Live watch and review of Doctor Who: LISTEN

I missed last week's episode so I'm a little confused as to where Jenna Coleman is right now.

I like this intro though! Capaldi talking out loud to himself is a very good way of showing how the Doctor lives inside his own head.

LISTEN!

Obviously this date isn't going well, but I love her dress. It's gorgeous!

This is hilarious. 'I thought I'd hide in the bedroom in case you brought him home' shows just how out of touch the Doctor is. And this is why I love this older doctor. I've never been a fan of the romantic element between the Doctor and his companions. I think it's so much funnier when there's no sexual chemistry.

They're probably at the date's childhood right? something he'll have mentioned during dinner.

Breaking into kid's homes and stealing coffee. That's just how Capaldi rolls.

Oh I was right! It's his childhood.

My housemate's just come in and I kept everyone up last night when I came in drunk at 3am. I'm sorry!

This is pretty spooky! I do like the creepier episodes of Doctor Who. When they do things like this that play on our natural fears.

Something on the bed, and Capaldi is a great doctor. He's building up a sense of confidence in young Danny by talking of fear as a superpower, which is very cute.

Don't look Clara! Oh that's nice though- helping him with his toy soldiers. Ha! Dan the soldier man! What a great moment.

Ooh, good direction! I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle with that close up.

Aww she's going back to her failed date!

Oh dear, Clara. You let his real name slip! Poor Rupert/Danny. And now she's ruining it again, but who's this deep-sea-diver! Doctor! Whut r u doin?? Why are you such a bad wing man?

Wait. This isn't going to be the doctor is it?

Oh, damn it. It's Danny.

Or not...? Orson Pink! What a name!

The last man at the edge of time. What is he scared of? What's out there?

Is Clara going to flirt with Rupert's descendant? That would be weird.

He's got Dan the soldier man!

Ohh, a family story about a great grandparent to do with time travel? Have we just seen Clara's future?

A lot of ghosts indeed!

They're doing the rational explanation for spooky noises! We've all done that.

BANG BANG BANG

No! Don't open the door!



This is scary!

He's such a dad. DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!

Great, now he's in trouble! Silly Doctor.

Clara's flying the TARDIS on her own now. That's a bit neat!

Where are they? This looks like a barn?

That's probably not Rupert is it? It's the doctor as a child!!!

Ooh! A nice touch. Clara's the source of the Doctor's nightmares and also of his courage when he returns to the barn years later to banish the Time Lords from existence.

I like this background of the Doctor. It's a good way of building the relationship between Clara and the doctor as equals.

Wait, so she gives away the army soldier toy? Is that going to show up again later?

FINAL THOUGHTS

I think this episode is a great return for the spookier element of Doctor Who. I always found Matt Smith's doctor a little too naive for the more serious side of things but Peter Capaldi's Doctor has a great face for spooky lighting and the idea that there's something haunting us that we can't see.

Having said that, this one did leave some unanswered questions. The final message of this episode was that it's ok to be afraid of the dark, and of nothing, yet there was something on the bed in the children's home. There was something trying to get into Orson Pink's base when they unlocked the door. The end of the episode negates the rest of it unless it's revisited later.

Having said that, it's nice to see there's some heart in this episode. Clara comforting a young Doctor in his childhood evens the difference between them a little, which is a good thing!

I have a good feeling about Capaldi, and I hope he's on my telly for a long time yet!

My Reaction to Game of Thrones Season 4 Finale

I was going to turn this stream of consciousness into a real blog post, but I think this is as good as I can manage right now. Spoilers ahead, obvs.

We open up with a lovely gloomy bit of Jon Snow grieving beyond the wall, and there was a pretty sweet bit where Ygritte is discussed by Jon and NORTHERN BOSS MAN. It's almost reverent that they don't say her name until they toast to her.

They then toast each other's lost ones from the battle, which is a nice way to show that the free folk are not as barbaric as they're supposed to be, and the confession that they're seeking refuge rather than conquest.

OH MY GOD, STANNIS?!

I do love the moment where he refuses to knee though, particularly when Jon Snow stands up for him in that very calm way. He's not one to throw a tizz is our Jon Snow.

Don't cry, sweetie. I love you really

Then it's back to King's Landing and Cersei is watching over Ser Gregor's medical examination. Her constant dismissal of Grand Meister is wonderful to see. It's nice to see her still asserting some authority after she's been so frequently beaten down.

Then she goes to stand up to Daddy Lannister. He's a bit of a harsh man, and he does like to keep reminding his children of how much power he has over them, but her mother's instincts are pretty fierce. I have to admit, I do love her as a character.

OOOOOH SHE REVEALS THE BIG AFFAIR!

He's so against believing it! And she knows she'd crushing him. The rains of Catsermere playing in the background is the perfect way to highlight that his ideal of 'family' is falling around him.

