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REVIEW: Doctor Who – Victory of the Daleks

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Spoilers to follow. Despite being a Dalek episode with some interesting moments and obvious set up for future episodes, this was the weakest offering so far this season. You’d think I’d love this one since it has an Empire Strikes Back-like ending.

I just didn’t like that the Dalek’s scheme to activate the Progenitor device relied too much on them predicting exactly what The Doctor would do.  The telephones ringing also made me a little crazy, and I just couldn’t get into the “gravity bubble” fighter jets. Also, I just don’t see The Doctor leaving the android to live out his life on Earth and find his humanity. That’s a major piece of alien technology running around since the 1940’s and we’ve seen him prevent that very thing in the past. He even takes the time to dismantle all of Professor Gracewell’s other devices in this episode.

I liked the World War II setting and seeing Daleks in camouflage, serving tea and being called “Ironsides” was kind of awesome. This deception created an opportunity for The Doctor to interact side by side with the Daleks without being under the threat of death. As a result, there are times you almost doubt The Doctor. Everyone around him certainly did. You see more of The Doctor’s dark side/mania as he lashes out at the Daleks, playing right into their suction cups with his “testimony.” It’s really tragic to hear The Doctor utter “I wanted to know what they wanted, what their plan was. I was their plan.” These new Daleks could be interesting and the notion of them being “pure” Daleks has me thinking a trip to their home planet of Skaro may be in the Doctor and Amy’s future.

Again we’re presented with the theme of forgetting as Amy doesn’t remember the Dalek attack on Earth. This could be a consequence of her choice on Starship UK, or it could be part of something bigger going on with Amy. Considering we once again see the crack on the wall as the TARDIS dematerializes, it must be something big. I can’t help but think the crack has something to do with Amy saving the day again. I’m beginning to wonder if maybe that’s not a good thing. It seems like just after she does, we see the crack. We also see that The Doctor is late again…

Next week, Weeping Angels and River Song. This should be fantastic.


More on Doctor Who 2010:
The Beast Below / The Time of Angels

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REVIEW: Doctor Who – The Beast Below

Posted by under *like, Television | Leave a Comment |

Spoilers to follow. This week’s episode is set on Starship UK inhabited by 29th century refugees who have fled the Earth due to solar flares. Early on we see kids in a creepy school given grades by an even creepier carnival machine man called a Smiler. It’s interesting to note that there are more zeroes carrying over from the season premiere in the children’s grades and the elevator as it sends a failing child “below.” I can’t imagine this is coincidental.

The episode goes a long way to establish a connection between The Doctor and Amy. She learns a great deal about the Doctor’s history and his ways when she chooses to forget the secret she discovers about the ship they’re aboard and tries to make a decision for him. We even see some darkness in the new Doctor as a result, as he makes it clear that she “doesn’t ever decide what [he] needs to know.” Despite the disagreement, we see that she understands who and what he is and her power of observation is critical to saving the day.

A highlight of the episode was the introduction of Liz Ten (as in X), a great character who has led a tragic extended life as the Queen aboard Starship UK. Her connection to The Doctor and his centuries long interactions with the royal family made for some fun references to past episodes.

One of the things that stood out to me was the little rhyme sung by one of the children that mentioned “one with a smile and one with teeth.” I couldn’t help but think this might have been a reference to The Doctor and Prisoner Zero. A preview for the rest of the season showed some women with teeth like Prisoner Zero so we might be seeing more one this.

There have also been some interesting connections between Amy and Donna as they’re both redheads, about to get married, run off with the Doctor, and have to forget things to survive.

So far great continuity between episodes with the crack in time, Amy’s observations, and The Doctor being chronically late. It’s shaping up to be a fun season and there was a nice tease at the end of this episode with the shadow of a Dalek. Overall, I think episode two may have been even stronger than episode one.


More on Doctor Who 2010:
The Eleventh Hour / Victory of the Daleks