Doctor Who - "Robot of Sherwood" - Review

Intro/Spoiler Warning

Yeah so I completely forgot I hadn't done this review until I started listening to The Doctor Who Podcast's review. Whoops. Ah well. It's not going to be a proper review anyway... for reasons that will become apparent.

The following review is for Doctor Who, Series/Season 8, Episode 3: "Robot of Sherwood." If you have not seen it, don't read this review because there are spoilers.

Doctor Who - "Robot of Sherwood" - Review

I am normally one of those people who absolutely loves and adores the comedic episodes of Doctor Who. Normally. With "Robot of Sherwood" this was not the case. I did not enjoy the episode so much as I loved the one-liners and random lines that the episode seemed to be comprised of at times. But the episode didn't make much sense to me as a whole.

I think I've discovered another Doctor-like character in Robin Hood. He's been played by multiple actors over the years. He's largely mythologized. Pretty much everyone knows the story of Robin Hood. The last two points even made it into the episode there at the end. However, in my case, I discovered that I've chosen "my" Robin Hood and all others just make me cringe... sort of, anyway. In the same way that Sherlock from "Elementary" rubs me completely the wrong way, this Robin made me want to smack him. So that had some bearing on me not liking "Robot of Sherwood."

Clara was amazing. I loved the fangirling. I loved how she manipulated the Sheriff. I loved how she dealt with Robin and The Doctor. It was awesome. Also, I love that outfit. I do slightly wonder where she found those hair extensions, but I think that speaks more to how much I wasn't paying attention to much of anything else...

Miscellaneous Thoughts

• About the robots: If you need the gold to supposedly shield/power your ship, why are you letting the Sheriff use some of it to create a golden arrow for a petty trap? Also, what does the gold to anyway? Shield the engines or power the ship? That was contradictory. And why are we using peasants for labor when you have robots?
• The Doctor's stubbornness about Robin and the Merry Men was off-putting and rather annoying, actually. I don't get it. The arguing/banter between them was even more annoying, to be honest, even if it was amusing at points.
• Slightly refreshing to not have a ship from the 51st century.
• What is The Promised Land?

Plot Conveniences

• Tons of flat, shiny plate lying around where they're supposedly getting melted down in order to defeat the robots.
• Castle chooses to wait until a) the Robin/Sheriff duel is over and b) everyone is clear of it to fall down.
• Golden arrow shot randomly at the ship manages to boost the power even though it bounces off and is not shot at the engines at all.
• Peasant labor for defeating robots.

Quotes

"And do people ever punch you in the face when you do that?" - Doctor

"I have no sword. I don't need a sword because I am The Doctor and this is my spoon." - Doctor

"A Miniscope. Yes. Why not?" - Doctor

"I am totally against bantering!" - Doctor

"Guard, he's laughing again! You can't keep me locked up with a laughing person!" - Doctor

"Quickest way to find your enemy's plans: Get yourself captured." - Doctor

"Shut it, Hoodie." - Doctor

"It's not a competition about who can die slower." - Clara

"Thank you, Prince of Thieves. Last of the Time Lords?" - Clara

"Be safe, if you can be, but always be amazing." - Clara

"History is a burden. Stories can make us fly." - Robin

What's Up With Jessie

Uhm... so instead of a usual conclusion, I've decided to do a bit of updating.

I've been watching Xena: Warrior Princess lately. It's fun, though I check out during the fight scenes. They're kind of boring after a while.

I've been repainting some ponies, pictures of which I'll be posting over on my DeviantART... which you can find up there where it says "My Art" or just click the link I made just now. Feel free to look around at all my other stuff, while you're there.

Other than that, I've been working my butt off at this full-time job that's supposed to be part-time. I know I shouldn't complain because at least I have a job, but I'd like to go back to working part-time at my part-time job.

Love ya, Jessie

Doctor Who - "Robot of Sherwood" - Initial Reactions

Intro

There will be spoilers. That is all.

