Tag Archives: doctor who

Are the Cybermen scary again? Review of Doctor Who Nightmare in Silver

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Back in the 1960s the Cybermen were quite scary (I’ve seen  the DVDs – I’m not that old!). They met Patrick Troughton’s Doctor Who many times, towered over their victims and spoke in an unsettling electronic monotone.

When the BBC brought the Cybermen back in the 1980s they were less formidable, less scary and almost became figures of fun. They were susceptible to gold and at a real low point in their history, the Doctor’s companion, Ace, dispatched them with a pocket full of gold coins and a catapult.

Even the Cybermen in the rebooted post 2005 Doctor Who have suffered from poor stories and have been too easy to defeat.

Show runner Stephen Moffat promised us that Neil Gaiman’s script Nightmare in Silver would make the Cybermen scary again.

Review of Doctor Who Nightmare in Silver
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So did it succeed in its mission?

The new Cyberman design actually looks very like the 1960s creepier versions so I approve of that. And that they can detach their hands and their heads to attack their enemies is innovative but hardly the stuff that nightmares are made of. I liked their new ability to speed up and their time flow to dash in and kidnap the children, but then found it confusing later when they did not use this technique to attack the castle. Cybermites – tiny little robotic bugs, are an excellent evolution of the Cybermats. The Cybermen’s other new ability to “upgrade” to counteract new threats reminded me of The Borg in Star Trek The Next Generation.

So I think Neil Gaiman has made the Cybermen interesting again but I wouldn’t go as far as scary.

The cast is very strong with Matt Smith showing absolute relish playing an evil “cyber-planner” version of himself. His interactions with himself were very well-played. Jenna-Louise Coleman continues to shine as Clara proving that she is one of the strongest companions the Doctor has had since the show returned in 2005.

I didn’t particularly like the soldiers who just came across as buffoons and ultimately served no purpose other than as Cyberman cannon fodder.

Warwick Davis, I felt, excelled as Porridge, the little chap who the Galactic Emperor. But as has happened to much this season the ending was too easy. Porridge arranges for everyone to be teleported off the planet so that they can use a huge bomb to destroy the Cybermen. Another Deus Ex Machina which left me feeling a little disappointed at the end of what was undoubtedly a very entertaining episode.

Your turn: Do you agree with my review of Doctor Who Nightmare in Silver? Did Neil Gaiman succeed in making the Cybermen scary again? Please leave a comment or post a link to your own review.

Alien trouble up north – Review of Doctor Who The Crimson Horror

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For the first fifteen minutes of Doctor Who The Crimson Horror I thought I was watching the pilot episode for a spin-off series featuring Victorian London detectives Madame Vastra, her wife Jenny, and their Sontaran side kick Strax. And very entertaining it was as well indeed I do hope they make such a spin-off series.

Strax gets all the funniest lines as he constantly suggests grenades and other war hardware as solutions to every problem. Madame Vastra remains an intriguing character, noble, and despite her lizard-like features, quite sexy. Jenny gets much more to do in this episode and I liked the moment when she steps out of her Victorian garb to show her Avengers style leather cat suit underneath. Perhaps this was a cute nod towards guest star Diana Rigg who, of course, was an Avengers girl back in the 1960s.

Review of Doctor Who The Crimson Horror
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The BBC really do period drama well and the costumes, props and locations in The Crimson Horror are of a particularly high standard.

“To find him she needs only ignore all keep out signs, go through every locked door, and run towards any form of danger that presents itself.”

The Vastra Crew are investigating the disappearance of people who go to Sweetville a seemingly idillic town up north away from corrupt London. Eventually Jenny finds The Doctor (Matt Smith) locked in a room doing his best Hell Boy impression with bright red skin and agonised moaning. This leads to an impressive flash back sequence told in a sepia tone like an old news reel. Once cured, the Doctor can also rescue Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and finally face the spooky harridan Miss Gillyflower.

“Yes, I’m the Doctor, you’re nuts, and I’m gonna stop you.”

Diana Rigg, who is also delighting audiences in the third series of Game of Thrones, stops just short of hamming up her part. Her interactions with her real life daughter, Rachel Stirling are a delight, and Stirling’s character, Ada,  is both sad and brave, especially when she realises her mother’s betrayal and becomes stronger as a result.

The Crimson Horror is a great episode of Doctor Who, funny and entertaining but I thought it was quite light weight. The reveal of the scarlet monster, Mr Sweet, attached and suckling on Rigg’s chest could have been a genuine horror moment but it was too cute. When Strax takes directions from a boy who reveals his name is Thomas Thomas I wanted to phone Stephen Moffat straight away and complain at the awfulness of this joke.

Overall it did feel as this was genuinely a children’s episode. If this was indeed a blue print for a spin of series about the Vastra Crew then I think we can expect a drama along the lines of The Sarah Jane Adventures rather then the more adult oriented Torchwood.

