Doctor Who: The End of Time, part two
Jan. 2nd, 2010 01:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talkingtotheskySome things are worth getting your heart broken for.
- Sarah Jane Smith to Rose Tyler, 2x03 School Reunion
- Sarah Jane Smith to Rose Tyler, 2x03 School Reunion
This was one of them.
Last night I stayed up until gone 2 in the morning, catching up on iPlayer with as many of DT's telly/radio appearances as I could, because I knew that after tonight things would seem very different, and I wouldn't have been able to watch/listen to them, in the same way that I've found it almost impossible to read Jack/Ianto fic since July. Now, as I did back then on the 5th July, I'm realising that as a fandom we have to recalibrate and readjust, this time reeling from something we'd known was coming and was nonetheless powerful when it came.
And it was magnificent. I've come away feeling emotionally drained, a smidgen depressed, a lot overwhelmed but - and this is the most important thing - completely satisfied. I love this show, its characters and the people behind it more than ever, and I'm hungry for more.
But before I talk about my first impressions of Eleven & S5, here are some of my more specific thoughts about this episode:
Last night I stayed up until gone 2 in the morning, catching up on iPlayer with as many of DT's telly/radio appearances as I could, because I knew that after tonight things would seem very different, and I wouldn't have been able to watch/listen to them, in the same way that I've found it almost impossible to read Jack/Ianto fic since July. Now, as I did back then on the 5th July, I'm realising that as a fandom we have to recalibrate and readjust, this time reeling from something we'd known was coming and was nonetheless powerful when it came.
And it was magnificent. I've come away feeling emotionally drained, a smidgen depressed, a lot overwhelmed but - and this is the most important thing - completely satisfied. I love this show, its characters and the people behind it more than ever, and I'm hungry for more.
But before I talk about my first impressions of Eleven & S5, here are some of my more specific thoughts about this episode:
1) Doctor/Master
a) It's entirely possible that I'm over-analysing here, but I felt like the point of these episodes was to show how much the two of them are essentially the same. Yes, they've always been talked about as polar opposites, but there's a lot similar as well. For example, when the Doctor faces going into the chamber to save Wilf, he rages against it: "No! It's not fair!" And what did the Master say when the Doctor rose up from his cage at the end of TLotTL? There's the inherent selfishness and insanity that makes the Master, the Master. But then I think back to Waters of Mars and the way the Doctor behaves at the end of that. I'm fascinated by this incredibly complex relationship they have.
b) That said, I wasn't entirely happy with the Master's resolution at the end of the story. The whole two parter had been building this closeness between them, yet at the end when the Doctor goes to visit everyone he loves there is no mention of the Master at all. I assume this is down to time restrictions and/or artistic license (he's gotta come back evil again at some point), but still. I wanted a tiny line. Did his firing bolts of energy at Rassilon expend the remains of his life energy and he just vanished into thin air? Or did he go back with the Time Lords? There's something missing there.
c) If you hadn't been able to tell by what I've said so far, I have acquired a new ship. XD Until now I've been a bit meh about it, obsessed with Doctor/Jack as I am. But after the foreheads last week, and the beautiful "Imagine what I'd be without you" line from the beginning of tonight's, I'm officially converted, lol. Rec me fic? XD
2) WILFRED MOTT
a) Yes, he deserves capitals. Bernard Cribbins, I salute you! XD He injected some much needed comedy into a very dark script and made a very worthy companion. I love him. A lot. From selling newspapers to observing the universe through a telescope lens to facing nuclear missiles! What a journey he's been on.
b) THE KNOCKING. God, I adore that plot twist. I remember being disappointed last week that the Master banging a stick against a metal drum was all that strand would come to, and then they did THAT. And it's heartbreaking, it really is. But brilliant at the same time.
c) But. I still don't understand just why Wilf was able to find the Doctor so quickly, what was connecting them? The Doctor says Wilf's not important ("I could do so much more!" Slightly hated the Doc in that moment, I'm sorry to say. Wilf is getting ready to die and the Doctor's yelling at him. Before the tables turn, of course. And Ten does have a right to object to his own death, so I'm trying not to judge him too harshly.), so why? And what about the mysterious Woman? Who was she?
3) Donna
a) Again, it was wonderful to see her, but her resolution wasn't very clear. Can she remember? How did the Doctor stop the Metacrisis from killing her? And money won't make her happy, ultimately. It's good that she's got her family and friends (Nerys! LOL) around her for the wedding, though.
b) I was so happy to see Sylvia smile, finally. I loved her for being a grumpy mare, too, but it was good to see her find some peace and come to admire and respect the Doctor the same way Wilf does.
