Archie Panjabi – Simon’s Incoherent Blog

Doctor Who: Season 2/15/41, Episode 8 – The Reality War

“Mr Smith is gone. I am the Doctor!”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

Well, that’s it for another season – and, it’s looking like, another era of Doctor Who. If you’re one of those unhappy at what has become known as the RTD2 era, there was really no need to be. In many ways, what we got here was a typical Russell T Davies season finale, with all the strengths and weaknesses he’s shown in writing the show since 2005 – great characterisation and dialogue, with plenty of spectacle, undermined by gaping plot holes that were seemingly papered over by fast-paced set pieces.

Doctor Who: Season 2/15/41, Episode 7 – Wish World

“Doubt is such a beautiful thing. If you question hard enough, then doubt can crack open the world!”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

“Is any of this making sense?”

Well… if I’m honest, not much, no. To be fair to Russell T Davies, this is the first half of a two-part story, so perhaps everything will click into place next week. For now, though, what we had here seemed like a bit of a jumble; there were some brilliant ideas, and some striking images, but it didn’t seem to cohere into any kind of logical story. Not yet, anyway.

Doctor Who: Season 2/15/41, Episode 6 – The Interstellar Song Contest

“Look, that’s a hundred thousand people, frozen and suspended in space. To reach them, and catch them, and revive every single one of them – you’d need to be some sort of insane genius.”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

It has been noted many times that one of the most significant groups among Doctor Who fans is gay men. It has also been noted many times that one of the most significant groups among Eurovision Song Contest fans is gay men. It was perhaps almost inevitable that at some point, we’d see a crossover between the two things – especially with renowned gay writer Russell T Davies, creator of Queer as Folk and lover of all things pop culture, running the show.