Doctor Who S8E06 - The Caretaker

I had difficult time writing about this one so the thoughts might be a bit shambled. Also I don't really have much to say about this one. It's a good episode, fun and character-centric, so it ticks most of the boxes I like my Doctor Who episodes to tick, but somehow it still feels a bit off to me. Maybe it's Twelve and his attitude. Maybe it's something else. Maybe I'm just not feeling the magic of the show anymore.

Like previous Gareth Roberts scripts, the episode is about the Doctor trying to blend among humans. Except Twelve is not trying very hard, just enough so that no one will disturb him. Eleven had fun trying to be one of the lads in 'The Lodger', but Twelve has to give himself a pep talk just to make through 2 days. He clearly does not care about humanity and the reason he tries to save people is because he's the Doctor, that's what he does. And yes, his humour is funny but he's being a bit too mean in this episode for my taste.

Of course the Doctor's hatred of soldiers is a part of this episode as Danny and Doctor finally meet and are told the truth of each other. I can understand why the Doctor would react so strongly to the fact the Clara is dating a soldier, but I really like Danny so can you please stop yelling at him, Doctor? Also the whole situation resembles a child bringing a boyfriend home to meet dad and it's a bit weird.

But I like Danny's reaction to everything. He sees right through Clara's lies and the Doctor. This seems to be a recurring thing since Rory knew exactly what kind of man the Doctor was when they first met. And I like that Danny does not push Clara, does not ask to come with them, or ask her to stop, just asks her to be honest with him and let him be there for her.

I have mentioned few times that I like that Clara has a life outside of the Doctor, mainly because it means that she is not obsessing over him, but I have to say that Danny asking Clara why she travelling with the Doctor threw me off. Why does she travel with him? I don't really know and Clara's answer that she sees wonders out there does not seem real.

I don't like Courtney. I have never been fond of kids no matter what age they are and she just annoys me. Can we never see her again, please? And Doctor, you take her to space but won't take Journey Blue for a trip just because she is a soldier? I really don't think you are a good judge of character... I do think Courtney's parents are funny. Guess they'll take any improvement available for them.

Next week looks weird. Hopefully it will provoke more thoughts than this week.

Person of Interest S4E01 - Panopticon

Person of Interest is back!

Now, first things first, I have not seen any previews, interviews or any spoilers what so ever regarding this season. I have no idea what to expect. And I tend to avoid spoilers when it comes to shows I love, so I intend to stay as unsploiled as possible.

I have to say I'm very excited for this season! I love shows that continue to build their world and put the stakes higher each season. POI started with a very simple premise and look how far it's come! It has become one of the most relevant tv shows on television since the world it portrays is not as fictional as we believed it was. I do wonder though how far on the global scale the show's world will go. A lot of shows tend to have very global concerns (a.k.a apocalypse) but only deal with it locally where only handful of people are actually aware of the situation (like Fringe, Supernatural, Buffy to name a few), so I wonder how far POI will go. The opening scene shows that there are people who are aware of what's going on but it looks like these people will be found quickly by Samaritan's/Decima's agents and killed. Yes, it establishes how difficult it is to fight against something that knows your every move but it also prevents global awarenesss. 

The case of the week is not very interesting, and it mostly serves as a way to get the gang back together. But I think it would have been fun to explore the dynamics of the team being separate a bit longer. Initially Harold is not interested in the new number as he is intent on surviving. I guess maybe he also feels betrayed by the Machine since 1) it has been speaking to Root so freely but not him and 2) because it told him to do something that goes against his moral code and the reason he began looking into the irrelevant list in the first place; to help people. Shaw, on the other hand is getting bored so she is more willing to help John but holds her own survival in higher regard than saving someone else. But John... The only reason he is still alive is because of Harold and the work he was given. Without the numbers, he has nothing so what's he got to lose?

The new identities the team has. Of course Harold would be a professor and John as a detective makes sense as well. He needs a purpose, that's a defining characteristic of his personality, and being a detective allows him to continue to help people. Although it becomes very clear during the episode that it's not enough. He is not willing to follow the rules, even if it places him in danger. But Shaw in customer service? Root, what were you thinking? Or I guess it was the Machine that made the identities, but still. I mean, yes, it is very entertaining to watch, but that is probably the worst place to put Shaw in. Also, what is Root doing when she's not giving inspirational speeches to Harold or Shaw?

