I am – Hercules!!


Steven Moffatt takes over as “Doctor Who” mastermind starting next season, and the new Moffatt-scripted episode, which hit the BBC only moments ago, seems to justify his appointment.

“Doctor Dan” gives it five out of five:

DOCTOR WHO 4.9 – " Forest Of The Dead" (Part 2 of 2)

Writer: Steven Moffat
Director: Euros Lyn

Cast: David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), Alex Kingston (Professor River Song), Colin Salmon (Dr. Moon), Eve Newton (The Girl), Steve Pemberton (Strackman Lux), Mark Dexter (The Dad), Jessika Williams (Anita), Talulah Riley (Miss Evangelista), Harry Peacock (Proper Dave), O-T Fagbenle (Other Dave), Jason Pit (Lee), Eloise Rakic-Platt (Ella) & Alex Midwood (Joshua)

The Doctor continues to fight the shadows in The Library, as Donna finds herself transported to a strange new reality...

Well. It's already a cliché to praise Steven Moffat's work on Doctor Who, but is there anyone else who has the imagination and skill to rival him? Forest Of The Dead is a superlative conclusion of last week Silence In The Library, with The Doctor (David Tennant) trying to stave off the Vashta Nerada's shadow attacks with the help of Professor River Song (Alex Kingston), while Donna (Catherine Tate) finds herself waking up in a strange reality – where the mysterious Dr. Moon (Colin Salmon) guides her through a dream-like life of marriage and kids...

The best thing about this conclusion was how well it explained relatively minor plot-points from part 1, while developing the concept into more interesting territory. Donna was essentially stuck in a Matrix-like utopia of marital bliss, and the true nature of Dr. Moon and The Girl (Eve Newton) had real punch to it. Even the return of Miss Evangelista (Talulah Riley), as the Morpheus to Donna's Neo, worked very well – and the sight of her warped features the kind of quick horror to make kids turn their heads away. Indeed, Moffat was canny enough to have The Girl's own reactions (watching Donna and The Doctor's escapades on her television) echo the real reactions of Who's younger audience – like burying her head in a pillow.

Once again, Catherine Tate did fine work as Donna – making the most of a subplot that remained powerful and emotional despite chronological jumps. Despite not being the focus of the episode, Donna's realization that her children aren't real was still poignantly handled, and the loss of her "husband" Lee (Jason Pitt) also struck a chord.

David Tennant did sterling work, as usual, helped enormously by Alex Kingston as River Song. One of the best aspects of this episode was how it revealed the depth of their relationship – as she knows secret knowledge about him he'd only share with someone very special. A future companion with even more resonance than Rose? Or, as strongly inferred, his wife? It's all kept a little vague, wisely – but I certainly hope this is something Moffat will return to once he takes over Doctor Who in 2010. It's certainly something that can't be ignored, so I hope Alex Kingston has agreed to make a return (probably for a long time) in some future season of the show. She certainly proved herself in this adventure, so fingers crossed for more River Song some day...

There was an echo of the recent Doctor Who adventure Human Nature/Family Of Blood in how Donna's memory loss prevented her from realizing she was living a "fantasy", but everything else was pushing into relatively fresh territory. The central "virtual reality" idea may be in vogue because of The Matrix, but it worked very well and wasn't a straight copy of that idea. The added complexity surrounding River Song and the mystery of what CAL is also helped keep things fresh, even after you'd quickly worked out what Donna's situation was.

Overall, Steven Moffat really knows how to end a story. The closing 10 minutes were stunning as the emphasis shifted onto The Doctor, as he realized who River Song must be, and the foreshadowing of The Doctor's far-future "spoilers" no doubt made many fans giddy with joy. It really did seem like Steven Moffat used these episodes to give is a taste of the complexity, emotional highs, and resonance he'll hopefully be enforcing in season 5. I doubt episodes like Silence In The Library/Forest Of The Dead will become the norm in season 5 (as they fly over the heads of most younger fans), but if the spirit of them can be maintained it's going to be an extraordinary time.

