April 9, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
A brief reminder of the previous episodes ending with the ominous “this is the story of how I died” from Rose.
Rose confronts the Daleks, the fact that she knows their name and the existence of the Time War gives them reason to pause and not simply exterminate her and the others on the spot. The also seem more concerned about protecting the “Genesis Arc” than what to do with a few humans.
April 2, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
The episode starts with a voice over by Rose, introducing her life with the Doctor and ending with “This is the story of how I died”.
March 26, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
A street on an English housing estate. A banner shows that it’s 2012 and the London Olympics are near. The camera pans around to a Child Missing poster. And old lady sees some boys playing playing outside, she tells the to go inside “it’s happening again” she says, she can feel something.
In her room a little girl is singing to herself. She goes to her desk and starts to draw one of the boys. Outside the boy vanishes. The picture the girl just drew comes alive, screaming.
March 19, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
A young man is running across open group, out of breath he stops when he see’s the TARDIS next to some industrial looking buildings. A slows and walks closer. As he teases out to touch it he hears a voice from the buildings “Doctor, Doctor look out!” and runs to investigate. He hears Rose and the Doctor again, but doesn’t see them. Opening a door and an alien roars in his face. Suddenly we cut to the man telling the story to his video camera. “And if you think that was the most exciting day of my life wait until you hear the rest, oh boy”
March 12, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
The Ood quickly kill two more crew members. Zack is trapped in the control room, Jefferson, Danny, Toby and Rose are trapped in another part of the station. The Doctor and Ida are down the drill shaft next to the open seal.
Zack tells Ida that he wants them back, he’s going to initiate ‘Strategy 9’ (opening the airlocks to kill all the Ood). Ida cuts him off and she and the Doctor debate ignoring the order and going into the pit. The Doctor finally decides, for once, to retreat.
March 10, 2014 in Guest Blogs, The Clone Wars by GuestBlogs
Today Darth Namialus gives his view of the Yoda arc.
(spoilers after the break)
Read the rest of this entry →
March 5, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
The TARDIS materialises in what seems to be a store room. The Doctor says that she seems to be having problems, Rose says that if he thinks there’s going to be trouble they can get back in and go somewhere else. They both laugh. As if!
They find they’re on a deep space exploration base. Sprayed on the wall is the phrase “Welcome to Hell” and below it a lot of writing in strange symbols which the TARDIS can’t translate, which means it must be old, impossibly old. They go to look for whoever is in charge and are quickly surrounded by aliens saying “We must feed”
“… you if you are hungry” Opps, electromagnetics interfering with their speech systems. They were just being polite. Then some of the human inhabitants turn up. They’re amazed rather than hostile and lead the Doctor and Rose to the command centre where everyone else is equally as puzzled but then a quake hits, shaking the whole base. The surface has caved in but Zack (the acting Captain) deflected it onto storage 5 through 8, they’ve lost them entirely. Toby the archiologist is sent to check it out.
Since it’s clear that Rose and the Doctor have no idea where they are the science officer Ida introduces them to the crew and then opens the roof to show a black hole. They are in orbit around a black hole. It’s impossible but here they are.
Toby is walking down a corridor when he hears a voice calling his name and the lights start to flicker.
Back in the control room Ida tells them a story, that the black hole was a demon and it was tricked into eating the planet, only to spit it out because it was poison. The Doctor is fascinated, this planet shouldn’t exist, the power required would be ridiculous. Rose is given refreshment by one of the aliens and politely asks it’s name. It says that it does not have a title, “we are as one”. Danny explains that they are Ood, a slave race. Rose is unsurprisingly upset about this. Meanwhile the Doctor is being told that the energy source buried in the planet is why the base is here, they’re drilling down to find it, to find out what it is. As the Doctor sees it, they came because it was there, a very human thing to do, and he decides to hug Zack. “Human beings, you are amazing” “Thank you” “But apart from that you’re absolutely mad. You should pack your bags, get back in that ship and fly for your lives”.
Which brings up the subject of how the Doctor and Rose got there and suddenly they realise that the TARDIS was in the storage area that’s not there any more. They rush off to check and yes, it’s gone, the TARDIS is gone. Zack won’t divert the drill to go looking for it. They’re trapped.
