Love & Monsters

It is strange how mood and perceptions can affect your opinion of an episode of Doctor Who. I was, I think, overly critical in my review of The Satin Pit as having watched it again, enjoyed it more on second viewing. I suspect I had built up an unfair expectation following the superb episode The Impossible Planet that led to some initial disappointment.

Alternatively I had a mixed bag of feelings about how "Love and Monsters" would hold up being very much marketed as experimental Doctor Who. And you know what? I rather liked it in the end!

Lets get the criticisms out of the way. I did not enjoy the Doctor/Rose/monster/buckets sequence - carried out in true Benny Hill tradition. I know it was a sort of "dream/memory" sequence but I think it would have worked far better as a serious confrontation with a bit of true menace. I could live with the ELO references and the L.I.N.D.A. tribute band but it was a typical RTD "lets throw something a little bizarre in" idea that might have been best left out. Barring that there were many impressive factors to the story.

Number one was the clever way of including references to the previous earth bound invasion stories from Season 1 and 2. Simple flash backs could have been used (and indeed there were some familiar sequences) but there was new material too and what a joy to see new Auton footage with Elton involved in the action!

Then we had the emotional rollercoaster ride of Jackie Tyler - still flirting like mad but brought back to Earth (so to speak) with a bump when Rose phones her from somewhere in the space and time vortex. It was nice to see her get a part without having to scream at Slitheens and Christmas Trees!!!

The central characters forming the group L.I.N.D.A. were all good - Marc Warren was the ideal Elton and his past was nicely brought out during the story leading up to the explanation of why the Doctor appeared in his living room when he was 3. I liked the character and wonder if we may see him again at some point.

Peter Kay was excellent as the chilling Victor Kennedy and played the part entirely straight. It was not actually until he morphed into the Abozorbaloff that you could tell he was Peter Kay - his accent seemed to get stronger - I suppose some aliens have a Northern accent!!! Playing a distant relation of the Slitheens the monster was reasonably credible given its Blue Peter design a monster status and indeed quite a clever idea.

The idea of victims being absorbed into the big wobbly alien was quite good and the tragedy of their loss was not underplayed.

I particularly liked the ending with Rose coming looking for the man that upset her mother and then totally sympathising with Elton and his scary past - most of the guys problems had after all been caused by the Doctor!!!

This then was a strange but credible "break in the plot" which fills the gap between the Tardis crews encounter with the Devil into the two partner finale which will see some real danger for the future of our Earth and the departure of the much loved Rose (and Jackie??). What a fast and giddy season this has been!!!