DWO reports from The Rings Of Akhaten, with a spoiler-free preview of episode 7.7:

DWO's spoiler-free preview for 7.7: The Rings Of Akhaten.

Having finally caught up with the impossible Clara Oswald, the Doctor is determined to solve her mystery. First, though, he has a date to keep, and offers to take Clara anywhere in time and space. Armed with her trusty guide of 101 Places to See, she only has one stipulation: somewhere ‘awesome’. 

Last year, much was made about Season 7 being comprised of stand-alone episodes. Big, individual, filmic ideas that can really take in the full scope of what Doctor Who can deliver. Taking us from a Dalek Asylum, to a spaceship filled with dinosaurs and back to the old west in the space of three weeks. 

The New Series, while having more of an on-going narrative than the final days of the Ponds, still retains this style. The Bells of Saint John was typified by being set against a backdrop of twenty-first-century London icons, while this episode takes us through to another end of the spectrum, with a rich and textured alien society, where they barter with memories rather than money, and live in a world ruled in part by songs and stories. 

It’s in the design that The Rings of Akhaten really excels, with the TARDIS landing on the inhabited rings of the title, an alien civilisation with an arabic vibe. The heart of the society is the bustling marketplace - crowded streets filled with a whole host of brand new aliens. While it’s perhaps a shame not to not see any familiar faces buried within the crowds, it’s hard not to find yourself drawn in by the sheer... alienness of these new creatures. 

There’s something of a vibe of the Russell T. Davies era present here, with our brand new companion out on her first adventure. The story serves the same purpose as The End of the World or The Fires of Pompeii, and there are elements of both those stories echoed here, opening Clara’s eyes to the wonder of the TARDIS. 

We’re also given the perfect opportunity for Jenna-Louise Coleman to shine on her own terms, removing The Doctor from the equation so we can can witness her first exposure to the universe though Clara’s eyes. Matt Smith continues to - impossibly - keep getting better at simply being the Doctor, and is given plenty of time to shine in this episode, too. 

As this version of Clara first steps out into the stars, The Rings of Akhaten doesn’t disappoint. If the rest of the series continues on in the same quality displayed here, then we’re certainly fulfilling Clara’s desire - we’re headed somewhere really, really, awesome... 

Five things to look out for...

1) The Doctor is a fan of The Beano.

2) Time isn’t made of strawberries.

3) Clara’s leaf is the ‘most important leaf in human history’.

4) The Doctor gets to imitate a certain famous archaeologist.

5) Reference is made to the Doctor’s first incarnation.

[Sources: DWO, Will Brooks]

DWO have seen 7.2: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

When Steven Moffat referred to this new series as "filmic" and "like standalone movies", it's difficult to think how such a thing would be possible with the restriction of a 45-minute time-slot - not to mention BBC budgets, but the Doctor Who team being who they are, only went and did it - in spades!

Dinosaurs on a Spaceship sees us travel from Egypt 1334 B.C. to Earth 2367 A.D. and then back in time to the African Plains of 1902 A.D., before we're brought crashing back down to the mundanity of real life in the Pond household. And that's all before the title sequence!

Sure, there's a lot crammed into this 45-minute episode, but rather cleverly (and miraculously) it doesn't feel cluttered or rushed. The Doctor has a total of 5 companions with him on this particular outing (not all of them are willing), and it leads to a surprisingly refreshing gear change that, on paper, shouldn't work, but to watch on screen is thoroughly entertaining.

The idea that The Doctor can pick up a companion of his choosing, anywhere in time and space is really quite fun and explored rather mischievously here - especially when they turn out to be Queen Nefertiti (Riaan Steele) and big-game hunter, John Riddell (Rupert Graves). An odd pairing, but one that works all the same - and with dinosaurs abound, The Doctor is going to need all the help he can get!

We mustn't forget Amy and Rory, though! There's plenty of Pond action for you to be getting on with. Amy in particular comes forward and shows off some of the skills she has learnt from her time travelling with The Doctor. Rory feels a little underused, however, which is a shame considering the momentum of his character development in recent episodes.

