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Dr. Who Series 5 - The Pandorica Opens (Patreon)

Published:
2023-01-28 15:00:07
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

YESSSSSSS.....Finaleeeeeeeee :D :D :D

Files

Previews only

The Pandorica opens Patreon ready

Comments

Andrew Gwilliam

I'm not really a fan of how the episode starts, Moffat can go OTT with throwing stuff at the screen in quick succession. Also, later on, River/Alex nodding her head in agreement while on the telephone is just dumb. But this episode picks up as it goes on, and there's some great stuff in it: the Doctor's speech was indeed epic, even though it turned out to be a waste of time; River's dawning realisation that something is somehow horribly wrong; Amy struggling to understand who Rory really is; and there's some phenomenal use of music. It's pretty hard to top that cliffhanger, too, which really has an impact of hopelessness to it as Amy dies, the Doctor is incarcerated inside a purpose-built box, and then the universe more or less blows up. I think I've grown to appreciate this episode more than I did when I first watched it, and certainly back then I had a fear (especially after disliking most of RTD's finales) whether the next episode would stick the landing. It's going to feel like a long wait to see your reaction to Episode 13!

Stephen Males

I really enjoyed the opening sequence with all the call-backs to people we have met during the series. But my favourite is River tricking the new guard with her hallucinogenic lipstick. And the huge "Hello Sweetie" on the rock face of course. The scenes with Rory are first shocking, then funny and then heart-breaking. Three of the things I look for in Doctor Who tbh. A great episode and the ending is incredibly downbeat. Designed to make you long for the sequel. A vortex manipulator is what Captain Jack was using for time travel when he was a Time Agent. That's back when he first met the Doctor and Rose. I think the idea is that all Time Agents had them and that's how the blue guy got hold of one. Apparently, they could only film at the real Stonehenge for one night and for a short period of daylight first thing in the morning. Nobody was supposed to touch any of the stones although it looks like the Doctor does in a couple of scenes. I don't know whether Matt was breaking the rule or if the camera work just made it look like he was.

Tumbili

Rory is a plastic robot, Amy is dead, River is in the Tardis as it explodes, the Doctor is imprisoned inside the Pandorica, and every galaxy in the universe has disappeared from existence. See you next week, sweetie!

Ian Smith

It's the end of the Universe :o Or is it simply Moffat running rings around us, writing the most cliffhangery of all cliffhangers...because he can! You have a week to decide. :) The best moment of this episode for me? Rory's reappearance,and the Doctors reaction to him. A truly memorable and lovely moment.

Jade Ellis

I'm not going to give my rating/ranking yet as it's a two part story but I love the opening to this with all the call backs to people we've seen in the series. Love the scene with the Doctor discovering Rory and the ending with Rory killing Amy always brings tears to my eyes. Amy dead, Rory an Auton, the Doctor trapped in the Pandorca, River trapped inside the exploding Tardis and every planet and star gone! That final shot of Earth alone in the universe, what a cliffhanger. Can't wait for the next reaction. Oh and that speech by the Doctor, Amazing.

Andrew Vignaux

"There was a goblin, or a trickster, or a warrior. A nameless, terrible thing soaked in the blood of a billion galaxies. The most feared being in the Cosmos.", The Doctor, "The Pandorica Opens" I really like the episode callbacks during the pre-title sequence tracking the Van Gogh painting passing through history with the characters we've seen this season - nicely done. River is offered a vortex manipulator "fresh off the wrist of a handsome Time Agent" (it turns out the wrist was included). I suppose we're meant to worry it might could be Captain Jack (as a handsome Time Agent) - it's not made clear but it probably isn't. But what about worrying it might be Captain John (James Marsters) - I don't know if people are meant to consider that possiblity - althought it probably isn't him either. The "Hello, Sweetie" being carved into the cliff face reminded me of a bit from one of "The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" books. Also, there's a nod to a Classic Who episode in some of the lettering on the cliff, if Classic fans are quick enough to spot it. It's nice that they mention that Stonehenge is old - even back in the time of the Romans - actually more than 2000 years before Roman times. And of course it means they can use the real (old) Stonehenge rather then needing a nice new-looking prop. Almost every enemy we've see in New Who appears at the end of the episode (and some from Torchwood and SJA too). Also, a few monsters who were in Classic Who and one from a novel are named as being present. So that's another nice reference for the Classic Who fandom. We get Christopher Ryan back as the main Sontaran who was the original Sontaran in "The Poison Sky" two-parter. All the Sontarans are meant to look the same but it's nice they got the actor back. BTW: if you remember that BTS video with the Sontaran trying to walk up the stairs to the filming location in order to shot at Martha and Mickey - that was Dan Starkey who played the other Sontaran in "The Poison Sky". I was not really a big fan of having the huge Dalek fleet at the end of Series 1 - and this collection of "every enemy we've ever seen" gives me the same feeling. But, it is needed for the story so - ok. "Yes, I know that Rory. I'm not exactly one to miss the obvious.", The Doctor (completely missing the fact that Rory has just reappeared), "The Pandorica Opens"

