s7: reactions so far

[dbskyler]

I have to say that overall, S7 has been a good series so far. Here are some quick thoughts and reactions:

-- I am apparently the only DW fan on LJ who did not recognize Jenna Louise Coleman in "Asylum of the Daleks." I had no clue until I started reading other people's reaction posts, which were full of "What did it mean that it was her?" It was a very enjoyable episode even without that extra meta-layer, though, and I really enjoyed Coleman's performance, so I am happy to know that she will be portraying the new companion. I think she's going to be great.

-- "Asylum of the Daleks" was very good, but for some reason I don't have an urge to watch it again. But I loved all those Daleks saying "save us" -- what a great visual! Plus the whole idea of Souffle Girl was terrific.

-- What was the point of breaking up Amy and Rory only to have them get back together again in one episode, and without much of a fuss? Basically all that happened was one conversation about who loves the other more. And now they seem to be back to normal again. I'm disappointed, because it could have been very interesting to carry over a few marriage difficulties into subsequent episodes.

-- It's interesting that the Daleks have now forgotten the Doctor. It's also interesting that in the two other S7 episodes we've had so far, the audience was led to believe that other people recognized the Doctor only to have it turn out that they hadn't. So the Doctor's plan of going undercover seems to be working out so far, although in other ways he's not keeping much of a low profile, is he?

-- "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" was fine -- not a favorite episode, but not a bad episode either. It's interesting that we got two new companions (including a famous historical figure) without any real background on their relationship to the Doctor. They were just there. It reinforces the idea that the Doctor is out having adventures, picking people up and dropping them off. Apparently he still considers the Pond-Williamses his main companions though.

-- I was disappointed in Rory's dad. I didn't get much of a sense of his relationship to Rory, or what it meant to him to be suddenly on an alien spaceship filled with dinosaurs. There didn't seem much point to it being Rory's dad at all as opposed to "random person X," although I guess we're going to be seeing the dad again next week, so maybe the ultimate point was just to introduce the character? In which case I still would've liked a bit more character development.

-- "A Town Called Mercy" was excellent. My favorite episode of the series so far. Matt Smith's acting was absolutely stellar, and I loved all the stuff the episode said -- and didn't say -- about the Doctor.

-- WTH was that "American" accent in the voiceover at the top of the episode, though? Arrghh, take it away, take it away! Thankfully, most of the other accents were good. Isaac's was very good, and so was the preacher's. The townsfolk's accents were more hit-and-miss, but none were as godawful as that voiceover.

-- I had to go look up where the episode was filmed, because it really, really looked like the American West to me. Turns out it was filmed in Spain, but well done on the scenery and the cinematography! I also loved all the Western cliches. Hooray for the shootout at high noon! I knew that the Doctor would go for the sonic screwdriver, and of course he did, but it was still a glorious moment when it came.

-- Looking forward to the rest of the series! Is it true that we only have two more episodes left until the next hiatus? That's so soon!

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

No you weren't - I didn't know it was JLC either...

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh good! I felt so out of the loop when that was all everyone was talking about afterwards, and I was like, "really, that was her?"

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I had no clue until after the episode aired.

[evil_plotbunny]

I only knew because her name showed up in the credits immediately after.

[taiamu.livejournal.com]

Isaac's was very good,

It should be! Isaac was played by Sci-Fi alum Ben Browder, who was born in Memphis, Tenn. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Browder

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Which only goes to show us that Skyler didn't watch either Farscape OR Stargate :D

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't watched either show, but that does explain why he had such a good American accent! ; )

(He didn't sound like he was from Tennessee, either. It was a very good generic "Old West" accent. Does he normally sound like he's from Tennessee?)

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Well, I won't really be able to recognise a Tennessee accent from other southern USA accents, but I didn't get the impression his accent is particularly southern? Here's an example from SG1.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks! No, his accent there isn't particularly southern. I also found a Ben Browder interview at Youtube. His real accent does have some "south" in it, but it's not very strong. I'm now going to have to go back and watch the episode for a third time just to see if I can hear it in his dialogue.

Also, I did a little sleuthing, and apparently the actor who played the preacher is also American. At least, someone by that name who is currently an actor in London got his BA in Drama from UNC-Greensboro.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I missed the credits so it was only when I got an email from my sister afterwards mentioning it that I was clued in. (I'd intended to check the BBC website to see who was playing Oswin but my sis' email arrived first...)

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Well, taking American actors is definitely a better idea than some of the stuff they did before - I remember some atrocious accents in the past! (I'm looking at you, Evolution of the Daleks...!)