Family of Blood - Lucozer's review

Hi folks,

Having watched 'Human Nature' again prior to 'Family Of Blood', I can see that my review last week was too easy on the former. I still agree with my criticisms, but to frivolously praise all else as masterful, gripping &/or fabulous was overstating the greatness of what was certainly a strong & involving, but far from perfect opening part. On paper, this two parter should have been the 'critical' highpoint of the season (with the 'whizz bang melodramatic' high point in the season concluding 2 parter going by past form). However, It was the not the 'superlative rousing', hands down critical high point of promise.

In all honesty, despite my best efforts to find it so, HN/FOB was neither as gripping & scary as '42' nor quite as emotionally involving & charming as 'Gridlock' for example. I could not say it was streets ahead of the better episodes of this season in any department. I am still hopeful to find the level of storytelling & tele-visual mastery that I expected from this eagerly anticipated opus later in the season, but as the weeks wind down, it seems less & less likely. I hope this was not the height of ambition & craftsmanship for the season.

I also recant my criticism of Freema last week (The Co-Pilot could be forgiven for calling me an 'intellectual muscle mary', or another suitable (loving) barb to that effect, on this point). I was wrong. I can't really pinpoint what I thought was lacking in her performance in 'Human Nature'. She is lovely to watch, disarmingly open & genuine. What a gem!

The Co-Pilot thought Tennant's performance was palpably lacking at some critical moments. I am a little less critical of him, but I see what he's getting at. This was his chance to give an era-high 'incarnation defining' performance (ala Tom Baker in 'Talons' or perhaps Troughton in 'EOTD') If the answer to whether he nailed it or not in that sense has to be 'yes' or 'no', the answer is, sadly, no. Come on Dave, I know you can! I thought he might be heading towards that auspicious crown during Human Nature, during which I found his performance to be charming & full of life & careful nuance, but he got the wobbles a bit in Family Of Blood.

However, that said, if Tom Baker & Troughton were forced by their scripts to keep making awkwardly adolescent offers to 'go steady' through time & space with them, to bits of crumpet they'd just met, I wonder if their performances would have been the flawlessly great ones we have to cherish in those previously mentioned stories. It has happened too often & it is frankly absurd that a character we have watched travel for aeons as a happily detached alien, has now offered his charms, in a wildly out of character manner, to at least 3 or 4 women he has just met in the space of about 20 episodes. Ludicrous. Ms Tate's excerable trainwreck being the most ludicrous example.

Even though 'Family of Blood' was a clear step down from a fairly strong set up in 'Human Nature', as a whole it was still quite polished & certainly never an embarrasment to the Dr Who canon. The young chap playing Tim Latimer was fantastic as was the young lad who played Baines. He gave a marvellously alien & disturbed performance which left the rest of his rag tag family in the dust. Although, as the Co-Pilot noted, he seemed disconcertingly alien even before he was possessed which lessened the impact. I liked the last scene between Latimer & the Doctor. It was quite charming & had a magic about it that helped slightly to alieviate my disappointment with the minutes prior.

Anyway, I've gone on too long this week after my miserly output last week.

Love & other bruises, The Lucozer.

The whiff of brilliance?! - A 'Human Nature' review from the desk of the Lucozer...

If I was to wax away about the good aspects of this weeks episode, I would be writing until the wee hours. As it happens, I'm hungry, tired & a little grumpy, so I'll just point out the problems with 'Human Nature' & anything I DON'T mention..well..you can assume it was masterful, gripping or fabulous, whichever you prefer. Or perhaps various combinations of the three? Up to you entirely my loves! The myriad of exciting permutations are virtually endless as you will see...well, at least 4, no...5, hold on...

Anyway, the scarecrows look a smidge silly in the bright lights of the dance hall under the harsh of eye of the digital camera. I would dearly have loved to have seen them on grainy early 70's style film stock (ala Silurians & Ice Warriors). Alas, 'tis nigh on impossible to find such pleasures these days. They do look great lurching across overcast corn fields though. Their movements were somewhat variable too. Some of the actors got it right, others looked as if they were auditioning for an RTD christmas panto version of the Elephant Man (claw!, hiss!! goes the Lucozer)

The last scene in the dance hall was a bit awkward & stagey don't you think chums? The previously subtle & refined dialouge turned all soapy & melodramatic for the big showstopping 'her or her' cliffhanger set-piece. 'Twas a bit of an anti-climax for mine. The lack of believability deflated the tension just as it was meant to be raised.

What else...Freema struggling a little this week perhaps?. The plot ambiguities & the 'acting within acting' may have wrongfooted her a little, but she's still smashing & the Sun can get *&^%. She's staying put!

So yeah! Next week! Rah rah rah!!! I'm doing a solo cheer leader pyramid. That's probably naughtier sounding that I intended it to sound. So fabulous! Leave that with you....


;) The Lucozer.

5, 6, 7, 8 - WHAT DO I APPRECIATE?!

Scores out of 10...with comments where I had them...


