DW 4.2

[elisi]

Just very quick thoughts. (meta, as usual)

I have links to longer and more in-depth reviews below. For me *this* stood out:

Doctor: "Don't you think I've done enough? History's back in place and everyone dies."

OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH! We really see the consequences of S3 here, and I love it. He lives to save, and yet he can't save those he most wants - couldn't save the Time Lords, couldn't save the Master. And then of course we get Donna, whom I adore so very much, and who I really think needed the cuteness and happy solution of the Adipose, because she - more than any of the other companions so far (bar Jack maybe, but that's different) - gets to see the dark side of the Doctor, and has since the beginning. And she is just so wonderfully human:

Donna: "Not the whole town - just save *someone*."

And I think he does it for her.

Because this *also* ties in with 'Voyage of the Damned':

"But if you could decide, Doctor, who lives and who dies... that would make you a monster." [from memory, sorry if it's inaccurate]

There is a sense of 'damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't'... if he saves someone on a whim, what does that make him? I think this is why he needs a Companion - someone to be his moral center, because he is totally messed up, and he knows it. He knows what he has to do, but when it comes to what he *can* do, it gets complicated.

This of course again ties in with the Master storyline in S3, and what happens when a Time Lord decides to play god for real. Yes, the Master was evil and insane, but what he did the Doctor *could* do. (Of course I dealt with this at great length in this essay, so won't do so here.) Where to draw the line is the problem - he has so much power, but using it without becoming a monster (and oh, we saw him cross that line in 'Family of Blood') is the balancing act he keeps trying to get right.

Finally, I LOVE the waterpistol - can't you just see little kids running around playing Doctor Who all summer? "I bloody love you!" indeed! :)


Obligatory pimp:

Review by neadods.

Review by selenak.

Both really excellent, go check them out!

wendymr has been converted to Donna here. :)

Comments

[elisi]

But now both extremes are gone, there is really no one else to measure himself against, and that's why he needs Companions as a moral compass more than ever.
I do love getting the Old Who perspective on things - I dearly wish they'd re-broadcast it, because otherwise I don't know how I'll ever get to watch it. (Can't even afford to buy New Who, Old Who is completely out of the question.) Anyway, I really like the fact that he used to have those two opposites to measure himself against, and that this is why he is so unsure now. Thank you.

And Donna works so well because as you said, she more than any other New Who companion has been exposed to his dark side, and while she likes him, she is not in love with him and so that doesn't influence her judgement. Also, I really think the age factor helps; she's an adult and not looking for his approval.
*nods* I am really looking forward to Martha & Jack showing up, to see how they will behave now. (Also wonder how on earth they're going to pry Jack away from Torchwood, 'cause I can't see him leaving.)

One of the many things Donna did that I loved - that gesture of putting her hand on the lever, and pushing together. Sharing that awful responsibility. Which I don't think we've seen before.
Yes, I loved that too. And, as someone (you?) mentioned, it echoes 'Parting of the Ways' wonderfully.

How to watch...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Old Who when financially challenged:

1) Borrow kathyh's dvds or tapes.

2) Youtube is ever so useful in this regard. Remember when in this review post, I linked to two scenes from Mind of Evil (aka one of the two slashiest Master/Doctor tales in Old Who ever, and the two scenes I linked are proof why)? If you check out the link, the poster has put a lot of Third Doctor eps on YouTube (broken up in about 18 pieces for size reasons, but you can watch one after another).

Re: How to watch...

[elisi]

Oooooh, thank you! Might have to pester poor Kathy (even more than usual. But then she is such a wonderful beta & icon maker....)

Will also check out the You Tube stuff - that would make life easier! :)

Re: How to watch...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Speaking of YouTube, just found this via the companion community - someone put up Susan's farewell scene. Since this is the first Companion departure and the first time the Doctor does a runner on someone he loves and who loves him (well, on screen anyway!), it's definitely worth watching to you. The other people around are Susan's love interest David, a friend of his and Ian and Barbara, the teachers One more or less kidnapped and who made up the first Team TARDIS together with the Doctor and Susan. But the focus is on the Doctor and his granddaughter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81gFI9aNSlo

Re: How to watch...

[elisi]

Oooooh thank you! Will watch as soon as I find a moment. (Am helping the 6 y.o. with her homework. *sigh*)