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I have to apologise in advance for any possible incoherency in the following review. I is rather tired, you see, on account of a certain someone forgetting her key when she went out on her date, and thus waking me up at a quarter to six in order to be let in.
The cookies, though they have done a good job on cheering my mood, aren't doing much to stop the tiredness.
Anyhoo, onto Doctor Who and 42.
Non-spoiler version: I've said this in a few places, though it isn't my favourite of the series, I really liked it - solid 4 out of 5 from me. Decent progression in the Doctor-Martha relationship, some good character stuff for the two of them both. Liked the concept of the episode a lot, despite the dodgy science. Also, being me, I utterly adored the Visual FX eyecandy moments. My main criticism would be under-use of the guest cast, really. (Most were little more than cannonfodder)
Well, I could hardly buck the trend and go for a different cut tag, could I? ;)
To start off with, kudos to The Mill, and whoever else was involved with the ship and sun FX. Because they were just love. As I said, I like my eyecandy, and there was eyecandy aplenty here.
Also, since we're on random production FX stuff: When the music cuts out as the pod is seperating from the ship. Wow. I'm rather fond of Murray Gold, for the most part - though I think he's improving from his earlier stuff - but this was a nice subversion that had a nice impact.
And final production thing: Chibnall's writing seemed rather more Life on Mars than Torchwood. Which was quite pleasant, really. I wonder if it's the whole thing of writing under someone else's overview that brings out his better qualities, or just not being allowed to shove in gratuitous sex, wearing and/or violence.
I've seen a bit of criticism for this episode's similarities to other things. Can't comment on Sunshine, since I haven't seen it, but the stuff about TIP/TSP? Erm, well though I can see some similarities, criticising the episode for having a visually similar look to them, when it's supposedly set in the same time period strikes me as a bit odd. I like time periods to seem somewhat consistant. And people getting possessed is hardly what one would call a concept unique to those episodes.
Besides, the tone and pacing was entirely different. Frantic, race against time versus creepy, slower build-up to a climax. (Well, the good bits of TIP/TSP were the spooky slower stuff)
I'm going to try not to assume that it's a certain section of fandom being overly possessive of ideas again. But the main names I've seen spout this aren't helping
My other criticism comment: Apart from Kath, the captain, Korwin (Corwin?) her hubby, and Riley (Martha's companion), the cannonfodder was rather generic and forgettable. Pity, really. Especially given the last two standing were two totally slashable guys, if I could just remember who the one who wasn't Riley was.
And onto the good stuff!
Martha gets not just her own Superphone (With "universal roaming", bless), but at the end gets a TARDIS key. Yep, definitely not just a passenger. According to types who've seen it, this was referred to in analogy as moving into his flat. (Does that mean that, metaphorically speaking, the end of Lazarus is when it stops being just dating and they start being a serious couple?) Makes me wonder how much time has passed in between, and how much has happened.Apart from the obvious post-Lazarus shagging I need to get those books, so I can try and figure where they fit in.
The Saxon arc stuff with Francine was interesting. There's a thread on the OG about this, debating whether Francine's willing sold the Doctor out,or is being pushed into it. Personally, I'm thinking it's a bit of both - she's entirely willing to get him out of her daughter's life, but is getting mildly creeped out by Pushy Ice Queen lady, and her MIB sidekicks. And is possibly starting to wonder if she's done the right thing. Well, wouldn't you, if people were bugging your daughter's phone and making you interrogate her?
Especially given Martha's having an emotional moment. Gosh, they must be some odd phone calls. Random pub quiz questions, people screaming, "Tell everyone I love them" stuff, and then all cheery and nothing's the matter.
Martha promising to be home for dinner on Election Day? Well, that's not forboding at all. (And is it just me, or am I starting to get the feeling that it means that Earth-time, only two or three days will have passed the entire series?)
Also, to completely rip off a comment I made to someone else's review, we're so getting a Martha = Doctor analogy going on.
I said pre-series that having the Doctor's companion be a medical student was a blatant Chekov's Gun, and the show isn't exactly doing much to dissuade me. She's been given the sonic and the psychic paper, she's had a plus one, she's saved the day a couple of time, she has randoms who put their faith in her, she collects pseudo-companions...
And next week, she's the futuristic, knowing one in charge of the TARDIS, while the humans are running around being human.
I say again: I call a big Martha as the Doctor moment in the finale.
...I mean seriously, this is verging on the "Rose is leaving" anvils of mid-S2. I can't be the only one who sees it, can I?