Jefferson the security chief is with the Ood. Scooti the trainee tech is working outside. Danny is counting Ood. Toby is examining ancient writing on pieces of pottery, when the voice starts talking to him again. He thinks someone is playing tricks.
Rose is getting her lunch and trying to make conversation with an Ood when it says “The Beast and his armies shall rise from the Pit to make war against God”. She’s a bit taken aback, but then the Ood returns to normal.
In the control room Zack is monitoring the drill, when he turns his back the image of the drill head is momentarily replaced by a horned figure.
Danny is closing a door while the automated system tells him to close it, but then says “He is awake”.
Again the voice calls to Toby, this time he knows it’s not Danny messing about. He asks “Who are you?” “I have so many names”. The voice tells him that he must not look behind him or he will die. Eventually as the voice says it’s getting closer and closer Toby can’t stand it any longer and looks around. There’s nobody there. He turns back to his work but finds that the pottery fragments he was examining are now plain. He removes his gloves and finds that the writing is now on his skin instead. Picking up a mirror he sees it on his face as well and his eyes are red. He collapses onto the floor.
The rest of the crew watch as a star system is consumed by the black hole. The Doctor and Rose discuss what they will do without the TARDIS assuming the crew can do as they’ve offered and give them a lift when they finally leave this planet. The Doctor is not keen on getting a job and house like normal people. It gets a little awkward when Rose touches on the idea of sharing a house. Then her phone rings. A voice says “He is awake” Rose throws the phone to the floor.
Tobby wakes up. Still red-eyed and covered in writing.
The Doctor and Rose go to see Danny to ask about the Ood, how they communicate (a low level telepathic field) and if they could have picked up any transmissions to explain what was said to Rose. Danny monitors the telepathic field, it’s only basic level 5 he says but as the Doctor and Rose watch the number starts to increase going up to 30. When Rose repeats what her phone said the Ood all say “and you will worship him”. The Doctor asks them who.
Scooti goes to see Toby but he’s not there. She hears door 41 open and close and goes to investigate because it’s an airlock. She tries to tell Zack but can’t get through. The Door says “He is awake. He is awake. He bathes in the black sun”. She opens a view port and looks out to see Toby standing outside without a spacesuit. He’s grinning and beckons to her but she’s terrified. He clenches his fist the glass smashes. The hull breach is detected and the rest of the crew rush to seal doors. Everyone except for Scooti is accounted for but she seems to be in Habitation 3 so they all go there. It’s empty, she isn’t there. Then the Doctor finds her. She’s floating outside, obviously dead. Ida closes the blast doors.
The drill has stopped, they’ve reached point zero. The Doctor volunteers to go down the drill shaft with Ida. They walk out into a massive cavern and Ida releases a gravity globe to illuminate it. It’s decorated with gigantic carvings.
The Ood are at Basic 100 which should mean they’re dead and Danny is starting to freak out. Zack tells him that if they’re not actually doing anything just to keep an eye on them.
The Doctor and Ida find a seal, or as the Doctor calls it a trap door. It’s covered in the writing. They call up to ask Toby if he’s deciphered them yet. He stands up, red-eyed and written on again and speaking in a voice that’s not his own. He knows Jefferson’s secrets and taunts him. Jefferson threatens to shoot. His eyes glow, the writing leaves his face and transfers into the Ood whose eyes now glow red. All the Ood are affected and move to attack. Below the seal opens.
The gravity field is weakening. The voice says “The pit is open and I am free”.
For me this episode stands out for the introduction of the Ood who we’ll see again in several future stories. Gotta love an Ood 🙂
Darth_Namialus : This episode (and arc) is by far one of the scariest of Doctor Who. I was up on a summer night, alone at around 2AM watching these episodes, and I was even tempted to turn off my laptop to continue in the morning. Having said that, this arc is also one of the most entertaining of the whole show and I loved it all.
I’d cover my face whenever a scene involving Toby appeared, and the flashing images of the Devil himself made me jump once or twice. It was freaky. I did like the fascinating environment, however, especially the Black Hole and the presence of humans on that planet – not just aliens. The team we got to meet was pretty cool, especially Ida. Scooti’s death was a little surprising too (I marked her as one of the characters who’d survive.)
