My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x03: "Episode 19"

Written by Julie Rutherford
Directed by Alrick Riley

Gene (to Alex): “Firemen starting fires, what’s next – doctors killing patients?”

Yeah because such a thing would never, ever really happen in real life. As for arsonist firemen, not entirely the most unrealistic thing that Gene and the gang have ever had to deal with, now is it?

Gene’s guts might be the very thing that Jim Keats may want to serve his superiors on a platter but they’re also the very thing helped him out in this episode. He knew that Andy Smith was guilty of setting fires around polling stations and he was more than happy to maintain that belief when everyone else was happy to disagree with him.

After all, Gene’s never been wrong with such a thing in his life before and it was pretty obvious that as soon as snivelling little brat Barney identified Andy that we had our culprit for this episode. The only problem was convincing everyone else of Andy’s guilt and stopping his next area of attack.

That was hard to do when you had the likes of Jim Keats bleating on about how much of a hero Andy and his superiors nagging Gene to release him from custody. Even Ray was fully convinced that Andy was innocent. After all, Ray had struck up a bond with Andy at the start of this episode.

Andy was the fella who saved Ray from a burning building and Ray certainly admired the fact that Andy was in the Falklands as well. It was obvious from Ray’s admiration that some information on the sexist copper would be unveiled as the episode progressed and it was pretty predictable stuff as well.

Ray nearly joined the army but didn’t because he got scared and it created tension with his father. It made for a powerful moment when Ray was the only person who was able to stop a betrayed Andy from burning up his wife. Ray was the only person who could reach to Andy and afterwards, it also made sense that he would deny everything.

Ray didn’t fool anyone in this episode. Alex gave a fairly obvious insight into the way he was and for a small bit; I think Ray let down his guard, though Alex should probably be careful of her knickers nonetheless. However while Alex’s assessment of Ray were in a more positive and understanding light, the same cannot be said about Jim’s.

Ray might be an independent thinker underneath his desperation to prove something to Gene but it certainly didn’t help that Jim tried to use this to his advantage. Trying to turn Ray against Gene (and that’s definitely what he’s setting out to do) is certainly on the hypocritical side of things, isn’t it?

Jim talks a lot about trying to unearth Gene and revealing secrets but he’s a pretty see through character at the moment. He might give the odd insight into the likes of Chris and Ray but even the two of them aren’t as dim as Jim might like to think they are. Similarly, Alex did seem to be more on Gene’s side during the investigation of the arson attacks than she was with Jim.

Jim tried to create a divide between Alex and Gene by telling the latter of the former’s snooping into Sam Tyler’s files. Gene didn’t seem too pleased but seeing as he already knew that Alex had taken an interest in Sam recently, he wasn’t exactly as shocked as Jim might have hoped he was. As for this episode progressing anything on the Sam front, it actually didn’t in the slightest.

There was very little in the mystery front with this episode. Alex had one trippy moment where she was drawing stars and scribing 6-6-20 but outside of that, nothing. With five episodes left in the series, here’s hoping that things do speed up on the mystery behind that date and Sam.

I could talk also talk a bit more about the arson plot of this episode but the truth was that it wasn’t very interesting. Andy’s shellshock triggered him burning up polling stations, attacking a journalist and if it hadn’t been for him discovering about his wife and brother sleeping together, he would’ve attacked Margaret Thatcher but outside of that, it was pretty formulaic to be honest.

The connection with Ray and Andy probably helped the plot and there’s a wonderful scene where both Ray and Shaz go head to toe on their political viewpoints with Alex trying to keep schtum on future events but this episode just didn’t really offer anything new really. Even the obnoxious Barney being thrown into a cell wasn’t as funny as it should’ve been and he was twelve for crying out loud.

Also in “Episode 19”

If Daniel Mays’s name wasn’t in the opening credits, I might have actually been shocked when Jim announced that he was going nowhere at the start of the episode.

Alex: “Are you sure you haven’t left anyone out?”
Chris: “Vanessa Redgrave.”

Shaz mentioned that she was dating a posh bloke called Julian and Alex suggested dumping him because he liked Jazz music. Bit harsh, don’t you think?

Gene: “If you shove your nose further up Newman’s arse it’ll be browner than Ghandi.”
Jim: “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

Gene (re Alex/Shaz): “What is it with women and firemen, its pathetic? You’ll be wanting to go down his pole next.”

Shaz mentioned to Alex in this episode that she was seeing stars. What is the significance of them both seeing/drawing them? And who is that scarred constable?

Jim (to Ray): “Gene Hunt is an amazing fella, amazing but you don’t need him. You won’t be letting him down.”

Chris (re Andy): “How did you know he was gonna give you the lighter?”
Ray: “I didn’t.”

Standout music: Apart from some score music, nothing really jumped out for me. Plus this episode did seem low on music as well.

Shaz (re Julian): “He likes Jazz.”
Alex: “Dump him.”

Chronology: A couple of days/weeks since the previous episode.

Not necessarily a terrible episode but insight into Ray’s family background aside, I didn’t really enjoy this one. There were some nice characters moments and I could certainly get used to Alex and Shaz’s girly moments but this felt a little filler in places for me.

Rating: 6 out of 10.

My Review of Brothers And Sisters 4x13: "Run Baby Run"

Written by Marjorie David And Jason Wilburn
Directed by Richard Coad

Sarah (re Roy): “I’m not aflutter, I’m optimistic.”
Nora: “Optimistic is what the weatherman is. You’re aflutter.”

There are the few times when I actually could kick myself for being a spoiler junkie and while the fact that Sarah and Roy’s relationship not destined to last because of a certain someone coming is hardly the most earth shattering of things, it’s a pity because unlike Luc, Sarah actually has a chemistry with this bloke.

It’s not that Roy is the most fascinating character ever introduced into the series but chemistry aside; he’s actually a likeable enough bloke. More importantly, he’s written in a believable fashion and is probably more adult than either Joe or Luc could ever be accused of being.

It’s the very thing that spurred Sarah into going for coffee with him on more than one occasion and also the very thing that dared her into inviting him to a family dinner. Like Robert so boldly pointed out, Roy could do with some good luck when attending any family meal with the Walker bunch.

But I think the most adult thing about Roy in this episode was the fact that him and Sarah could so vocally and publicly disagree on something without him sulking about later on. He didn’t think that it was an invasion of privacy for kids lockers to be searched while Sarah did. That however didn’t stop him from coming to dinner later on that evening either.

If that had been Luc or Joe, both of them would’ve accused Sarah of trying to emasculate them. Roy seemed to have maturity to think otherwise. Okay, I know the majority of Sarah’s family actually agreed with Roy over her (except for Kitty) but even in that scene, Roy didn’t come across as being petty or trying to score point.

With Roy ticking all the right boxes, it’s actually a shame that I know he’ll be gone as soon as Luc re-enters the scene. However he leaves, I hope it’s clean and I also hope for our sakes that Luc has matured as a character if we’re going to be stuck with him on a more permanent basis because Sarah really does deserve someone who isn’t going to be threatened every time she challenges him.

Roy is supposed to be the pattern breaker for Sarah that viewers have been looking for but it’s not a relationship that will last so it’s hard to get too attached to the character, even if he was able to handle a Walker family meltdown with relative ease. He certainly looked less perturbed than other people have in the past.

What is it with the Walkers and family dinners? Even though Robert pointed out about filters in the third season, not one of them decided to take that on board. Nora and Saul in particular let their squabbling get the better of them here.

I might not be the age Saul is but I certainly could understand part of his irritation with Nora this week. That doesn’t mean that I condone him losing the plot with her but at least I get it before he pointed out – he’s lonely and feels like his dreams are unachievable.

I can’t see joining an online dating agency doing him the world of good. The writers half the time give him naff all to do and the only time he did nab a boyfriend, it was just for one episode only. This episode didn’t even bother to explain what happened with his relationship with Henry. When and why did they break up for example?

At least once he had gotten his anger out of his system and pep talk from Kitty; he tried to make some conscious effort to reach out to Nora again. Nora used to be good at Ojai, so maybe that’s where she might head off to next seeing as she doesn’t seem to be doing much work wise anyways.

