Doctor Who – The Unicorn & The Wasp

This week’s episode….

I think summed it up perfectly: “Daft as a sideboard full of puffins.”

I’ll admit to a prejudice — I’m absolutely not a fan of Doctor Who when it’s in Goofy-Whimsy-Mode. Never have been, even in the old series. So, for me, this largely felt like a wasted episode. They’ve only got 13 to work with in a series — did they really need to do ANOTHER whimsical episode, given that they opened with “Partners in Crime” and its kyoot ittle fat-blob-guys?

That said, I generally like Gareth Roberts’ writing — and I realize that had this been the sole whimsical episode this season, I would have had a more positive view of it. In many ways, it’s very similar to the sort of things that you’d see in the comic book portion of Doctor Who Magazine, or in one of the Annuals.

But I can’t help but think that they blew an opportunity — a monster based on one of the top fears that people have (Wasps and other stinging insects), and it was largely wasted in what could charitably called “a spiffing romp.”

Still — next up is Moffat’s two-parter, delayed a week by the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s going to be a long wait!