Doctor Who Dinosaurs on a Spaceship S7E2 ::Spoilers!::

I can't even tell you how much I loved Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. I know it was just a fun romp but, beyond that there was a terrifically despicable villain, some really great touching moments and some decent character development plus, Brian Pond Williams!

Amy being the HBIC in this episode was really awesome. She just took control and I loved it. She had her companions and he had his and they all played an important role in this episode. I could write forever about Dinosaurs on a Spaceship but, I've set this silly deadline for myself to write reviews for all of series 7 before I watch The Angels Take Manhattan. I explain the reason for the rush at the end of my Pond Life review.

So, to make meeting that deadline easier I'm going to post this really long piece, which is what inspired this blog, about how The Doctor killing Solomon wasn't out of character. It's a little nerdy which I'm fine with but, in a "I think you'll find..." way so I wasn't planning to post it but, it's what I was feeling after reading the reviews. I was royally bummed out. I went online thinking everyone would have already made pins for Pinterest featuring all of Amy's amazing lines or that everyone would be talking about how much they loved it and all I saw on twitter was a lot of hate. So this might be awful but, I'm not getting paid or even graded for this so, on with the show.

After reading a few comments and reviews on Dinosaurs on a Spaceship (which I loved) stating that the Doctor's killing of Solomon was out of character, I began to worry that some fans may have been suffering from amnesia.

Being outraged by that action is fine. You have a right to be upset if you don't like that aspect of the Doctor. I have no problem with that point of view. I would like to respond, however, to the folks stating that it was out of character with this well-made video by @TMDWP which provides a whole slew of examples of the Doctor killing people from the classic series:

I know that not everyone has watched classic Doctor Who. I'm in the process of doing so myself and it isn't easy considering the video for so many episodes were lost but, it is definitely worth it. Anywho, since some fans have only watched "New Who" I decided that I should point out some examples that they should be familiar with.

S1E2 The End of The World - Of course I'm referring to Cassandra. After the 9th Doctor foils her plan, he brings her back to Platform One without her "boys" to moisturize her. The Doctor points out that she's creaking. She realizes she is drying out and begs him to help her. Rose can't bare to watch and she also asks him to help to which he responds, "Everything has its time and everything dies." He might not have been able to help her but, the point is, he didn't want to help her and he watched her die.

S2E1 The Christmas Invasion - The Tenth Doctor killed someone in his first episode. After he quotes the Lion King to try to persuade the Sycorax to leave(I fell in love with him at that very moment) and they refuse, he challenges the leader to a battle for the planet. The sword fight moves outside onto awing of the ship where the Doctor defeats his opponent but, he doesn't kill him, yet. He tells him to leave Earth and never return and then cheerfully rejoins Rose. The Sycorax leader gets back up and runs towards the Doctor with his sword drawn. The Doctor throws the satsuma he found in his robe skillfully at a button that causes the part of the wing his opponent was standing on to fold and the Sycorax leader falls to his death. The Doctor says as he walkaway without ever looking back, "No second chances. I'm that sort of a man."

S3E1 The Runaway Bride - This was the first appearance of my favorite companion, Donna. I loved this episode and yes it includes the Doctor basically committing genocide, right? He floods the pit which contains thousands of the Empress of the Rachnoss' children. And he does so with cold rage in his eyes as the place is flooding and burning and he is just standing there, unmoving,watching the destruction. As we know, Donna drags him away before it's too late and after she turns down his offer to join him in the TARDIS she says something to him that may seem obvious to fans but, needed to be said, "Find someone...because sometimes I think you need someone to stop you."

S3E10 The Family of Blood - I know he didn't kill anyone but, if you ask me what he did to them was worse than murder. It showed an extremely malicious streak. It is one thing to kill someone as they are running at you with a sword but, in this episode he plotted out each elaborate and cruel eternal punishment for them. I feel the same way about death vs. eternal torture with unforgivable Curses. Avada Kedavra is thought of as the most terrible of the three but, I just can't get on board with that. Avada Kedavra kills you instantly. You just drop dead which is horrible but, I would rather die quickly than live a lifetime in excruciating agony so for my money, the Cruciatus curse is far worse. But, I digress. This isn't about Harry Potter, I just think the analogy explains why I think this example belongs here.

Now, let's talk about Solomon. He is the epitome of evil and greed. I haven't seen such a good bad guy in ages. He repulsed and angered me and I can't say that I was sad when the Doctor sent him off to die. So many of The Doctor's enemies have a deeper, albeit evil ideology or purpose for their actions. That is not the case here. He kills and steals for his own gain. When he told Nefertiti he would take great pleasure in breaking her in it literally gave me chills.Not only did he commit genocide of the peaceful and brilliant Silurians by ejecting a handful at a time into space, he killed a beautiful innocent creature, poor Tricey, and also made the mistake of insulting the Doctor by offering him financial reward for saving his life. The Doctor told him to leave, twice, he warned him about the missiles and only Solomon's greed stopped him from doing so. I have no problem with his death.

That being said, I do not want the Doctor to start killing people left and right and, even though this episode was a bit of fluff or a throw away, I don't think that action was throw away at all. I feel as though it is going to be addressed directly or indirectly. I think we'll find that it was a consequence of not having consistent companions, which we've seen in the past. I say this based on Amy's line in the trailer for A Town Called Mercy, "You see, this is what happens when you travel on your own for too long."

I could be wrong and if I am maybe I won't feel the same about the killing of Solomon but, even if they don't follow up on this I don't think it would bother me very much. The Doctor is a very complicated man which is to be expected after all he's seen and done. I love his strong stance against hatred and violence, I love how noble and moral he is but, I can understand how the lines might get blurry sometimes and he is forgiven, always and completely forgiven.Well, I think my cheesy use of that quote is my cue to wrap this up.