Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Code
April 8, 2007 (4 Responses)
I HAD HIGH HOPES for this latest Doctor Who episode based on the welcome return of Season 3 last week; a new season with a new face and something to look forward to each week by way of chaos and mayhem. This latest episode was entitled “The Shapespeare Code” (Episode 2, Season 3) and the plot (if you can call it that) revolved around nefarious creatures (witches to you and me) using the words of William Shakespeare from his missing play “Loves Labours Won” to open a portal of some kind which would enable more of their kind enter the realm of the Earth and rule over it for a milennium of blood. Or something like that anyway. Don’t you just hate those portal thingies?
Anyway long story short – there was one running gag used again and again during the episode which really wore thin after a while; that being ol’ Shakespeare wondering if he could use some nifty lines from the Doctor or Martha (like “Once more unto the breach” or “The play’s the thing“). Really really thin ice here folks; the writers should have spent more time on this one.
The realisation of London in 1599 was nice though; some decent CGI and a cute concept around the construction of the Globe theatre, although the witches makeup was really cheesy, but overall I felt the episode just didn’t deliver enough; by the end of it I couldn’t care less about the outcome. Anyone else see this episode and think the same?
Oh well, I suppose there have to be ‘filler’ episodes in any series, and this was certainly one of them as far as I’m concerned. Let’s hope next week is better.
I was very much reminded of Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash with the whole power of words thing. you’re right too about the same gag all the way through. Enough!
The first two episodes have missed the mark in my opinion.
I watched it last night. I found that it was just another typical time traveller thingy – they portray Shapespeare as an idiot and the Doctor has inspired him. Oh well, let’s hope the next one is better.
The realisation of London in 1599 was nice though; some decent CGI and a cute concept asian cams around the construction of the Globe theatre, although the witches makeup was really cheesy, but overall I felt the episode just didn’t deliver enough; by the end of it I couldn’t care less about the outcome. Anyone else see this episode and think the same?