I'm actually at a loss for words with this review. I don't really have much to say that is either good or bad about it. It was just ho-hum for me.
I wanted to like this. I really did. Unfortunately I found the pace to be a bit plodding, and I wasn't particularly happy with the Ice Warrior character. This author also wrote The Celestial Toymaker and The Smugglers, a couple of my least favorite episodes. I didn't like their outfits, and they moved in the very slow fashion that many of the Doctor Who aliens move. Also, they spoke very slowly with lots of hissing. I'm not a big fan of slow talkers. It's just a way to stretch things out a bit. The movement and attitude of The Ice Warriors did remind me a bit of The Web Planet where it took forever to speak, and even longer to move. I just felt a lack of energy. There was a surprising amount of dialogue even amongst the Ice Warriors and they didn't seem very warrior like.
I had issues with the ultimate message so to speak. From what I surmised, the Ice Warriors and their spaceship are frozen in time, and resurrected by the humans. All other Ice Warriors are presumably dead, and they are the last of their kind. I'm assuming the Ice Warriors want to return to Mars, their home planet, but they have to use the Base to power the ship. Therefore it seemed dreadfully ruthless on the Doctor's part to murder the Ice Warriors, even though the warriors were going about it in a somewhat violent way. The Ice Warriors were sad that they were alone. I think we're supposed to feel sorry for them. Well I did, anyway. I will admit that the Ice Warriors were violent and angry, but they felt trapped and I don't think that the Doctor and the humans paused for even a millisecond in their decision to kill the Ice Warriors. Why am I defending the Ice Warriors? Hah! I guess their base was being threatened and for the humans it was a matter of survival.
In the Matt Smith episode, I believe that the Ice Warrior is portrayed in a different light. Matt Smith also seemed a bit more caring about the Warrior's plight, and less inclined to blow him all to smithereens.
Jamie is incapacitated throughout much of this episode. I feel as though his character has become rather needless with the 2nd "take charge" kind of Doctor. Victoria held her own when she was captured by the Ice Warriors, despite the little screams here and there. She did a lot of running about through tunnels, but it is unusual for the Doctor Who girls to do that alone.
It is an interesting thought that far into the distant future the ice age returneth. The crazy scientist has run away from his job, and has basically become a hobo, or scavenger. Doctor Who is very big on dirty, unkempt savages. I notice they seem to find a way of working them into every plot. I was trying to care about the scientists who were running the base, but they were rather ordinary. The only interesting guy is the maverick scientist who runs away for no apparent and then returns, for no apparent reason.
In a humorous moment, the TARDIS lands on its side, and they have to climb out. However, in the end the TARDIS seems to have righted itself all on its own. That's a good TARDIS!
Next Up: The Enemy of the World
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