It all started as a mild curiosity in a junkyard. Exactly fifty years later, that curiosity reached such frenzied levels of anticipation for the anniversary, it was like the Second Coming with a sonic screwdriver.
Yonderland is getting increasingly hard to review, because it’s so bloody consistent.
Four episodes in and we know what we’re going to get – inspired silliness, a constant stream of one-liners, great ideas, non-sequiturs, physical comedy and not much in the way of plot arc advancement. It’s very funny. It’s hard to describe an episode without spoiling a few of these, although as there are lots to go round, it’s not the end of the world.
So, did you have a good ‘Day’?
Millions of people across the globe just did. In fact, The Doctor probably just made their day. And yours too, in a TV event so big you’d have had to have viewed in from a couch on the Moon to take in the full scope of it.
Change. Regeneration. It’s the very thing that’s kept Doctor Who running for half a century and we take it for granted now. It’s exciting, partly because it’s expected. Doctor, companion, showrunner, whoever. The song ends, but the story goes on (to paraphrase an Ood). And we continue to huddle round the screen like kids in the ‘60s.
The Internet. The Ol’ Googlebox. The Pornographer’s Lantern. Whatever you call it, we can agree that it is generally pretty neat. It even allowed you to watch this week’s Misfits earlier than usual on 4OD, and that’s no bad thing.
Ahh the youth of today, with their McBusted and their Snapchat and their big shoes. If they’re not busy FML’ing at everything then they’re being immolated by a pan-national terrorist as part of his fourth ‘truth’. And there’s no one around Instagram it. FML indeed.
The latest tale from Doctor Who writer Gareth Roberts (‘The Lodger’, ‘The Unicorn and the Wasp’) may feel like a retread for its opening ten minutes or so, as if a reminder to the audience of just what Wizards Vs Aliens is all about, but there’s a treat in store after the familiarity.
Coming after three very solid weeks, Episode 4 of Ripper Street’s second series marked a slight dip in quality. Though still undeniably enjoyable fare, this week’s story was let down by its over-exaggerated villains, hastily-resolved ending and watery subplot involving newbie Constable Flight.
Sky1’s Yonderland maintains its high quality levels this week with a high gag-success rate, gratuitous nudity, and the inspired concept of the Monks of Old John, who must always tell the truth, and end up offending Negatus as a result. Debbie attempts to lead them to safety, avoiding those hunting for the reward of bringing them in dead or alive, including goblins and bounty hunters.
After the broader scope of Ariadne’s royal fortunes and Jason’s fate in the ring, this was a more intimate, family tale.