The Family of Blood

[gervase_fen]

Best part two of a story since "The Doctor Dances". I'll forgive a couple of directorial elisions (how did the Family of Blood move the TARDIS to the school - and then get back to their ship so quickly?) for David Tennant's series-best performance. Both series. And bouquets too to Freema, Jessica Hynes, Thomas Sangster and Harry Lloyd.

The coda sequences are new territory for the series, if not the New Adventures; and going further back, the earliest example I can think of is Sarah Jane Smith reading about the Priory fire at the end of the novelisation of "Pyramids of Mars". They worked exceptionally well here, although they do beg the question - what happened to Joan?

Comments

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

It was definitely the best two-parter since the first Captain Jack story, maybe even better - more than compensating for the occasional whiplash. I think I'd say that even if it weren't for the bonus that John Smith was such an improvement over the Doctor - Joan Redfern made the right call ;-)

[gervase-fen.livejournal.com]

Indeed - the scene outside the school when John Smith asks "What am I then? Nothing. I'm just a story" is probably my favourite moment. Beautiful writing, delivered with raw emotion, wonderfully directed. I read Paul Cornell's original novel when it came out in 1995, and, good as it was, I don't think it had the impact on me then that his teleplay had this evening.

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

I never found Human Nature the novel greatly coherent, but this was a leaner, more efficient story. Proper review in the morning.

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

On the one hand it's more powerful if that goodbye in the cottage was farewell to Joan; but on the other leaving her fate blank means that she could be visited again in her future, should the tempation stray the production team's way.

I'll start here

[drsolon.livejournal.com]

I loved this two parter. Paul Cornell has, for me, changed my opinion on series 3 entirely. I've been enjoying it, but nothing has had that 'Empty Child' or 'Impossible PLanet' buzz from the last two years where I thought 'wow'. I have a couple of completely non-drwho oriented friends (wife included) who have been utterly converted by new-who, and have noticed nothing to diminish their new found love with series 3, but I've been going along with it (Dalek 2 parter for instance that, for me, ruined all of the hard work by shearman in series 1), hoping and waiting for something special. Thankyou Mr Cornell - rooting for you on Saturday Mr Moffat...