Doctor Who: The Zygon Inversion

I'm back a day late and a dollar short to watch the Zygon Inversion.  "With the Zygons invading England, and UNIT neutralized, the Doctor stands alone to stop the Zygons from taking over the entire planet. But how can he stop the Zygons? And how can he save his friends?"  We last saw the Doctor with Osgood on the Presidential plane as Z-Clara shot a rocket at it.  How ever will the Doctor get out of this!  HE IS DOOOOOOMED!

• Well that is tooth paste, that makes sense
• Is she getting random input from her double?  COOL!
• Weird she has slight control.  Wonder how that will come back
• Set him free?
• Wait...was he already a Zygon or did she turn him into on?  My guess is he already was one
• Really?  A parachute?  Way to go Doctor Disco!
• Now I wonder what IS in the Doctor's browser history
• John Disco?
• Classic distraction
• Peter Capaldi has a creepy smile
• Jenna Coleman has a GREAT smile!
• a built in lie detector....interesting
• Oh no, the creepy lighting.  The creepy lighting is never a good thing
• What about the mind wiping thingy in the archive?
• Why wake Clara up?
• Loving the Doctors speech!
• Can Zygons clone Zygons?
• The Judge of Time?  I like that...the Judge

Well that was amazing!  These episode are why I love Doctor Who.  Episodes that have a slight message but don't get all preachy because they're doing it a great speech.  

This felt like a David Tennant/Russell T. Davies episodes to be honest.  I could see #10 doing this episode but I don't think he could have given the speech at the end the same.  Peter has more history to draw on, more memories.  Oh don't get me wrong #10 would have been great, #11 would have been good but #12 was just the right time.

I don't know if Moffat wrote this or not as he has a writing credit but it might be because he is the show running but it reminds me that he really is one of my favorite Doctor Who writers.  Not my favorite show runner (even thought there has only been two) but one of my favorite writers.

These last two episodes had good to great acting, good pacing (a little drawn out at times) and the story itself fantastic.  It made me not hate Osgood nearly as much as I did.  Made me continue to love #12.  Reminded me that if Clara does actually leave (hey rule number one, the Doctor always lies) I'll be extremely disappointed.  All the companions have been good (even Donna Noble) but I REALLY like Clara.  She is the perfect mix of good and bad, ying and yang, young and old, and personally I think she is the best actress to be in the role (her and Martha).  

I will be sad and if what few headlines I've seen probably shed a tear what Clara leaves the TARDIS. My only hope is that they find a way to give her happiness with Pink...but its Doctor Who and that doesn't usually happen does it?   The only good thing about Clara leaving is we'll get to see how it effects the Doctor which could be very bad!

Now I'm sad thinking about the show without Clara!  Damn you Doctor Who, you're such a wonderful show but you always make me think about things I don't want to think about.  It is also what makes you so wonderful!

Until next time, just close the boxes boys and girls...next time they might not just be a two buttons. Talk it out, love each other...and as a last resort go out for a drink with each other, the Winchester is a wonderful place to ride out the end of the world I hear!

Doctor Who: The Woman Who Lived

We're back, sorry I've been a little more quiet than usual this week.  Work got in the way along with a cold that won't give up.  Anyway its time for "The Woman Who Lived".  Ashildr is back.  In England, 1651. A deadly highwayman known only as 'The Nightmare' plagues the dark streets of London, his fire-breathing accomplice by his side. There's something clearly more than human here, and that includes the loot as much as the outlaws. Who are these creatures, and are they enemies to be fought, or friends who might possibly save the Doctor from certain doom on the gallows?

• Fake voice?
• Really?  Screaming because of a little eye shine?
• Fish in the Night?
• Where is Clara?  Taking Taekwondo?
• Why doesn't she know her name?  Oh I see
• Is that a PKE meter?  Egon would be proud
• She cured Scarlet Fever?  Scarlet Fever sucks...I know
• Incredible clever?  Sounds a bit like Clara
• What did you do Doctor?
• She is evil?  Oh the Doctor will be so very sad
• Everyone wears masks Doctor, everyone
• How does she know these things?
• Was that a Thundercat?
• Oh good grief, the sonic glasses still?
• Even back then guys has to sleep on the couch?
• He's lost too many "Me"
• "No not the puns.  Line in the sand.  No puns." -The Doctor
• Wouldn't be good?  Really Doctor?  That is your reason?
• Thunder, thunder, thunder, thunder cats HO!
• Is that the Beast from Beauty and the Beast?  Ron Perlman is that you?
• The Doctor does make weapons and bad guys everywhere he goes doesn't he?
• Is she going to open the Oblivion Gates?
• So she isn't immortal?  I'm confused
• Wait, the Doctor is wanted...again?
• 20 pounds?  THEY'LL BE RICH!
• See, puns are going to get you killed Doctor
• Uggg, really?  Goodbye Thundercat
• CAPTAIN JACK!!