Speaking of work, do the writers have to make it hard on us with Kevin and Scotty yet again? Much as I find Michelle on the vapid side of things, I’m actually surprised she didn’t clock Kevin in this episode. I know he wants the embryos to work but the constant hounding her and hissy fits were really grating in this episode.

He got irritated when she was playing the Wii with Scotty and then when her teenage boyfriend wanted to watch movies with her. Okay, Michelle having a teenage boyfriend was odd but Kevin was overstepping the mark again and Scotty had to calm him down as well. There does seem to be too much repetition with this whole baby plot right about now.

And there’s Kitty. She briefly mentioned to her annoying pal Buffy that she was considering running in California’s 54th and then the press got wind of it. It wasn’t much of a surprise that Kitty would end up actually deciding to run after a series of dinner related topics and moral support later from Robert during the episode’s denouement.

But the problem is for me as a viewer is that Robert basically jacked in his ambitions for running to spend time with Kitty so it’s a little jarring that she would decide to do instead and also I fear that if Buffy keeps appearing, I might have to strangle her. Nothing against Cheryl Hines but I just find her annoying for some reason, which I don’t think helps when watching the character as well.

Also in “Run Baby Run”

Justin and Rebecca appeared in one scene of this episode and managed to not argue as well. We need more episodes like that.

Robert: “Weren’t you supposed to be at the fertility clinic?”
Kevin: “Yeah.”
Robert: “Go. Make a baby.”

Michelle can’t have sex for 16 weeks and her boyfriend’s a teenager. Hope besides movies they can find other ways to amuse themselves.

Kitty (to Buffy): “I don’t want to run on lymphoma. I want to run on what I can do for other people, not what happened to me, if I even decide to do it.”

Roy might have some brown nosing in when he was congratulating Kitty on her book and commiserating Robert on his decision not to run this week.

Nora: “Why are you being so defensive?”
Saul: “Because you’re sitting in my desk making God knows what mess to my files.”

Kevin: “Stay still or it might not stick.”
Michelle: “It’s an embryo, not Velcro.”

Nora went to see The Exorcist when she was carrying Kevin? There’s an interesting movie choice. Despite that movie not being scary.

Robert: “So, is this your first Walker dinner party?”
Roy: “It is.”
Robert: “Good luck.”

Nora: “What a perfect attitude, don’t you think, Sarah?”
Sarah: “Yes I do actually.”

Standout music: Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” funnily enough. This one wasn’t really big on music.

Kevin: “Great, now I feel bad.”
Michelle: “Well, maybe you’ll be nicer from now on.”

Sarah (re Paige): “We fight a lot. I like a girl that holds her ground but oh boy.”
Roy: “That makes two of us.”

Chronology: February/March 2010?

Not really a great episode but “Run Baby Run” is a decent enough effort and with some more interesting stuff in the pipeline, I’m not going to be that harsh with this one. Besides, there were some fun moments in it.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

More To Come For Sarah Jane (Yes, There's Spoilers)

Been catching up with some recent news and it looks like we're in luck with this show. Stuff I've uncovered are ...

- There will be 18 episodes this season according producer Piers Wenger, so 9 two parters to look forward to then.
- Luke, Clyde and Rani are in the first year of their A-Levels.
- There were rumours to bring Maria but the producers decided against it.
- Androvax, Slitheen and Blathereen will all resurface this season, though the latter two won't have a big story this time around.
- New creatures include the Nightmare Man (connected to Luke's journey) and vulture undertaker aliens called Shansheeth.
- A new character will be introduced in Series 5 (yes, there's a Series 5 to look forward to as well) but nothing is revealed about that character.
- When asked if Matt Smith may appear in the show, producer Nikki Wilson quoted, "I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you."
- There will be a story set on another planet and another one set back in time and no, the Trickster is not involved in that one.
- Writers for Series 4 include Phil Ford, Gareth Roberts, Clayton Hickman, Joseph Lidster and Rupert Laight.

The first two series of The Sarah Jane Adventures are available on DVD while the third series should surface later on in the year.

My Review of Buffy The Vampire Slayer's 8x33: "Twilight Part 2"

Written by Brad Meltzer
Artwork by Georges Jeanty

Buffy: “You listen to me, Twilight – my God is that really the name you picked? Twilight? Y’know I lived that idea first, right? And my vampire was so much better.”
Angel/Twilight: “Yeah ... I missed you.”

I thought with the identity of Twilight being released so early that enough time would’ve passed between the spoiler and the actual issue itself for me to get my head around the idea. Well that didn’t work and I call bullshit on this one.

I’m as much as of a Joss Whedon fan as the next person but what the hell possessed him to actually make the Big Bad of the season actually turn out to be Angel? He didn’t get enough out of that twice with Season Two and Angel’s fourth season? And doesn’t that sort of invalidate the Angel comics as well, come to think of it?

Giles, Faith and Andrew were the first three to realise the identity of their captor and they weren’t particularly impressed with it. Faith even went as far as to try and kill Angel, who reacted by pounding her skull into the ground with little effort. Twilight’s invulnerable and apparently, sunlight isn’t that much of a deterrent for him either. I mean Angel.

The moment where Buffy found out that her former honey was now her latest enemy, I thought she would lose it but she didn’t. I actually admired the fact that Buffy’s first instinct was to kill Angel even if he knew that a) she wouldn’t be able to and b) she thought that he might have been Angelus again.

According to Angel, he’s not Angelus but he’s also not evil. It seems that all season long we were lead to believe that Twilight was orchestrating the worst of the worst but it seemed that Angel was donning a disguise to keep the real villains distracted for as long as possible in a bid to push Buffy.

What is it with people pushing Buffy to be her best? You know what would’ve helped on Angel’s part? Actually contacting her over a year ago and telling her directly what he was planning instead of his usual bout of subterfuge. But Angel had to go about it the wrong way because he thought that it was the best method of helping Buffy out in the long run.

And there’s the invulnerability thing as well – it seems that Buffy and Angel have these newfound powers that have naff all to do with them being a vampire or a slayer. How? And what’s up with that cryptic about Giles supposedly knowing of Buffy’s eventual evolution and the potential hell that it might release?

I knew as soon as Angel managed to talk to Buffy, some of this stuff would make more sense but it did feel a lot like nonsense and the kiss between them on the page of this issue would’ve made me care a long time ago but not anymore. Guess my liking of Buffy and Angel as a couple days really are long gone. Unless the next two issues make more sense out of all the crap that’s gone down in this particular arc.

Also in “Twilight”

The cover showed Angel removing his Twilight mask to the horror of Buffy. Again, good work, Jo Chen.

Buffy (to Xander, re dead slayers): “But don’t you see what it does make me? If I’m sucking their power ... it makes me a vampire.”

Buffy only gets the slayer powers after the girls are dead but the pep talk with her and Xander – even them I’m getting a little sick of right now.

Angel/Twilight: “Do you not understand this isn’t a fair fight?”
Faith: “Who said I was fighting fair?”
Angel/Twilight: “And what makes you think ‘invulnerable’ isn’t ‘all over’?”

Willow: “Still a rat.”
Amy: “Still a bitch.”

Dawn earned some points in this issue for alerting Xander to Warren and the general’s chatter. I did like Willow and Amy’s sniping as well.

Angel/Twilight: “Oh and Buff -,”
Buffy: “Stop talking! Your biggest asset was that you weren’t a talker!”

Xander: “What was that?”
Satsu: “I don’t hear anything.”
Willow: “I think they’re talking.”

There was a two page preview of Felicia Day’s comic series for The Guild in this issue as well as some pretty out of date letters in Slay The Critics section.

Angel/Twilight: “What if, just once, the right thing for us to do is also the most wonderful, Buffy ... don’t you want to be happy?”

The next issue is already out and I’ll post a review for it next week when I get through some other reviews first.

I tried giving “Twilight Part 2” the benefit of the doubt but the truth was that even with months of knowing, I just don’t like Angel as Twilight and I’m not sure if I like the evolution that him and Buffy has supposedly taken as well. There’s about seven more issues before this season actually ends so hopefully things will make better sense as the months progress.

Rating: 5 out of 10.

My Review of True Blood's 2x09: "I Will Rise Up"

Written by Nancy Oliver
Directed by Scott Winant

Eric: “Everybody thinks you’re a darling, don’t they?”
Sookie: “I am a darling.”
Eric: “No, but you’re ruthless when it comes to the people you love. You’d do anything for them – your brother, your friends, me.”