Then she swans off to fight Jamie/snog Jamie. She is ON FORM.

Annnnd they're shagging.

Hi Dany!

She is continuing her benevolent leader-ing. Cotton-wool-beard-man is pointing out the flaws in her current system though. People do grow to love their chains, which is a throw back to her own words when she freed her first city.

Oh, what's this? A baby?

He's getting a bit close. The dragons are getting out of control. I knew it. She can't pay for this one, unlike the sheep. What on earth will she do?

It's good to remind her that she's not all powerful though. The dragons love her but she can't control them well enough. not if they're killing children.

But they're so sad to see her go! That was really upsetting, when they were crying out for her as she locked them in. Especially since it was the red and black one that's the most boisterous.

This badass right here

From one really heart wrenching scene to a slightly less-so. The night's watch funeral is sad, but I'm more sad about the dragons.

OH, HI RED LADY!

Wait, is she making eyes at Jon? Is no one safe from her?

Seeing Jon talk to Tormund, there's a valid point about how Snow sees himself. He's saying he doesn't have a king? That's a bit rebellious! It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

Oh, Ygritte I loved you so much. and she looks weirdly regal in death.

Back to Bran. Jojen's getting pretty weak now, but we've found the red and white tree! I've forgotten why we want to find it but there's triumphant music and Jojen's face is so happy. I remember when this guy was in the BBC show, Feather Boy. I cried my little heart out at that. (This was before he was in Love, Actually)

He's actually not changed very much at all, facially....

How many Direwolves are alive now? Two?

ZOMBIES!

Poor Hodor doesn't know what to do! He's so scared. Whenever Hodor gets hurt I get so sad. He's like a child.

This is all very Jason and the Argonaughts isn't it?

JOJEN, NO!

WTF. Where's this fire coming from?

This jumped up little shit of a girl is telling them to leave Jojen. I don't think I'm gonna like her.

Now he's dead. Bitch.

Smashy smashy skeletons.

The Children? Is this like Westeros' version of the lost boys? Little immortal kids that just have fun all day every day?

Nope. They're dark and mysterious and I'm not sure that I like their underground house.

The three eyed raven man is a bit spooky. Maybe he's Fagin to The Children's... um, gang.

YES, BRIENNE! Poor Poderick is a bit silly isn't he? I love all the road-trip buddy-movie stories going on in Westeros.

Well... this is awkward.

ARYAAAAAAAAAAA! Is this where Brienne finds out that she's the daughter of Caitlin? Brienne is like, the best role model for Arya. I love their chat.

That moment! When they realise who the Hound is! and who Arya is!!! Yes!!!

Brienne kills this scene.

If these two fight, I want Brienne to fucking win. I want Brienne to take Arya under her wing, even though I love the Hound and Arya's road trip, buddy movie type thing.

OH MY GOD PLEASE FIGHT

I have a horrible feeling the Hound will die and Arya will run away anyway. The kid's too slippery for her own good. NOTE: I was right!!!!!!!!

Brienne has to be the one to reunite Sansa and Arya. She just has to be.

Oh my god, they're fighting dirty. DON'T YOU DARE KILL BRIENNE

Right in the Vagina.

Oh, thank God, Brienne lives.

And now she's lost Arya. For fucks sake.

Arya and the Hound's final moments. There's a lot to like in this scene. Not many people are allowed last words in GoT, but I'm glad Sandor Clegane gets them. Even as he's goading Arya, he's still obviously one of the most noble characters in Westeros.

Arya's stone cold though. I love how brutal she's become as much as I hate it.

YES, JAMIE! Rescue your fucking brother! Considering how terrible the Lannisters are I end up liking them a lot more than some of the technically better people on this show. This goodbye between the two brothers is simply wonderful.

Ooh, can Tyrion go to join his lady love across the sea now?

Wait, what's going to go wrong?

Tyrion? What are you doing?

OH HELL NO.

This is too cruel. How is this allowed to happen? Tyrion is making my heart break. How the fuck did Shae end up in his father's bed? Calling his father the same nickname she had for Tyrion? What the fuck?

Now, if he doesn't kill Tywin I will be incredibly disappointed.

Come on, man.

He's on the fucking toilet. This is a fitting way for him to die. Butt naked on the lavatory. Tywin is just such an arsehole all the way through this conversation.

YES

He did tell you, Tywin. He did warn you not to say that word again.

RAINS OF CASTERMERE.

Poor Tyrion. I have so much love for Varys right now, though.

Now for the sound of water to try to calm us down as Arya rides off on her pony to.... where? a coastal village?

They're off to Braavos? Is Arya going with them? Is that where Tyrion is going? Are we going to see the most badass team-up in television history? Can they please band together with Daenerys?

All Men Must Die.

All Men Must Serve.

THIS MUSIC THOUGH. I'm tingling!

THAT IS THE PERFECT WAY TO END THE SERIES.