Hey Nonny Nonny

[drakyndra]

Non spoilery response to The Shakespeare Code: I really liked most of it (mainly because it touched on a few of my favourite concepts, and had mostly great in-jokes and dialogue), but the small bits I didn't like annoyed me so much it's negatively colouring my view of the rest. Which is not good.

So, overall, not as good as Smith and Jones. But mostly quite good.


I'm going to start with the thing that annoyed me, so I can finish up on a positive note - I did very much like most of the episode, and while watching it I very much liked it, with the occasional eye-roll. But looking back at it I find greatly irritating.

I can't believe I am actually saying this, but Gareth Roberts, plz take some advice from Rusty on how to write references to Rose. Because Smith and Jones managed to mention her in a manner that was repectful for all characters involved: Martha, Rose and the Doctor.

Whereas in The Shakespeare Code... well, you had the Doctor with his "That's why I fight" which is just NO, NO, NO! He fights because he's the Doctor, not out a devotion to a individual. (I don't mind Lilith bringing it up here, it's just the Doctor's response which tees me off) I mean, as much as I love Ten/Reinette I firmly believe he saved her because he couldn't let an innocent women die, and ruin the time-line rather than romantic heroism.

The does things because he is the Doctor, because it is right. If he doesn't, than he's not the Doctor.

The other moment along these lines... well, something I've always said is that the only way you can make me genuinely hate a character is to rip down others so you can place your character on a pedestal. I went through an anti-Hermione period because of her fans, though I'm over that now. And the fact that we have a canonical instance of this in Doctor Who... I am very, very cross.

It's actually making me briefly not-like Ten. And given how much I love him, that's bloody hard.

ETA: Though I will add that this comment here reflects a possible interesting subtext on the whole Doctor saying Rose > Martha issue. If only we'd had some explicit acknowledgement of that...

And there's the classic "The Doctor going on about being unable to see what is in front of him when right in front of him is Martha lying languid on a bed with him" There's none so blind as those who won't see.

(That said, I've seen a few argue that it's set up for the inevitable "Yay Martha!"-ness from the Doctor. Which is pretty certain given she's around for rather more than one trip. But still, there had better be some good pro-Martha stuff explicitly said by the Doctor, or I shall be terribly cross)

All in all, Martha totally earned that pissy look she was giving.

Okay, moving on to the stuff which I did like.

So, the world was saved because Martha is a Harry Potter fan. MADE OF FUCKING AWESOME! I shall never get over the sheer hilarity of the world being saved by Expelliarmus. Also, Deathly Hallows apparently made the Doctor cry. Bless. I know I'm going to bawl over it, anyway

And he's a JK fanboy. Even more bless. I wonder if Ms Rowling was watching this episode. I mean, she was asked to write on the show, but this was a fabulous shout-out.

Also, explaining time-travel with Back to the Future is completely win.

Speaking of references, not only some hilarious dialogue between the Doctor and Martha about time travel, which shows that A) she's up with her sci-fi, and B) she's smart enough to worry about screwing up the timeline.

Martha: "What if I kill my grandfather?"
Doctor: "Are you planning to?"
*me falls over giggling*

Oh, and my fave:

"What if I step on a butterfly?"
"What did the butterfly ever do to you?"

Which filled me with glee, not just because of the hilarity, but because the original stepped-on-a-butterfly, screwed-up-the-timeline story? Is none other than Bradbury's A Sound of Thunder. You know, the story I think episode 12 is named after, and has themes riffed upon If I am right, then I shall be terribly impressed. Great riffing, that'd be.

Also on that vague note: Cheers for no gratuitous Saxon references. Considering the context, I'm hoping they only show up in modern day eps.

Speaking of context, comparing the past to the future amused me. Especially when Mr "The End is Nigh" actually had a look at said Nigh Ending.

Also whilst on referencing, I found the whole "Shakespeare getting ideas from the Doctor" thing hilarious.I know some think it was overdone, but I utterly adored it, honestly. Partially because of the twists given (the Doctor quoting other sources "Rage against the dying of the light" at telling Shakespeare he couldn't use it, and Shakespeare realising the Doctor was quoting him). And partially because it ended up being, well, a bit Thursday Next. With the Doctor giving Shakespeare ideas that were originally taken from Shakespeare. An endless loop, with no source...