Your turn: Do you agree with my review of Doctor Who The Crimson Horror? Would you like to see a spin-off series featuring Vastra, Jenny and Strax? Please leave a comment and let me know what you think or post a link to your own review.

Review of Doctor Who Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

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Ever since Doctor Who first came to our screens nearly 50 years ago we’ve been fascinated by the inside of the TARDIS.

Of course it is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside but we rarely get to see beyond the control room with its hexagonal console.

Back in the 1970s when Tom Baker was at the helm they treated us to a chase through the corridors of the TARDIS, but to save money the BBC simply used an old hospital and swimming pool, hardly ultra modern.

So I was looking forward ago seeing what the inside of the TARDIS would look like with more budget and up to date special effects.

Review of Doctor Who Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS
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Actually it was both amazing and disappointing. The library set was particularly impressive but other rooms, especially the swimming pool, were so obviously photos added to the TV image. Maybe this was meant to be an homage to the classic series and its dodgy sets? The corridors were a little bland, although they were well-lit and had the feel of the film Alien about it.

At the beginning if the episode we saw a very impressive salvage space ship and the set up scenes with the salvage team were well done. Once we ventured deep into the TARDIS with the Doctor (Matt Smith) blackmailing the salvage team into helping him find Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) the tension mounts. Some of the scenes with the burned monsters stalking the travellers through dark corridors were scary and effective. Though I wasn’t quite certain about what they were. It’s implied that they are the burned future versions of the salvage team, the Doctor and Clara. Why then do they effectively try to kill themselves then?

The salvage team were a little wooden and I found the theme that they had managed to convince one of their number that he was an android a little too silly. I mean, if you only had an artificial arm and an eye you would notice that you still had normal bodily functions wouldn’t you?

When the Doctor and Clara found the TARDIS engine room we saw a leap of faith scene ripped off from an Indiana Jones film. And the conclusion, effectively pressing a reset button, continues the only disappointing feature of the current run of episodes – the weak conclusions.

This was a fun episode, well designed and entertaining, but after waiting so many years to go deep into the TARDIS I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Your turn: Do you agree with my review of Doctor Who Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS? What did you think of the episode? Please share your thoughts. Click below and leave a comment or post a link to your own review.

Time Travelling Ghost-busters – Review of Doctor Who Hide

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One of my favourite surprises in Film and TV is when the producers successfully pull off a “genre shift”. So, for example, you might start watching what you think is a romantic comedy but somewhere during the narrative the genre of the film shifts to a shoot ’em up action adventure.

The best cinematic example of “genre shift” that I can think of is in a film called “The Descent”. It starts of as an edge of seat drama about a group of girls pot-holing in deep dark caves. We experience the claustrophobia and terror as they become trapped by a rock fall and then try to traverse a bottomless chasm. Then about 45 minutes in the genre shifts to blood soaked creature horror. The first time I watched “The Descent” this change took me completely by surprise.

Doctor Who Hide has such a genre shift. It begins in the 1970s in a spooky rain lashed house. Candles flicker, shadows deepen, and we catch glimpses of the white ghost of a screaming lady. The director uses all the tricks from horror movies such as The Haunting and Paranormal Activity. It is very well done and is genuinely scary and makes the hairs rise on the back of your neck.

Review of Doctor Who Hide

It’s a small cast, with the ghost hunting characters of scientist  Alex (Dougray Scott) and psychic Emma (Jessica Raine) having room and time to be fleshed out satisfying. They are so obviously in love but unable to declare their devotion. Enter ghost-busters The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the creepiness becomes intense as they search the gloomy corridors for the troubled spirit.

The genre shift from horror back to traditional Doctor Who science fiction happens when we discover that the ghost is a lady time traveller called Hila trapped in a pocket universe and being stalked by a grotesque but unseen monster. The Doctor discovers this by taking Clara on a whistle-stop tour of the universe from its creation to its destruction (whilst seeing the “ghost” seemingly trapped in history). And this allows for some intense dialog between the Doctor and Clara which deepens the mystery of his new companion,  the girl “twice killed”.

There are echoes of reality show “Most Haunted” in Hide, and plenty of references to classic Doctor Who to keep the fans happy. Who spotted the blue crystal from Metebelis Three? And just what did Emma mean in her warning to Clara not to trust the Doctor – because “there’s a sliver of ice in his heart”,

The last genre shift was back to love story as Alex and Emma finally admit their feelings for each other.

But was it necessary to add the last 2 minutes of the story where, having successfully rescued Hila from the monster in the pocket universe, realises that the monster itself is trying to get to the “love of its own life”, a similar monster hiding in the spooky house. Off the Doctor then goes to try to unite the grotesque lovers. I suppose it was meant to be touching humorous – I just found it weakened an otherwise flawless “movie of the week”.

Your turn: Do you agree with my review of Doctor Who Hide? Have you come across any other good movies or TV dramas that pull off an unexpected genre shift. Please share your thoughts. Leave a comment or a link.