And I’m pretty sure that Bill would also count in that equation as well. Yeah, never let it be said that Sookie Stackhouse isn’t a giver. She’s even willing to help suck two bullets out of a vampire despite the fact that she probably shouldn’t have needed Bill to point out that Eric had been deceiving her.

It’s here for me that lies a problem as well. I know a lot of fangirls went crazy when this episode aired on HBO because it meant that Sookie and Eric finally got some action, even if it was in a dream sequence but objectively, how am I supposed to ship a pairing when the connection itself has been forced as blatantly as this one?

Eric has lacked the subtlety of masking his feelings for Sookie and he’s certainly enjoyed creating as many obstacles between Sookie and Bill this season as he’s been able to do. With Lorena practically being forced out of Godric’s area, the only other thing for Eric to do was to get Sookie to drink his blood.

He knew that she wouldn’t do it of her own volition so the bomb blast created by Luke served the perfect opportunity to get Sookie in a weak moment. And you could see the absolute glee on his face when Bill realised that she drank from him. God help Bill when Sookie and Eric actually start doing it because it’s obvious that they will soon enough.

In regards to the actual fantasy sequence itself – I did like it and I’m not one for shipping wars to be honest. Eric noted that Sookie had a certain element of ruthlessness about her and I don’t think he’s wrong but at the same time we didn’t need to see Lorena lording it over in that dream to know that bad times are ahead for Sookie and Bill.

Sookie probably is attracted to Eric anyways, even without him fooling her into drinking from him but wouldn’t it have been better if she had came to realise those feelings by herself without Eric’s actual influence? Maybe I’ll feel differently when I actually watch later episodes in the series and their relationship is more developed of it’s own pace but excuse me if I’m not overwhelming excited just yet, okay?

Thankfully though, Bill and Eric weren’t the only things on Sookie’s mind in this episode. I absolutely loved the scene where her and Jason couldn’t sleep and ended making some real peace with each other for the last couple of months. Jason really has come leaps and bounds as a character on the series and it’s good that both him and Sookie realised that they only have each other, family wise.

Speaking of families, I really felt for Godric in this episode. He handed himself over the Fellowship Of The Sun because he thought he could atone and instead, it brought about absolute disaster in it’s wake. Nan was surprisingly irritated with him and she certainly didn’t hold back on the insult front. I’m actually surprised that her and Eric didn’t get a chance to physically come to blows on Godric.

Eric definitely wanted to smack the sass right out of Nan but found himself held. Also as much as I loved Sookie’s little speech about Godric saving her and a lot of other people, Nan’s dismissal did make me laugh more than it really should’ve done. Here’s hoping that Nan gets to visit Bon Temps next season.

As for Godric’s sacrifice at the end of the episode, I knew it was coming but it made for a powerful way to end this episode. Eric was even reduced to tears and that’s something that I never thought I’d see. It also made sense that Sookie would be the last person to see him alive as well. After all, that’s what happened in the book and Godric was far worse in that than he has been in the actual series itself.

Of course with the Newlins defeated (for a while), a few vampire/human deaths, this whole Fellowship arc does seem to be done for the time. It looks like the focus is finally going to be on Maryann and it’s nice to know that she’s getting worse and worse. This episode certainly produced some interesting moments.

I’m not sure why it’s Sam that she so desperately needs for sacrificing to her God but I don’t have a problem with it either. I know Sam’s not actually going to die but it’s giving him a better storyline than the first season and it also means that apart from Andy, he’s basically on his own until everyone else gets back.

Andy seems to be oddly impervious to Maryann’s charms for now and the rest of the town are only too happy to actually obey her every command. The scene where she stormed into Merlotte’s and demanded Sam was interesting. And now she’s got plenty of acolytes to aid her little Sam hunting quest.

However it wasn’t the only trouble she was causing in this episode. Tara and Eggs were momentarily getting some sense when they noticed their bruises and Maryann talked them out of it with chatter about religion and chaos. Worse still, it seems that Maryann now has two more victims with Lafayette and Lettie Mae.

I know there’s supposed to be an irony with the woman who spent most her life harming Tara now becoming the one trying to save her, but when Tara started physically attacking Lettie Mae, I did feel a lot for the woman. Lettie Mae and Lafayette might have Tara in their clutches but even I could’ve guessed that only played to Maryann’s advantages.

And on the non-season arc front, the awkwardness between Terry and Arlene certainly got played a little for laughs. I want these two to work because in a lot of ways, Terry actually makes Arlene a lot more likeable than she normally is and both of them could do with being happy as well.

As for Hoyt and Jessica, it’s pretty damn simple – ignore Maxine Fortenberry. That irritating old bat may have raised some valid points about her son’s safety but given that Jessica was trying to play nice, it wouldn’t have killed Maxine maybe to have met her halfway on this one. And also as Hoyt kept repeatedly pointing out in this episode, he is a grown man and Maxine might want to accept that sooner rather than later.

Also in “I Will Rise Up”

Because of Stan’s death in this episode, Isobel reluctantly became the sheriff of Dallas. I like Isobel so I do hope we see her again.

Sookie: “You big lying A-hole.”
Eric: “Bill, you’re right. I can sense her emotions.”

There was an amusing little TV spat between Nan and an arguing Steve and Sarah in this episode. Loved Sarah’s dig about Steve’s hair.

Jessica: “You should break up with me.”
Hoyt: “Hell no. That thing that grows back, it’s just a thing. I ain’t perfect either. I’m a guy that people laugh at, even my friends but not you.”

Maryann: “I will never understand that. Why be ashamed of laughter and pleasure and letting go?”
Tara: “Because I’ve never been this out of control.”

I have to say that nine episodes into this season, I’m really impressed with how both the Maryann and the Fellowship plots have been distanced from each other. Any other show would’ve merged them but not this one.

Sookie (re Adelle): “But we have to talk about her. We can’t stop remembering or loving her because it hurts too much. She’d never stop loving us, wouldn’t she?”
Jason: “No.”

Eric: “You’ve killed a man.”
Sookie: “Well that for self-defence, not lunch.”

And going into further continuity, Rene won’t be the only time that Sookie kills for self-defence. Eric‘s musings in Sookie’s dream are going to be prophetic in more ways than one.

Maryann (realising Sam is gone): “Now I am really irritated.”

Maryann: “Mrs Thornton, what’s your drink?”
Tara: “Vodka, whiskey, hairspray, antifreeze.”

Standout music: “I Will Rise Up” by Lyle Lovett, appropriately enough.

Eric: “I won’t let you die.”
Godric: “Yes you will. As your maker, I command you.”

Chronology: From where “Time Bomb” left off.

A fan favourite episode, “I Will Rise Up” certainly had all the right ingredients in pleasing it’s main audience – Sookie/Eric, Godric sacrifice, Maryann’s pursuit of Sam, so I’m more or less pleased with it.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

My Review of Doctor Who's 5x02: "The Beast Below"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Andrew Gunn

Poem Girl: “Though the man above might say hello. Expect no love from the beast below.”

As if an episode by Steven Moffat didn’t need to be creepy enough, he had to go and have some random little girl spouting spooky stuff about a not so nice beast as well. I could’ve done without that being added into the atmosphere.

First trips in the TARDIS are fun because it’s either going to be the past or the future. Martha got to meet Shakespeare and Donna experienced the destruction of Pompeii in the worst way possible. Rose on the other hand got to see the end of the Earth five billion years in the future and that’s sort of what Amy gets with her first TARDIS trip as well.

Earth no longer existed by the time the Doctor and Amy had reached a certain location and the UK itself was hovering on a spaceship for its own survival. Nice to see that Britain still lives on but you don’t even have to have the Doctor’s deduction skills to know that something was wrong here.

The Doctor didn’t even try to conceal the danger elements to Amy either, which would’ve been dumb on his part if he had done so. Instead he asked her to look around and spot what was wrong with the Starship UK and even sent her to pursue a young girl named Mandy in order to get some answers about the not so friendly Smilers running the joint.

