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.
“Rory's the most beautiful man I've ever met. Please, do it for him.”
“You're asking me to defy destiny, causality, the nexus of time itself, for a boy?”
“You're Amy. He's Rory. And oh yes, I am.”
In many ways, 'The Girl Who Waited' makes an interesting counterpart to last year's 'Amy's Choice'. Both episodes deal with the darker side of travelling with the Doctor, and they both feature alternative realities or futures that end up being wiped. But, most intriguingly of all, they both take a closer look at the relationship between the Doctor's two travelling companions. And, despite the fact that they are two very different episodes, they come to the same conclusion: Amy loves Rory. A lot.
Unlike 'Amy's Choice', which still had me feeling unsure after the second viewing, I'm sure where I stand on 'The Girl Who Waited'. I loved it. I wasn't sure I was going to, given that writer Tom MacRae's previous Doctor Who outings weren't exactly classics. 'Rise of the Cybermen' and 'The Age of Steel', from way back in series two, had some suitably scary Cybermen shots, but not much in the way of real depth or significance.
However, in the intervening years, MacRae has clearly developed greatly as a writer. This was the Doctor-lite episode, a necessity of Doctor Who's intense filming schedule that forces writers to be creative; think 'Turn Left' or 'Blink'. On top of that, this was clearly the cheap episode, with very few sets and no guest stars (apart from Imelda Staunton as the the Interface, a much better use of voice-casting than Michael Sheen as House). But MacRae managed to overcome these potential pitfalls by delivering something that trumps fancy special effects any day: proper, believable emotional impact.
For me, the dynamic between Rory and Amy has been one of the best things about the Moffat era of Doctor Who. Gone are the days of Rose leaving useless Mickey, or Martha pining hopelessly after the Doctor; now, he has two companions, and they mean the world to each other. As was made clear way back in 'Amy's Choice', Rory isn't second best for her. She loves travelling with the Doctor, but Rory's the man she really wants. The two Amys describing just why Rory means so much to them is one of the most beautiful moments in recent Doctor Who, and the little details of their relationship, like Rory's bad haircut or their first kiss to the Macarena, were just the icing on the cake.
If her old lady make-up wasn't perfect, it was forgotten in the brilliance of Karen Gillan's dual performances. The two Amys are subtly different, but still clearly the same woman; watching older Amy thaw in Rory's company is just a delight to behold. And she's more than matched by Arthur Darvill as the ever noble, ever loving, ever lovely Rory. Their relationship is completely realistic, making it all the easier to see why older Amy makes the sacrifice she does. Amy Pond is willing to pull time apart for Rory Williams and, having seen them develop over the last series and a half, it's easy to see why.
This smaller, quieter, more emotional episode is just the change of pace Doctor Who needs from time to time, reminding us just why the Ponds love each other so much, and why they're worthy companions for this Doctor and his gorgeously wonderful face.
Next week, Being Human maestro Toby Whithouse brings us a creepy hotel and a totally unrecognisable David Walliams.
You must log in to submit a comment.
