Love & Monsters

I never really write reviews, but was forced to this week, because although I lack a TARDIS, I can see whats coming. This week the wonderful Gallifrey One will be completely full of the old guard В“Moaning MyrtlesВ” whining about Russell's scripts. It's coming now. How Dr Who has been cheapened, dumbed down, made for Kids, and so on. I have now watched it three times, and it's 03:45am.

Oh for GODS SAKES! Dry UP Myrtles! Along with your VHS collections.

This week's В“Love and MonstersВ” was a hugely entertaining 45 mins. A HUGE risk, keeping the Dr and Rose to a minimum in a series called В“Doctor WhoВ”, but this ep made some excellent valid points and showed the immense range the writing team have. This was Doctor Who's В“Once more with FeelingВ”. A massive risk that just paid off, perfectly. Where does one start?

First, it was great to be able to explore the Dr's universe from a new point of view. For a long time we have seen the Dr's life through Rose, so this was a refreshing change. We get to see Jackie's view from a third party. It is Doctor Who, as we explore someone's life through a different view, and although the Dr and Rose are fairly lacking, we see the impact they have on peoples lives, which reinforces the feeling that Rose and the Dr's carefree attitude is leading to something bigger. Since the Press Release, we all know whats coming, but this series, as with the last, is so well constructed we only get to start joining the dots now. This is why I feel it has been so important to follow Jackie and Micky. Our Myrtles complain about 'Soap Opera', but this is vital to the series. If I vanished with the Dr, what would it do to my Mum, or Dad, or Boyfriend? We're out to get a new legion of fans here, to keep the series alive after all of us that kept things going during the quiet TV years going shuffle off. EastEnders, Corrie and so on have made TV very different to audiences these days, and this is why Dr Who had to evolve to come back.

Next, the music. Murray has worked a blinder this season. Everything from last season has been used perfectly to help bring new viewers over the regeneration. The motif's, the incidental, has always been totally right. This episode we hear ELO, which is just perfect, as was В“The Lion Sleeps TonightВ”, as was В“ToxicВ”. Murray, please please keep going as you are. Impossible/Satan introduced some perfect stuff, that made them gripping, and I know you are building on the score as hard as Russell works on building the scripts. Also, loved the reference to В“FriendsВ” in the songs by Bliss. Very Phoebe.

Peter Kay. Brilliant. В“Every Planet has a NorthВ”, and we're also reminded of previous episodes in a flashback here. MUST be a reason. Russell's good like that! In Peter's case, I only know him as a comedian, so to see him play this so well was a pleasant surprise. Again, the costume department need an award, but Peter brought this to life in a great new way. Casting brought us Ecclestone for #9, Piper as Rose, all left bat, but they were right. Again they are here.

The story? Personally, I loved it. Something so off tack again, challenging us, delivering a great dose of humor, and relief. After the darkness of Impossible/Satan, this was the sweet to the last 2 weeks sour. Should not work, but served together and in the right amounts they worked so well. Somehow I doubt Russell is going to deliver Pork to be garnished with this sauce thats been so well prepared.

To sum up, I have not had one bad story as yet, In either new series, and the series continues to deliver. David, Billie, Russell, to name 3, but everyone tagged in the titles deserves an award for В“EventВ” television. Not one person I know has not enjoyed every ep, so I am glad about that. I also wonder if Russell had a bit of В“Tounge in CheekВ” casting В“Moaning MyrtleВ” in this Ep, as it will be the one the usual traditionalists bitch about.

If you love good drama, good comedy, good characters, and a great story (cut the USA audience out straight away then!) watch this one. Open mind, think Buffy's В“Once more with FeelingВ”, suspend disbelief, and have a wicked wicked wonderful 45 mins.