Review: The Magician's Apprentice

Davros is back! What a twist for the episode to start off with. It felt like Moffat really wanted to show what this series was all about in that pre-titles sequence. Cliffhangers. I so wish that it had been kept a surprise to the reveal and The Mirror hadn't leaked it months ago. It would have made that reveal so much more for everyone. But I don't think that mattered too much as there was more twists and turns throughout.

The Episode really focused on the dilemma of time travel. If you knew someone was going to grow up to be evil, could you kill them or watch them die. Some could but I think we all know The Doctor could not! Even if it meant that the Daleks would be created and ultimately the start of the Time War. It was really a rehash of the idea behind Genesis of the Daleks but this time with the start of Davros and not the Daleks but I think it was done well enough and wit some fresh ideas for it not to feel like a repeat.
Though, the Doctor is dieing was used again and I feel that this was really not needed as it was only a few years ago (series 6) we had the whole arc about this and then of course The Time of the Doctor once again. It was just a plot reuse too far in my opinion. It did bring us though some more character development with The Twelfth Doctor. He felt much more relaxed and calmer than last series but could this just be down to him thinking he is about to die at the hands of Davros. I just loved his entrance though. The Doctor with an electric guitar. It just really suited this incarnation.

I was disappointed with the use of UNIT in this episode. As a fan of Kate, I felt it was a shame to see her really underused in this episode. She didn't really do much. Clara just stormed in and took control and Kate just stood there agreeing and doing what Clara said. I wish she could have had more of a presence even though it was only a small part of the episode.
While the whole cast was on form, I think a stand out mention should go out to Julian Bleach and Jami Reid-Quarrell as Davros and Colony Sarff. I will start with Sarff. He felt like a threat from the beginning and I think alot of that was down to the way he moved and the voice acting. It added a presence. And then the reveal of the snake was just such a wow moment and a brilliant bit of CGI.
I was so happy to see Julian Bleach back as Davros as he did a brilliant job in The Stolen Earth / Journey's End in 2008. In this he gave a completely different performance while still being inkeeping with Davros. It was a much more calmer approach and you felt like Davros was at the end of his life. He added to the scene with just the looks he gave, the way he sat and in the voice. I cannot wait to see more of him next week.

Overall I would give this episode a 7/10 but really I think it all depend on how The Witches Familiar turns out. It could easily push it up a bit if the build up is done justice.

Doctor Who: Series 7 "Complete" Boxset

I have just seen the press release for the "Complete" Series 7 UK release of Doctor Who and I have to say I am really disappointed in what I have read. I have not really ever felt the need to have a moon about the boxsets before but this time I just felt it was needed.
Firstly, it seems that they are not going to be including the 2011 Christmas Special, The Doctor The Widow and the Wardrobe. Now, I am not the biggest fan of this story but I think it needs to be included on the boxset to make this set complete. Without it they might was well call it "The Incomplete Series 7."
Secondly, it is being released over in America a whole month before it is in the UK. I really think that this is just wrong! Since it is filmed and produced over here in the UK, I think it should either be released here first or even a same day release. It just feels like America are getting more and more things before us at the moment and its rather annoying me.
Thirdly, I am disappointed in the lack of Commentaries. Since Series 5 I have been disappointed that they keep declining. I think for the price we pay, I would have liked a bit more than 4 commentaries. I was really hoping that we would be getting a com each for Asylum of the Daleks, Angels Take Manhattan and The Name of the Doctor. I really do like listening to the insight of the audio commentaries and with Confidential now gone, I think they are even more important.
I feel sad that I have had to have had this rant and I hope that its either some miss-communication or these decisions get changed. At the moment I really do not think that what has been listed for release is worth the £50+ they are asking for.

Update from the 30th July 2013
Today there has been an update on the omission of The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe from the Complete Series 7 set. BBC Worldwide have stated today that,

Originally the decision was taken not to include this release on the box set as it had previously been released as a standalone product. However after listening to feedback from our fans we have decided to include the episode and its prequel on the set. The price of the set will not be altered as a result of the change of contents

So thanks to the fans sending in the complaints, we have a victory on one of the points I made in my last blog post. I now hope that they will reconsider the release date and put the UK and US release in line with each other.