A fantastic episode on every level. Any minor complaints aren't really worth mentioning, thanks to the sheer weight of things this conclusion gets right. It was just great to watch a Doctor Who story and be properly swept along, with the situation and revelations became increasingly more significant and emotional. I haven't felt like that since watching Family Of Blood in season 3. And I defy anyone to not feel jazzed about Moffat becoming Doctor Who's executive-producer when The Doctor snaps his fingers to open his TARDIS door... now that's cool!

The Good

1. David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Alex Kingston – all superb. Kingston in particular did very well, particularly considering she's not au fait with Doctor Who. I really hope we see her again, which we should do if they've hopefully made an arrangement with Kingston to come back... oooh, 2012? 2015? Who knows.

2. The story was wonderful on every level; emotional, intriguing, intelligent, exciting and with a fantastic sequence of mini-climaxes. The fallout for Donna and The Doctor was brilliantly handled and I was surprised by how much I cared about little things like Donna's kids and her husband.

3. Some excellent CGI for The Library planet. The cityscapes reminded me of something you'd see on the front cover of a pulp sci-fi novel. And the shot of The Doctor in a tube-like walkthrough, with the skyscrapers beyond was brilliant – if far too brief.

The Bad

1. The Vashta Nerada took a backseat somewhat, and the "Suit Monsters" turned out to be less frightening than I'd hope for – quickly becoming sympathetic.

2. Some overuse of the sonic screwdriver, again. It can even tint helmet visors now? Still, there was more than enough good stuff to have you overlook that writer's crutch.

The Geeky

1. This episode's original title was River's Run.

2. There are echoes of The Matrix in this episode, as well as the 1976 Doctor Who serial The Deadly Assassin (which, coincidentally, involved a virtual reality program called The Matrix).

3. CAL is also the name of the graphic company that created the Doctor Who opening titles between 1987-89 and the show's first CGI TARDIS.

4. Many Steven Moffat stories involve people dying of natural causes and being resurrected in some strange way.

5. Eve Newton (The Girl) unsuccessfully auditioned for a role in the St. Trinian's movie, which starred Talulah Riley (Miss Evangelista)

6. In The Girl's bedroom, she has drawn a picture of a blonde girl and a wolf – echoing Rose Tyler's involvement in the BAD WOLF storyline of season 1. But why would that be? The also has a Robbie The Robot toy from The Forbidden Planet.

7. The Doctor definitely has a "real name" (which he only shares with people very, very close to him), and can now open the TARDIS doors by snapping his fingers – Fonz-style.

Rating: 5 / 5

“The Handsome 12th Doctor” says:

Yes! That's how you end a story perfectly. And not just once but twice.

Moffat more than any other Who scribe is able to blend sci-fi ideas with character driven drama to great effect. Tonight's episode was a shining example of this.

It built on last week's opener in a whole heap of ways before reaching its spot-on conclusion. All the big questions from the first part were answered. Such as who the little girl with the library in her mind is. Who is Doctor Moon? What's happened to Donna (far odder than you likely imagine). And more importantly who is River Song, and what is her relationship with the Doctor?

I'm not going to tell any of that here. You'll have to watch it. But I will say it was fricking skill.

The dialogue was up to Moffat's high standard, ranging from funny (the computer's "Sorry for any inconvenience") to the downright cool as fudge ("Look me up").
It was marvellously directed and edited, constantly flipping between the two places yet still managing to remain coherent and building up suspense. And it looked very smart. More impressive cityscapes, and I liked the trip to the core effects.

We don't need to say how good Tennant is any more so I'll move on to the rest of the cast. Alex Kingston was again excellent and gorgeous in equal measure. Steve Pemberton had more to do this week and was great. Colin Salmon was tops as ever.

Now it wasn't all completely without faults. I wasn't keen on the trapdoor escape as that felt out of place to me. And I suppose some people are going to make comparisons to *that* film (even though that film didn't do this concept first).

But those are tiny niggles, and I'm only really putting them in so that I don't sound too much like a raving fanboy.

When in actuality I am. The show was ace! Long live the Moff!

$29.49: Volumes One, Two and Four!!