Doctor Who Series 7 / Episode 5 Preview: "The Angels Take Manhattan"

The Angels Take Manhattan, Episode 5 of Doctor Who - Series 7 (not including the classic series), is probably the most anticipated episode of the entire season for the BBC science-fiction television show. Executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat incorporates a few major returns and departures in this installment. We think we have a good idea of what's coming, but do we really?

First, we know this is the "final farewell" for "the Ponds" (Amy and Rory). Amy (Maiden name: Pond) - played by Karen Gillan and Rory Williams - played by Arthur Darvill are among the most popular companion characters the show has ever had. Personally, I can't believe we will never see them again, but we may only see them in a brief cameo-like appearance or two sometime in the future (or maybe in the past?). We can be sure though that there will be new companions acquired by the eleventh Doctor - played by Matt Smith.

The title name makes it obvious that they will be visiting the Manhattan area of New York City. The show has taken us there before. What may not be obvious, is that this is the first time it was actually recorded in the state of New York, and the second time ever in the United States.

Alex Kingston returns as River Song, for the first time since the last episode of Series 6. River was first introduced in Series 4, but was first revealed to be the daughter of Amy and Rory last year. She also became the wife of the Doctor the last time we saw her.

And what can I say about the villains in the story. The Weeping Angels have become almost iconic themselves, haven't they? Such a simple idea. I've known quite a few people who can be spooked by statues, under the right conditions. The makers of Doctor Who create the right conditions.

Guest stars for The Angels Take Manhattan include: Mike McShane (Whose Line Is It Anyway? - UK) as Grayle, Rob David (Gravity - 2010) as Sam Garner, Burnell Tucker ('Star Wars') as Garner 2, Ozzie Yue ('Silent Witness') as Foreman, and Bentley Kalu (Twenty Twelve) as Hood 1.

The official "Next Time" and stand-alone trailers for Episode 5, The Angels Take Manhattan, are below. The last one is a goodbye/tribute to "the Ponds". The episode airs tonight - September 29, 2012.

Doctor Who: S7 / Ep 5 - The Angels Take Manhattan (2012) Next



Doctor Who: S7 / Ep 5 - The Angels Take Manhattan (2012) Full



Doctor Who: The Last Days of the Ponds (2012)


***'Making Of' fan clips links to follow in the comments.***

New Doctor Who Season Preview: Series 7 Starts September 1, 2012

This blog post is a preview of Series 7, the new Doctor Who season, which starts tonight - September 1, 2012. It's the seventh season since the 2005 relaunch of this BBC science-fiction television show, that originally started in November of 1963. Junior's Eyes provides a huge selection of videos below to get fans ready.

It was announced on March 21, 2012 that 26 year old soap opera actress Jenna-Louise Coleman would be introduced as a new companion. Her first appearance is in episode one, Asylum Of The Daleks. Welcome to the big time Miss Coleman!

New Doctor Who companion unveiled - Jenna-Louise Coleman

Unfortunately, lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat also revealed that Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) and Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) would end their time with the Doctor sometime during this season (Episode 5). Gillan and Darvill came on board at the same time as current Doctor (11th), Matt Smith. They've become two of the show's most popular companions ever during their two seasons, but a big part of Doctor Who's success has been keeping things fresh.

Fans got to interact with the current lead actors through a panel discussion at the 2012 Official Doctor Who Convention (March 24th and 25th) in Cardiff, Wales on March 24, 2012. Looks like Karen Gillan has a reptilian admirer, as a Silurian found her more interesting than the others.

Karen Gillan Attacked by Silurian at Doctor Who Convention 2012

On March 26, 2012, the folks at BBC released a teaser trailer for the new season. This trailer mostly gives us a good taste of the wild west themed A Town Called Mercy, the third of the upcoming new episodes. It looks like scenery from the United States, but was actually filmed in Spain, much like the old American "Spaghetti Western" films.

Doctor Who: New Season 2012 Teaser Trailer - Season 7

The producers of the show decided to abandon recent practice, and go back to a Fall series premier schedule. We'll get five new regular episodes, and a Christmas Special, then get the other eight episodes in the new year. That's fine, but it's made it a long Summer, without our beloved Doctor Who.

Luckily, well okay ... luck had little to do with it. We were fortunate enough to see the lead actors and producers make a few promotional trips over here to the US during the long break. They made it to San Diego, California to participate in 2012 Comic-Con International during July (15th). So, that was nice.

Doctor Who: Comic-Con 2012 Panel Recap - Inside Hall H

Another Fall 2012 trailer was released on August 1, 2012. This one seems to cover at least the first three or four Series 7 installments. We see bits of the previously trailer's western clips from A Town Called Mercy (Episode 3). There are also shots of Asylum Of The Daleks (Episode 1), and beleive it or not, Dinosaurs On A Spaceship (Episode 2).

Doctor Who: New Season Fall 2012 Trailer - Season 7

Many people related to the show, and other celebrities, got to enjoy a BFI Southbank theatre preview screening of Asylum Of The Daleks in mid August. The press swarmed them, for several interviews. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Caroline Skinner and Steven Moffat talked to Digital Spy about the final moments of "the Ponds", in The Angels Take Manhattan (Episode 5), during the following video. Wouldn't you just know it? The Weeping Angels are apparently to blame for the end of their journeys with the Doctor. Moffat admits to changing his mind while working on the story, and "completely" rewriting the ending.

Doctor Who Stars on the Ponds' exit and Jenna-Louise Coleman

On August 18, 2012, a very short clip (Longer clip came out later) of the first S7 episode became available. The evil Daleks seemed to be doing a little begging. It's not often that they show fear towards anything.

Save the Daleks! - Doctor Who: Asylum of the Daleks, teaser trailer

Another trailer, deemed "exclusive", came on the scene. This one announced the return of the "global phenomenon", that is Doctor Who. It also mentioned the start date of September 1.

Doctor Who: Exclusive Season 7 Trailer

The American theater screening premier was held at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York, New York on August 25, 2012. You can see pictures of it via this link. Reaction from Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Caroline Skinner is highlighted in this next little clip.

DOCTOR WHO NYC U.S. Premiere Screening Recap

Filling the Summer gap somewhat were some mini-episodes (details). First was the Olympics themed Good As Gold (watch clip). Finally, I've included a video showing the entire five-part mini-episode mini-series, Pond Life. These clips were released in a spread out fashion, basically one per month.

Doctor Who Prequel: Pond Life Omnibus