I am – Hercules!! BBC America doesn’t share “Doctor Who” 5.1 until 9 p.m. Saturday, but the BBC has already broadcast 5.3. “Doctor Dan” calls it “a perfectly enjoyable episode”:

DOCTOR WHO 5.3 – "Victory Of The Daleks" WRITER: Mark Gatiss DIRECTOR: Andrew Gunn [SPOILERS] Following the pattern of the 2005's own comeback series (premiere, future-set episode, historical episode), "Victory Of The Daleks" even found Mark Gatiss writing a story where The Doctor (Matt Smith) battles an alien menace with the help of a British icon, this time Winston Churchill (Ian McNeice), echoing his Charles Dickens-fights-aliens story "Unquiet Dead" from that year. Arriving in the midst of World War II, The Doctor is surprised to discover that Churchill has a new invention to defeat the Nazis: so-called "Ironsides", created by Scottish scientist Edwin Bracewell (Bill Paterson). Unfortunately, these metal menaces with the ability to shoot German planes out of the sky with accurate lasers are best-known to The Doctor as the inimitable Daleks, so it's up to The Doctor to convince everyone the subservient Ironside drones are a veiled threat and determine exactly what the Dalek's latest plan is. "Victory Of The Daleks" was certainly good fun, but seemed to lack a certain spark. It was more amusing and enjoyable than truly gripping and exciting, possibly because the Daleks are now so overused on the show, but it didn't help that a single episode just doesn't feel epic enough for those villains. The use of locations also felt quite restricted. In some ways, this story was really just about introducing the new Doctor to his greatest foe (you're not The Doctor till you've faced off against them, right?), while clearing the stage for a more satisfying return by tying up loose ends of Russell T. Davies' "Journey's End." Perhaps the most fascinating thing about this episode was realizing that Amy has no memories of the Daleks, which means The Doctor's either whisked her away from an earlier pre-Dalek time (her boyfriend Rory's hospital badge was dated 1990...) or something's very wrong with the timeline and history has been changed. And would that latter theory be connected to this series' motif of a glowing crack, one of which forms on a wall as the TARDIS vanishes at the end? I hope it's the latter, as that nicely ret-cons a lot of problems with RTD's era, in that humanity was too aware of aliens and The Doctor. Overall, this was a perfectly enjoyable episode that just lacked a bit of bite. At this early stage, I'm a little concerned that the past few episodes have all involved Amy saving the day, too. While it's nice to see a companion with intelligence and assertiveness who can save the day, she's actually making The Doctor look like a bumbling idiot half the time. Matt Smith was left to rant at the Daleks inside their orbiting spaceship and threaten them with a Jammy Dodger biscuit for most of the episode, and it was Amy that prevented a disastrous explosion with her quick-thinking at the end. Bravo for her, but I think we need a few episodes where it's The Doctor who's taking the lead and solving the crisis. The Good -- Always fun to see the Daleks, naturally, and there were some amusing scenes of them carrying box-files and tea cups around as subservient drones. "Would you care for some tea?" -- I do hope a Jammy Dodger is this Doctor's answer to Tom Baker's jelly babies, don't you? A fun moment. -- Karen Gillan. It seems like the companions just keep getting better on Who, and Amy Pond's certainly a lot better than I could have hoped for. -- Bill Paterson was very good as the boffin who discovers he's a Dalek-made automaton, and Ian McNeice was fine. I'm not sure I really believed he was THE Winston Churchill, though. Just a big guy with a cigar. The Bad -- Maybe not truly "bad", but the new design of the Daleks looks like a backwards step to me. Colourful, plastic and chunky. -- I always find it a slight disappointment when The Doctor's not the one saving the day, or at least more involved in things. Smith had some good moments, but this was probably his weakest outing so far. But it's early days! The Geeky -- The TARDIS has a giant view-screen! -- Amy calls Bracewell "Paisley"and "Paisley Boy", referring to a town in Scotland that is the birthplace of showrunner Steven Moffat -- The crack in the wall reappeared. Has another alien menace escaped along with the premiere's "Prisoner Zero" and is wreaking havoc with the timeline, to explain Amy not knowing of the Daleks? -- When The Doctor says "the final end...", this is a call-back to the Second Doctor saying the same in "The Evil Of The Daleks". -- The call names Broadsword and Danny Boy refer to Where Eagles Dare, where a character called John Smith (itself a Doctor pseudonym) saysd "Broadsword calling Danny Boy..." -- A few Dalek references in general: they mentioned making a "time corridor" ("Resurrection Of The Daleks") and "Rels" as a measurement of time ("Doomsday") -- The Doctor mentions that the TARDIS is a "Type 40", inferring that it's a very antiquated bit of kit. I wonder what a top of the range TARDIS is like.. Rating: 3.5 / 5