This is certainly a Doctor who won’t molly coddle his travelling companions but while Amy seemed amused by his double standards, she did exactly as she asked him as well. Heck, Amy even acted a little Doctor-esque when grilling Mandy about a blocked road and the girl’s reluctance to talk about something rather scary.

The scary thing being a beast seemed like a competent enough reason to keep the locals quiet. The episode had opened up with a young boy being sent down below because he achieved a zero, so Amy snooping around and asking questions was also going to be a trigger for the Smilers. When she got gassed by Peter and his robed mates, I was surprised with what happened to her next.

Presented with a choice to know everything and then to choose to either forget or protest was a hell of a conundrum for anyone. By knowing what was happening with the Starship UK, Amy could either forget and let things continued the way they were going (which wasn’t a good thing) or protest and get severely punished for it.

It didn’t even seem like she chose really to forget but automatically hit the button as soon as the Doctor walked in on her. She didn’t want to forget. She even questioned the Doctor about it but he wasn’t a happy bunny and it would take him of everyone to actually protest and suffer the consequences for it.

Except the consequences didn’t feel that drastic. Yes, both the Doctor and Amy got swallowed by the star whale (the beast being used to run the ship) but managed to get themselves out of the creature by getting it to throw up. Not the most dignified means of escaping but it’s not like they had no other choice.

Then there was Liz Ten. I have to admit that when I was trawling through spoilers all those months ago, I did assume that she was going to be the villain of the piece. She certainly was more hit woman than monarch in this episode in spite of a rather earthy performance from Sophie Okonedo. The scenes where Liz and the Doctor interacted however were some of the best of this episode.

Most authority/regal figures take exception to the Doctor but Liz knew of the legends surrounding him and pursued him for his help whilst wearing a mask. She even made sure that he found Amy in the process and well, let’s be honest; there was a nice bit of banter between the two of them if I’m being really honest.

Liz Ten wanted so badly to know what was going on with her government and the mystery of the ship being moved through space without a working engine but it seemed obvious that she would end up being the one responsible for the very thing she was trying to bring down. Probably from the second that the Doctor seemed to pay particular attention to her porcelain mask.

So, Liz was 250 years older than she thought she was (despite not looking it) and she kept constantly forgetting that it was her who had gotten the star whale and virtually torturing it so that they could keep moving throughout space. The dilemma the Doctor faced her might not have been Pompeii levels of bigness but there was certainly some powerful moments.

The moments where he turned on both Amy and Liz Ten seemed to emphasise that this Doctor isn’t as tolerant to human failings as previous incarnations might have been. He even threatened to send Amy back home because she had hit the forget button. Matt Smith can certainly pull of the more angrier side of the Doctor with suitable ease.

But while Amy had made a mistake, the Doctor was about to make a bigger one by choosing to kill the star whale to save the people on board the ship. Amy spotting the obvious parallels between the Doctor and the star whale was the very thing that effectively saved everyone on board. I know the thing with both the Doctor and the star whale being unable to bear seeing a child cry was a bit tacked on but damn it, it bloody worked for the emotional impact of the scene.
The producers of the show have been suggesting that Amy apparently understands this version of the Doctor more than he understands himself and I’m inclined to believe in. The way they said they had got each other at the end was lovely but there’s still some stuff they’re concealing from the other.

Amy was able to tell Mandy that she was getting married but found herself unable to tell the Doctor and even seemed have reservations about tying the knot. Even the Doctor was evasive a bit when Amy pried him about the Time Lords but I suppose that he’ll eventually give her more to go on as she’ll tell him that she’s going to be a married woman when they head back to Leadworth. And as for the call from a certain Winston Churchill at the end, let’s just say that next week cannot come soon enough.

Also in “The Beast Below”

Last season he let Donna drive the TARDIS and this year, the Doctor allowed Amy to float in space while holding onto her leg.

Amy: “My name is Amy Pond. When I was seven, I had an imaginary friend. Last night was the night before my wedding.”
The Doctor: “Come on, Pond.”
Amy: “And my imaginary friend came back.”

Amelia Jessica Pond is our new girl’s full name thanks to the electorate files but they seemed unsure of her marital status. I’m guessing this is to tease things out or to highlight Amy’s feelings of conflict.

Amy: “I’m in the future. Like hundreds of years in the future. I’ve been dead for centuries.”
The Doctor: “Oh lovely, you’re a cheery one.”

Mandy: “You sound Scottish.”
Amy: “I am Scottish. What’s wrong with that?”

Mandy told Amy that Scotland had a ship of it’s own, which seemed to impress Amy all the more.

The Doctor: “You know me?”
Liz Ten: “Keep your voice down, they’re everywhere. Tell me what you see in the glass.”

Amy: “You look human.”
The Doctor: “No, you look Time Lord. We came first.”

In the three episodes that Matt Smith has appeared in so far, “Geronimo” has been said once in all of them.

The Doctor (to Amy): “Right then, this isn’t going to be big on dignity. Geronimo!”

Liz Ten (to the Doctor/Amy/Mandy): “I’m the bloody Queen, mate. Basically, I rule.”

There were some flashbacks to the Doctor and Amy’s first meeting during the moment where Amy saw the connection between the Doctor and the star whale.

Amy: "I voted for this. Why would I do that?"

The Doctor: "Because you knew if we stayed here, I'd be faced with an impossible choice - humanity or the alien. You took it upon yourself to save me from that. That was wrong. You don't ever decide what I need to know."
Amy: "I don't even remember doing it."
The Doctor: "You did it. That's what counts."
Amy: “I'm ... I’m sorry.”
The Doctor: “Oh, I don’t care. When I'm done here, you’re going home.”

The Doctor (to Liz Ten/Amy): “Nobody talk to me. Nobody human has anything to say to me today.”

The star whale was the last of it’s kind, like the Doctor (except we know he’s not but he doesn’t).

Amy (re the Doctor/star whale): “What if you were really old and really kind and alone? Your whole race dead, no future, what couldn't you do then? If you were that old and that kind and the very last of your kind, you couldn’t just stand there and watch children cry.”

The Doctor: “Amy, you could’ve killed everyone on this ship.”
Amy: “You could’ve killed a star whale.”
The Doctor: “And you saved it. I know, I know.”

Chronology: Over 1300 years since Amy’s time and notice how during the Churchill scene we got to see a shadow of a Dalek as well. And there's more cracks in time as well.

Although I preferred the previous episode, “The Beast Below” certainly kept us on our toes though technically the Smilers were the only real villains of the piece, even though the Doctor came dangerously close to at one point as well. As for Amy, the girl is brilliant.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x02: "Episode 18"

Written by Ashley Pharoah

Directed by David Drury

Ray: “What’s the most unusual place a bloke’s ever made love to you?”
Woman: “Probably my bottom.”

And as questions go, this is definitely one not to ask on a bout of speed dating. Yes, to solve a case, Alex introduced the concept to her colleagues in a bid to catch a killer. I can’t wait to see if she gets around to introducing them to social networking sites next. Still, it obviously did do the trick in the end.

You’ve got a bunch of freshly divorced brunette women who are being killed, branded and even having body parts severed and the only thing they seemed to have in common been that they used a speed dating company that Alex and Gene both decided to investigate in the obvious of ways.

Not a case of asking simple questions but more pretending to be lonely singletons looking for love. Except both of them actually are, so there’s a bit of an irony there, wouldn’t you say? I loved the scene where they were sitting around comparing notes about the different ways in which they answered their questions.

Of course Gene would have to go for a crude-ish answer when asked about what he was looking for in a woman and Alex was never gonna be able to resist referencing post-1983 stuff in her answers either. The shipper in me would say they’re perfect for each other in that opposite attract sense of things but this wasn’t about them in that way – not by a mile.

Nope, it was about catching a woman hating scumbag named McClean and while he had all the problems in the world – wife left him for another man, he’s got terminal cancer, and he was still a vicious bastard who nearly killed Shaz upon twigging that she was posing undercover to nab him.

I was actually hoping that Shaz had killed him when she stabbed him but it made sense for the story that he lived to confess and die of cancer whilst in jail. But in its own way, the confrontation scene with McClean and Shaz was from the view point of the latter in the end and rightfully so.

Shaz went from being nervous and wanting to catch McClean out to rightful anger as he went on his sexist rant. In a way, this was a huge episode for Shaz, whose experiences with catching McClean shaped the decisions she made about her career at the end of the episode.

