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simonrobertrussell
Reviews
Doctor Who: Day of the Moon (2011)
too clever by half
Hi Mr Moffat, I really like your work, but please - my brain hurts. Can the next episode just show the Doctor running away from some Zygons in a quarry on Southern England.
There is a fine line between complicated ( which is OK, there is enough dumbed down TV on the other side ) and downright confusing.
Your enjoyment is tempered when you have to pause and rewind BBC iPlayer every 10 minutes.
EFFECTS - great, ACTORS - brilliant, SETS - didn't wobble, ALIENS - not blokes in rubber suits.
PLOT - can you just run that past me again, and can I have a pad and pen to make notes ? I am sure it will all be explained and all fit together later.
I feel dizzy - anyone got a jellybaby ?
Doctor Who: The Big Bang (2010)
A very satisfying conclusion to a superb 1st series.
Absolute genius. To link back to the first episode and show us the clues he left sprinkled throughout the 1st series shows remarkable confidence from Steven Moffat. Such complexity also shows the respect he has for his audience's intelligence.
This 2 parter was the best season finale so far in 'New Who' and wipes away the memory of Tennant as 'Yoda' Doctor with the Master.
As for Matt Smith - brilliant as usual - especially in the more emotional scenes with young Amy and all handled a lot better than the somewhat over the top style we got from Tennant & Davies.
Whilst other dramas seem to lose their way ( Lost, Heroes ) Doctor Who goes from strength to strength - and as long as Matt and Steven are around I don't see that changing.
Doctor Who: The End of Time: Part Two (2010)
Over to you Mr Moffat
Someone ought to remind Mr Davies that sometimes 'less is more'. I am a huge fan of Dr Who and have been since the early 70's, I have also loved most of what Russell has done to make the new Doctor Who such a success after the abysmal 80's - but quite simply, this was not good. SORRY ( as Russell would have the Doctor say, repeatedly ).
The whole re-generation thing is a UNIQUE plot device that should be used to great dramatic effect - it exists nowhere else, you want to replace Kirk, then launch a new starship and crew, you want a new Mulder ( let's not go there ).
This is what should have happened - he saves the world, defeats the Timelords and gives The Master his release ( John Simm - you are the greatest actor of my generation ). He then faces the ultimate sacrifice. He dies ( regenerates ) with Wilfred and Donna by his side.
Oh no. Russell draws out the whole thing by an eon and drags the dramatic tension from a level of 10 down to a lukewarm 2 ( watch an episode of Eastenders to see what I am talking about ).
If you thought the multiple endings of Lord Of The Rings were bad enough, then put on the kettle, sit back and get ready to WAIT.
Just get it done.
I was hoping for edge of my seat tension, I was hoping for the emotion of Spock's death in Star Trek II, I was hoping for the shock of Blake's 7s final moments.
I was bored.