Doctor Who - "Robot of Sherwood" - Initial Reactions

• What's he licking off that spoon?
• Time to stop stalling, Doctor.
• Lights and spinning and that awesome, awesome sound of brakes being left on. :)
• Well you did land in the middle of a forest... you were expecting castles in the forest?
• God, these opening credits are awesome. I'm all mesmerized by them.
• The TARDIS is self-healing. Nice.
• Yeah... good luck with that, Robin.
• "And do people ever punch you in the face when you do that?" - Doctor
• Clara looks gorgeous in that outfit.
• Aw, but sword fighting Doctors are fun!
• Spoon!
• "I am The Doctor and this is my spoon." - Doctor
• Oh, now you've done it...
• Lol. Served you right, Doctor.
• And now you've done is, shout-y man. Shout-y Dead Man.
• The Doctor being wrong is hilarious.
• And we get to add something to the legend...
• "We might be inside a miniscope. Yes. A miniscope, why not?" - Doctor
• So... is Marion dead?
• "I am totally against bantering?" - Doctor
• He didn't even try to disguise himself...
• Did that arrow split?
• Ouch, Doctor.
• Well then. Let's keep having this ridiculous arrow fight...
• Well that was unexpected... Nice design, though.
• "Quickest way to find out the villain's plans. Get Captured." - Doctor (possibly misquoted)
• Yeah, why not just use the robots as labor?
• "Shut it, Hoodie." - Doctor
• "Guards, he's laughing again! I cannot stay locked up with a laughing person!" - Doctor
• Go Clara.
• "It's not a competition about who can die slower." - Clara
• "Thank you, Prince of Thieves. Last of the Time Lords?" - Clara
• Clara is going to get taken. Because Clara totally schooled you guys.
• Fighting Cybermen? Probably not.
• Building golden circuits? For what?
• "It's you plan. You moan." - Doctor
• Oh geez, Doctor.
• You have both managed to fail. And without a mangy dog...
• Way to fish, Clara.
• So slowly taking over the world, then. Joy. Why is it always the world?
• So yay, not 51st Century in origin.
• The Promised Land. W00T.
• The ship made up Robin Hood? That's just weird.
• Uhmmm... why knock in the door like that?
• Yay reflective surfaces.
• Arm everyone with reflective surfaces!
• That's a lot of collateral damage...
• Still with the pudding heads...
• No, really, it doesn't make sense. Why can't he be real? Why are you so dogged about that?
• Not a lovely epic sword fight without some high-up, low footing fighting...
• Goodbye, Sheriff.
• He's not still alive, is he?
• Goodbye, castle.
• Why is that one arrow the thing?
• Of course he cheated...
• That was some unconventional shooting... and what? How is that enough? What? I mean, yay for it blowing up out of the way and all but... what? Why?
• Marion's totally dead, isn't she?
• "Be safe, if you can be, but always be amazing." - Clara
• "Stories can make us fly." - Robin
• Go Clara.
• Well that's a nice sentiment.
• Well go figure that was the girl.

Doctor Who - "Into the Dalek" - Review

Intro

A little bit later than usual this week due to working for most of the day and then being up all night reading Paper Towns by John Green. But here it is, my review for Doctor Who: "Into the Dalek."

SPOILER WARNING

The following review contains spoilers for Doctor Who, Series/Season 8, Episode 2, "Into the Dalek." If you have not seen it, go away. Come back after you've seen the episode. It will do you some good.

Doctor Who - "Into the Dalek" - Review

I will be the first to outright say that I really don't like Daleks. After Series/Season 2 of the new series, Daleks just got annoying and boring. That said, it's probably no surprise I wasn't looking forward to "Into the Dalek." I was sort of wrong in my assumption that it wouldn't be a good episode. In fact, I mostly enjoyed it.

I'll just throw out the bad stuff first. The space battle at the beginning. Yeah, I have a thing about space battles. Don't like them. Get bored during them. The Dalek invasion party bit was definitely a thing that happened. Much exploding and exterminating and unnecessary slow-mo dying. While it was kind of realistic from a battle standpoint, it was where I disengaged from the episode. On second watch, I think I even paused it to go get snacks at the point...

Now on to the better and good stuff of the episode. Let's start with Mr. Danny Pink. At first I thought Danny was a PE teacher. I clearly got the wrong. Not quite sure where they're going to take his character beyond being adorkable with Clara. He reminded me of Mickey Smith a few times there.

Jumping over to Ms. Journey Blue and the disposable babysitters now. Journey was interesting, I suppose. She managed to cover being both sensitive and soldier-y. I'm glad she didn't die or get to go with the Doctor. Of course, due to no casting information about adding her as a companion, we all knew that was going to happen. Also, she just didn't strike me as companion material. Disposable babysitter dude was disposable. I liked the last bit with slightly less disposable Gretchen Allison Carlyle. Not sure what her significance is to Missy, but then we know nothing about either of them so... there's that.

Rusty was alright for a Dalek. He reminded me both of Dalek Caan and the Dalek from "Dalek." Somewhat crazy but able to see the beauty in the universe. I was not at all surprised when Rusty called up The Doctor's hatred for the Daleks. Saw it coming from the moment The Doctor revealed his plan. Of course the creature who hates is going to zero in on the hatred. Not only that, but he's going to find the stuff about his race. Also, Rusty is at least the second Dalek to tell The Doctor he's be a good Dalek.

So while The Doctor is good at hating, I completely agree with Clara's assessment. The Doctor tries as hard as he can to be a good man. Whether or not he succeeds is another matter entirely and sometimes not his fault. No one is perfect.

Overall, I quite enjoyed "Into the Dalek." I've watched it twice before writing this and I have to reiterate that the commercials added in by BBC America throw off the flow of the episodes. Doctor Who wasn't built for commercial breaks. They work much better when not being constantly interrupted.

Favorite Moments

• Clara slapping The Doctor and the entire lead-up to the plan.
• Danny's recollection of his conversation with Clara. Gotta enjoy a good head-desk.
• The Doctor saving Journey in the beginning.
• The fake-out with Missy saving Gretchen.

Quotes!

"An anticlimax once in a while is good for my hearts." - The Doctor

"You asked me if you were a good man and the answer is: 'I don't know.' I think you try to be and I think that's probably the point." - Clara

"Do I pay you? I should give you a raise." - The Doctor

"I am a school teacher." - Clara

"I don't need armed babysitters." - The Doctor

"Don't be lasagna." - The Doctor

Love ya, Jessie