Throughout the entire episode she was depressed, cranky, even defeated as she came to the conclusion that she didn’t belong in the police force. Even Alex’s little pep talk did naff all to actually get Shaz to change her mind. Unlike Keats, who somewhat encouraged her to actually hand in her notice.

The only person who effectively changed Shaz’s mind was Gene, which to be fair was not exactly that surprising when you think about it. He might loathe the touchy feely stuff but he certainly knows that she’s a good, loyal cop and her dealing with McClean was enough for Gene to tempt her into staying with a promotion. It looks like he’s not as regressive as Keats would like to think after all.

Speaking of Keats, his contribution to this episode wasn’t as interesting as his previous episode. I just don’t know how or why he wants to help Alex so much. It is genuinely altruistic because the way in which he interacts the male colleagues wouldn’t suggest that to me or does he just want to stick it to Gene that badly?

He certainly had no problem in telling Alex that he believed that Gene was responsible for Sam’s death. I know Gene’s being incredibly secretive about that but I just don’t believe that he killed Sam, even if Alex did go behind his back and dig up some files and seemed to considered Jim’s hunch about Sam’s death.

I guess with so few episodes left before the entire series comes to an end, the positives also mean that things don’t get dragged out. Gene knew about Alex’s snooping and confronted her head on and asked her not to help Keats. For the time being, I hope Alex respects that because it reminds me of Sam choosing Frank Morgan over Gene and that blowing up in his face. Just trust the Gene Genie, Alex.

As for Chris in this episode, not much to do other than being worried for Shaz, avoiding copping off with twins and sniping with Ray. He also seemed unwilling to talk about Sam as much as Gene did as well, which could suggest anything really. Like maybe Chris knowing more than he was letting on, perhaps?

Also in “Episode 18”

The intro of “Uptown Girl” for this episode was absolutely brilliant. I know what I’ll be looking for on YouTube a few hours after this episode aired. And what does 6-6-20 mean?

Chris: “I don’t want a hand job.”
Ray: “What do you want?”
Chris: “Love. Look it up.”

The credits were different for this episode again, with Alex talking about time running out on her and solving the mystery. Hers or Sam’s? Both probably.

Gene: “Speak up please, Sharon!”
Shaz: “Murder! Murder!”

Gene: “When are we most vulnerable?”
Ray: “I’m never vulnerable, guv.”
Alex: “When we’re in love.”

Beth Goddard who played Elaine in this episode (the woman who ran the dating agency McClean was using to get his victims) is Philip Glenister’s wife.

Gene: “And I have told you more than once, Bolly, Nelson Mandela is a terrorist.”

Jim: “Why did you join the police force, Sharon?”
Shaz: “To make a difference.”

Alex cited her favourite movie as Thelma And Louise in contrast to Gene’s High Noon. Chris and Ray also had different opinions on The Hunger and Return Of The Jedi.

Gene (to Alex): “Well that went well. I spent the evening with a bunch of sluts and losers.”

Shaz (re undercover): “Please don’t ask me.”
Gene: “I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you could do it.”
Shaz: “And then no more.”
Gene: “Then no more, I give you my word.”

Standout music: Well, definitely the use of Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”.

Ray: “It’s not my fault I’ve got an illness with a posh name. What is it?”
Alex: “Misogyny.”

Jim (re Gene/Sam): “You think he killed him, don’t you?”
Alex: “I think who killed him? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jim: “I think he did too.”

Chronology: Judging by the dates for The Hunger and Return Of The Jedi, May 1983.

Not as good as the previous episode but definitely insightful and I’m beginning to wonder how connected that scarred policeman is to all of this as well. Judging by next week though, it seems there more Gene vs. Jim to contend with as well.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

My Review of Brothers And Sisters 4x12: "The Science Fair"

Written by Alison Schapker And Monica Breen
Directed by Laura Innes

Nora: “I’m such a fool.”
Sarah: “No, mom, you’ve done nothing wrong but he’s shown you who he is. An untrustworthy jerk that doesn’t deserve your affections.”

And this episode basically confirmed what was feared when Simon went AWOL in “Nearlyweds” – that he’s a scumbag. See, Sarah, I was able to come up with a snarkier description and I didn’t need to resort to swearing. Then again, neither did Sarah but the fact remains – Simon bad!

Not only did he try to pull a fast one with Nora’s cash but his lying was utterly rubbish to begin with. He couldn’t even keep them in a straight line and it was sort of clear when you watch the first scene he appeared in this episode that Nora was a bit sceptical of his little reason as to why he didn’t contact her for six weeks.

But the problem was that while Nora showed a good level of scepticism, there was still the lingering feeling that she was going to succumb to Simon’s lies again and he’d manage to steal even more money from her. And this is why I love Sarah. It might be interfering by another name but the woman’s nosiness paid off and saved Nora’s backside in this episode.

She managed to find out more about some of Simon’s previous affairs with older women and while Kevin wasn’t particularly helpful, at least Sarah tried to wizen her mother to who Simon really was. I should’ve suspected that when Nora was dismissing Sarah’s findings that there would be something behind it.

The scene where Nora pretty much tore Simon to pieces without raising her voice was some great acting on Sally Field’s part. I wouldn’t have dubbed it ‘Bond Girl’ like an enthusiastic Sarah did but it certainly served as a lesson to Simon that no matter how good a conman you might think you are, your luck does eventually run out.

Having Saul outside pretending to be police was a funny moment but while it was nice that Nora got her own back, it just leaves her back to square one. I can’t believe that in the space of four seasons, Nora still hasn’t been given a relationship that has lasted more than four or five episodes. Then again, that’s more than anything Saul has gotten. Do the writers even remember Henry because I certainly do?

While Sarah was acting as the perfect daughter and trying to watch her mother’s back, it’s too bad her own was so annoying this week. What is it with American kids on TV? They’re either written as too cutesy, precocious or just plain brats and Paige most definitely fell into the latter category this week.

I know that she’s a teen and teens are apparently supposed to have ‘despite parental figures’ as a default setting on them but what irritated me in this whole episode was that Paige acted like a total brat to Sarah and no-one actually took her aside and reprimanded her for it? I’m not saying that someone should’ve yelled at her but a little respect for Sarah wouldn’t have gone a long way.

Not letting Sarah near her science project was fine enough, seeing as Kevin, Scotty and Justin were more or less helping on that score either but I found it incredibly frustrating that when Kevin wrecked the project at the bloody science fair, it was Sarah who had to bear the brunt of Paige’s anger.

On the plus side we got a really good scene with Kevin and Paige where he admitted that he failed her and talked more about his own school troubles. Kevin has the potential to be an awesome father but he spent most of this episode getting everything so wrong that someone as non-parental as me was thinking, ‘come on, already!’

I knew with the swimmers stuff that him and Scotty would get competitive, especially when it turned out that Scotty’s ones were more viable and good to go than Kevin’s. Also, Kevin made the idiotic mistake to actually get competitive with another child’s science project. Matthew Rhys deserved a lot better with this episode, he really did.

Then there was Justin and Rebecca as well. Some more arguing between the pair of them because he can’t tell anyone that he’s failing. Except that he told Kevin at one point and nearly came to blows with him as well during the science fair too. As much as Justin has his difficulties, I was on his side during that argument as well.

But Justin getting tested – for dyslexia? Rebecca got him to look at that young lad’s sensory integration project and it’s like a thunderbolt struck him. Maybe that is the reason why he finds studying so hard. I know myself that studying in libraries is utterly pointless because the information never stays in. I literally have to pace the floor and recite things aloud from study notes to keep anything in. Maybe that’s something Justin could try as well.

And for Holly – again I’m on her freaking side. What Ryan did for Kitty last week was a great thing but what he’s done to Ojai wasn’t and Saul had no right to ask her to drop the investigation. Ryan knew what he was doing when he decided to play his hand at sabotage and Holly had every right to be mad at Saul for asking her to let the whole thing slide.

As for York, I really couldn’t give a flying frak about this guy, so why should I care about his vendetta with William? Apart from the fact that York’s spell in jail was another in a long line of examples of how much of a dolt William Walker was, why should I care? Because Holly has someone managed to deduce that York’s interest in acquiring Ojai has more to do with revenge? The writers need to try harder with this one because it’s not sticking.

