I wasn't going to comment on the last story but I have been asked to in a PM and I can't say no to a lady (even though she's no lady).
The first part was exciting and was at least in the area of where the show should be in my view. The Roman soldier addressing the doctor as Caesar with hallucinogenic lipstick on his face is the sort of unpredictable and exciting writing that would satisfy most fans of the show I think - including me. Things got more shaky when all the baddies turned up, and the second part for me was a fairly neat summary of what the show SHOULDN'T BE.
We started our comments on season 32 complaining about the overuse of the Sonic screwdriver. We end the season with it saving the universe. There are so many reasons why this shouldn't happen that I won't go into them, but surely wherever possible the Doctor should show ingenuity and creativity in problem solving, not rely on a single mechanical gadget.
We learned this season that the Doctor has the power of telepathy. By headbutting men and holding women's heads in his hands he can project his thoughts into their mind. Good idea, no? That's right no. It's super lame and should not have happened once let alone twice.
If you're involved in making Doctor Who, sooner or later you come up against the realisation that other people have made the show work before you did and this should promote humility and thoughtfulness. Unfortunately this hasn't happened with the current production team. Moffat is capable of creating an arresting image, and writing thrilling and unpredictable scenes but he can't do it all by himself. There is often a 'borrowed' quality to his ideas (where they are not just nicked) and he still struggles too often with convincing dialogue for the doctor. (The 'I've got chills' section from the girl in the fireplace still makes me cringe).
I watched two extra stories this year for the first time - The Girl in the Fireplace and Midnight. In my opinion nothing this season has been as good as Midnight - flawed though it was. The Eleventh Doctor would cross the tape if it wasn't a retread of the relativity idea used in the Girl in the Fireplace. The Weeping Angels story added little new and it's strongest element - the scene where the Angel comes out of the video image - though brilliant - is basically a straight steal from the Ring. Moreover this episode features some of the first use of 'magic' in Who when the Doctor quotes from a book that 'whatever takes the image of an Angel becomes an Angel...' Since when was an image of anything the thing itself? Early bollocks from Moffat.
The show has not ended well. The Riversong story is being kept back for the next series - or a special. Wherever Song appears Amy disappears - He clearly can't be bothered to write well for her when he can give dialogue to a more interesting and unpredictable character. Rory is now back with Amy. This is nothing other than an obvious and unnecessary mistake. Previous producers have learned that male companions always have to be written out as they get in the way of the Doctor. Especially when the Doctor is young and dynamic. To ignore their experience is pointless.
On the positives, we have the 'perfect' casting of the new leads. It's not a small thing, but it's not enough, and there is a big minus in the new titles and theme arrangement, which is hugely misjudged.
What next? Moffat back on one story a season - new writers - and old writers - why not? Dicks, Boucher - and Hinchcliffe - get him advising on the show. He's its best living producer and he only had three years.