Together with a particularly unlikable villain (played by the wonderful David Bradley of Harry Potter fame) as well as two equally unlikeable (though slightly irritating) robot servants (voiced by comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb), Dinosaurs on a Spaceship is incredibly well-rounded.

But lets get to the bit everyone wants to hear about, The Dinosaurs!!! Firstly, they are fantastically well done. The CGI shots are of the highest calibre (kudos to The Mill) and the model shots are so realistic, they give Spielberg's Jurassic Park a run for its money. Speaking of which, there are a couple of obligatory nods to the aforementioned movie, with Murray Gold's awesome score feeling quite John Williams-esque in places.

Writer, Chris Chibnall, has to be commended for this script. It would have been so easy to get carried away with the concept of throwing Dinosaurs into a Doctor Who story, but they're not overused. Everything and, more importantly, everyone, fits together nicely. Action-packed would be a bit of an understatement for this episode, and when you throw the words 'Doctor', 'Triceratops' and 'Golf Ball' together…well…just wait and see!

Five things to look out for...

1) Were introduced to another member of the Pond family (or should that be Williams).

2) It's been 10 Months since the events of Asylum of the Daleks.

3) The Doctor has a gang now!

4) The Doctor still has a Christmas List!

5) "Doctor, after all this time…"

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.12: Closing Time and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

After the heady heights of last weeks Doctor Who episode (The God Complex), it was inevitable that this weeks story would have a lot to live up to. But with a certain Mr.Gareth Roberts taking up the challenge of writing this penultimate episode of Series Six, Closing Time not only lives up - it breathes!

It's been 200 years since the events of The God Complex, and The Doctor has been off having adventures of his own. Time, though, has caught up with him, and now he pays one last visit to his friend, Craig Owens. Craig has been busy too since he last saw the Doctor - he's a dad!

It's no secret that the Cybermen are back in this episode, and they've brought an old friend with them. As people start going missing, it's up to The Doctor...and Craig to get to the bottom of things.

Closing Time has a wonderful sense of nostalgia about it, harking back to some of the 1960's Cybermen stories. It has that wonderful sense of danger lurking in the background - you know who it is, but you're on the edge of your seat waiting for their arrival and, more importantly, their purpose.

Roberts has most definitely delivered his finest script here. There's so much for fans to love, from the awesome chemistry between The Doctor and Craig, to the laugh out loud one-liners, right through to another particularly memorable scene at the end of the episode.

Director, Steve Hughes does a fantastic job matching the light and dark notes of the script with flair, whilst using lighting and camera angles to full potential and effect. Once more, Murray Gold deserves a look-in owing to his excellent scoring within the adventure, tempering the moods to perfection.

Everything just works in this episode. Ok, it may not be as serious as some of the other stories this season has to offer, but then again, it doesn't pretend to be. This is about The Doctor having a bit of fun before his inevitable demise on the shores of Lake Silencio.

With so many different elements pulling together and working harmoniously, you will be reaching for the rewind button as soon as the episode has finished to relive what proves to be one of the finest new-who episodes to date.

Five things to look out for...

1) "you've redecorated, I don't like it".

2) Stormageddon.

3) "Shhhhh!".

4) Petrichor.

5) Don't turn around!

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.11: The God Complex and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

The God Complex is one of the most grown-up Doctor Who stories to date, quite literally taking the word complex and running with it.

It forms an important part of a season that has forced the viewer to evolve with a new, more intelligent way of story-telling. A way that pays the loyal and casual viewer in dividends...as long as you stick with it, and pay attention.

The adventure kicks off with the TARDIS team arriving in an alien hotel, where everything is not as it seems, where nightmares come true, and where a mysterious creature hunts its prey in the maze-like corridors.

