Dw S12.08. The Haunting of Villa Diodati (scattered thoughts, mostly poetry)

[elisi]

I have been waiting for this moment for... a year and a half? Most of two seasons. This season the Doctor has opened up in tiny increments, but now, finally, she cracked wide open.

DOCTOR: Yeah. Cos sometimes this team structure isn't flat. It's mountainous, with me at the summit in the stratosphere, alone, left to choose. Save the poet, save the universe. Watch people burn now or tomorrow. Sometimes, even I can't win.



(Sidebar: 'Save the poet, save the universe.' <- iloveitsomuch. Although I think it's not so much cause & effect, as first one, then the other.)

It's a truth universally acknowledged that good things come to those who wait. Or, in this case, great things. Because this was a great episode.

It had layers. It had metaphors. It had poetry.

(Clearly the route to my heart is having a cyberman recite poetry.)

I am currently in the process of reading Shelley's Queen Mab.

There is a lot there to unpick, and I will have to get back to it all. For now, I will leave you with the whole of the poem that Byron read, because context matters:

Darkness
By Lord Byron (George Gordon)

I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space,
Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth
Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air;
Morn came and went—and came, and brought no day,
And men forgot their passions in the dread
Of this their desolation; and all hearts
Were chill'd into a selfish prayer for light:
And they did live by watchfires—and the thrones,
The palaces of crowned kings—the huts,
The habitations of all things which dwell,
Were burnt for beacons; cities were consum'd,
And men were gather'd round their blazing homes
To look once more into each other's face;
Happy were those who dwelt within the eye
Of the volcanos, and their mountain-torch:
A fearful hope was all the world contain'd;
Forests were set on fire—but hour by hour
They fell and faded—and the crackling trunks
Extinguish'd with a crash—and all was black.
The brows of men by the despairing light
Wore an unearthly aspect, as by fits
The flashes fell upon them; some lay down
And hid their eyes and wept; and some did rest
Their chins upon their clenched hands, and smil'd;
And others hurried to and fro, and fed
Their funeral piles with fuel, and look'd up
With mad disquietude on the dull sky,
The pall of a past world; and then again
With curses cast them down upon the dust,
And gnash'd their teeth and howl'd: the wild birds shriek'd
And, terrified, did flutter on the ground,
And flap their useless wings; the wildest brutes
Came tame and tremulous; and vipers crawl'd
And twin'd themselves among the multitude,
Hissing, but stingless—they were slain for food.
And War, which for a moment was no more,
Did glut himself again: a meal was bought
With blood, and each sate sullenly apart
Gorging himself in gloom: no love was left;
All earth was but one thought—and that was death
Immediate and inglorious; and the pang
Of famine fed upon all entrails—men
Died, and their bones were tombless as their flesh;
The meagre by the meagre were devour'd,
Even dogs assail'd their masters, all save one,
And he was faithful to a corse, and kept
The birds and beasts and famish'd men at bay,
Till hunger clung them, or the dropping dead
Lur'd their lank jaws; himself sought out no food,
But with a piteous and perpetual moan,
And a quick desolate cry, licking the hand
Which answer'd not with a caress—he died.
The crowd was famish'd by degrees; but two
Of an enormous city did survive,
And they were enemies: they met beside
The dying embers of an altar-place
Where had been heap'd a mass of holy things
For an unholy usage; they rak'd up,
And shivering scrap'd with their cold skeleton hands
The feeble ashes, and their feeble breath
Blew for a little life, and made a flame
Which was a mockery; then they lifted up
Their eyes as it grew lighter, and beheld
Each other's aspects—saw, and shriek'd, and died—
Even of their mutual hideousness they died,
Unknowing who he was upon whose brow
Famine had written Fiend. The world was void,
The populous and the powerful was a lump,
Seasonless, herbless, treeless, manless, lifeless—
A lump of death—a chaos of hard clay.
The rivers, lakes and ocean all stood still,
And nothing stirr'd within their silent depths;
Ships sailorless lay rotting on the sea,
And their masts fell down piecemeal: as they dropp'd
They slept on the abyss without a surge—
The waves were dead; the tides were in their grave,
The moon, their mistress, had expir'd before;
The winds were wither'd in the stagnant air,
And the clouds perish'd; Darkness had no need
Of aid from them—She was the Universe.
(x)

