Endings and beginnings

Well, the 2008 season of Doctor Who finished on BBC1 last weekend and overall i've enjoyed it a lot; as i've previously written, Donna Noble has grated a few times for me and the temporary "new and improved" model (to avoid any spoilers, i won't go into detail) from the last episode started off very irritating before turning into someone that would have been fantastic as an ongoing companion for the Doctor but not much good for the audience so something was going to happen. Having the gang all there at least in spirit (with appearances by Mister Smith, K9, Luke Smith, Ianto Jones and Gwen Cooper, the latter being the subject of a very funny throw away question from the Doctor about her having ancestors from that area of Wales) was wonderful and that vast TARDIS set didn't look cramped with so many people in it. The endings for the various characters were a mixed bunch, hopefully the little trio that wandered off into the sunset headed by Jack is a hint of things to come for Torchwood and Rose finally getting her man was probably the highest point even if a little sad considering it wasn't poor old Mickey... and Bernard Cribbins was superb. All in all, a good finale to an enjoyable season, i know that not everyone enjoyed it but this isn't their blog so ppphhhpppt!

Starting up a few nights ago on BBC1 was their new drama Bonekickers, starring... erm, him from Hustle and her who played Martha Jones' sister in Doctor Who although i didn't recognise her until i had a look on the IMDb if i'm totally honest... there was a review i read online somewhere that described it as "Time Team meets CSI" and yes, i can see where that came from. All of the character cliche boxes were pretty much ticked off one by one; forthright and uncompromising team leader who has something in her past to build a story arc around? Check. Eccentric expert who gets most of the best one liners? Check and wonderfully lecherous with it. God bothering lunatics? Check for a third time and with some cool swords since they were supposed to be faux Knights Templar. New member of the team who is there to act as a way to introduce the lead characters to the audience and is contractually obliged to stuff something up before redeeming herself? Bingo!

The story was... well, rather silly really and an excuse to drag out a few cliches whilst the acting, especially from Julie Graham as the aforementioned uncompromising leader with a mysterious pass-time she's picked up from her mother was a bit stilted for at least the first five or so minutes but considering it was the first episode and had all the character exposition to squeeze in along with a load of pyrotechnics and so forth, it was enjoyable. Again, other people have said less favourable things but personally i'm looking forward to seeing where this one goes now all of that setting up is done.