I am – Hercules!!
“Optimus Frag” says:

Hi Herc, You'll have to forgive me as this is the first time I've sent a review to you so excuse any dodgy use of syntax and grammar but what the hell... Doctor Who 29:4 Daleks in Manhattan. Once again the BBC go for a period piece. This is a good thing. It continues to be what they do best and it works to great effect in this episode because, well, the title says it all. We open up with a scene backstage where a showgirl is talking to her poor but kind stage hand boyfriend. Using that old stand by of the wearing of the single rose and talk of meeting with his mother we know that this a couple who will stick together through thick and thin. Cue monster POV with him screaming when all is onstage with him alone in the back. The Doctor and Martha arrive at the base of the Statue of Liberty. The Empire State building is near the end of it's construction and visible as part of the cityscape. The Doctor use's his knowledge of history to determine that its the tail end of the 1920's. Martha just pick's up a paper from a park bench to tell him it's 1st November 1930. The headline also gives them a clue that all is not well, 'Hooverville Mystery Deepens.' Cut to the shanty town (Hooverville) in Central Park. At this point it must be said that the special effects are rather special. We're not talking King Kong special but the creation of depression hit New York is VERY good for a TV budget. (In fact I wouldn't be surprised if a phone all to WETA was made at some point). In the shanty town they watch as a man called Soloman breaks up a fight over a loaf of bread. Soloman, played by Hugh Quarshie of Captain Panaka fame, is the leader/spokesman for the people living rough in Central Park. Here the Doctor learns that people from the slum are going missing. Over in the Empire State Mr. Diagoras is arguing with the lead foreman. The new masters of the site want construction of the spire at the top of the building completed tonight using familiar pieces of strange metal. The foreman says go to hell and he'll tell Mr. Digoras new masters the same. Lift door opens, Masters ain't happy with the foreman, the shaking of the infamous sink plunger and single electronic eye tell you that much. Later, Digoras goes to the shanty town to get new workers. The Doctor, Martha, Soloman and an obligatory red-shirt by the name of Frank volunteer for the princely sum of $1 a day. Telling them there is a cave in which needs clearing in the sewers under the Empire State he gives them directions and shovel each. It quickly becomes apparent that not all is well under the Empire State. Firstly from the big blob of organic material they find and secondly the mass of humanoid pig-men that chase after them. Finding a ladder they climb to safety except for red-shirt Frank who's pulled back to the piggy bank. The ladder opens up into the backstage area of the theatre we opened up to. Finding themselves at the wrong end of a gun pointed at them from our showgirl friend. It's been two weeks since her boyfriend disappeared but a single white rose still appears at her dressing table before every show. Soloman leaves for the shanty to arrange some sort of defence after helping the Doctor find parts to make a DNA reader for the blob they found. While The Doctor works on his 1930's DNA machine, Martha spots someone only a bit piggy in appearance and gives chase back down the sewer only to be grabbed by more pig-men who have red-shirt Frank still in tow, showing a flagrant disrespect for the tradition of such circumstance's by not being dead. Digoras while this has all been going on has caught the eye of the Dalek leader who has selected him to be the subject of the 'Final Experiment'. His understandable dislike of this idea is only compounded by the leader Darlek opening up its armour and absorbing him with it's organic true self, thus putting a real crimp in his already crappy day. The Doctor's machine tells him the results and their not good. Dalek DNA. Finding Martha is gone he goes down the sewers with Showgirl Tallulah in tow. Finding Mr. Not-So-Piggy they learn that it's her fella and he escaped before the completed procedure to turn the missing slum dwellers into docile slaves. Finding Martha and Frank being chosen as of higher intelligence by one of the Daleks, The Doctor sends Tallulah back to the theatre while him and not-so-piggy blend into the other humans being marched to a lab by more Pig-Men. At the lab we learn that the experiment is reaching its conclusion. It turns out that these are the last four Daleks in existence (heard that before). Realising that their race's desire to remain pure Dalek has meant there are only four left, they have chosen to use Humans to create a Dalek Hybrid as throughout all history Humans have survived all that was thrown at them. At this moment the leader Dalek open up and still wearing Digoras' pinstripe suit is one seriously fucked up looking creature saying that he is the future.... To be continued...... What not to like about the episode? Tallulah's New York accent. It make's that bint from Friends voice sound like Lady Penelope from ThunderBirds!!! What's to like about it? Pretty much everything else. The make-up is very, very good in places. Freema Agyeman's (Martha) ass. The CGI creation of New York as mentioned before. Freema Agyeman's ass. David Tennant being his usual excellent self and have I mentioned Freema Agyeman's ass? Honestly, Billy Piper who? Next week a promise of more chase's in sewers, Freema Agyeman's ass and Dalek's flying over Hooverville blowing the shit out of anything moving.

