So, I've watched the second episode of series five two times in a row. Not even five minutes to breathe or grab a snack. Although I am rather hungry at this ungodly hour. Here's what I think:
This episode opens with some eerie monsters and small children. The perfect recipe for a fun and frightening evening. (And hopefully the Smilers will return in future episodes. I loved them.) Immediately after our super new titles we get Amy Pond, introducing herself.
I want to take a moment to discuss Amy Pond. I like her. I do. I *want* to like her, as well. But frankly, Karen GIllian is just not that good of an actress. I'm not saying she's bad, but she certainly isn't great. She's the first companion that I feel like I'm watching act. I feel like I'm looking at an actress pretending she's in space. Maybe I'm wrong, perhaps that's just Amy's personality but...
Speaking of her personality - she is one daring young lady. At one point Amy Jessica Pond pulls a bobby pin out of no where and begins to pick open a lock after proclaiming that she she, "just cant resist a Keep Out sign." Bold. Very Bold. Even Rose Tyler wouldn't have jumped in that deep. (Yet again, I see acting instead of Amy when she's talking about scottsh and the different ships). And indeed, not a Rose, Martha, or Donna would have solved the case that blatantly at the end. No matter how sure they were. The girl has a gross amount of spunk. I wonder how long she'll be around.
The Doctor himself proves loveable this week. He cares for children, forgets train of thought, and demands of his companion to say, "Weeeeee!" Matt Smith is filling up David Tennant's old shoes with every toe, nail, and fungus he can dig out of his bag. He also adds a very fierce edge to the Doctor that we may not have seen this intensely since the 9th doctor. When he proclaims, "No one has anything to say to me today!" I actually have nothing more to say to the Doctor. I'm a bit frightened of him. And least we not forget when he tells Amy never to make decisions for him. There was not a single bit of humor in his voice. Not a single hint of kindness. He meant what he said.
David Tennant's Doctor could and would and definetely went there, but we still always knew we would see that smile again. With 11, I'm not sure I've even seen the smile to begin with.
I've gotten long winded and off topic I think. B for the entire episode. Why? Because this world wasn't fully developed enough for me. I didn't really have a strong feel of the area as I did when Rose and 9 visited platform 5(?) in The Long Game/Bad Wolf. The episode felt really rushed and abrupt. And the build up with all the forgetting and voting felt wasted.
Honestly am I a completely bad person if I didn't care about that space whale at all?
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