TV Review: Doctor Who - The Angels Take Manhattan
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
Due to the fact that I'm completely strapped for time, I didn't get to watch the episode "The Angels Take Manhattan" until yesterday, and this review is going to be cut a little short. I have so much I could say, anyway, but for now...
Angels. Angels are meant to be sweet, innocent, angelic creatures, so the irony of the situation is clearly evident. Angels are, in an everyday situation, not meant to make you jump a mile out of your seat. You know which statue I'm talking about... Oh, and if you have not seen it yet, I'm going to spoil lots of things for you so press the little red cross now. Here's your warning: run. But yeah, the angels are back and they've taken over New York both past and present. In particular, past - you remember how they zap your time potential, a la Sally Sparrow and the fantastic "Blink"? Well, that's the fundamental part of the story. Basic, but it gets more complicated.
Add the mysterious book of events, and it is cleverly integrated into the episode. Once you've seen it all, it gets you thinking over things you missed earlier. And this is what makes good TV - thought after the ending. Like the last page (I hate endings too)...
So there is a paradox and an angel prison, a know-it-all-book, marital issues, scary baby angels (SO scary), and heartbreak. Moffat plays on the "Rory dies again like the guy from South Park" idea yet again, but this time you know it's for real. If you really think about it, not all that much actually happens, but the graveyard and the weird deserted building tick the boxes for a horror piece. Amy and Rory leave in a way you might have expected from the start, but it's the emotions which take you on a journey. Compared with the sudden ending of last week's Doctor Who, and the disappointment of the Wild West one, "The Angels Take Manhattan" was a reminder of how, when Moffat's good, he is very good.
It's a solid ending. The actors' acting have never been better. The Ponds get a sad sort of happy ending, and the quiet and peaceful life they probably always wanted. River is still hanging around somewhere, and The Doctor is alone again. I'd happily volunteer to keep him company, but I think Jenna-Louise Coleman will do a brilliant job and I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
Ooooooooooooooooooh.
Bev x
(Ps. that was my interpretation of the theme song.)
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