Doctor Who - The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon

Stetsons are cool!

Yes. I know. I've skipped over Series Five, but to be honest, I was VERY busy last year. Since I'm so far behind, I might as well push on to reviewing Series Six.

Moffat stated in DWM that he wanted this opening story to resemble a Season Finale, with a sense of epic scale. However, a Season finale usually answers questions whereas this two-parter poses them.

In the space of two episodes we get introduced to some shocking moments. The Doctor dies! Amy is pregnant! The Silence are revealled and there's a little girl who seems to be able to regenerate! All of these are fascinating but there's very little plot in between them. The Utah setting is simply a backdrop and really, the story could have been shot anywhere.

 

Matt Smith is now truly comfortable in the role of the Doctor, whether playing the tired and enigmatic future version, or the younger, more eccentric present version. His "don't take chances" speech was one of the best things he's ever said. It was like he was channelling William Hartnell or Colin Baker, a darker side to the Doctor.

 

Amy Pond seemed like a much more detailed character this time around. There were fewer quips and more moments of introspection. The moment where Amy made a promise on fish fingers and custard made it feel like there was a genuine bond between her and the Doctor. Rory Williams was perhaps less well utilized, since he spent most of the story being overcrowded by the more flamboyant Doctor, Amy and River.

 

I wasn't particularly looking forward to the return of River Song, but as with Amy, I found her much more interesting this time. She still says "spoilers" and flirts with the Doctor, but there are moments of genuine emotion when she tells Rory about the day she dreads.

 

Toby Haynes is back and continues to be a good director. The filming is excellant, I love the look of the Utah Lake with its strong orange deserts and clear blue waters. The scenes in the tunnels near the Silents' spaceship was suitably creepey.

In the end, what we have are a lot of good ideas, and a lot of good performances, but not much of a plot.

7/10