Bless on the Doctor being a big Shakespeare fanboy. Well, he is, isn't he? Just like with Dickens and Madame de Pompadour, he loves those famous faces.

But Shakespeare was quite good, in my opinion. And hot. the Rock Star version was very different, but, well, fun, and he was terribly clever, figuring out that the Doctor was alien and Martha from the future. And he had this great line about the Doctor: "How can a man so young have eyes so old?"

And Shakespeare flirting with the Doctor! *cracks up* And the Doctor's response. "57 academics just punched the air" Great. I did like seeing Shakespeare "get his flirt on" with Martha. Amd her being really quite flattered, but still turning him down. And her being the Dark Lady, and getting the sonnet written about her... as odd as it is, I like the way Martha now gets her own sort of built in mythology now. The Oncoming Storm for the Doctor, Rose got Bad Wolf, and Martha gets the Dark Lady, to be the subject of some of the worlds most famous poetry. But then I do love seeing the Doctor and all get tied into history...

Actually, on Martha, I was surprised and, farnkly, a little impressed that Martha's race was touched on in the episode. Even if the Doctor's advice was just "Act like you own the place", it was still touched upon. And then you had Shakespeare listing all these descriptions for a black women, which obviously made Martha terribly uncomfortable, even if they were flattering for the time.

Martha was terribly practical about time travel, wasn't she? Asking if the Doctor had a TARDIS licence (naturally, he failed the test), catching onto the when of things, if she needed to be careful of paradoxes, etcetera and so forth. And some practical application of medicine... well, sort of. She started the Doctor's heart up. Again. (Symbolic, maybe? Who knows...)

The Doctor and her still have great chemistry, no matter what lines the writers give them.
"Care to accompany me to the theatre, Miss Jones."
"Of course Mr Smith" (or whatever that one was).

He was so asking her on a date there. I was pleased to see Mr Smith hanging around, too. Huzzah for character continuity. And hitting my "Miss Jones-Mr Smith" kink

The ending, with Queen Elizabeth, cracked me up. And it played around with the concept of time travel, which is always good. An enemy he hasn't yet met... I do wonder what the story with that will be. Shall we see it on the show, or is it going to end up in spinoff media, do we think?

Your Gay Agenda for the day: Lilith has Two Mummies.

As for the main subject of the episode... well, anything on the power of words is going to get me. I mean, my Nineteen Eighty-Four essay was entirely on the power of words, I tend to go on about it in assorted other classes...

Yeah, you can always get me with the discussion of the power of words. And a race that needs the power of words to escape, that can be imprisoned by words, who can use names to have power over someone (very Earthsea, that)... it fascinates me. Words, words, words...

And in this story, it's all about the words, the powerful ones, the hurtful ones, the words without a source, in their endless loop of inspiration. Words and stories, in which the day is saved by by words from the story, and the Doctor is powerful because he hasn't a name. It sort of gives creedence to one of my personal theories (or contrasts when you consider my other one is the Doctor was stripped of his name when he became an exile...)

I love a story about the power of words.


All in all, so long as I try not to think too long on that one fucking annoying thing, I really enjoyed it. Hopefully we shall see future episode in which the Doctor become fully aware of Martha's awesomeness to make up for it.

And someone so needs to write Doctor/Martha/Shakespeare based around the sonnets

ETA: Apparently the writer is on the commentary track on the Beeb website, along with Julie Gardner and the director. Anyone heard it?I'm interested in what they say, but am too lazy to download it. It'd be interested to see what is said about Martha and future events...

ETA2: Confidential is cheering me a little. On the next episode: "The Doctor finally realises he's becaome attached to Martha."

Comments

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

Ok I have not read the whole post I had to stop and comment after this part

And there's the classic "The Doctor going on about being unable to see what is in front of him when right in front of him is Martha lying languid on a bed with him" There's none so blind as those who won't see.

