I suppose that's the problem you'll always have with an anthology series, which is essentially what Doctor Who in its current form is; if you haven't got someone in charge who can write well and has a strong guiding hand, or at least people who can come up with the ideas, you can't deliver the goods on a weekly basis. I'm very hopeful that Moffat was be to Doctor Who what Rod Serling was to the Twilight Zone; someone who can write his own stuff but also seek out talent.

This series has definitely been the best so far.

This week's episode has another little pop up from by Rose.

With Tennant, yep. But it's still not as good as Eccleston's run.

Ive been informed that the Medusa Cascade is something to keep an eye out for the rest of the series

Oohh.. I think I read something about that?

It's already been mentioned a couple of times this series.

Henry Winkler as the next Doctor? Gets my vote.

Then Scott Baio.

Doctor Who – The Stolen Earth Ep 12/13
Saturday 28 June
7.00-7.45pm BBC ONE


Earth's greatest heroes assemble in a time of dire need, in tonight's penultimate episode in this series of Russell T Davies's Bafta Award-winning time-travelling drama. But can the Doctor's secret army defeat the might of the new Dalek Empire?

With battles on the streets and in the skies, the Doctor and Donna must brave the Shadow Proclamation to find out the truth. However, a fearsome old enemy waits in the shadows...

David Tennant plays the Doctor and Catherine Tate plays his companion, Donna Noble

Meh.

So why is that episode title such a big spoiler then?! (That is the one that was TBC on all the listings earlier this year, isn't it?).

Yeah? I thought it was going to be the one that was spoiled by the release of a certain toy set.

At least that made sense in terms of keeping it secret.

Did I go completely insane, or did RTD write a really good Doctor Who episode?

You went insane. The acting talent in it flattered to deceive the fact that there wasn't a story in there.

Shit! Does anybody know the number of a good asylum?

I thought the acting was excellent, although Bianca's mum started getting on my wick a little.
I agree that there was no real substance to the plot; unless it's set up for resolution later in the series, it is almost as if the writer(s) couldn't think of a way to explain what was going on. They had a good idea but no way to finish it off.

Heh.

Sorry, I'm a doctor, I'm very clever.

RTD OBE.

Who'd a thunk it?

He probably did.

Don't flame me (no pun intended ) but I liked the episode.. Then again, I did watch it last night after coming back from the bar feeling no pain.. Maybe when I watch it again sober I'll feel different?

Well, I watched it yesterday and thought the tension was excellent. And the little flash of Rose on the monitor was great

And I am dead looking forward to next weeks!

Don't get me wrong, I liked it, I thought Lesley Sharp was excellent (as she always is), but it was a bit let down afer the the two previous episodes. Especially the massive plot holes in the story.

I liked it. The plot was a bit thin, I grant you, but I felt the claustrophobia and the confusion and tension felt by (most of) the characters. Most of the acting was great.

I actually missed Donna in that episode

I can't say I was terribly enthusiastic about the prospect of watching this episode, given Russell's recent track record, so rather than rushing to watch it when I got in on Saturday, I didn't end up watching it until late last night.

I can't say it was what I was expecting at all.

After seeing the trailer I was expecting another Gridlock (people trapped in a box, with a nasty outside and Doctor coming up with some kind of implausible plan to save them all).

I certainly wasn't expecting such a tense piece of drama.

The plot, well there wasn't one, but to be fair there didn't need to be - we didn't need an explanation of what the "monster" was, you didn't need to know why Lesley Sharp was screaming that it was coming for her (where the two connected? Who cares?!). The entire point of the episode was about dealing with what happened once the group realised the nasty was inside the carrier with them, and as far as that went I thought it played out very well indeed - it certainly had me on the edge of my seat once things got going!

My only real gripe with it, and this is something that I've noticed happening more often recently, is that yet again someone else bought the farm to save the Doctor - it would be nice for the Doctor to work out a solution without the need for someone to play the martyr for a change.