I wonder if Ashildr will be back.  An interesting episode for sure.  Obviously setting up things to come with the Doctor and Clara.  I like this Doctor I really do.  He is different then 9 - 12 but you see glimpses of each in him.  I also like that they have him keeping doing little call back to other version of himself with a phrase here or a look there.  I felt like in modern Who they forgot the past when a new Doctor came along.  This time they seem to be calling back to all the Doctors from the past.

This episode in vacuum was not that great.  When looked at from the series story arc I think we'll find it much better.  When I say "this episode" I mean last weeks and this week.  It is really one 90 minute episode.  The only time I'd go back and watch these episodes would be if I was rewatching the season.  

I'm going to hold complete judgment for the when the season (or half way point because I think this storyline will conclude prior to Christmas or with the Christmas episode).  However I want to say three things.

1.  The Doctor is correct about puns

2.  The Doctor is wrong about banter

3.  The Doctor needs to get rid of the sunglasses!

Until next time...Abyssinia!!

Doctor Who: Under the Lake: A Review

Time for Episode 3 of Season 9 of Doctor Who.  This time we go Under the Lake.  Ghosts?  Water? Running?  Sounds like a lot of fun to me!  Lets go.....Under the Lake!

• Mysterious vehicle?  Never a good thing
• The mute girl will be important I'm sure
• They need to be careful about reusing actors from the past and Torchwood, its weird
• AI will kill us all!  Just like Stephen Hawking said
• This already feels like a 42, which I loved.  BURN WITH ME!
• If Charles Dickens shows up I am done boys and girls
• Are Clara and the TARDIS still fighting?
• Is Clara trying to replace Danny with danger?
• I like Capt. Moran as an actor
• No interested in Clara?  Are they blind...oh right....
• Why is the Doctor wearing a wedding ring?
• Oh the running...I missed the running
• Oh good grief, its always about oil!
• Faraday cage?  Interesting
• I love this Doctor!
• How did they miss that?  Humans, never paying attention
• badgers?  We don't need any stinking badgers!
• I need someone to make me cards like that.  Honestly I need a carer like Clara
• I love how quickly this show goes by!  
• Night mode?  That is a bad thing right?
• The Cloister Bell is NEVER a good thing....never
• Is the Doctor starting to see "Doctor Clara"?  
• How cute is Jenna Coleman?  The correct answer is a lot!
• Yeah, not Bennett sunshine
• I wish I could read lips right now....like the deaf girl!
• Then there were 3....
• That isn't the correct type of chair to attack someone with!  It's gotta be a folding chair 
• Who are you going to call?  
• Cabin in the Woods reference?  Big fan of the writer Toby Whithouse
• He also did The God Complex which was excellent and School Reunion
• This also feels a little like the Impossible Planet which I also loved
• Hey?  Hey ghosts?  That worked?
• Are they trying to find peace?
• The sunglasses again?  Not a fan!
• Ah yes, the Doctor figured it out, just like me.  I CAN BE THE NEXT DOCTOR!
• Invasion?  Distress call?
• Clever by osmosis?  Does that work?
• Of course the Bennett person speaks reason....and then doesn't follow reason.  
• I often threaten to come back and haunt people....Toby must know some real Bennetts!
• Damn dead locks!
• I kind of want a clockwork squirrel
• Wait?  What?!?!
• A two parter?  FUCK YOU TOBY!!

Really?  Another two parter?  Damn it!  I hate waiting.  This is why I hate watching TV in "real time" and not binge watching.  I will say that I loved this episode and everyone in it.  This season has really restored my love for the show.  Everything about it has been great.  Go watch it boys and girls, love Doctor Who again.  No giant overreaching storylines that don't make sense (well so far).  Just good writing and great acting which we had years ago.  Enjoy boys and girls and until next time...remember....run!