The poem was a response to 'the Year without a Summer'. The setting is post-apocalyptic. From wiki:

Byron is merely magnifying the events already occurring at the time. The riots, the suicides, the fear associated with the strange turn in the weather and the predicted destruction of the sun, had besieged not only people's hope for a long life, but their beliefs about God's creation and about themselves as well. By bringing out this diabolical imagery, Byron is communicating that fear; that "Darkness [or nature] had no need / of aid from them—She was the universe."

That is... one incredibly strong (and dark) image to link to the Doctor as we go into the finale and the war that she could not stop.

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[laurashapiro]

You don't mention it explicitly in your post, but the other theme this ties into is the climate crisis, which the show has been (rightly, albeit hamfistedly) banging on about all season.

[elisi]

I have so many more thoughts and the whole 'destroyed planets' is something I'll probably dig into once the season is over.

And I don't really care that it's not terribly well done (overall, I mean, here it was beautiful) because it is an actual theme and just the fact of having a theme makes me happy.

[laurashapiro]

Oh, I agree! And preachiness or no, I do like having a theme with resonance in the real world.

[elisi]

And it works on many many levels. :)

[juliet]

and in re preachiness -- it IS a show aimed in part at kids, and some of the clunkiness is a lot less clunky if you are 8.

[elisi]

This, so much.

My kids loved Victory of the Daleks from S5 and the pirate one from S6 back in the day, when all ~the critics~ said they were terrible.

And kids/young people are a lot more invested in the climate crisis than most adults, so it makes sense to dig into that.

[juliet]

I think the second ep of last season (where she's looking for the TARDIS), it got towards the end which I had seen coming for Some Time, and at precisely the right moment L's little mouth dropped open and he went "Oh! But...*blah blah whatever it was, something about the TARDIS phasing in at the right moment*", mere seconds before Thirteen explained that and it showed up. So, yes, terribly obvious for me but perfectly timed for a 7 yr old. Since then I have been way more forgiving about the clunkier moments :)

[elisi]

♥

That's just lovely.

Last season I was just impatiently waiting for the Doctor to appear. But she FINALLY got here, so all is now well.

[juliet]

like you said in the post, that "sometimes the team structure isn't flat" line was GREAT. Hope they at least mostly-land this season and do more with that side of her next season.

[elisi]

She is such a disaster, but at least she is now a disaster that I can see as a progression from previous Doctors, rather than being beamed in from E-Space.

*pets Thirteen*

[laurashapiro]

An excellent point, and one I'd do well to remember.

What did L think of this week's episode? It would have terrified me at their age.

[juliet]

He coped pretty well in the moment (we have established that if he and I are snuggled up under the Protective Quilt then it's all much easier to handle) but was holding onto my hand quite tight for most of it! Afterwards he said that that was Max Scariness, at 400 (400 what? I do not know), and any more scary would be Too Scary.

Interestingly he copes better when it's broadcast rather than when we're watching old episodes on iPlayer, & is less likely to suggest stopping it halfway through, despite the fact that we *could* still stop the broadcast and catch up later on iPlayer.

(But in fact I think that esp with a show like Doctor Who which tends to resolve things fairly tidily, stopping is sometimes worse than getting through it, because then you don't get to the resolution. I did warn him ahead of time that this one was a two-parter so we should expect a cliffhanger. I am REALLY hoping we're not going to lose a companion next week though :/ :/ )

[laurashapiro]

I'm glad he was okay! I commented to Paul that I would have been hiding behind the couch if I'd seen it as a kid -- it was a very scary episode. But it sounds like you all have some very sensible coping strategies.

I too am worried they're going to kill someone off this weekend. ):

[maia]

Yes. And the Doctor, like us, makes the easier choice in the present even though she knows full well that the future will pay the price.

[elisi]

... good point!

[laurashapiro]

Now that is a shrewd insight! I'd missed it. Well done you.

[juliet]

hm wasn't part of her point though that making the other choice would have changed everything in other ways? (specifically she says that Ryan & co would no longer have existed; but by extrapolation everything else would have been wholly different too. Another universe.)

I think I interpreted her agreeing with "you are inevitable" was that whichever path she chose this was going to go wrong.

[maia]

Good point! Though you could argue that preventing that magnitude of future suffering would be worth the price of Ryan & company not existing...

Also, if everything else would have been wholly different too, then in that other universe people would exist who didn't exist in the original universe; why do the original universe people (Group A) get priority over the altered universe people (Group B)?

If you have to choose either:
1.(Group A) existing in a horrific situation and (Group B) not existing at all
or:
2.(Group B) existing in a non-horrific situation and (Group A) not existing at all...

...well, I think I'd say option #2 is better?


(And yes, I have been reading about the nonidentity problem and intergenerational justice...)

[elisi]

OK, so this is why I didn't write a long post, because there is so much there, but:

DOCTOR: It's not just his life at stake. It's yours. You want to sacrifice yourself for this? You want me to sacrifice you?

It's allllll about the Doctor's issues. Bill (who had to be sacrificed) and Clara (who sacrificed herself), and neither of whom the Doctor could save in the end. It's about what the Doctor is willing to lose, and she can't do THIS again. *waves towards all of Twelve* I have a ton of Thirteen thoughts, because she finally snapped together, and this was a big reason why.

She is smart enough to construct the argument so they'll agree with her, but she is clinging on for dear life.

[maia]

Oh, yes, the Doctor characterization is fascinating! But the abstract issue is even more interesting (at least, to me). (Yes, I know I'm weird!)

[elisi]

Hey, both are valid! And all the difference facets are worth exploring. :)

[juliet]

Mm, but if the Cyberman's claim that "we are inevitable" is correct (i.e. that this is going to happen regardless) ie either of Group A or Group B will wind up in the horrific situation, then it's reasonable to prioritise the currently-existent Group A.

And in particular, time-paradox-wise, then if the Doctor's companions don't exist, then she doesn't wind up in the house and able to save Shelley anyway, right? So there's no one to stop the Cyberman from getting what it wants.

[maia]

Both excellent points!!

[astrogirl]

Wow, thanks for quoting the whole thing. It's not actually a poem I was familiar with, but a) it's fantastic, and b) it's really enhancing the ominous feeling the previous ep left us with.

[elisi]

You're welcome. I have never read any Byron, so this was a delightful surprise in all the best ways... So dark, so ominous. Mmmmm. So yes, I had to share.

[trepkos]

Sent here by Maia - thanks for posting the poem!

[elisi]

You're welcome - I read it, and knew I had to share.

[sea_thoughts]

Doctor + The Sixth Sense + Romance poets at their most bonkers = DELICIOUS

This reminded me a little bit of The God Complex: "Could this be hell? Could we be deceased?" People wandering around a house that is more than a house, a kaleidoscope of a building. I was also reminded of Amy's house in Leadworth, with that hidden room she was forced to forget while an alien squatted inside and slowly ate her childhood.

"You had ONE job!"

"ARE YOU THE GUARDIAN?"
"No, sir, I am the valet!"

"Your vital signs betray a heightened sense of anxiety."
"Or as I like to call it 'Tuesday'!" (That exchange was VERY Five, wasn't it?)

Byron continually trying to hit on the Doctor and FAILING MISERABLY. XD Sorry, George, you're just not the Doctor's type. Kind of surprised Mary gave the baby to him but he would at least want to protect a vulnerable child, given how he himself was abused as a boy.

"Words matter." There are more and more cracks appearing in Thirteen's cheery façade and it's great. "Save the poet, save the universe." Or to put it another way: save the cheerleader, save the world? 0:)

[elisi]

Doctor + The Sixth Sense + Romance poets at their most bonkers = DELICIOUS
Perfect mixture!

This reminded me a little bit of The God Complex: "Could this be hell? Could we be deceased?" People wandering around a house that is more than a house, a kaleidoscope of a building.
Yes, I was thinking of that episode too! (And a little bit of Castrovalva.) (I love that the show does this sort of reality warp fairly regularly.)

I was also reminded of Amy's house in Leadworth, with that hidden room she was forced to forget while an alien squatted inside and slowly ate her childhood.
Mmmm, love how you phrased that.

"You had ONE job!"
Literally laughed out loud. Just beautiful.

"Or as I like to call it 'Tuesday'!" (That exchange was VERY Five, wasn't it?)
I was thinking of Buffy... ('Dawn's in trouble. Must be Tuesday.' <- of course this was rather meta, since the episodes always aired on a Tuesday.)

Byron continually trying to hit on the Doctor and FAILING MISERABLY. XD Sorry, George, you're just not the Doctor's type.
Ah, but has she snogged him previously? That warning was RATHER specific. Oh, or maybe Clara snogged him? Or was that only Jane Austen? Hmmm. Either way, THIS Doctor had zero time for his flirting, which was nice.

Kind of surprised Mary gave the baby to him but he would at least want to protect a vulnerable child, given how he himself was abused as a boy.
Maybe she figured he was likely to run away & hide if things got scary, and that's a good thing if it comes to protecting babies.

"Words matter." There are more and more cracks appearing in Thirteen's cheery façade and it's great.
I love it so much. I'm just so glad the Doctor is, well, BACK.

"Save the poet, save the universe." Or to put it another way: save the cheerleader, save the world? 0:)
Totally. Although I think it's more a case of 'First one, then the other' rather than cause & effect.

[sea_thoughts]

I love that the show does this sort of reality warp fairly regularly.

Me, too! It could honestly do this sort of thing a bit more often??

Mmmm, love how you phrased that.

Thanks! :)

Ah, but has she snogged him previously? That warning was RATHER specific. Oh, or maybe Clara snogged him? Or was that only Jane Austen? Hmmm.

I don't think it was Clara because Clara's not into 'bad boys', she loves dorky guys who have issues but are trying to be good (Danny, the Doctor) while her taste in women runs to snarky geniuses (River, Jane). I'm thinking it was either Ten or Jack. Everyone tried to snog Ten, Byron would be no exception, and Jack tries to snog everyone (except Donna, which still annoys me).

Either way, THIS Doctor had zero time for his flirting, which was nice.

I'm definitely appreciating Thirteen's disinterest in romance although it seems to have had some unintended consequences from that little exchange between Yaz and Claire...? (Sidenote: someone in another community commented that they just wanted the BBC to pull the gun on Yaz/Thirteen and "stop queerbaiting them", I almost responded that if they wanted some good wlw representation, they should be looking at Bill Potts, not this team. *cough*)

Maybe she figured he was likely to run away & hide if things got scary, and that's a good thing if it comes to protecting babies.

That's true, plus him using Claire as a human shield was utterly despicable but also hilarious.

Totally. Although I think it's more a case of 'First one, then the other' rather than cause & effect.

Why not both? :D

[elisi]

Me, too! It could honestly do this sort of thing a bit more often??
Yes, so much! It's a brilliant thing to play with.

I don't think it was Clara because Clara's not into 'bad boys', she loves dorky guys who have issues but are trying to be good (Danny, the Doctor) while her taste in women runs to snarky geniuses (River, Jane).
Good point.

I'm thinking it was either Ten or Jack. Everyone tried to snog Ten, Byron would be no exception, and Jack tries to snog everyone
LOL @ Ten, and now I am wondering how I can work that into my fic...

(except Donna, which still annoys me).
Bloody RTD and his 'funny women'.

I'm definitely appreciating Thirteen's disinterest in romance although it seems to have had some unintended consequences from that little exchange between Yaz and Claire...?
Yeah, not sure what to make of that. If there is anything from Yaz's side, then the Doctor would never go there.

(Sidenote: someone in another community commented that they just wanted the BBC to pull the gun on Yaz/Thirteen and "stop queerbaiting them", I almost responded that if they wanted some good wlw representation, they should be looking at Bill Potts, not this team. *cough*)
Good grief. Also, we hardly ever ever ever get Doctor/Companion. (Exceptions: Jo Grant, Romana, Rose, sort of Clara.) And yeah, not the place for representation. (BILLLLLL ♥ ♥ ♥) Especially since at this point we're all plain relieved and surprised when they don't kill the gays.

That's true, plus him using Claire as a human shield was utterly despicable but also hilarious.
Still a good poet. Just... not the greatest human. ;)

Why not both? :D
... good point!

[sea_thoughts]

now I am wondering how I can work that into my fic...

Honestly, almost everyone who met Ten fancied him (it got a bit wearying after a while), Byron would certainly not be the exception.

If there is anything from Yaz's side, then the Doctor would never go there.

No, absolutely not.

Especially since at this point we're all plain relieved and surprised when they don't kill the gays.

I mean, seriously. This is where we are with Doctor Who 2020: hoping they don't kill secondary queer characters a second after showing they're queer. :|

[elisi]

Honestly, almost everyone who met Ten fancied him (it got a bit wearying after a while), Byron would certainly not be the exception.
Now all I can think of is:



I mean, seriously. This is where we are with Doctor Who 2020: hoping they don't kill secondary queer characters a second after showing they're queer. :|
Boo. The next lot of companions should ALL be from the 51st Century.

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

I LOVED the episode, but could they not have CGI'd in the Savoy ALps to make it look a bit more like Lake Geneva? :P


See me nit picking tiny nits in an otherwise lovely episode XD

[elisi]

I LOVED the episode, but could they not have CGI'd in the Savoy ALps to make it look a bit more like Lake Geneva? :P
Probably ran out of time and/or money. Or figured people wouldn't care.

See me nit picking tiny nits in an otherwise lovely episode XD
Not every show can be Good Omens.

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

And in fairness, I only know Lake Geneva so well from having visited so often. Not many would say the same. It was a lovely lake otherwise XD

Very true :)

[elisi]

And in fairness, I only know Lake Geneva so well from having visited so often.
Lucky you! And I know very well what it's like to see a specific place mis-represented. ;)

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

I once watched the 70s BBC film of Anita Brookner's Hotel Du Lac (lovely film, do recommend) with a relation who also knows Switzerland very well and there was one scene that had the two of us crack up laughing.

No spoilers for the plot, but the characters say "let's go into town for lunch." And they cut to a location in the German part of Switzerland up a mountain. The hotel they were in? In Vevey on Lake Geneva, in the French speaking region, far from any mountains unless you get at least one train XD

They definitely went into town, hopped on a train and went much farther than advertised, LOLOL

[elisi]

They definitely went into town, hopped on a train and went much farther than advertised, LOLOL
Heeeee! Ah, the magic of editing.

The Laws of Commenting are mine and they will obey me

[(Anonymous)]

(resurfaces)

Right. Sorry. I will get back to you on the other things.

(You might ask, what is the point now? Well, the point is that a) most of it was written before the series ended and I just didn't have the time to post it, b) I haven't seen ANYTHING yet, yes, and c) presumably, you are currently writing something on the finale/series 12 in general, so you are rethinking about it, so this is still relevant)


But for now, allow me to recommend the following fics:

"Beautiful Disaster" by rickmaniac101, because it incorporates a bit of this very poem.
The aforementioned "Mr Sandman, bring me your screams" by me, because it is quite gothic and actually structured around another --not as well-known-- Byron poem.

No pressure, at your leisure, yes I can provide links if needed.

Re: The Laws of Commenting are mine and they will obey me

[elisi]

Hey, all discourse welcome here! And yes, very much looking at the whole of S12 at the moment and arcs and themes and all that jazz (and S12 actually has all these things, I could cry with joy). So the more, the merrier.

Will try to check out the fics, thank you. :)