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Marching to the sound of the Doctor Who drum...
OK, I think ‘Sound of Drums’ did it. Because here comes the meta... I have re-watched the ep 3 times. I have taken notes and transcribed dialogue. Also this is kinda rambly since I just wrote it down all in one go.
First of all a few general words...
- The episode is very pretty and gorgeously filmed. And the music... oh the music is *beautiful*. Esp. the melancholy theme that plays as the three of them walk around ‘hidden’ by the keys.
- Also I like that Martha’s crush now has a purpose, uniting her and Jack.
- What exactly are the Toglophane (sp?) and where do they come from? They are escaping ‘the never ending darkness’. And that tear in the fabric of reality was *gorgeous*.
- And on a funny note, the writers *really* had a field day with the President:
“I will accept mastery over you, if that is God’s will...”
::raises eyebrow::
But, let’s get to the Timelordy chewy centre of this. To quote![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
danceswithwords, since it was her post that first made me really think:
The Master has always been the Doctor's dark reflection, and it was very satisfying to see the way that dynamic played out in the current incarnation. Simms' Master has the manic quality, the superficial humor and the underlying deadly seriousness and the rigid certainty in himself and what he's doing, bent toward destruction and self-gratification, which are for him the same thing, the way the Doctor takes pleasure in seeing life going on around him. (I thought it was telling that the Master admired Earth in some of the same ways the Doctor does, for its silliness and inventiveness and Teletubbies, for the indomitable human spirit, and then set out to destroy it, as if that naturally followed.) The Master and the Doctor talk openly and honestly with each other, each recognizing in the other the only person left who can understand. (And is it even subtext at this point? Holy slash, batman!) And because of that, I thought the background the Doctor gave on the Master, that he's mad--something that is in a way far more frightening than evil--was especially revealing, because the Doctor talked about it as if he understood exactly what happened to the Master in that moment, looking into the void, and perhaps he does; perhaps the Doctor went a little mad himself.
One thing that stood out for me was the reveal that Timelords choose their own name. It says so much. Names have power, names have meaning (just look at the Buffy verse. Look at Jasmine, look at Illyria, look at Angelus/Angel - the differences between given names and chosen names. What’s in a name? Everything.)
The Doctor describes the Timelords as ‘the oldest and most mighty’ of all the peoples in the universe. They invented black holes. They played with roentgen bricks in the nursery. The Doctor routinely, casually, describes himself as a genius. They, in other words, have the brilliance and power of Gods... and this is (fairly obviously) why they decided only to observe. Much like The Powers That Be in the Buffyverse.scarlettgirl has been talking about how The Doctor is God-like for ages now, and I’m sure she squee'd like mad at this bit of conversation (I know I did):
The Master: “What did it feel like though? Two mighty civilisations, burning. Tell me. How did that feel?”
The Doctor: “Stop it!”
The Master: “You must have been like God.”
The Doctor: “I’ve been alone ever since.”
Gives me goosebumps... Tell me. How did that feel? This is where they overlap, and at the same time part ways. That power is something The Doctor fears - and yet he’ll use it (I’ll come back to this, it’s important!). But The Master embraces it. To quote Dune:
Paul: “The power to destroy a thing is the absolute control over it.”
The thing is - The Master grasps that power, and then sees using that power as the next logical step.
There is SO much of Angel in this... did Angel save or destroy the world at the end of NFA? He quite possibly unleashed armageddon...
But to get back to our hero - and his nemesis/mirror:
The Master: “The Timelords only resurrected me because they knew I’d be the perfect warrior for a Time War. I was there when that Dalek Emperor took control of the Crucifle (sp???). I saw it. I ran. I ran so far. I made myself human so they would never find me, because... I was so scared.”
The Doctor: “I know.”
The Master: “All of them? But not you. Which must mean...”
The Doctor: “I was the only one who could end it. And I tried. I did. I tried everything.”
