Doctor Who Club of Australia

Tegan

What a beautiful episode. The gothic feel took me back to the Hinchcliffe times. I think I'm going to run out of superlatives for this series.

If the last three episodes live up to expectations this will officially be the best series of Who ever.

The past three episodes have been some of the most enthralling Dr Who shows I think I've ever watched, and technically the Doctor has hardly appeared in them!

And guess what the Easter Egg on disc 3 of the 2007 series is going to be.

dave · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:28 pm Post subject:

Another brilliant Steven Moffat episode, which is no surprise really. This had a great feeling of suspense throughout, and the angels towards the end looked truly terrifying. The idea that they stole the potential life of a person by sending them back through time is interesting, to say the least. A great idea, and very well realised.

The interaction between the Doctor and Sally via the DVD was quite amusing, as was the writing on the wall in the beginning. I didn't really find this episode that frightening, though I suppose it might be scary for children. The way the Doctor tricked the angels at the end was a very witty conclusion to the story.

I gave this an 'excellent'.

Tom N. · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 144 Location: Sydney, NSW

I voted 'Excellent' (not quite good enough to be better than excellent Razz

)

First of all, the Angels were great - when they started attacking Sally and Lawrence, they really looked terrifying. I know certainly got a few scares!

I don't know about anyone else, but I really noticed the Doctor's absence - a lot more so than in Love & Monsters. Maybe it was because L&M deliberately set out to do something different, while Blink played it straighter...? I don't know. *shrug*

Wasn't too sure about the "wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff", either. I mean, creative liberty is one thing, but this seemed like it was taking the mickey a bit too much.

Overall, though, another excellent episode from the excellent Steven Moffat.

Looking forward to Captain Jack next week - and I can't believe we've only got 3 episodes left! Where did the time go?

Amano07 · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 83

excellent episode! i HATE the idea of these Doctor Lite episodes but this one was great ..messages from the past to the future is something i've always enjoyed and i love that we actually have a time travel element in a story for once. Steven Moffat has done it again!!!!

Greg · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:08 am Post subject:

The 'Doctor-lite' episodes are based around how much time David Tennant has for filming - so, rather than less Doctor each episode, we get one episode where he appears not very much. Apparently this is a consequence of having Christmas Specials... Presumably they didn't or couldn't adjust everyone's contracts so there is more filming time available.

Agree with the high ratings this episode is getting. Moffat has a great sense of timing, essential for both scares and humour, both of which are present in this story, plus a wonderful feel for real characters delivered by shorthand. You get a very strong impression that there's more to the characters than the short span of time we get to see them on screen.

This story, since no one else has mentioned it, this story is based on What I did on my Christmas holidays by Sally Sparrow, which appeared in the 2006 Doctor Who Annual. It's not the same story (and far different from the original than the last two episodes), but it does help emphasise an advantage that making the series has these days compared to the original series: there are a lot of stories that have been thought through for the Doctor Who format out there, and Russell Davies can cherry pick to get a few episodes a year that he knows will be pretty good, but given the long-term fans, still needs to ensure that there are new stories as well so that they don't get irate! (Not that all of them will, if the adapted stories are this good.)

Hiruma · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Australia

I enjoyed this episode, I found it operating in a different mood .. perhaps even style than most Doctor Who episodes. I found it a little.. emotionally cold in places.. perhaps that was what the intent was. The Weeping Angels were a great effect, the scene with the two trying to enter the Tardis was a good effect.

THere are some things I didnt get though. When Billy ( a likable! Police character) was sent into the past, why was he not returned to his proper time when obviously the Tardis was returned to where he had been sent. (Im assuming the Doctor would of simply given him a lift to when he should of existed) The Paradox wouldnt of existed because he would of already been dead and the papers/notes already in the hands of the Doctor (that last scene was a brilliant effect, I thought the implied relationship between Sally and friend (whos name I have forgotten already) was a bit forced though.

All in all a great episode. Next week looks great. (Im probably one of the few who isnt a big fan of Captain Jack) but It will be good to see another non Earth based series. (Although Another thing Ive been noticing is that in the past couple of series the Doctor has been to the end of the time/edge of the universe a fair bit)

Tegan · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:04 pm Post subject:

FredDag · Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 66

What a really well done little story! Even though the Doctor wasn't in it much, he still felt like he was at the core of the story. The atmosphere was great, nice, dark and creepy, especially the opening scene. I got a couple of scares too.

My partner thought Sally was being set up to replace Martha, I hope this isn't the case, though if Martha HAD to go the Sally character would make a great replacement.

Captain Jack is back next week, yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait.

Greg · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 10:44 am Post subject:

Hiruma · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Australia

Greg: Exactly! Smile

Seriously though, that last scene seemed a little out of whack. Ive no doubt Moffat realised what name he was giving the character.

I think they really could of played up on the Time Travel thing, perhaps in this case both characters sent back in time were quite noble. I was expecting Billy at least to have some spacious mansion (due to his knowledge about future events).

All in all a great episode.

Ickabod · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 499 Location: far far away

Love my "Captain Jack" (though I like Johnny's Captain Jack as well).....I've only got up to episode 9....is Blink the next one? I'm excited about Jack returning and his reaction to The Doc and Martha....he'd still be a big flirt though.... Wink

meglos · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 660 Location: Perth

Another great episode. I like these types of stories in a season because they are really refreshing and set you up nicely for a big finish with eps 11,12+13. One thing puzzled me though. What was Sally doing at the house to begin with? Why was she there? Did we get an explanation for this that i missed?

Hiruma · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Australia

It was a throaway line in the scene just after they scale the fence and enter the house. Nightingale asked why Sally was there in the first place, the response was along the lines of 'I like old things. Old things make me sad'. I believe the response to that was sad being the new happy. I felt it a little strange too.

meglos · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 660 Location: Perth

Thanks Hiruma. I just missed it I guess, probably one of the kids talking Mad

Greg · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:37 am Post subject:

The original story upon which Blink was based is now available online here.

Tusker · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

Really really good. After a slow start, this series is getting better & better.

This episode I think will be oner of those that will be even more enlightening on a second viewing.

Regards
Max P

Tegan · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:33 am Post subject:

I only noticed this on the third viewing of Blink (I know, only three, but I don't want to wear it out).

Near the end, when Sally gives the Doctor her notes and photo's, he says:

"Gets a bit confusing at times, especially weddings,
I'm rubbish at weddings, especially my own."

OK, that's it! He had a son, has a grand-daughter, he was, or is, or will be married.

My theory, and it is my own theory, I though it up all on my own ... (oops, went a bit pythonesque there)

IS

The Face of Boe is The Doctor's son!

Ickabod · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 499 Location: far far away

dave · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 am Post subject:

He might have had a daughter, surely?

Ickabod · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 499 Location: far far away

The possibiliies are limitless