At over 75,000 words, this is the most comprehensive analysis of Doctor Who series 5 produced so far. Steven Moffat’s first series as showrunner for Doctor Who deserves such a thorough examination, as it is arguably the most intricate ever produced. Indeed, there were many innovations in 2010, with the successful introduction of the youngest Doctor ever (Matt Smith), and the contentious redesign of both the Daleks and the TARDIS. Steven Cooper and Kevin Mahoney discuss both these developments and the complex plotting in depth, drawing on their many years of Doctor Who knowledge. Their aim has been to provide constructive criticism of the 2010 series, giving praise where it is due while also pointing out the less successful aspects of the production. In addition to this, they examine the controversies surrounding the series, such as the complaints about the ‘sexiness’ of the Doctor’s new companion, Amy Pond, in the British media. They also critique ‘A Christmas Carol’, and Russell T Davies’ take on the Eleventh Doctor in The Sarah Jane Adventures. So much happened during series 5, with the overall threat posed by the cracks in the universe, that you really do need this indispensable guide to fully grasp the implications of all the events, and to discover the many obscure details that the authors bring to light.
Steven Cooper is a software developer and long-time Doctor Who fan, living in Melbourne, Australia.
For three years, he served as the Web Content Editor of the Society of Young Publishers. He has previously worked for the UK publishers Random House. Kevin is also the author of the novel ‘A Fame of Two Halves’.
An entertaining review of the 2010 series I was slightly apprehensive before starting this but it rolls along quite nicely – there are two sets of review and they complement each other nicely, mainly because the main author has the first review to work from, this is also fairly broadly written so specialist knowledge isn’t required.
A Fan’s Eye View In the run up to Doctor Who Series 6 (or Series 32 for those of us who have been travelling with the Tardis for some time now…) I wanted to review the previous series to refresh my memory with all those unresolved plot threads that Mr. Moffat had left dangling for us viewers. As an unauthorised book, the writers are at liberty to propose and theorise a little more than if they were writing for an official BBC guide that would have to ‘toe the party line.’ This is a detailed and accurate summary of the series, with some informed speculation and two points of view on most topics. It was interesting to read someone else’s take on which episodes worked well (Amy’s Choice) and which didn’t (Victory of the Daleks) but for a concise wrap up of Matt Smith’s adventures so far, this can’t be topped.
good analysis Just what the doctor ordered (excuse the awful pun). Reading this book in the run up to the new season of Doctor Who has helped to revive my enthusiasm and made me realise how damned complex last year’s season arc was! Now to watch the boxset over the next 12 days.