Doctor Who: Series 7 Episode 1 Review - SPOILER WARNING

Spoiler warning!!!!! There are spoilers in this review, don't read it if you haven't seen the episode. I don't want anyone whinging about it being ruined for them. This is a spoiler warning.

Moffat’s intention with this episode was to make the Daleks scary again and while I can't say it was a complete success, it was definitely fun to watch.

The Daleks of the Asylum are more nervy than scary; it’s a bit like watching a highly edited version of Alien, with the dark corridors and the general claustrophobic nature of the mise en scene.

The story’s not bad either, a little bit contrived, but far better than any vessel the Davies ever came up with for bringing the Daleks back. The main problems I have with it are ones that seemingly already have a resolution in the mix. Namely, while Amy and Rory are being written out later this year, Moffat has clearly already run out of things to do with them, as evidenced by the fact that he has to have them break up so he can have them fall back in love and not really experience any more development than their two series have already given them.

The revelation that Amy can’t have children any more might be a tad too mature a theme for the vast majority of Who’s fan base and while the supporting character is very good, the revelation about her being a Dalek, living her life out in a dream world, wasn’t really any different from that little girl in the Library being hooked up to the main computer. Moffat is showing a disturbing trend of reusing ideas. It meant that I at least guessed her true nature within minutes.

Incidentally though, this revelation does give Matt Smith a chance to show off some more impressive acting skills, particularly at the point when he says, “but…you are a Dalek” – even though he’s speaking to a friend, he can’t help but keep the hatred from his voice, as he says the final word.

There’s one good Scotland joke in there too, as the Moff seemingly puts down his copy of Writer’s Guide to Bullying Gingers and picks up 100 Ways to Draw Complaints from Scotland.

So there we have it; it’s a good start, didn’t exactly make the Daleks scary for me, but I could see it working better on a younger audience. The revelation about Amy is a bit grown-up and serious for this show and…hold on, the Doctor cured some crazy lady’s brain tumor, with some medicine he had lying around, last series, surely he’s got something that could help with Amy’s problem.

The Dalek girl in her true form was a bit silly and really couldn’t be taken seriously saying her dialogue with Nicholas Briggs’ voice.

Overall, not bad at all.