New Who Review for the Crimson Horror

[puppetmaker]

Usual Rules apply. Spoilers below the cut and in the comments. No spoilers past this episode please, I have managed to keep myself out of the know except for titles this year.

This one was pretty much a Matt Smith Doctor episode because we had Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax along for the ride. If I was to pick another episode that this reminded me of it would be the Talons of Weng-Chiang but the addition of the crew gave it a new who tone.

The guest stars in this one were amazing. The mother-daughter team of Dame Diana Rigg and her daughter Rachel Stirling were quite amazing. Between this and Game of Thrones, I feel we are in a Diana Rigg renaissance and much better for it. She’s got crazy and scheming down to a T and it is brilliant to watch. Her daughter inherited the acting chops and holds her own in this episode.

Overall I enjoyed this one for the most part. I thought the script was good, the acting first rate, and the ending statisfying.

Next week is Neil Gaiman’s foray in to the world of the Cybermen.



This one did advance slightly the who is Clara plot or rather reminded us that it is there. Again we get “it’s complicated”.

Jenny as a kick-ass works down to the Emma Peel cat-suit.

Here I will concede that the sonic screwdriver saving the day didn’t bug me as much. It still bothered me but I was less so than other times this season.

I will admit I did enjoy “the story so far” vignette with the Doctor catching the gang and us as to how he ended up locked up in Sweetville. Nicely done there.

The idea of preserving the best of the best for a better future in bell jars was very creepy.

The villain was fine. That Mr. Sweet was left over from Vastra’s time didn’t bother me.

Matt Smith had some great takes during this episode. I think my two favorites were towards the end of the episode. The first after Mrs. Gillyflower hits the ground and he says “Ouch” and then turns his head slightly to the right and takes air in through his teeth. The second was “Or not” after Ada pulps Mr. Sweet.

So enjoyed it. Probably my favorite episode this season so far.

Comments

We found it Peter Davisonish

[corey-jan albert (from livejournal.com)]

I totally agree with most of your comments - love Jenny getting to be more than the pretty adoring companion to Madame Vastra. Thought the writing was strong and the acting, too -- especially since it was largely a Madame Vastra episode. I liked that Straxx got a moment of glory, too. And yes, in some ways, quite Wang Chien-ish.

At the same time, everyone in my house thought it was very Peter Davison. His episodes often centered around family dynamics, like this one did. And there was the exaggerated facial expression of agony (albeit way prolonged on Matt Smith's face). There was even a remark early on that gave a nod to Tegan (about a "gabby Australian.") I stick by my initial thought about what they are doing :)

Do you think they are testing the waters to give Madame Vastra/Jenny/Straxx a spin-off series? Looks that way. Not sure if I think it's a good idea.

[thinkum]

Loved seeing the Victorian Trio again -- Vastra, Jenny, and Strax make a great team. Loved the vignette with Strax and the horse. :-)

I had a few quibbles with the episode, but they were all after-the-fact quibbles; I thoroughly enjoyed it while it was running.

[gryphonrose.livejournal.com]

We finally got to watch it last night (I was out of town over the weekend) and I completely agree, this one was lots of fun. I love Madame Vastra and Jenny and Strax--they need their own series, at least a short webseries!--and Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling were excellent.

[jenny_evergreen]

I'm with the crowd wishing for a Madame Vastra spin-off. I continue to be thrilled to pieces with this season.