Live Review: S9.E6 - The Woman Who Lived

The first episode to blur the lines of what constitutes a two part story, The Woman Who Lived follows on from The Girl Who Died but has a different writer and is set 1000 years later. It was known to star Maisie Williams again though and with such a similar title, it had to be part two...

We join the story amid a highwayman's ambush as The Nightmare robs a stage coach - he's faster than Sam Swift the Quick and deadlier than Deadly Dupont! The Nightmare is quick to pour derision on their pseudonyms but it's too late, the pompous grandiose of swashbuckling music is already tipping this episode over the edge and we're only just passing the first minute! The Nightmare appears to be in league with the devil as his accomplice hiding in the bushes has bright glowing eyes. Meanwhile, the Doctor steps out of his TARDIS with a gadget, clearly in search of something until he stumbles upon and rambles through the robbery, oblivious to the threats hurled at him until his gadget finds what he is looking for and it becomes clear that the Nightmare is after it too...

Live Review: S9.E5 - The Girl Who Died

This episode was all set to be one of the greats. It was written by Jamie Mathieson who wrote last year's The Mummy On The Orient Express and Flatline, though Steven Moffat was sharing credit this time (which could simply mean there is a chunk of the story that relates to ongoing matters, but could mean a major rewrite or simply collaborative work). It was also to feature Vikings and guest star Maisie Williams of Game Of Thrones fame... something of a coo and potentially a stroke of genius since that show is consistently in tight competition with Doctor Who at awards and usually takes the win. But as I have said before, on first viewing The Girl Who Died did little more than disappoint. Perhaps all the hype and expectation were a big part in it, but that was not what I was thinking as I watched. My recent second viewing cast it in a better light, but that's the benefit of knowing what to expect and with such low expectations the second time, there was greater scope to be pleasantly surprised... but ultimately The Girl Who Died is like a cross between The Romans and The Time Meddler...