vivdunstan

Rewatched this pair of episodes last week and the week before, as part of our continuing 20 years on rewatch of the first David Tennant series.

Going to discuss some major spoilers, so going into spoiler space. Spoiler discussion will also include the later 2006 series finale.

( spoilers )

Continuing my Twelfth Doctor rewatch with this pair of linked episodes. Going to discuss this with big spoilers.

( spoilers )

Another 20-years-on rewatch for us, last week, with my review only going up now.

This is a strong episode, that brought back a much-loved old character, in a way that appealed to both long-term fans from the 1970s and new fans who had no idea who Sarah Jane Smith was. Or indeed K9. It was a risk going for the jealousy angle, and Rose doesn't always come out well, including re the final bit with Mickey. But it gives a new perspective on the role of a companion, and I think was generally well done.

It's another tightly written episode - rewatching this 2006 series I'm constantly agog at how much tighter the single parters were writing wise than in the RTD2 era - with a strong plot and good guest cast. Anthony Head is particularly strong in his role, and I honestly thought that the main kid actors were ok, though I've seen other reviewers less positive about them.

As an old time fan myself, albeit starting watching in 1978 after Sarah Jane Smith left the TARDIS, I loved the ending. And it was easy to see how much fun David Tennant was having, as another lifelong fan. It's no wonder that this led to the very successful Sarah Jane Adventures spin off.

Continuing my Twelfth Doctor rewatch, and going into spoiler space to discuss some more specific spoilery details.

( spoilers )

We watched this last week, another 20-years-on anniversary rewatch. I remembered really liking this story on first watch, with some provisos. And it's still great.

Tightly written, full of content. There's an original Scottish setting, and it was nice to see David Tennant's Doctor use a Scottish accent, and be incorporated into the plot.

Rose is very resourceful and brave, leading the prisoners' defence. But at the same time she is phenomenally irritating re the repeated "We are not amused!", and her Princess Anne jibe was incredibly misjudged by RTD. And I say that as a non royalist.

The episode is full of exciting action scenes, from the opening monk acrobatic hijinks, through to the werewolf transformation, and the final climax.

A strong guest cast, mostly Scottish, helps immensely. Pauline Collins - a Classic Who returnee to Doctor Who - is a memorable Queen Victoria.

Much running along corridors, and more stairs. But effectively done, and not annoyingly repetitive.

Some nice uses of history, and as a book historian I especially liked the woodcut showing something relevant from James V's era. Unlike Jonathan Creek's "Satan's Chimney" episode with Mary Tamm, this story at least got the correct Scottish monarch!

And nods to the future, re both Torchwood and Bad Wolf.

Great stuff, albeit still with a few quibbles. And, yes, incredibly tightly written, which again RTD2 and also Capaldi-era Moffat could take lessons from.

Oh and the early 2000s special effects seemed to hold up well for me watching two decades on.

This last week marked 20 years since the start of David Tennant's first full series of Doctor Who. We weren't planning to rewatch anything, but stumbled at midnight that night into a rewatch of "New Earth". I wouldn't be surprised if we rewatch more episodes over the coming weeks ...

I jotted down some quick thoughts while watching.

DT so young!
Seeing Mickey is going to be *challenging*, but hey ho
Nice to combine first new Tenth series story with a sequel to End of the World
So many lift shafts and stair scenes in this early era of New Who!
Adjoa Andoh's voice even more recognisable for me now after watching some of Bridgerton
Certainly pre Covid, with the Doctor opening up multiple patient cells, full of people infected with many diseases, and saying it’s ok as long as you don’t touch them
Marvellous cat acting from Doña Croll particularly
Very dark storytelling, but also incredibly concise for the runtime - RTD 2 could take lessons
Overall a fun intro to a new series. And the middle part of an elongated trilogy story of sorts, which I hadn't appreciated back then.

Was worried that I was going to run out of title characters to fit that lot in!

Continuing my rewatch of the Peter Capaldi era with this opening two parter from New Who series 9. And going to put my discussion into spoiler space.

( spoilers )

I'm just starting a rewatch of New Who series 9, with "The Magician's Apprentice" / "The Witch's Familiar". And while I'm enjoying it, I'm finding the so very Steven Moffat storytelling exhausting. Admittedly I'm especially tired at the moment, including cognitively, as I recover from my latest neurological illness flare. But the constant jumping around from time and place to somewhere else combined with the big set pieces in between feels way too much for me at the moment. I'd really like a more simple story structure with a more straightforward beginning, middle and end!

