C+Q - The Pandorica Opens (2010)
The Series 5 finale, despite being full of Moffat trademarks,
is strangely RTD-shaped. This was before Series 6 introduced
single-part finales and back when the finale stakes kept getting
more and more epic. Series 1's finale kept its conflict
thousands of years in the future, something Jackie draws
attention to at one point. Series 2's finale puts the Earth at
risk of being taken over, then Series 3's finale has the Earth
actually being taken over. Similarly, Series 4's finale
threatened to end the universe, and now we have Series 5's
finale which actually does it. From here, the finales become
more about personal conflicts (although the universe does still
collapse occasionally because the Doctor's personal conflicts
are like that sometimes). Still, while part two gets all
apocalyptic, part one is a perfect build-up to the universe
ending with a really simple idea - a box with something
mysterious inside is about to open.
The pre-title
sequence is an all-time classic. It brings together elements the
previous adventures in a wonderful summary of the people and
places we've met and visited this series, tracking the journey
of a painting from the mind of Vincent Van Gogh to the hands of
Dr River Song. The whole thing flies by at an amazing pace,
always giving just enough exposition to keep up with. It's the
sort of script that makes you feel clever for being able to
follow it despite being really easy to follow. It's clever but
never snobbish, bringing me along with it rather than trying to
outsmart me. After the opening titles, the logical leap from the
painting to Stonehenge is dealt with in a single line from the
Doctor, but the whole thing feels so smart it never occurs to
you that it could've just been a lucky guess.
On top of
that, the whole episode is just damn cool. Stonehenge opening up
to reveal a secret underground chamber containing a prison which
in turn contains the most dangerous thing in the universe whose
identity is a secret is just...so fucking cool. Even before we
see the ensemble of villains at the end, the big list of
villains who've all come for the Pandorica sounds conceptually
bigger and more epic than any TV budget could manage. On a very
basic level it's all just very exciting. That smile the Doctor
gives before he pushes the door open and reveals the Pandorica
pretty much sums it all up - this is dangerous and the world
could end but mostly it's just so much fun.
The speech
the Doctor gives to all the spaceships flying around above
Stonehenge is one of those big bombastic speeches that previous
Doctors are asked to perform at cons, and while it isn't the
most emotional or deep speech in the world, it still kinda kicks
ass. Also speaking of all those villains, this is one of the
only times we see a Paradigm Dalek post-Victory of the Daleks.
It's wild how that design features more prominently in Smith era
games (of which there are surprisingly many) than in Smith era
episodes. The final twist that the villains are all coming
together to lock the Doctor away is brilliant and makes perfect
sense with the hints we've been given.
It's nice to have
(a version of) Rory back, and it helps build to one of the most
ridiculous cliffhangers Doctor Who has ever done - Amy is killed
and the universe ends. Kinda feels like one can't happen without
the other but there you go. It's interesting that the moment the
universe ends could be seen as 'silence falling' back when we
didn't know this arc would continue throughout the entire Smith
era. It's an interpretation of the Silence that falls more in
line with the Vampires of Venice version of it being a
destructive force ripping worlds apart - a version that doesn't
really fit with what the Silence ended up being but oh well.
The Pandorica Opens is exciting, suspenseful, and just a
great start to the finale. It's a simple plot about an evil box
opening but it's told with wit and charm and full of memorable
moments.
Next: The Big Bang