Emotions run high at various points throughout this episode, and by the end you will feel quite drained (in a good way) - one particular scene springs to mind that's totally unexpected, totally genius, and utterly heart-breaking - made even more poignant thanks to a perfectly placed piece of scoring from Murray Gold.

Writer, Toby Whithouse, once again pulls out all the stops and raises the stakes on both his previous Doctor Who outings and the momentum of the series so far. His scripts are incredibly distinctive whilst having the ability to slot in seamlessly with Moffat's tone for the season.

There are some great moments too for Classic Series fans, as well as fans who have watched the New Series of Doctor Who from the beginning. Subtle and not-so-subtle nods to the past make the viewer feel like they are part of this ever-growing show that's constantly changing and evolving.

This is Doctor Who at its very best. Surely it can't get better than this...can it?

Five things to look out for...

1) Cat Nun!

2) The Doctor has a degree in cheese-making!

3) Angry Doctor!

4) Nimon!

5) The Doctor finally gives Amy a key!

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.10: The Girl Who Waited and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

Tom MacRae takes time travel to a whole new level in this weeks episode of Doctor Who, 6.10: The Girl Who Waited.

The TARDIS team arrive in a futuristic alien healthcare clinic, called the Twostreams Facility. Within minutes Amy gets separated from The Doctor and Rory, and so begins a thoroughly entertaining 40 minutes of trying to find and rescue her.

Unlike some of the other stories from this season, this isn't a laugh-a-miniute adventure, as we discover the consequences of choices (a theme that has been concurrent throughout Series Six), in a new, beautifully written way. That's not to say there isn't humour, however, as MacRae uses it sparingly but with bullseye accuracy.

Although The Doctor and Rory do feature in the adventure, it does feel quite Amy-heavy - and quite right too. Karen Gillan really gets something to sink her teeth into here with the opportunity of playing a totally different facet to her character. For the most part she delivers, but there are moments when the delivery isn't as genuine as it could be.

The Handbots featured in this episode, are perhaps the nicest killer robots in Doctor Who history ever, as they quite simply kill you with kindness. The threat of someone or something hunting you down, is a winning concept, and one that is put to great use in The Girl Who Waited. It sits there in the background, and you can't help feeling the inevitability of a showdown at the end. 

This is truly a great story, with an ingenious take on a concept that has already been worked with on so many levels in Doctor Who. There are some fantastic sets and visuals with the garden scenes particularly worthy of note, all of which help compliment the script. It makes you wonder why Tom MacRae's absence since Series 2 has been allowed to happen, as he clearly deserves a place in every season going forward.

Five things to look out for...

1) Forgetting your camera phone can have disastrous consequences.

2) Green Anchor or Red Waterfall?

3) Don't touch the hand!

4) Possibly the world's largest handheld magnifying glass.

5) Samurai Amy.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.9: Night Terrors and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

Leaving behind the series story arc for the time being, Night Terrors delivers a welcome change in style, pace and tone as Mark Gatiss offers up his fourth Doctor Who script, which is arguably one of his finest.

The story focuses on an 8-year old George, who is so terrified by the Monsters in his bedroom that he cannot sleep at night. His parents cannot help him, and so The Doctor comes to the rescue - making his first house call in a long time.

But there's more to George than meets the eye, as the mystery of what lurks in his wardrobe reaches a spine-tingling conclusion. Thus ensues a dark, creepy adventure that transports the TARDIS crew to a creaky old house with dolls that hunt you down and…well…that would be telling…

This could have quite easily been a companion-lite story like 2008's Midnight, but Gatiss puts both Amy and Rory to good use here, even allowing for a little character development along the way.

The star of the show, however, is young George, played by Jamie Oram. A terrific piece of casting that holds the whole story together due to conviction and belief.

Daniel Mays (Atonement; Ashes to Ashes) also sparkles, showing a more tender side to characters he has previously played on Film and TV.

There's something for both kids and adults in Night Terrors, with some particularly adult themes explored, including, for the first time in Doctor Who, IVF!

