New Who Review: The Impossible Astronaut

[puppetmaker]

Since this is the first episode of the next season, I am going to repeat the ground rules I created for the NWR.

1) Above the cut are my opinions on the show without spoilers if you haven’t seen the episode but once behind the cut and in comments spoilers may abound.

2) We are only discussing episodes that have aired. I am trying to keep myself spoiler free from the rest of the season. I know there is a lot of true facts and a lot of speculation out there. I do allow you to express your theories on what is going to happen next but I really don’t care for “On X site they said Y because they were talking to the make-up artist who worked on Episode 6”

3) If you disagree with something that’s fair but be polite about it.

So general thoughts on the episodes

It was nice to see the old gang back together again. I like how they are using Rory and the actor is doing a great job with the little he is given. They do reference the Red Noses piece but it is subtle which was nice. Amy Pond is becoming a favorite companion and she is such a nice fit for this Doctor. I don’t think she would have worked as well with Tennant.

Most of the episode for me was edge of your seat Set-Up. I honestly don’t know how much will be solved next week or at the end of the season but Moffat set up both threads within the first 5 minutes. And as annoying as some parts were to the storytelling part of my brain, I will give it a go and see what he is up to.

In the end I was happy to see this set of characters again interacting and reacting to things around them and I want to know what happens next which, in my mind, is good episodic television.

I am grateful that Doctor Who is back on the air and that it is playing on both sides of the pond.



So we are going to probably be playing the “who’s in the Astronaut Suit” for the rest of the season. I am serious thinking that this won’t be tied up by next week.

I understand that they don’t have scenery like Utah in England but I wonder why they took the expense to do what they did unless there is a heck of a lot more footage that we are going to see over the course of this season.

Stetsons are cooler than Fezs.

River talking to Rory about how she and the Doctor interact was played beautifully by both actors. It was sweet but sad and you (as the viewer) know that she is right because we are following the Doctor’s path not River’s which made it more poignant.

Yeah Nixon didn’t look like Nixon but it really didn’t matter since he was a set piece for why Canton Everett Delaware III was introduced into the mix. And how cool was it that the character was played by a Father (William Morgan Sheppard) and Son (Mark Sheppard) team? That just added something to the whole character. Both actors have impressed me over the years and continue to do so.

The Silence is an interesting Doctor Who creature. I honestly having decided if they are good, bad or ill informed. I have a feeling we are learning more next week but not everything. Creepiest critter since the Stone Angels.

So we’ll see what we see when we have “a Day on the Moon”.

Comments

[gryphonrose.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed the ep, certainly, and love seeing Amy and Rory again. I don't care for River Song--it's just that arrogant "I know better than any of you, even you, sweetie" I can do without--but yes, that scene was well-done.

I do really like both of the Sheppards, I agree, though I can't help wishing they'd gotten Americans to play those roles. :)

The Silence are definitely creepy.

And yes, I think that's going to the big mystery/reveal of the season. But I can't help thinking of the Watcher in Logopolis.

[nekosensei.livejournal.com]

Oh yes...Stetsons are WAY cooler than Fezes.

[sneezythesquid.livejournal.com]

I am so very glad that it's finally airing here at the same time, thus reducing the potential spoilers and the urge to pirate the show to get it early and avoid said spoilers.

And the new monsters are indeed creeeeeeeeeepy.

[terri-osborne.livejournal.com]

Well, you know me, more River is never a bad thing. I still want to see the River/Liz 10 teamup, too.

I am not seeing why the cliffhanger ending was perceived to be such a shocker, though. That proverbial gun was placed on the shelf when Amy talked to River about killing the astronaut to save the Doctor's life. River may have said no, but Amy didn't seem to buy it for a second. For that matter, why is a pregnancy such a revelation like that? She's a married woman who's been living with her husband for what they lead us to believe was at least a year, more like two. I'd be more concerned if she *weren't* pregnant, truth be told.

Also, as for shooting the little girl, I'm not entirely sure what's in that suit IS a little girl. That face looked like a projection to me. I'm not convinced the identity of the Astronaut is going to be dragged out beyond the end of part 2, but I do believe the Silence invasion of Earth is the overarching season plot. As for them? They could be so much creepier, but then we'd be scaring adults as well as children, and Doctor Who isn't really about flat-out horror.

From what I've read, the idea for Mark Sheppard's dad playing the elder Canton came from Mark himself. Good idea, that.

Oh, for the record? That tacked on opening with Amy narrating? Wow, did it feel like "the Americans won't know what's going on, so let's make sure to tell them everything", even though the Rewind aired before it and I really wonder who'd go into a show like DOCTOR WHO completely blind like that? It bugged me, yes, and I really hope it goes away.

Ultimately, I liked the opening a lot. The middle I'm still iffy on, as it felt like complete setup. The end needs part 2 too badly. I hope all of this setup pays off in part 2.

[tiggerallyn.livejournal.com]

I am not seeing why the cliffhanger ending was perceived to be such a shocker, though.

I thought it was the wrong ending, but I thought Moffat did lots of things narratively wrong (http://www.allyngibson.net/?p=5766). (I don't compare "The Impossible Astronaut" to a Brannon Braga script lightly.) I keep thinking that the episode really needed to end with an unambiguous recognition by Team TARDIS-plus-one of the Silents.

Also, as for shooting the little girl, I'm not entirely sure what's in that suit IS a little girl.

I suspect you had the same thought I had, that a little girl wouldn't fit that suit. :)

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

The theory my local Who Posse came up with about Amy's announcement is that she knew she had something important to tell the Doctor--which was about seeing the Silents--but couldn't remember it, so she came up with the only thing important enough to her to say. I'm not even convinced that she really is pregnant. I think there's more to this than meets the eye.

[tiggerallyn.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's instructive that after encountering the Silents, both Amy and River both start having stomach troubles.

[sircaliban.livejournal.com]

I need to watch the show again. :( I stayed up late trying to watch the episode and I didn't make it through the episode. :(

[querldox.livejournal.com]

Another cool bit; goo.gl/Vwcpw shows a certain intersection in Florida. OK, so they didn't quite get the St/Dr/Ave bits right, but still...