Doctor Who
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Continuity in Doctor Who is only a few notches up from the continuity in Rayman, it's somewhat selective, but seeing as it's been a thing for over 50 years, it's not too surprising, in honesty.Pirez said:
I want to write my thoughts on the episode, but I'm a little tired and awed. Needless to say however, I think it was brilliant. Possibly the best NuWho opener, in fact.
They're also called bumper cars.
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Most of you guys might not care, but Corey Taylor's gonna be having his voice for the villian (Fisherking) in the next episode! He's the front-man of Slipknot and Stone Sour and he's just fucking awesome, as is his voice. http://www.kerrang.com/35987/corey-taylor-feature-upcoming-doctor-episode/ 
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Well well these were some excellent opening episodes for the new season. Must say the conclusion to last week's episode is more than satisfying. [The way that the Fisherking admits death and opens his arms to the incoming tidal wave is a great way for a villain to go. In that regard, the design on that guy is brilliant. From lines to costume to plot involvement - great stuff. I'm impressed with the direction this new series seems to be going in. Also, cue cards. xD
It's a lot different from past years, but I can definitely sense Peter Capaldi's love for previous Doctors. I'm getting a strong Tom Baker + David Tennant vibe from him sometimes, but more important than past Doctors reimagined is that he has a great style of his own.
And hey! That's the first time the TARDIS willingly puts the Doctor back in his own timestream after that one episode in Season 1 where Christopher Ecclestone took Rose back to the time of her father's death. This makes me believe that the "can't cross my own timestream" thing is not so much a Rule of Time or a Law of Gallifrey, but more an invention of the David Tennant Doctor, after bad experiences with previous encounters of interfering with his own timestream (that being, the very instance of Rose going to her father's time of death like I mentioned before). In fact, the TARDIS was determined to stay there, for if they hadn't, none of the events leading up to the TARDIS landing there in the first place could ever have taken place. Hah! Self-determining cause-effect paradox. Well reimagining of the Bootstrap Paradox.
On that note, I sort of liked the intro Peter Capaldi gave us before the episode. It was clear that it was directed at us, the viewers, and not at some character he was explaining this to. Fun to have a little bit of fourth wall-breaking to preface an episode that was clearly based fully on this paradox. I like it. Interesting spin.]
It's a lot different from past years, but I can definitely sense Peter Capaldi's love for previous Doctors. I'm getting a strong Tom Baker + David Tennant vibe from him sometimes, but more important than past Doctors reimagined is that he has a great style of his own.
And hey! That's the first time the TARDIS willingly puts the Doctor back in his own timestream after that one episode in Season 1 where Christopher Ecclestone took Rose back to the time of her father's death. This makes me believe that the "can't cross my own timestream" thing is not so much a Rule of Time or a Law of Gallifrey, but more an invention of the David Tennant Doctor, after bad experiences with previous encounters of interfering with his own timestream (that being, the very instance of Rose going to her father's time of death like I mentioned before). In fact, the TARDIS was determined to stay there, for if they hadn't, none of the events leading up to the TARDIS landing there in the first place could ever have taken place. Hah! Self-determining cause-effect paradox. Well reimagining of the Bootstrap Paradox.
On that note, I sort of liked the intro Peter Capaldi gave us before the episode. It was clear that it was directed at us, the viewers, and not at some character he was explaining this to. Fun to have a little bit of fourth wall-breaking to preface an episode that was clearly based fully on this paradox. I like it. Interesting spin.]
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For some very odd reason, the title sequence can't make its mind up on whether it wants to be in sync with the theme, or not. Eps 1 and 3 are out of sync, 2 and 4 are in sync. Very bizarre.
So, I've three eps to talk about, I'll talk about 3&4 at once since they're a two-parter.
Really enjoyed the second half of the Dalek episode, The Witch's Familiar.
[The Clara/Missy dynamic is still pretty good, so much so that I might prefer it over the Doctor/Clara dynamic. Very chilling how Missy almost managed to make the Doctor kill Clara when she was trapped inside the Dalek, though I do wonder why Clara hadn't considered thinking about opening the Dalek shell herself, given how simple the suggestion seems to be. Missy's final scene, getting cornered by some Time Lord Daleks, makes me wonder if she'll be seen in an alliance with them when we next see her.
Of course, the best part of the episode is the interaction between the Doctor and Davros. "The only other chair on Skaro," had me chuckling quite a bit. Then there was Davros playing the Doctor, and us. Blimey, considering how bombastic and hammy Davros was in the Series 4 finale, I wasn't expecting this moment to be so heartwrenching, but it was very well played indeed. His plan was pretty nice too, but I can't help but wonder as to why he didn't consider the Dalek sewers, or did the Doctor somehow modify the link so that his regeneration energy would go to them?
Anyways, it was a strong and well needed start to Series 9, I was a bit nervous beforehand due to my disappointment with A Death in Heaven, which kinda fell short for me after the set-up in Dark Water.]
And then we have the Under the Lake/Before the Flood two parter.
[Not really scary, but I don't think that was the point. Definitely did like the sense of mystery about it. I find it interesting how this episode makes a point about Clara's addiction to being with the Doctor. Makes me wonder how that'll turn out moving on...still, she's not gone completely Doctor, given how she prompted him to use cards to convey sympathy.
