A typical RTD finale (Review: 'Doctor Who' 1.8, "Empire of Death")

• I watched the Tales from the TARDIS for "Pyramids of Mars" this morning before watching the finale; the edited version works even better than the original story and reminds you of just how powerful Sutekh can be.
• Speaking of Tales from the TARDIS - so that's where the memory TARDIS comes from. Hopefully, we can get some more of those next year.
• Ncuti Gatwa is great at fury, rage and sadness, with wonderful facial expressions that don't become something for memes, like Jodie Whittaker's scronch or Claire Danes' ugly cry face. At least not yet.
• Great episode for Millie Gibson as Ruby's main mystery arc is concluded. A very resourceful and smart companion, who I'd be happy to see more of. It did seem that this episode was written so it would allow for Ruby to leave the show permanently at this point.
• This said, the actual reveal of Ruby's mother, while realistic and definitely different, was a bit disappointing. And the stuff with her really went on a bit too long if I'm being honest. RTD likes his family stuff, but he's overdone it this time.
• Also a great return for Mel, historically seen as very much a screamer and ill-served in her original run. Bonnie Langford gets to demonstrate that she can do a lot more than just panto acting.
• Gabriel Woolf's voice has lost none of its power despite nearly fifty years passing and the fact that the actor is now 91 years old. Sutekh is a memorable villain and his ability to take over people at will, even effectively simulate them, makes him a force to be reconned with.
• When the entirety of UNIT got dust-killed, it became clear that there was going to be some big Uno-reverse-card pulled at the end, because RTD has done this sort of stuff before, most notably in the 2007 season finale with "The Year That Never Was".
• If the story's set in 2024, where did Mel get a 75 registration motorbike from?
• The final scene with Mrs Flood in a costume that some of us would recognise is quite interesting indeed. We haven't seen the last of her, I'd imagine.

Conclusion

A very typical RTD finale, for all the good and the bad.

8/10

I can't imagine the Fifth Doctor doing much of that (Review: 'Doctor Who' 1.6, "Rogue")

• The pre-titles sequence is particularly great here. Contains some wonderful lines then a memorable death sequence.
• Can we have Kate Herron and Briony Redman back for future episodes? They were great.
• I cannot imagine most of the Doctors dancing to Kylie Minogue, let's for sure. Not only goes Ncuti Gatwa carry off the Regency outfit with aplomb, he's got a great variety of performance in this.
• A very good episode for Ruby Sunday, who finds herself very much with her own plot and bringing what can be described as "Northern" to the whole literal and metaphorical party. Plus she plays a key role in the denouement, something companions rarely do.
• Rogue was great fine. We may well see him again at some point, even if only in audio format.
• They keep killing Indira Varma! The Chuldur shapeshifters were generally a good deal of hammy fun. One is reminded of the Slitheen, but they were doing their stuff far less for giggles.
• The Doctor having a gay relationship would be something new and dramatic, if we'd not already seen it with Thirteen and Yaz. Mind you, this was much better written than those two.
• The Doctor moving on quickly from a relationship that didn't work out reminds me of "The Girl in the Fireplace"... which was eighteen years ago now.
• Just when you think jokes about the TARDIS have all been used up, we get a gag about it resembling a shed. I'm pretty sure there are TARDIS sheds already in some fan's gardens.
• A whole bunch of points in this where I genuinely laughed out loud. Good job.
• Glad to see a tribute to William Russell at the end, a man who had a massive impact on the show's early success.

Conclusion

An excellent episode, although perhaps not the canon-altering one that some said it was.

9/10

51 Years of 'Doctor Who'

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the broadcast of the first episode of Doctor Who. We've had a change of Doctor to the very different (yet still excellent) Peter Capaldi, another change in title sequence and somewhat of an alteration of tone.

Viewing figures are slightly down (I think being against The X Factor hasn't helped here at all), but are still very good and we now have Capaldi returning for Season 35.

Long may this show continue.

Cool enough for school (Review: 'Doctor Who' 34.6, "The Caretaker")

Gareth Roberts has written two previous stories where the Doctor has gone undercover as a human. Teaming up with Steven Moffat, he's done a third and it's better than the last time.

• Peter Capaldi is demonstrating a considerable talent for comedy that I hitherto didn't realise... but then again, I didn't watch The Thick of It.
• Jenna Coleman is continuing to excel here; loads of great lines and I see Gallifrey Base has a thread on her skirt.
• I hope that Danny Pink gets to travel on the TARDIS at some point; he'd be good once the Doctor learned to fully accept him.
• The whole gag with the teacher in a bow tie... excellent. I can see why the Doctor thought that (then again he does have an inflated opinion of himself)
• Will we see the invisibility watch again? Possibly, possibly not.
• There wasn't a huge amount of plot in this, more comedy with a plot tacked on.
• I like the bit in the parents' evening about the "disruptive influence".
• Courtney reminded me of that kid from "Nightmare in Silver" last year.
• Nice little homage toThe Bill with the PCSO there.
• Next week looks very interesting indeed.

Conclusion

Enjoyable, but by no means a great... I did start clock watching.

7/10

Good game! Good game!

Sir Bruce Forsyth has announced that he is standing down from the live shows of Strictly Come Dancing - he will still do the Children in Need and Christmas specials, but those are pre-records and has no plans to retire yet.

However, this is the start of a move towards the exit for a man who has entertained people for over 70 years (indeed, he first appeared on television before the Second World War and arrived on the national stage in 1958); British television will be poorer for his departure.