Well, I’ve talked a bit about how exciting the “next time” trailer was, but what about the episode itself?

Borrowing from a sci-fi staple, time is altered so that Donna never met the Doctor, resulting in his death during his battle with the Racnoss.  Its downhill for Earth from there.

This was probably one of the strongest scripts RTD has delivered.  Its always fun seeing how alternate Earths might’ve turned out, safe in the knowledge that things will be back to normal at the end.  However, this was more haunting than that.  The scenes of London’s destruction after being hit by the Titanic were incredibly well done, and it was genuinely disturbing watching things go downhill, as Earth struggles to repel the various alien menaces without the Doctor’s help.  Its not long before we hear that both Martha and Sarah Jane (and Luke, Maria and Clyde.  Ouch) died at the hands of the Juudoon, and the Torchwood team sacrifice themselves to stop the Sontarans turning Earth into their new cloning world.

Of course, all eyes were on Billie Piper’s return as Rose, however she was by no means the star of this episode.  This was Donna’s chance to shine, and Catherine Tate stepped up to the mark admirably, blowing away all her nay-sayers (yes, that includes me.  I wasn’t pleased by the initial announcement either, but in my defense, I was still smarting from Martha leaving, and a pre-season 4 rewatch of the Runaway Bride completely changed my mind).   There’s no doubt in my mind that Donna has been the perfect 10th Doctor companion.  She plays off of Tennant’s Doctor perfectly in a way neither Rose (who I’ll always view as more suited to the 9th Doctor) nor Martha did.  Catherine Tate really seized this chance to show off her acting muscles, and you really felt Donna’s desperation as she thinks she’s realised she won’t die, only to have Rose tell her otherwise.

An absolutely cracking episode.  The killer cliffhanger was only the icing on the cake.  And we even got a nice reference to Sarah Jane Adventures when the Doctor identified the Time Beetle as one of the Trickster’s Brigade (a being who wiped Sarah Jane from history and had commented that it’d be a laugh to do the same to the Doctor).

All eyes are on the finale now.  There’s no doubt in my mind that for me, this has been the strongest season yet.  The finale’s got a lot to live up to, and with juggling all those different elements and characters, its either going to be the most awesome finale ever, or a complete disaster.    Personally, I’m hyped up for it and can’t wait till Saturday.

Well, the second trailer today is up for the Stolen Earth.

However, I’m not going to repost it here, as I know some of my friends will want to avoid spoilers, and this one contains a huge spoiler.

However, if you’re already fairly well spoiled, or don’t care, then click here.  Its a good ‘un.

Yeah, this blog’s probably going to be a bit Dr Who-crazy for the next 14 days or so…

I noticed today that my first Dr Who Music Video on Youtube has passed 1000 views!

Ok, so that’s not much in the grand scheme of Youtube, but still its a good acomplishment for me

Surprisingly my classic series tribute is also doing well, having racked up 270 views, versus my other new series tribute, which only has 94.   I say surprising, because the classic series one was the one I’d quickly cobbled together to test out an idea I had, versus the new series one, which I actually spent some time over.

Well, the Stolen Earth hype is firmly underway, with the Beeb showing a new teaser this morning, and a longer trailer expected tonight just before 7pm.  Here’s the Dalek teaser.

6 days to go…

I like the caption section on the BBC Youtube channel

Well, anyone that watched tonight’s Dr Who probably had their head explode due to the sheer awesomeness of the next time trailer.  Daleks, Sarah Jane, Torchwood, Daleks vs Torchwood…

Its going to be a long 7 day wait…

Here’s the next time trailer, which the Beeb have nicely put up on Youtube.

Well, it really feels like we’re entering the home straight now, as RTD resume writing duties for the last 4 episodes.

Midnight was a cracking little bottle show. With minimal sets and a small cast, it gave the characters a chance to shine, as the Doctor’s tendancy to swan in to a situation and take charge lands him in bad trouble.

David Tennant always shines in these kinds of scripts, and this was no exception, as we saw the Doctor fighting against the influence of the creature.

I’d say this was definitely one of my favourite RTD scripts from the new series. Great episode. And this Saturday it all kicks off, as Donna finally meets Rose. Looking forward to it

I was over at the Highland games today, and they had a Dalek tent, with a Cushing-style Dalek chatting to (and usually scaring) the kids, and a big Dalek Sec you could get your photo taken with.

Ace

Well, we’ve just finished the latest Stephen Moffat 2-parter, and its another good ‘un.

Its no wonder, RTD has referred to Moffat as a “safe pair of hands” (and a good thing to, given he offered him his job), given that every script he’s turned in has been great.

Its a testament to the quality of this season though, that it doesn’t stand out in the way his previous scripts have amongst the other stories we’ve had, but that doesn’t mean it was any less good. If I had any complaints, it would be that the central story surrounding River Song felt too familiar. I’ve never read The Time Traveller’s Wife, but it reminded me heavily of the 5th Doctor audio adventure “The Game”, wherein the Doctor meets a negotiator for the first time. Only the negotiator has known the Doctor for years and views him as an old friend.

The VashtaNerada were a great monster, although I did notice the count the shadows thing backfiring early in episode two, where at one point River clearly had two shadows (obviously a fluke of the on-set lighting). For me, the most fun in the story was the mystery of the little girl and Doctor Moon, and just how they factored into things.

There were some great iconic moments as well. That final shot of Tennant standing infront of the TARDIS and clicking his fingers sent a shiver down my spine. And the character of River Song was interesting in how she gave us insight into a future Doctor. Its unknown how far in the future, or which regeneration of the Doctor she knew (she knows about regeneration, so its possible she knew him in more than one incarnation, although she didn’t seem phased by his 10th appearance so presumably she’s at least met that incarnation before). I loved the idea that our Doctor is still very young, and still weighed down by darkness (which we’ve seen in the 10th Doctor in terms of his loneliness, or his brutality in dealing with the Family of Blood for example). River seems to know a Doctor who’s lightened up more underneath his surface, and embraces life fully, unburdened by being the Last of the Time Lords.

Next week looks interesting. A nice bottle show, with the Doctor separated from Donna. Looking forward to it.

The BBC have put the new mid season trailer for Doctor Who on their Youtube channel.

Looking good. I’m not a big fan of Rose, but Silence in the Library should be good, and a big Dalek story is usually fun.