The Impossible Astronaut

After the hype surrounding the commencement of the sixth series of NuWho, I like so many other waited with baited breath for the first episode to hit our screens which would herald the first two part story to actually open the series. "The Impossible Astronaut" written by current executive producer Steven Moffat, a gifted writer with a formidable imagination has had the odd story which to be fair I have found a bit underwhelming and sadly although not a bad opening episode I felt a bit cheated overall. 

It's premise is intriguing with current Doctor Matt Smith leaving messages for companions Amy and Rory as well as River Song to meet him in the Utah Dessert for some unbeknown reason. After they all meet something unexpected occurs involving what appears to be an Apollo mission Astronaut which further leads to the Doctor, Amy Rory and River Song to travel to the Whitehouse in 1969 where they meet Richard Nixon who is being plagued by mysterious phone calls from what sounds like a little girl. I can't give any more away than that as to say more would be to reveal too much and for considering this is a story that is is about It's surprises there are several of those. 

I'll start with saying that there are some things to credit the TIA with in that the production values as with the series in the past several years is very high with excellent recreations of the oval office and 1969 USA to the interior of as run-down alien spacecraft. The stories premise is interesting given what unfolds as events play out and for the most part the performances by all are first rate, with only Karen Gillan as Amy failing to convince slightly in one early scene. There is some great interplay with the characters and some of the usual banter before things shift in to darker territory. The problem however is that Moffat reveals too much too soon which means as the story progresses the pace is forced to wind down too soon leading to too many padded out scenes. Everything has been stretched out a little too thinly. One particular scene in the oval office involving one of President Nixon's Bodyguards itself feels a bit stilted. Add to this the whole conceit of the Doctor leaving his past self and his companions messages and messing around with the whole non-chronological nature of time travel, a all too convenient and over used plot device that was utilised back in 1989's "Battlefield" and further exploited by Moffat at first with fabulous ingenuity has now become a bit laboured and tiresome. Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing and It's beginning to show.

The alien menace without giving too much away are genuinely menacing and although much has been left unanswered so for I am fascinated with what they are and what there purpose within the context of the story will revealed to be. While there powers when displayed hint at a ominous and imposing threat everything culminates in a cliffhanger ended which while appropriately baffling seems a bit anti-climatic.

All in all TIA is a case of being filled with promising ideas but so-so execution but with a wonderfully played scene with Rory and River Song where the latter tells how every time she meets the Doctor he gradually knows her less and less due to their unusual non-chronological relationship to help bolster what is another wise mediocre script It just feels like something that could have been so much more than it actually is.

The plot seems just fine, and we know we're being set up for another season-long story arc. I'm excited to go along for the ride. My commentary is more about the BBC/BBCA joint venture. The scenery was, as you would expect from Utah at that time of day/year, beautiful.

What bothers me generally as an American, is we know when someone is faking the accent. Whether it's Charlie Hunnam on Sons of Anarchy, or Mr. Delaware here, we know it's put on - thick. I think if we're willing to suspend disbelief for the plot in the name of entertainment, we could do so for FBI agents with accents. Who knows, they could be part of some foreign-exchange program(me?).

Also, that diner they went to. A giant American flag and a Chevy poster montage? While I have no doubt that there are diners that look like this (in AmericaTowns all across the globe) I guess I was hoping that the Doctor's first extended foray into US culture would have been more representative of it's true nature. Our dining establishments are not furnished solely with red vinyl seats and chrome plating. That would be like assuming British folks only eat fish & chips - their version of our burger and fries, I suppose. But Morgan Spurlock showed us what happens if one tries to live on fish & chips alone...

So, next time, let's see the doctor choking down some Waffle House and driving around in a 75 Lincoln. He's got two hearts, it'd take a lot longer to clog his arteries or feel the effects of the smog his rolling TARDIS would create.

Otherwise, I'm really looking forward to the new season ("series"? no, you're in America now!) and all of the twists and turns that we've come to expect from this wonderfully produced series.

The Doctor writes to and rounds up his friends, Amy and Rory, Professor River Song to meet up in The USA. An Astronaut comes out of the water and shoots the Doctor dead, but soon later, a younger version of the Doctor meets the three companions. They travel back to 1969 to meet up with the forth person the Doctor wrote to Canton Everett Delaware 3rd, a former FBI agent drafted in by President Nixon. Nixon is receiving calls from a young girl in trouble. The Doctor, Amy, Rory, River and Canton go in search of the little girl. On the site where she had been River and Rory discover a control room, the same as we last saw in 'The Lodger,' underground are monsters with massive powers and the perfect defence mechanism, once seen they are instantly forgotten.

It looks great, the setting is so different, it feels very fresh and new. Series 5 looked a little dull in parts, on this offering Moffat really upped his game.

Fans of the Edvard Munch will love the Silence, clear influence for the wonderful monsters, great concept that you see them and then forget.

I liked how River talked about her timeline and how it worked in opposite directions to the Doctor's, she said 'the day is coming when i'll look into that man's eye and he won't have the faintest idea who I am,' does she mean the library?

Series 6 opens up in a big way, this was an excellent opening episode, big scale, interesting series arc beginning, some big shocks and lots of clues to get you interested. It is seriously cleverly written and a huge cliffhanger is left.

Fantastic 10/10

I guess this season we will find everything about River Song and I love that. The episode itself is dark and intriguing. The astronaut and the alien both are spooky. And I am looking forward to second part. In great hopes this season will be better then the fifth.

Just watched The Impossible Astronaut twice back to back. The second time I was looking for clues.

This is the best thing that has been on TV in months. Yes Moffat likes putting the bad guys in space suites. Before it was skeletons this time not skeletons.....but maybe he is repeating the motif for a purpose. Yes it is a child's voice on the phone, and yes he does like disembodied voices, but somehow on a second viewing I find myself trusting Moffat is being very deliberate.

The show was clever, witty and loaded with meaning. Utah was stunning and casting real life father and son as Canton Deleware III young and old added depth.

I'm 46 my son is 20 and we have very different viewing habits and tastes but we about half way through we turned to each other and agreed "this is very good". If Part II is as good then this will go down as a classic.