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BBC The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang |
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| Story No. | 230 and 231 | 
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| Production Code | 1.12 and 1.13 | |
| Dates | June 19 and 26 2010 |
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With Matt Smith,
Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill
Written by Steven Moffat Directed by Toby Haynes Executive Producers: Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis. |
| Synopsis: The Pandorica holds a goblin or a trickster or a warrior. But what does that have to do with the universe ending? |
Moffat on top form by Clement Tang 22/1/12
To those who are reading this, cut me some slack as this is my first time and still a teen with so little time to watch Doctor Who. I've been watching the show since 2010 when my teacher showed us Blink. Immediately, I wanted to watch other stories because that was brilliant. Coincidentally, that story is by Steven Moffat who wrote the two-parter which I am reviewing right now. I think Moffat's writing is as good as those from Old Who (Robert Holmes, David Whitaker, Terrance Dicks etc.). His stories are cleverly written and blend in different genres well without concentrating too much on them (unlike RTD who seemed to emphasise emotional drama).
I know there has been a lot of hate for River Song, but Alex Kingston plays her so well that, for me, it's hard not to dislike her. I particularly like the hallucinogenic lipstick scene. And I know that Matt Smith isn't right for the role of the Doctor to some, but in here he is on top form. Karen Gillan also portrays Amy very well. In fact, she's one of my favourite companions, even though she is more disliked than any other companion in the new series.
Speaking of companions, Rory makes a surprise return in this story. But first, I need to elaborate about Steven's writing in this story, then I'll get back to him. The plot seems complicated at first, but after a while, everything just seems to click. The reason why Amy doesn't remember her parents, the Alliance making a memory print of her memories to re-enact the scene at Stonehenge, River being younger than before (she did forewarn the Doctor in Flesh and Stone about the Pandorica). And about Rory....
Because Rory was still in Amy's memories, it makes sense why he is now an Auton soldier in this story instead of just plain old Rory. He was recreated by the Alliance all this time. I still won't understand why he is so well liked since Rory seems so bland, but in here Arthur Darvill manages to give a better portrayal compared to previous episodes.
The dialogue was good, too. From the Doctor's speech in the Pandorica (well done, Matt) to small lines like when the Doctor tries to save River from the TARDIS ("And what sort of time do you call this?"). Even the very line "Fezzes are cool" is still popular among fans. In fact, there's a very video of the fez scene on the rooftop on the internet.
There was an emotional scene I like and that was the conversation between Amy and the Doctor before he brings the Pandorica along with him to restore the universe. You can see how Amy is unwilling to let the Doctor, her best friend, erase himself from reality to save the universe.
The ending was really great. Seeing how Amy remembers the Doctor just from looking at River's diary and from the story the Doctor told Amy during his rewind about something old, new, borrowed and blue (the TARDIS) and everything is pieced together.
There are still going to be many Old Who fans who will still criticize New Who and there are still going to be Tennant fangirls who think Moffat shouldn't be head writer. But considering that I love Old Who more than New Who yet I love both as a whole, Doctor Who can still be enjoyable for Old Who fans, and this is one example. It's a shame that his stories weren't as good in series 6 (they're good, but way too complicated for nongeniuses to work out). I personally think this story, along with The Empty Child two-parter and Blink, are worthy of classic status.
9.5/10