Andrew Vignaux
>>100717861

Oh, I forgot to mention something. One thing that occurred to me when I first watched the episode was that I was surprised that the Silurians (from "The Hungry Earth" two-parter) were in the monster group at the end. I mean, I understand that the production people would have had a bunch of Silurian soldier costumes and some film extras who had been in the costumes only a few stories before, so I wasn't shocked that they would choose to show some Silurians. It's just that, story-wise, the Daleks have a huge galaxy/universe-sized impact, and so do the Cybermen, and the Sontarens, etc. I can understand all of them being involved in a universal plan to stop the explosion. But the Silurians have a much more local/Earth-based history so I thought it was a bit curious that they would be involved in the huge universal plan. Anyway, I was surprised to see them.

Andrew Gwilliam
>>100717861

Not to mention their inclusion doesn't seem to fit with what we've learned of them. However, as with the mention of the Draconians, my headcanon that this is a separate group who have crossed paths with the Doctor in unknown (or at least, untelevised) circumstances.

Andrew Gwilliam
>>100717861

There's also the slight question mark about which Cybermen these are. They have the Cybus Industries logo on their chests, which I believe the production team has acknowledged to be a simple error, but when I rewatched the episode the other day it struck me that it's the Cyberleader who says something about "all universes" being threatened. So I'm still unclear whether or not they're from the parallel universe seen in Series 2.

Andrew Vignaux
>>100717861

I keep having to remind myself that you don't need to be a traditional enemy of the Doctor in order to be part of this grand coalition to avoid the TARDIS explosion. You just need to believe that it is the Doctor's fault and the universe would be safer if he were locked up. I agree this group of Silurians had to be a group that hadn't crossed paths with the Doctor in a televised show - because we're in Roman times and all of the televised encounters were post-1970 (UNIT time) - ignoring some kind of time travel by these Silurians.

Andrew Gwilliam
>>100717861

That's a couple of good points! I always think of the confrontation as taking place "now" (i.e. 2010) for some reason. Ooph. Epic fail on my part!

Nicologik Reacts
>>100601330

Haha I didn´t even pick up on the head nodding, you´re right it doesn´t make any sense :D :D It´s indeed a very hopeless ending. I wonder if we will, like with many Dr. episodes, resolve many main issues in the first 5 minutes of the next episode. :D I don´t think so though. Thank you for your thoughts about the episode. I´m so curious to find out how this story will end.

Nicologik Reacts
>>100608351

I liked that River scene, too. The one with the lipstick and the guard :D Yes the episode was great, can´t wait to see how it will continue and finally conclude. :) Ohhhhh thank you so much for the explanation about the vortex manipulator. I totally forgot that Jack was using one. Hmmmm now my mind is already thinking about the probable use in this case....... Just one night? That´s not a lot of time, considering that they had to film scenes for two episodes at that place. And it´s not allowed to touch the stones? Only for them, or for visitors in general?

Nicologik Reacts
>>100620724

I haven´t made up my mind yet, and it´s already thursday :D :D And yes, the Rory doctor moment was super cute :)

Nicologik Reacts
>>100682151

Thank you so much for your thoughts about the episode. I agree with every single sentence. And I really have absolutely no idea whatsoever, how we are going to get out of this one :)

Nicologik Reacts
>>100717861

I liked those opening scenes as well. Great start to an even better episode :) Thank you for explaining the vortex manipulator issue. I didn´t catch that one while watching. But you´re right, it could be one of the Captains vortex manipulators indeed. Hmmm..... Wow I never knew that Stonehenge is actually that old. Nice to know though, thanks :) I´m glad I´m not the only one thinking it´s ok for them to bring the Daleks and others back, because it´s important to tell this story, even though we don´t like to have them back every single series :) Or at least in the finales. I agree, the Silurians are supposed to be "non alien", so they don´t really fit into the story. But I´m ok with them beeing there, too :)

Stephen Males
>>100608351

From what I can remember it is for all visitors. Many years ago this was not the case in fact there is a scene in the novel Tess of the D'Urbavilles when some people sleep amongst the stones. But I think in the sixties and seventies there were a lot of problems with damage and graffiti so now it is very strict.

Andrew Gwilliam
>>100608351

Stonehenge was private property until 1903 or thereabouts, so Hardy was perhaps writing either before then, or of a time before that happened. Although I don't suppose there was any security for a good time after that, anyway!