Doctor Who geekery

[elionwyr]

vnucaso sent me some disks in the mail 2(?) weeks ago. I've not seen all of "Forest of the Dead" because the disk was glitchy; I did get to see "Midnight", which was unsettling in the way it emphasized how very alone the Doctor is...and reassuring in the way it emphasized the friendship between him and Donna.

"Turn Left."
Holy friggity frig.
I have not cried so much over a TV episode of ANYTHING since "Beauty and the Beast."
This is not to say that I didn't cry over Rose's departure from the show.
But.
But but but.

I was told recently I have a bit of a resemblance to Billie Piper, which I think is very flattering...but I realized, watching "Turn Left," that I relate powerfully to Donna. (Us temps/gingers have to stick together!)
So much touched me in this episode...I don't know that I can even properly quantify it all.

I have continued to love the way this version of Who reflects and refers back to itself. And so I found it rather brilliant to see this alternative Earth..the way that the world might have been had the Doctor not been around to protect this planet he loves so much. (Side note: So if the Doctor had died, the Master would not have awakened and returned to screw with Earth..? Or did I miss something?)

Rose has changed so much. So much. I didn't expect this. Her face is more sober, and she has a determination that is intriguing. I was powerfully touched by the 'time machine' scene and the way she talks to Donna. And the unspoken love she has for the Doctor.
I love that UNIT has such a strong presence. No disrespect to Torchwood...it is simply that this old school Whovian is a UNIT girl at heart. (I want a reason to wear the uniform, I realize.)
The references to the 'work camps' made me actually sob.

"The Stolen Earth".
Oh. Too much. I will miss saying everything I was thinking.
I love the idea of the entire Earth calling The Doctor for help.
I so love the relationship between him and Donna at this point.

Um. I sometimes have a bit of arrogance about being an Old School Whovian - ya know, a fan back when it wasn't cool to be a fan.
That said, it was incredibly difficult to not yelp and make a complete idiot out of myself when Davros first appears on screen, in the shadows. Yes, I knew this was a rumour; no, I did not expect to be yelping, "NO F--KING WAY!!!" when it actually happened. I very much approve of this recreation of him.

Watching every one of the Companions roll over and give up when they hear the voice of the Daleks...I am actually getting goosebumps thinking about it. Totally finally believable because finally the Daleks really ARE terrifying.

I love that when the Earth is stolen, each Companion calls out to a loved one...was very happy that Capt Jack calls for Ianto first. (Though later I have a hard time believing he would just leave Ianto to go find The Doctor...but then, I don't claim to really understand Capt Jack or the way Torchwood works. Not my fandom..yet.)

Harriet is brilliant. (Again.)

The Doctor leaving the Shadow Proclamation despite being ordered to help them is very reminiscent of what he did on Gallifrey more than once.

Rose with her big gun. Just perfect.
Jack with HIS big gun, doing what he always did..providing cover. It's interesting to me how he falls into the non-alpha role when it comes to The Doctor. Is it part of his complicated emotion for the Timelord?

And oh, I didn't know he was going to regenerate!!
And he STILL doesn't get to kiss Rose! What the frig?!??!
But I love the way Donna reacts to seeing Rose, and the running to each other..

I don't want him to regenerate without giving Rose a chance to hear "I love you."

Comments

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Oh, just wait til you get to the end. I'm with you-- I've been a snob about being Old-School-Who. But I cannot believe how emotionally tied up I've gotten with the new series. CANNOT believe. It's been an obsession the last month or two, getting caught up. But it's triggered my creativity and energy again. I'm writing, I'm designing, I'm going out to see things-- I keep thinking, "What a group of people, the actors, the writers, the designers." What an amazing thing they've created. What do i have to do to be that proud of myself? It's been unbelievably invigorating.

You need to see all the Doctor Who Confidentials, too. Trust me.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that about the confidentials...if only because of Davros. But I want to hear what they think about bringing Rose back the way they have, and the confidentials about the finale have to be really interesting.

I have watched most of the new Who with a new fan, and I confuse him a lot with my passionate reactions. Like bringing back the Daleks. I was literally bouncing and squeaking and trying to explain WHY it was so intense and incredible and amazing to see these creatures FINALLY be BELIEVABLY scary/intense - yes, I can finally believe they could take over the universe.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of unbelievably excellent information in the Confidentials. Lots of interviews with the writers and the actors. It's funny-- I can think of some really odd question about something, watch the corresponding DWC, and someone's addressed it.

Julian Bleach as Davros is absolutely wonderful. He was in an episode of Torchwood, and rocked there in a very creepy way. And the new special effects are SUCH a treat!

in which I ramble about Jack

[rm.livejournal.com]

Seen it.

Yeah, so Jack. Jack's a soldier. I don't think it's just the Doctor. I think any good soldier, any good leader, gets off on some level on following someone they believe in. And I think the more competent you are as a soldier or a leader, the rarer that experience is. Which is why Jack will do for the Doctor and why Ianto, who really isn't as submissive as fandom writers him, will do for Jack.

Also did you totally catch how Jack was not reciprocating Donna's flirting physically? I really, really think that was a little "Jack's behaving for Ianto" thing. After all, it's a fanon notion that Jack doesn't do monogamy in relationships -- I think he does -- I think he did with Rose/Nine and I think he did with the wife we barely know anything about and I think he's willing to with Ianto, not out of any moral anything in any case, but when it comes to Ianto and the wife -- when you live forever, when you're going to forget someone you love no matter what -- you give what you can, and if it's something you think is silly that you don't believe in? You do it anyway.

My current sense of Jack is he's even lonelier than Snape. But he's also totally gregarious and doesn't think he deserves it. And, having just started to grok how long his life will be, is really fighting his impulse to act like a child, since it turns out he actually is one.

Re: in which I ramble about Jack

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I realise that this will prolly send up a psychic shriek from the denizens of fandom, but I honestly don't think the Jack/Ianto relationship is a primary for either of them. They love each other, yeah, but I don't think it's the be-all and end-all on either side. Now, Lisa, Ianto loved. The Doctor? Jack would tie himself into knots. Each other? They love and are devoted to each other, but it's not a Grande Passion.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

(Side note: So if the Doctor had died, the Master would not have awakened and returned to screw with Earth..? Or did I miss something?)

So that's where the Master was. Duh. I kept wondering....

Also...are you on my writing filter? Did you see my Face of Boe story?

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I did not see it! I'm not sure I'm on your filter...

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure...I don't like to just smack anyone into the filter without permission, but I've added you to it now.

The story is called "Triptych" and here's Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and DVD Extras. You have to have seen all three Face of Boe episodes as well as the end of Season 3, which I think you have, yes?