When The Doctor described looking into eternity, he said that he’d never stopped running. But here’s the thing - push him into a corner, and he’ll do whatever it takes. The perfect warrior was *not* The Master. He chose self-preservation - running away - when cornered. It’s the most fascinating flipping of character traits... and why I think they understand each other so well. The Master understands the running. And The Doctor... oh my poor Doctor. He understands the feeling of power - of being God. Look at The Family of Blood, suffering the fury of the Timelord. On that day he was a vengeful God, punishing ‘unto the 77th generation’ to speak biblically for a moment. (“He was being kind...”) Or ‘School Reunion’ - “I used to have so much mercy...” It is Gods that we speak of as merciful. The Doctor sees it as his duty to intervene because he has the power to save - or to destroy. And that power is very, very dangerous, which is why he pulls away even as he gets involved.
Oh - and interestingly, this is where 'Parting of the Ways' is so a-typical:
EMPEROR DALEK: I want to see you become like *me*. Hail the Doctor, the Great Exterminator!
DOCTOR [angrily, placing his hands on the lever]: I'll do it!
EMPEROR DALEK: Then prove yourself, Doctor. What are you - coward or killer?
[The Doctor's hands tense on the lever. He shakes, his face screwed up in pain. Then, he just lets it go]
DOCTOR: Coward. Any day.
I think he falters because it is a chance to re-do what he did. He destroyed his own people. He can't destroy humanity. (Please discuss. It's given me a headache.)
Tied into all this is of course that eternal theme - redemption! The Doctor *destroyed* everything he held dear, killed his home, his family, his people... and ever since he tries to save! (‘The Doctor Dances’: “Everyone lives!!!”) Again like Angel - he cannot ever make up for what he did, *but* he can make a difference. Then enter The Master...
“I’m not here to kill him. I’m here to save him.”
It is a second chance. If he can save The Master - the last, the only remaining part of his home - then maybe the crushing guilt will lift just a tiny. Maybe The Master could even in some strange way forgive him... because forgiveness is the one thing The Doctor can never have. (See? See why I am obsessing? This stuff is like a gold mine. I always saw Doctor Who as Buffy-like, but I think it’s tipped *right* over into Angel territory. Yay!)
Of course it can’t go like that... The Master can’t understand. What to The Doctor is his greatest shame and terror is irresistible to The Master (“Tell me. How did that feel?” The delivery of those lines... Lord! *shivers*) The Master revels in destruction (“Decimate. That’s a nice word.”) and in having God-like powers - his speech at the end is incredible! (“And I saw... that it was good!”)
And there is of course also the loneliness ("I have been alone ever since."). Does The Master understand that burden? Has he always been alone, because he is mad? I have a feeling this is somehow a very important point, but I can't quite grasp it.
But to touch on something else: Companions. Martha leaves! Rose would never in a *million* years have left The Doctor’s side if she’d been there. And having pondered this - and the whole Rose question - I’ve realised something: Rose was the one person The Doctor couldn’t run from. Call it love, call it ‘soulmates’, whatever, it's not important. The Doctor never stops running, he admits so himself and he picks up companions and drops them again (see Sarah Jane). But not Rose. Because she wouldn’t let him. She moved heaven and earth to be by his side, and he came to accept that. He tried to get rid of her both in ‘Parting of the Ways’ and in ‘Doomsday’ and she came back. She wouldn’t let him run, and I think that lies at the heart of their relationship.
Now consider Mrs Saxon. The Torchwood lady had a line re. her that jumped out at me: ‘Essentially harmless’. Whatever she is, that’s not it. (Also reminded me of The Hitchhiker's Guide...) She is to The Master what Rose is to The Doctor... In many ways she’s very, very different from Rose: Upper (middle?) class, well educated, poised, very much a lady. But... when she talks to what-ever-her-name was from Torchwood, she ends with these words:
Mrs Saxon: “I made my choice.”
The Master: “My faithful companion.”
This rang a bell... From ‘Doomsday’ after Rose comes back from the parallel world:
Rose: “I made my choice a long time ago, and I'm never gonna leave you.”
Rose was willing to follow her Timelord into hell itself. Mrs Saxon is the same. But the *really* interesting thing however is that The Master *married* his companion. Again showing The Doctor’s HUGE commitment issues.
Finally (I think I’m done...) one line:
The Master: “If I told you the truth your hearts would break.”
What are they? And what are they escaping from? Fairy tales from Gallifrey come to life... and what about the drumming?This was obviously an effect of the resurrection. But how? Why? ETA: I iz dumb.
