Blu-ray Review: ‘Doctor Who Series Seven, Part Two’

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Doctor Who Series Seven, Part Two’ on Blogcritics.

The final eight episodes of BBC’s Doctor Who Series Seven, airing months after the beginning of the run, feel quite a bit different than the first five, so it makes sense to package them separately. Gone are Amy and Rory, and the Doctor (Matt Smith) now has a new companion named Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman), who has died twice, but doesn’t remember those past lives. Who is Clara, and will we finally get an answer to the prevalent question, doctor who?

The first episode in this two-disc release, “The Bells of Saint John,” finds the Doctor secluded in the 13th century, living among monks, having given up his search for the mysterious Clara, a journey begun in the Christmas special that aired just prior to this. Then, he gets a phone call from Clara in the modern day, who thinks the Doctor is tech support, and he flies to her side.

Disappointingly, this installment fails to get into who Clara is, instead delivering a third introduction story for the character, while also rushing into another battle with the Great Intelligence (Richard E. Grant), albeit this time without the Doctor figuring out who his foe is. It’s a fun episode, with some wonderful moments between Clara and the Doctor, but does almost nothing for the serial tale, answering none of the questions fans have been anxiously awaiting.

This trend continues for the next six weeks. The Doctor and Clara see the remarkable “Rings of Akhaten,” go into a Russian submarine during the “Cold War” and find an Ice Warrior, “Hide”
from ghosts stuck in time, “Journey to the Centre or the TARDIS,” which does not care for Clara, help Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny (Catrin Stewart), and Strax (Dan Starkey) investigate “The Crimson Horror,” and find a “Nightmare in Silver,” a.k.a. the Cyberman, in an abandoned amusement park.

All of these are whimsical stories, and it’s gratifying to see returning characters and villains, plus some terrific guest stars, such as Warwick Davis (Life’s Too Short). They all serve to strengthen the bond between the Doctor and Clara, and present some amusing stand-alone tales. But with the massive setup for more that viewers are looking for, it comes across a slightly disappointing run over all, even if they are pretty enjoyable episodes taken on their own.

But then we get “The Name of the Doctor,” the amazing season finale. The Great Intelligence is back, as are Vastra, Jenny, and Strax. Beloved River Song (Alex Kingston) plays a vital role, and the secret of Clara is explored. The characters gather at the Doctor’s tomb, and thanks to some incredible editing, the previous ten doctors are involved. There is a startling surprise ending, introducing John Hurt as a brand new incarnation of a familiar face, beautifully setting up this fall’s big 50th anniversary special. It is everything we’ve been waiting for.

Some have complained that “The Name of the Doctor” contradicts previously established events. Doctor Who teaches us that time can be fluid, and there may very well be good explanation for why things unfold the way they do. I recommend reserving judgment until we see where else Steven Moffat and company are going with the story next.

Doctor Who has always balanced the serial with the procedural, so I’m not sure why I am let down by the same type of mix here. I think it may be because Clara doesn’t immediately make herself accessible, as some past companions have done. Part of it could be because we’re so close to a huge reveal that’s been building for years. Whatever the reason, repeat viewings are more satisfying, and “The Rings of Akhaten” and “Nightmare in Silver,” in particular, are very, very good, so I do recommend getting this set and watching it numerous times.

As usual, the high definition presentation on the Blu-ray is everything you could ask for. Doctor Who has a number of different settings, so that are lots of opportunity to explore fantastical, special effects-heavy worlds, as well as varying color schemes. All of this comes across as rich and detailed. An at-times-stellar score mixes perfectly with the crisp dialogue, and there are never any complaints of static or graininess. Considering some of the spectacular visuals, Blu-ray is the recommended format to view it in.

For extras, there are two measly inclusions. There is a delightful, but short, prequel to “The Bells of Saint John,” which is definitely worth watching, and a second prequel to “The Name of the Doctor,” is also present. That’s it. There is nothing to give insight into the making of these episodes. I assume we’ll have to wait for The Complete Seventh Series for more, though I’ll also be disappointed if there is more on that, just because it forces another purchase of episodes we already have. In an ideal world, the extras would all be on the two smaller sets, and The Complete Seventh Series would just be a value method to buy for those who waited. Oh, well.

