The Angels Take Manhattan

"I just went to get coffees for the Doctor and Amy... hello, River."

Writer: Steven Moffatt

Format: TV

Broadcast: 29th September 2012

Series: 7.05

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory, River

Synopsis 

A simple trip to 2012 New York goes horribly wrong when Rory is sent back to the 1930s by the Weeping Angels. There, he finds that his daughter, River Song, is investigating the Angels and Manhattan has become their hunting ground. The Doctor and Amy must find Rory before it's too late, but they soon find that not every point in time can be changed. And here, the Doctor must face the one thing he has been dreading - a final farewell to the Ponds. 

Verdict 

The Angels Take Manhattan is just incredible. It's actually a stupendously good sendoff for Amy and Rory. Everything about it is pretty much amazing! Emotions, love and an incredible story. The pre-opening credits scene was tremendous and told a clever little story of its own leading upto the main bulk which was just sensational. I loved how the Doctor was taking the Ponds on a nice little outing to NYC. You'd think after the last two times visiting he would be a bit skeptical but surely just once, in the city that never sleeps, he could just take his friends for a nice coffee and read in Central Park. But of course, there was a small problem that were Weeping Angels were in town. And they just pulled off their best episode yet! Yes, I think this is better than Blink. Amy looked absolutely spectacular in those reading glasses, girls always look better in those type of glasses and wow she just looked sensational! The humour around the glasses with the Doctor too was great! I must say that the makeup team have been doing a stellar job in making Karen Gillan look older to go with the whole Amy and Rory only travelling part time in the TARDIS. But whatever they're doing, I swear Karen is looking hotter! Matt Smith did an outstanding job here as the Doctor and without him saying or even hinting, he was clearly hurting at seeing Amy age. As was evident with him ripping the last page out of the book, our dear Doctor is not a fan of endings. The subject of the book was absolute genius. Really, extremely clever! The book told of the future and once read, it became a fixed point. As seen with River breaking her wrist for instance. The relationship between the Doctor and River was just incredible as always and I'm crying out for River to join him in the TARDIS, even for just one sole adventure! We got a brief hint at what the pair might get upto in Rain Gods but I'm talking a full length episode. The flirting, chemistry and emotion between the pair is more than perfect. I adored how the Doctor wanted to look good for his wife! Winter Quay proved to be a tremendous focal point for the Angels' plan and boy what a plan it was! It's difficult with the Angels being quantum locked to discover their motives but as more adventures come things about the brilliant enemies become clearer. The fact they were using the hotel as a battery farm feeding on the time distortion and life energy of sending people back in time, over and over, until they see their future self die. Now that's the plot of wonderful enemies! I'm khan that in his final episode, Rory was actually relevant! So far this season he's been pretty useless which has been a great shame seeing as it's lead upto his departure here. I liked how he was going to take on the Angels himself after watching himself die. Again. As he said, when doesn't he come back to life? He knew that if he jumped off the building to his death, that a paradox would be created and the Angels would be wiped out. But the emotional scene with Amy was extremely heartfelt and impressively powerful! "Together, or not at all." Superb. The reaction of the Doctor going from horror to happiness at the success was fantastic! I was a little surprised at how he only called out Amy's name when the Ponds were plummeting to their death. It has always seemed he's held Amy in much higher regard. But I can let it slide seeing that hers was the first face his face ever saw. Fabulous continuation from The Eleventh Hour. I bloody loved the scenes where Amy and Rory, then the Doctor and River, named each other husband and wife, literally. A lovely family outing... until the surviving Angel came along with just enough power to zap Rory into the past. Just as the Doctor thought all was well and the Angels had been defeated yet again, one survivor turns up from out of nowhere and throws the TARDIS foursome's lives into turmoil. Rory is gone, Amy's heartbroken, River's parents are split up and the Doctor's going to lose somebody yet again. He ought to know this was coming though by the book's chapter titles. Amelia's final farewell had come. And she emotionally let herself get got by the Angel so she could be with Rory. "Like it should be." Beautiful. An incredible sendoff! I really liked the scenes in the TARDIS after the Ponds were gone with River flying the TARDIS and the Doctor an emotional wreck. Everybody knows he can't go travelling alone, and River mentioning it along with Amy also thanks to the final page, made the departure easier to handle. Long standing companions had gone, but that was okay for the Doctor (and the viewer). Somebody else would soon be a coming. And she'd light the world alight. 

Rating: 10/10