When he was saying that line I actually sat up because I was like "This is the shippiest thing I have ever heard!" and then he mentions Rose. Oh I wanted to be Martha and that moment to give him a good kick. He needed one!

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

It was! Incredibly shippy, and then not just a Rose mention - which in itself I could have tolerated, but one of the stupid "Rose > universe" kind that even most shippers think is stupidly exaggerated.

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

1. Whoever made that comment is right. Martha found the word to save the day!

2. How can anyone not love Martha, she is a HP fan! Brilliant.

3. JK was asked to write for the show? Did I read that right? How come this is the first I am hearing about this!

4. I was glad her race was touched upon but not made a huge deal out of. Perfect.

5. Love that Martha gets the Sonnet. I was so happy she turned him down. Good for her!

6. I took note of the two mum's and smiled to myself. Good on you RTD

All in all I really did enjoy this episode!

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

It is only going to add fuel to the Rose > Universe stuff already out there.

*sighs*

Part of me feels we took one step forward and two back.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

It just annoys me hugely, possibly because I liked the rest of the episode so much, and so these few brief and so annoying moments are immensely frustrating.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Back when they were still trying to get the new series going (before it was cast or anything), RTD went and tried to get as many big names as possible interested in the show, in hopes of getting some publicity. So Hugh Grant was asked to be the Doctor (and turned it down), and JKR was asked to write (but she was too busy with HBP).

Basically, a whole lot of people who were never expected to say yes were asked, just in case, and JKR was one of them.

[stickmarionette.livejournal.com]

I'm just waiting for the threesome fic to show up. (Only in this fandom can there be fics labelled Doctor/Shakespeare/Martha.)

It's funny, I think this episode improves upon rewatching, and if you just skip the bed bit. (He does say 'Martha Jones, I like you' later...)

BTW, I really loved your speculation about The Sound of Drums. I hope that turns out to be true.

[melliyna.livejournal.com]

I really cannot wait for this episode to come on to Australian free to air TV goes off to try playing it with a program other than windows media player which seems to get sound not speech as this? It looks like such a very cool episode.

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

Download VLC

It plays anything and everything!

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

THANK MERLIN THAT HUGH GRANT WAS NOT THE DR.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Amen.

Though Grant apparently wants a role in the show, particularly as a baddie. Which I can live with, seeing as prefer him when he's playing not entirely nice roles. Plus, you know, it'd be huge publicity.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Huh. You must have a dodgy version, because mine worked fine with Windows Media.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who: It contains canon historical RPS.

Yeah, I did enjoy most of the episode. It's just when reading other's reviews, pretty much everyone jumps on the bed thing, one way or another, which brought it to the fore.

Also, I just saw the Confidential, and apparently the Doctor "realises he's become attached". Which is what the screaming MAARTHAAA! From previews is about, I suppose.

Apparently the commentary track has info on the finale eps. But I am too lazy to listen to it all to find them, so I shall have to hope someone else will quote bits of relevant info.

[stickmarionette.livejournal.com]

It's just when reading other's reviews, pretty much everyone jumps on the bed thing, one way or another, which brought it to the fore.
Yeah, and I've already seen quite a few Ten/Rose fics playing on that scene and the name bit. Which they're perfectly entitled to, of course, since their canon is done and any mentions must be like manna from heaven, but it seems like an odd choice for the writers to make since it really doesn't make for easier integration of the new Companion overall.

Next episode is going to be interesting...I hope he explicitly asks her to travel with him.

[melliyna.livejournal.com]

Thankyou - it works with that *g*

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

Ok just read your ETA2 and I am off to watch the confidential now....they better not be messing with me here because I would ship those two in a hot minute....first they say no and now yes?

They better not toy with my emotions!

Watch them be all "Now the Dr is attracted to her, but she moved on" I think I will strike someone!

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

Just glad to help :)

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

It's a bit... counter-productive, isn't it? I mean, we got one episode of "I want the old Doctor back!" And that was it with the regeneration, basically. I know it's a different character blah blah blah, but the fact that it wasn't gone on about helped the acceptance and all. This... isn't.

Though I suspect somethings going to happen next ep. Him getting worked up about Martha, and then the Dalek one seems to have the hugging from last week's Confidential, so there's got to be some build of closeness, to the point that after ep 6, when Martha is home, he decides to keep her on travelling.