#5. PETER DAVISON

CASTROVALVA - 6.5
FOUR TO DOOMSDAY - 5.5
KINDA - 7.5
VISITATION - 6.5
BLACK ORCHID - 7
EARTHSHOCK - 8.5
TIME FLIGHT - 5 ("Shurrah sharubbish!")

ARC OF INFINITY - 6
SNAKEDANCE - 7
MAWDRYN UNDEAD - 7.5
TERMINUS - 6.5
ENLIGHTENMENT - 8.5 (Lynda's Wrack wasn't the only impressive quality!)
KING'S DEMONS - 7
FIVE DOCTORS - 8.5

WARRIORS OF THE DEEP - 6
AWAKENING - 7
FRONTIOS - 7
RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS - 8
PLANET OF FIRE - 7.5
CAVES OF ANDROZANI - 9 (Morgnificent!)


#6. COLIN BAKER

TWIN DILEMMA - 4.5 (What dilemma? Whether to ever watch Dr Who again?)

ATTACK OF THE CYBERMEN - 7
VENGEANCE ON VAROS - 7.5
MARK OF THE RANI - 6.5
TWO DOCTORS - 7 (Pat scores about 4 of the 7 pats on the head here)
TIMELASH - 5 (Turdsplash!! sorry, it's just too easy with this one, I've got more..)
REVELATION OF THE DALEKS - 7.5

MYSTERIOUS PLANET - 7.5
MINDWARP - 5 (Komplete Yrcarwreck!)
TERROR OF THE VERVOIDS - 6.5
ULTIMATE FOE - 6.5


#7. SYLVESTER McCOY

TIME & THE RANI - 4 ("I have the overactyl, nothing can save Dr Who now!")
PARADISE TOWERS - 6.5
DELTA & THE BANNERMEN - 5 ("Here's to the poo-ture! crud is the answer!")
DRAGONFIRE - 6.5

REMEMBERANCE OF THE DALEKS - 8 (Nice one Keff!, you lost it a whole point)
HAPPINESS PATROL - 8
SILVER NEMESIS - 6.5
GREATEST SHOW IN THE GALAXY - 7.5

BATTLEFIELD - 6 (That muscle mary the Destroyer sums this up..all huff..no puff!)
GHOSTLIGHT - 8.5
CURSE OF FENRIC - 9
SURVIVAL - 7.5


#8 - PAUL McGANN

ENEMY WITHIN - 6 (McGann Whoknighted...9, Eric-ham Robertspur..Nil)


Thanks loves...The Lucozer

Hello, Hello...Is there anybody out there????

The Co-Pilot & I have been tapping away for many weeks now, blog happy. Just wondering if anybody is actually reading our blogs? We have only really had spam comments thus far. Would any kind souls reading this please just say hello so we know we are not alone in the icy vastness of cyberspace. Just a quick word in the comments for this blog would be ideal. Thanks muchly, L & CP...

Doctor Who - '42' - Lucozer's Wuuhoo!!!

Bravo!! I'll say!!, the Doctor AND a good story!! I have very little to criticise in this most taut & tense of thrillers. Graeme Harper has delivered his finest directorial piece since 'Caves Of Androzani' & that's saying something because his work is always solid at the very least.

I was absolutely stunned at the intensity of Tennant's performance, particularly when he was infected & had to be frozen to -200 degrees. For the first time in the Tennant era he seemed genuinely scared & genuinely in danger. "Martha!...I'm scared" ... David!...I believe you!! Martha put in her best knock thus far as well. What a team it seems we well have to cherish.

The special effects were first rate & I'm delighted to say that we finally have another 'fetishistic gesture' from an iconic Dr Who creation to add to the grand pantheon; Silurian wobbling it's head light... Sontaron taking off its helmet ... Cardinal Borusa arching his eyebrow...now...Red mask creature lifting it's visor & smouldering at its victim. Fantastic! Shame it's a bit close in looks to the 'Empty Child' mask design, but I'll still gladly take it & run away with it to the secret cave where I keep my 'Dr Who precious'!!

The guest cast were uniformly good. The leader was a touch wooden at times, but I feel harsh saying that because she was really more than competent. Riley was it? the guy who was stuck in the escape pod with Martha? Oh my giddy aunt! I would like about an hour with him & the boyfriend kidnapper from 'Gridlock'...no questions asked. Actually, the first victim from '42', the leader's hubby/ boyfriend? can come along too. That'll make four..tag teams..wuundanoogoo!

As the Co-Pilot noted, it was absolutely 'Planet of Evil 2007' (sounds like a sexy dance party actually). Wonderful that the homage/ tip of the hat was inspired & scary. It could have been 'Rose' tainting the Auton legacy all over again, but mercifully it wasn't. I was riveted. Even 'Muzza' Gold managed not to raise the 'BBC Horny Dalek Baritone Men's Choir' fader for minutes at a time. In fact, the score had me in mind of the 'Five Doctors' at times, which is never a bad thing & the silences were truly symphonic!

