john_amend_all

Happy Christmas, for those readers who celebrate it.

A couple of brief episode reactions:

Professor Branestawm Returns: I didn't think this one was quite as successful as the first; it's an occupational hazard of sequels that all the good ideas were used the first time round. Also, the plot relies on there being a comparative shortage of inventions, which is a pity when a lot of the fun comes from the wacky gadgets. I did like the bait-and-switch with Connie's "tablet" actually being tablet-sized, and my favourite character was the axe-wielding, cliché-spouting 'skeleton key'.

Doctor Who: River, as I've mentioned before, can annoy me. This time was one of the less-annoying appearances for me, probably because it was a what-River-does story rather than a who-River-is story. And given the preponderance of grimth in these last two seasons, silliness and heists and explosions and villains whom the Doctor and River can dismiss with a wave of the hand are all to the good.

As far as I can see, there's no possibility for River to return to the TV series after this unless it's a multi-Doctor episode or she's post-Library. She's stated as never having met any post-Eleven Doctor before, and from her point of view she doesn't encounter the Doctor — any Doctor — again before being uploaded into the Library. Though I suppose now Big Finish are making adventures for Ten they could have her make an appearance in that range.

(River has pictures of all the Doctors up to Eleven. So has she met earlier ones? I have to say thinking of what the War Doctor might make of her boggles the mind somewhat).