4) Jack
a) Firstly, as a mad Ten/Jack shipper, I am disappointed that there was never a kiss. :P But at the end of the day it wouldn't have suited the story, and there's always Comicon, lol. XD
b) On a more serious note, as much as I (and RTD, obviously) love Midshipman Frame, I worry that this might seem like yet another slap in the face for Ianto lovers everywhere, if he can be so easily replaced. Yes, I realise that Jack can't mourn for eternity, but I still feel a bit disappointed with how Jack's story was handled. There was no explanation for the Doctor's non-intervention in CoE, considering that Waters of Mars turned over the 'fixed point' theory. Then again, I suppose nothing would ever have been good enough, and he only had so much time to tell the story and get through everyone. This is why we need fanfiction. :)
5) Rose
Billie's gorgeous smile as she runs off to have a fantastic 2005 made my heart skip a beat, honestly. Beautiful scene, made the old, long-dormant Doctor/Rose shipper in me very happy. But also, y'know, heartache.
6) Joan
Seeing Joan Redfern again was a wonderful surprise. Well, RTD said on Confidential that she was a descendent, but I'm choosing to believe it's still her.
7) Martha and Mickey
Don't get me wrong, I squealed, and LOUDLY when it was revealed they'd gotten married. But then I remembered Tom Milligan and felt really sorry for him. :P I want to know what happened to Dr. Milligan, damnit! XP
That was all very sentimental of me, wasn't it? Ah well. Having just read Russell's book, and learning just how ruthless he's had to be to get where he is today, it's good to know that he's got a big heart under the smugness and dismissive comments to fans that he shrouds himself in. I know, I know, I read a book, I don't know him, I've no right to judge etc.
I know I'm missing out a lot of fun moments, and the more I think about it the more things keep coming up to punch me in the gut. Still, this post is getting long enough. I'd better move onto my first impressions of Eleven.
Okay, I'll say this now: I DID NOT like the dialogue given to him. "Ooh, arms! Fingers! Hair! OMG, I'm achav girl!" I was disturbed by the fact that Ten seemed to have turned into Cassandra. And I'm reserving judgement on 'Jeronimo!' as a catchphrase for the time being. I am, however, bearing in mind that I didn't much like Ten in those first few seconds, and look what happened! So I know I'm going to warm to him when he gets going properly.
Plus, when watching the Confidential I finally saw what Matt Smith fans have been going on about for months. There were a few times when he looked directly into camera and when he did, I could have melted into his eyes. There's something mesmerising about them. The trailer looks fantastic, and I just want Series 5 already! :D
That said, Confidential also reminded me of how much I love Russell, Julie & David. David broke my heart multiple times, not least when they showed his last day with him trying to give a speech while fighting back the tears. Oh, bless him. And Julie with the 999 thing! ♥ It's making me tear up again thinking how this wonderful team who have worked so hard on this incredible show are not going to be on the Confidentials any more! *is pathetic*
So I know I've spent a lot of this post talking about things that disappointed me, but I loved this story. Yes, large chunks of the plot seemed to go out of the window to make way for spectacle, but at the end of the day spectacle is bloody brilliant. It's what RTD excels at and, for all my mixed feelings, I do love him for it. So I am satisfied, and when I'm asking for more it's only 'cause I'm a greedy sod. :P
Right. I think that's it then. No doubt I'll attempt to go to bed only to sit bolt upright at 4am having remembered something vitally important I wanted to talk about. But right now it's 1.40 in the morning, this LJ cut is still playing up and at some point I need to think about sleeping since I'm back at school on Monday...
a) It's entirely possible that I'm over-analysing here, but I felt like the point of these episodes was to show how much the two of them are essentially the same. Yes, they've always been talked about as polar opposites, but there's a lot similar as well. For example, when the Doctor faces going into the chamber to save Wilf, he rages against it: "No! It's not fair!" And what did the Master say when the Doctor rose up from his cage at the end of TLotTL? There's the inherent selfishness and insanity that makes the Master, the Master. But then I think back to Waters of Mars and the way the Doctor behaves at the end of that. I'm fascinated by this incredibly complex relationship they have.
b) That said, I wasn't entirely happy with the Master's resolution at the end of the story. The whole two parter had been building this closeness between them, yet at the end when the Doctor goes to visit everyone he loves there is no mention of the Master at all. I assume this is down to time restrictions and/or artistic license (he's gotta come back evil again at some point), but still. I wanted a tiny line. Did his firing bolts of energy at Rassilon expend the remains of his life energy and he just vanished into thin air? Or did he go back with the Time Lords? There's something missing there.
