The Impossible Girl Joined The Tardis
Series 7b was an interesting collection of stories. Like the aforementioned 'The Rings of Akhaten', it divided audiences. In a sense, I think audiences got what they asked for. There were complaints that the arc story line of series 5-6 were too complex, that casual viewers could no longer access the show and that those stand alone episodes felt out of place in the River Song - Doctor's death story line that preceded this one. For me the perfect balance was series 5. I felt series 6 was overall quite brilliant but stand-alone episodes that could have been great stuck out because they didn't address the ongoing plot. (Amy and Rory over their daughter's kidnapping in 'Night Terrors' for example). Series 7 was a bold, daring experiment that perhaps suffered because of the split. Amy and Rory were never as good as they were in their final five stories and Clara was brilliant when Moffat wrote for her. With regards to 7b, the part of the series that was shown in the 50th anniversary, I think Clara she suffered was where other writers came in. Not because their stories weren't any good, but because they didn't know what kind if character she was simply because she hadn't appeared on screen before. It did feel like she was more plot device than character at timess (something I think we'll see change radically in series 8 - see my
recent article on where Clara can go next). However I felt Jenna Louise Coleman's Clara had brilliant chemistry with Matt Smith's Doctor, making up for any lacklustre or rushed moments. The biggest trouble with the series in my opinion wasn't the stories. It was the length of time they were given. Had each episode been an hour long I think audiences might think of series 7b more fondly. Because the stories stuck to the standard (42 minute) length, endings felt rushed. 'The Power Of Three' from series 7a and this year's 'Cold War'...it felt like the writers ran out of time and thought bugger...I'll write the ending in a couple of pages! So was this series worthy of the 50th year? My first instinct would be to say no. I certainly prefer Matt Smith's previous two series as the Doctor. But looking back, there's a lot to be celebrated in these eight episodes. The passing nod to Susan in 'The Rings Of Akhaten'. The return of the dreaded Ice Warriors in 'Cold War'. The most we've seen of the inside of the Tardis since the Fourth Doctor's 'The Invasion Of Time'...and this time 'Journey To The Centre Of The Tardis' showed us more than the same loading bay a 100 times and 1970's spa. 'The Crimson Horror' felt like true 'Hinchcliffe -era' Gothic horror. We finally had credible, threatening Cybermen in 'Nightmare In Silver' (shame about the kids though). And 'The Name Of The Doctor'...well the opening moments probably induced the biggest fangasm since the show returned in 2005. More adventures with the First Doctor and Susan, even if was for a mere 30 seconds, is okay by me! Most of all, series 7b rocketed us towards the 50th anniversary with spectacular showmanship. I'm eagerly awaiting the complete series 7 box set for Christmas...I suspect that without the constant breaks, 'Asylum Of The Daleks' - 'The Name Of The Doctor' will be a jolly good roller coaster of fun. (My that made me sound awfully British!). And most of all, it left us with that cliff-hanger...