A few of the scenes in the flat share some similarities to 2010's The Lodger, owing to the almost surreal placement of The Doctor in a socially normal setting, but thankfully there's enough going on without it seeming too simulative or cliche.

There's also some great original scoring from Murray Gold, who portrays the seemingly mundane council setting with lazy clarinets and sweeping harps that give an almost Tim Burton-esque feel to the whole adventure.

Overall, Night Terrors is a very different story to anything in the Matt Smith era thus far. It isn't a 'classic' by any means, but thanks to a great plot and supporting cast, it will stand out as one of the more memorable episodes from an already strong season.

Five things to look out for...

1) The lift from hell.

2) Don't take the rubbish out alone!

3) "The Emperor Dalek's New Clothes", "Snow White and the Seven Keys to Doomsday".

4) A giant pair of scissors.

5) "Tick-Tock goes the clock, even for The Doctor".

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.8: Let's Kill Hitler and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

It's been a nail-biting twelve weeks since we last saw new adventures of Doctor Who, and who could forget that jaw-droppingly awesome cliffhanger!? 

Let's Kill Hitler picks things up some time after the events of A Good Man Goes to War, with Amy and Rory trying to get The Doctor's attention, in a great situation reversal to the Series 6 season opener.

The Doctor is still looking for Melody Pond as all three of the TARDIS team get ready for the shock of their lives…in a corn field!!!

The episode feels quite filmic in places, and there's some fantastic direction that helps make use of the comedic scenes to full effect. The Doctor, Amy and Rory, (or rather Matt, Karen and Arthur) work so well together, and their unit makes for one of the best TARDIS crew combinations that the show has ever seen.

Those of you expecting the story to be an all-out World War II extravaganza, may be a little disappointed. Sure we get Hitler, and some great scenes involving Germany on the brink of War, but the real focus of this episode is River Song.

We get even more pay-off for the arc that has spanned the past couple of seasons, with a few more questions raised, which will hopefully be answered before the end of Series 6.

With another episode due from the show runner himself this season, Steven Moffat is showing no signs of tiring with either his cleverly imaginative story-writing or his love for the characters he has created.

Expect some new characters too. Mels, played by Nina Toussaint-White, shines in all of her scenes, which lift the lid on some clever background information from Amy and Rory's past, present and future. We also get to see a new organisation within the show, in the form of 'The Justice Department' - without giving too much away, you can't help feeling this is a new element to watch with great interest.

A final point worthy of note in this story is composer Murray Gold who provides a tremendous score for Let's Kill Hitler, which helps round off one of the strongest episodes in the season so far.

Five things to look out for...

1) A clever use for crop circles.

2) "Shut up ___, I'm focusing on a dress size"

3) "Guilt. Also Guilt. More Guilt"

4) A Sherlock-esque scene involving River and The Doctor.

5) We get to see the return of a certain blue diary.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.5: The Rebel Flesh and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

If you thought following Episode Two was difficult, put yourself in Matthew Graham's shoes as The Rebel Flesh has to carry the baton that the unbelievably popular The Doctor's Wife left behind.

Fortunately, you have no time to reminisce and compare, as you are immediately drawn into the adventure, which pulls you in from the opening shot. In fact, so different is this story in contrast to its precursor, that it's literally impossible to compare.

It's no secret that the story is centred around clones - a subject matter that Doctor Who history knows only too well, but this time around there is so much more to the concept that plunders emotional and moral depths in such a way that will have you questioning who you feel for most.

Perhaps most of all, this is a story about consequences and trust - something that not only echoes the plot, but the entire Steven Moffat era of Doctor Who to date.

Matthew Graham has carved his name into addictive and gripping drama; two elements that sum up this adventure perfectly. Those of you who have seen Life on Mars or Ashes to Ashes, will also know just how much life he can breathe into characters in just a few lines of dialogue. And its no different here.

Rory has so much more to do in this adventure, and it's rewarding to see so many more facets of his character that enable Arthur Darvill to really sink his teeth into the role. In fact, in this first portion of the two-part adventure, Amy very much seems to take a bit of a backseat, which leads to a refreshing change of dynamic.

