25th January, 2013

      BBC America is showing some recent episodes tonight, providing us with a day's break from The Sarah Jane Adventures. "The Power of Three is being broadcast while I'm travelling home from work, disqualifying this airing from this project. That leaves us with the "The Angels Take Manhattan" which Elaine and I last saw on its fall broadcast, and "The Snowmen" which we have seen twice before. I'm choosing to do less of a blow-by-blow account of the plots, and focus more on general impressions, specially any different takes I have from this viewing.

Series 7 episode 5 "The Angels Take Manhattan"

     I'm looking forward to seeing this again, as we haven't seen it since its original broadcast. The film noir setting fits the pattern of season 7 of each episode being a self-contained take on a classic movie genre. My wife notices the poster of the statue of liberty in the elevator in the apartment building being used by the Angels. Many people have complained that the statue would not have had a chance to move, as at any time many eyes are actively watching it. Maybe the image from a poster (or any number of postcards, photos, etc.) could have created the statue we view on the buildings roof? Probably a bit of a stretch of an explanation, as this could have created any number of statues, but the rules are vague enough to create any number of explanations for the Statue of Liberty's appearance.
     The scenes in modern New York provide us with a chance to see The Doctor relax with the Ponds. This won't last of course. The Melody Malone novel drives the plot as the typical tight-plotting of Steven Moffat is in evidence. I had always thought that the definition of a "fixed point in time" hinged on the Doctor's specific knowledge of the events, and I was delighted to see that confirmed in this story. Back in the 30's, we get our first River sighting, and she is absolutely stunning in that black gown.
     Chasing Rory back to the past puts the story into high gear. Matt Smith's chemistry with Alex Kingston is wonderful, as usual, in the scene with River trapped in the grasp of the injured Angel. You never feel the age difference in their interactions, and I think both actors should be credited for this. River's reaction to the Doctor using regeneration energy to heal her broken wrist implies that he probably cost himself years of his life. This seems to recall a similar use of life force in "Rise of the Cybermen", and I think it's safe to assume he's lost a similar amount of time here.
     We reach the story's climax back at Winter Quay. Its funny how Rory himself comments on how cliche' its become for him to die. The scene on the roof between Rory and Amy is spot on, and really provides the emotional resolution to their entire relationship. I know they grow old together in the past, but as far as the Doctor (and us) are concerned it is the end. Amy's resolve to return to the past to be reunited with Rory shows those us who had our doubts about the sustainability of their marriage how wrong we were. It was never a choice between a life of adventure with the Doctor and a life of domesticity with Rory. I think I never gave Amy enough credit for how much she loved Rory. I'm glad I was wrong.
     The Doctor ends this story in a really dark place, and that leads into the Christmas special. River's still around to provide the occasional appearance, but one feels that her story's due to come to an end as well. I have no desire to see her interact with any future Doctors, so once Matt's done with the role, I hope she'll be done as well. I suspect that is the plan.

     This story works better as an emotional goodbye for the Ponds than it does as a creepy encounter with the Angels. It introduces some typical noir character types, but disposes of them as soon as they serve their purpose to the plot. The plot is as twisty and tight as any Moffat script, but for once you don't feel that the show is holding its arms up in victory in how it pulled it off. It sets up the Christmas special and second half of series 7 well, with the Doctor's devastated reaction to losing Amy. The use of the scenes with young Amelia Pond to wrap up Amy's story in a nice bow is pure gold. Oddly, I had more of an emotional reaction to this 2nd viewing than I did the first. A wonderful finale for a wonderful pair of companions. Rory and Amy, you will be missed.

Series 7 episode 6 "The Snowmen"

     Having seen this twice already in less than a month, Elaine declines to watch this with me. I gain little from this third viewing, as unlike the previous two, the episode is edited by BBCA to fit into an hour-long slot. It originally aired in an hour and twenty minute slot. There was little extraneous, as like most Moffat scripts it is densely plotted and the story moves at a break neck pace. We lose major scenes, which for anyone viewing this for the first time, were vital to understand what was happening. The distaste for this edit provides me with little motivation to analyze this story in depth here.
     I'll just say that I loved this episode the first 2 times I saw it. I think it is easily the best Christmas special since "The Christmas Invasion". Clara Oswin Oswald is a wonderfully eccentric and perky companion. The mystery of her multiple deaths gives us the ongoing story arc for the second half of this season. The second time I viewed it, I took notice of the odd glowing orb above her as she lay dying, and the Doctor's dialogue during her "deathbed" scenes hint at some preparation having been made. He never seems overly affected by her death, as his recent rise in spirits returning him to a life of adventure overwhelms any other emotion he may be feeling. Or perhaps he knows something we don't about her death....