Doctor Who Series Seven, Part Two is available now.

LIFE'S TOO SHORT Too Short

Article first published as LIFE'S TOO SHORT Too Short on TheTVKing.

At the end of season one of HBO's Life's Too Short, Warwick Davis (himself) is in a bad place, near bankrupt and divorced, having run away the girl he's into, and his professional career is sputtering. So it's nice to see an immediate bounce back from everyone's favorite dwarf in the finale special, which aired this week, with Warwick's business doing OK, the actor having reconnected with Amy (Kiruna Stamell), and a big opportunity being presented.

It karma is to be believed, Warwick is earning his success. He is finally being nice to others and putting his clients' interests first, and in turn, he is finding good things. It's a lot easier to root for this version of Warwick than the one we saw for the first seven episodes, and so there's a positivity here that is lacking previously. It's uplifting.

But this is a comedy, which milks suffering and sorrow for laughter. As such, it isn't long before Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (themselves) are warning Warwick that his dream of Willow 2 is a lie, and he is being taken advantage of by Val Kilmer (himself). Warwick works really hard, but he just fails, and that's the way it is.

There is something both depressing and poignant when Warwick decides to dissolve his agency and meets with his clients to deliver the news. Life is hard, something most people have to face. While a famous actor is usually considered immune from such struggles, Life's Too Short shows us that is not always how it is in a very relatable story. Warwick must face the truth, and through him, we do, too.

Does this mean that Life's Too Short concludes in a bad place? Sort of. The series is over now and we will never see Warwick make it back to the top. Yet, that is sort of the message conveyed here, that he will likely never be back on top. However, that doesn't mean he should quit trying, because life is all about the journey, not the ending. It's this insight that makes this special so much better than the original batch of episodes.

Besides series creators Merchant and Gervais and star Warwick, the rest of the cast from the show returns. Cheryl (Rosamund Harris) continues to play the clueless assistant, Steve Brody is the clueless accountant, and Bryan  Medici (Colin Hoult) is the clueless psychic adviser. Sue (Josephine Enright), Warwick's ex-wife also appears, but instead of being the same, as the others are, we see the side of her that worked in a marriage with Warwick, and what their relationship must have been like in the good times. They may never reconcile romantically, but they can continue on as friends.

There is also a really good subplot involving Les Dennis, Shaun Williamson, and Keith Chegwin (themselves). These are three men whose show biz careers are completely dead, until Warwick has an idea to resurrect them. The traveling act they put on is brilliant and hilarious. Yet, when they taste fame again, they are willing to cast Warwick aside to better help themselves. It's another lesson for Warwick, presented in such a way that it's hard to be mad at the men for making this decision.

Life's Too Short is more than just a funny show. It's a complex portrait of a man and an industry, of human nature and of complicated relationships. Everyone seeks their place and those who can help them achieve their dreams. Sometimes, you can do right by others, and sometimes you can't if you want to break the cycle of failure. There isn't right or wrong or good or bad in these situations. There is just life. And you can control your attitude towards it.

I wish the show wouldn't end so soon.

Life's Too Short another hit for Gervais and Merchant

This week, Life's Too Short premiered on HBO. The series is a fictional mockumentary, following the life of Britain's "go-to dwarf," Warwick Davis (played by the real Warwick Davis). While fans of Davis may know him from his turn in the Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises, and less so for a starring role in Willow, this Warwick is short on cash and going through a messy divorce. So he bugs his old friends Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to find him work, which is not something that they are eager to do. 

Life's Too Short blurs the line between reality and fiction. What is happening on screen is scripted, not real. It would be quite surprising if Davis is really hard up for dough, given the long list of screen credits he carries, including many recent projects. Instead, in the style of Gervais and Merchant's previous series, The Office and Extras, a doddering idiot runs around with a lot of moxie, but little skill to get what he wants. Because the guy at the center of this show is playing a character who shares his name and much of his back story, one can be forgiven for thinking, at first, that this is non-fiction. However, Warwick Davis is just another character in the vein of David Brent.

