TV Review: Doctor Who Series 2 Episode 4 "The Girl In The Fireplace" [Emz]

So the next episode is The Girl in The Fireplace.

This episode originally aired on BBC One on the 6th May 2006.

This episode also starred Noel Clarke as Mickey Smith and Guest starred Sophia Myles as Reinette/ Madame de Pompadour.

This was the first appearence of the Clockwork Droids. They next appear in Deep Breath (Series 8, Episode 1)

Here is the Synopsis:

Madame de Pompadour finds the court at Versailles under attack by sinister clockwork killers and her only hope of salvation lies with the Doctor.

Review:

I enjoyed this episode. It was written by Steven Moffat who as we know later took over from Russel T Davies as the 'Showrunner.'

So the TARDIS lands on a Space Ship that seems to be empty. After exploring the ship they find a fireplace from the 18th Century. The doctor finds a young girl on the other side called Reinette who lives in Paris in 1727.

The Doctor works out that the Fireplace is a time window.

As the story progresses, it is worked out that the Clockwork droids that are discovered in the Spaceship are after Madame Du Pompadour. They want to use her to fix the ship, but they have to find her at the right age.

The doctor has to trap himself in 18th Century France to stop the droids from killing her. As he breaks the time windows the droids give up and shut down. 

The doctor invites Reinette to travel with him in the TARDIS after he finds the time window in the Fireplace still works. When he goes back to collect her however, he discovers 7 years have passed and she has died. She left him a letter as a final goodbye.

The last part of the story was quite sad, but it was enjoyable not many young people would know who Madame Dy Pompadour is so it was an interesting link to history... with some obvious changes.

I have a few favorite quotes from this episode.

Rose: Oh, here’s trouble. What you been up to?

The Doctor: Oh, this and that. Became the imaginary friend of a future French aristocrat, picked a fight with a clockwork man… [A horse whinnies off screen] Oh, and I met a horse.

Mickey: What’s a horse doing on a spaceship?

The Doctor: Mickey, what’s pre-revolutionary France doing on a spaceship? Get a little perspective!

Rose: Oh, look at what the cat dragged in. The Oncoming Storm.

The Doctor: Mm. You sound just like your mother.

Rose: What have you been doing? Where have you been?

The Doctor: Well… among other things I think I just invented the banana daiquiri a couple of centuries early. Do you know they’d never even seen a banana before. Always take a banana to a party, Rose. Bananas are good.

Rose: You’re NOT keeping the horse!

The Doctor: I let you keep Mickey, now lets go!

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 2 Episode 2: Tooth and Claw [Emz]

Hey guys! So i'm back reviewing episode 2 of Series 2. This one is called Tooth and Claw. In this episode we meet Queen Victoria.

The recurring Theme from this series begins here. The house that Rose and the Doctor arrive at is "Torchwood House."

This episode first aired on BBC One on the 22nd April 2006.

Here is the synopsis:

The Doctor and Rose travel back to 1879, but an encounter in the Scottish Highlands with Queen Victoria and a band of warrior monks reveals a deadly trap.

Review:

This episode was really enjoyable. We had the continuing theme going of messing up where they are supposed to be going. On this occasion they end up on 1879, Scotland instead of 1979, Sheffield.

After stepping out of the TARDIS it doesn't take long for them to realize that they are not where they are supposed to be. Then of course they bump into Queen Victoria.

The villains in this episode are Monks, which seems very strange to say and a Werewolf. 

David Tennant gets to use his natural Scottish accent a bit in this episode after posing as Dr. James McCrimmon. There are alot of references to the classic series also. 

Of course a big part of this episode has everyone running from the werewolf and a little chunk of the Doctor licking walls.

They finally traps the werewolf in the library after it breaks through the ceiling and they use the telescope and the Koor-I Noor diamond to revert the Werewolf back to human form and destroy the alien life-form.

The Doctor and Rose are then knighted and then banished. 

This episode was really funny, I enjoyed the references to Jamie McCrimmon the Second Doctor's companion. I laughed at Rose's attempt at a Scottish accent and the £10 bet that Rose could get Queen Victoria to say she was not amused. Finally the first sign of the link to Torchwood.

I will be reviewing School Reunion soon.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 2 Episode 1 "New Earth" [Emz]

So I have now reached Series 2. We have a new Doctor (David Tennant) and new adventures.