But that is a relatively minor whinge; otherwise I thought did what it set out to very effectively.

An entry for the most ridiculous line up for a pod cast?

Episode commentary for Midnight is provided by Sound Recordist Julian Howarth, Supervising Sound Editor Paul McFadden and 2nd Boom Operator Bryn Thomas.

Odd. And possibly slightly insulting.

I gave up after 15 minutes. As much as I respect the importance of their job - and they do it well - it doesn't make for a 45 minute commentary.

I've not listened to it yet, the last "purely technical team" commentary they did was interesting to a point, but it's not as interesting as listening to the writers, actors and/or producers.

I think it is as I've seen pics today of red daleks with Davros and it all looks pretty real to me as the design is the same as the new ones.

I may get shot down for this (or possibly not) but 3 out of 4 series finales involving the Daleks is taking the piss slightly. They're becoming as predictable as the sonic screwdriver.

I like them but not every bloody series needs them.

Russell is on the record as saying they should be in every series. Doctor Who without the Daleks is like Fish without Chips or something.

Sometimes...yes. Every bloody time...no.

Hopefully Steven Moffat has other ideas.

Thing is though, he will probably want his own outing with them pretty quick too (I know I would!).

At least we know we'll get something better than Daleks in Manhatten.

I quite agree.

Whilst I must admit that 3 out 4 might be a little extreme, if you look at what the season finales have been...

1) Daleks - Classic Who villains
2) Cybermen/Daleks - The ultimate showdown
3) The Master - One of the Doctor's most dangerous adversaries
4) Davros - same as above

I'm not really sure where he could go after this, unless he went with The Rani...

There are plenty of classic Who monster/villians they haven't used yet (Ice Warriors, Yeti, Zygons, Silurians etc), but how about this:

Something original?

This is true... A really decent NEW villain for a season finale would be pretty cool...

More Finale Spoilerage, this time with what appears to be a proper promo picture....

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showb...icle1299482.ece

This week's Radio Times cover:



Billie's back, and so's Freema! (A double-edged sword, eh Zoe?!).

(Picture lifted from Dr Who On Line).

I have no problems with bringing back The Great Healer himself - I just hope that he's done right. Stylistically, Davros looks pretty similar to the one we all know & love, but I hope that the kind of out-and-out nastiness of Micheal Wisher or the creepy low-tones of Terry Molloy is retained.

Kev W

Spoiler tags added to the last post!

As a general reminder, can people please keep comments about upcoming episodes in spoiler tags.

Oops - there will be an official announcement from the Beeb regarding the return of Davros on Thursday.

There's also a picture of Davros in The Sun and The Star this morning...

Kev W

Don't worry about it, I think most people know what shape the big bad will take by now, it's just a precaution in case anyone doesn't want to know!

I liked the episode if only cos Lesley 'Turn the light off, Bob' Sharp was brillness. I love her. Wasn't one of my all-time favourites but the pace and characters were made better by excellent performances. Tennant was superb with Sharp for example. They should bring her back.

Bianca's mum was a bit annoying but it added to the character's purpose for me. Which was to be irrational and shrill. Some people are just so.

That would be nice. Or just end the series with a really good story rather than one big ending. Just to be different. I'm a little bored of the whole, 'Oooh big build up to the end,' thing. I just want a good story.



Yes, ok, Rose is an important character, but shouldn't she be on level terms with The Doctor at the very most? I wouldn't have him in that picture at all to be honest, I'd just have the 3 assistants. Putting The Doctor there, and lower than Donna, throws away his character's overall status in the show.

Well the show is called Rose Tyler.

Hey, wait a minute . . .

I saw that cover and thought "The Stig as a villain... that would work!"

And then I thought... what about a story with the raston warriors... we never really saw too much with them!

They've already done it - the Slabs from Smith and Jones.

Oh crap...

Fine... just get in Basil Brush then...