The finale better be friggin’ *awesome*!
ETA: Dunno when I'll be able to reply to comments, RL is going to *eat* me for wasting so much time on this!
First of all a few general words...
- The episode is very pretty and gorgeously filmed. And the music... oh the music is *beautiful*. Esp. the melancholy theme that plays as the three of them walk around ‘hidden’ by the keys.
- Also I like that Martha’s crush now has a purpose, uniting her and Jack.
- What exactly are the Toglophane (sp?) and where do they come from? They are escaping ‘the never ending darkness’. And that tear in the fabric of reality was *gorgeous*.
- And on a funny note, the writers *really* had a field day with the President:
“I will accept mastery over you, if that is God’s will...”
::raises eyebrow::
But, let’s get to the Timelordy chewy centre of this. To quote
danceswithwords, since it was her post that first made me really think:The Master has always been the Doctor's dark reflection, and it was very satisfying to see the way that dynamic played out in the current incarnation. Simms' Master has the manic quality, the superficial humor and the underlying deadly seriousness and the rigid certainty in himself and what he's doing, bent toward destruction and self-gratification, which are for him the same thing, the way the Doctor takes pleasure in seeing life going on around him. (I thought it was telling that the Master admired Earth in some of the same ways the Doctor does, for its silliness and inventiveness and Teletubbies, for the indomitable human spirit, and then set out to destroy it, as if that naturally followed.) The Master and the Doctor talk openly and honestly with each other, each recognizing in the other the only person left who can understand. (And is it even subtext at this point? Holy slash, batman!) And because of that, I thought the background the Doctor gave on the Master, that he's mad--something that is in a way far more frightening than evil--was especially revealing, because the Doctor talked about it as if he understood exactly what happened to the Master in that moment, looking into the void, and perhaps he does; perhaps the Doctor went a little mad himself.
One thing that stood out for me was the reveal that Timelords choose their own name. It says so much. Names have power, names have meaning (just look at the Buffy verse. Look at Jasmine, look at Illyria, look at Angelus/Angel - the differences between given names and chosen names. What’s in a name? Everything.)
The Doctor describes the Timelords as ‘the oldest and most mighty’ of all the peoples in the universe. They invented black holes. They played with roentgen bricks in the nursery. The Doctor routinely, casually, describes himself as a genius. They, in other words, have the brilliance and power of Gods... and this is (fairly obviously) why they decided only to observe. Much like The Powers That Be in the Buffyverse.
scarlettgirl has been talking about how The Doctor is God-like for ages now, and I’m sure she squee'd like mad at this bit of conversation (I know I did):The Master: “What did it feel like though? Two mighty civilisations, burning. Tell me. How did that feel?”
The Doctor: “Stop it!”
The Master: “You must have been like God.”
The Doctor: “I’ve been alone ever since.”
Gives me goosebumps... Tell me. How did that feel? This is where they overlap, and at the same time part ways. That power is something The Doctor fears - and yet he’ll use it (I’ll come back to this, it’s important!). But The Master embraces it. To quote Dune:
Paul: “The power to destroy a thing is the absolute control over it.”
The thing is - The Master grasps that power, and then sees using that power as the next logical step.
There is SO much of Angel in this... did Angel save or destroy the world at the end of NFA? He quite possibly unleashed armageddon...
But to get back to our hero - and his nemesis/mirror:
The Master: “The Timelords only resurrected me because they knew I’d be the perfect warrior for a Time War. I was there when that Dalek Emperor took control of the Crucifle (sp???). I saw it. I ran. I ran so far. I made myself human so they would never find me, because... I was so scared.”
The Doctor: “I know.”
The Master: “All of them? But not you. Which must mean...”
The Doctor: “I was the only one who could end it. And I tried. I did. I tried everything.”
When The Doctor described looking into eternity, he said that he’d never stopped running. But here’s the thing - push him into a corner, and he’ll do whatever it takes. The perfect warrior was *not* The Master. He chose self-preservation - running away - when cornered. It’s the most fascinating flipping of character traits... and why I think they understand each other so well. The Master understands the running. And The Doctor... oh my poor Doctor. He understands the feeling of power - of being God. Look at The Family of Blood, suffering the fury of the Timelord. On that day he was a vengeful God, punishing ‘unto the 77th generation’ to speak biblically for a moment. (“He was being kind...”) Or ‘School Reunion’ - “I used to have so much mercy...” It is Gods that we speak of as merciful. The Doctor sees it as his duty to intervene because he has the power to save - or to destroy. And that power is very, very dangerous, which is why he pulls away even as he gets involved.