“Jadstersdad” says:

Is this a little-known in-joke by closet Dr.Who fan Woody Allen? Nope. It's Episode 4 of the latest season of our favourite Time Lord (well.. the only Time Lord. Maybe). Technically a period piece, set in the 30's, this story is ambitious for the BBC as it attempts to portray New York convincingly. As with all stories set in the past, the production values seem flawless. There are some really nice cityscapes. I found myself distracted by trying to figure which accents were genuine Americans and which those of Brit thespians. The acid test here will obviously be when this reaches US shores. On the whole, though, I was impressed. Especially by Hooverville 'leader' Solomon. Less so by caricature showgirl Tallulah (although it was a spirited performance). It was good to see Daleks introduced early on in a matter-of-fact way (sort of) as opposed to episode-end cliffhanger revelations. These are the last four remaining Daleks, seen before. The 'cult of Skaro'. The plot this time revolves around genetic manipulation, leading first to 'pig-men' slaves. These come close to being comical (unintentionally) unless you suspend disbelief and imagine what a reality such as this would be like. The 'partial' pig-man is more effective, used in a 'beauty and the beast' way. The 'final experiment' (revelation) was spoiled here by a front-page spread in the Radio Times TV mag and is such an obvious plan that we wonder why the Daleks haven't thought of it before. Make-up here would have benefited from some good CGI augmentation. But this is nit-picking. It was a fine, involving episode, yet again. This series is shaping up really well. The two leads get better each week, with David Tennant now really confident in the role and Martha a plucky and sympathetic assistant. Even Murray Gold's music is getting better, although you dread any chase sequence as he rolls out the dramatic/peril themes yet again. Needs to be judged in conjunction with it's part two, next week, but I would give this another 9/10. Saturday nights are almost like they used to be!

“The Master” says:

Hi Hercules, I'm in the Uk and always read the AICN reviews of Doctor Who a few hours after the episode has aired. Unfortunately 29.4 is utter wank. It's called Daleks in Manhattan. Muppets in Manhattan more like. They were utterly wasted. The Doctor and Martha arrive in 1930 New York, where poor folk living in Central Park are vanishing. It turns out the Daleks (the Cult of Skaro - how did they survive the season 28 finale??) are turning them into pigslaves, and are now evolving a human in The Final Experiment. This is where the Daleks jump the shark. I won't give it away, other than saying you can't improve on a Dalek.. .and The Final Experiment doesn't improve on the Daleks in any way. Deeply disappointing.

“The Handsome 12th Doctor” says:

It's become somewhat conspicuous that all the Who reviews sent into this site are positive. Does that mean all the new episodes are good? Or that we're all blinkered fans? Or that those who don't like the eps just can't be arsed to send in their thoughts. Who knows? All I know is I like it. So, tonight, Daleks in Noo Yawk...... I'm writing it like that to give you an idea of the bad New York accents on display. In some cases really bad. Like the Revue girl (her name was Tallulah, tree els and an aitch). Why don't telly shows simply cast actors from wherever their characters are supposed to be from? Or maybe they did, but these actors were rubbish. Not all of them mind. The bloke playing Solomon was fine. Anyway did I mention the Daleks are in this? Yep they're back and up to some weirdness again. It’s 1930's NY and it turns out the Daleks are behind the construction of the Empire State building. For what purpose? Hmmm???? At one point I thought they were making a giant Dalek. Kind of like "The Dalek transforms into a building? I don't get it" But I don't think that is their plan. Their real plan doesn't seem to be all that grand. Maybe it'll become bigger and better in next week's second part. But for now I'm a little underwhelmed with what they’re up to. And why aren't they sarcastic bastards any more? When we last saw them in the previous season's finale they were a bunch of right sarky gits. Handing the Cyberman some brilliant verbal bitch-slaps. I liked them like that. By the way there are a LOT of stairs in the Empire State building (it's true) and it doesn’t make one whit of difference to them (contrary to what that talkback numpty continues to peddle down below). Ok I've noticed this hasn't been a very positive review. There was a great deal to like about the show. The production design of 30's Manhattan looked marvellous. The use of music was tops (always good to hear Rhapsody In Blue). And the Doctor and Martha My Dear were on form once more. But overall I have to say it wasn't great. It's possible it may be retrospectively saved by the second part, and I may look at it differently when I know how certain things play out. But then I once said that about Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions. And look how piss-poor that ended up being.

