Series 7 - Part 1
Posted: 07 Oct 2012, 22:55
I decided to watch all the episodes first this year before passing judgement. lol So what did you think of the first half of S7?, here's my thoughts;
Asylum of the Daleks.
It was Jenna Louise Coleman who dominated this episode, she has all the makings of a classic companion and I can't wait to see her again this Xmas. The inclusion of the Original Dalek models was a nice touch, but they sadly weren't used enough. For me, this was the best NuWho Dalek story since 2005's "Dalek". A brilliant way to spend 45 minutes. 8 out of 10.
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.
With a title like that, I expected this to be a bonkers one. At times it felt more like "Primeval" than DW, especially with the Raptor sequences. Mark Williams & Mitchell and Webb provided a nice bit of comic relief, but the most annoying aspect for me was Queen Nefertiti. The character was far too OTT, English & street-wise for my liking, it only served to push the silliness even more. My least favourite story so far from this series. 4 out of 10.
A Town Called Mercy.
This was a cross between The Terminator, Westworld & Predator. The production values for S7 have been great and this episode was one of the jewels in the crown. The authentic Spaghetti Western location gave it an extra boost too, instead of it being shot somewhere in Wales.
Loved The Gunslinger and the episode had plenty of action. 8 out of 10.
The Power of Three.
The penultimate episode featuring The Ponds, this turned out better than I initially thought. It was great to see the daughter of Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart working at UNIT. Also a marvellous cameo from Steven Berkoff, who was too underused in this. The small black cubes may not be the scariest DW enemies of all time, but I thought this story was well written and acted. 7 out of 10.
The Angels Take Manhattan.
The Ponds exit was written through those first 4 stories like the inside of a stick of rock. You really got the sense that Amy & Rory's days were drawing to an end with each passing episode. This made their eventual death something of a forgone conclusion, but it was still just as emotional as e.g. Rose's exit. Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will be greatly missed, companions rarely get killed off, but I'm glad that Steven Moffatt had the guts to do it.
The Weeping Angels are one of the best things to come out of NuWho. So the idea of the Statue of Liberty being one was awesome, however it hardly appeared in the episode sadly. Oh and how did nobody not notice a giant statue stomping through the streets. So much for the city that never sleeps.
A dark, scary story, with brilliant performances from Matt Smith, Alex Kingston and Mike McShane. Although I think it would have been better as a two parter. 9 out of 10.
Asylum of the Daleks.
It was Jenna Louise Coleman who dominated this episode, she has all the makings of a classic companion and I can't wait to see her again this Xmas. The inclusion of the Original Dalek models was a nice touch, but they sadly weren't used enough. For me, this was the best NuWho Dalek story since 2005's "Dalek". A brilliant way to spend 45 minutes. 8 out of 10.
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.
With a title like that, I expected this to be a bonkers one. At times it felt more like "Primeval" than DW, especially with the Raptor sequences. Mark Williams & Mitchell and Webb provided a nice bit of comic relief, but the most annoying aspect for me was Queen Nefertiti. The character was far too OTT, English & street-wise for my liking, it only served to push the silliness even more. My least favourite story so far from this series. 4 out of 10.
A Town Called Mercy.
This was a cross between The Terminator, Westworld & Predator. The production values for S7 have been great and this episode was one of the jewels in the crown. The authentic Spaghetti Western location gave it an extra boost too, instead of it being shot somewhere in Wales.
Loved The Gunslinger and the episode had plenty of action. 8 out of 10.
The Power of Three.
The penultimate episode featuring The Ponds, this turned out better than I initially thought. It was great to see the daughter of Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart working at UNIT. Also a marvellous cameo from Steven Berkoff, who was too underused in this. The small black cubes may not be the scariest DW enemies of all time, but I thought this story was well written and acted. 7 out of 10.
The Angels Take Manhattan.
The Ponds exit was written through those first 4 stories like the inside of a stick of rock. You really got the sense that Amy & Rory's days were drawing to an end with each passing episode. This made their eventual death something of a forgone conclusion, but it was still just as emotional as e.g. Rose's exit. Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will be greatly missed, companions rarely get killed off, but I'm glad that Steven Moffatt had the guts to do it.
The Weeping Angels are one of the best things to come out of NuWho. So the idea of the Statue of Liberty being one was awesome, however it hardly appeared in the episode sadly. Oh and how did nobody not notice a giant statue stomping through the streets. So much for the city that never sleeps.
A dark, scary story, with brilliant performances from Matt Smith, Alex Kingston and Mike McShane. Although I think it would have been better as a two parter. 9 out of 10.