What a precious little gem this is! & it's only the beginning of the glory road home! I haven't been this excited since 'Doctor Dances', ok, maybe 'Bad Wolf' if you must push me, ok ok, maybe about 3 minutes of 'Army Of Ghosts/ Doomsday' damn you!. Anyway, fab little sweeties, just fab!!!!

Cardinal Borusa minced it best when he waxed through pursed lips;
"Oh Doctor!...9 out of 10"

Love, Lucozer.

Martha's Lookin' Finer..Return To Zeta Minor..Co-Pilot gets moist in '42' different ways!

The Planet of Evil of 2007, 42 takes the cake and doesn't spare on the cream...(and my, how tasty this here cream is....mmmmmm)!

Marvellous it is to see (CHAUVENIST COMMENT ALERT) Martha really sweat it out - literally and figuratively...how fabulously intelligent and action-savvy she is ...and what a total, gob-smacking spunk! RRRAAARRR! Oh to be stuck in any enclosed space with you Ms Jones...RRRAAARRR..I am a BIG, BIG fan, Freema.

It is amply evident after this showing that Martha is turning into the perfect foil for the ever surprising Tennant (who once again puts in an excellent turn in unfamiliar territory for his Doctor...the preening know-it-all of last season is, thank Buddha, a long-forgotten blip on his ever brightening radar). There is much more intrigue to the Tennant Doctor now that he has a Sarah-Jane (Martha) rather than an Ace (Rose) as his companion. He is once again a man of mystery and a fascinatingly vulnerable one at that. No longer is he little more than Rose's domesticated/ emancipated, fey boyfriend, who each episode - on a whim - lept out of character and did ridiculously unconvincing butch things, and then kept boasting about it. Good riddance to that tosser! On this, Eccleston's macho/innocent child-man provided a riveting balance to the young/wise Rose character - the relationship positively sparkled and was full of sexual tension. The Tennant Doctor however was completely suffocated by the Rose (and her family) dynamic and gagged his way through last season in a most cloying way. Not so season 3!

Graeme Harper is the closest thing we are going to get this century to Masters Camfield and Maloney and we love him for it. This is his best showing of the new series so far. He succeeds in stretching the tension out over the full 42(?) minutes. He notably manages to get the best score thus far out of the unpredictable (or should that be predictably bad?) Murray Gold...how wonderful are those 30 odd seconds of silence as Martha raps aimlessly on the glass window of the capsule, while the Doctor delivers some of his best stuff since the 70s? I was gripped my loves, I was gripped!

As well as being thrilled at how serious and compelling this episode was, I was also delighted at the subtelty of its moral message. This is something that new Who has shown it can do well...the theme of nature rebelling against human greed or ignorance is a welcome undercurrant to an excellent action adventure.

Suffice it to say, 42 is the best story of the season thus far. The prospect that this will be only the fourth or fifth best story overall - just look at the potential treasures that await...makes my already whetted appetite most moist indeed. I fully expect this to be the best season since Tom left! I have been licking my lips in juicy anticipation for Human Nature next week...

What a blessing it is to be a Doctor Who fan in 2007!

Lazarus Experiment - Lucozer's Review

Well I've waited two days before reviewing 'Lazarus Experiment' because I haven't had too many free seconds to bang together. I am sober & I have had time to reflect. I'm not sure if those are good things for my review style. Oh well, here goes...

'Lazarus' was more subdued & credible than the trashy & laughable Dalek O-Puss inflicted on us over the last few weeks. It was less stagy & mercifully didn't seem to have been built around melodramatic, glittery set pieces. I do have to question the current preponderance for huge, boney, spider-ish CGI monsters though. It was 'Runaway Bride' all over again in that department & they NEVER look convincing.

Mark Gattis's performance was much like his wiggy blonde hair; not quite believable in my blog. He didn't seem to know whether to play it arch or straight. I feel for him though because the whole show has struggled with the same dilemma since 2005. The humour is often too wet & self concious for the show to be taken absolutely seriously, but Doctor Who is not & should never be the lazy 'topical comedy' show it strays dangerously close to being at times. Leave that role to 'Dead Ringers' who do it well. Not the lazy bit. You know what I mean!

That said, I loved the Doctor turning the organ up to 'eleven'. That is exactly the kind of humorous pop culture reference I was speaking of in a previous review. It is from a cult film that is over 20 years old, not everyone knows it and it's not sucking on the dry, tired teat of the latest mass trash phenomenon (Big Brother, Weakest Link etc etc - although those ones were quite well done).

I like Tish, she's a cutie. Leo is too, but as the Co-Pilot said to me in our post episode de-brief, he doesn't have much of a character to play with yet. Maybe he gets a starring moment later in the season & the part gets fleshed out. I hope so. I'll leave the analysis of the Doctor's relatively avuncular & bloodless attitude to Martha to the Co-Pilot, who I'm sure would like to step into the breach of the Doctor's seeming uncertainty & leave no doubt!

Lazarus in a sentence; not bad, much better, still not good enough.

Love, Lucozer