Oh - and interestingly, this is where 'Parting of the Ways' is so a-typical:
EMPEROR DALEK: I want to see you become like *me*. Hail the Doctor, the Great Exterminator!
DOCTOR [angrily, placing his hands on the lever]: I'll do it!
EMPEROR DALEK: Then prove yourself, Doctor. What are you - coward or killer?
[The Doctor's hands tense on the lever. He shakes, his face screwed up in pain. Then, he just lets it go]
DOCTOR: Coward. Any day.
I think he falters because it is a chance to re-do what he did. He destroyed his own people. He can't destroy humanity. (Please discuss. It's given me a headache.)
Tied into all this is of course that eternal theme - redemption! The Doctor *destroyed* everything he held dear, killed his home, his family, his people... and ever since he tries to save! (‘The Doctor Dances’: “Everyone lives!!!”) Again like Angel - he cannot ever make up for what he did, *but* he can make a difference. Then enter The Master...
“I’m not here to kill him. I’m here to save him.”
It is a second chance. If he can save The Master - the last, the only remaining part of his home - then maybe the crushing guilt will lift just a tiny. Maybe The Master could even in some strange way forgive him... because forgiveness is the one thing The Doctor can never have. (See? See why I am obsessing? This stuff is like a gold mine. I always saw Doctor Who as Buffy-like, but I think it’s tipped *right* over into Angel territory. Yay!)
Of course it can’t go like that... The Master can’t understand. What to The Doctor is his greatest shame and terror is irresistible to The Master (“Tell me. How did that feel?” The delivery of those lines... Lord! *shivers*) The Master revels in destruction (“Decimate. That’s a nice word.”) and in having God-like powers - his speech at the end is incredible! (“And I saw... that it was good!”)
And there is of course also the loneliness ("I have been alone ever since."). Does The Master understand that burden? Has he always been alone, because he is mad? I have a feeling this is somehow a very important point, but I can't quite grasp it.
But to touch on something else: Companions. Martha leaves! Rose would never in a *million* years have left The Doctor’s side if she’d been there. And having pondered this - and the whole Rose question - I’ve realised something: Rose was the one person The Doctor couldn’t run from. Call it love, call it ‘soulmates’, whatever, it's not important. The Doctor never stops running, he admits so himself and he picks up companions and drops them again (see Sarah Jane). But not Rose. Because she wouldn’t let him. She moved heaven and earth to be by his side, and he came to accept that. He tried to get rid of her both in ‘Parting of the Ways’ and in ‘Doomsday’ and she came back. She wouldn’t let him run, and I think that lies at the heart of their relationship.
Now consider Mrs Saxon. The Torchwood lady had a line re. her that jumped out at me: ‘Essentially harmless’. Whatever she is, that’s not it. (Also reminded me of The Hitchhiker's Guide...) She is to The Master what Rose is to The Doctor... In many ways she’s very, very different from Rose: Upper (middle?) class, well educated, poised, very much a lady. But... when she talks to what-ever-her-name was from Torchwood, she ends with these words:
Mrs Saxon: “I made my choice.”
The Master: “My faithful companion.”
This rang a bell... From ‘Doomsday’ after Rose comes back from the parallel world:
Rose: “I made my choice a long time ago, and I'm never gonna leave you.”
Rose was willing to follow her Timelord into hell itself. Mrs Saxon is the same. But the *really* interesting thing however is that The Master *married* his companion. Again showing The Doctor’s HUGE commitment issues.
Finally (I think I’m done...) one line:
The Master: “If I told you the truth your hearts would break.”
What are they? And what are they escaping from? Fairy tales from Gallifrey come to life... and what about the drumming?
The finale better be friggin’ *awesome*!
ETA: Dunno when I'll be able to reply to comments, RL is going to *eat* me for wasting so much time on this!