Also in “The Science Fair”

Can I add “tween” to another in a list of recent terminology that I really loathe hearing on TV? Though at least the show’s keeping up with the times.

Paige (to Kevin): “I know what a pun is; I just didn’t get a charge out of it.”
Scotty: “I like you, Paige Whedon.”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard Paige or Cooper being called by their full name. I have a friend who absolutely loathes it when people do that.

Sarah: “Have you ever argued with a tween?”
Scotty: “I have. I live with one.”
Kevin: “Says the Miley fan.”

Holly (to Dennis): “The Walkers come with a whole of family drama. I’m getting real tired of it.”

It looks like Sarah might have scored a new love interest with Roy. He seems a little less bland than Luc. Also no Robert or Ryan this week.

Sarah (to Nora): “Googling’s not spying, it’s social networking.”

Paige: “So my science project’s was all about your dorkiness?”
Kevin: “Yeah, kinda.”

Standout music: “Perfect Moment” by Darden Smith.

Simon: “You called the police?”
Nora: “Marilyn did. Gosh, I’m so sorry about the files she’s charged.”

Chronology: Six weeks since “Nearlyweds”.

Not really the series at it’s best. “The Science Fair” had some good points about it but essentially it was filler to the heavier episodes that we’ve had in the last couple of weeks and not as exciting as a result.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

My Review of Doctor Who's 5x01: "The Eleventh Hour"

Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Adam Smith

The Doctor: “You wanted to come fourteen years ago.”
Amy: “I grew up.”
The Doctor: “Don’t worry, I’ll soon fix that.”

92 days ago, Matt Smith had made his debut as the Eleventh Doctor and the wait has certainly been interesting. All sorts of questions ran through my head and while certain spoilers gave me some half answers and near truths, the arrival of this new series at least gets some stuff out of the way.

Like the Doctor’s crashing for instance. There’s a great big spectacle there where he narrowly missed smashing into Big Ben and the O2 but instead found himself crashing into the back garden of a little Scottish girl named Amelia Pond. Now let’s not pretend that we don’t know who this youngster is gonna grow up into.

It’s a pretty good way of introducing the new companion as the Doctor in his new body proved to be quite the rude house guest a child could have. He told her not to ask stupid questions but spent most of the time decorating her floor with the amount of times he spat food out and then chose to nibble on the weirdest of culinary combinations – fish fingers and custard – yuck!

Of course, little Amelia didn’t seem all that bothered about her new mate’s rudeness. She was more interested in getting him to look at a crack in her wall with the ominous chanting of an escaped prisoner. When the Doctor told Amelia that he’d back to see her in five minutes, I knew the poor girl was going to be disappointed. But kids get over disappointment, don’t they?

Not exactly! Twelve years later the Doctor actually did live up to his promise and got thanked for visiting his first human contact in his eleventh incarnation by getting knocked out with a cricket bat and handcuffed to a radiator. As slightly disappointed as I was to have the kissogram rumour confirmed, Amy Pond as an adult certainly knew how to make an entrance into the house.

It kind of amazed me that it took the Doctor a little longer than usual to cop onto the fact that sexy policewoman holding him back was the little girl he promised a trip to. Their banter then as Amy admitted that four shrinks couldn’t make her forget him certainly made me smile. It didn’t help that the Doctor looked exactly the same.

In fact the whole idea that a few people in the village were aware of Amy’s imaginary friend was another new take on the usual Doctor/Companion dynamic because let’s face it, in some ways, Amy almost is a new kettle of fish in terms of the circumstances behind her becoming a companion of the Doctor.

The whole meeting him as a child and then adult when danger was afoot will draw comparisons to Reinette but this was something a lot deeper here. The Doctor arguably made a bigger impact on Amy when she was younger and his inadvertent failing to keep his promise seems to have hardened her a little. It took seeing a certain apple with a face on it after she had found another way of restraining the Doctor to believe in him again.

However in regards to Amy’s hardened edge, it’s blatantly clear with her dynamic with Rory. He considered himself to be Amy’s boyfriend and clearly he’s in love with her but Amy seemed to be more hot and cold with Rory when the Doctor was confronting him. Those fearing that Rory would behave in a similar idiot manner to Mickey in his first episode should be relieved.

Rory was the only one in the hospital to notice that the coma patients were calling out and walking around and the only one to even attempt to snap Prisoner Zero while everyone else was staring at the sun. He was also there with the Doctor and Amy when the Atraxi managed to detain Prisoner Zero as well.

In terms of Prisoner Zero, it’s a sort of standard villain for the opening episode. It’s not Steven Moffat’s best creation but it does the trick and certainly helped with some much needed delving into Amy’s psyche and warning the Doctor about this season’s buzzword of trouble: Pandorica. And there was something about silence will fall. Are we going to get the Doctor Who version of “Hush”? Probably not.

Prisoner Zero had twelve years to know Amy but it seemed to have an inability to take on a single body. It fluffed up with Barney and the dog, then the woman and the two kids before trying on the Doctor and Amelia for size. I liked the Doctor getting Amy to dream up Prisoner Zero’s true form in order to get the Atraxi to arrest it. And of course, not forgetting the massive reset that Jeff and some important types had to pull off as well.

However, it would’ve been nice to have seen more of the Atraxi beyond their spaceships and those creepy eyes at certain points in the episode. I did however love the Doctor’s confrontation with them segueing into his costume change. It wasn’t as ruthless as the ‘no second chances’ in “The Christmas Invasion” but it certainly did the trick in getting the Atraxi to stay away from the Earth.

As for all the other bits in between the episodes – well, everything really was new. Matt Smith will inevitably have many moments in this series and the next to showcase how brilliant he is as the Doctor but he certainly got the tone right with this one. He looks like the Doctor and he feels like it too. There’s no denying it now.

Similarly Karen Gillan was also on fine form as Amy in this episode. The lack of family connection will make Rory her biggest tie to Earth (or sleepy English village Leadworth to be specific) and then there’s the whole banter with the Doctor. Being skipped out on once is going to piss you off but twice? I’m actually surprised he was able to get Amy in the TARDIS after that one.

Still, another strong point about the opening episode was Amy pressing the Doctor on why he wanted to travel with her. He admitted that he was lonely but said it in a way that could suggest that he’s not being entirely honest. And Amy herself by the end didn’t need that much convincing to actually take off with the Doctor, now did she? She didn’t even tell him that her stuff involved getting married. That being said the chemistry between this new TARDIS duo is certainly interesting to put it mildly.

Also in “The Eleventh Hour”

Matt Smith and Karen Gillan’s names in the opening credits and the blue/fire orange colour of them is certainly different. The new remix of the theme tune however did sound familiar.

Amelia: “Who are you?”
The Doctor: “I don’t know yet, I’m still cooking. Does that scare you?”

Amelia was played by Caitlin Blackwood who is the cousin of Karen Gillan. Apparently working together on the show was the first time both of them met.

The Doctor: “You know when grown ups tell you everything is gonna be fine and you probably think they’re lying to make you feel better?”
Amelia: “Yes?”
The Doctor: “Everything’s gonna be fine.”

Dr Ramsden: “Why are you giving me your phone?”
Rory: “It’s a camera too.”

Arthur Darvill, who plays Rory previously worked with Matt Smith in “Swimming With Sharks” while Karen Gillan previously appeared in the fourth season episode “The Fires Of Pompeii” as a soothsayer.

The Doctor: “What happened?”
Amy: “Twelve years.”
The Doctor: “You hit me with a cricket bat.”
Amy: “Twelve years.”
The Doctor: “A cricket bat!”
Amy: “Twelve years and four psychiatrists.”

The Doctor: “What’s that?”
Amy: “It’s a duck pond.”
The Doctor: “Why aren’t there any ducks?”
Amy: “I don’t know. There’s never any ducks.”
The Doctor: “Then how do you know it’s a duck pond?”

Amy made a lot of raggedy Doctors and versions of herself when she was a child and funny how we saw her wedding dress at the end? Amy’s gonna get up between two men – the Doctor and Rory.

Rory (re the Doctor): “Oh my God, it’s him.”
Amy: “Just answer his question please.”