And yes, the Ood! I liked the transformation they went through across Doctor Who – a slave race, then freed by Doctor-Donna, and then there to witness Ten’s death. This episode marks the introduction of one of the best aliens on the show. But they do look a little scary…
With a strong plot, fascinating environment, and freaky shots, I’d give this episode a rather high 9/10. I loved the arc.
February 26, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
A man, Mr Magpie sits behind the counter of a 1950s TV shop doing his accounts. In the background a female announcer closes the day’s broadcast and the national anthem starts to play. Magpie is £200 overdrawn (a lot in those days) and needs a miracle.
In the front room of their house the Cooper family mum (Rita), son (Tommy) and gran are listening to the radio. Dad (Eddie) walks in (sporting an impressive collection of medals on his chest) and Tommy asks again if they can get a television. Maybe for the Coronation.
Back at the TV shop a strange bolt of red lightning hits the TV ariel and Magpie is woken by a voice. It seems to be the female announcer we saw earlier, but she’s talking directly to him. Red energy beams emerge from the TV and start to pull Magpie’s face into it while the woman laughs.
The Doctor and Rose emerge from the TARDIS, she’s in full 50s attire, a pink dress with loads of petticoats, he’s dressed as normal but comes out riding a scooter. They’re meant to be going to the Ed Sullivan Theatre to see Elvis, but Rose spots the one small flaw in the plan. Red double decker bus, red post box, union flags everywhere. They’re rather obviously not in New York.
Rita, Eddie and Tommy sit watching Muffin the Mule but only Eddie seems to be enjoying himself, the others look worried. Rita wants to know what happened to ‘her’ face.
Out in the street the Doctor and Rose meet Mr Magpie who’s busy delivering TVs ready for the Coronation (Queen Elizabeth II as it’s 1953). The Doctor is delighted, it’s a brilliant year. But then a woman cries for help and they see a figure covered with a blanket being bundled out of a nearby house by two men in black suites. Another man tells them it’s police business but Tommy says that it’s happening all over, people are turning into monsters. His father orders him back inside.
Never one to stand by the Doctor jumps on his scooter and gives chase but looses them thanks to a sneaky bit of scenery moving by the mysterious men in black. Rose suggests that they go back and ask the neighbours.
Mr Magpie has finished making something that the woman in the TV wanted. He begs her to leave him, even his memories burn.
At the family’s house Tommy goes upstairs to check on his gran but Eddie catches him and takes the key to the locked room. It’s clear that Eddie is not a very nice man, he shouts and bullies both his wife and son. The doorbell rings and there are the Doctor and Rose at the door, both all bright and cheerful and pretending to be government inspectors. The Doctor takes some pleasure in making Eddie put up the flags that he’d just been shouting at his wife about. Then they start talking to Rita, telling her that they can help if she just tells them what’s wrong. She starts to cry. Eddie tries to assert his authority only to find himself toe to toe with a very angry Doctor. Then they hear the tap, tapping from upstairs.
Tommy explains that people having been changing. Their families try to hide it because they’re afraid, but somehow the police find out and turn up, any time of the day or night and take them. “Show me” the Doctor says. The all go upstairs to see gran. She has no face. The Doctor scans her with his screwdriver and declares that her brain has been wiped clean.
Suddenly they hear the front door being broken in. The Doctor asks Tommy what she was doing just before it happened, but he’s interrupted by the men in black. One of them knocks him cold before he has a chance to explain why they should listen to him. In the commotion the men cover gran and drag her away with Eddie helping them.
The Doctor recovers in time to give chase but Rose notices red energy crawling all over the TV and goes to investigate. This time the Doctor spots what’s been done and goes around the side of the building to break in. He finds a cage containing more faceless people but before he can learn much he’s discovered.
Rose has gone to Magpie Electrical’s to investigate. Magpie tries to get her to leave, but she won’t listen. One of the TVs comes alive with the woman saying “Hungry, hungry!”. Magpie says it’s nothing. Rose wants to know why he’s been selling TVs so cheaply and he gives a rather unconvincing little speech about it being his patriotic duty. Rose isn’t buying it, she knows that the TVs he’s been selling are connected to the changes. The woman on the TV starts talking to Rose. She asks, “what are you?” “I’m The Wire, and I’m Hungry!” and with that she steals Rose’s face.