I hope we see more Elias this season. The character is interesting and oh my god, Enrico Colantoni, how do you act?? I love watching him on my screen. I actually saw the first 2 seasons of POI before I ever saw Veronica Mars and I have to say, as amazing as Keith Mars is, it took me a long time to relax around the character because of the impact Enrico had made on me as Elias. 

Who is this Romeo and what is Shaw going to do with this group of people? I guess it's going to help with her boredom but since Root was so insistent that Shaw meet him I'm gonna guess that there's a bigger picture we're not seeing yet.

It will be interesting to see how Fusco's role will fuction this season since I'm guessing most of it will focus on Samaritan and the fight between two "gods" and he has absolutely no idea what is going on in the world. Also this episode made me miss Carter (oh god, the moment John put his stuff on her old desk) beause it would be really interesting to see her reaction to Samaritan and everything else that is going on since she guessed the truth about the Machine before she died.

So looks like the team is fully back in business now. Looks like the Machine gave Harold a base they can work from and thanks to Ali they can communicate without Samaritan hearing it. This season should be a fun ride!

Doctor Who S8E05 - Time Heist

I don't quite know what to think of this one. It's good but it could be better. The preview last week looked so confusing so I wasn't sure what to expect but the idea in the end is actually really fun, so in that sense the episode exceeded my expectations. However, it also confused me and I just didn't understand why the Doctor and Clara were doing this. And it wasn't until I read the AVClub's review of the episode that I understood why I had a problem with this. The Doctor is very willing to follow the instructions of some unknown Architect and this really does not fit my understanding of who the Doctor is. He has always been walking to the beat of his own drums and does not really follow orders. Just look at the way Eleven reacts in 'The Impossible Astronaut' when he's told to do something by Amy, Rory and River, but he's not told why. He's suspicious and is extremely unwilling to do anything without being told the whole story. And here the Doctor just goes with it and maybe it's a part of Twelve's characterisation but to me it just feels out of character, especially with his apparent quest to know everything.

So that is my overall first reaction. Now, lets go back to the beginning. Clara is going on a date with Danny. I like seeing that she has a life outside of the Doctor. After Amy and River practically living for the adventures with the Doctor, it is refreshing to see a companion who is just having fun but also has a life of her own. Yeah, I like Clara.

This Doctor does not seem that fond of running. Or maybe his older body just can't keep up. But it's still funny to see him be the first one to slow down and demand that they stop running. Also it's becomming very clear that Twelve is a lot harsher than his previous incarnations. Like I have commented before, his humour is very dark but I really like that. However, just look at him when the Teller is turning that one man's brain into soup. Clara is begging him to do something but he is quite calmly telling her that there's nothing he can do. I feel like at least Ten would have looked distraught in a same situation. Though he still can't promise to kill someone, so that's something.

So this whole keep your mind blank reminds me a lot of not blinking (in 'Blink') and not breathing (in 'Deep Breath'), except it's a lot harder. I mean, have you ever tried not to think about anything? To me it seems impossible. At least you have some control over blinking and breathing, even if you can't do it for long. So yeah, this goes to the list of episodes that kinda do body horror. And it is effective and scary.

So this whole heist was planned because Madam Karabraxos started to feel bad about the Teller and the other one she had locked up, yes? Freeing them was the ultimate goal, the thing Doctor wanted the most. The plot is still a bit confusing for me and I haven't figured it out completely yet.

The acting is great in this episode. The gues stars really shine in this episode and it is nice to see that they were given characters that have some depth. Keeley Hawes is amazing in her two roles and is able to make them different enough that we can tell them apart, even if they are clones. Jonathan Bailey as Psi and Pippa Bennett-Warner as Saibra are equally good. Their characters are interesting and it would be fun to see them again.

Looks like next week Clara's two lives collide, I think this will be fun!

In other news, new season of Person of Interest starts on tomorrow, so I'll be starting weekly posts for that as well. Not sure about my schedule yet, but they will probably be up towards the end of the week.

Doctor Who S8E04 - Listen

What an improvement from last week! No matter what show we're talking about, I have always loved the episodes that are more minimalistic, quiet and explorative. From Doctor Who my favourite examples would be 'Boom Town' (I love the conversation in the restaurant and the focus on the nature of the Doctor) and then 'Midnight', from which this episode gets some inspiration. This is definitely Moffat's best episode since 'Eleventh Hour'. Like I said few weeks ago, I have a lot of problems with Moffat's writing and I firmly believe his best episodes are written when someone "checks" his writing. In DW his best were when Russell T. Davies was showrunner, and thus approved every script. I mean 'Blink' and 'The Empty Child'/'The Doctor Dances' are really good and scare the crap out of me.

