Anyone who has read my last Doctor post knows that after the two-part series beginning, I was left on the edge of my seat. These last two episodes have helped me to settle back…possibly step away for a snack, or play on facebook with the show on in the background.
I might be exaggerating.
Last week I didn’t write anything about the episode The Black Spot. While it was a decently entertaining episode, it didn’t contain much to satisfy my leftover burning curiosity. The Siren was a nice, new monster; a good example of the way DW can take an ancient story and turn it Sci-fi. Amy and Rory were endearing as always—unless you count the part where Amy gave up trying to save Rory, right after he said he chose her because she’d never quit. It seemed more like he came back on his own due to his stubborn refusal to leave her side. Plus, the doctor really doesn’t know CPR? Honestly?? After all this time saving humans, it never came up?? I mean, he’s not required, right, he’s not “the Doctor” because he has a medical degree. Still, 900-years-old, all that brilliance…never come across the directions in a restaurant bathroom somewhere?
Anyway, I was already impatiently looking past The Black Spot, because I knew the episode coming next was called The Doctor’s Wife. I hadn’t watched any previews, so you can imagine what I was thinking: time to find out about River Song and the Doctor, once and for all! Obviously, I was pretty far off.
Looking at it that way, it’s probably my own fault that I felt let down. And to be fair, no season of Doctor Who can consist entirely of nail-biters. One could even point out that many of the eps on my top ten list are either silly or sappy, and not scary at all. Still, perhaps a by-product of having the Most Exciting Series Premiere is an abnormally high set of expectations for the following weeks. Hence my increasingly pronounced feeling of disappointment since then.
Now that I’ve recognized my own accountability, I’ll see what I can draw from The Doctor’s Wife.
I suppose it is a unique concept, that the Doctor should finally be able to speak to his beloved machine and get a response. (Makes me wonder if this is some kind of male fantasy: if his boat or car could suddenly assume a female body, she’d be his perfect mate.) Matt Smith’s grief and anger when he realizes he’s once again missed a chance at reconciling with fellow Time Lords was palpable and it was nice to see a little of the dark, out-of-control Doctor in him that was common for Tennant. Then there’s the appreciated return of the Ood, although interesting that this time an Ood can be possessed by evil intent and his eyes will be green instead of traditional red. Red eyes on an Ood always meant it was hitting the fan until now.
My problem is that both eps offered very little in the way of the big hints I need. The creepy woman that opens a hatch in places where hatches do not exist shows up for Amy again, and the Doctor is still getting negative and positive results on her pregnancy. The monster called “The House” who eats Time Lords and Tardises shows an unhealthy interest in Amy, which disturbs the Doctor and shows us that she is still really weird. But there’s nothing about Amy’s child with the regenerating abilities. Previews of future episodes show Sontarans, which just means more time with no answers, but then there seems to be a woman explaining the living matter inside the space suits. That is important.
I do feel impatient, and I worry more that the season is chopped in half. Call me crazy, but I feel a cliffhanger coming on.
Otto the Fangirl 