First Impressions Of A New World

 The Vampires of Venice

“Venice!” “Venetia!”
Six weeks in and Doctor Who has gone continental when the Doctor’s wedding present to Amy and Rory turns out to be more than just a book token, but a trip to 16th century Venice, where they find a group of Vampires who are not all that they seem and a sinister school.
After the drama of The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone it was refreshing for The Vampires in Venice to be a camp yet highly enjoyable jaunt into the past for Amy and the new companion Rory.
Now for many fans this might be a journey into familiar territory with the comparisons between Amy and Rory’s relationship and the Rose and Mickey saga obvious to the ever faithful viewer and there were some very close similarities between this and Toby Whithouse’s last script in 2006’s School Reunion, the last of a dying race taking over the Earth which can shift into the form of a human figure of authority is not new to Doctor Who.
The inclusion of Amy’s fiancé Rory as a companion has been just what the Doctor ordered (ouch – forgive me!) and Arthur Darvill has brought a nice slice of comedy to the TARDIS crew and although he may not be your stereotypical hands on assistant like Captain Jack Harkness but he does have a go at sword-fighting with mummy’s boy Francesco with a broom and earns some tonsil time with his fiancé as a reward. I sincerely hope that Rory becomes more than a recurring character like Mickey Smith was since Doctor Who works better when there are two companions, something we have been starved off for long periods since the show’s revival in 2005.
Matt Smith yet again manages to put in a fascinating performance, although the moment he is electrocuted by the door outside the House of Calvierri seemed a little false and resembled a small boy busting to go to the small boy’s room. But apart from that, he is definitely cemented into his role and his eccentric alien qualities keep on shining, and the inspired idea to have him bursting through Rory’s stag party cake had me chuckling on my tea. Additionally, the moment where he produces the First Doctor’s library card to the vampire girls
Villain of the week Rosanna played by Helen McCrory enjoys a rather flirtatious encounter with the Doctor as two races on the verge of extinction play with the idea of forming an alliance, much to the Doctor’s distaste and her relationship with her son, the sword wielding Francseco verged on being slightly incestuous and at times she seemed almost pantomime villain like as the story wore on.
Expectantly, the location filming is to die for, with the Croatian town of Trogir doubling as a convincing Venice of 1580 was bursting full of colour and splendour, something that BBC drama productions does very well indeed mostly more convincing than space operas anyway.
One of the biggest delights for me so far this series is that episode wise there have been no duds. Every story has been an enthralling well balanced adventure with equal amounts of humour and emotion to keep viewers of all ages gripped, apart from The Vampires of Venice very nearly overstepping the mark for the former.
So then, my one grumble I would have about this episode is the sexual connotations. For a family show like Doctor Who I really do not think that jokes about the size of people’s manhood is slightly below the belt – literally, and I am hoping that later on in the series the humour becomes slightly dryer and less reliant on naughty bits to get the laughs.
Apart from that blip, The Vampires of Venice was a slick effort which delighted throughout, an entertaining Saturday tea time romp and with the introduction of Rory as the new companion - a decision which may divide some fans but is welcome from this one - will add another dimension to the next few episodes as the series gathers momentum. But the silence at the climax is haunting the time travellers and the trailer for next week’s offering has definitely set up an intriguing teaser that leaves us waiting for when Saturday comes.

First Impressions Of A New World: The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone

WITH every new Doctor comes a story that welcomes back old elements of the show to help settle the new boy in. Just as the Daleks were used as a familiar helping for the Second Doctor and the Master was at his devious best to welcome more than one new incarnation to the universe, this time we had not just one returning enemy, but also a future (or is that past) ally in the form of River Song as she helps the Doctor and Amy battle the chilling Weeping Angels for two weeks of terror, frights in the dark and sinister two-parter that has surely put people back behind the sofa where they belong.

The opening scene is like no other in the show’s long history. There is a mix of Indiana Jones and James Bond in space, guest starring The Streets! It’s a hectic blend of intrigue and two worlds colliding, fluxing back together at the wrong end, the Doctor knowing how River Song meets her end but not knowing how he knows her or why she will play such a huge part in his history and River knows this man very well indeed, an maybe even better than he knows himself.

The Time of Angels is also the first episode in which Amy really comes alive as a companion. Up until now she has been a slightly vague creation, as if there is a big story just waiting to be told about her but one that until now has held her character back. Yet as soon as she is possessed by the Weeping Angels and she is rubbing stone from her eye it adds another dimension to her narrative and one that places her in the worst danger imaginable.

As we learn a little more about River Song as the story continues, her story is just as wibbly-wobbly timey -whimey as the Doctors and something tells me we have not seen the last of her this series and while the inclusion of the Fathers of the Church and a forest within the Byzantium in the second part is an inspired idea, and the haunting walk through the Maze Of The Dead heaped more mystery and terror upon us fans for a whole 45 minutes.

Unfortunately though, Mike Skinner was not the only guest star as another well known personality made an unexpected appearance as the Doctor made his speech to Angel Bob. Graham Norton has now invaded the who-niverse for the second time now since the show’s 2005 revival, the man must be really desperate for a part! However his minimal part in the story became a big story in the press the next day but for me it did ruin a truly fantastic episode.

The following part Flesh and Stone naturally continues where The Time of Angels left off, but is ultimately more intense with the scene where Octavian meets his maker and Amy’s blind walk through the forest makes for chilling viewing, and when the Angels turn menacingly to our shock they are more than just statues! And surely their presence as one of the greatest Doctor Who monsters ever had been cemented and they have burned themselves into the long term memory of young children, who will look twice when they walk past churches with sinister gargoyles peering down upon them!

The story has all the makings of a modern day classic – an iconic monster, memorable moments, convincing performances from all involved and a Doctor at the top of his game so early into his reign. Matt Smith displays the full range of emotions during both episodes, and we see a rage we have not seen the Doctor possess for a long time.

However the final scene in Amy’s bedroom was a radical departure from the rest of the story but a necessary one as it explained the significance behind the base code and the crack in the wall, it’s all about Amy and just as she was evolving into a classic series companion, she may just be the most important one since Rose as her story progresses. Matt Smith’s awkwardness to her advances were also a welcome departure from all the romantic inclinations we have been exposed to recently, though it did take a couple of viewings to get it and who knows, maybe even the Doctor will between now and next week!

So then overall The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone is a fantastic showpiece for the writing and creative imagination of Steven Moffat and now all the elements of the new series are fusing together, but that crack in time maybe gone for the moment but what is the significance of Amy’s wedding day? And will the Doctor manage to keep away from Amy’s charms for long? See you next week to find out!

9/10