As with all the episode previews for Series 6 thus far, don't expect us to cater you with plot details, as even the tiniest morsel might give away too much. What we can tell you is that there are lots of corridors, a little bit of running and several cases of mistaken identity, that will leave you wondering who's who. There's also a cliffhanger that will have you on the edge of your seat, and devoid of fingernails.

Graham's rather understated previous Doctor Who outing, Fear Her, may not have hit the right notes with certain circles of Doctor Who Fandom, but The Rebel Flesh, is set to secure his place in Doctor Who lore as a master storyteller who bridges the classic series with the new, seamlessly.

Something is building here, you really feel it, and as we make our way to the centre point of the series, you cant help feeling if we are halfway out of the dark, or halfway out of the light.

5 things to look out for…

-  The unforgettable sound of Dusty Springfield.

-  "Behold! A Cockerel! I love a Cockerel!"

-  The TARDIS gets that sinking feeling.

-  A lot can go wrong in an hour.

-  We find out The Doctor's shoe size!

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.4: The Doctor's Wife and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

When we first heard Neil Gaiman was to write a Doctor Who story, it would be an underestimation to say we were bloody excited. After all, this is the very same Neil Gaiman who wrote the awesome Sandman comic book series - not to mention the Nebula Award-winning American Gods.

BUT... then we heard his episode was being 'bumped' to series six, and were a little worried things would go the way of Fry...

Fear not though! As right in front of us is the (still-warm-owing-to-the-fact-we've-just-watched-it) preview disc for 6.4: The Doctor's Wife - Neil Gaimain's love letter to Doctor Who. (Yes, they are his words, but it really is!). 

In 45 minutes, Gaiman's script takes us to another universe (in more ways than one), and dips several toes into the show's past, present and future - something that will please fans old and new.

As a viewer, prepare to experience a plethora of emotions that will leave you feeling you've run a mental marathon, with no time to stop for liquid refreshment, as you will almost certainly miss something witty, clever or heartbreaking.

As with every episode this season thus far, it is almost impossible to describe the story without giving too much away, but we will tell you this; Suranne Jones, and her character truly shine at the centre of all of this, and the sets and beautiful CGI scenery with its mesmerising bluey-green hues are truly epic. Also stealing some of the spotlight is the TARDIS, and something fans have been begging for since the show's revival in 2005...

Some die-hard fans may view this as a slightly unconventional episode, but this is not a bad thing. There are actually more strands of a traditional Doctor Who story here than you may notice at first, and all the ingredients are there from the cracking story to a purposeful threat, right through to an unforgettable conclusion.

Gaiman takes his turn to hold the proverbial Doctor Who torch, runs with it, and has it burning even brighter by the end.

It's no secret that The Doctor's Wife has had a lot of hype, but honestly, truly, it lives up to everything a fan of Doctor Who could hope for, and will have you hoping this isn't the last Doctor Who script from Neil Gaiman.

Our preview disc is now cold again…time to warm it up!

Five things to look out for...

1) Knock, knock - Who's there?

2) A cupboard with a terrible truth.

3) Uncle's looking a little green.

4) Rory shows his mature side.

5) "The only _____ in the ______ is the _____".

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

Any episode following on from the series 6 two-part opener would have a tough job on its hands, but Stephen Thompson's The Curse of the Black Spot, has delivered a mighty fine story that will unreservedly and undeniably buckle your swash.

The adventure begins on board a 17th-Century pirate ship that has been stranded for over a week. Members of the crew are falling prey to a curse of a black spot on their hands, which promptly summons a beautiful but deadly siren, played by Lily Cole.

The TARDIS team appear to be stowaways on board the ship - a situation that  Captain Avery (Hugh Bonneville), doesn't take too kindly to. After a few scuffles and a re-pegging of authority, the hunt begins for a cause, and indeed a cure for the curse.