So we start with the first episode "New Earth."

This episode only has Rose (Billie Piper) and The Doctor (David Tennant) as main cast members. This episode Originally aired on BBC One on the 15th April 2006.

We do have a returning foe though. It isn't a Dalek but it is Cassandra. She was last seen in the Series 1 episode "The End Of The World."

Here is the Synopsis:

In the distant future, an order of cat-nuns cure all illnesses, but the Tenth Doctor is suspicious of their methods. He must uncover the truth and save Rose from the vengeance of his old enemy, the Lady Cassandra.

Review:

So this episode is set after The Christmas Invasion. It was definitely an interesting episode. From Rose being possessed by Lady Cassandra who we previously met in The End Of The World (Series 1 episode 2), The doctor rambling on about the hospital doesn't have a shop. 

We had a Cassandra-Possessed Rose snogging the doctor, I have to admit I found the Doctor's reaction was quite funny - "Still got it."

We find out that the Cat Nuns who run the place are using people as lab rats to test if the cures work before using them on the patients.

The Doctor finds out that Cassandra has possessed Rose and then we have the constant body switch between Rose and The Doctor - "Oh Baby I'm beating out a Samba!" 

The doctor meets and old friend with happens to be The Face Of Boe.

The episode ends with The Doctor curing all the sick people and Cassandra transfers herself into her assistant Chips body, they take her to a time when she was fully human and she dies in front of herself.

I enjoyed this episode and I have watched it many time over. With this being David Tennant's Series debut (1 episode of the series but 2nd episodes overall) i always enjoy it.

It's a full episode debut for his suit though as he spent the majority of The Christmas Special in Pajamas.

Next up is the episode Tooth and Claw. Another favorite of mine.

Till next time

Emz x

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Doctor Who: Series 1 Episode 13 "The Parting Of Ways" [Emz]

So I've reached the end of the series! Blimey!

Here we are with The Parting Of Ways. This is the last episode of the Series and Christopher Eccleston's final ever episode as The Doctor.

This episode aired originally on the 18th June 2005 on BBC One.

Here is the synopsis:

Rose and the Doctor's friendship is put to the test, as Earth plunges into an epic war with the human race being slaughtered.

Review:

The episode picks up where the last episode ended. The Doctor and Jack rescue Rose by materialising the TARDIS around her. Which is very clever if you ask me, I wouldn't have thought of it.

The Doctor learns that the Daleks survived the Time War (barely) and have been driven mad by the human values they have absorbed.

After arriving back on Floor 500, Jack and The Doctor set about building a Delta Wave to fry the Daleks brains, unfortunately they don't have as much time as needed.

They get the extrapolater covering the top 6 levels and Jack leaves to help get  volunteers ready to battle the Daleks.  

The Doctor checks on the Delta Wave and realises that its not ready. He tricks Rose into the TARDIS on the pretence he can cross his own timeline. The TARDIS de-materialises with only Rose on board. 

A hologram of thee doctor Appears and tells Rose that he has activated Emergency Program One and the TARDIS is taking Rose home. 

Rose lands back home and is crushed. Her mum is just happy to have her home. 

The Daleks force their way in on floor 494 and begin their ascent upwards.

Rose back home in the 21st Century, still upset is being told my her mum and Mickey to just get on with her life. Rose on the other hand is having none of it and tells them that The Doctor showed her a better way of living your life.

She runs into the paved area of the Estate and notices Bad Wolf scrawled all over the floor and walls, she realises there is a link between The doctor and her even though they are in different places and times.

With Mickey's help with the towtruck, Rose opens the heart of the TARDIS and they look into each other. She transports back to the Gamestation just before the Daleks shoot The Doctor. 

She becomes Bad Wolf and destroys the Daleks to ashes and resurrects Jack. The Doctor realises that the power on th time vertex running though her head will kill her and kisses her to take it away. Rose passes out.

When Rose wakes up The Doctor is talking about all the things they would have done together. rose asks why they can't do those things. 

The Doctor explains that the Time Lords have a way of cheating  death and he wont be the same if he gets to do them. He tells her she was fantastic and so was he and then light explodes from his hands and face. When it is all over he looks completely different.

David Tennant takes over as The Doctor.

