Harry -
New year, new season.
Sarah old chum, one of the things I like most about our calm, unhurried marathon (rewatching every Doctor Who episode ever since 2010!) is times like this. It has been so long since I last watched "Asylum of the Daleks" (tagline: "Every Dalek Ever!") that I was genuinely blown away watching it again. Wow, there is so much going on here.
Sarah -
So much going on! The thing that I most remember was the surprise of Jenna-Louise Coleman's appearance. We knew she was the next companion but didn't expect her to turn up so soon -- and inside of a Dalek! There goes that clever Steven Moffat.
Harry -
That clever Moff, presenting us with a Dalek haunted house story. The TARDIS team find themselves having to negotiate gloomy dungeons and claustrophobic corridors, encountering creepy half-dead Daleks all the while. It was fun picking out the Daleks from different eras. I still carry a torch for the chunky, colourful New Paradigm Daleks from "Victory of the Daleks".
There's a nice symmetry to the story. In the opening scene, the Doctor responds to a distress message from Skaro of all places. There, he encounters a woman who pleads for his help to rescue her daughter. After a brief exchange, the Doctor twigs that it's all a set up. The woman is revealed to be a hallowed-out husk, a human puppet created by the Daleks to serve as a lure. At the very end of the story, after puzzling over the apparent brilliance of Oswin to hack and foil all of the Dalek systems, we come to the heartbreaking reveal. Oswin is not just a hallowed-out husk, but she has suffered a total conversion into Dalek form. However, unlike the victim in the opening scene, Oswin was strong enough to retain a semblance of her humanity and create a dream world of comfy couches, opera tunes and soufflés to hold onto her sanity. Even though we get only a brief glimpse of this character, we see that she's something special and the Doctor will be crossing her path again.
Sarah -
The most disconcerting thing is the realization that Oswin is the Dalek that is causing all the chaos in the asylum. Coleman and Smith’s performances are amazing, with so much trauma all around.
Harry -
Meanwhile, a shocking twist was the Ponds apparently going their separate ways. We don't get to see much of their lives when the Doctor is not around. Whatever happened since we last saw them, their marriage has hit the rocks and they are finalizing a divorce.
Sarah -
It’s heartbreaking to learn that Amy is not able to have a child, while Rory thought Amy didn’t love him anymore. Amy knew Rory always wanted children, and thought he’d be happier with someone who could have a child.
Harry -
It all comes out in another powerful set up by Moffat. With the Doctor searching the asylum for Oswin, Amy and Rory have an explosively emotional conversation about love and sacrifice and how much they mean to each other. Very powerful stuff.
Sarah -
It’s hard being adults and even more difficult when you’re traveling in time and space.
Harry -
As season openers go, this was a home run. For newer viewers this is a good introduction to the history of the Doctor and the Daleks. For viewers like us, it was a solid thriller with big emotional punches. I may go back and watch it again!
Sarah -
I’m glad we have this final half-season with the Ponds.
Best Line:
RORY: "It's arithmetic. It'll take longer with me because we both know, we've always known, that. Amy, the basic fact of our relationship is that I love you more than you love me, which today is good news because it might just save both of our lives."
Favourite Moment:
Rory and Amy realize they still love each other.
Lasting Image:
Oswin planning her soufflé
8/10
Harry -
Best Line:
RORY: "Amy, it's me. Do you remember me?"
(Amy slaps Rory.)
RORY: "She remembers me."
DOCTOR: "Same old Amy."
OSWIN: "Do you know how you make someone into a Dalek? Subtract love, add anger. Doesn't she seem a bit too angry to you?"
AMY: "Well, somebody's never been to Scotland."
Favourite Moment:
Amy and Rory's emotional moment.
Lasting Image:
The Dalek dungeon.
8/10
Our marathon continues with Story #227: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship...
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