Doctor Who 7 x 05
The Angels Take Manhattan
“…Just make it a good one.”
And what a good one it was.
I can’t bear to watch the episode again. I woke up this morning, thought about it, and started crying again. Luckily Tumblr exists and I can see all the key moments without having to actually watch it. So here are my thoughts, posted after the jump for any spoilerphobes out there who haven’t seen the episode yet.
Honestly, it could not have ended any other way. Amy and Rory. The Girl Who Waited and The Last Centurion. Together, one refusing to be without the other. Zapped back in time where they lived out the rest of their days leading a happy and full life (in New York, I assume?) forever changed by their time with The Doctor. Tragic, yes. But it would have been worse had they been separated forever. My pain is eased knowing that they were together as they always should have been. Together or not at all. “It’s called marriage.”
Ugh. I need a moment.
How AMAZING was that last scene in the graveyard though? I would say I couldn’t breathe during it, but that would be false, because I was convulsively sobbing. I felt Amy’s panic and determination and bravery. I felt The Doctor’s devastation in every fiber of my being. Terrific performances by Matt, Arthur, Alex and Kaz.
When it was first announced that Doctor Who would be filming in New York City, I was determined that I would see them film. I remember sitting at my desk that day in April going INSANE knowing they were filming in Central Park. I popped out of work at 5:30 and have NEVER gotten to the park so fast in my life. I made it there about 20 minutes before they wrapped and saw Matt and Kaz filming a scene on a bench.

The whole time I wondered why Kaz had her overcoat on during the scene, especially as she was sitting right next to him. At the time I figured they were doing a tight shot on Matt’s face while Karen had dialogue. So imagine my feels when I watch the episode and see that it was actually the final scene of the episode and AMY WASN’T EVEN THERE. It was just The Doctor on a bench reading her final words to him. And then I watched this video and learned that Kaz had promised Matt that she would be by his side where ever they filmed that scene, even if she wasn’t required on set, so she could actually say the words to him and he could play off of her voice. WHAT?! Learning that sent me into a whole other emotional tailspin. What an amazing and generous gift to her costar. Also, mad props to Matt Smith for filming that moment in front of a crowd of several hundred people. Looking back, it must have felt incredibly intrusive. “And above all else, know that we will love you, always.” Those words feel as much for Matt from Kaz and Arthur as they were for The Doctor from Amy and Rory.
Ugh ugh. I need another moment.
Other thoughts about the episode:
–I did think the opening of the episode with the detective and the Rich Dude who kept the Angel prisoner was unnecessary. I would have rather had more time with the Ponds.
–WAY TO MAKE ME TERRIFIED OF MY CITY, SHOW. As soon as they said that the Weeping Angels would be in this episode, I knew that they would make The Statue of Liberty one. It didn’t make that first shot of the Statue in action any less terrifying. I will never look at it or the Bethesda Fountain the same way again.
–Also Baby Weeping Angels. Nope. Nope nope nope.
–Shallow moment: How spectacular were River’s boobs in this episode? Yowzah indeed. Also, I continue to congratulate Arthur Darvill on his face.
–Speaking of River, she is now a Professor, which means she is getting ever so closer to meeting the Tenth Doctor in the library. I wonder if they will show us those last moments with Eleven before she takes that journey.
–Also, I am SO GLAD that Amy got to say goodbye to her daughter. “Melody, look after him and you be a good girl.” And then Melody kissed her hand. KILLING ME, STEVEN MOFFAT.
–Did the Doctor go back and tell Brian what happened to his son and daughter-in-law? He DID somewhat keep his word. They didn’t die because of him. They lived out their lives together. In the past. UGH.
–I’m very curious to see how the Christmas Special plays out. How long will it have been for The Doctor? What kind of head space is he going to be in? And how are we going to meet Clara Oswin and how is she tied to Oswin Oswald? I can’t wait.
Lastly, I will leave you with this BEAUTIFUL piece of writing…
“And do one more thing for me. There’s a little girl waiting in a garden. She’s going to wait a long while, so she’s going to need a lot of hope. Go to her. Tell her a story. Tell her that if she’s patient, the days are coming that she’ll never forget. Tell her she’ll go to sea and fight pirates. She’ll fall in love with a man who’ll wait two thousand years to keep her safe. Tell her she’ll give hope to the greatest painter who ever lived, and save a whale in outer space. Tell her, this is the story of Amelia Pond. And this is how it ends.”
It killed me…all of it. I was a soppy mess by the time it was done. I agree the opening was unnecessary, but kinda helped set up the plot for the episode for those who had no idea this was coming. Without it, it wouldn’t have been very…episodic. Brilliant writing up and down.