It does look a bit acceptance arcy, but this is the bit of the arc I don't like.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

It's the next episode trailer bit of it, right at the very end. Which I'm sure will end on YouTube soon.

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

I watched it...Hmm. Attached. What does that mean?

He needs to aske her to stay properly damit!

I also went back to watch the bed scene to see exactly what he says. It is "There is something I am missing Martha. Something really close. Staring me right in the face and I can’t see it."

This is the first time I have ever been angry with the Dr. Honestly! That part still frustrates me on Martha's behalf. Oh well.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Attached as in friendship and what-not I suppose. That'd be all at this point in time.

And I'm certain he will ask, but I'm currently predicting in Ep 6. He drops her off, the seperate, emo about, shit happens, they meet up again, save the day, he's all "Well, I couldn't have done it without you... care to stay a while longer?"

I don't mind him being clueless about Martha's interest, really, as it's very Doctor. It's just... knocking one character to put another on a pedestal will always be a pet hate of mine.

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

Man I spammed this post of yours!

Well I am glad he will be attached! Damit, he is lucky to have her along.

I do not know if it is my mood tonight or what, but I can not take the thought of another emo moment. Even an emo Marth one.

I mind when she is constantly the one getting upset over it. I would much prefer her to get over her crush or him to get on board, but I can not take a whole season of Martha looking at him like she did on the bed and him just being clueless.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

He's the Doctor, he always gets attached to companions. It's sort of what he does...

I was in a down on things mood for a while, too, but the news over at the OG that the ratings were, relatively, speaking, quite good has cheered me a bit.

I'm sure it's going somewhere, I think just happens to be the most frustrating part of that particular arc, alas.

[booksbagsshoes.livejournal.com]

Over from tennant!love.

You worded your frustrations on the Rose side of things far better than I managed to last night, when it really just degenerated into a rant. I caught part of a comment from Russell T Davies this week in which he said that Martha's love for the Doctor was going to be unrequited and it certainly seems to be the way they are going judging by the episodes so far. Perhaps she's too intelligent for the Doctor - maybe he prefers them a bit thick so that he's definitely the boss in the relationship! :-)

I'd forgotten about the Back to the Future reference until you mentioned it. And finally - yay Thursday Next! I already know that July is going to be a good month, with the next Thursday Next and then the final Harry Potter.

[stickmarionette.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hope they do move it along quickly. It's like 'I'm sold on their dynamic already, I love the two of them together, I don't need anymore convincing, so stop dragging the past into it'.

Honestly, from the way he acts in the episode itself, I find it hard to believe he doesn't want to take her along. The Denial may be strong in this one, but not that strong. So it feels like they're only stalling so they don't upset the Rose fans (which most of the press reviewers seem to be, so fair enough).

Also...

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Random thing I have just discovered from someone on the OG: despite all his "Just one trip" promises, the New Earth and 1930s adventures are apparently intentional trips by the Doctor.

So...

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Note of amusement: I have just been informed that the next two adventures in Time and Space are intentional, rather than steering mishaps. So much for just one trip, eh?

The Doctor is in so very much denial.

The press... doesn't seem to be as much Rose fans as you think. I saw a few "Rose Who?" comments or similar about Smith and Jones, anyway. They loved Rose, but seem perfectly willing to move on.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

I try not to get ranty at least not in public, but it happens. I generally find that actually putting my thoughts into words does help me to be more considered over things, though.

Also, the Doctor so wants Martha - look at the flirting in Smith and Jones. He's just being terribly stupid about things. Apparently that might move forward in the next episode a bit, though.

July shall be a brilliant month for bookish types indeed.

[stickmarionette.livejournal.com]

Wait, so if the New Earth trip is intentional, that means we'll get a scene explaining why she's staying on at the beginning of the episode, right? Gah, I really want him to ask her to stay sooner rather than later. All this beating around the bush is silly.

I was pleased that so many of them seemed willing to give Freema a go, but the number of 'omg I loved Billie as Rose, so how's this girl going to measure up' comments did shock me a bit. And the fact that some papers still aren't over Eccleston leaving. WTF?