Now this episode is all about fear. Going into the episode I was expecting another instance of childhood fears coming true, something Moffat does a lot, some creepy scenes that might freak me out and then I'd rant about horror because I don't do horror. But instead I'm going to talk about fear.

It's not really a secret that I get scared very easily. I don't mind the blood and the gore, but the more quiet, psychological threats scare the crap out of me. I'm a bit paranoid, so the unknown, the idea that there's something behind me, someone watching me without me knowing it, all that stuff, are my biggest fears. So this episode is perfect for discussing that. And that sequence in young Danny's (Rupert's) room... So creepy. I could not understand how they could ignore the thing while the Doctor was talking about fear being a superpower. And then they turn their backs... Now that was scary. I saw the episode yesterday and I'll admit that I had some trouble sleeping last night. And that is a testament to how much the episode creeped me out. I could not get the image of something covered in a red bedspread and standing quietly in my doorway out of my head. And that has not happened with Doctor Who since 'Blink'. However, I'm left wondering, since there never was any creature, was that thing then just another kid trying to scare others?

The idea that the Doctor is scared is interesting. I have always viewed the Doctor as someone who is never scared, who is so brave, someone you could always turn to when you're afraid and find courage. But to see that he is just like the rest of us, just better at hiding it, is interesting. It's like learning that your parents are just people and don't have all the answers to life. And through the exploration of who the Doctor is and Clara's speech to the young Gallifreyan boy crying in the bed, who would one day find his courage, we get the lesson that fear is not bad. It is okay to be scared because it is normal. In the end, there is nothing under the bed, nothing in the shadows when we are alone, just your own fear. And it is okay. Even the Doctor is afraid, he just knows how to hide it really well.

I'll admit, on the first viewing this episode confused me. Like I said, I was expecting the usual monster-of-the-week episode so I figured we'd spend the whole time at the children's home hunting this monster, whatever it was. So yeah, it confused me when suddenly the episode went back to Danny and Clara's date and then there was Orson, a man from the future and a relation of Danny's (and possibly Clara's), and we jumped to the end of the universe. 'Listen' makes more sense on the second viewing, in my opinion. It examines fear through glimpses of different people's timelines and the times they were scared. In the end, it all comes down to that one moment when Clara inadvertantly planted the idea in Doctor's mind that there is something under the bed, just waiting.

For some reason it took me a while to understand why is the Doctor so insistent that there has to be something out there. He just can't come to terms with the idea that there is no reason to be scared. Because we always need a reason for everything. And he's the Doctor, the man that has saved countless of people and planets, if he's scared, there has to be something to be scared of. And I like that Clara asks him how long he's been travelling alone. It has never been 100% healthy for the Doctor to be alone (especially for Ten) and the time alone has given him time to think and make up theories. Had Clara been there the whole time, I doubt that the situation would have escalated the way it did. 

I love Clara. The way she yells at the Doctor, keeps him in check, takes control of the situation and is afraid but won't let that fear stop her. I'm going to miss her a lot more than I missed Amy. I still miss Rory though.

The date. Oh my god. It's so normal and awkward. I'm not used to seeing something that normal and real in Doctor Who. Yes, the companions have been very grounded in the new Who and have families and lives back at Earth but usually that life gets interupted by the Doctor and we don't see a lot of domestic scenes. It was very refreshing and that's the reason I like the fact that Clara does not travel fulltime with the Doctor.

One complaint though. I wish the Doctor would stop criticising Clara's appearance. Why is it necessary for him to comment on her eyes and face and clothes and make-up?? It's played for jokes, but it's not funny, so can you please stop it?

Sorry, two compaints. I still don't like the new credits. Yes, it's cool that it's very time-related, but I preffered the time-vortex ones.

Next week, a bank robbery apparently. We'll see how that goes.

Doctor Who S8E03 - Robot of Sherwood

Okay, seriously, what's up with the explosions? Either my memory is playing tricks or this season is extra happy to show off the bigger budget through various explosions..

Right, the episode.. I really don't have much to say about this. I did not enjoy this as much as last week. The plot seemed to be all over the place and a lot of the whimsical stuff just did not work for me (what was up with the spoon?!).
On the other hand, Twelve is starting to grow on me. I like his humour and, just like him, I spent half of the episode wondering why people don't punch Robin Hood in the face after that laugh. So annoying. The rest of the episode I spent being Clara and yelling at Robin and Doctor to just shut up. There are few points where the bickering is funny ("it's your plan. You moan.") but most of the time, that's annoying me too.