Prisoner Zero: “Little Amelia Pond, waiting for her magic Doctor to return but not this time, Amelia.”

We got a celebrity appearance with Patrick Moore in this episode as well as archived footage of the previous ten Doctors to show Eleven fully in his suit. The tweed look works for me.

The Doctor (to Atraxi): “Hello, I’m the Doctor. Basically – run.”

The Doctor: “It means come with me.”
Amy: “Where?”
The Doctor: “Wherever you like.”

Alex Price (who’ll be in “Vampires In Venice”) is now narrating Doctor Who Confidential and a trailer aired at the end of this episode previewing the rest of the season. I also love the rather bigger and more orange looking new TARDIS as well. And we got a new screwdriver to boot.

The Doctor (to Amy): “So, all of time and space, everything that ever happened or ever will. Where do you want to start?”

Chronology: We went into 1996 when the Doctor first met Amy, 2008 when he stopped Prisoner Zero/Atraxi and 2010 when he and Amy took off together in the TARDIS.

For 63 minutes, “The Eleventh Hour” might have needed 20 of them to save the world but the rest certainly helped with acknowledging that this new era is going to be as good as the last one. This may not be my favourite episode by the time the series comes to an end but it certainly will be a memorable way of debuting the new Doctor and Amy Pond nonetheless.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

My Top 50 Doctor Who Stories Part 10

Final list and with four hours to go for The Eleventh Hour, here are my Top 5 Doctor Who stories.

1: Genesis Of The Daleks (4th Doctor)

It was hard to pick between this one and my second favourite but damn it, the origins of the Daleks and the debut of their psychotic creator really won out for me in the end. The Nazi allusions aside, this was an incredibly important story in the series history. Ethical debates on viruses aside, the Doctor had the chance to wipe out the Daleks and chose not to and Michael Wisher certainly brought a level of menace to Davros.

2: The End Of Time (10th Doctor)

The last story for David Tennant as the Doctor was always going to ignite strong debate but personally, I think it served as a good way of ending his tenure and briefly introducing Matt Smith at the end. The cameos from companions like Rose, Martha, Donna, Jack, Sarah Jane and Mickey were nice, Wilfred was a great support system for the Doctor and John Simm's return as the Master ticked all the right boxes. Even the disappointment of the Time Lords (Rassilon in particular) can't hinder this story that much.

3: The Five Doctors (5th Doctor)


Technically four because Tom Baker's contribution is lifted from a scene of uncompleted/unaired story, Shada but having the majority of the Doctor's incarnations, along with prominent companions and baddies like a Dalek, Cybermen, the Master, Raston Robot and even Borusa kept this special celebration of the series 20th year more than entertaining. Plus the line the Master says about a cosmos without the Doctor is unforgettable.

4: The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances (9th Doctor)

Easily the best story from Christopher Eccleston's short run on the series, this one is the perfect explanation as to why Steven Moffat is now running the series. Scares, chills, humour and a dollop of sexiness courtesy of Captain Jack Harkness and with his addition, we have the best TARDIS trio in quite a while.

5: The Caves Of Androzani (5th Doctor)

There was no way that this story was not going to make this list. As a regeneration story goes, it's got the right length of time, it's pretty dark in places and like certain future regenerations, you have the Doctor giving his life to save his companion. Plus you have a few interesting cameos appearances as Five begins his change into Six. Now that's done, let's all go and enjoy Eleven's first proper story tonight, shall we?

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 3x01: "Episode 17"

Written by Matthew Graham
Directed by David Drury

Alex (to Gene): “Sometimes in life, you can’t help which way you fall.”

And other times, you can never expect which way you’re gonna way up from a coma. I don’t think there was ever going to be a satisfying way in which Alex would wake from her coma in 1983 but I did think that it might take more than Gene Hunt’s slapping her to do the trick, I really did.

I guess I should be glad that Alex did wake up both reasonably quickly within the episode and also unlike Sam; she didn’t get a sudden urge to throw herself off a building in order to get to a world that she now accepts as real. This is the biggest breakthrough with Alex – her acceptable that Gene’s world is rooted in reality.

It’s a point she discussed with her therapist in 2008/2009 (what year is it that she woke up in her own time?) when she went into detail about how she couldn’t escape the sounds of Gene, Ray, Chris and Shaz all trying to communicate with her. It also made sense that the therapist in question scoffed the claims made by Alex.

But enough of modern times, Alex and Gene both had their own problems to deal with in 1983. First off all, the awkwardness of Gene landing Alex into her previous state had some obvious consequences that weren’t helped by Gene previous skipping the country and trying to reclaim authority when going back to HQ.

I really could see Ray’s point in all this. Yes he was miffed that Gene was practically clipping his wings again but for once, Gene might have done himself a favour by playing ball. As soon as Jim entered the scene, I knew there was going to be trouble between him and Gene. You didn’t preview trailers and internet spoilers to detect that.

Jim was amiable enough around the first half of the episode and even held back on his hostility when Gene was making hospital visits but the end scenes in the office were great stuff. Jim didn’t hold back on his abhorrence of Gene there and there was some insight into his animosity of the Gene Genie.

The episode went to lengths to talk about Gene being at the heart of everything, which at this point in the series was something that most viewers would’ve naturally assumed anyways. There have been too many coincidences with Gene and Jim certainly hit a nerve by talking about his past.

Whatever it is that Gene has done that will make everyone turn on him has to be connected with Sam. Come on, they didn’t even try to be subtle about it as Alex found that file on Sam around the same time Jim was going into detail about destroying Gene’s little kingdom all around him.

In some ways, Jim has a point about Gene’s abilities as the guv but at the same time, we’ve seen Gene’s impulsiveness and maverick behaviour generate results that even Alex might have difficulty disagreeing with. Did Gene have something to do with Sam’s disappearance or death? With seven episodes left, it looks like we might finally get some proper answers on that one.

As for Jim – he visited Alex in the hospital, warned her about history repeating itself and seemed to generally know what she was going through exactly. Now this could also tie into the whole Sam debacle as well and while he may share a disdain for everyone else in HQ, he’s certainly interested in her. Alex, I’d watch myself if I were you.

As for the case of the week story, I wasn’t as drawn to it as I was with previous ones. It was made obvious halfway through it that David’s new wife Marjorie was responsible for Dotty’s kidnapping as well and there was never a real threat that the baddies were actually going to kill the girl, even when Ray fluffed up the sting itself.

Still, I did like some of the cryptic comments that Marjorie made to Alex about Gene as well as a certain line uttered earlier in the episode by Alex was also said by Marjorie when she was explaining her love for dodgy criminal Gary Sopher but other than that, the main case wasn’t the most compelling of ones that the show has done.

That being said, apart from Gene’s refusal to back off, there were some other highlights with the case – Ray’s grudging respect of Alex’s authority/instincts, Chris getting a clue about the codes and computer chips and even Shaz getting to do a bit of surveillance. It’s also however a little sad that Chris and Shaz broke up between seasons but hats off to Chris for trying to keep things as cordial as possible.

Also in “Episode 17”

Apart from adding Daniel Mays name to the opening credits, I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed with them this year.

Alex: “My name is Alex Drake and quite frankly, your guess is as good as mine.”

I see that the BBC are still gonna use the ident for introducing each episode but why did they have to move this to bloody Friday?

Chris: “We didn’t think you were coming back.”
Gene: “Nor did I after the report you gave me.”

Ray: “Guv, you’re a wanted man.”
Gene: “Don’t you know it’s nice to be wanted?”

No Bowie clowns or cryptic talk of Operation Rose for Alex. This season she gets to see a scarred copper. Like that henchmen of Gary’s.

Ray (to Chris/Shaz): “You two aren’t even together and she’s got you reading lesbian poetry.”

Gene (to Alex): “You know I missed you but now that you’re back, I’m getting all annoyed again?”

Keeley Hawes has got a different hairstyle for Alex this season and Marshall Lancaster is still wearing blond streaks in his hair as well.

Jim: “You asked about handcuffs, I could use them on you now.”
Gene: “Try it, Jim.”

Alex (to Gene): “I’m glad I came back. This place needs me, it’s crying out for me.”

Alex sent Molly away to her father after she woke up. I wonder what Evan had to say about it.

