The Rings of Akhaten

Odd title, that one.

I thought I'd write something longer about this week's Doctor Who, given the general split in people's initial opinion. So:

It's always going to be an uphill struggle, doing an alien story like this. Building a culture, making it look the part, finding something to connect to - and I thought it worked. Having a bunch of random aliens in the marketplace may be a bit Star Wars, but it draws you in (even if I was playing 'spot the reused bits of alien'). It even makes you forget most of the episode is done in a studio. As to the culture - the idea behind the religion not only felt original and emotional, but also gave the story a plot (and a monster) that was a twist on the usual.

There's a lot of green-screen, which works to various degrees - the lowest one being the very ambitious hover moped chase across an asteroid field. But they were trying very hard with that one. But the lovely vistas and alien suns are just pretty distractions - for the acting! It's lovely to finally see Jenna Louise-Coleman in the companion role - the getting-into-trouble role, and actually apart from the Doctor for once. Yes, I know she did similar things with ice monsters and Spoonheads, but it feels right, here. Almost traditional - in a story that tries very hard to be different. And Matt Smith, well - I was thinking he was being marvellous even before he made his speech at the end.

But maybe it's the sign of a dull episode that - when you notice how good the regulars are (which invariably they are, every week!). And for a story that seemed very 'Episode 2', it's like somebody smudged together lots of different Doctor Who tales together - you've got exploding planets and weird freaky aliens (Episode 2 in 2005), mysterious religious cults with alien gods (Episode 2 in 2008), a lost girl that the companion finds (that'll be Episode 2 in 2010), a CGI menace that was held back by reciting in a theatre (well, a bit of a stretch, but it reminded me of the Shakespeare one - though the singing was quite new, if a little out of place).

That's not to say the episode didn't work in its own right, or that it wasn't an exotic slice of adventure. Although I'm not sure where they're going with Clara - whilst it's lovely to see her past, are they trying to make us warm to her, or be fearful of who she might really be...?