'Asylum of the Daleks' - Killing your S8 dreams

[bookgazing]

Spoilers for the first episode of S7 Dr Who

So without watching the rest of the series, here’s what I’ve got; next season’s female companion is essentially dead before her travels with the Dr even get underway. Probably no one is going to tell her about her eventual dalek assimilation for a while once she becomes his companion. The worst part of the River Song storyline structure is being repeated. Seem about right?

I don’t know why anyone would do this. This is terrible. And there’s absolutely no way to make 'Dr Who' stop doing this kind of thing is there?

Comments

[theliteraryomnivore.wordpress.com]

Not necessarily. Remember, Freema Agyeman played a character who died in her episode before she came back to play Martha, who was explained as the cousin of that character. And Karen Gillian played a Roman Soothsayer before playing Amy. I think, in encountering Gwen from Torchwood, the Doctor actually mentions that this a phenomenon he's encountered—identical relations.

So there's definitely precedent for Jenna-Louise Coleman to turn up as Oswin's Victorian ancestor, especially since people (not the show) are reporting that her name is Clara. (And I'd also give a lot to see a historical companion instead of a present-day one.) It is weird that Moffat announced her as companion and then featured her in "Asylum of the Daleks", though; in those other cases, they called the actress back when considering a new companion, not used an actress they were already going to use as the new companion.

Still, I think there's hope.

[bookgazing]

This is not the only thing about this ep that makes me want it to go on fire, but it would be very good if this one thing did not happen so thanks for this :D Although ugh 'identical relations' - soooo lazy (I seem to have erased that explanation for Agyeman's return from my mind - does she die in the hospital Christmas special?), but I will take it over ladies with a sword hanging over them!

I hear Dinosaurs on a Spaceship heals all wounds - true?

[theliteraryomnivore.wordpress.com]

Adeola, the cousin, definitely does; Martha mentions it to the Doctor.

Well, some wounds. It's a lot of fun, all of the Ponds are great, and Nefertiti is pretty cool. But keep an eye on the villain.

[bookgazing]

Will do. I have seen Ruper Graves in the trailer and automatically assume he will be evil (probably not fair, but he's got form).

[(Anonymous)]

I have been watching a lot of Dr. Who while recuperating (along with other TV shows I actually listed in my post about the books I've been reading), but I'm only up to Season Two of the new series. Sounds like it gets pretty weird.
Non-necromancer

[bookgazing]

I feel like so many people are getting into Dr Who right now :)

Well, I have creator issues with where the show is now and it's been a long road, so I'm probably not the best judge of what S7 would be like if you were watching all the series back to back. S4 is going to be excellent though - I am always excited when people get to S4 :D And you've met Rose *sniffles*. And there are still some crazy fun episodes ahead. But S6 was not such a fun ride.

If you run out of Dr Who eps though I so recommend Torchwood. Gwen :D Welsh accents :D How can you go wrong?

[valentinasroom.blogspot.com]

hmm, the thing about Martha's cousin and Karen Gillan's appearance as another character is that they both appeared in previous seasons. The weren't expected to come back, but they did, because they made an impression with those roles. With Jenna is different, because she's already been announced as the new companion. So yeah, I had the same reservations about this episode. I loved it, but at the end I was like "ugh, not another River Song". I hope we're wrong. I bope Moffat has something more intriguing waiting for us.

On a side note, I hated Dinosaurs on a spaceship with a passion, but after that the series picked up again.

[bookgazing]

I hope we're wrong too :)

I loved Dinosaurs, but I think it's an ep that splits people for sure. Your type of geekdom has to precisely match the kind of geekdom that's being catered to (and I will drop everything to watch any of the Jurassic Park films so it was a pretty strong bet I'd match with this ep). But I think everyone's comic delivery was off for that and the next ep, or they were trying to be more deadpan in their delivery but it wasn't working. Really liked the western ep.