The Girl in the Fireplace

What an odd episode! Stephen Moffat has obviously been worried about doing something as good as The Empty Child. His solution has been to write a story that breaks all the rules. The doc gets pissed (that's as in drunk for our American readers) and snogs the face off Sophia Myles, he jumps through a mirror riding a white horse to save the day and even finds time to create a cocktail. The new Doctor Who however has all been about breaking the rules. One can only guess at what the episode starring Peter Kay will be like!

This episode also played to the BBC strengths in the costume drama department. Get the big frocks out of the wardrobe! As the doc said himself the clockwork robots were beautiful and the eye on the stalk reminded me of something out of the Fifth Element. The whole thing had the feel of The Mind Robber or The Celstial Toymaker about it in its' use of fantasy. The script was light and witty, "France, it's a different planet," etc. OK Mickey and Rose didn't have a lot to do but the 45 minute format simply doesn't allow you to fit in everything. The writers are all exploring the new Doctor's character and with an actor like David Tennant there's a lot of character to explore.

Rose does seem a lot more superfluous in this series but 'twas ever thus. In the original series Ian and Barbara were the Doctor's equals in the first few series. It was only later on in the show were the companions became mere plot devices. Still I hope that Rose is given more to do when the Cybermen appear.

It's a shame we never saw this Doctor dancing but he certainly looked like he could party. His appearance with a tie round his head was brilliant. His advice about always having a banana with you bears listening to. Personally I always go to parties with a remote control Dalek but that's just me. The clockwork robots are a triumph. Why shouldn't writers and designers just go for it. Take risks and be damned. Meeting the horse in the spaceship, and calling it Albert, must have seemed absurd on paper but it worked gloriously!

I Just got interrupted by a 'phone call from my niece saying how much she enjoyed the latest episode. It's great the way the new series can engage adults and children. Anyway the end of the episode was so sad. The Doctor being told by the King that Reinette had 'left for Paris' and then seeing her hearse and reading out her letter begging the Doctor to appear brought a tear to the eye. The last shot showing why the 'thick' robots were after Madame De Pompadour made me smile. Now roll on the Cybermen!