Doctor Who Project - Love and Monsters

I've just realised that in all my excitement to review 'Fear Her' I missed out reviewing the other stinker of series 2, 'Love and Monsters'. I did watch it honestly, of all the episodes to skip in this series I'd have much rather have passed on 'Fear Her'.

The problem with 'Love and Monsters' which a lot of critics have pointed out is that it's not really Doctor Who. Ok the Doctor does briefly make an appearance at the start and the end of the story but really this is what's come to be known as a 'Doctor light episode' ie one that features The Doctor and companion sparsely so that the main cast can have a break. This would happen quite a lot during the Classic Who days but is a little more subtle due to the structure of stories lasting 4-6+ episodes long, you could afford to lose one or two of the main stars for a week or two whilst the rest carried on with filming.

The story also suffers from a main cast that we've never met before and apart from them all being fans of The Doctor there isn't any real connection between this story and the rest of the series. If anything this story is a love letter to fandom (could be any fandom not just Doctor Who), friendships and relationships being forged through a mutual love of The Doctor and then comes the big bossy know it all that every message board I've ever frequented seems to have to spoil it all. The gang were all having fun until Victor Kennedy comes along and I think that one of the characters remarks that since he came along it's become hard work. I think it's funny that the villain of the story is called an Abzorbaloff as this is exactly what happens when you delve too far into fandom, it takes over your life, absorbs you in and I guess it can feel like an extension of work coming home after work then spending several hours in front of a computer to the point where you feel it compulsory to log in everyday to do this. Yep been there before years ago which is probably why I tend to shun large forum communities. With this in mind Abzorbaloff is a fitting title to something which takes over your life and absorbs you into itself.

To be honest 'Love and Monsters' has a lot going for it: a nice little love story, great use of music (who doesn't love 'Mr Blue Sky'?!), a nice little critique/celebration of fandom including a very clever use of a villain and it gives  the main cast a welcome break. Unfortunately it doesn't all quite work. Like I said before it just doesn't feel like Doctor Who which is quite some feat considering how flexible and durable the format is. The story also suffers from some pretty awful stunt casting in the form of Peter Kay. Marc Warren works as Elton probably because he's an established actor. Peter Kay however is a comedian and for me he just doesn't fit into this story. He comes across as hammy and over the top but then again I think that's his persona as he seems to be the same in every other role he's played. To be honest I'm not a fan of anything Peter Kay's done since Phoenix Nights. I saw him a few years ago doing his standup routine in Manchester, it was pretty much recycled jokes from his routine 10 years earlier. Rant aside Kay's performance is easily the worst thing about this story.

Oh well onwards and upwards now that I've watched and (finally) reviewed 2 of the worst New Who episodes ever (which unfortunately were aired back to back!).

Doctor Who Project - "Fear Her"

Well here it is, the moment I've been avoiding since I started re-watching New Who, the worst (in my humble opinion at least) Doctor Who story ever made (yes I'm including Classic Who too); 'Fear Her'.

Aside from the rubbish conclusion (Rose throws the pod into the Olympic flame and Chloe and her Mum sing to get rid of the scribble monster Dad), the crappy monster (the only real supposed threat other than some little brat with magic crayons is a 2D monster Dad coming to get her) and the cheese factor reaching extreme levels (The Doctor running with the Olympic flame and "no-one wants to stop him", come off it) the most annoying thing about this episode is the obnoxious Chloe. Ok she's playing a girl possessed by an alien being but she still comes across as rude and annoying, for such a vital part in the story they should've probably casted a better actress.

Rant over. When I was little my Mum always tried to get me and my brothers to come up with compliments for each other when we were constantly arguing, was always a challenge! As such I'm going to try (try being the optimal word here) to come up with 5 nice things to say about this episode.

1) The Olympic feel. Considering that this episode was broadcast 6 years before the actual London 2012 Olympics games the Doctor Who producers didn't do too bad of a job. There was the stadium (which is supposedly the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff but looked more like the Manchester Council stadium used for the Commonwealth Games), the torch carrier (funny thing is current Doctor Who star Matt Smith carried it too!) and the general hope and excitedness for the games which did mirror the real thing 6 years later (although most of us Brits half expected it to be crap). The fireworks at the end were not a patch on the real thing though. The Beeb might have been better off using footage from New Year's Eve!

2) The foreshadowing at the end of the episode. A storm is coming but nothing's going to split the Doctor and Rose up. ;)

3) The next time round trailer, Cybermen are back plus we get to see Torchwood after so many hints alluding to it. Oh and is that a Dalek death ray in action? ;)

4) The cat entering a cardboard box and disappearing. Reminded me so much of Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline'. Whether it was a deliberate reference or not doesn't matter to me as I love Gaiman's work (even his non Doctor Who work. lol).

5) Err it was only a one episode story. Told you I'd struggle.

Next time round Cybermen vs Daleks, the fall of Torchwood, Martha Smith (oh wait it's not her it's her cousin conveniently played by the Freema Agyeman) and the 'death' of Rose Tyler. Yay.