5x013 The Big Bang (Grading/Discussion) SPOILERS!!

[Haggis and tatties]

What a absolutely fantastic 55 Min's of pure entertaining TV, well written, well acted, the cast and crew and the Moff can hold their heads high, the Dr is in safe hands all round.

Roll on the Xmas special.

 

[Caleuche]

However, its not getting a excellent because the big bad was not only not defeated, he/she wasn't even revealled, this, unlike Rivers storyline, should have been tied up.

Why?

Pretty much every other arc-based show makes a big deal of setting stuff up for the next series... why must Who answer all the questions in 13 episodes?

It doesn't need to answer all questions in 13 episodes, I like the fact that Rivers storyline is ongoing. However who the big bad is, is I feel, too big a question to not answer or at least advance in the season finale. Even if they had only provided us with some hints or sign that this whatever was still active or who/what it was, that would have done me. Instead the big bad was completely absent from this season finale, which robbed it of the 'finale feel' it needed. It felt to me much more like a low-key mid-point of 26 episode US season, then the grande finale of a 13 episode UK season. Also there's the fact that if you ask questions, you need to answer them before the audience either gets bored or begins to realise you have no clue where you are going (see Lost, X-Files or Battlestar Galactica for more on this phenomenon.) I don't want Doctor Who to end up going down that road.

 

[BigFoot]

Holy fuck that was awesome.

 

[matthunter]

Even if they had only provided us with some hints or sign that this whatever was still active...

They did.

The Doctor specifically mentions that something caused the TARDIS to explode and that... oh, hang on, the phone's ringing...

 

[Lonemagpie]

That was a mostly brilliant finale, very clever with clues and time and mindfucks.

Not sure how that bang has that effect - it's just sort of Moff says it just does, OK? moment.

As for the Silence will fall and the owner of the sinister voice... Well, that was like bringing a knife to a Chekov's Gunfight, wasn't it?

And then there's a question or two.

Quite apart from the annoyance of not bothering with the Silence Will Fall voice (is it actually just plugging the new series The Silence, which has been advertised on the Beeb this week?)they didn't make it at all clear whether the Rory who gets married at the end is Auton Rory or, since the cracks now never happened - which would also now mean the army of Angels still exists - Human Rory. Presumably human Rory never died or was erased (like Amy's parents) and Auton Rory never existed...?

Oh, and the memory bringing him back was, like, Last Of The Time Lords, but done right and emotionally instead of with overblown religious imagery and stuff.

Anyway, 9/10

 

[cheeseyfatmonkey]

Does the Big Bang 2 mean there are no New Daleks?

 

[JoeZhang]

Does the Big Bang 2 mean there are no New Daleks?

No - there is no way they spent the money on the new equipment for them not to be used again. Remember that was the alternative messed-up timeline, the Doctor restarted the original.

 

[wamdue]

Does the Big Bang 2 mean there are no New Daleks?

everything returns, apparntly with the same history, not sure how the history returns.

To be it seemed like a reset of history, the species were recreated, not sure how history was, that sad Daleks not a actually a species if tonights episode was gong to bring back something, it would be the Kaleds.

 

[wamdue]

I am love that in Confidental, Beth Willis's objection to the Fez is that Matt Smith would want to keep it, they seem such a tight bunch on that set, more so than in previous series, and the chemistry between Matt & Karen is loads better than between the Doctor & Amy.

Sadly, Beth Willis is out. Conflicting rumours as to why - some hints that she used her position to get her boyfriend a job on the show and thus a BBC-paid for holiday in Croatia during the Vampires in Venice shoot. Others that she stacked the show with co-workers from Ashes to Ashes, some of whom worked... some of whom really didn't.

no wonder they fired her.

 

[JoeZhang]

However, its not getting a excellent because the big bad was not only not defeated, he/she wasn't even revealled, this, unlike Rivers storyline, should have been tied up.

Why?

Pretty much every other arc-based show makes a big deal of setting stuff up for the next series... why must Who answer all the questions in 13 episodes?

I'm refreshed to see we still have a mystery for Series Six, to be honest. And the resolution will be better for not wrapping it up in a neat little package this ep. Consider, we now know there's an enemy out there with the power to destroy the TARDIS and control it in flight. Series Six will focus on the Doctor finding out who is after him... WHY did they want to destroy the universe? Presumably they could survive the end of all things... WHO could do that?

