Doctor Who: Season 8

 

Well... That was certainly a season that happened... I'm not really sure how I feel about the whole thing but as a whole, it doesn't feel very positive. I mean, Peter Capaldi was fine. I don't mind him as The Doctor but it felt like Moffat and the other writers just didn't know what to do with him. After the world-wide smash hit that was Matt Smith, this season felt an after-thought. I know transitions between Doctors can be hard, but this learning curve felt really steep and we did not come out shining on the other side. There are few episodes that I have found memorable in the entire season and there's even an episode that I fell asleep during and have not felt inclined to go back and see what I missed. The general consensus is that I didn't miss anything.

There were few through lines to tie these episodes together and while I know a cohesive storyline from episode to episode is not required in Doctor Who, but there is usually at least some sort of overarching theme. The few through lines we did have felt half-hearted and rushed. Oh wow, how ground-breaking! The Doctor's companion has a boyfriend who doesn't like The Doctor! The Master is back and oh my goodness, The Master is now The Mistress? Shocker! Every problem was solved too easily and every adventure was quickly forgotten. It was as though everyone except Danny Pink suffered from some form of amnesia. It was like dealing with a drunk girl who only wants to be your friend when she's drinking. As soon as she sobers up, she'll forget every promise she's made to you. It is a miracle that Danny didn't punch The Doctor at any point this season.

The thing that concerns me most is wondering where we could possibly go from here. Clara is leaving after the Christmas special (which I am looking forward to mostly for Nick Frost as Santa!), we've established that The Doctor is not a good man, The Master is either dead or, more likely, teleported somewhere. What does that leave us with? This is a season without a legacy.

Capaldi isn't the problem though. In my opinion, Moffat and the writers of the show are the problem. Moffatt has been the show runner for fifty episodes. It may be time for him to bow out. He is a very busy man with his fingers in a lot of different progress and the thinner he spreads himself, the more the work suffers. You know, Moffat should start to be concerned that all the merchandise that's currently being sold still has Matt Smith and David Tennant's faces all over it.

This was a forgettable season. I stopped looking forward to new episodes in this season. It isn't Peter Capaldi's fault, it isn't Jenny Coleman's fault. Sometimes it is hard to be a Whovian.

Obsessions: Sherlock

Yesterday my sweetheart didn't feel well. He wanted to be cuddled soothed and not forced to leave the couch for the majority of the day. Of course, as a modern human presented with this sort of situation, my first instinct was to say, "Let's see what the Netflix has." We are both massive Doctor Who fans and it was already in our heads that Steven Moffat is a god walking on earth and we had heard good things about this show so why not? "Let's try an episode of Sherlock."

Bah. Try ONE episode! Right... Not likely.

It is probably a blessing in disguise that Netflix only has the first series. It is also probably a blessing that each series is only three episodes. If there had been ten episodes and they were each two hours each, we would have watched them all. I'm not even kidding. It would have been like that episode of "Portlandia" where they got hooked on "Battlestar Galactica".

We literally sat completely enthralled for five hours. Damn you, Steven Moffatt...

Of course, tonight we are determined to to watch more. "NEED MOAR! NOW!" In our hunt for Series 2 of Sherlock, both Netflix and Blockbuster failed us. Rather than waiting and being patient like people used to do when they didn't have the option to be demanding but what fun us that? So yes, we went out and purchased the dvds of a show we started watching... yesterday. I feel no shame!

Sherlock is one of the smartest and most inspiring televisions shows I have seen in a very long time. It doesn't surprise me at all that my new second favorite show is directed by Steven Moffatt. I adore the man. I adore his brain. I want to curl up inside of it and live there. Benedict Cumberbatch, who has the most fun name to say ever, is a brilliant Sherlock. He is condescending and intelligent in a way that should make you hate him, but instead it is endearing. He's the guy you want to impress. He's the guy you to think you're clever.

Martin Freeman is an adorable Watson. Such and adorable lap dog of a side-kick. I can relate to him quite a bit. He's finally someone to keep his life interesting and will do everything he can to keep living the exciting life he's found. He's a little thick-headed at times but he's very clever when it counts.

Basically, I want to follow these men wherever they go just so I could be near their adventures.

Thank you, BBC America. I don't think TV would be worth having without you.