Screened back in April, I never really got round to writing a review of the 2009 Easter Special. Truth be told, I wasn't really paying attention to what was going on. I was rather transfixed by the young gent who was beside me, and we were both pre-occupied with thoughts of the party we were about to attend.
Plus, the moment I saw those ridiculus fly creatures (who made The Hath look top-quality) I pretty much zoned out and started counting down the minutes to the end of the episode, when we could head off, get pissed and sing badly at people I'd never met before.
Oh, and what a brilliant night it was...
But anyway, David Tennant's final three episodes are very nearly upon us and I know I'll be wanting to wax lyrical about them as soon as they've popped up on the telebox. Especially as I'm expecting nothing but brilliance. Tear-jerking brilliance.
(Don't disappoint me RTD OBE)
So with that in mind, I just felt I should go back and revisit this episode, paying full attention to the "plot" and not being distracted by my wandering, lustful gazes. I have OCD. There's no way I could have left an episode un-reviewed.
(I fully expect me to go back to Chris Eccleston's series and start reviewing them, such is my overbearing urge for order and completeism)
Planet Of The Dead by RTD OBE & Gareth Roberts
A second viewing served this episode rather well, actually. It was in no way as bad as I assumed it was back in April. There was much to praise in it.
1 - Psychoville's Tea-Leaf and the Nathan bloke provided adequate perving opportunities. Hell, even The Doctor's Daughter was worth watching for the gorgeous Joe Dempsie. (ONLY for Joe Dempsie, actually)
2 - Michelle Ryan (and her Horse-Face) made quite an enjoyable companion. Especially her overreaction when she realised she had bits of "dead people" in her hair. Although I still sat there with an overbearing urge to shout: "You're not my Muvva" at the screen. And the chemistry between Christina and Mr Tennant was even more unconvincing than that of her EastEnders character and Leslie Grantham when they did a sex together.
Plus, the moment I saw those ridiculus fly creatures (who made The Hath look top-quality) I pretty much zoned out and started counting down the minutes to the end of the episode, when we could head off, get pissed and sing badly at people I'd never met before.
Oh, and what a brilliant night it was...
But anyway, David Tennant's final three episodes are very nearly upon us and I know I'll be wanting to wax lyrical about them as soon as they've popped up on the telebox. Especially as I'm expecting nothing but brilliance. Tear-jerking brilliance.
(Don't disappoint me RTD OBE)
So with that in mind, I just felt I should go back and revisit this episode, paying full attention to the "plot" and not being distracted by my wandering, lustful gazes. I have OCD. There's no way I could have left an episode un-reviewed.
(I fully expect me to go back to Chris Eccleston's series and start reviewing them, such is my overbearing urge for order and completeism)
Planet Of The Dead by RTD OBE & Gareth Roberts
A second viewing served this episode rather well, actually. It was in no way as bad as I assumed it was back in April. There was much to praise in it.
1 - Psychoville's Tea-Leaf and the Nathan bloke provided adequate perving opportunities. Hell, even The Doctor's Daughter was worth watching for the gorgeous Joe Dempsie. (ONLY for Joe Dempsie, actually)
2 - Michelle Ryan (and her Horse-Face) made quite an enjoyable companion. Especially her overreaction when she realised she had bits of "dead people" in her hair. Although I still sat there with an overbearing urge to shout: "You're not my Muvva" at the screen. And the chemistry between Christina and Mr Tennant was even more unconvincing than that of her EastEnders character and Leslie Grantham when they did a sex together.
RTD OBE's obsession with the Doctor kissing his companions, no matter how irrelevant to the situation and dialogue, is becoming somewhat of an annoyance. Although I'll withdraw that comment if he gets off with Wilf in the Christmas specials.
3 - Lee "Sweaty Bollocks" Evans had some great exchanges with the Doctor ("Before I die of old age, which in my case would be an achievement, so well done on that...") and was generally amusing throughout the whole piece. But nowhere near as amusing as he and RTD OBE thought he was. The only bit that caught me off-guard was when Captain Ladysmith Black-Mambambo pulled a gun on him. Brilliant, because we love the Doctor. That's the point. But would you put the whole world in danger just because of that loyalty; that love? It would have been a great dilemma and the basis for a great moral debate, but it was quickly brushed aside by the Doctor saving the day. No time to explore the issue further, which was a shame.
The problem with this episode is no matter how many small guffaws Malcolm raises, or however pretty Tea-Leaf is, or however stunning the scenery... The best bit without a shadow of a doubt is the 'teaser' of: "He will knock four times"
Essentially, the best bit of the episode was a paragraph of dialogue hinting at events of the next episode. "Your song must end".
They should have just shown that clip as a trailer on BBC1 and saved everyone the bother of getting sand in their shoes.
A fun, enjoyable, amusing way to spend an hour. But, by Christ, nowhere near as good as I'm expecting the next three episodes to be.
Total Score: SIX out of TEN
"He will knock four times..."
3 - Lee "Sweaty Bollocks" Evans had some great exchanges with the Doctor ("Before I die of old age, which in my case would be an achievement, so well done on that...") and was generally amusing throughout the whole piece. But nowhere near as amusing as he and RTD OBE thought he was. The only bit that caught me off-guard was when Captain Ladysmith Black-Mambambo pulled a gun on him. Brilliant, because we love the Doctor. That's the point. But would you put the whole world in danger just because of that loyalty; that love? It would have been a great dilemma and the basis for a great moral debate, but it was quickly brushed aside by the Doctor saving the day. No time to explore the issue further, which was a shame.
The problem with this episode is no matter how many small guffaws Malcolm raises, or however pretty Tea-Leaf is, or however stunning the scenery... The best bit without a shadow of a doubt is the 'teaser' of: "He will knock four times"
Essentially, the best bit of the episode was a paragraph of dialogue hinting at events of the next episode. "Your song must end".
They should have just shown that clip as a trailer on BBC1 and saved everyone the bother of getting sand in their shoes.
A fun, enjoyable, amusing way to spend an hour. But, by Christ, nowhere near as good as I'm expecting the next three episodes to be.
Total Score: SIX out of TEN
"He will knock four times..."
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