Doctor Who 2.11

[girlofprey]

I really liked this episode. I missed the first ten minutes, but it had a good setting, despite the LONDON-ness, which I think we've all had enough of at this point. The girl and the whole drawing thing was scary. The backstory of the Azolus was beautiful, and well-thought out, and poignant, and the "spore's" plight was really touching. It had a lot of nice little moments of continuity (request for parley, cat nuns, etc), and off-hand things (used to be a dad, omg). Rose was actually not hate-worthy, at all, when the Doctor disappeared, and we ended on a mother and daughter singing to each other to beat terror - 'love' done in a non-sentimentalised, believable and lovely way.

Which is why I really wish the ultimate paths to victory weren't 'Feel the love fly, egg, be free!', and the Doctor running with the bloody Olympic torch.

Bastards.

We ended on ball bearings you can eat (yay!) and FORESHADOWING, omg. And the sound of a 4 billion thousands of fans running to the internet to lay bets on Who Jr's mum. A hint at next season's companion? We'll see.

Next week: Heroism! Cybermen! Chrissie from Eastenders! And perhaps more Torchwood references! YOU NEVER KNOW!

Jakcie also appeared to get very close to the Cybermen. Hopefully this will turn out well. And if they really go for the tragedy/last story/valiance aspect, I will be so very there.

Comments

[grapefruitzzz.livejournal.com]

Good points. You're making me feel ashamed for bitching about it. I think I was in the mood for something more exciting, but there were lots of fine little bits. Hmm *feels influence*. I'll watch the repeat and see how it goes now I know what to expect. I liked the way the Doctor listened to the spore-thing's plight as if he was finally doing his *job* rather than bumming around on holiday. I much prefer work!Doctor to Fun!Doc.

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

See, now I'm feeling your influence. I was expecting, at the start (or ten minutes from the start, really) for them to follow the "scary drawings" route, for them to come alive and Rose and Ten to have to fight them - possibly have to decide whether to "stop" Chloe once and for all. But I did enjoy what it turned into. Except for the LOVE bits.

And yes! Ten should have a job! He is all-powerful - I think could relate to him better if he had some constraints on that, something to do. Rather than just 'be the Doctor' and 'shout!'.

[grapefruitzzz.livejournal.com]

Aaah! We'll end up in the middle! I think this'll be like 'Boomtown', where I think it's a lot better once I know what to expect. And learn to turn it off before he starts any torch-carrying nonsense.

Rose and Ten fighting scary drawing-monsters would be brilliant. They'd have giant crooked mouths and stiff arms, and you'd be able to see through the scribbly bits.

Maybe the point this year is that he doesn't have a job and because he blew up his planet, he can't really have a job again. He's doing well with his 'shouting' quota, though.

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

THE COUNCIL IDIOT WAS SUCH AN IDIOT! Oh. I hated him! And his jokes about the council! And his CONSTANT BABBLE!! And the torch? Was for the lose. Symbol of love, hope and courage, no. Symbol of overwhelming apathy and it's-on-every-bloody-channel-so-we-may-as-well-watch-it, yes.

Re; disagreeing - it's alright. I think I'm possibly just a sucker for huge, tightly-knit, slightly unhealthily dependent masses of children. 'They play together, and while they're happy they can feed on their love' - oh!

And I liked the mother. Her abusive alcoholic husband had just died in a car crash, and her possessed daughter is stealing the local children. WHAT'S A WOMAN TO DO?

[thinkzinc.livejournal.com]

Yes, I enjoyed the ep too! When I saw the trailer last week I thought it was going to be...a bit rubbish, lol! But no, it was good. And I agree with you - under the circumstances, you had to feel sorry for the mum!