The Doctor's been put through the ringer this series, hasn't he? And this wasn't just more of the same, it was something of a whole new level - lose of control of his body, rather than just hurt or potential death. The possibility of killing people, even someone he cared about. That fear he had... an open admission of fear to Martha. That's a biggy. And he almost mentioned regeneration. Think there was a proper explanation post-ep, or it's being saved til Jack's back? No wonder he's all broody at the end. I don't expect this to directly be the reason for the... things which happen in Human Nature, but I could bet it's a factor in it, subconscious or not. 'Twas nice to see him desperate to keep Martha safe, though. Without the "I don't even know her" stuff of Gridlock, too, because he does know her now.
It's almost as if they heard the criticisms I saw from a few people about Tennant's Doctor getting things to easily, and decided to address that. Then, I think they've been addressing a lot of the issues with the character stuff last series. I mean, I sort of get why it was done - in order to make people certain of Tennant as the Doctor, he's had to start out with all guns blazing, at his best, heroic and saving the day. But it's nice the contrast. It feels... a bit less shallow, really.
(Completely random random thing: I hope Terry Pratchett's been watching. Because when I spoke to him at the Disccworld con, Doctor Who got brought up, and he was one of the people whose main criticism of Tennant's Doctor was that everything was too easy for him. I wonder what he'd say now...)
On thecannonfodder guest cast. Well, the not-entirely forgettable ones. Riley basically became the Martha to Martha's Doctor, didn't he? Down to getting a kiss that though there is atttraction, isn't hugely emotionally significant. And the belief in them for showing up in their workplace, and saving the day at the last minute.
Martha has seemed to be collecting companion types on a few occasions, doesn't she?
And Captain Kath, who fucked up with the illegal sun scooping, and was willing to pay the ultimate price for fucking up/to save the day. (More shiny visuals!)
A few random whatsits, half of which I've yoinked from other people's reviews, but I thought were worth mentioning:
Whoever it was that pointed out that Chibnall, after setting up the "doors get locked because of a single wrong answer" and then didn't pull that expected idea, my thankies. I remember thinking it was an obvious set-up line, and got swept up in happenings that I didn't even notice the expected thing didn't happen.
I loved the sheer random stupidity of the questions. Favourite colours, maths geekery (which naturally the Doctor was all over) and the Beatles vs Elvis. I liked Riley mispronouncing Beatles.
Oh, and when Martha asked the Doctor about the Beatles vs Elvis, and when he tried to remember what he'd been talking about, and his first though? "Here Comes The Sun". I laughed.
Another Ten and Martha hug. Bless. Ten's a huggy guy, isn't he?
Martha get's told to work the stasis thingy she's never used before. And she gets out the manual. Bless.
Random thought: This episode got rewritten to some extent after Chibnall saw some of Martha's early episodes (in rough cuts, anyway). I wonder what was changed.And if this explains why apparently he didn't get the unrequeited memo, either
Also: Sentient Suns are made of win. Particularly when they are pissy with humanity for using them as fuel. (Bit of a love/hate relationship for humanity in this show, ain't there?)
Final note - Re: That Utopia clip everyone's on about. I am declining to comment on the events and/or motivations therein until I have context. Because I think everyone's being a bit pre-emptive about judgement now.
I am looking forward to Human Nature so very much. And it just seems better and better the more I see of it. Little girl with a balloon! Synchronised creepy head tilts! Adorable!John Smith, Martha in charge! Timelordiness in a pocket watch which I called a week ago! Flashbackiness and dreams!
I so want screencaps of that trailer
The cookies, though they have done a good job on cheering my mood, aren't doing much to stop the tiredness.
Anyhoo, onto Doctor Who and 42.
Non-spoiler version: I've said this in a few places, though it isn't my favourite of the series, I really liked it - solid 4 out of 5 from me. Decent progression in the Doctor-Martha relationship, some good character stuff for the two of them both. Liked the concept of the episode a lot, despite the dodgy science. Also, being me, I utterly adored the Visual FX eyecandy moments. My main criticism would be under-use of the guest cast, really. (Most were little more than cannonfodder)
Well, I could hardly buck the trend and go for a different cut tag, could I? ;)
To start off with, kudos to The Mill, and whoever else was involved with the ship and sun FX. Because they were just love. As I said, I like my eyecandy, and there was eyecandy aplenty here.
Also, since we're on random production FX stuff: When the music cuts out as the pod is seperating from the ship. Wow. I'm rather fond of Murray Gold, for the most part - though I think he's improving from his earlier stuff - but this was a nice subversion that had a nice impact.
And final production thing: Chibnall's writing seemed rather more Life on Mars than Torchwood. Which was quite pleasant, really. I wonder if it's the whole thing of writing under someone else's overview that brings out his better qualities, or just not being allowed to shove in gratuitous sex, wearing and/or violence.