I did also like the Fisher King's design. Possibly one of the best looking non-recurring monsters I've seen in NuWho at present. Pity he doesn't get much screentime, because he looks awesome, in the literal sense.
The supporting characters were pretty good too, I don't think this episode would have been anywhere near as good if they weren't played as well as they were.
That being said, I'm finding it kinda difficult to write about this one, it had a nice plot, but I don't really know what to say. I did like the intro to the second episode, as Shroobie mentioned. Nice bit of fourth wall breaking that ended up being relevant to the plot, but not in a Deus Ex Machina sense. Also liked how we got to hear the theme with a guitar backing. Actually, question for the musically inclined, was the Doctor actually playing the guitar?]
EDIT: The intro for Episode 4:
So, I've three eps to talk about, I'll talk about 3&4 at once since they're a two-parter.
Really enjoyed the second half of the Dalek episode, The Witch's Familiar.
[The Clara/Missy dynamic is still pretty good, so much so that I might prefer it over the Doctor/Clara dynamic. Very chilling how Missy almost managed to make the Doctor kill Clara when she was trapped inside the Dalek, though I do wonder why Clara hadn't considered thinking about opening the Dalek shell herself, given how simple the suggestion seems to be. Missy's final scene, getting cornered by some Time Lord Daleks, makes me wonder if she'll be seen in an alliance with them when we next see her.
Of course, the best part of the episode is the interaction between the Doctor and Davros. "The only other chair on Skaro," had me chuckling quite a bit. Then there was Davros playing the Doctor, and us. Blimey, considering how bombastic and hammy Davros was in the Series 4 finale, I wasn't expecting this moment to be so heartwrenching, but it was very well played indeed. His plan was pretty nice too, but I can't help but wonder as to why he didn't consider the Dalek sewers, or did the Doctor somehow modify the link so that his regeneration energy would go to them?
Anyways, it was a strong and well needed start to Series 9, I was a bit nervous beforehand due to my disappointment with A Death in Heaven, which kinda fell short for me after the set-up in Dark Water.]
And then we have the Under the Lake/Before the Flood two parter.
[Not really scary, but I don't think that was the point. Definitely did like the sense of mystery about it. I find it interesting how this episode makes a point about Clara's addiction to being with the Doctor. Makes me wonder how that'll turn out moving on...still, she's not gone completely Doctor, given how she prompted him to use cards to convey sympathy.
I did also like the Fisher King's design. Possibly one of the best looking non-recurring monsters I've seen in NuWho at present. Pity he doesn't get much screentime, because he looks awesome, in the literal sense.
The supporting characters were pretty good too, I don't think this episode would have been anywhere near as good if they weren't played as well as they were.
That being said, I'm finding it kinda difficult to write about this one, it had a nice plot, but I don't really know what to say. I did like the intro to the second episode, as Shroobie mentioned. Nice bit of fourth wall breaking that ended up being relevant to the plot, but not in a Deus Ex Machina sense. Also liked how we got to hear the theme with a guitar backing. Actually, question for the musically inclined, was the Doctor actually playing the guitar?]
EDIT: The intro for Episode 4:
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[I'd bet sweet money on it that he was. Capaldi seems quite into the electric guitar.Master said:
Also, I looked it up after writing this, and yep:
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www.radiotimes.com
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Yeah about that. [It didn't seem that two-partery to me at the ending, except that it ends with "to be continued". I thought maybe the girl character will come back later in the series, but not necessarily next time. Who knows! ... Who ... nose. *tap tap*
I liked Maisie Williams in this episode. She had some sincere emotions going on. Good actress - not just in Game of Thrones.
The reveal with the "Why did I choose this face?" thing and the tidbit we've all been awaiting an explanation for (how the Doctor looks the same as that Roman guy because Capaldi appeared as an extra and then as the Doctor himself) was finally dealt with. I wonder if that's the last we'll hear of it. It was interesting at least. I knew the creators had something up their sleeves regarding that, cause I think I remember Moffat once stating that it 'wasn't a coincidence' or at least that they 'had plans' for the fact that Capaldi appeared twice, first as an extra, then as a Doctor.
I find it interesting to see how extras make it into Doctor Who on a regular basis, actually. Martha appeared in Doomsday (right?) before she became a companion. Interestingly, Amy appeared in the same episode as Capaldi's Roman guy did before she became a companion. It's almost like they draft new main characters from their pool of extras.
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I liked Maisie Williams in this episode. She had some sincere emotions going on. Good actress - not just in Game of Thrones.
The reveal with the "Why did I choose this face?" thing and the tidbit we've all been awaiting an explanation for (how the Doctor looks the same as that Roman guy because Capaldi appeared as an extra and then as the Doctor himself) was finally dealt with. I wonder if that's the last we'll hear of it. It was interesting at least. I knew the creators had something up their sleeves regarding that, cause I think I remember Moffat once stating that it 'wasn't a coincidence' or at least that they 'had plans' for the fact that Capaldi appeared twice, first as an extra, then as a Doctor.
I find it interesting to see how extras make it into Doctor Who on a regular basis, actually. Martha appeared in Doomsday (right?) before she became a companion. Interestingly, Amy appeared in the same episode as Capaldi's Roman guy did before she became a companion. It's almost like they draft new main characters from their pool of extras.
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