“Jannerman” says there “were many more things to complain about than stand out bits”:

Ok, so excitedly sat down tonight to see what last weeks excellent trail with Churchill and the Daleks, was going to bring....well at about three minutes in I started getting distracted, now I'm going to try to go easy with the criticism, I don't want to be flamed in the talkbacks now do I?! This weeks story is set during the Second World War - as last week showed key historical figures have direct phone lines to the doctor - I'm sorry but I feel that was a real lazy plot device even for a kids/light drama series. Mark Gatiss (he of League of Gentlemen fame, in case some of your US readers aren't aware of that TV show try looking up marmite in a dictionary) provides the story and it might have just been that he didn't have much time to write it but it felt somewhat rushed and a bit hollow to me. As I said before I found myself getting distracted and even looking away from the TV at the washing outside in the garden, or next doors cat strolling by, not something I was expecting so what started it? Ian McNiece - I'm really sorry Ian, I think you're a fine actor, but I thought Churchill was terrible in the opening few minutes - not the image of the man I know from history at all - I can't work out if I bought the performance later on in the episode or I just accepted it and tried to let the rest of the story work but I kept thinking back to the first three minutes and then glancing out the window again! All of the plot coincidence felt forced and contrived, I know we have nearly all accepted both Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, I think they're both excellent, but she did very little for me in this episode - and the "assistant solving the problem without the Doctors help" is an alright concept but when it's all so effortless with no tension and too easy it just feels lazy what? Writing? Acting? Both? Don't even get me started on the cyborg "inventor" of the Daleks. Why does every bad guy in TV/Film always insist in having their bomb bloody count down - just detonate the sodding thing already!! What this episode was for me was two things; first, a vehicle to re-imagine the Daleks, we might not even see them again this series and I guess Steven Moffat wanted to bring them back to position them for a big story down the road but the best technological advance they could come up with was smarter paint jobs? (just watching Dr Who Confidential now and these are old-school original Daleks evidentially - Steven Moffat just teased a future Dalek story - nice to see the Dalek drivers are polite middle-age English gents - best quote - "Beautiful plunger action") second, the special effects, I have read a few comments about sub-standard CGI in the past couple of weeks, they seem to have beefed the budget, probably took the money from the writing budget! Seriously, there were a lot of effects this week but not enough happening in the actual story - I would have saved a few minutes of effects if there were more character interaction and development - I mean come on, how many minutes did it take to equip the planes with their space travel "bubble" and laser cannons, train the pilots to fly in space, attack a space ship, etc, etc, lazy lazy lazy - and how much tech did the doctor leave behind, not really protecting the timeline tonight sir! Overall I would say this weeks episode was weaker than last week - maybe in part due to the anticipation - but I'm a bit worried now, next weeks trail looks good too, the Blink angels and the return of River Song, but now I'm in a state of whatever, I will expect less and (hopefully) be rewarded with better than this week. Not bad, not yet anyway, but I think could definitely do better, we must have been spoiled over the past two weeks, but if next weeks episode isn't a lot better I may start getting worried. Have I been too harsh? I don't know, but for me this week there were many more things to complain about than stand out bits, I think by far best of the episode was Matt Smith who for me does own the part, but I'd like them to tone down the angry, quick-thinking/reacting act, the thought was that he was going to be older than he appeared but he did rush about tonight causing the majority of the problems himself! Finally the over-subtle sci-fi homage of the week, last week was Discworld, this week was it me or did the Spitfire attack feel like a straight up rip off of the Death Star assualt from Star Wars or what? I feel guilty tonight, probably over critical and slightly selfish, but I really hope for better next week

“Gabba-UK” calls it “a lot of fun to watch”:

Hi Herc, Once again Saturday has come around and time, once again, for The Grand Moff to unleash another new Who upon us all. This is the first episode of this new management not to be written by Moffett himself but by another Whovian illumni, Mark Gatiss. Gatiss wrote 'The Unquiet Dead' and 'The Idiots Lantern' previously for new Who and starred as Prof. Lazarus in the 'The Lazarus Experiment'. This makes him I believe only the third person to have both written and starred in Who in the entire history of of the programme. So, expectations for this episode were already high even before we saw the clips of Spitfires dog-fighting an alien ship in low earth orbit. This is also an interesting episode to watch as it was most likely written before Gatiss even saw Matt Smith in the role, so how much of this new regeneration was Moffett able to convey to his friend and frequent collaberator, Gatiss. This is the episode where we find out if Moffett is as good a show runner as he is a writer. Oh yes he is. I'm scared that my reviews of this series are going to end up being just love letters to the Moff. Even with the ever so slight dip of the second episode, these first episodes have been belters. There is a small, nagging part of my brain that wants Moff to make a crap episode just so we can have something to bitch about in the Talkbacks. Really, the last two weeks have been far too civilised for Who TB's. This is an episode full of moments. Moments that are really cool, moments that are quite moving and moments that are just wow. The guests stars are working at the top of their game. Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill is near spot on to how you'd imagine he would be if he'd known a Timelord. And who's to say he didn't, eh? Bill Paterson as the 'inventor' of the Ironside's, the new secret weapon of the British Empire is terrific with the limited time and role he had. But he was the catalyst for much of the emotion in the story. I mentioned Spitfire's in space. If they blew the effects budget of the series on this episode then I wouldn't be surprised. But it was bloody cool to watch. As the episode is called 'Victory Of The Daleks' it's not too much of a jump of suprise to find Daleks are the main problem the Doctor has to deal with this week. And the TARDIS getting a make over with Moffett in charge, so do The Doctors most vicious foes. This is a very dangerous risk. The Daleks are now part of British DNA. To dick about with something that iconic is a huge gamble. It worked. The Daleks are bigger, badder and now come in a lovely range of colours. The toys of these new Daleks are going to fly from the shelves. The episode zips along very nicely, as did Gatiss' previous scripts. There's nothing in the way of fat on them but maybe there wasn't as much meat as I'd like. That maybe due to the length of the episode (it wasn't long enough for me) but it really is a lot of fun to watch. Mr. Smith and Miss. Gillian are now fully settled in their roles. There is real chemisty between them and a hint of real romance on board the TARDIS. We'll find out for certain next week I think. River Song returns with the Weeping Angels and if she really is the Doctors wife/daughter, as some of us believe, how she deals with Amy is going to be very telling. Especially if Amy is her mother. Favourite lines? 'Sorry, this is a Type 40 TARDIS. I'm still just running her in.' 'Broadsword to Danny-Boy' and 'KBO. Keep buggering on!' Like I said, Alex Kingston is back next week and I'm really looking forward to that.

“Majorj0nny” calls it “fast paced and entertaining”:

from the last ep we see how the doctor gets a call from Winston Churchil asking for some assistance back in WW2 era (I loved the idea of people being able to call the doctor up for help instead of the typical 'accidental' doctor adventures that we have been used to in the past several years), so this ep starts with the Doctor and Amy arriving in a British WW2 amy bunker base thing.. (which ive since learned was an actual real life ww2 brith base that still exists today as a war museum),,, anyway - great friendship and raport between the Doctor and Winston , the 2 have obviously a great history together, Amy looking even more stunning this week having been allowed to get dressed (Im in love with Amy Pond by the way! swoooon) So - Winton called the Doctor a month ago to ask for his advice over a new weapon the British Army now possess and wish to use against Hilter, due to the Doctors typical bad time keeping, a month has passed and Winstons already made his mind up.. SHOCKER - mystery weapon happens to be Allied decorated Daleks that seem totally subserviant to the British army ? the Doctor is not having it obviously and has to get to the bottom of their new evil plan!. I wont go into detail bout the plot - Im sure pleanty of others will, but I loved this. Another great episode I thought, while the first ep is just lovely, the second was still good, but a little down , this ep has it all... Amy Pond looking sexier than ever, WW2 Daleks, Winston Churchil, Spitfires dogfighting in space, NEW DALEKS, androids with captured black-hole power sources... I really love how these new post-RTD episodes have gone all out on the geeky again...its really like someones now paying proper attention to the sci-fi in this show. I really do believe that the BBC really kicks ass as period stuff ... and ive always much rather have Doctor who eps set in the past that the future because the Beeb seems to pull history off great. Again - the interaction between the doctor and amy is a joy to watch - funny and entertaining, while not having to sink to the pathetic depths of 'just making em fall in love'... Amy proves her indipendance yet again and shows shes a real benefit to the Doctor. all in all, I really move how this episode was fast paced and didnt dwell (reminding me of the first ep in this current season), it doesnt give you time to get bored - its fast paced and entertaining, any miserable bits dont dwell like a tennant 10 minute rant to screen, you get the threat of the situation and are swiftly moved on to a resolution, id rather have this, and to be honest my 6 year old son would too.. to be honest I really cant fault this ...... and also - the theme tune ROCKS! love the new beat, and the nod to the classic tune, anyone banging on that its horrible needs to get their ear-holes examined! :) anyway - for me just a tad not as good as the pilot, but much better than ep 2. OOOOhh... and why does Amy not know who the Daleks are ???? At first I thought the new production team was totally distancing themselves from the horrible RTD period, but the Doctor soon starts to wonder and get concerned as to why Amy cant remember the MAAAAANY dalek large scale invasions of the earth in modern times... hmmm.. no doubt another sub-plot that will be further examined in future eps. 9/10 ... (with 1 point off cause Amy Pond WILL NOT MARRY ME ! :( )