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Some infotastic stuff over on lifeonmartha. Actually, I suspect we'll get a couple of "Well, just one more trip..." things before Ep 6, which supposedly has important arcy-stuff for Martha - I suspect we might get a big deal made about asking her to stay/come back.

Papers are like that, they all have their biases. I seem to have had a more positive selection than yours, though.

[stickmarionette.livejournal.com]

Big deal made about her staying = good.

The Times and the Guardian seem to love NewWho, as well as a couple of others. The Daily Mirror is the one I pegged for really not liking Ten. (I'm glad ratings are good so far. Phew.)

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Why does the UK have so many papers? Seriously, what is the point of that many? We only have two main daily ones, why would anyone need more that that?

[stickmarionette.livejournal.com]

They do cover all the colours of the political (and good to bad taste) spectrum and then some. Tabloid culture rather horrifies me.

(We've only got one major national daily here, really.)

[malaleen.livejournal.com]

I really bothers me that my enjoyment of this episode is so diminished by the blatant manipulation on RTD and the writers part. I don't like the fact this is making me not like Rose anymore and making me dislike any thoughts of Ten/Rose in favor of Ten/Martha.

I want to like both girls for their own reasons, and not because I'm being manipulated into liking one because I feel sorry for her. Martha is completely awesome without out all this emotional manipulation crap.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

I'm a little more resigned to it now, possibly because we seem to have a few people ficcing and discussing and what not, as well as hearing goss on upcoming episode. And there's a definite feeling it's, you know, leading somewhere. I'm just not entirely fond of this part of the eading somewhere process.

I think I'm more annoyed at the writing at this very moment (I never did get around to writing that meta about blaming writers vs blaming characters for flaws in stories, did I?)

[thehornedgod.livejournal.com]

(very Earthsea, that)

Yes! Thank you! You're the first person I've seen saying that and it really shouldn't make me as happy as it does.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

It's weird, but the name thing is like the only thing I remember of the Earthsea books is the naming concept, because I loved it so much.

[magic-lilybean.livejournal.com]

Whereas in The Shakespeare Code... well, you had the Doctor with his "That's why I fight" which is just NO, NO, NO! He fights because he's the Doctor, not out a devotion to a individual. (I don't mind Lilith bringing it up here, it's just the Doctor's response which tees me off) I mean, as much as I love Ten/Reinette I firmly believe he saved her because he couldn't let an innocent women die, and ruin the time-line rather than romantic heroism.

Word. Word word word word Wordy McWordpants, WORD. To all of it.


So, the world was saved because Martha is a Harry Potter fan. MADE OF FUCKING AWESOME! I shall never get over the sheer hilarity of the world being saved by Expelliarmus. Also, Deathly Hallows apparently made the Doctor cry. Bless.

Yeah – I actually pretty much hated the whole episode, but the Harry Potter refs were made of win. They were one of only two things I can think of that I liked this ep.


and he was terribly clever, figuring out that the Doctor was alien and Martha from the future.

This was the other one. I really liked this because and awful lot of the time in sci fi about time travel, people from the past are morons that just want to burn you for a witch or something. I really liked this, and also Reinette. (I liked Reinette better of course, because Rose was all, “if I talk really slowly, maybe you’ll eventually grasp this, you silly twit” and Reinette was all, “yeah, there’s a spaceship and it’s got doors to all these parts of my life – AND?”) It’s nice to see people from the past in sci fi that actually grasp it instead of the time travelers trying to hide it because obviously the people in the past just can’t handle it or whatev.


And he had this great line about the Doctor: "How can a man so young have eyes so old?"

And cheers for not turning it into a Lonely Lonely Sad Lonely God Angel Lonely Guy moment. Because they easily could've.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

It’s nice to see people from the past in sci fi that actually grasp it instead of the time travelers trying to hide it because obviously the people in the past just can’t handle it or whatev.

If nothing else, it makes the fanboying of them by the Doctor seem more appropriate.

Also... people aren't necessarily stupid. Or to borrow a quote, a person isn't stupid, but people are.