Here it is, the long overdue and always highly subjective 2008 Dynamic Ratings Table, based on nothing more than the tips of the THT Collective Nose Trust.
See if this list tallies with your own musings.
Jun 082008
May 182008
A nice bit of fun in The Unicorn and the Wasp, the kind of pseudo-historical which Doctor Who almost always does well with. It worked the edges of a period parlor murder mystery and played with our expectations as well. Best of all Henry Gordon Jago (or was that SIr Keith Gold) was there, all bluff and obtuse just as I remembered him. I can’t help but wonder if Professor Lightfoot would’ve put a couple of barrels into the Wasp early and have done with it.
Next up an unwelcome weeks interregnum and then some required reading in the library.
Images and caps for The Unicorn and the Wasp are now online.
May 112008
A nice bounce-back story with The Doctor’s Daughter. Although the story went through some predictable turns, the exercise was pleasant nonetheless. It also seems this story made record time in the “separate the companions between opposing factions” race. A little bit of “Highlander” action at the end.
Kinda sorta feel we’ll have more towards the end of the season. Don’t you?
Images and caps for The Doctor’s Daughter are now online.
May 042008
Try as you might, it’s often hard to overcome first impressions. Such is the case for this two-parter The Sontaran Stratagem and The Poison Sky. I thought most, strangely, of the Morbius creature from The Brain of Morbius. The bottom line is that the story was a pastiche. A bit of UNIT, gotcha, a returning monster, done, a cameo from the Valiant, okay. All stitched together designed to appeal to the Doctor Who traditionalist in us all, but strangely the sum was less than the sum of its parts. Nothing ‘wrong’ necessarily, but also precious little to stir the soul.
Images and caps for The Poison Sky are now online.
Apr 272008
Here at THT Worldwide we’re caught in the usual two-part conundrum. It’s hard to have a solid feeling based strictly on the first part of the equation. The Sontaran Stratagem certainly shapes up to be a solid story, and it is nice to see everyone, especially Martha, in form. The Sontarans, while one of the Fab Five monsters from “classic series,” always seemed to be underrated and underused, perhaps owing to the fact that they were that last of the ‘five’ (the others being, in order, Daleks, Cybermen, Yeti , and the Ice Warriors).
For those who want more of a primer on classic Sontarans, we recommend The Time Warrior and The Sontaran Experiment.
Images and caps for The Sontaran Stratagem are now online.
Apr 202008
More than a few fans could have been forgiven for wondering whether Planet of the Ood would be in many ways a light rehashing of The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit. Instead the focus was more on the roles of slavery and subservience and won on both counts. Markers continue to be laid for the remainder of the season. It’ll be nice to see Martha again next week.
Images and caps for Planet of the Ood are now online. Watch for the return of the in-season Dynamic Season Table guide later this week.