film / tv / substack / social media / lists / web / celeb / pajiba love / misc / about / cbr
film / tv / substack / web / celeb

moffs1.jpg

Is Steven Moffat Really This Dim, or Is He Just Playing Coy?

By Cindy Davis | Celebrity | August 18, 2015 |

By Cindy Davis | Celebrity | August 18, 2015 |


You’re pranking us again, aren’t you, Moffat? Playing humble? Baiting us?

Okay, I’ll bite. We know you like playing games with us, stringing us along between series, telling us it’s in our best interests to get a mere three episodes of Sherlock per year (or two), teasing us about the possibility of a female Doctor, then slamming that idea into the ground. But, if you’re truly this out of touch about something so beloved to Doctor Who fans, maybe it really is time for you to pass the baton.

Ask any Who fan about his/her favorite episodes, and there’s a single word title that’s guaranteed to come up. Written by Moffat and directed by Hettie MacDonald, Series 3’s “Blink” is a tense and frighteningly masterful episode, led by Carey Mulligan’s captivating performance as Sally Sparrow, and featuring David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor, Freema Agyeman’s Martha Jones, and perhaps the most terrifying Who monsters ever. I mean, it’s ridiculous, but (just like when I’m in murky water past my knees, I’m worried about a Jaws attack), angel statues freak-me-the-fork-out. Every element for the episode fell right into place: excellent acting, twisty/creepy set-up, haunting setting and childhood-fear-come-to-life statues (just as scary in later episodes), cool paradox, and a clever wrap-up — what’s not to love?

So how, in this BBC video commemorating one of “The Doctor’s Finest” episodes can Moffat claim he doesn’t know why “Blink” is a fan favorite? It’s one thing to say that at the time he didn’t realize it would all click, or that it would become so beloved, but to still be saying he doesn’t understand it after all this time?

Come on, man! There’s a point where feigned humility becomes incredible, and you’ve just reached it. So is that your game, or are you really that dim? Producer Derek Ritchie lays it right out for you: “You’ve got mystery, you’ve got enigma, you’ve got great character, and then of course, there’s Weeping Angels. What more could you want? Behind any great monster is a great concept…fundamentally a kids’ game turned into a monster, which is just genius.”

I’d take that compliment and run, Moff.


Cindy Davis, (Twitter)