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patentdragonWell, that certainly didn't go as expected, did it...?
The episode starts in somewhat cryptic fashion, as River Song receives an unexpected phone call, and sets off on a chain of briefly-glimpsed adventures, visiting several places and encountering individuals we've already encountered this season. It's a while before we get to see the man whose show it is - in a scene that's rather reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - but after that, there's barely a moment for viewers to catch their breath...
The mysterious Pandorica is revealed fairly early on, and yes, it does give off a certain "Void Ship" ("Army Of Ghosts") vibe in the beginning. The swarming aliens, drawn to the device, may seem rather excessive, something of a clumsy attempt to out-do past finales - a pattern already well established - but wait; all the pieces will fall into place...
Before that, we get some genuine shocks, in a tight little bundle. The Cyber-head is a truly nightmarish creation, not quite as scary as it could be, but the all-out horror element of the skull inside pales compared to the frantically snapping face-plate as it menaces Amy - see it yourself if you don't believe me; it's masterful - then whoa... can that really be Rory to the rescue?
The return of Amy's fiance, dead and erased from existence in "Cold Blood", may have been possible to predict, but it's done really well without detracting too much from the ominous fleet hanging over the Earth. As Amy is made to confront her forgotten past, one of the biggest "end-arounds" the show has ever attempted swings into action under Stonehenge - fans may groan to see Daleks taking the lead again, but this time, it couldn't be more different. The alien alliance is a surprise, their motivation even more so... and when the Pandorica finally opens, and its purpose is revealed, I defy anyone to have predicted that it's not what's inside that matters, it's what's going inside... you will be shouting at the screen, I assure you. And if you think that's bad, you wait for the truth about Rory, and its consequences...
Once again, we head into a "To Be Continued" with no apparent hope of salvation in sight - just how can "The Moff" bring us back from that bleakest of endings...?
Next Saturday - the portentious 26-06-2010 - can't come soon enough. Everything Steven Moffat and Matt Smith have done has led to this, and to fall at the final hurdle would be such a crime.
The Verdict... A very strong showing, standing several expectations on their heads in a first-rate piece of storytelling. Great performances all round, and a cliffhanger that leaves you begging for the next, and final, part. Best episode this season...?
That is all...
512: The Pandorica Opens
The episode starts in somewhat cryptic fashion, as River Song receives an unexpected phone call, and sets off on a chain of briefly-glimpsed adventures, visiting several places and encountering individuals we've already encountered this season. It's a while before we get to see the man whose show it is - in a scene that's rather reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - but after that, there's barely a moment for viewers to catch their breath...
The mysterious Pandorica is revealed fairly early on, and yes, it does give off a certain "Void Ship" ("Army Of Ghosts") vibe in the beginning. The swarming aliens, drawn to the device, may seem rather excessive, something of a clumsy attempt to out-do past finales - a pattern already well established - but wait; all the pieces will fall into place...
Before that, we get some genuine shocks, in a tight little bundle. The Cyber-head is a truly nightmarish creation, not quite as scary as it could be, but the all-out horror element of the skull inside pales compared to the frantically snapping face-plate as it menaces Amy - see it yourself if you don't believe me; it's masterful - then whoa... can that really be Rory to the rescue?
The return of Amy's fiance, dead and erased from existence in "Cold Blood", may have been possible to predict, but it's done really well without detracting too much from the ominous fleet hanging over the Earth. As Amy is made to confront her forgotten past, one of the biggest "end-arounds" the show has ever attempted swings into action under Stonehenge - fans may groan to see Daleks taking the lead again, but this time, it couldn't be more different. The alien alliance is a surprise, their motivation even more so... and when the Pandorica finally opens, and its purpose is revealed, I defy anyone to have predicted that it's not what's inside that matters, it's what's going inside... you will be shouting at the screen, I assure you. And if you think that's bad, you wait for the truth about Rory, and its consequences...
Once again, we head into a "To Be Continued" with no apparent hope of salvation in sight - just how can "The Moff" bring us back from that bleakest of endings...?
Next Saturday - the portentious 26-06-2010 - can't come soon enough. Everything Steven Moffat and Matt Smith have done has led to this, and to fall at the final hurdle would be such a crime.
The Verdict... A very strong showing, standing several expectations on their heads in a first-rate piece of storytelling. Great performances all round, and a cliffhanger that leaves you begging for the next, and final, part. Best episode this season...?
Score: 8.5/10
That is all...