This episode ending shocked me. i didn't read any newspapers or seen it on the TV that Christopher Eccleston was leaving so it was a huge surprise. But I looked forward to the Christmas Special.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 12 "Bad Wolf" [Emz]

We've almost reached the end of Series 1! Can you Believe it?!

So here we are with episode 12 'Bad Wolf.' We return to a familiar place from earlier in the series, but it has changed quite a bit and we have gone further forward in time. 

This episode originally aired on the 11th June 2005 on BBC One. This is the first part of the last two-part episodes of this series.

Here is the synopsis:

The Doctor, Rose and Capt. Jack have to fight for their lives, but the Doctor soon realizes that Armageddon is fast approaching.

Review:

So the story opens with The Doctor, Jack and Rose part of Game shows. The Doctor is part of Big Brother, Jack is on What Not To Wear (an extreme edition) and Rose is on the Weakest Link.

Once the Amnesia clears, The Doctor remembers being of the TARDIS heading back from Kyoto, Japan 1336 when there was suddenly a bright light.

They begin to realize the games are not as they seem as if voted off you are incinerated.

Rose and The doctor begin to realize that they have been planted in the game. The Doctor is booted off Big Brother but isn't disintegrated which means that someone wants The Doctor there for a reason.

The Doctor escapes the games with Lynda, who he befriended in there. Jack catches up with him and they go in search of Rose.

Rose is from a different Century to the questions she is being asked in The Weakest Link and is kept on until the end so that guy can win. The doctor and Jack think They have made it on time just for her to be disintegrated before their eyes.

Whilst this is going on The Doctor realizes they are on Satellite 5 years later than last time.

The Doctor questions The Controller on who killed Rose. At first she is is unable to answer until the Solar flare gives her a few minutes to speak.

Before The Controller is killed by her Masters, She is unable to to tell The Doctor who she is working for as she cannot say their name. Jack works out during this time that Rose is still alive and the beam is a trans-mat beam and Rose was transported elsewhere. He also discovers where the TARDIS is.

The Trans-mat beam is traced and eventually shows thousands of Dalek ships and then the Doctor gets and incoming feed from the lead Dalek ship and The doctor informs Rose he's coming to get her.

This episode was really good. there were funny bit's, where the Robots of Tinny and Susanna from What not To Wear wanted to change Jack's appearance and give him a dogs head.

But the way we finally see the reveal of Bad Wolf and coming back to somewhere they had been before was really interesting and keeps you in suspense.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 11 "Boom Town" [Emz]

So we are nearing the end of Series 1! If you could see me writing this you would know that i'm making a sad face right now, haha. anyway on with the review.

This episode brings back an old face that we would have remembered from earlier in the series.

This episode aired on the BBC on the 4th June 2005.

Here is the Synopsis:

The Doctor encounters an enemy from his past when the crew decides to take a holiday; an alien plot is behind the construction of a nuclear power plant in Cardiff.

Review:

So in this episode we see the return of Margaret the Slitheen from the first of the double episodes Aliens of London/ World War Three. It seems that she has somehow survived the explosion that destroyed Downing Street and is now the Mayor in Cardiff.

Of course as we always know the Doctor is never looking for trouble and only stopped off in Cardiff to refuel and so rose could collect her passport from Mickey.

Obviously the Doctor comes to see what has happened to Margaret once they stop for Lunch.

They go to meet her and she tries to escape, with no success due to the Doctor being "good at teleports."

Margaret clearly has an ulterior motive for being in Cardiff and is trying to destroy the earth once again. This appears to be a running theme for her. 

Mickey tells Rose he is seeing someone else, but ask her to come back to him evetually which she is unable to answer as the Rift has been ruptured.

After rupturing the rift with the extrapolater attached the the TARDIS, Margaret takes Rose hostage and the rest of the team are unable to do anything to stop it, until Margaret in bathed in white light from the Heart of the TARDIS and is turned into an egg so she can restart her life again.

The episode ends with The Doctor, Rose and Jack taking Margaret as an egg back to Raxacorofallapatorius.

io enjoyed the gags in this episode, from Jack's jokes to the teleport scene and also the way the Doctor is prepared for anything Margaret throws his way when they are out having food. 

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this episode:

Secretary: The Lord Mayor says, Thank you for popping by. She’d love to have a chat but she’s up to her eyes in paperwork. Perhaps if you could make an appointment for next week.

