Well, that quite the episode, and one I’m sure people will have no trouble in discussing. Let us know what you thought of The Stolen Earth and have a look at our mammoth TARDIS File for the episode
Posted by Luca on Friday, December 5 at 6:11 pm
Tick, Tock (2011 season reviews conclude!): The final reviews of the 2011 season; or, the reviews of the final 2011 season. Plus:
Rise And Fall (Spring 2011 season reviews): Enlightenment reviews the stories from Season… um, it’s 6.1 this year, right? Plus:
We’ve had a number of queries from members regarding the delayed publication of Enlightenment this year. The DWIN Executive wants to share the following message concerning Enlightenment with DWIN members. Read more
For the first time in Canada, the Doctor Who Christmas Special will actually air on Christmas Day! December 25 at 9pm
Following the wedding at the top of an Ancient Ameri-Egyptian Pyramid, you are now cordially invited to attend the reception below…
9 Comments...
I have a basic dislike of multi-part stories because:
- they tend to be slower than one shot episodes
- they introduce unnecessary subplots and complications just to string the story out over two hours
- the second part rarely measures up to the cliffhanger at the end of part 1
- a week from now I often have forgetten some of the plot points and nuances from the first part
- there’s the chance that for one reason or another I don’t get to see the second part and never learn how it all got resolved
However while I can’t comment yet on my third to fifth objections, I can say that the first two don’t apply to the Stolen Earth. The story was fantastic. Pacing was just amazing. It never draggged. Music matched the action perfectly. Cast played their roles perfectly. Every plot point furthered the main story of part 1 (find the doctor). There were no detours. What a terrific idea of Mr. Davies to bring together all of the characters we have known (and loved) in his Doctor Who universe and give each of them more than a cameo role. Everyone of them had something to do in a way that was completely within their character as we know him/her. The four way laptop scene was brilliant including Rose’s reaction (“I was first”). Would love to see all the Doctor’s companions together in one real scene (part 2?).
Can’t wait for next week although I’m worried about what the CBC might have to cut to fit the one hour slot as I understand this episode was extended to a full hour in Britain before commercials.
Also thanks to the Tardis File for an excellent episode commentary. Excellent work each week!
Posted by The Observer on 12/06 at 10:14 AM
Wow. One of the best episodes this season.
So much happening it was hard to believe the CBC was cruel enough to cut scenes. Everything continued to flow together though, and the loose ends continued to tie up.
Despite a large cast, everyone had their time to shine. There were so many old faces in the episode that it’s easy to forget who the Doctor’s supporters are as time passes. It was good to see Harriet Jones back, to forgive the Doctor for his actions… and to see her surrender to the Daleks. Sad to see her go, but I know that we can’t have characters who could continuly pop up. And Elton could have popped up in the episode? This episode could have pretty much had a supporting cast of all the Doctor’s companions/friends/supporters and I don’t think they would have been able to include everyone.
Seeing Davros back was wow… I vaguely remember him growing up, but to have such an iconic character come back now was just brilliant. Just when you think they’ve topped themselves somehow, they manage to accomplish something even more amazing that we couldn’t possibly have expected!
And the Doctor…. can’t wait until the next episode!
Posted by Rachel on 12/06 at 11:47 AM
What I was impressed with in this episode was that despite all of the characters they brought in, they explained who they were well enough for my father, who just started watching Doctor Who a few weeks ago, to understand enough to follow the story. I had watched the episode on a channel in a different time zone before watching it again with him and I was worried with all the continuity he would be lost. He only had to ask me was who exactly Sarah Jane was. Despite not getting all of the remarks and references that were made, he still loved it. Personally, I couldn’t stop grinning throughout the entire episode.
And I now love Harriet Jones more than I did before.
Posted by EK on 12/06 at 07:45 PM
Although this will be long, not quite as much from me this week as I usually say, partially because I’m sick, but mostly because I find it hard to say everything I want to about this story until Part 2 (3?) is aired next week.
But I can’t resist a few comments…
Very nicely done, bringing everyone together like that. As The Observer said, Rose’s reaction when Martha got on the video link instead of her was priceless.
To babble on a bit more about Rose/Doc…loved it when Donna said “Rose is coming back..isn’t that good?”. The simple “Yeah” and the hopeful smile said it all.
However - even though it worked for the story - I still can’t get over RTD denying us a ‘proper’ reunion between the two. It started off so well - the huge smile on Rose’s face and the joyful grin on his as they ran toward each other had me (as usual), sobbing away…then EXTERMINATE! Grrrrr. Couldn’t they at least have had a real hug first? Half a hug? Damn Daleks.