“The Geekest Link” calls it “a decent episode”:

Continuing directly on from last week, the Doctor and Amy are summoned to Earth by Winston Churchill, where his chief scientist has created a weapon to defeat the Nazis: the Ironsides. These technological marvels look astonishingly like the Daleks… but that’s impossible (because the Doctor destroyed all the Daleks, didn’t he?). Anyway, there’s no time to worry about that, because these Daleks aren’t scary at all; in fact they’re fully house broken, willing to carry post and exterminate the Nazis. They even make a delicious cup of tea! But the Doctor is suspicious. Certain no human could conceive of such a creation, he sets about getting the Daleks to uncover their plan (mostly, by simply asking them), resulting in a gorgeous scene where he ends up furiously hammering a confession out of a Dalek with a wrench. Unmasked, the rest of the episode sees the Daleks’ plan come to fruition as the Doctor – yet again – falls foul of their nefarious goal, which is to restore the Daleks to power by unlocking the last container of Dalek DNA in existence. This creates a new breed of “pure” Dalek and says farewell to Russell T Davies’ old, gold pepper pots in the process. It's episode three and Matt Smith is really settling into his role. This is the first time we've properly seen an angry Eleventh Doctor, and Smith’s interpretation of the Time Lord is proving to be both understated and dignified – a refreshing change from Tennant’s emotive outbursts. Go Go Skaro Rangers: The new look Daleks look like the Power Rangers in their United Colours of Benetton line-up. And who would have thought they would be defeated by a common English biscuit? Pros: Gorgeous writing, strong performance from all cast members, looked gorgeous. The Jammy Dodger! Cons: Filled with inconsistencies, plot holes, and bad science. Overall, a decent episode with some good one liners, and the ascent of a new Dalek race!

“Stanton” found himself “pretty bored”:

Victory of the Daleks It's back in time in this episode of Doctor Who, to the Russell T Davies era. This script was originally written for the previous series before being scrapped for the Fires of Pompeii, and it does seeeeeem as if RTD had a hand in drafting it back then - as he apparently came up with all the non-Moffat stories. RTD stories always struck me as being a bit like a blackberry patch - lots of good juicy moments, but brambly chaotic connections between those points (usually involving the Doctor running between them); then as here, dramatic structure seemed missing in action. So this episode consisted of: * The Doctor wondering why the Daleks were wearing the Union Jack and serving tea. And that was the extent of the dialogue for ten full minutes. * The Daleks revealing their masterplan to the Doctor, which seemed to largely involve a lot of paint. * Spitfires in space - which was quite cool - the FX guys did a nice job; * The Doctor dealing with a bomb. Which involved more luck than logic, and generally made me think the Doctor should not try to deactive any more bombs; * Another ten minutes to fill up time to the end credits. I kept excitedly expecting a last-minute plot twist, but nothing happened - I even thought the Doctor might have been replaced with a robot for a while, but no: Amy and the Doctor just spent a lot of time saying goodbye to people a lot. And then there were more holes in the plot than in your average pepper-pot. So I was pretty disappointed - and to be honest pretty bored - even with the over-excited score pumping away in the background towards the premature climax. But to be fair, I've never much thought the Daleks were very interesting enemies; I think they need to kill off a companion before there's any danger in them. But next week two of Dr Who's best creations return - the Weeping Angels and River Song - so I'm crossing my fingers there...

Follow Herc on Twitter!! Follow Evil Herc on Twitter!!

Shipping In Five Days!!

58 Blu-rays Under $10!!