I caught up on Season 7 this weekend. I was put off by the first half of 'Asylum'. Having spent much of my adult life involved in both the construction and event-planning industries, I find myself very riled up by scenes like the 'Great Hall of the Daleks'. Who designed that Great Hall? Who built it? They are a race of insanely destructive robots, yet they spent money to hire a lighting consultant to provide dramatic, spot-lighting effects for this one-time moment? And who assigns seating? Is there a Dalek office of Protocol? But, no--they are a race of insanely destructive robots. It's the same reaction I have to Klingons--they're simply not smart enough to have designed the ships they fly around in and the outfits they wear. The fabrics are so lovely--are there gay Klingon textile designers????
Anyway--I did think Oswin was great--loved her sassy spark. I had the same question as Spider--when she erased the Doctor from the collective memory, she should have forgotten him as well. I like the idea that the next companion will not be yet another East Ender, or--if she is--at least a Victorian one. Why must Companions be Human? And the silly pun of "Egg......sterminate" actually made me laugh every time. I also liked that "eggs" were the clue to the Doctor's understanding of what was going on.
I thought "Dinosaurs" was a perfectly fine stand-alone romp. The title is just provocative enough to make one wonder what it might be a metaphor for, and I was pleased that it was actually quite literal. I agree with whomever expressed frustration at the idea that the dissolution of the Pond marriage will be tossed away with the pop-psychology conclusion that we've been given. ON the other hand, the series is not 'about' Rory and Amy, so perhaps it is better treated as a minor loose thread to be tied off.
Someone in the decision-making chain of NuWho seems determined to keep the Camp factor at high pitch, and, while I am also not a big fan of Mitchell and Web, I do like the series' tendency to put a Camp spin on things now and then. Maybe we could have Miss Jaye from Top Model make a guest appearance?
I thought 'Town Called Mercy' was excellent. Well conceived, well-acted and addressing some of the deeper themes of the 'NuWho'--it variously called up 'Last Midnight'--"You're responsible--YOU'RE the one!!!!" and Season 4's "Midnight" episode, in which the travelers on the stalled tourist bus turn on each other. It almost seemed to comment on the current US Presidential race, but I suspect I brought that reading to the table more than the writers did. But really--"Protect me from frightened human beings!" should be the official Obama Campaign slogan.
I have recommended Steven Cooper's "Who" recaps before, and I do so again now. The recap for this episode added so much for my inner fan-boy--like the fact that the old-timer who played out the running gag of the mortician measuring the Doctor for his coffin is a 'Who" veteran from the 1970's. I love that sh*t. And for all the time that I spent watching 'Farscape' waiting for Ben Browder to take his shirt off--again!--I didn't recognize that he was Isaac, although his voice DID make me go all gooey in a way that seemed familiar. Cooper is definitely worth a read.
Steven Cooper on "A Town Called Mercy"
You think, what do you want?
You think, make a decision...
Updated On: 9/26/12 at 06:03 PM
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
