DW 5x04 - The Time of Angels

[caz963]

Well, that was... the best episode of the new series (so far).



I need to watch it again to string some more coherent thoughts together, because the kids kept asking questions and hiding from the angels, but my initial reaction was "YAY!" I liked the humour and it was tightly paced and really well played by everyone.

That pre-credits sequence has to be one of the best ever.

Alex Kingston was great (as she always is) and obviously had a great time. The interaction between the Doctor and River was fantastic and from this episode, I really got a sense of there being a 'proper' relationship between them (even if it hasn't happened for him yet). Or the potential for there being a proper relationship... whatever.
I didn't get that from her earlier episodes with Ten - the atmosphere between them was very different and there was a lot more hostility towards her on his part. Which I suppose is understandable, given that the Doctor is a control freak and would not at all have liked being suddenly faced with someone really pushy who knew more than he did.

I like the idea of the "Spotters Guide". *g*

Anyway, I liked the way they pushed each others' buttons and sniped at each other. And - even more of a shock - I began to like Amy a bit. I hope that continues because I'd hate to go through a whole series (or two) watching the show whilst disliking the Doctor's companion.

Also - I think that the Moff may have confirmed my theory that River only ever met Ten that one time, in the Library. In the Confidential, he starts off a section which talks about the Library episodes by saying (of the Doctor) he's been dreading this, he's been dreading his next encounter with River. I know that mine is rather a minority theory, and that those who think otherwise will find a different interpretations for that comment, but I don't see how it can mean anything else.

Obviously, she knows her way around this version of the TARDIS.

Interesting - the Doctor is sure that River is his wife sometime in the future, but River is more cagey about it when Amy asks her. All is clearly not as it seems as far as she's concerned, but I can handle that element of mystery with a recurring character.

Spoilers (hightlight to read) - I'm sure I've read somewhere that River is in the series finale, too, so I imagine we'll find out more about her as and when she pops up, even if it's in the wrong order. I wonder if we'll find out what she was in prison for this time around?

The scene where the angel is materialising out of the television screen was inspired (my eldest was (and still is) terrified! - Moffat unquestionably knows how to pinpoint the scary, and surely that's the stuff of every kids nightmares - a monster coming out of the TV. Amy's solution to the "don't blink" instruction was amusing - winking with alternate eyes!

I thought the thing with the voices on the radios was very reminiscent of "who turned out the lights?" - and that's not a criticism, because I don't mind the odd bit of recycling here and there.

It's unusual for the Doctor not to object to being called "sir" by military types (even though they're priests) - and then asking for a gun (even though it's not to shoot anyone!)

Great cliffhanger ;-)

No crack this time (or not that I noticed), although it was in the trailer for next week.

Can't wait for next week!

Comments

[caz963.livejournal.com]

The warming might just be due to the fact that Amy was more in the background this week and had less screen time, of course!

The wibbly-wobbly nature of the River/Doctor timeline is very intriguing. I mean, how do you go on a first date with someone you've already spent time with? It's like they're destined to be always in the middle of a relationship - which is an idea I kinda like. It's also a very useful writing device, I think because Moff can have River pop up just about anywhere and not have to give too much of an explanation!

The one problem with it though is that it's confusing for kids. Mine thought River was dead so I had to pause the programme and explain it to them - and even then I'm not completely sure they got it.

[crossoverman.livejournal.com]

I think the only issue I have with the Doctor/River relationship is that she'll always be in control - which is part of the point, since the Doctor is always in control and she's one of the rare people who know something he doesn't: his own future. But relationships - good healthy ones - should achieve some kind of balance of power and unless Moffat tells a story about the end of their relationship, where the Doctor knows as much about her as she does about him, then it's always going to be unbalanced. Which is a bit frustrating. But, it's sort of impossible to tell that story. Well, not impossible, but really difficult - since in a sense we're following the Doctor's existence in a linear way, from one life to the next and rarely skipping back.

It probably does confuse the kids, but it's also the sort of thing that kids love once they understand it. I love it now, but as a big fan of the Back to the Future movies when I was between 10 and 15 years old, I would have been in heaven with this kind of timey-wimey story.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I agree with your points about the balance in the relationship, and how difficult it will be to show that. River certainly seems to have rather a lot written in that diary and of course we're never going to see most of it, although it would be nice to have a point where she asks "have we done this yet?" and he's able to say that they have.

Thinking about it though, I suppose one could argue that River's having all this information isn't so much tipping the balance her way as evening things up. The Doctor is always going to have the power in any relationship purely because of who he is and what he can do, so this sort of puts them on a more even footing.

[crossoverman.livejournal.com]

I guess you're right, it does put them on an even footing. Actually the scene in the TARDIS this week, after she landed it, showed him getting one back on her by going outside and telling them exactly where they landed without benefit of a computer or an environment scanner.

I do love their banter, though. And I think she's good to have around, especially with Amy as the Companion - since she's new to the Doctor and can ask all the questions that are on our mind.