c) If you hadn't been able to tell by what I've said so far, I have acquired a new ship. XD Until now I've been a bit meh about it, obsessed with Doctor/Jack as I am. But after the foreheads last week, and the beautiful "Imagine what I'd be without you" line from the beginning of tonight's, I'm officially converted, lol. Rec me fic? XD
2) WILFRED MOTT
a) Yes, he deserves capitals. Bernard Cribbins, I salute you! XD He injected some much needed comedy into a very dark script and made a very worthy companion. I love him. A lot. From selling newspapers to observing the universe through a telescope lens to facing nuclear missiles! What a journey he's been on.
b) THE KNOCKING. God, I adore that plot twist. I remember being disappointed last week that the Master banging a stick against a metal drum was all that strand would come to, and then they did THAT. And it's heartbreaking, it really is. But brilliant at the same time.
c) But. I still don't understand just why Wilf was able to find the Doctor so quickly, what was connecting them? The Doctor says Wilf's not important ("I could do so much more!" Slightly hated the Doc in that moment, I'm sorry to say. Wilf is getting ready to die and the Doctor's yelling at him. Before the tables turn, of course. And Ten does have a right to object to his own death, so I'm trying not to judge him too harshly.), so why? And what about the mysterious Woman? Who was she?
3) Donna
a) Again, it was wonderful to see her, but her resolution wasn't very clear. Can she remember? How did the Doctor stop the Metacrisis from killing her? And money won't make her happy, ultimately. It's good that she's got her family and friends (Nerys! LOL) around her for the wedding, though.
b) I was so happy to see Sylvia smile, finally. I loved her for being a grumpy mare, too, but it was good to see her find some peace and come to admire and respect the Doctor the same way Wilf does.
4) Jack
a) Firstly, as a mad Ten/Jack shipper, I am disappointed that there was never a kiss. :P But at the end of the day it wouldn't have suited the story, and there's always Comicon, lol. XD
b) On a more serious note, as much as I (and RTD, obviously) love Midshipman Frame, I worry that this might seem like yet another slap in the face for Ianto lovers everywhere, if he can be so easily replaced. Yes, I realise that Jack can't mourn for eternity, but I still feel a bit disappointed with how Jack's story was handled. There was no explanation for the Doctor's non-intervention in CoE, considering that Waters of Mars turned over the 'fixed point' theory. Then again, I suppose nothing would ever have been good enough, and he only had so much time to tell the story and get through everyone. This is why we need fanfiction. :)
5) Rose
Billie's gorgeous smile as she runs off to have a fantastic 2005 made my heart skip a beat, honestly. Beautiful scene, made the old, long-dormant Doctor/Rose shipper in me very happy. But also, y'know, heartache.
6) Joan
Seeing Joan Redfern again was a wonderful surprise. Well, RTD said on Confidential that she was a descendent, but I'm choosing to believe it's still her.
7) Martha and Mickey
Don't get me wrong, I squealed, and LOUDLY when it was revealed they'd gotten married. But then I remembered Tom Milligan and felt really sorry for him. :P I want to know what happened to Dr. Milligan, damnit! XP
That was all very sentimental of me, wasn't it? Ah well. Having just read Russell's book, and learning just how ruthless he's had to be to get where he is today, it's good to know that he's got a big heart under the smugness and dismissive comments to fans that he shrouds himself in. I know, I know, I read a book, I don't know him, I've no right to judge etc.
I know I'm missing out a lot of fun moments, and the more I think about it the more things keep coming up to punch me in the gut. Still, this post is getting long enough. I'd better move onto my first impressions of Eleven.
Okay, I'll say this now: I DID NOT like the dialogue given to him. "Ooh, arms! Fingers! Hair! OMG, I'm a
Plus, when watching the Confidential I finally saw what Matt Smith fans have been going on about for months. There were a few times when he looked directly into camera and when he did, I could have melted into his eyes. There's something mesmerising about them. The trailer looks fantastic, and I just want Series 5 already! :D
That said, Confidential also reminded me of how much I love Russell, Julie & David. David broke my heart multiple times, not least when they showed his last day with him trying to give a speech while fighting back the tears. Oh, bless him. And Julie with the 999 thing! ♥ It's making me tear up again thinking how this wonderful team who have worked so hard on this incredible show are not going to be on the Confidentials any more! *is pathetic*
So I know I've spent a lot of this post talking about things that disappointed me, but I loved this story. Yes, large chunks of the plot seemed to go out of the window to make way for spectacle, but at the end of the day spectacle is bloody brilliant. It's what RTD excels at and, for all my mixed feelings, I do love him for it. So I am satisfied, and when I'm asking for more it's only 'cause I'm a greedy sod. :P
Right. I think that's it then. No doubt I'll attempt to go to bed only to sit bolt upright at 4am having remembered something vitally important I wanted to talk about. But right now it's 1.40 in the morning, this LJ cut is still playing up and at some point I need to think about sleeping since I'm back at school on Monday...