Lovely performances from Donna’s family - and of course the fantastic Harriet Jones…she did exactly what we’d have expected her to do - and Penelope Wilton was perfect. Pity she got killed off.
Lots of possible hints for Journeys End - which may or may not end up meaning anything. The shot of The Doctor’s hand at the beginning was good…I wonder what making a point of showing that might mean? And what Dalek Caan says - “everlasting death for the most faithful companion” - oooohhhh - doesn’t that just whet the juices for next week?
LOL at Gwen’s “oh he’s a bit nice” comment…and the ongoing “Don’t, just don’t” where Jack’s concerned.
I also thought the scene where The Doctor runs away from the Shadow Proclamation was rather brilliant. It harkened back to similar scenes from the classic series reminding us what a renagade he can be when it comes to authority - Tom Baker’s Doc in The Invasion of Time..or was it The Deadly Assassin(I know I have the episode wrong, someone please correct me!), and the Davison Doc in The Five Doctors.
And just for fun, a few ‘picky’ things from The Stolen Earth (sorry to anyone who thinks I’m taking this all too seriously, because really I’m not. I just think too much!):
- Why didn’t the TARDIS translate the Judoon language when they first arrived at the Shadow Proclamation?
- If the ‘base code’ to get Jack’s manipulator bracelet thingy working again was so simple, you’d have think he’d have worked it out by now. How many combinations of two oscillating numbers can there be?
- Glaring continuity/editing error when Martha’s about to use the Indigo device but still talking to Jack. In one shot she had the earpiece on, then the next she didn’t, then in the next she takes it off.
- When Jack says “there’s nothing I can do, I’m sorry, we’re dead”...really it should have been you’re dead since he can’t die.
- had to laugh when Donna said “are you saying bees are aliens?”....poor girl, after her encounter with the Vespiform I’m surprised she’d ask!
- OK, Project Indigo is obviously some kind of transport device, so…Indigo - which is a shade of blue…the Blue Box…the TARDIS….are UNIT trying to build their own sort of TARDIS? (Yeah I know I’m really reaching there.)
I can’t wait for Journey’s End on Friday, even though I’ve seen it before, after seeing Stolen Earth again I have just as much excitement and anticipation.
Posted by Julie on 12/07 at 05:51 PM
speechless. I envy Julie for having seen it already. I feel so left behind :(
So much buzzing in my brain—so many questions, flashes of sudden realization (that’s Sarah Jane’s adopted son! thank you to dwin or was it a comment poster… ) I have so much to learn about Dr Who.
What will happen next? I can’t wait until next week! And unlike Observer, I will get a chance to watch last week’s on the PVR, refresh everything in my mind again, before I view this weeks! heehee!
Posted by Myshal on 12/09 at 11:30 PM
Speaking of Part 2 (3?) airing next week… has anyone heard if the CBC is making allowances for the extended length of the episode as originally aired in the UK? Or will they be editing it down to the regular running time to make room for commercials?
Posted by Paul on 12/10 at 01:15 AM
Sadly it looks like CBC will be cutting it to fit the slot. This combined with their refusal to show Voyage of the Damned leads me to believe that they don’t really care one way or another about this series. I’m doubtful that they’ll carry any of the specials or the new series in 2010. I guess Doctor Who fans don’t fit the profile of the viewers they want to go after.
Here’s hoping Space has the sense to grab this series.
Posted by The Observer on 12/10 at 05:22 PM
If the CBC had had the sense a few years ago when the new series started, to put it in earlier timeslots and market it as a real family programme (like the UK - and the way it’s meant to be done), then they’d have been reaping the benefits.
I’ve never ever understood why they didn’t do that, especially as the CBC supposedly prides themselves on family programming.
I have nephews aged 8, 8, and 10 - and I’d love to get them Who stuff for Xmas and birthdays…but because the show is on so late (for them), they’ve never seen it and have no idea what it is.
There’s my rant for the day.
Posted by Julie on 12/11 at 09:17 AM
“If the CBC had had the sense…” The CBC, another shining example of our tax dollars at work… Maybe other shows get better treatment; all I follow is Rick Mercer, HNIC, the National, and, of course, Doctor Who.
I time shift the episodes, taping it Friday night and then watching it with my son over the weekend. A side advantage is I can screen the too scary episodes. After all, the point of watching the show is to stimulate the imagination, not nightmares…
Posted by Paul on 12/11 at 10:53 PM
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