Cold Blood

This was even more slow paced than the first part, an hour long special would have been enough. The only reason this gets a 6/10 is the ending really stands out

Of course, the final scenes are very impressive and well-written (by Chibnall no less), but there is a whiff here of an over stretched storyline that probably needed an hour run time rather than being made to play out over two episodes.

Good overall though.

A moral questioned is being asked, Alaya the Silurian that attacked and injured Tony, is being held prisoner up on the surface, Tony and Ambrose his daughter have reason to kill her, as does Rory because of Amy being taken. The Doctor and Nasreen have travelled down to the base of The Silurians, to seek the missing people. Having discovered there is a full Silurian society, they are imprisoned. Naturally The Silurian on Earth pushes somebody's buttons, and the Doctor's lost his bargaining tool.

I'd have to praise the little guy that played Elliot, possibly the most interesting character of the lot. Kid did a great job. I'd also like to praise Nia Roberts, little dubious in Part 1, but she was very good in this better scripted episode.

Second best bit, Nasreen and Amy discussing the future of Earth and Silurians with the Silurian leader. A great scene, really well played out. However they saved the best til last, the crack in the wall rears its ugly head once again, and the worst thing happens... It makes the opening of Part 1 seem relevant.

Silurian culture is very interesting, I praise Chris Chibnall for creating an interesting Silurian Society, there are different factions, different ideas and infighting.

I wasn't entirely in love with Part 1, I was fairly bored for most of it, and same for the best part of this one too. Watching it I keep thinking 'we've been here before, nothing original on show. The action scenes are pretty good, but overall it's just unsatisfying, it was too long over two episodes. 6/10

After last weeks entertaining and promising if flawed opening to this two part story, "Cold Blood" carries on from where "The Hungry Earth" an episode which owed much to the classic B-movie "Invaders from Mars", writer Chris Chibnall continues with the tale to deliver what ultimately culminates in a shockingly powerful and emotional denouement. To some extent a lightweight story with some hairy moments it eventually goes to some very dark places very quickly with a story that neatly exploits the fragility and basic flaws of human nature and the brutality and hatred that prejudice can instill in people.

Starting where the previous episode left, with the Doctor and Nasreen Chaudry, head of the mining expedition seen the previous week, having discovered that all tat consists of the Silurian race is not a mere tribe but a whole civilisation. In an attempt to prevent a potential war the Time Lord intends to exchange a Silurian who he along with the humans had captured in return for the humans in their possession who include Amy. The Silurian's as revealed before want control over the Earth again and plot to exterminate every single human off the face of the planet but the Doctor wishes to broker a deal which would allow both humans and Silurians to share the planet. But achieving such an aim might be more difficult than imagined. Especially when the worst that can happen, does.

"Cold Blood" marks the best script penned by Chibnall thus far when you consider some of his less rewarding work on "Torchwood" for example. It's tightly paced, with sympathetic and likable characters and although it occasionally wallows in sheer cheesiness and arguably relies on the odd plot contrivance to further it's basic yet effective plot, it's never the less a tort and thrilling run around. There are ultimately a number of the predictable clichés which come with a story regarding what is essentially the clash of two cultures who eventually have to fight to find some common ground. The fact that the Silurian prisoner Alaya is actually the sister of Resctac the military commander of the reptilian race seems all too convenient a plot device to provoke further animosity while Restac her self as with her sister are never properly developed and come across as just two angry two-dimensional caricatures who merely spit out venomous bile about humans. And there are of course the requisite, more benign Silurian protagonists although given the plot are more or less a necessity.

It's thank god then that the stories denouement partially makes up for these flaws with a chilling and emotional climax which would hopefully silence detractors who have accused the show as being too sugar coated and aimed at kids. Like "The Waters of Mars" it has an exceedingly grim conclusion although arguably more effectively handled and less heavy handed, utilising the tale to include the cracks in time seen throughout the series beautifully. The episode nicely exploits the callousness and perhaps the ultimate futility of war when understanding and diplomacy would be better used with Smith's Doctor playing mediator or peacemaker. Even the humans and not simply the Silurians are not totally depicted as being entirely good or bad and the shades of grey that consist in every one of us are employed with sublime craftsmanship as with nobility seen on either side.

The performances as has more or less been seen to be through out the fifth series are uniformly excellent with both Smith and Gillan once again proving to be as ever dependable in their respective roles with Gillan in-particular worthy of note giving it her all in the stories shocking climax. As is the same can be said for Arthur Darvill as Rory who proves to be growing to be more and more endearing. Inspired support as displayed in THE from Meera Syal, Robert Pugh, Nia Roberts et al while Samuel Davies as young Elliot may very well be an up and coming name to look out for in future. And It's largely due not only Davies likable performance but Chibnalls characterisation that Elliot doesn't slip in to the usual pitfall of an irritating, contrived child protagonist.

A solid then if not overwhelming classic episode which neatly concludes this two parter CB highlights the upward spiral of the Moffat era. Enjoyable, intelligent although perhaps hardly inspired or original it's never the less without it's surprises and with hints that the best and most shocking might be yet to come I can only hope Moffat delivers on his promise.

An army of Silurians, all ready to join the fight, just waiting to be roused from their millenniums of night, the apes above will have to fight for all that they're worth, once the subterranean lizards seek to reclaim planet Earth.