Note: I am in America, so I have only just seen The Time Of The Angels/Flesh And Stone two parter. Those of you in England who are luckier than me and are about three episodes ahead, please keep this in mind. Also note, this is all just my opinion.
All right, this new season of Doctor Who is really starting to irk me. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's better than most shows on TV anymore, but it just doesn't feel like Doctor Who to me. Part of the draw, at least for me, was in the same formula for why Sherlock Homes worked. As anyone who's read an Sherlock Homes novel will tell you, it is impossible for your to predict the actual outcome. Oh, you can be close, and maybe even know whodunnit, but you will never know exactly who, exactly why, and exactly how. This is because, until the big reveal, you never have all the pieces to the puzzle. Oh sure, (to continue the analogy), you have all the border pieces, and maybe even a few of the inside pieces, but even though you can get a general idea what the puzzle looks like, you won't know the details. This season, they seem to give you all the pieces, and then wait till you've figured it out before the Doctor does. That doesn't work for me.
For example
I figured out exactly what the Doctor figured out, a step before him. Now, this isn't me gloating. I think a lot of people would have picked up on it. However, the Doctor is supposed to be quicker than us. If we can figure it out, what do we need the Doctor for? He is supposed to be slightly smarter (although with a lot more knowledge), slightly quicker, and just basically slightly better than everyone else. I don't get that feeling from him this season. In fact, this is reinforced when
Also, I love how the seasons usually have some background thing tying them together. I never picked up on Bad Wolf until after the Doctor, and never realized how pervasive it was till they went back and showed us. This season, they are basically slapping you in the face with it every episode. They are purposely making sure you know it is there, like some bad magician telling you to keep your eyes on the pocket watch before he fumbles the disappearing act and shoves it up his sleeve. This doesn't make us feel smart, it just makes you look dumb.
And finally, plot wise, the group going in knew they were going to be handling (a) Weeping Angel(s), yet all they brought with them to take care of it were guns, which for some reason even though it's the future, aren't powerful enough to do more than chip stone. I personally, would have at least brought a sledgehammer. And don't even get me started on the expansion of the Angel's powers. There are just too many flaws there for me, not to mention they feel like the bad guy version of a Mary Sue./rant
All right, that's it, I swear. Ranting done. Now go ahead and tell me what you think of the new season, and as always, please use the spoiler tag when appropriate.
All right, this new season of Doctor Who is really starting to irk me. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's better than most shows on TV anymore, but it just doesn't feel like Doctor Who to me. Part of the draw, at least for me, was in the same formula for why Sherlock Homes worked. As anyone who's read an Sherlock Homes novel will tell you, it is impossible for your to predict the actual outcome. Oh, you can be close, and maybe even know whodunnit, but you will never know exactly who, exactly why, and exactly how. This is because, until the big reveal, you never have all the pieces to the puzzle. Oh sure, (to continue the analogy), you have all the border pieces, and maybe even a few of the inside pieces, but even though you can get a general idea what the puzzle looks like, you won't know the details. This season, they seem to give you all the pieces, and then wait till you've figured it out before the Doctor does. That doesn't work for me.
For example
In Flesh And Stone, there is a scene where Amy starts counting down from 10 without realizing it. I personally picked up on it at 8 (although I was suspicious at 9), the Doctor picks up on it at 7, and Dr. Song at 6. Ideally, as an audience, you should be picking up on it somewhere between the Doctor and Dr. Song.
The Doctor yells at Dr. Song. Not because she did something wrong, not because she was going to get them all killed, but simply because she pointed out what seemed like obvious flaws in his plan. In fact, a couple times this season he has yelled at people for pointing our why his plan stinks, when the plan actually does stink! On top of that, he has said (about three times that episode) that he doesn't have a plan, doesn't know what's going on, and is as in the dark as everyone else. Used occasionally, that is a fine way of building tension, but as often as they use it this season, it just makes him look like a pretender.
Also, I love how the seasons usually have some background thing tying them together. I never picked up on Bad Wolf until after the Doctor, and never realized how pervasive it was till they went back and showed us. This season, they are basically slapping you in the face with it every episode. They are purposely making sure you know it is there, like some bad magician telling you to keep your eyes on the pocket watch before he fumbles the disappearing act and shoves it up his sleeve. This doesn't make us feel smart, it just makes you look dumb.
And finally, plot wise, the group going in knew they were going to be handling (a) Weeping Angel(s), yet all they brought with them to take care of it were guns, which for some reason even though it's the future, aren't powerful enough to do more than chip stone. I personally, would have at least brought a sledgehammer. And don't even get me started on the expansion of the Angel's powers. There are just too many flaws there for me, not to mention they feel like the bad guy version of a Mary Sue./rant
All right, that's it, I swear. Ranting done. Now go ahead and tell me what you think of the new season, and as always, please use the spoiler tag when appropriate.
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