Gene: “What is it?”
Alex: “A please wouldn’t kill you.”

Standout music: Kings Of Leon’s “Sex On Fire”, Queen And David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” and Eurythemics “Sweet Dreams” to name the obvious ones.

Jim (to Gene): “I know what you did three years ago. I know.”

Chronology: Three months since the second season finale.

As opening episodes go, it’s not the strongest one that the show has done but in it’s final year, it’s still an intriguing start to the chain of events that will ultimately bring this whole five year saga to an end, though hopefully a satisfying one.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

The Eve Of New Who (Doctor Who Season 5 Spoilers)

It's the eve of The Eleventh Hour, so here's one more blog to hype up proceedings for the arrival of Series 5. First, there's a new cast picture with the Doctor and Amy that's been released and it's definitely one of the stronger ones.

Steven Moffat does an introductory scene for the first episode of the new series, nicely explaining the series opener.

The Doctor finds himself handcuffed to a radiator when Amy demands some answers from him. There's something involving a perception filter and a certain crack in regards to Amy's house. Another clip featured them arguing around a duck pond and Amy wondering why it's suddenly gone dark.

The Doctor, Amy and presumably Poem Girl wind up looking worse for wear during The Beast Below. We know the Smilers oversee everything in this episode in regards to humanity's survival and that making them angry isn't advisable but it's not just them that need to be worried about. In the DWM 420 preview for Victory Of The Daleks, Mark Gatiss noted that the Daleks win in this episode but what constitutes a victory for them? They don't kill the Doctor or Amy, so that won't be it? Maybe it's a moral or intellectual victory or they do something to change history given the time period they're in.

Karen Gillan was interviewed on both CBBC and GMTV this morning as viewers are a day away from getting to know Amy Pond for themselves. Apparently she's also a big Ten/Rose fan as well, which will undoubtedly pleased certain fans.

Matt Smith was interviewed today by Zane Lowe and once Blogger stops acting up, I'll add links to certain interviews/preview clips. Remember Season 5, Saturday 6.20pm on BBC1.

My Top 50 Doctor Who Stories Part 9

Two days left for The Eleventh Hour, so expect the final part of this list up before the episodes airs on BBC1.

6: The War Games (2nd Doctor)

For a regeneration story, this was certainly longer than expected. 10 whole episodes with different wars being played out for perverse pleasure, a charismatic Time Lord foe in the War Chief and then the rest of the Time Lords being total bastards by forcing Two to change and wiping Zoe and Jamie's memories before sending them back to their own times. Plus the ending is rather haunting.

7: Human Nature/The Family Of Blood (10th Doctor)

A thing that has occurred in the new series quite a bit is that some of the stories have been based on or have used bits from past books, audios and comic strips. Paul Cornell wrote this story for the Seventh Doctor and Benny and it worked second time around for Ten and Martha. A human Doctor who falls in love and has to give it all up to save the world, this is certainly one of the most sophisticated stories from the series as a whole.

8: The Stolen Earth/Journey's End (10th Doctor)

RTD sure did love his larger than life finales, didn't he? With this one, you have two Doctors, Rose, Martha, Donna, Jack, Mickey, Sarah Jane, Torchwood, K9 and Luke against the Daleks and Davros but none of that mattered. It was the heartbreaking way that Donna's memories had to be wiped away that got to me the most. Here's hoping that Amy isn't for a similar fate.

9: The Three Doctors (3rd Doctor)

Multi-Doctors are a big thing and the first one to gather Doctors One, Two and Three might be the most cohesive of the bunch. It was certainly a good way of debuting the series tenth year and Omega is one of the best Time Lord figures used in the series. Maybe not Master brilliant but he certainly had a presence in this story.

10: The Deadly Assassin (4th Doctor)

Probably the only genunely companionless story of the entire series for the Doctor, this is also one of the most violent stories too. The Master goes to virtually any length to prolong his existence and in dreams we see the Doctor nearly drowned at one point. Plus the ending is utterly brilliant when a certain someone lets his escape known.

Magazine Covers And Detailed Spoilers For Season 5 Of Doctor Who

Four days to go and here are the magazines covering the return of Doctor Who. Warning: spoilers.

Radio Times - gotta love them. The cover has a new picture of the Doctor and Amy Pond and you get to see the inside of the TARDIS for the first time. I like it but the lack of a railing makes me hope our TARDIS duo don't have too many crashes. Interesting nuggets also included Matt Smith admitting he wrote fanfiction with the Doctor and Einstein to help him with the role. I can think of a certain episode for Season 6 now.



Gay Times - apparently Matt Smith is the first actor to play the Doctor to be on the cover of a gay publication. The issue came out last week and the coverage in twelve pages was brilliant. Every main player for the new series was interviewed and while there weren't any big spoilers (except maybe for the character of Rory - thanks Arthur Darvill), it was still a worthy issue.

Issue 420 of DWM comes out on April 1st and there are some new interviews with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan to behold as well as previews for the first five episodes. You've also got the option of two covers. Which one to snag is up to you but I think I'll go for the Matt one.

Then again, the one with Karen Gillan does look lovely as well. Oh, it doesn't matter as long as get some more spoilers and covers for the first series of 11th Doctor/Amy Pond books that are due out in April.

Matt and Karen were in Belfast yesterday to promote the new series (the kids loved it) and there was an interview with them on Radio Ulster. Sadly the female presenter kept mistaking Karen for Amy throughout the interview and that recurring question of 'what if there was a female Doctor?' popped up again. Is every companion from now gonna get asked that question? Other places that Matt and Karen's tour will take this is Iverness, Sutherland, Salford and Northampton between today and tomorrow. Matt also did an interview for Chris Moyles as well.

Some recent promotional pictures from the BBC Doctor Who site in regards to the arrival of the new series. The site has a series of different videos and preview clips as well as some character files and an archive for the RTD era and the Classic Series as well.

As for an episode guide for the new series, here goes nothing ...

5x01: The Eleventh Hour - Introduces the Doctor and Amy as they team up to save the world from the Atraxi, who are in pursuit of Prisoner Zero by any means neccessary.

5x02: The Beast Below - Doctor/Amy in the far future as the British people are amongst the stars. A masked lady wants the Doctor's help and Amy discovers a terrible secret that no-one else can remember.

5x03: Victory Of The Daleks - WW2 based where the Doctor and Amy discover that the Daleks are being used by Churchill or do they have their own plan? The Doctor needs Churchill's help to stop them.

5x04/5x05: The Time Of Angels/Flesh And Stone - A crashed spaceship, shattered temple and a climb to the maze of the dead. Weeping Angels are on the loose of the ruins of the Alfava Metraxis and River needs the Doctor's help. Amy also discovers something worse than just not looking at the Weeping Angels as well.

5x06: Vampires In Venice - First episode to add Rory as a companion and based in Venice where the House of Calverri has the city in lockdown. Also some slightly creepy girls with an aversion to sunlight.

5x07: Amy's Choice - Five years after her travels with the Doctor ended, Amy is reunited with him and on the eve of the birth of her first child, she's faced with a heartbreaking choice.

5x08/5x09 - 2015 and Dr Nashreen Chaudhry's team are drilling down to the Earth's crust but Amy realises that you can't trust the ground beneath your feet.

5x10 - Terror lurks in the cornfields of Provence and the Doctor and Amy team up with Vincent Van Gogh to take on the threat in question.

5x11 - The Doctor's forced to live in Aickman Road for a week and help solve the problem of a sinister force of a staircase that people walk up but never come down in. The one where he plays football.

5x12/5x13 - A message on the oldest cliff face in the universe, a puzzle box opening from the inside and a love that lasts a thousand years - the fates are drawing close around the TARDIS - is this the day the Doctor falls?

Guest stars this season include Arthur Darvill, Annette Crosbie, Olivia Coleman, Nina Wadia, Sophie Okenedo, Terrence Hardiman, Ian McNiece, Bill Patterson, Alex Kingston, Iain Glen, Helen McCrory, Toby Jones, Meera Syal, Stephen Moore, Neve McIntosh, Tony Curran, Bill Nighy, James Corden, Daisy Haggard and Melanie Walters.

BBC Site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw

Radio Ulster Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9zrAGdThY8

Chris Moyles Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPLHZqZb-pU