Series 9, Episode 7 - "The Zygon Invasion"

The Zygon Invasion, the seventh episode of Doctor Who, Series 9, has just started on BBC1. It moves us into the second half of this series' block of stories, with the beginning of what looks to be a very good two-parter, finishing off next week with The Zygon Inversion.

Great start so far. The Doctor, Clara, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT face off against the Zygons. LOTS of Zygons. It's pretty much a sequel to the 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor, with a heckuva lot more Zygons. Of course, there's a lot of people getting killed and duplicated, and half the time, we don't know who the hell is whom. But at least we've found out now how Osgood can still be alive even though she was killed by Missy in the last series.

A bit obvious, really, when you think of it. :)

The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived

This week’s episode of Doctor Who, The Woman Who Lived, which aired on BBC1 at 8.20pm last night, marks the half-way mark of Series 9. It's a direct follow-on from last week's episode, The Girl Who Died, and they form two self-contained stories in a prequel/sequel format, as opposed to the first two Series 9 stories, which were genuine two-part stories. The Girl Who Died and The Woman Who Lived are two different stories, set in different time periods, but both featuring Maisie Williams playing the same character. It seems like Series 9 is being made up mostly of two-story blocks, which is okay by me, as I believe two-parters are inherently much stronger than single episodes.

The Girl Who Died was of interest to me mostly because it is written by Jamie Mathieson, the same guy who wrote Flatline and Mummy on the Orient Express, two of my favourite episodes from the last Series (I make a point of looking out for anything written by this guy now). The fact that the story featured Maisie Williams (playing Ashildr) helping the Doctor and Clara fight off an alien (the Mire - not exactly the greatest alien threat in the series' long history) attack on a Viking village meant that this had the potential to be a good one, and it certainly wasn't terrible. However The Girl Who Died was only a fair-to-middling story, far from earth-shatteringly brilliant. But compared to the extremely high quality of Jamie Mathieson's previous two stories, it was a bit of a let-down for me.

Last night's follow-up episode, The Woman Who Lived, written by Catherine Tregenna, was a stronger story, very well written, with some excellent characterisation and dialogue, and quite a bit of heavy and fascinating morality lens material. The story was also notable in that Clara didn't appear in it at all until right at the end, making it a Doctor/Ashildr adventure as opposed to a normal Doctor/Clara one. It was interesting on this level because of all the rumours surrounding Jenna Coleman's impending departure from the series, and there were more than a few rumours floating around hinting at Ashildr becoming the new companion, but that didn't happen. However, it’ll still be interesting to see if Maisie Williams’ character becomes a recurring one in Doctor Who, as she's definitely one of the more interesting characters that NuWho has produced in recent years.

I suppose after the incredible series-opening two-parter The Magician’s Apprentice/The Witch’s Familiar, it was bound to be difficult for the rest of the series to live up to the first adventure. But, that said, none of the other stories have been terrible so far. The Under the Lake/Before the Flood two-parter wasn't bad, very moody and atmospheric, and The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived certainly weren't bad stories either, but they certainly suffer by comparison with such a classic series opener. I mean, that story had the Daleks, Davros, AND Missy/The Master. It's certainly hard to top that, although the upcoming Zygons two-parter also promises to be a good one.

I think the problem with the past three stories is that they've been fairly strong character pieces, but the aliens seem to be a bit of an afterthought, in comparison to the first story's roster of classic villains. However, Peter Capaldi has really grown into the role of the Doctor, and the Doctor and Clara are an excellent team now. I consider them to be one of the better Doctor/Companion pairings of the New Series.

Here's looking forward to next week's episode, The Zygon Invasion, the first of a two-part Zygon adventure.

The Woman Who Lived

The Woman Who Lived (written by Catherine Tregenna), this week's episode of Doctor Who, will be starting shortly on BBC1, marking the half-way mark of Series 9.

The Girl Who Died was an okay story, although not earth-shatteringly brilliant. I suppose after the incredible series-opening two-parter, it was bound to be downhill the rest of the series. At least none of the other stories have been terrible so far. And the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) are really getting along well as a team now, and I consider them to be one of the better Doctor/Companion pairings of the New Series.

We were wondering whether or not Steven Moffat was giving us another two-parter. Well, he is and he isn't. The Girl Who Died and The Woman Who Lived are two different stories, set in different time periods, but both featuring Maisie Williams playing the same Ashildr character. They are basically a prequel/sequel. It'll be interesting to see if Maisie's character will become a recurring one.

Coming Up Soon - The Girl Who Died

This week's episode of Doctor Who, The Girl Who Died, is starting in just over twenty minutes on BBC1. Almost half way through Series 9 already. It only seems like a week or two since it started!

The Girl Who Died is of interest to me because it is written by Jamie Mathieson, the same guy who wrote Flatline and Mummy on the Orient Express, two of my favourite episodes from the last Series. I make a point of looking out for anything written by this guy now. The fact that the story features Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones fame is good enough, but the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) get to fight some nasty aliens alongside Vikings. Yes, Vikings! Should be fun. :)

There's some confusion over whether or not this story is the first part of another two-parter. The title of next week's episode - The Woman Who Lived - definitely implies some connection. Time will tell. It always does. :)

ADDENDUM: So, it's a two-parter without actually being a two-parter. Two self-contained stories in a prequel/sequel format. Sneaky one, Moffat.

Before the Flood Starting Soon!

Only a few minutes left before the start of Before the Flood, the second part of last week's opener, Under the Lake. I can't believe we're at episode four of Season 9 already!

Under the Lake was a pretty good start, a nice homage to the classic Doctor Who "base under siege" theme. Hopefully Before the Flood won't let us down as a climax to the story. We all know that the Doctor/Peter Capaldi won't really get killed, but let's see you wriggle your way out of this one with good storytelling, not sonic sunglasses pseudononsense.

Come on guys, let's give us a first in NuWho - not one, but TWO good two-parters in a row!

Under the Lake Starting Soon!

Under the Lake, the third episode of of Series 9 of Doctor Who will be airing on BBC1 in about ten minutes, at 8.25pm. I know nothing about the story (I've been avoiding spoilers like the plague) other than what I've seen in the trailer, which looks suitably spooky.

Under the Lake has a lot to live up to, following on the heels of the cracking two-part opening story. I'm really looking forward to it, but after such a great start, I hope it's not a matter of "the only way is down". Here's hoping that Moffat & co. can keep the momentum going for the rest of Season 9.

ADDENDUM: Now THAT was a surprise. I was never expecting another two-parter right on the heels of the first one. It looks like Steven Moffat has been taking on board comments from fans wanting longer, better-developed stories, which has always been my main beef with the modern series. I definitely approve.

This was a nice, creepy one, another classic "base under siege" Doctor Who story. Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are on fine form as the Doctor and Clara, and, in my opinion, are really clicking together as a fine Doctor-companion team. Capaldi is becoming a very fine Doctor indeed, just as I knew he would.

Here's hoping that next week's Part Two is as good as the first one.