Jasmine Sahu is well suited with this new American drama exclusive to Dave.
Lois Cameron explains why this series is much more than your average cosy period drama.
The last episode of this series sees Sherlock and Moriarty attempt to solve the final problem with devastating consequences.
With major cast changes afoot, Jacob Martin ponders whether Being Human can live up to its own scarily high standard.
Well now, that really was something else entirely, wasn’t it? Some people have criticised this series of Doctor Who for the obviously cheap episodes but the production team were obviously saving their money for the beautiful, epic finale. And boy did it pay off.
Lots of fans hated Russell T. Davies’ finales, because they tended to be big epics, with a lot of heart but not a lot of sci-fi logic. Personally, I loved them, but then that’s because I’m actually rather soppy under my cynical exterior. Davies’ finales typified the best and the worst of his writing, and Moffat is definitely continuing that trend. The episode certainly had some great fun moments, such as the quick succession of cameos at the beginning (Vincent! Churchill! Liz Ten!) and River’s increasingly elaborate ways of getting in touch with the Doctor across the mists of time, although the best was definitely the Doctor’s reaction to Rory’s return.
But, while a welcome relief at times, the comedy wasn’t the thing we all wanted from a Moffat finale. The intricate plotting of his episodes up to this point left a lot of fans hoping for a brilliantly clever use of the series arc. And, unless they’re seriously picky, this would have had to satisfy them all. Threads from across the series were masterfully picked up, particularly the immensity of the darkness inside the Doctor from ‘Amy’s Choice’, and the fairytale tone that has pervaded it right from the moment the Doctor told Amelia Pond in the first episode that she had a brilliant, fairytale name. Watch the episode again, knowing that the Pandorica is destined for the Doctor, and the whole thing – all of the Doctor’s speeches about the Pandorica – makes a disturbingly large amount of sense.
Serious praise has to go the core cast. Arthur Darvill reminded me of exactly why I’d warmed to Rory, while Karen Gillan played Amy’s confused happiness impeccably. But really, it was Matt Smith’s moment, and he took it completely. The big speeches, the gentle nudging of Rory, his heartbreak and despair at realising the Alliance’s plan for the Pandorica – all were wonderfully played by Smith and his majestically old face.
The last few moments of this episode, played in slow motion backed by a gorgeous score, were some of the most brilliant and heart-wrenching that the show has produced – Amy dead at the hands of the Auton Rory, River stuck in the exploding TARDIS and the Doctor, the one continual beacon of hope in the series, dragged into the Pandorica and sealed in. I’m dying to find out what happens next, but I also really don’t want this mad and rather wonderful fairytale to end.
I disagree entirely. This episode was rushed, poorly acted and was simply a collection of the most cliffhangerish endings they could think of. Trying to get us to ask questions like:
Can Rory still be alive?
What's going to happen to River?
Is the Pandorica actually real?
What's going on with the Amy imagination thing?
What tiny dress is Amy going to be wearing next episode?
Ummmm........... did the universe just end?
It wasn't terrible but it definitely wasn't brilliant or heart-wrenching compared to the others. It also wasn't something else - it was similar to the others. But we still haven't got an answer about the crack thing, really, so we have to wait and see. The final episode *really will* make or break the series!
I sussed the whole "Doctor is the thing inside" fairly early on. Or had an inkling anyway. I mean really, what else could it be? Every other enemy he's ever faced is at the door, so it can't be any of them. This is Doctor Who we're talking about, so it's not going to be anything new (not for a season finale). When you've exhausted all other possibilities, all that remains is...him.
Still, thought it was a very good episode regardless. Pretty twisty...
You must log in to submit a comment.
Report