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vivdunstan) wrote2024-06-23 03:57 am
vivdunstan) wrote2024-06-23 03:57 am
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Rewatching Doctor Who: The Bells of Saint John
On to the next in my Matt Smith rewatch.
This is the first in the "proper" Clara stories, or at least the version of Clara we get as the ongoing companion. We have a typically Moffatian timey wimey opening, very reminiscent of the tone of the previous series of stories. But then it's back to the present day, and a monster built out of very modern technology.
Modern Clara is sparkly, but even more of an enigma than the previous two versions we've seen. For example why is she acting as a nanny of sorts (explained to an extent in story), what is the story behind that leaf etc? I did like that she's wary of the Doctor, and his intentions. This is something you'd think more female companions should question, but Clara was a rare example. And it's the Doctor who has to win her trust.
As for the threat/monster it's a thoroughly modern one. This was also one of the most scenic London episodes for a while, using lots of familiar and famous landmarks, as both locations and even backdrop (e.g. St Paul's). And there are also a lot of people on screen, both at the baddie's HQ, and in and around London.
I did find Clara's acceptance of her brain being hacked giving her computer skills a bit too easy. Given how much previous companions have been disturbed by the TARDIS translation circuits working on them I was surprised that Clara didn't react with more shock. Then again she realised that computer skills gave them a strength. And even when she was re-uploaded into the computer network her laptop would leave clues for the Doctor.
The Doctor sending a clone to the baddies felt a bit too reminiscent of the Teselecta recurring throughout the previous season of Matt Smith. Likewise Celia Imrie's character reverting to a child felt too much like The Snowmen ending again. Even if, right enough, the Great Intelligence was involved here as in that story. And now with the face of Dr Simeon.
So overall a good companion intro, with some suitable scepticism, and a modern enemy for once (albeit with an old one behind, pulling the strings). Though there were a few too many overly familiar elements reused. But equally there were some new ones introduced. Like the motorbike. Which was a nice touch, and a useful addition. I can remember the Third, Seventh, Eighth and Tenth Doctors riding motorbikes on screen. But not any others before the Eleventh.
This is the first in the "proper" Clara stories, or at least the version of Clara we get as the ongoing companion. We have a typically Moffatian timey wimey opening, very reminiscent of the tone of the previous series of stories. But then it's back to the present day, and a monster built out of very modern technology.
Modern Clara is sparkly, but even more of an enigma than the previous two versions we've seen. For example why is she acting as a nanny of sorts (explained to an extent in story), what is the story behind that leaf etc? I did like that she's wary of the Doctor, and his intentions. This is something you'd think more female companions should question, but Clara was a rare example. And it's the Doctor who has to win her trust.
As for the threat/monster it's a thoroughly modern one. This was also one of the most scenic London episodes for a while, using lots of familiar and famous landmarks, as both locations and even backdrop (e.g. St Paul's). And there are also a lot of people on screen, both at the baddie's HQ, and in and around London.
I did find Clara's acceptance of her brain being hacked giving her computer skills a bit too easy. Given how much previous companions have been disturbed by the TARDIS translation circuits working on them I was surprised that Clara didn't react with more shock. Then again she realised that computer skills gave them a strength. And even when she was re-uploaded into the computer network her laptop would leave clues for the Doctor.
The Doctor sending a clone to the baddies felt a bit too reminiscent of the Teselecta recurring throughout the previous season of Matt Smith. Likewise Celia Imrie's character reverting to a child felt too much like The Snowmen ending again. Even if, right enough, the Great Intelligence was involved here as in that story. And now with the face of Dr Simeon.
So overall a good companion intro, with some suitable scepticism, and a modern enemy for once (albeit with an old one behind, pulling the strings). Though there were a few too many overly familiar elements reused. But equally there were some new ones introduced. Like the motorbike. Which was a nice touch, and a useful addition. I can remember the Third, Seventh, Eighth and Tenth Doctors riding motorbikes on screen. But not any others before the Eleventh.