DW: The Juggernauts, The Coup, Silver Lining
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 18:12![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
usuallyhats
Yesterday afternoon I was stuck at home waiting for my new laptop to be delivered (which it wasn't, curses, I bet they tried to deliver it today, when I'm at work from 8.45 to 7.30, instead), so I listened to some more Big Finish and worked on my knitting (I'm making this in dark blue, just complicated enough to be interesting, but straightforward enough that I can work on it while reading/listening to/watching things). Here are some reviews:
The Juggernauts
Oh Mel, she is so great! In some ways this is really her story, and she shines. She's confident that the Doctor will come back for her, but she's not just hanging around waiting for him, she's getting on with her life and enjoying herself. She's found a job she's good at and some friends, she's fine and I love it. And putting her own failsafe into the Juggernaut's programming: excellent. Just cos she's optimistic doesn't mean she's naïve. I was shocked by her decision to order the Mechanoids to kill Davros, but on reflection I think I like it - she'd not only seen what he'd done but also how easily he'd fooled everyone - and her reaction was well handled.
Other things I liked: Davros challenging the Doctor about working with the Daleks to save Mel's life, and the Doctor refusing to be drawn - he's choosing to save one person now rather than take the risk that Davros is trustworthy and that his plan will work, at the expense of Mel's life. Referring back to his decision in Genesis was great, as was having Mel question him about it. The bits with the colonists trying to escape the Daleks were very tense.
UNIT: The Coup
I thought this was a bit rushed; I knew who everyone was and what was going on because I'd already heard the rest of the series, but if I hadn't, I think I'd've been a bit lost. As it was, I wanted more set-up time and more plot details: who set up ICIS in the first place? How did they get into the position where they were so powerful only discrediting them would get rid of them? Whose idea was the plot to draw them into attacking the Silurian ambassador? Some of the dialogue seems to imply that the Brigadier was acting alone (when he tells Chaudhry that she probably shouldn't be seen with a revolutionary like him), but the rest of UNIT must have known that they weren't in fact out of a job, mustn't they? How much did Chaudhry herself know?
But other than that, I did enjoy it - Chaudhry and the Brigadier were fantastic, as usual ("of course I hit it!" and the whole bit about calling the Brig "Sir") and I loved the idea of UNIT being used to change. Currie going to Chaudhry was nice too; whatever their differences, he knows she's one of the good guys.
Silver Lining
This was a fun story, not great enough to make me run out and buy the rest of the Bernice Summerfield stories (though I probably will eventually), but certainly fun with some nice lines. Benny breaking her agreement with the Cyberman and wondering if she should feel guilty about it was good, I almost felt sorry for the Cyberman in places!
The Juggernauts
Oh Mel, she is so great! In some ways this is really her story, and she shines. She's confident that the Doctor will come back for her, but she's not just hanging around waiting for him, she's getting on with her life and enjoying herself. She's found a job she's good at and some friends, she's fine and I love it. And putting her own failsafe into the Juggernaut's programming: excellent. Just cos she's optimistic doesn't mean she's naïve. I was shocked by her decision to order the Mechanoids to kill Davros, but on reflection I think I like it - she'd not only seen what he'd done but also how easily he'd fooled everyone - and her reaction was well handled.
Other things I liked: Davros challenging the Doctor about working with the Daleks to save Mel's life, and the Doctor refusing to be drawn - he's choosing to save one person now rather than take the risk that Davros is trustworthy and that his plan will work, at the expense of Mel's life. Referring back to his decision in Genesis was great, as was having Mel question him about it. The bits with the colonists trying to escape the Daleks were very tense.
UNIT: The Coup
I thought this was a bit rushed; I knew who everyone was and what was going on because I'd already heard the rest of the series, but if I hadn't, I think I'd've been a bit lost. As it was, I wanted more set-up time and more plot details: who set up ICIS in the first place? How did they get into the position where they were so powerful only discrediting them would get rid of them? Whose idea was the plot to draw them into attacking the Silurian ambassador? Some of the dialogue seems to imply that the Brigadier was acting alone (when he tells Chaudhry that she probably shouldn't be seen with a revolutionary like him), but the rest of UNIT must have known that they weren't in fact out of a job, mustn't they? How much did Chaudhry herself know?
But other than that, I did enjoy it - Chaudhry and the Brigadier were fantastic, as usual ("of course I hit it!" and the whole bit about calling the Brig "Sir") and I loved the idea of UNIT being used to change. Currie going to Chaudhry was nice too; whatever their differences, he knows she's one of the good guys.
Silver Lining
This was a fun story, not great enough to make me run out and buy the rest of the Bernice Summerfield stories (though I probably will eventually), but certainly fun with some nice lines. Benny breaking her agreement with the Cyberman and wondering if she should feel guilty about it was good, I almost felt sorry for the Cyberman in places!