To be fair I've seen and enjoyed this era of Doctor Who before, on original broadcast. And I'm very familiar with this style of storytelling, from especially New Who series 5 onwards, as well as some isolated examples before then. It's what we get, for example, in "The Pandorica Opens" / "The Big Bang", and so many many more Steven Moffat penned stories. But sometimes it's just too much for my taste. And tonight is definitely one of those times.

Harking back to slightly simpler times in Doctor Who history, we're planning to soon rewatch all the Fifth Doctor TV stories in sequence, now that we have all of his season Blu-ray boxes. I saw them all many years ago, and a few again more recently. Martin's only seen a few of the stories. So that will be fun, and hopefully a little more palatable for me when fatigued. That's not to say that they're simplistic, but there should be a certain lack of convolution generally. Which I think I will appreciate. Though we still have to finish watching the final BBC Narnia TV series first.

Continuing my Twelfth Doctor rewatch. And going to put this two-parter's discussion in a spoiler cut.

( spoilers )

Continuing my Peter Capaldi rewatch, and onto another I had very bad memories of. Overall I still found it a disappointing episode, but there was more that I liked this time. The large group of young schoolchildren seemed more palatable, and well-defined individuals, providing good material to watch, and complicating the experiences of the three main leads. Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor seemed to particularly thrive with young Maebh. And it was fun to see the two schoolteachers coping out of the classroom, as well as the challenges of their own relationship.

The first half or so of the story was solid for me, but things fell away after then. Too hand wavy, too vague explanations. I appreciate that a lot of the Steven Moffat era of Doctor Who has a fairytale quality and dreamlike nature. But I think Frank Cottrell-Boyce stretched this too far.

The environmental aspect was refreshing, but still too vaguely handled. And the ending was far, far too predictable for me.

I'd probably skip this on future rewatches, but am pleased that I enjoyed it more this time.

Finished watching this, having watched spread out and slowly.

Just beautiful, a gem of a series, that has so much of the feel of Mackenzie Crook's Detectorists, but tells an original story, with brand new characters, with warmth, style and pathos.

The character interactions were magical throughout.

So much of the best bits of the series were the small details, so very carefully observed, acted and directed.

And every character was rounded and sympathetic to an extent. That's top writing.

I especially enjoyed some of the moments in the DIY store.

But the best part was the relationship between Michael and Kacey.

For goodness sake BBC, renew it for a second series! Though I am rather wondering how well that would work. I'll certainly watch.

If you're in the UK and can watch this on iPlayer, I thoroughly recommend doing so.

If you're in another country, I hope it is broadcast where you are and you get a chance to see it!

It really is very special.

Recently rewatched this, and enjoyed it again, though perhaps not as much as the first time.

The Golden Age style whodunnit aspect is fantastic. Though I found it frustrating that the Doctor already knows about the Foretold, making me feel one step removed from the story at that point. Writing about (fictional) past legendary things can be tricky, but I think a smoother bit of sleight of hand could have improved this. Taking the viewer along with the Doctor on the journey of discovery can be an important element.

I still find the split between the Agatha Christie esque train setting and the futuristic lab to be extremely jarring. This is a longstanding problem I have with Doctor Who stories that have an atmospheric opening setting, sometimes historical, and then relocate to a different much more scifi setting. Think "The Stones of Blood" for example.

Yet there is a good resolution, and the guest cast is strong. Not least Frank Skinner as train chief engineer Perkins, who has an unnerving ambiguity about whether he's an ally or not. Nicely done.

Recently I rewatched the Matt Smith Doctor Who stories again. And I'm now rewatching Peter Capaldi's run. But it's been tricky to keep going. I think he's one of the best actors ever to play the part, but the characterisation as presented is often so unlikeable. Especially at the start of his run, but also with his treatment of Danny. It's very difficult to relate to this Doctor early on, and to want to watch the series.

I paused my rewatch part way through "Robot of Sherwood" and it took me some months to summon up the enthusiasm to restart. I'm now part way through series 8 episode 6 "The Caretaker". I've enjoyed some of the previous stories more than I expected to. Not least "Time Heist" which I could barely remember anything of. Though I rather yearn for simpler old style storytelling, rather than Steven Moffat esque convoluted timey wimeyness.

But I'm still hating the dislikeable aspects of this Doctor, which are particularly evident in
8. Not so much his alienness, but what I perceive too often as unnecessary cruelty to watch in the series. It feels like experiencing the early Sixth Doctor all over again. But pushing on ...

Just finished this, my second book finished of the New Year. And it was honestly one of the most powerful and affecting books that I've read for a very long time. A tale of Shakespeare, yet not of Shakespeare, a moving family story, an immersive glimpse of Tudor England. I'm reluctant to say too much in detail to spoil things.