The Doctor: She’s climbing out the window, isn’t she?

Secretary: Yes she is.

Jack about Rose and Mickey: Aw, sweet. Look at these two. How come I never get any of that?

The Doctor: Buy me a drink first.

Captain Jack: Such hard work.

The Doctor: But worth it.

Thats all for this review

till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 9 "The Empty Child" [Emz]

So this is the 1st half of the second of the two-part episodes (there are three two-part episodes in this series)

This episode and the next one... When I first watched them... boy did they creep me out, I don't think I slept well that night. They are still not my favourite episodes and if I keep watching them too much they would still give me the creeps. But  anyway on with the review.

There are a couple of guest stars to mention in this episode: John Barrowman - this was the first episode of Doctor Who he appeared in. Florence Hoath (Fairytale: A True Story), Cheryl Fergison (Eastenders) and Richard Wilson (One Foot In The Grave).

This Episode aired originally on the 21st May 2015 on BBC One.

Here is the Synopsis:

Chasing a metallic object through the Time Vortex, the Ninth Doctor and his companion, Rose Tyler, arrive in London during the Blitz. While Rose meets "Captain Jack Harkness", the dashing Time Agent responsible for bringing the object, the Doctor finds a group of homeless children terrorised by Jamie, an "empty" child wearing a gas mask.

Review:

What an episode this was. I was always used to the weird and the downright bonkers but this episode creeped me out.

So We learn that most of the universe use Code Mauve for Emergencies. The Doctor and Rose follow a Cylinder heading for the centre of London.

They materialise in London 1941, right in the middle of The Blitz. The doctor goes to find out where they are and what year they are in. In the meantime Rose follows a Boy who she thinks is lost. She ends up floating in the air attached to a Barrage balloon and is saved by Captain Jack Harkness.

The Doctor in the mean time is searching for Rose and heads back to the TARDIS and the outside phone rings despite someone telling him not to answer it he does so anyway. This is where the main part of the story begins, He hears are you my mummy? down the telephone. 

So we have a child with a Gas Mask on his face and he constantly chants are you my mummy? The Doctors been warned not to touch the boy else he will turn into a Gas Mask Zombie also.

The doctor finds hospital ward full of people in seemingly Catatonic states with Gas Masks on their faces. There is one doctor looking after them (Richard Wilson) before he too turns into one of them.

To finish off the episode, Rose and Jack catch up with The Doctor (Who Jack thinks is called Doctor Spock) and he thinks he can buy the TARDIS from him as he is a Conman. They are then trapped as the Gas Mask people wake up and corner them chanting are you my mummy?

This episode was extremely creepy and it was emphasised by the location of London in the middle of the Blitz and its at night with bombs dropping and light flashing.

I will review the Second half "The Doctor Dances" next time.

Till then

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 7 " The Long Game" [Emz]

So here is "The Long Game" We are getting close to another double episode and I know full well the first time I watched those episodes it creeped me out.

But anyway back to this episode. This is the first appearance of Satellite 5. The next appearance is also this series but not quite yet. We also have a brief  'Cameo' by the Face Of Boe, who we first met in episode 2.

This episode originally aired on the 7th May 2005 on BBC One.

Here is the synopsis:

New companion of the Ninth Doctor, Adam Mitchell, takes his first trip in the TARDIS. The ship materialises in Satellite 5, a space station that broadcasts across the entire Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. However, something is amiss: the Empire's attidude and technology is backwards, those who are promoted to Floor 500 simply disappear, humanity is possibly being manipulated by the news, and who exactly is the sinister Editor's employer?

Review:

This episode was very odd but I liked it. So this is Adam's first trip into space, let alone the future. After being shown a section of the space station, Adam proceeds to faint at which the Doctor says to Rose, "That's your Boyfriend" and she says, "Not anymore." 

They find that Satellite 5 projects to New around the world.  They gather all the news through the chip in their heads. They soon learn that something is not right. The Doctor realizes that the way things are being run and the technology are 90 years too old. 

We later learn that The Editor (Simon Pegg) is actually a Puppet for someone else, this turns out to be the Jagrafess. The Editor holds The Doctor and Rose hostage and wants to know who they are as they are not known at all.