I've seen a bit of criticism for this episode's similarities to other things. Can't comment on Sunshine, since I haven't seen it, but the stuff about TIP/TSP? Erm, well though I can see some similarities, criticising the episode for having a visually similar look to them, when it's supposedly set in the same time period strikes me as a bit odd. I like time periods to seem somewhat consistant. And people getting possessed is hardly what one would call a concept unique to those episodes.
Besides, the tone and pacing was entirely different. Frantic, race against time versus creepy, slower build-up to a climax. (Well, the good bits of TIP/TSP were the spooky slower stuff)
My other criticism comment: Apart from Kath, the captain, Korwin (Corwin?) her hubby, and Riley (Martha's companion), the cannonfodder was rather generic and forgettable. Pity, really. Especially given the last two standing were two totally slashable guys, if I could just remember who the one who wasn't Riley was.
And onto the good stuff!
Martha gets not just her own Superphone (With "universal roaming", bless), but at the end gets a TARDIS key. Yep, definitely not just a passenger. According to types who've seen it, this was referred to in analogy as moving into his flat. (Does that mean that, metaphorically speaking, the end of Lazarus is when it stops being just dating and they start being a serious couple?) Makes me wonder how much time has passed in between, and how much has happened.
The Saxon arc stuff with Francine was interesting. There's a thread on the OG about this, debating whether Francine's willing sold the Doctor out,or is being pushed into it. Personally, I'm thinking it's a bit of both - she's entirely willing to get him out of her daughter's life, but is getting mildly creeped out by Pushy Ice Queen lady, and her MIB sidekicks. And is possibly starting to wonder if she's done the right thing. Well, wouldn't you, if people were bugging your daughter's phone and making you interrogate her?
Especially given Martha's having an emotional moment. Gosh, they must be some odd phone calls. Random pub quiz questions, people screaming, "Tell everyone I love them" stuff, and then all cheery and nothing's the matter.
Martha promising to be home for dinner on Election Day? Well, that's not forboding at all. (And is it just me, or am I starting to get the feeling that it means that Earth-time, only two or three days will have passed the entire series?)
Also, to completely rip off a comment I made to someone else's review, we're so getting a Martha = Doctor analogy going on.
I said pre-series that having the Doctor's companion be a medical student was a blatant Chekov's Gun, and the show isn't exactly doing much to dissuade me. She's been given the sonic and the psychic paper, she's had a plus one, she's saved the day a couple of time, she has randoms who put their faith in her, she collects pseudo-companions...
And next week, she's the futuristic, knowing one in charge of the TARDIS, while the humans are running around being human.
I say again: I call a big Martha as the Doctor moment in the finale.
...I mean seriously, this is verging on the "Rose is leaving" anvils of mid-S2. I can't be the only one who sees it, can I?
The Doctor's been put through the ringer this series, hasn't he? And this wasn't just more of the same, it was something of a whole new level - lose of control of his body, rather than just hurt or potential death. The possibility of killing people, even someone he cared about. That fear he had... an open admission of fear to Martha. That's a biggy. And he almost mentioned regeneration. Think there was a proper explanation post-ep, or it's being saved til Jack's back? No wonder he's all broody at the end. I don't expect this to directly be the reason for the... things which happen in Human Nature, but I could bet it's a factor in it, subconscious or not. 'Twas nice to see him desperate to keep Martha safe, though. Without the "I don't even know her" stuff of Gridlock, too, because he does know her now.
It's almost as if they heard the criticisms I saw from a few people about Tennant's Doctor getting things to easily, and decided to address that. Then, I think they've been addressing a lot of the issues with the character stuff last series. I mean, I sort of get why it was done - in order to make people certain of Tennant as the Doctor, he's had to start out with all guns blazing, at his best, heroic and saving the day. But it's nice the contrast. It feels... a bit less shallow, really.
(Completely random random thing: I hope Terry Pratchett's been watching. Because when I spoke to him at the Disccworld con, Doctor Who got brought up, and he was one of the people whose main criticism of Tennant's Doctor was that everything was too easy for him. I wonder what he'd say now...)
On the
Martha has seemed to be collecting companion types on a few occasions, doesn't she?
And Captain Kath, who fucked up with the illegal sun scooping, and was willing to pay the ultimate price for fucking up/to save the day. (More shiny visuals!)
A few random whatsits, half of which I've yoinked from other people's reviews, but I thought were worth mentioning:
Whoever it was that pointed out that Chibnall, after setting up the "doors get locked because of a single wrong answer" and then didn't pull that expected idea, my thankies. I remember thinking it was an obvious set-up line, and got swept up in happenings that I didn't even notice the expected thing didn't happen.
I loved the sheer random stupidity of the questions. Favourite colours, maths geekery (which naturally the Doctor was all over) and the Beatles vs Elvis. I liked Riley mispronouncing Beatles.