Structurally it was really interesting, different in some ways I gather from the film version. I also found it phenomenally immersive, similar to the effect that Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall series had on me. I wondered if this was due to the present tense used throughout much of the book, but I don't think that's so much the reason, as an acute sense of authorial observation and description. And just thoroughly good writing.

It has big standout moments that are particularly powerful, but also moved me constantly throughout, both by the feelings conveyed, and the power of the writing, which was both lyrical and addictive in equal measure.

Just an incredible achievement. And one that I would recommend without question.

We've started watching the new remastered Blu-ray version of the BBC 1988-1990 Narnia TV stories. Working slowly through the three televised serials (Lion, Caspian & Dawn Treader, and Silver Chair), before watching the new extended combined making of documentary on the final disc.

First "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Which I watched in 1988, and later on video with Martin who'd never seen it. He's never seen the other Narnia TV stories at all.

Some quick thoughts, more about the production side of things than the story itself (mostly):

Relatively little happens in quite a few of the earlier episodes, at least compared to 1984’s “The Box of Delights”, which admittedly I adore.
I wondered where I recognised the Professor from. Seymour in Last of the Summer Wine! Which my family was glued to on Sunday nights back then.
Barbara Kellerman’s White Witch stretches things too much towards overacting.
Aslan’s camp looks to older me now more like a 60s hippies commune.
Ronald Pickup - yay!
Aslan moves his body well but his mouth movements are very stiff.
I do like the special effects of the creatures and phantasms that the Witch conjured. But many of the other special effects are less successful for me, and often clunky. Again not overall as good for me as in the earlier Box of Delights.
The direction could be better in a lot of places, to smooth how the child actors are handled. It just often feels awkward.
And it is so unsubtly Christian. In the whole Narnia book series that is most true of this book and, above all, the final one. But I’m finding it harder to watch as an adult.

Despite all those thoughts I'm enjoying this rewatch, though am less appreciative of it now as an adult than I was as a child back in 1988. And I definitely don't think it's anywhere near as successful, or as good to rewatch years later, as my admittedly beloved Box of Delights.

Martin stunned me tonight by saying that he doesn't think he'd ever read any of the original Narnia books, even as a child, growing up in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s.

He also wouldn't have noticed the Christian/religious elements in this Narnia story, without me hinting. Despite growing up in a more religious and consistently church going household than me. Though we're not sure how much of that side of things sunk in.

Note: this aired in the UK on BBC TV in December 2025. It is expected to air worldwide on Disney+ sometime in early 2026.

Just finished watching this Doctor Who spin-off. I’m going to jot down some brief thoughts with mild spoilers in them, avoiding some of the biggest stuff. But to be on the safe side I’ll still put this into spoiler space.

( spoilers )

As I'm currently working my way through rewatching Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor stories, I thought I might afterwards those post about my favourites from his era. And since before him I rewatched the Eleventh Doctor I might as well do the same now for Matt Smith's era! Hopefully Jodie Whittaker's era will follow in due course.

So, Eleventh Doctor. I really like his old man in a young body characterisation. And he's very well performed. Fortunately also paired with strong companions throughout, and generally good writing.

In chronological order, here are some thoughts on some of my favourite stories from his era:

The Time of Angels / Flesh and Stone. The first time we see River with this incarnation, and the return of iconic monsters the Weeping Angels. This is a tight puzzle box of a two parter, with much to enjoy, and also mysteries only to be uncovered later on. It's also one of Amy's best stories. And remarkably, it was the very first story Matt Smith and Karen Gillan filmed.
Vincent and the Doctor. I've studied art history at university. But am often rather immune to its qualities. I also don't resonate much with Van Gogh's work, Starry Night excepted. But this is a beautiful story of a troubled artist, briefly enlivened by a visit from the Doctor and Amy. And the visual effects as they look up at the night sky is quite magical.
The Girl Who Waited. An acting tour de force from Karen Gillan, playing two versions of Amy, and a beautiful tale of love, longing, and survival. It's really special.
Asylum of the Daleks. On the one hand this is a difficult watch, with the fractured relationship of Amy and Rory viscerally depicted. But it's also a thrilling piece of scifi. And seeing the surprise first appearance of Jenna Coleman's Clara was a jaw dropping moment.
The Angels Take Manhattan. I like historical Who, and this is a powerful mix of 1930s New York, Weeping Angels, River, and Amy and Rory, in a story that will linger long in the mind. The music is also stunning.
The Snowmen. A call back - or forward? - to another Doctor Who tale, this is a Christmassy gem, and another introduction for Clara. The story wanders a bit in the third quarter, but overall is a strong one for me. A mix of festive fun and moving pathos.

