not a bad episode but hampered by the lack of the doctor though he was good when he was up.Also one last thing when the doctor fought the sicorax (Who by the way are not bad but I've seen better.) he had his hand cut off and then showing within so long of first regenerating limbs can grow back and a timelord is essentially even harder to kill but I do wonder what happened to that hand?.....or for that matter jack from series 1?......oh well next ep.
Episode 2 New earth
and for the second villain we have!......a bitchy trampoline returns....why cassandra? Maybe it was because it had the doctor showing no remorse to the point of almost seeming guilty of her death.It does show a nice paralell to the ninth with except with the 10th giving her a peaceful death in the way she wanted after a turn into being a good guy.that being said there's alot of paralells to "The end of the world" including the second appearance of the face of boe making this a really spooky clone episode it's not bad but not great all in all. also one thing I noticed.the cat nuns( long story) said they grew fake humans and while they referred to them as flesh I'm not sure if it's the same flesh from series 6 but I kinda like to think it is just for the connection.
Episode 3 Tooth and claw
As you may have figured three episodes in the running plot point to be solved at the end is the torchwood plot this episode showing how it was formed. I think one of my favorite things about this episode is that it's the doctor vs a werewolf.I mean that is kinda awesome and the doctor knows this well he goes insanely quickly into "You are beautiful" mode though quickly gets out of it realizing he was in massive danger. this is also ths first episode this season I really enjoy. it's just a fun yet tense mini horror and suspense episode it's a damn good watch with the only problem being I really think it should have been a two parter since it feels waaaaay to short but all in all the ancient scottish moon lazer makes up for it.........Fuck yeah
Episode 4 School reunion
EVIL GILES!!! Now that I got that out of the way while I think the villains are a little off it's not really about them but it is about the return of sarah jane and it goes quite well and the interaction between sarah and rose is awesome. Not really much happens and in the long run kind of forgettable but oh man it's so worth it for the conversations between sarah and rose
Episode 5 The girl in the fireplace
This is a good one all round.First off the opening is damn intriguing with a woman talking about the doctor and just the circumstances,the humor, and may I add a spooky paralell between Rinette the main female lead in the episode and amy pond from 3 seasons later makes this one a real keeper and just something to watch if you have nothing better to do.This one is one of my favorites this season especially since the ending in particular is absolutly heartbreaking and I won't spoil it but again he was late for amy by 12 years and while less time passed well......
Episode 6 and 7 :The rise of the cybermen and Age of steel
First off since the try to leave the appearance of the cybermen as a surprise they could have left the identity of the villain as a surprise and named the first episode Age of steel.coulda been nice but then again there'll be a twist later with them that will more then make up for it.The alternate dimension idea is a good plot but I do have to admit I was fine with the father's day closure to the rose's father story I think it could've worked really well without that and more of a focus on mickey's grandmother instead and it really ends this season in kind of an okay note so that bugs since it could've gone better.
Past that a pretty good two parter especially part 2 with a rather heartbreaking moment involving a cyberman getting her emotions back.That plus a great Villain in lumic and the single biggest "What the fuck" moment in the series but I'll leave that a surprise
Episode 8 The idiot's lantern
Before Re-watching this I always connected this episode to "the girl in the fireplace" for some reason.Now though my opinions are a wee bit different.I still really like the episode I mean when the doctor finds out rose's face is gone his reaction shows how far their relation has come him being as pissed as he was and I'll even say the mood and humor was good but all in all it just feels odd.I can't quite put my finger on why but it just comes off weird for some reason though like I said not bad
Episode 9 and 10 The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit
Oh boy this is a very peculiar two parter.I love the mood and the idea's behind it but the religious implications are a bit odd.I mean I love the discussions and whatnot in the two episodes and david's speech to the devil or whatever that was is in my opinion his best moment as the doctor (seriously it's goddamn shakespearean I love it) and those parts are amazing and it is done well but again alot of kids watch this and I love deep storylines for kids but this is saying that the devil is the same creature in every religion and is just an incredibly powerful alien is a bit iffy.Great two parter just try not to take it too seriously and it's amazing
Episode 11 Love and monsters
This is the first episode I ever saw and to be honest I'm shocked this one didn't scare me off near the end. This is actually a fantastic episode with how they follow a video diary of the main character elton and may I add I love his taste in music (ELO Indeed sir) in fact with the inclusion of the doctor hunting club this is a damn close shave for the best episode.......and then there's the absorbaloff........oh god......I don't care if he was done well,I don't care if he did relativly carefully do everything stealthfully,I don't care if he did read a magazine with a harold saxon reference in it I HATE THIS GUY. Seriously I really don't like him he just rubs me the wrong way and it does not shock me that he's a mutated relative of the slitheen......Rant over Great episode terrible villain
Episode 12 Fear her
This one is very meh.I like the style and set up but I really don't have too much to say.It's good I guess.Sad though that the only thing I think of with this episode is well the blooper of trying to get the cat to go in the box........yeah on to the good stuff
Episode 13 and 14 Army of ghosts and doomsday
The first thing I wanna say is yes that is freema agyemen as the woman who gets cyber-tized in the beginning.....Funny,anyway I LOVE THIS TWO PARTER!!! I'm not sure if it's the idea of ghosts,the excellent conclusion to the torchwood story (well until the spinoff) the doctor as usual being the pessimist with the ghosts, or just the continuation of the cybermen arc this season that makes this two parter great......oh wait I do know At the end of the first episode the cybermen theme stops and a second theme starts playing when referring to the sphere in the lab.When the Daleks come screaming out it starts making sense why that track was The daleks theme from series 1.
