DOCTOR WHO 6.01 - The Impossible Astronaut

[^o^CORVUS^o^]

I'll be doing my review later today. I was going to say tomorrow, but its ALREADY well into tomorrow.

Anyway, my short-form thoughts on this episode are best summed up as

HOLY SHIT

Yours?

[Dusty]

Yes, that.

That's a pretty bold way to start your "Hey America, come check out our fun accessible show!" season.

The Silence are delightfully Moffaty. And it's always nice to see Mark Sheppard.

I'll let a few more people chime in before I start going into overdrive with the spoilers.

But man, that was tremendous.

[^o^CORVUS^o^]

I feel pretty much the same way. Wow. Just wow.

[Rust]

This is going to be interesting, especially with how it all ties together. I note the TARDIS console room from The Lodger showed up again. Is it a repurposed set, or are the Silence somehow connected to Gallifrey and the Time Lords?

I figure I might want to chime in some more, that I adore the current TARDIS dynamic between River, Amy, Rory, and the Doctor. It doesn't feel "crowded" like it did during Davidson's era and each character has their own role to play.

I especially like how the companions are actually doing something, rather then just standing around and looking in awe of the Doctor. I also like how Moffat lampooned that particular trait with Matt's line in the TARDIS.

Matt's performance continues to impress, how he can be giddy and carefree like a school boy one minute and then suddenly be a 900+ year old being in another. He might be the youngest person to play the Doctor, but he's the first (With the possible exception of Slyvester McCoy) to actually make the audience believe he's as old as he says he is.

And I have to admit, Matt's Doctor can be really cruel. His remarks to River in the TARDIS were extraordinarily harsh, especially given his warmth to her in the beginning of the episode. At the same time, it makes sense because the Doctor still doesn't know who she is yet.

Rory's a joy of a companion and it's nice to see him get credit in the opening sequence. That being said, there seems to be rumblings of a relationship strain with Amy and I hope there isn't. The Doctor has River for romantic interludes, enough with the doe eyed Companions already!


Nixon's makeup seems like it was halfway done for comedic effect. Disappointed there, especially given Churchill's appearance last season but eh. Still the best line of the show thus far (And very Tom Baker-ish too):

"Please, I waltz into the most highly guarded facility in the world, park a big blue box on the rug and you think you can shoot me?"

"THEY'RE AMERICANS!"

"Don't shoot!"

[Akitsu]

Loved it... and especially loved not feeling like a second class citizen being able to watch the show the same day it airs in the UK.

BBC America's broadcast was impeccable btw, I especially enjoyed them doing a season summary from last the hour before. Brilliant way to introduce people who otherwise might not understand exactly what is going on.

Loved the new enemies, and the intro was jaw dropping. A bit disappointed that they didn't end it with them discovering the enemy, which seems like the most logical note to go out on. (Was happy to see that they figure it out in the next episode preview tho)

All in all a very strong episode. Lots of creepy, weird, and interesting bits to get caught up in.

[^o^CORVUS^o^]

Yes, its very clear that Moff and the BBC team are very dedicated to increasing the shows popularity here in the states.

[Rust]

I have to say too, the baddies could very well be the Could Have Been King too.

The Aliens definitely seemed like "Neverweres", turn your back or look away, and you forget they're even there.

[^o^CORVUS^o^]

Part of me was waiting for Buffy to show up and scream them into oblivion

[Dusty]

I have to say too, the baddies could very well be the Could Have Been King too.

Seeing as how Moffat has gone out of his way to avoid even mentioning anything to do with the Time War, I highly doubt that.

[Rust]

Seeing as how Moffat has gone out of his way to avoid even mentioning anything to do with the Time War, I highly doubt that.

"Fear Me, I've killed Hundreds of Time Lords."
"Fear Me, I've killed all of them."

[Dusty]

Seeing as how Moffat has gone out of his way to avoid even mentioning anything to do with the Time War, I highly doubt that.

"Fear Me, I've killed Hundreds of Time Lords."
"Fear Me, I've killed all of them."

He's made plenty of mentions of being the last of the Time Lords, but Moffat is not shy about wanting to leave the Time War and its emotional impact on the Doctor in the past, since that was pretty much the main thrust of Davies' tenure.

[Rust]

Oh I'm not disagreeing with that, I just know Moffat had things inserted into The End of Time to pave the way for his own tenure. And frankly, the Could-Have-Been King and his Army of Meanwhiles and Neverweres have sparked my imagination like little else.

[Dusty]

Oh I'm not disagreeing with that, I just know Moffat had things inserted into The End of Time to pave the way for his own tenure. And frankly, the Could-Have-Been King and his Army of Meanwhiles and Neverweres have sparked my imagination like little else.

I admit, that's a GREAT line. But wasn't it in The Stolen Earth? I'm pretty sure Moffat wasn't having Davies insert future plot points THAT far back.

[^o^CORVUS^o^]

No, actually it was indeed in "The End of Time Part 2" when the Doctor summed up the horrors of the Time War and the reasons behind his choice, as Rassilon stood all smug in the background.

[Dusty]

Oh yeah, you're right.

I still think it's just a cool Davies throwaway line though.