La Stupenda! (& I don't mean Dame Joan) - A Doctor Who 'Utopia' Review

Wow wee!!! The Co-Pilot & I were (briefly) speechless at the conclusion of this hum dingler of an episode. The Co-Pilot was heard to wonder aloud whether the last 15 minutes or so were the greatest in the shows (44 year) history? I was heard to reply, "shit yeah"! or something equally as considered & incisive.

Well, let's briefly pick at the minor problems before hanging some tinsel & whipping some double cream! The 'savages' looked a bit naff & their back story wasn't really developed enough (perhaps that's still to come). In fact, a sense of excessive rush pervaded the whole episode. It didn't need 2 parts to flesh things out, maybe just another 10-15 minutes would have sufficed. I was also disappointed not to see more from Mr Jacobi, his regeneration came too soon after his fob watch 'rememberance'. His brief moment of Master-ly menace was all too miserly & minute. In that small moment though, he showed the genius that has afforded him legendary status within his craft. The change in his eyes after he opened the watch & 'became' the Master was absolutely superb. He didn't need to wave his arms around maniacally or arch his eyebrows. True class Dezza!

On the 'goodies' side, Capn Dick Barrowman actually managed to convey some genuine depth & rouse some palpable pathos, particularly when he described having to live through nearly 140 chaotic & violent years of earth history, no doubt loving & losing many more times than anyone could be expected to endure & no doubt having to keep moving so as not to rouse suspicion of his unageing countenance. Barrowman is improving all the time & the character has become much more sympathetic in light of the revelations.

Tennant, despite the usual few moments of silly mugging & juvenile boasting, had some of his finest moments as well. The scene where he talks to Jack through the protective glass as Jack pulls out the big cylinders (ooh er) was just about faultless. I loved his delivery of "you're wrong Jack" & the whole scene really. He got everything right; tone of voice, gestures. Lovely stuff. The Doctor seemed genuinely spooked because Jack is beyond even his vast capacity for comprehension & imagination. I found their discussion striking & quite shocking. Can you imagine any other Doctor deliberately abandoning a good friend in that way? In the 'classic' series there would have been some silly sci-fi wank way to fix Jack & the Dr would never have left him. Not here though. There's no easy answer or 'it'll be alright' pats on the back. This is adult stuff. The themes are darker & more complex that we've ever had to deal with in Dr Who. At 30ish we are ready for it. We couldn't have handled that at age 8 probably. We have grown up; & finally, so has Dr Who.

This pivotal Jack/Dr scene was undoubtedly a difficult scene to play 'just right' because of the complexity of the emotions involved. Despite the frantic activity & high stakes involved, David & John play against the pervading mood of extreme tension with a lovely calm stillness, aided by Mr Harper's brill direction. This will be looked upon as a major scene in the canon. Theses will be written, mark my word.

Oh & I thought the blue crustacean lass was just lovely. Sad to see her dealt with so callously by the Master in his first act of unconscionable cruelty.

RTD, I beg forgiveness for ever doubting you. You are every inch of your 6'7" the genius that some say you are. Sure, you have had your best forgotten moments (New Earth, WW3), but you've also been near perfect (Bad Wolf & a couple of others) & you didn't take many wrong steps here. You have a vivid imagination & the masterful talent to wrangle your ideas into a cracking bit of 45 minute Teev.

The fob watch revelation was wondrous & the moments leading up to its opening as all the pennies dropped were utterly breathtaking. Even the wildly inconsistent Murray Gold had my stomach knotting (in a good 'scared shitless but very excited' way).

- A few predictions/ thoughts/ excited rubs (of my hands that is)

If the Master & the Doctor escaped out the 'back door' (so to speak) & into rusty old timepieces, did other Time Lords escape the same way? Is there a giant fob watch in RTD's pants pocket? The Daleks had their Genesis Arc. I'm certain the Time Lords will rise again!

How does the Dr escape the futuristic outpost? Does the Master send back the TARDIS with a programmed flight to trap the Doctor, who would rather be trapped by the Master than lose his beloved 'old girl'.

Is Tennant in it next week? He wasn't in the add. Will we now be having a Dr-lite AND a Doctor-less episode each season? Come on Dave! I can hear Willy & Patty turning in their urns. Absences are certainly not presences where the lead actor is concerned.

Anyway, questions, questions, criticisms, congratulations, questions...

Hurraaahhh!! Lucozer.....