My god the interaction between the cybermen and the cult of skaro is just amazing.The writing is hilariously epic with the lines from the daleks being priceless especially "This is not war! This is pest control!!" from Dalek sec and the lines from the doctor as well are great. but past that the best thing is just seeing the daleks and cybermen fighting it's a sight for any fan of the series to see.But there is another reason why I like this The farewell between rose and the doctor.While this didn't get to me personally it is a real threat to dry eyes.Like I said easily my favorie episodes in doctor who.
That ladies in gentlemen is probably my third favorite series but as for number two? well there's a tie and the next series just happens to be one of the two and there's a good reason why it has my favorite moment in doctor who history when the drums erupt from the sky.....till then
While the 9th doctor felt like a fallen angel being the cause of the destruction of both the dalek and time lord races his redemption at the end of the previous series caused this doctor to feel like he was free from the guilt at least in other people's eyes.I think the best way to describe him actually is his theme.While often people just call it the 10th's theme I think the proper name is the lonely angel and it just says it all but when it comes down to it his personality and charisma and his spectacular acting makes it easily understandable as to why people think he's the best doctor though again I do prefer matt smith but I'll get to that later.He's alot more light hearted and peaceful then the ninth and I have to say it works for the character arc for the doctor in the revived.
once again she takes a good position as the viewers place in the show reacting as we would at least until her character takes over fully as the doctor's girlfriend.In the beginning just like near the end of the last series she seemed a bit...how do I say this.....obsessed with the doctor.I mean it's not really anything she does in particular and in fact I believe we're meant to side with her on these but at first it does come off a bit....well off.But once the adventures continue on she seems alot more like how they meant it to seem.she seems more in love.
Though after a while I do have to say a different change started in her.She still acted like her still the average girl but she began mutating into a version of the doctor almost.She seemed alot smarter and even a bit more eccentric namely two moments a smirk she gave the jackass father in the idiot's lantern that was brilliant on billie piper's part and the running joke of trying to get the queen to say she isn't amused that just come off very doctor-esque moreso the smirk though.
and yes she's still hot
Mickey smith(noel clarke)
It's ironic that one of mickey's traits half way through was that he thought he wasn't good enough and that he was just a third wheel or as he said it "The tin dog" since in my opinion his character arc is one of the best in the revived.In the first series (And by the way if you haven't noticed I keep switching between series and season. I swear I will pick one and stick with it one of these days ) He basically had no choice but to help rose get back to the doctor pretty much admitting that he lost his girlfriend to the doctor.oddly at first this season there is a bit of sexual tension between the two and had I not known how it ended ahead of time I think I would've thought that's how she was going to leave the doctor at the end of the series
but from that to seeing an alternate version of himself die he became a much stronger person only to have a damn cool comeback at the end of the series and I have to say it made him a damn cool character.I won't spoil it but watch the series and see what you think or if you already have leave a comment on it I'm curious since I'v not seen many people mention mickey.
Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth sladen)
It would be callous of me not to start off by mentioning the obvious elephant in the room.April this year elisabeth sladen passed away and It did make the episodes of her come back to doctor who a bit hard to watch If only because of how talented and realy how nice she was in the behind the scenes extras I've seen.But that aside with the fact I'm really bad with these kinds of things her performance is excellent and it really does feel like she just came back to the role after a few days not a number of years.And I have to say this now her interaction with billie piper is amazing I don't know if the two did anything else together but it would've been a damn blast to watch cause these two are awesome
Seriously if you take anything away from this series it's that companions talking to each other is often hilarious and I really hope they do something like that for series 7.But all I can say really is that sarah jane came back for one hell of a performance and I'm glad she did. While I've never seen her spinoff myself I have to assume with this start it had to have been good at least.
There is really only one villain I could pick for the series spotlight this time....well okay maybe the Cult of Skaro but they're awesome and I did the daleks last time so there really is just the one.
again I came in late series 2 so I can't say for myself how It felt seeing this version as the new cybermen but I love this design.I mean they look badass.The design and voice and may I also say their theme is just incredible and leads to one of the more awesome moments in the army of ghosts.Similar to the slitheen the cybermen appear twice this series in both the age of steel two parter and the doomsday two parter and I have to say some people may say it's just lazy or oversaturating a certain villain but I personally think it makes sense.I meanVillains can just take a short break then start swinging again a few days later.I've already said a bucnh in my villain countdown but the robotic menace of the cybermen is put simply awesome.
As you can tell between the fact that this series starts off stronger then the first and the fact that this is the first series I saw if only the last few episodes I have a small if important attachment to this season. But really is this series one of the better ones or is being better then series 1 just a squeek out a win.Well while the first series got off to a slow start this one got off to a slightly better start...slightly
Episode 1: The Christmas Invasion
Much like how series one took a little while to get going as did the now traditional christmas specials. this episode is kind of weak for one reason.The doctor is bearly in it and it's the same reason peter davison got off to a weak start as the 5th doctor.The regeneration to the 10th went a little bad and required some time to rest and it results in a very small amount of the new doctor which is a bit of a tease really.The episode did resolve the story of the new prime minister put in place after the slitheen,Ms. Harriet Jones.
Her use of a new group called torchwood to destroy the alien menace when they were already running away caused the doctor to cause her eviction from office using I think less then 8 words.Not a bad episode but hampered by the lack of the doctor though he was good when he was up.Also one last thing when the doctor fought the sicorax (Who by the way are not bad but I've seen better.) he had his hand cut off and then showing within so long of first regenerating limbs can grow back and a timelord is essentially even harder to kill but I do wonder what happened to that hand?.....or for that matter jack from series 1?......oh well next ep.
Episode 2 New earth
and for the second villain we have!......a bitchy trampoline returns....why cassandra? Maybe it was because it had the doctor showing no remorse to the point of almost seeming guilty of her death.It does show a nice paralell to the ninth with except with the 10th giving her a peaceful death in the way she wanted after a turn into being a good guy.that being said there's alot of paralells to "The end of the world" including the second appearance of the face of boe making this a really spooky clone episode it's not bad but not great all in all. also one thing I noticed.the cat nuns( long story) said they grew fake humans and while they referred to them as flesh I'm not sure if it's the same flesh from series 6 but I kinda like to think it is just for the connection.
Episode 3 Tooth and claw
As you may have figured three episodes in the running plot point to be solved at the end is the torchwood plot this episode showing how it was formed. I think one of my favorite things about this episode is that it's the doctor vs a werewolf.I mean that is kinda awesome and the doctor knows this well he goes insanely quickly into "You are beautiful" mode though quickly gets out of it realizing he was in massive danger. this is also ths first episode this season I really enjoy. it's just a fun yet tense mini horror and suspense episode it's a damn good watch with the only problem being I really think it should have been a two parter since it feels waaaaay to short but all in all the ancient scottish moon lazer makes up for it.........Fuck yeah
Episode 4 School reunion
EVIL GILES!!! Now that I got that out of the way while I think the villains are a little off it's not really about them but it is about the return of sarah jane and it goes quite well and the interaction between sarah and rose is awesome. Not really much happens and in the long run kind of forgettable but oh man it's so worth it for the conversations between sarah and rose
Episode 5 The girl in the fireplace
This is a good one all round.First off the opening is damn intriguing with a woman talking about the doctor and just the circumstances,the humor, and may I add a spooky paralell between Rinette the main female lead in the episode and amy pond from 3 seasons later makes this one a real keeper and just something to watch if you have nothing better to do.This one is one of my favorites this season especially since the ending in particular is absolutly heartbreaking and I won't spoil it but again he was late for amy by 12 years and while less time passed well......