It all feels very classic who, but yet unmistakably new who too, and a little bit Moffat-y in places also, but one of the biggest winning elements here is the wonderful atmosphere that the story and indeed the set, paints.

It's also good to see Rory being used more this season, and we certainly get to see some different sides to him in this adventure.

Expect some shocks and a couple more signature plot twists that Doctor Who is becoming famous for, and you have a thoroughly enjoyable 45 minutes, made more enjoyable by the fantastic guest cast.

If there is anything negative that could be said about the story, it would be the final scene, which, without giving too much away, feels all too similar to the penultimate scene from 6.2: Day of the Moon.

Rating: 8/10

DWO have seen 6.2: Day of the Moon and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

It's been 7 days and the nail biting can finally end as the resolution to last week's cliffhanger is finally here…

6.2: Day of the Moon, doesn't immediately pick up from where last week left off, however. The final moments of the previous story are revisited in a fragmented form which feels more like a stylistic resolution than what we have come to accept from traditional cliffhangers.

We're also treated to one of the longest pre-title sequences in the show's history - over 6 and a half minutes in total!

As with our previous preview, it's an incredibly difficult episode to describe without giving too much away, but we can tell you that it's set 3 months after the events in The Impossible Astronaut, there's another prison with The Doctor's name on it and there are more shocks here than the previous episode.

Day of the Moon actually feels a little more complex than The Impossible Astronaut, even with a couple of answers to some niggling questions (no, not THAT question…yet) - your brain will literally hurt after the 45 minutes are up.

Moffat displays once more just how talented he is on every level, delivering a story that takes the show to new exciting levels and possibilities.

But the cherry on this proverbial cake of an episode comes in the final minute - in a scene that will have you screaming through your television set in a way that makes Maureen Lipman's portrayal of 'The Wire' look diluted.

May the nail biting begin…AGAIN!

Rating: 8/10

Five things to look out for...

1) Rory's addiction to a little red light.

2) A certain picture in a frame.

3) 2 body bags filled with people The Doctor cares about.

4) River makes a splash!

5) Video Phone.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

DWO have seen 6.1: The Impossible Astronaut and have put our spoiler-free preview together:

The wait is over! Series 6 gets off to a flying start with the curiously titled, 'The Impossible Astronaut' - a story that is unlike anything we have seen, or even imagined, before.

It's a real knotty one to describe as so much of the plot is spoileriffic, not to mention complex. Complex is good though! It's so easy as a viewer to simply vegetate and accept everything you see on screen without challenging you or making you think.

Steven Moffat really makes you work as the many strands that bind The Impossible Astronaut, and no doubt the rest of Series Six, weave their way through a thoroughly entertaining 45 minutes.

Doctor Who feels a little more grown up now, but at the same time, a little more childish in places. The beautiful locations, the grim locations, some of the subject matter and plots just make you feel that the stakes have risen higher than ever before.

We start off the episode with five minutes of fun, taking us from a royal court (where The Doctor is getting up to mischief again) right through to a Laurel and Hardy movie (more Doctor-y mischief). Three TARDIS blue envelopes are delivered to their recipients and a fourth to a mystery man. All of the recipients are summoned to an exact location at an exact moment in time, but why, and by whom?

Then, get ready to have the rug pulled from the very fabric of your being as Steven Moffat delivers the first course of what will play out to be one of the greatest story arcs to date.

Throw in a big dollop of President Nixon, the FBI, the scariest monsters ever to have appeared in Doctor Who (hands down), and a cracking cliffhanger to boot, and you have yourself a truly unmissable televisual masterpiece.

The only problem is we have a whole 7 days until we find out what happens next...

Rating: 9/10

Five things to look out for...

1) "I won't be ______ ___ again, but you'll be ______ me"

2) The Doctor's special fizzy straw.

3) Joy in the bathroom.

4) "River, make her blue again!"

5) Amy has two secrets The Doctor doesn't know about!

[Source: DWO]