Which is not a complaint at all! Davis really sells the part, making Life's Too Short very enjoyable. Also, Merchant and Gervais have perfected this shtick over time, and what is presented in this latest incarnation is actually very smooth and funny. From climbing through the doggy door of his house, to bending reality when speaking of his divorce, the character of Davis is someone who is very entertaining, even if he is not well liked.

Those who complain that Life's Too Short is offensive haven't been watching very well. The involvement of Davis in the project, as well as a number of other very short actors, gets around the picking on dwarves criticism, since they are complicit in the project. People are surely allowed to make fun of themselves, no? Plus, there is never an issue of size in anything that matters. His wife isn't leaving him because of his stature. His height has nothing to do with why Merchant and Geravis are annoyed with him. Instead, it's Warwick's blustery attitude that the show rides on.

Like Extras, Life's Too Short looks to recruit many A-list guest stars. In the first episode, Davis sits in on a meeting between Liam Neeson and Gervais and Merchant. Neeson insists he would like to get into comedy, and aided by Gervais, Neeson practices some improv. Nesson keeps throwing AIDS and other dark material into the sketch, which is actually quite hilarious, mostly because of the awkward air in the room. While the character of Neeson may not be able to garner any laughs, the actor certainly knows just the right delivery to hit on.

Life's Too Short is a fantastic show that should not be missed. Tune in to HBO Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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The Ricky Gervais Show goes to a "Night Club"

     Every episode of HBO's The Ricky Gervais Show is hilarious. I have yet to see a half hour where I didn't laugh out loud at least a few times. However, this week's outing struck me as particularly good for a number of elements. Time to discuss.

     First, Karl Pilkington somehow dances around a delicate subject without really being insulting. Stephen Merchant mentions that Karl should meet Warwick Davis, and Karl goes on a little tangent about short people. But while I kept expecting him to say something completely awkward, which he almost does when admitting how odd he would feel around 'Warren' at first, Karl is simply admitting what would be anyone's first impression. His naivete is what allows Karl to get away with it, while most people can't. That, and Karl follows up his remarks by justifying why he would much rather be really short than really tall.

     Karl also makes me feel sorry for slugs. Who but him would complain about the natural favoritism humans give to furry animals over others? While Karl does not sway me into changing my personal feelings on the slimy creatures, he does raise an interesting truism that, while obvious, is rarely mentioned. My best guess is that because mankind used to be more furry, we still have quite a bit of hair, we identify with small, furry creates as we would our own young. Karl doesn't offer this explanation, but complains about the treatment of slugs. Although, he also thinks slugs are insects, so I can't give him too much credit.

     Also worth noting is Karl's poem, where he begins by mentioning a Chinese guy, then later corrects himself that the man is Japanese. Ricky calls him on it, pointing out that most people would just go back and fix the mistake. Not Karl. That's not how he works. He probably didn't even consider doing such a thing. Which is his charm.

     My favorite part, though, is that Stephen actually tells a story about something that has happened to him. Generally, Stephen is the quiet one of the group, commenting, but not offering his own experiences. He is an excellent moderator, but rarely strays into full-blown character. That changes, as Stephen tells of his embarrassing experience outside of a night club. A bouncer recognizes him, but will not let him in.

     Which made me realize something. While the main draw of this series is Karl's, um, unique perspective on things, Stephen is the glue that holds it all together. Ricky is often aggressively on the offensive, probing Karl to discover what makes him tick, and calling him on anything he believes less than honest. Stephen sometimes does that, too, but mostly he reserves judgment. He is comparatively quiet with his opinions, though he does talk plenty, and seems like a genuinely nice guy. I have always respect Merchant, but I think that last night, I became a fan.

     Watch The Ricky Gervais Show Friday nights at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Article first published as TV Review: The Ricky Gervais Show - "Night Club" on Blogcritics.

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