Okay, I haven’t watched this one yet. Mainly, I haven’t had time, but I have to admit, I haven’t gone out of my way to make time.
It’s bad. I think it’s probably the worst episode of the revival. It commits what for me is the cardinal sin, which is to be boring. Really, really boring.
In a way, I’m looking forward to revisiting it, just to try to figure out how and why it’s so boring. But it likely won’t be today.
Five days later, I’ve finally brought myself to watch it. Here’s what I’ve got.
This is “Doctor Who” trying to do an episode of “The X-Files,” and falling flat on its face.
It’s brightly (and flatly) lit, when it should be dark and moody.
Murray Gold’s score is unusually lifeless, and seems to strike the wrong tone more often than not. Give me some mournful cello while they’re in Chloe’s room, examining her drawings.
It tries to blend a story about aliens with more “mature” themes like child abuse and depression, and isn’t terribly successful.
The “all it needs is the attention of the world” riff was basically done several episodes ago (and better) in “The Idiot’s Lantern.”
Just a complete failure on damn near every level.
But at least they do a better job of “mature themes” a few years later with “Night Terrors,” and of evil drawings with “Flatline.”
Thinking back on the elements of this episode, a story dealing with scared children’s fears coming to life doesn’t need to be particularly bad. People getting attacked by angry pencil scribbles in 3D? Could work.
First and foremost, I just remember it as being really unengagingly told. The sleepy suburban setting doesn’t help. And then, for some reason, suddenly the Doctor is carrying the Olympic torch, which just feels like somebody switched channels.
Okay, I haven’t watched this one yet. Mainly, I haven’t had time, but I have to admit, I haven’t gone out of my way to make time.
It’s bad. I think it’s probably the worst episode of the revival. It commits what for me is the cardinal sin, which is to be boring. Really, really boring.
In a way, I’m looking forward to revisiting it, just to try to figure out how and why it’s so boring. But it likely won’t be today.
Five days later, I’ve finally brought myself to watch it. Here’s what I’ve got.
This is “Doctor Who” trying to do an episode of “The X-Files,” and falling flat on its face.
It’s brightly (and flatly) lit, when it should be dark and moody.
Murray Gold’s score is unusually lifeless, and seems to strike the wrong tone more often than not. Give me some mournful cello while they’re in Chloe’s room, examining her drawings.
It tries to blend a story about aliens with more “mature” themes like child abuse and depression, and isn’t terribly successful.
The “all it needs is the attention of the world” riff was basically done several episodes ago (and better) in “The Idiot’s Lantern.”
Just a complete failure on damn near every level.
But at least they do a better job of “mature themes” a few years later with “Night Terrors,” and of evil drawings with “Flatline.”
Thinking back on the elements of this episode, a story dealing with scared children’s fears coming to life doesn’t need to be particularly bad. People getting attacked by angry pencil scribbles in 3D? Could work.
First and foremost, I just remember it as being really unengagingly told. The sleepy suburban setting doesn’t help. And then, for some reason, suddenly the Doctor is carrying the Olympic torch, which just feels like somebody switched channels.
Yeah, I think you’re right. On paper, this should be the show’s bread and butter. But the execution of this one is dull as dishwater.