tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-04-12:49198Space Opera and Military SFSpace Opera and Military SFSpace Opera and Military SF2013-04-12T20:31:20Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2009-04-12:49198:1890ed_rexThe Rings of Akhaten, reviewed2013-04-12T20:31:20Z2013-04-12T20:31:20Zpublic0Posted by: <span lj:user='ed_rex' style='white-space: nowrap;' class='ljuser'><a href='https://ed-rex.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://ed-rex.dreamwidth.org/'><b>ed_rex</b></a></span><br /><br /><h3>The Rings of Akhaten" is solid <em>Doctor Who</em></h3>
<h4>Decent space opera fun is welcome tonic in a dismal era</h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="150" align="left" style="margin: 5px 8px; float: left;"><tr><td style="padding:0px;"><img src="http://ed-rex.com/sites/default/files/2013_01/rings_of_akhaten01_small.jpg" alt="The Rings of Akhaten, screenshot detail." /></td></tr></table>
<p>I really enjoyed this episode on my first viewing and, despite hearing from some quarters that it was awful — worse even than "<a href="http://www.ed-rex.com/reviews/bells_of_saint_john" target="_blank">The Bells of Saint John</a>" — I liked it well enough the second time 'round, too. But then I've always had a preference for off-Earth adventures and have a fondness for space stations, so possibly I cut it more slack than I otherwise might.</p>
<p>In any case, "The Rings of Akhaten" suffers from special effects more ambitious than successful and, maybe, from a script that was cut down hard to make a two-part story into a single episode, but still managed some decent space opera fun, a welcome dollop of secular-humanist scepticism courtesy of the Doctor and our first chance to get to know Clara Oswald as more than just a mystery with a fetching smile, but as a genuine character.</p>
<p>For my full review, visit <a href="http://ed-rex.com/reviews/rings_of_akhaten" target="_blank">"Good news from the Rings, someplace (almost) awesome"</a>. Spoilers as per usual.</p><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=spaceopera&ditemid=1890" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments