Also notice how rejecting the warrior role is what helps solve the problem and saves the day. He passes that role to Danny (with whom it sits far more comfortably), and the dead soldier gets the big hero theme and the big speech. I have lots of thoughts about this, but haven't really got them into shape yet. I LOVED the way he decided on 'idiot' as his epithet, and is making a conscious effort to return to the roots of who he is, and I'm glad he's rejecting all the false dichotomies he's set up for himself (good man/bad man, etc) because they're unhelpful. I hope he is now a little happier in himself. BUT…no matter how much he might not WANT to be 'an officer', he really kind of is one. He likes to give the orders. He likes to be in charge. He gets antsy when his authority is questioned, or people try to give him orders. And I'm worried that he's still not recognising that side of himself…he then carries on with "I don't need an army. I never have, because I've got them. Always them." It's a beautiful, moving sentiment that gets to the heart of Doctor Who - it's always been about the companions, really - but could also be read in a negative way. And since this episode, as you point out, is all about dark reflections in dark water, let's look quickly at the negative side: as Davros pointed out way back when, his companions tend to become his soldiers, his weapons. He doesn't need an army because he has 'them', his companions, his few elite soldiers. Sometimes their main purpose is to be the happy soldier, and get the actual fighting done when the Doctor won't (thinking of Jack, here, and occasionally of River, and Vastra). The Doctor is right to reject the role of a 'warrior', is right to reject any such restrictive label for himself, I think, because it should always be intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism. BUT. I'm concerned that the Doctor will label himself an idiot, passing through, helping out, and still not recognise that vein of privilege that allows him to do just that.
The Doctor does not need a dark mirror, he has long since moved past the need for it. Missy was brought back for Clara. Not surprisingly, this was confusing for Missy. The story changed without her knowledge, and although she was, plot-wise, constantly one step ahead (as always), she didn't realise that she was on a different track to the rest of them. And she was going to go off a cliff… This was amazing. All your three-way-mirror stuff was amazing. And I love the story analogy you have going on. It puts me in mind of one of those choose-your-own-adventure books - Missy has sent Clara to direct the Doctor, tell him which which page numbers to go to to reach the ending she desires…only to find out they've gone and checked out a whole different book, and are on a different adventure.
More thoughts possibly later. There was a lot going on here :-)
(Oh, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the vid :-) I'm so pleased at how well it fits with your post, and delighted by the simultaneous posting!)
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I have lots of thoughts about this, but haven't really got them into shape yet. I LOVED the way he decided on 'idiot' as his epithet, and is making a conscious effort to return to the roots of who he is, and I'm glad he's rejecting all the false dichotomies he's set up for himself (good man/bad man, etc) because they're unhelpful. I hope he is now a little happier in himself. BUT…no matter how much he might not WANT to be 'an officer', he really kind of is one. He likes to give the orders. He likes to be in charge. He gets antsy when his authority is questioned, or people try to give him orders. And I'm worried that he's still not recognising that side of himself…he then carries on with "I don't need an army. I never have, because I've got them. Always them." It's a beautiful, moving sentiment that gets to the heart of Doctor Who - it's always been about the companions, really - but could also be read in a negative way. And since this episode, as you point out, is all about dark reflections in dark water, let's look quickly at the negative side: as Davros pointed out way back when, his companions tend to become his soldiers, his weapons. He doesn't need an army because he has 'them', his companions, his few elite soldiers. Sometimes their main purpose is to be the happy soldier, and get the actual fighting done when the Doctor won't (thinking of Jack, here, and occasionally of River, and Vastra). The Doctor is right to reject the role of a 'warrior', is right to reject any such restrictive label for himself, I think, because it should always be intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism. BUT. I'm concerned that the Doctor will label himself an idiot, passing through, helping out, and still not recognise that vein of privilege that allows him to do just that.
The Doctor does not need a dark mirror, he has long since moved past the need for it. Missy was brought back for Clara. Not surprisingly, this was confusing for Missy. The story changed without her knowledge, and although she was, plot-wise, constantly one step ahead (as always), she didn't realise that she was on a different track to the rest of them. And she was going to go off a cliff…
This was amazing. All your three-way-mirror stuff was amazing. And I love the story analogy you have going on. It puts me in mind of one of those choose-your-own-adventure books - Missy has sent Clara to direct the Doctor, tell him which which page numbers to go to to reach the ending she desires…only to find out they've gone and checked out a whole different book, and are on a different adventure.
More thoughts possibly later. There was a lot going on here :-)
(Oh, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the vid :-) I'm so pleased at how well it fits with your post, and delighted by the simultaneous posting!)