And I didn't really understand why Twelve had such hard time believing Robin was real. The Doctor is usually very open about his beliefs and in the past the only thing Ten, for example, didn't believe was that there had been life before Time. But even then he admits that it's just a belief and I think he would have been willing to change his mind if the beast had shown some proof or argued more or, I don't know, something. And in this episode Clara even asks when the Doctor had stopped believing in everything. So that was weird.

I did love the last conversation between the Doctor and Robin. If only the rest of the episode was that good. But I like the idea that Twelve is uncomfortable with the idea of being a hero. Just look at his face when Clara says he's pretty heroic since he goes around the universe saving people. And then he tells Robin he is not a hero. But I like that Robin tells him at he's not either, but if stories about him can inspire others to be, then it's all worth it.

Also, what happened with the end of the spaceship plot? They gave it just enough power to leave the earth so it would not destroy England but not enough to stop it from exploding? So everyone on board was gonna die no matter what? That seems cold.. I know the robots weren't exactly nice but it still seems pretty harsh. I feel like Ten at least would have tried to find a way to stop that from happening. But then, were there more robots onboard other than the two (I think) that were in the control room?

Next week looks to be Doctor Who does horror week, so I guess I'll spend the next week preparing myself for the creepiness. I hate horror...but I'll discuss Doctor Who and horror next week!

Doctor Who S8E02 - Into The Dalek

I have to admit I that liked this episode. I'd say it was an improvement from last week. No more recycling old plots and the focus was on exploring the nature of the Daleks and the Doctor. Of course it was drawing parallels to previous Dalek-stories, especially series one episode 'Dalek'. I think this is seen most clearly in lines "you would make a good Dalek" (from 'Dalek') and "you are a good Dalek" (in this episode). And maybe he is a good Dalek. After all, he is a creature that is capable of killing a lot of people and has a lot of hatred inside but most of the time chooses not to act on this. Yet Twelve is different to his previous incarnations as he is a lot darker.
So at the centre of the episode is the question of good and bad. Is the Dalek good or bad? What about the Doctor? And I think Clara's answer is a good one. He isn't good but he is not bad either. But he tries to be a good man and that's what matters.

His darkness can also be seen in the way he speaks. His comebacks or one liners are pretty dark. This makes him a lot more dickish than Ten or Eleven. I mean, the Doctor has always been little bit of a dick but Ten and Eleven often felt bad about it. We don't know Twelve well at this point so it's hard to say what his character truly is. So far he seems very comfortable with the idea of letting someone sacrifice themselves for him. But then again, I love black humour so I think he's funny.

The opening scene reminded me a lot of 'Parting of the Ways' and the Dalek armada. With one very notable exception. The budget. Yes, the budget has increased over the years but for some reason it has really hit me in the first 2 episodes. The explosions, the space sequences, Victorian London, the dinosaur and all the visual effects seem really well done.

I liked Journey. Yes, she is a soldier and answers to violence with violence but I was still slightly disapointed when the Doctor turned down her plea to take her with them. She might have been an interesting addition to the team. But then again, considering that Clara is not around all the time and Journey would have nowhere to go, then she would be spending a lot of time only with the Doctor and they probably would be a bad influnce on one another.
So I guess we are not getting a new companion anytime soon, or maybe not before Clara leaves (which I think is supposed to happen at the end of this series). But I would not mind if Danny joined them for a little while. I have to say I like him already and I think he would have a lot in common with the Doctor considering that they both are ex-soldiers, though Danny's trauma is a lot more recent.

I wish we would learn more about this "heaven". So far it seems to be developing just the way the Silence-plot was; not very subtle reminders that there is a bigger plot here but without giving any new information about it. Not a fan... The only "clue" I can piece together at this point (because I'm looking for anything, no matter how ridicilous it might be) is that the people who have ended up there are the people who have to dies in order for the Doctor to save the day. Yeah, I have no idea where this plot is going and I'm gonna guess that next episode is not going to give any answers either.

I'm still not committing myself to the rest of the episodes but I guess I'll be back next week for Robin Hood, with explosions. Is it just me or is this starting to feel like Doctor Who done by Michael Bay? I don't remember this many explosions in the past episodes...