Doctor Who grows up and enters its second childhood all at once.

For the first time we see the emotional impact of a companion returning home after some time spent away with the Doctor. And in the same episode we get a bunch of fart gags.

It was the closest so far to traditional Doctor Who – a cliffhanger, an alien running around a hospital, something creepy going on in the corridors of power. And it reintroduces UNIT in a way that will, fingers crossed, please old fans whilst not overwhelming new ones. Likewise the concept of regeneration was subtly alluded to for the first time (handy that, considering).

My one gripe is with the visual aspects of the aliens – dodgy CGI as they emerged from their “suits” and then dodgy rubber costumes. But the Big Ben crash was excellently put together, and the pig alien was so cute.

9/10

Ah, and David Tennant? I think he’ll be good. I’m not worried about him being “too young” (some people are feeling old ‘cos he’s the first Doctor to be younger than them, but I’m safe until next time at least and he’s five years older than Peter Davison was when he took over) and on the evidence of Casanova and Quatermass he can act well enough.

Second picture down

Fantastic!

And also splendid.

Who should I vote for?

	Labour 10
Conservative -43
	Liberal Democrat 74
UK Independence Party -7
	Green 29

You should vote: Liberal Democrat

The LibDems take a strong stand against tax cuts and a strong one in favour of public services: they would make long-term residential care for the elderly free across the UK, and scrap university tuition fees. They are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places, but would relax laws on cannabis. They propose to change vehicle taxation to be based on usage rather than ownership.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For

Not very surprising, though I am rather puzzled as to why I came out so neutral on UKIP.

The John Winter sculpts from Iron Wind Metals that I mentioned a while back have been released. It looks like the Mini-Rex is smaller than I imagined. Smaller even than a Nanotyrannus. Might work well in 15mm or 10mm.

Potentially useful for La Brea type dioramas are the Bubbling Ooze.

Todays’ Astronomy Picture of the Day looks a bit familiar. Didn’t we see that getting blow up on Doctor Who two weeks back?

Doctor Who and Gothic Victoriana have always suited each other and with Mark “League of Gentleman” Gatiss penning this episode we had high hopes. They weren’t misplaced.

This episode felt less rushed than the previous two, maybe Gatiss coming from a comedy sketch writing background rather than a mini-series background like Davies is more comfortable the time limits, or maybe there was simpler fewer concepts and characters to introduce this time around.

Simon Callow was superb as Dickens, as one would expect. I was pleasantly surprised at how little of Callow himself came through in the performance. Ecclestone and Piper continue to delight – so different to what’s been done in the past but still without any of doubt Doctor and companion.

But how post-coital was the scene where the Doctor and Rose, laughing, picked themselves up off the floor as the TARDIS made a bumpy landing? Hmmm.

I was surprised that the Gelth’s plight was tied to the Time War. Will there be any episodes not tied to the arc? Would the Doctor have been less quick to trust them if they hadn’t been refugees from “his” war?

The scene with Dickens and the Doctor in the coach, a not at all subtle dig at the relationship between creators and fans? Oh yes.

Not quite as “fantastic” as is humanly imaginable but very, very close. 8/10

I got the job!

In a couple of weeks’ time I re-enter the ranks of the full time employed.

I think I can now say that the job is with Visit London and I’m very excited about it (sixth floor office overlooking the Thames and thirty days holiday a year may have a little to do with that).

£13.23 on Star Wars minis off eBay (one Rebel Storm rare and some old ones from WEG).

Running total is now £393.77

Saul Bellow has died which gives Andy a narrow lead in the deadpool (he and Paul have two deaths apeiece, but Bellow was three years younger than Lord Callaghan).

“Introducing Happy, the brand new magazine devoted entirely to shopping.”

If Five put The Dead Zone on at a decent time then I wouldn’t be watching late night telly, so I wouldn’t be seeing late night telly ads, so I would still be blissfully ignorant of the existance of Happy.