DOCTOR WHO SEASON 6 REVIEWS- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

This weeks part one of a two parter was a romp that hit a checklist of Sci-Fi clichés, took doctor who back toward its roots, and did what it most needed to do, occupy space while using very little of the budget (the cash gained from these two episodes’ limitations is what allowed our heroes to  play around in Utah and what not).  All that being said, its rather hard to judge the first episode of a two-parter, especially a more traditional one like this.  It’s a bit like shutting the movie “12 Monkeys” off at the halfway point and saying, “Well, what do you think?”  All that won’t stop me from trying though, so look below for my spoiler filled review.

“Yes spoilers are insane and they’re about to get ‘insanerer.”

THE GOOD

*THE ‘GANGERS – The concept, albeit no where near a new one, was pretty cool and fairly well executed.  The actors had a difficult job of playing themselves and their bizzaro clayface selfs, but they all did a good job.  The effects (except for the snake one, and we’ll get to that later) were simple but freaky.  Even though this was a more traditional Who episode, it definitely played well to the creepy of the new series.

* THE DOCTORGANGER – As much as the ending was telegraphed the length the Pretenders would walk away (500 miles, if you don’t get that joke) it was still pretty damn cool way to end the episode.  I get to spend all week thinking about how this can be handled, or mishandled.  What’s especially great about it is that it flipped everything on its head.  The Doctor was all for the Gangers and the Normies to kiss and make up, but how will he feel about another Doctor calling the shots, or another Doctor that feels he has just as much right to the Tardis?  This puts his own morals under fire, or rather, under acid, and it will be interesting and fun to watch next week.

THE BAD

* Why Can’t We All Just Get Along – It’s petty, but I’m growing kind of sick of the didactic “why does war have to happen” episodes when it all goes to hell because one psycho-lady can’t handle the concept of talking before filling the objects-that-are-supposed-to-represent-the-middle-east-or-some-such-nonsense full of lead.  We get it.  We humans; we stupid, we fight each other.   I guess I’m only so mad because its so similar to last years hungry earth saga. Couldn’t we just watch Rory fake die again (please, no, Stephen Moffat, that was a joke).

THE UGLY

The Snake-Ganger thing looked horrible.   Find whoever made that CGI and sack him!

BOLD PREDICTIONS

* GANGERS WON’T FEEL SO H.G. WELL – They spent a lot of needless time having the one normie sneeze a lot.  I’m guessing in the end all the gangers will die from the common cold.  I don’t want this to happen, again, it’s horribly cliché, but such is life.  Clearly they have to have them all die in some sort of inevitable way anyways, otherwise the presence of the gangers (especially the one that looks like Matt Smith) presents to many problems.

FINAL SUMMARY

Like I said, it’s hard to review part one, but thus far I’m along for the ride.