“A.C. Warrilow” says:

What's it called? Daleks in Manhattan So that fact that it’s called Daleks in Manhattan obviously means that the Daleks reappearance isn’t going to be the cliff hanger ending reveal… they appear in the first ten minutes infact. The start of the episode reminds very much of the older episodes of the 60’s … it’s very second Doctor ‘Invasion’ even some of the Jon Pertwee stories. The way the Daleks manipulate their generic human, greedy man in power, yes he wants more, he wants to rule, and the Daleks have promised it all. When/Where in the worlds are they? New York, Earth ummm I went to the loo when this bit was on but Martha reads the paper and does give the date, the 1930’s sorry, I was busting !!! So what's the problem? People going missing, being used for Dalek experiments. Martha hasn’t changed her clothes yet. That top might be getting a little wiffy… is this a costume? … oh how Tegan, Nyssa, Adric eighties! Where's the Doctor? Well he’s pretty much with Martha the whole way, except when he is examining a blop of green slime and works out its from … Skaro! She of course gets herself kidnapped… again. But he catches up with her pretty quickly, so all is good. What's good? When the Doctor see’s the Daleks … again, ‘they keep on surviving and I lose everything’ (don’t quote me on that) David Tennant has this very good ability to look very pissed off. I guess we were all like him, feeling a little ‘oh the Daleks … again’ but the ‘evolution’ storyline really does open up so many doors, will we see Daleks with human faces, in black suits looking all wicked!!! Daleks debating their actions, this ‘evolution’ goes against the purity they have stuck with for so long … however it does look like RTD has managed to talk around the estate of Terry Nation and finally the Daleks are being removed from the pepperpots, sink plungers and egg whisks. What's not so good? Pig faced monsters!! Yes it was an integral part of the plot but come on!!! American and UK accents just don’t mix, British sound like snooty bastards and American’s sound like they are about to get out a gun and blow you away. I think a line ‘Alright you guys, stick emm up’ was actually in there too.’ The dance number – nuff said But these are very personal gripes, my own taste and observations is not a reflection on how you should enjoy the show, personally I don’t want to see a Moulin Rouge sing and dance number, when there are Daleks about and a fantastic David Tennatt Doctor to absorbed. How does it end, spoiler boy? Martha peels off her purple top to distract the black Dalek and yells ‘Cop a load of these Dalek humps!’ …or perhaps that was a dream What really happens - Big ugly MOFO Dalek (as seen on the front cover of this weeks Radio Times) climbs out the bottom of the Dalek case, says ‘behold I am the evolution of the Daleks’ … again don’t quote me on that. Actually that would have been a great episode title for the show! Oh I just checked, that’s next weeks episode title… and so it ruddy well should be. Oh and for Cliff’s sake BBC will you STOP talking over the end title sequence. It was the extended version this week … i.e lots of credits and you miss it all!!! Piss OFF voice over man… no self respecting Dr Who watcher gives a toss what’s over on BBC2 and a double toss that Joseph is up next!! We know it’s on … just shush … use the inside voice just while the music is on. Overall? 3 and a half out of five (compared to Girl in the Fireplace, Satan’s Pit/Impossible planet shining gems of last year). But by far the best episode we have seen so far this year. Can you feel it people, Dr who is upping the anti… and the shit kicking is about to start… bring it on baby!

I am – Hercules!!

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