Merrick here...
Saturday brings U.K. viewers "The Almost People" - the continuation of last week's "The Rebel Flesh" and a segue into "A Good Man Goes To War," our final episode before the impending mid-Season/Series break.
If you were like me, and felt that "The Rebel Flesh" was a bit dull and unengaging, you'll most likely find a greater appreciation for this installment. "The Almost People" is brisker, more emotional, more substantive and more nuanced than its "Rebel Flesh" progenitor (be sure to watch The Doctor's face while he's dealing with his Ganger self, and vice-versa. Their sense of mutual self-satisfaction is priceless...)
Performances feel more well rounded, more fully charged, and are well-considered here - editing, direction, and writing have a decidedly stronger pulse as well. While TAP never matches the highest standards of post-2005 DOCTOR WHO, it still emerges as a worthy and admirable entry into the WHOverse, resolves "The Rebel Flesh" adequately enough so that a bitter, icky taste isn't left behind, and is a compelling ramp-up to next week's installment...beyond which lies The Void.
"The Almost People" premieres Saturday May 28 in the U.K. and on the evening of Saturday June 4 at 9/8c on BBC AMERICA here in The States.
NOTE: BBC America is airing a grand marathon of DOCTOR WHO Season/Series Five and Six episodes tomorrow (May 28) - pretty much throughout the day. I don't think they have all eps from those Seasons/Series in rotation, but a good number of them are represented. May be an awesome opportunity to catch up if you're behind, or just getting into the show...
SPEAKING OF THE VOID...
We'll be continuing these weekly DOCTOR WHO dedicated Talkbacks through the hiatus. QUESTION: given that there will be no new episodes for a bit, thus our Talkbacks won't be governed by time sensitivity, would you folks like us to launch Void Talkbacks on Fridays just as we've been doing? Or, would launching them earlier in the week make more sense? Sound-off below and we'll make it happen.
During The Void, we'll be discussing a variety of WHO-related matters, including (but by no means limited to)...
- The episodes which got me hooked on...and made me fall madly in love with...DOCTOR WHO as a whole. A small hint: two friends, presumably working independently, guilted me into trying two Tennant-era episodes. One said, "If you don't like ____ and ___ you're dead inside." He was a bastard, and he was right.
- We'll poke at Peter Cushing's bizarro-verse DW big screen films. One of them, DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS, is available FREE, LEGALLY, and ONLINE HERE.
- We'll argue about which Doctor is the best Doctor, and I'll be right.
- If any of you have any DW-related subject you'd like to see explored in this time (or at any time), drop me a line and we'll see what we can do...
- We'll look comprehensively at recently released, and soon-to-be-released, "classic" DOCTOR WHO DVDs and Blu-Rays. "Time And The Rani" - oh my. Which brings me to..
SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR "CLASSIC" EPISODES...
Please bear with me here, I'm learning as I go.
Over the decades I've seen a smattering of "classic" DOCTOR WHO episodes - but not to any significant degree. Having watched every episode since 2005 (literally, everything), I'm now backtracking and wondering: which "classic" episodes should I take a look at? Which "classic" episodes would you recommend I seek out first? Which episodes should be seen, even if they're not necessarily 'good'? Which "classic" episodes contribute the most to DW's overall mythos? Etc. Thanks so much, in advance, for any thoughts and recommendations you may have...
SPECIAL SPOILER WARNING FOR U.S. READERS
BBC America has delayed broadcast of "The Almost People" by one week to accommodate an anticipated drop in viewership over the Memorial Day holiday here in The States. The episode will, however, air in the U.K. Saturday May 28 as anticipated.
As such, and quite naturally, this Talkback will become a SPOILER ZONE when the episode airs in the U.K. tomorrow evening (late tomorrow morning U.S. time). U.S. viewers shuld tread carefully 'round/after tomorrow (Saturday May 28) morning.
BBCA airs 'The Almost People' next Saturday (June 4) - 9/8c. When the episode broadcasts, this Talkback will once more be made available to U.S. viewers. Check next week's "A Good Man Goes To War" Talkback for a direct link. YES, it's feasible to have two DOCTOR WHO Talkbacks on AICN's Top Talkbacks sidebar - how cool would that be?
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coming next week:
"A Good Man Goes To War"
See DOCTOR WHO Season/Series Six Episode 1 - "The Impossible Astronaut" - in HD HERE and standard def HERE.
See "Day of The Moon" - the second installment of the season premiere linked above - in HD HERE and standard def HERE.
Episode 3 - "The Curse Of The Black Spot" - can be found in HD HERE or standard def HERE.
Episode 4 - "The Doctor's Wife" - is available HERE in HD, while standard def is availabe HERE.
Episode 5 - "The Rebel Flesh" - can be seen HERE in HD, or viewed in standard def HERE.