Oh, and when Martha asked the Doctor about the Beatles vs Elvis, and when he tried to remember what he'd been talking about, and his first though? "Here Comes The Sun". I laughed.
Another Ten and Martha hug. Bless. Ten's a huggy guy, isn't he?
Martha get's told to work the stasis thingy she's never used before. And she gets out the manual. Bless.
Random thought: This episode got rewritten to some extent after Chibnall saw some of Martha's early episodes (in rough cuts, anyway). I wonder what was changed.
Also: Sentient Suns are made of win. Particularly when they are pissy with humanity for using them as fuel. (Bit of a love/hate relationship for humanity in this show, ain't there?)
Final note - Re: That Utopia clip everyone's on about. I am declining to comment on the events and/or motivations therein until I have context. Because I think everyone's being a bit pre-emptive about judgement now.
I am looking forward to Human Nature so very much. And it just seems better and better the more I see of it. Little girl with a balloon! Synchronised creepy head tilts! Adorable!John Smith, Martha in charge! Timelordiness in a pocket watch which I called a week ago! Flashbackiness and dreams!
I so want screencaps of that trailer
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From:
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The Doctor's been put through the ringer this series, hasn't he?
Absolutely. And, judging by the trailer for next week, we haven't seen the end of it.
I think it's an interesting aspect of the Doctor/Martha relationship - the way in which the Doctor can be weak and Martha takes control. I thought the episode had an intersting symmetry to it - in the first half Martha's in jeopardy and the Doctor saves her, and in the second half it's the other way around. I also liked how they mirrored the "are you ready" - "no" bit from Smith and Jones.
I think we will see more of this explored in the upcoming double-episode (which I want to see now! ... Errr, sorry.)
The Here comes the sun line nearly killed me.
From:
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You know, considering that role reversals and parallel moments are one of my current obsessions, I'm amazed I missed that one.
But yes, there was a bit of saving one another going on. Mirror of Smith and Jones, perhaps? Only this time the Doctor was the one who made a sacrifice and lay helpless while the other saved the day (with knowledge taken from the injured party enabling this)
And I am so very much looking forward to next week (and the one after). So very much.
From:
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I can hardly stand it. This it the one episode that I've been most eagerly anticipating ever since I heard what it would be about several months ago.
I'm almost glad I've got a really busy week and time will pass more quickly. *flails*
I'm really glad it's a two-parter - it'll give them a chance to really flesh out the story, the characters and the various relationships.
And didn't that little wink the Doctor did at the very end of the trailer just kill you? (I nearly puddle-fied when I saw it).
From:
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And yes, it's a story I don't think could be done as a single-parter.
I is looking forward very, very much.
Where are the trailer screencaps, dammit!From:
S3 pairs = Doctor/Martha
You know, considering that role reversals and parallel moments are one of my current obsessions, I'm amazed I missed that one.
Re: parallels and you mentioning the "Rose is leaving" S2 anvils (looking back at several of last season's pairs you have half of several pairs getting killed off. A rather glaring foreshadowing for Rose "dying"). So I'd been wondering about pairs this season and their possible relevance to the Doctor/Martha relationship. The major pairs this season have been Tallulah/Lazslo, Lady Thaw/Lazarus, Tish/Lazarus and the pregnant kidnappers / the Brannigans / the old lesbian couple in Gridlock. If I took about 500 words more space in your LJ, I'd elaborate on possible parallels in the above, but I'm going to focus on the pair parallels in "42" (mostly because they're more gratuitous/interesting to me) and with the Captain, her husband Korwin and the Bitchy Engineer.
If you read the Erina prologue for "42" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/42-prologue.shtml) it implies there was A Thing between Captain/Bitchy Engineer (there were vague hints of it in the ep itself, moreso how Bitchy Engineer was bitchy to about everyone apart from the Captain. Also, how the Doctor - whose usually good at getting people to do what he needs them to - tried to order him around, but he was adamant on only taking orders from her, etc) ... so Korwin/Captain/Bitchy Engineer = Doctor/Martha/Riley. Two (pseudo)triangles, but one dysfunctional, morose & shadowed with death (Captain's side) vs the other full of trust, faith & salvation (Martha's side). Doctor and Korwin were both possessed, except instead of Martha "burning with" the Doctor as the Captain did with her husband Korwin, Martha saved the Doctor, herself and the remaining crew. Also The Third in both pseudo-triangles - Bitchy Engineer and Riley - were left alone by the end of the ep. The other two in both triangles were gone (by death for Captain/Korwin and by departure for Doctor/Martha). Also Bitchy Engineer's "only take orders from her" (re: the Captain) could be synonymous with Riley's "I found someone to believe in" (re: Martha).
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Re: S3 pairs = Doctor/Martha