Series 5 - Matt Smith - 'The Pandorica Opens' and 'The Big Bang'

It appears we’ve been on a bit of a Matt Smith binge but this is hardly surprising having just acquired the blu-rays for seasons 5 and 6. For our 56th and 57th evenings with the Doctor we chose the two part story which sees the Doctor face all of his foes in one big standoff surrounding the mysterious Pandorica. As the finale of Matt Smith’s first series as the Doctor the audience widely expected wonderful things from The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang and with the promise of appearances from River Song, the Daleks, the Cybermen and well, just about every race of monsters the Doctor has ever come up against, there was only one way this episode could go.


The Pandorica itself is a prison. An indestructible shell designed to be used to contain the most dangerous creature in the known universe, with a legend like that it is only natural that the Doctor may be curious to find this artefact and will do anything and everything in his power to stop it falling into the hands of the host of his enemies that have surrounded Stonehenge. This episode features some of Matt Smith’s most convincing acting and ties up the series in a neat little bow bringing all of our favourite characters together including a young Amelia Pond in order to save the world once more.

When Van Gogh paints an exploding Tardis, River song poses as Cleopatra and invites the Doctor to 102AD where the Romans have discovered the pandorica buried under Stonehenge. Not only does this episode see the return of the many of the most iconic Doctor who villains but it also sees the return of Rory following his death and deletion from history and Amy’s memory in ‘Cold Blood’. A trap has been set by the Doctor’s biggest foes using items from Amy’s bedroom and memories from her childhood including her faded memories of Rory. Amy’s long lost boyfriend returns in the form of a Roman centurion who is also an Auton in disguise. The Doctor finds himself in deep water when he falls for the trap and is trapped in the Pandorica with no immediate plans to escape.

The Doctor manages to overcome his adversaries in his usual creative and clever way and is able to save his friends and the universe in the process however it is hard work and very nearly results in Amy’s death. This episode sees each of the Doctor’s friends face their fates whilst racing against the clock to stop the Tardis from exploding and escape the spreading time fissure which threatens to remove them all from history entirely. This episode really showcases the Doctor’s flare for challenges and remarkable dress sense as he saves the universe with the help of a few friends, a Roman Centurion and a very exciting Fez and mop combo.

As part of the Doctor’s plan, Amy accepts the Doctor’s confinement to the Pandorica for herself, trapped in suspended animation for 2000 years, it is Amy’s part in this story that helps you understand the very extent of Rory’s love when he becomes the very last centurion, guarding the pandorica alone and unchallenged for thousands of years until his love can be returned to him. Can you think of anything more romantic?

A really wonderful episode to finish on and easily one of my favourites. 5/5