Episode 6 and 7 :The rise of the cybermen and Age of steel
First off since the try to leave the appearance of the cybermen as a surprise they could have left the identity of the villain as a surprise and named the first episode Age of steel.coulda been nice but then again there'll be a twist later with them that will more then make up for it.The alternate dimension idea is a good plot but I do have to admit I was fine with the father's day closure to the rose's father story I think it could've worked really well without that and more of a focus on mickey's grandmother instead and it really ends this season in kind of an okay note so that bugs since it could've gone better.
Past that a pretty good two parter especially part 2 with a rather heartbreaking moment involving a cyberman getting her emotions back.That plus a great Villain in lumic and the single biggest "What the fuck" moment in the series but I'll leave that a surprise
Episode 8 The idiot's lantern
Before Re-watching this I always connected this episode to "the girl in the fireplace" for some reason.Now though my opinions are a wee bit different.I still really like the episode I mean when the doctor finds out rose's face is gone his reaction shows how far their relation has come him being as pissed as he was and I'll even say the mood and humor was good but all in all it just feels odd.I can't quite put my finger on why but it just comes off weird for some reason though like I said not bad
Episode 9 and 10 The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit
Oh boy this is a very peculiar two parter.I love the mood and the idea's behind it but the religious implications are a bit odd.I mean I love the discussions and whatnot in the two episodes and david's speech to the devil or whatever that was is in my opinion his best moment as the doctor (seriously it's goddamn shakespearean I love it) and those parts are amazing and it is done well but again alot of kids watch this and I love deep storylines for kids but this is saying that the devil is the same creature in every religion and is just an incredibly powerful alien is a bit iffy.Great two parter just try not to take it too seriously and it's amazing
Episode 11 Love and monsters
This is the first episode I ever saw and to be honest I'm shocked this one didn't scare me off near the end. This is actually a fantastic episode with how they follow a video diary of the main character elton and may I add I love his taste in music (ELO Indeed sir) in fact with the inclusion of the doctor hunting club this is a damn close shave for the best episode.......and then there's the absorbaloff........oh god......I don't care if he was done well,I don't care if he did relativly carefully do everything stealthfully,I don't care if he did read a magazine with a harold saxon reference in it I HATE THIS GUY. Seriously I really don't like him he just rubs me the wrong way and it does not shock me that he's a mutated relative of the slitheen......Rant over Great episode terrible villain
Episode 12 Fear her
This one is very meh.I like the style and set up but I really don't have too much to say.It's good I guess.Sad though that the only thing I think of with this episode is well the blooper of trying to get the cat to go in the box........yeah on to the good stuff
Episode 13 and 14 Army of ghosts and doomsday
The first thing I wanna say is yes that is freema agyemen as the woman who gets cyber-tized in the beginning.....Funny,anyway I LOVE THIS TWO PARTER!!! I'm not sure if it's the idea of ghosts,the excellent conclusion to the torchwood story (well until the spinoff) the doctor as usual being the pessimist with the ghosts, or just the continuation of the cybermen arc this season that makes this two parter great......oh wait I do know At the end of the first episode the cybermen theme stops and a second theme starts playing when referring to the sphere in the lab.When the Daleks come screaming out it starts making sense why that track was The daleks theme from series 1.
My god the interaction between the cybermen and the cult of skaro is just amazing.The writing is hilariously epic with the lines from the daleks being priceless especially "This is not war! This is pest control!!" from Dalek sec and the lines from the doctor as well are great. but past that the best thing is just seeing the daleks and cybermen fighting it's a sight for any fan of the series to see.But there is another reason why I like this The farewell between rose and the doctor.While this didn't get to me personally it is a real threat to dry eyes.Like I said easily my favorie episodes in doctor who.
That ladies in gentlemen is probably my third favorite series but as for number two? well there's a tie and the next series just happens to be one of the two and there's a good reason why it has my favorite moment in doctor who history when the drums erupt from the sky.....till then
Not a bad review, keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI personally think the series one review was a bit smoother but thanks nonetheless ^^
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