In this time Adam has gone wandering and ended up with a chip implanted in his head and it can open up at the front of his head. He goes to try and gather lots of information but ends up giving The editor exactly what he wanted, Knowledge on The Doctor and Rose. It takes Cathica who they met previously to stop it.

Of course after The Jagrafess is destroyed by overheating it, The Doctor sends Adam back home as he will not allow him to travel with him again.

The funniest bit is the fact that the chip in his head opens at the front with the click of a finger. When Adams mum comes home and is really happy to see him she express that time flies and then clicks her fingers and Adam's forehead opens up.

Recurring Theme: The Recurring theme throughout this series is Bad Wolf. It is first mentioned in Episode 2 The end of The world Were 'The Bad Wolf Scenario' is Mentioned. Again in episode 3 The Unquiet Dead when Gwenyth mentions The Big Bad Wolf when she can see where Rose is actually from. The words Bad Wolf are seen in Aliens or London/ World War Three, spray painted onto the TARDIS. In this episode there is TV channel called Bad Wolf TV.

Next time I will be reviewing is the emotional Father's Day.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 4 "Aliens Of London" [Emz]

So here we go first episode back in the present after the first episode 'Rose.'

This episode is called Aliens Of London. I mean just because they are back in the present day and on earth doesn't mean that there won't be aliens!

This episode first aired on BBC One on the 16th April 2005.

Here is the premise:

The Doctor takes Rose home, but the world goes on alert when an alien spacecraft crashes in the Thames.

Review:

This episode was a second glimpse of The Doctor Getting time wrong.. except this time he got it majorly wrong. He was a whole year late bringing Rose home. He got slapped for that by Rose's mum which was quite funny. 

It was interesting to see an Alien crash landing in the Thames and it turning out to be a cover up for the real aliens already being on earth. This is where we meet Toshiko Sato for the first time, she will later be part of the cast of Torchwood.

We also first meet Harriet Jones (MP for Flydale North) she will appear again in episode 5, the Christmas Special and Series 4.

The funniest part of this episode is the farting aliens, we find out in episode 5 what it's all about. Of course with this being a 2-part story it ends on a cliffhanger wit the Aliens revealing themselves in Downing Street calling themselves the Slitheen and all the guests including the Doctor getting electrocuted.

The next Doctor Who episode Ii will review is World War Three.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 3 "The Unquiet Dead"

So this is the third episode of Christopher Eccleston's only series as the Doctor. The episode aired on 9th April 2005. It was written by Mark Gatiss.

Here is the plot:

The Doctor takes Rose back through time to 1869. In Victorian Cardiff the dead are walking and creatures made of gas are on the loose.

Review:

This was an interesting episode. It's also quite funny as it reminds me of a quote from series 4, but that something for another day.

So in this episode we have 'The Gelth' a ghost like being, that seems to want help going back to it's homeworld. Of course there is always a catch. 

It must have been a weird one to film... a parent dead bodies suddenly up and walking. We also first meet Eve Myles as Gwenyth (she later goes on to play Gwen in Torchwood) 

It was also great as we meet famous faces in the past. In this case we meet Charles Dickens, who ends up helping out in this episode.

I really liked this episode.. with it being set in the past , plus we witness firsthand for the first time this series, the Doctor landing the TARDIS in the wrong place and wrong time. instead of Naples 1860 it's Cardiff 1869. 

So next up for me to review is the 2-part story (episodes 4 & 5) Aliens of London/ World War 3.

Till then

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 1 "Rose" [Emz]

Being a big Doctor Who fan i'm surprised it's taken me this long to review anything Doctor who related.

This is the episode that started it all for me, prior to this I was either too young (1998 movie) or wasn't born (classic series.)

The episode first premiered on BBC One on the 26th March 2005.

Here is the Premise to the episode: 

When Rose Tyler meets a mysterious stranger called the Doctor, her life will never be the same again. Soon she realises that the whole of planet Earth is in danger.

Review:

As I stated above this is the episode that got me hooked on Doctor Who. I was 14 years old when it was first released... 

The way we meet Rose before the Doctor feels like we are seeing things from her point of view, also as a new viewer you are going through the motions with her, like who is this man and what is he doing.

The whole living plastic/ nestine consciousness thing was quite cool. Special effects were still developing in 2004/ 2005 but it was still effective. 

Anyway thats all for now.

Till next time

Emz x

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