Those are questions too big to adequately address in one series finale... better to leave them aside and let the Doctor have his small victory (of saving the whole of Creation... again).

Because those are aimed at adult audience, this is intended as a family show with a quite wide age-spread - my nieces are 10 and 8 and they are starting to get a bit bored and confused. If we drift a bit too much into arc stories that go on and on I think a lot of the current audience could switch off.

 

[JoeZhang]

I am love that in Confidental, Beth Willis's objection to the Fez is that Matt Smith would want to keep it, they seem such a tight bunch on that set, more so than in previous series, and the chemistry between Matt & Karen is loads better than between the Doctor & Amy.

Sadly, Beth Willis is out. Conflicting rumours as to why - some hints that she used her position to get her boyfriend a job on the show and thus a BBC-paid for holiday in Croatia during the Vampires in Venice shoot. Others that she stacked the show with co-workers from Ashes to Ashes, some of whom worked... some of whom really didn't.

no wonder they fired her.

Yeah, let's just take a lot of rumours by internet mongs as fact.

 

[wamdue]

Sadly, Beth Willis is out. Conflicting rumours as to why - some hints that she used her position to get her boyfriend a job on the show and thus a BBC-paid for holiday in Croatia during the Vampires in Venice shoot. Others that she stacked the show with co-workers from Ashes to Ashes, some of whom worked... some of whom really didn't.

no wonder they fired her.

Yeah, let's just take a lot of rumours by internet mongs as fact.

ok ill put it another way, if true no wonder they fired her.

 

[Samurai8472]

Steven Moffat and family watching the finale tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs1mIAMTE0c

 

[matthunter]

Sadly, Beth Willis is out. Conflicting rumours as to why - some hints that she used her position to get her boyfriend a job on the show and thus a BBC-paid for holiday in Croatia during the Vampires in Venice shoot. Others that she stacked the show with co-workers from Ashes to Ashes, some of whom worked... some of whom really didn't.

no wonder they fired her.

Yeah, let's just take a lot of rumours by internet mongs as fact.

Until she comes out and states why she left, there's only rumour. She certainly seemed very involved in the production (diving into the river to check the temperature before demanding it of the actors in the Vampire ep) so it's obvious she had a great deal of love for making the show... whatever caused her to leave is obviously fairly big.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Just watched it and thought it was absolutely brilliant! I thought there were some fantastic character moments, Karen not only was breathtakingly beautiful as usual but was stellar in this episode. Arthur too had terrific Rory moments. I had my doubts that this episode could live up to last weekend's brilliance but it did imo. The ending was just spectacular and I'm happy that Rory is with them now...I wonder if this means Arthur will be getting a starring billing in the credits? I can't wait for Christmas now!!! It does seem to set up "Omega" as the big bad for next series as some fans have posted already. I loved the flash backwards and the reset...and I told ya we'd see more River next series. Sometimes I can't help but think the Doctor thinks about Rose when he looks at Amy and Rory together, but that's just me. What a terrific series all around.

 

[Cutter John]

Well that was just bloody insane, with an epic ending. It really was a fairy tale wasn't it? I feel a bit sorry for a lot of viewer who may have gotten up for a bathroom break at the wrong moment. This was a story you REALLY had to pay attention to.

I hope that someday, should the show ever end once and for all, that the Doctors send-off is half as good.

You do realize of course that this is the second time that the Doctor has created the universe.

My only real let down is that after a week of wondering and anticipation about the finale, that its all over.

Seeing as how I've not been to bed yet, and have only just watched it. I think I'll digest it awhile before posting in-depth comments.

Oh, and I gave it a 'Good'.

 

[Jamee999]

Moffat is a genius, even if time travel makes me feel like it makes Captain Janeway feel. Loved it. It didn't fell as "big" as the RTD finales tended to, but I think it was better.

 

[BigFoot]

When is this being released on Blu-ray, because I wanna watch the whole thing again.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ Probably sometime around Christmas time...there was an article a friend linked me yesterday indicating the BBC was already putting it together. I won't be buying it due to the lack of audio commentaries and pod casts due to their budget cuts this year but I'll still take it out of the library.

 

[StolenThunder]

I enjoyed the episode though probably not quite as much as the last - which felt just a little more coherent. The story jumped from act to act perhaps a little abruptly. Reasonably satisfied with the conclusion and was genuinely disappointed by the wee message informing me of a six month wait!