The Doctor is being interrogated by Detective Inspector Bishop, only the tables soon turn and it’s the Doctor asking the questions because Bishop really has no idea what’s going on or what to do. The latest victim is delivered, it’s Rose and the Doctor is furious.
Friends and family are gathered at the Cooper household to watch the coronation. Tommy goes to answer the door and it’s the Doctor and DI Bishop. Eddie tries to stop him talking to them by Tommy finally realises who it was ratted out his gran and makes a little speech about fascism and calls his father a coward. Rita comes to the door and asks if it’s true, did he really report on their friends and her mother? He tries to defend himself to justify what he did, but nobody seems very impressed. Rita tells Tommy to go with the Doctor and do some good and then shuts the door on Eddie.
The Doctor, DI Bishop and Tommy break into Magpie’s where they find the device he’d made for The Wire, a portable TV, and the stollen faces crying silently for help from screens in the shop.
Magpie walks in and the Doctor demands to know who’s behind all this. The Wire replies, she tells Tommy that she will gobble him up and when she has feasted she will regain the corporal body which her fellow kind denied her. As she tries to consume all three of them the Doctor manages to get out his screwdriver. While they lay unconscious The Wire transfers into the portable TV and orders Magpie to transport her to her victory.
The Doctor realises that they’re heading to the biggest transmitter in London, Alexandra Palace, which The Wire intends to use as a giant receiver to feed on the 20 million people expected to watch the Coronation. With Tommy’s help he collects components from the shop and then they head off to the transmitter.
Magpie climbs the aerial with The Wire goading him on. Soon the Doctor follows, trailing a copper cable back to the equipment which Tommy has been left in charge of. The Wire starts to feed.
Magpie begs for peace so she kills him. The Doctor plugs the copper cable into the TV but something downstairs explodes and The Wire gloats that his plans seems to have gone wrong. Luckily Tommy is a smart lad and replaces the blown component. The Wire is dragged screaming from the TV. Across the city people are released from her grip and the faceless people in the cage are restored too.
The Doctor just invented the home video 30 years early and trapped The Wire on a tape. Betamax.
Tommy is reunited with his gran, the Doctor with Rose and Rita gives Eddie his marching orders. There’s a street party in full swing as Eddie leaves. Rose tells Tommy to run after him, he’s clever enough to save the world “so don’t stop there”. He does.
A nice little stand alone episode, with authentic period details and I thought Maureen Lipman made an excellent villain.
Darth_Namialus : An interesting and fun episode but not something extremely strong or memorable. But all the characters in this one were written nicely and made for a fun, character-driven, Rose/Ten adventure.
One aspect of this episode I liked was its setting. 1950s Britain, nothing crazy but nothing extremely significant. (Well, the significance depends on your POV) I think Rose shined in this episode (especially when compared to the last few), when she went to investigate Magpie alone and her little conversation with Eddie about women. (which made me LOL 😆 ) Tommy was a fun addition to the group and so was Eddie, even though he was horrible. The Wire was also interesting, especially with what she really meant…
There is an interesting message behind this episode, in my opinion. It’s set when televisions are new and slowly coming in and the villain herself wants to control people through TV itself. There are lots of messages in Doctor Who overall but this one stands out as different – people are being controlled through television, which is basically the ”media.” Mirrors what is currently happening.
Overall, although not a very emotional or epic story, this episode still stands out as a strong story of Series 2. 8/10
February 19, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
The Doctor uses the TARDIS energy crystal to destroy the Cybermen and they all escape in the Preachers’ van. All except Jackie who was back in the house and has to be given up for dead.
February 12, 2014 in Dr Who by Firebird
A scientist and his boss, John Lumic, discuss their new creation. “Skin of metal, and a body that will never age or die. I envy it.” The scientist points out that they have created a new form of life and it will need to be ratified by Geneva but Lumic says it will be refused and when the scientist insists that it his duty to inform them Lumic orders their creation to kill him which it does.
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