Geek Syndicate
computational-prowess in Asylum of the Daleks. I really liked the chemistry between the two regular leads, although once again we seem back to a flirty-banter from the Companion which I’m not sure is necessary. Although I liked Clara and thought the character really shone in this episode, showing an initiative and feistiness that will see her in good stead moving forward, I sort of wish that Victorian Governess Clara was the companion as I think that would have given the opportunity for a fresher companion in the new series. As has been the case with many episodes recently, I really thought the music was over-played throughout and I repeatedly found myself distracted by it. Which is the sign of a bad sound-track to me. It does seem to be the style of the show right now, though so I can’t imagine it changing any time soon. Visually, the episode was gorgeous. The effect of the “Spoon-heads” and indeed their inherent creepy intent was marvellous and (as mentioned above) the data-computer elements of the story were well realised on the screen. A scene with MattSmith on a motorbike doing what a normal bike should not does not look ridiculous as it easily could have and the episode’s villain’s lair is superbly modern-business efficient. Some of my favourite moments came at the end of the episode: The reveal of the actual villain and the handling of the minions (chilling – es70
pecially Celia Imrie as mainvillain Miss Kizlet. This final scene with her in was a standout performance for me). Clara’s refusing to just jump in the TARDIS with the Doctor (but she might tomorrow) and so on. Overall, this was a nice lead into the story of Clara (and presumably the “Doctor Who?” thread that’s running through) though I think any new viewers jumping in to “see what all the fuss is about this year” would have been left floundering a bit as there was no real explanation of the Time Lord’s interest and concern with this pretty girl in the episode itself. I’m also left wondering … if Clara is “protected” as stated by the Doctor to his enemy … why is he taking her on wild, wacky and dangerous adventures? Bit selfish isn’t it? Rating:
phasises the episode’s theme of memory and potential … Clara’s parents met by accident. The trigger for that meeting becomes and important element in both Clara’s life – especially after her mother’s passing and indeed to the story itself. Rings has a different feel to it to a lot of Doctor Who episodes to me. It’s very much an episode of concepts. And they are glorious, outlandish Doctor Who Concepts (capitals very much deliberate). A world where sentimental value is the currency. A slumbering godbeing kept asleep by repeated singing of a lullaby. Space mopeds. And a normally “dead” thing being very much alive. Unfortunately the nature of this last means I’ll probably need to spoiler ahead – so watch out for the warning. The story takes place in a very alien environment – not just an alien world, but one where the economy is different and one which has it’s own mythology built around a sleeping-god in a temple which is situated in the asteroid belt orbiting a star. Our heroes arrive on a neighbouring asteroid which has a thriving market filled with a multitude of the local lifeforms. The star, asteroid belt, temple and market are beautifully realised and the scenes with the two regulars exploring the marketpla ?H8?$? ??]\?[? ?\\?][ H\?H ?\?H?X?H ?Y]?[??H]?H ?Y? \??YH ?] H[Y[?[??XY?\? ]\?H ???[?\?H\?[?^HZ[? HT?T? ??[?B???????H?[????Z?][??H??? Z?\??\?H ? H?\?]?[???\?[????] H???\? ?Z?[??[?[X[? ? ?X?Y?X?HK?Y?\?H ?[ YH[? ?X??\?\?? ?Y\? ? ????]Y? \?H\?[?][?? ?[?\?\?X??] \?8?' ?X?HXY?\?8?'K[?? Y[??H ?\ ?\? \?[? ?YY][??[? ?]?[?? H?[??? \ H??? ?] \??? ??? ? X?? H [?[?? ??X[? \[? Z?H\?8?' ?\?KY]?\? ?H ?[? ? ????'H\? ?\?H ?? ?\? ?\?H]X?[KB??