Domestic bliss for Amy and Rory is interrupted by the return of the Doctor. Or is it a dream? Or are they dreaming of the past? And what’s with all the old people?
Cast and Crew
Matt Smith as the Doctor
Karen Gillan as Amy Pond
Arthur Darvill as Rory
Toby Jones as Dream Lord
Nick Hobbs as Mr Nainby
Joan Linder as Mrs Hamill
Audrey Ardington as Mrs Poggit
Written by Simon Nye
Produced by Tracie Simpson
Directed by Catherine Morshead
Originally aired on the 15th of May 2010 on BBC One/BBC HD in the United Kingdom.
Premise
Five years on, the Doctor drops in on Amy and Rory’s domestic bliss… or is it just a dream they’re having on a TARDIS falling into a freezing star?
High Points
- “There’s something here which doesn’t make sense. Let’s go and poke it with a stick.”
Low Points
- Is there some kind of rule that significant deaths have to happen slowly so that they can have time to say goodbye?
The Scores
Originality: Not exactly the most original take on a dream/reality choice, especially with the untwisty twist at the end. Three out of six.
Effects: Nice ice star, not so good with the little eyeballs or the slowly turning to dust. Four out of six.
Story: I can’t say I was surprised by it at all. Moderately interesting, but a bit transparent. Three out of six.
Acting: The main cast appear to be consistently good, which is pleasant. Toby Jones as the Dream Lord was excellent. Five out of six.
Emotional response: I was probably supposed to care about Rory, but I’d already figured out where the plot was going, so I didn’t. Three out of six.
Production: One thing that really stood out was the quality of light in the nursery, making it feel like the very embodiment of all Rory’s dreams of domestic bliss. The rest of the production was entirely in keeping with the rest of the season’s high but not exceptional quality. Five out of six.
Overall: It was entertaining enough, but the plot was too thin and untwisty. And that ponytail was awful. Three out of six.
Amy’s Choice receives a grand total of twenty-six out of forty-two.
I actually liked this one a lot. I didn’t see the plot twist coming, as to the identity of the Dream Lord, so I guess I enjoyed it more because of it.
I didn’t see that identity coming, either. I threw out the ‘The Master hates him, so does Davros, though…’ but I didn’t see the real answer. In retrospect, it fit perfectly, and I loved it for that.
The rest: Not twisty, no, but I think the reveal made up for it.
I also noticed that Amy’s Choice was done in such a way where the audience doesn’t actually get to find out her choice. She chooses the Doctor’s reality, but she chooses it for the sake of Rory, so it works both ways!
I didn’t see the identity of him either. It’s sad, though, knowing that that is how the Doctor sees himself .
I’m really not liking Rory. I hope they give him a twist later. He has the background for it He’s a geek, he wasn’t surprised by the inside of the TARDIS, and his goal in life would have been to out do the Doctor because he roleplayed him his entire life. Part of me wonders if his desire to undo the Doctor created the crack… .
But I’m weird..
Either way, loved the episode!!
:)
Kris
Another good Doctor Who episode. I really like the character development for the companions this year. They are actively trying to move the romantic companion/doctor relationships out of the picture, without just flipping a switch and “not doing that anymore.”
Another high point for me, and a possible indication that the village was a dream, was the Doctor stating that he always checks up on his former compainons, when he almost never does. However, I am still waiting for the episode or episodes where they fix things with Donna. Her character got so screwed over.
Wouldn’t it be nice to run into Donna right before she regenerates into River Song?
Ohhh, I’ve never thought of that and don’t think its likely, but damn, that would be cool!
The part that I should have caught was “Ah here it is 5 years later” and yet the Doctor didn’t realize how many years had passed from when Amelia was a child to when he came back and found Amy.
Or did he…
DID the TARDIS come back again when Amelia was still a child?
Kris