There are other Eleventh Doctor stories that I enjoyed, but these are my absolute highlights. I tried to trim it down to just five for this list. But honestly I can't cut any of them.

My end of year full reading recap will be posted on my main blog - and a link to it posted here - by Hogmanay. In the meantime, here is my complete list of books finished this year, including 4 newly finished since my last post.

( earlier books )

Alice's Oxford: People and Places that Inspired Wonderland by Peter Hunt
Wintering: How I learned to flourish when life became frozen by Katherine May
Silence in the Library / The Forest of the Dead by Dale Smith
The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany

Of the newly finished ones, Alice's Oxford was a little bit too speculative for my taste, and plagued with an overly small font. But I did find a lot to enjoy, and am very glad I read it. Though I wanted clearer maps, to understand the geography. I've only been to Oxford a couple of times.

Wintering promised so much but was ultimately extremely disappointing. It stretched the concept of "wintering" to breaking point, and was repeatedly too self indulgent and written from a position of great privilege which the author seemed quite unaware of. Some good bits in there, and at times her writing was truly beautiful. But in the end, nope, not good. And a very poor ending.

The Doctor Who book about River Song's introductory episodes is one in the "Black Archive" series of episode analysis books from Obverse Books. I liked a lot about this, but was frustrated by how much the author ended up writing about things outside the two episodes, including River Song's wider arc, Steven Moffat's writing more generally, and paraphrasing rather too many science books. In the end I gave it 3/5 stars, but it's not one of the best "Black Archive" books for me.

The King of Elfland's Daughter was my book club read for December. I'm very glad I read it. It's a classic fantasy, which has influenced many other authors, including Tolkien. But it had flaws. It's more descriptive-driven than either plot-driven or character-driven. And with a positively glacial pace of story I found it hard to stay engaged and keep reading through to the end. Yet overall glad that I read it. And I loved one character especially. But I don't think I will ever reread it.

Resuming my read of Wheel of Time book 10. Still enjoying the book series, though I've developed a very specific way of reading it, and still expect far too many characters/infodump from Robert Jordan early on! Currently pleased to see two characters again, and trying to remember prior plot for them!

This book is very much in the doldrums stage of the series, so if I can get through here I'm confident I'll get to the end. Making good progress anyway.

Onto the last story in the 8th season of Benny audios from Big Finish. Going to discuss this with big spoilers for this story and the previous but one story as well.

( spoilers )

Cover of Bernice Summerfield and The Wake

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Page Summary

Rewatching Doctor Who: Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel
Rewatching Doctor Who: The Girl Who Died / The Woman Who Lived
Rewatching Doctor Who: School Reunion
Rewatching Doctor Who: Under the Lake / Before the Flood
Rewatching Doctor Who: Tooth and Claw
Rewatching Doctor Who: New Earth
Rewatching Doctor Who: The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar
Steven Moffat's storytelling style in Doctor Who
Rewatching Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven
Rewatching Doctor Who: In the Forest of the Night
Small Prophets TV series - some thoughts
Rewatching Doctor Who: Mummy on the Orient Express
Quick musings on resumed Twelfth Doctor rewatch
Book review: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Thoughts on rewatching BBC 1988 TV version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
The War Between the Land and the Sea
Favourite Eleventh Doctor stories from Doctor Who
Books finished in 2025, end of year edition
Current reading: Wheel of Time book 10
Bernice Summerfield: The Wake

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Entries tagged with writing

Rewatching Doctor Who: Rise of the Cybermen / The Age of Steel

Rewatching Doctor Who: The Girl Who Died / The Woman Who Lived

Rewatching Doctor Who: School Reunion

Rewatching Doctor Who: Under the Lake / Before the Flood

Rewatching Doctor Who: Tooth and Claw

Rewatching Doctor Who: New Earth

Rewatching Doctor Who: The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar

Steven Moffat's storytelling style in Doctor Who

Rewatching Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven

Rewatching Doctor Who: In the Forest of the Night

Small Prophets TV series - some thoughts

Rewatching Doctor Who: Mummy on the Orient Express

Quick musings on resumed Twelfth Doctor rewatch

Book review: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Thoughts on rewatching BBC 1988 TV version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

The War Between the Land and the Sea

Favourite Eleventh Doctor stories from Doctor Who

Books finished in 2025, end of year edition

Current reading: Wheel of Time book 10

Bernice Summerfield: The Wake