The Time of Angels
- Episode aired May 8, 2010
- TV-PG
- 42m
The Doctor and Amy emerge from the TARDIS to find the wreck of the Byzantium spaceship. Down below the Weeping Angels are stirring, but the Doctor has someone else to contend with; none othe... Read allThe Doctor and Amy emerge from the TARDIS to find the wreck of the Byzantium spaceship. Down below the Weeping Angels are stirring, but the Doctor has someone else to contend with; none other than the mysterious Professor River Song.The Doctor and Amy emerge from the TARDIS to find the wreck of the Byzantium spaceship. Down below the Weeping Angels are stirring, but the Doctor has someone else to contend with; none other than the mysterious Professor River Song.
- Weeping Angel
- (uncredited)
- Weeping Angel
- (uncredited)
- Spaceship Guard
- (uncredited)
- Pedro
- (uncredited)
- Weeping Angel
- (uncredited)
- Philip
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMatt Smith literally bit Karen Gillan's hand on several takes to provoke a proper reaction.
- GoofsWhen the TARDIS materializes to catch River Song, the earlier Davies-era model is used by mistake. It can be distinguished by the missing St John's Ambulance logo, the lack of white window frames and the slightly different color scheme.
- Quotes
The Doctor: Oh, big, big mistake, really huge. Didn't anyone ever tell you there's one thing you never put in a trap, if you're smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow, there's one thing you never, ever put in a trap.
Bob: And what would that be, sir?
The Doctor: Me.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Doctor Who Confidential: Eyes Wide Open (2010)
- SoundtracksDoctor Who Theme
(uncredited)
Written by Ron Grainer
Arranged by Murray Gold
Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales
It is then with some considerable joy that I'm pleased to say that with "The Time of Angels" that Moffat has risen to the challenge and constructed what is arguably one of his finest scripts to date. While some may exult over(some what wrongly in my humble opinion)"The Girl in the Fireplace" being his finest work to date. This latest offering only just pips it to the post only being outclassed by fellow Weeping Angels episode "Blink". An intriguing conceit, Moffat's tale plays with the potential narrative non-linear aspects which were explored in both "Blink" and 2008's two parter "Silence in the Library/The Forest of the Dead". For here with a more youthful and dare I say brash and cocky River Song than previously envisaged by it's writer, we see a slightly different side to her personae. And one who is more than a match for the cavalier Doctor and the beautiful yet head strong Amy Pond.
But the shift in character from what we previously saw(and in a contradiction in terms is yet to be seen by David Tennants tenth incarnation of the Time Lord)is but one of several lesser jewels in Steven Moffats wondrous crown of a script. As with the best of his work it contains some of the most creative concepts imaginable. From a 51st century setting where benevolent holy men have evolved in to military soldiers called Clerics, Warrior Priests which were derived no doubt derived from the Shaolin Monks of old to a sublimely eerie moment of tense and claustrophobic moment of terror as a frightened yet stout hearted Miss Pond faces down a Weeping Angel. One that has emerged from a video screen. A moment that in some small way recalls Italian horror director Lamberto Bavas Demoni 2: L'ncubo ritorna. With further inspiration also coming from Neil Marshall's "The Descent" and 1982 "Doctor Who" story "Earthshock". The ideas keep flowing while director Adam Smith keeps the unravelling pace of the story moving at a steady flow and never lets the tension and imposing sense of dread filter away. Where it be in a moment where an inwardly anguished Doctor talks to what could be mistaken for the ghost of a recently deceased young marine and the revelation that certain alien corpses are not quite what they seem. The pace never sags for a minute. And as is beginning to be more the trend with Moffat we see a nice and conveniently placed reference to "Doctor Who" continuity and mythology with the notable placement of high old ancient Gallifreyan.
As is now becoming to be customary thus far with Moffat's reign as executive producer all the performances on display are uniformly of the highest order. Smith as ever since the curtain raised on his tenure is once again marvellous as the age old alien time traveller who finally and firmly finds his stride in the role. This is complimented exquisitely by Karen Gillan who lends Amy the right combination of understated wonder, awe, courage and strong willed independence. A combination which is also nicely mirrored and contrasted in equal measure by Alex Kingston. While Iain Glen portrays Cleric, Father Octavian with the wisdom, determination and fortitude that you might expect from a man of faith who in the future needs more than that to survive against what are pseudo-statuesque creatures.
All in all "The Time of Angels" marks a resoundingly successfully opening chapter to what is a two part story. One which will come to a head in next weeks conclusive "Flesh and Stone" which if the post-end credits trailer is anything to go by will mark a thrilling and suspenseful denouement. But with alien vampires, Silaurians and the the imposing threat of the Cybermen to look forward to there may be more of the very best yet to come.
- The-Last-Prydonian
- Apr 24, 2010
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Clearwell Caves, Coleford, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, UK(Maze of the Dead)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD