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LOTS of rambly thoughts about EVERYTHING! (DW + TW)
Oh that’s fearsome writing.
::is still in shock::
Seriously though. I watched it three times last night (don't think I've *ever* done that before with any episode of *any* show), and I’m still utterly awed. I can’t remember the last time we had an episode this dense - not a single second wasted. Crammed full of characters and plot and story and continuity and... *flails* Not to mention the worst cliff-hanger EVER!
But, let me try to find some coherence. (Not much, admittedly, but *some* at least.)
The beginning was *brilliant* - the Earth being normal (and a Saturday), and then everything being shaken up, before cutting to all our heroes and teams: Sylvia and Wilf, Sarah Jane and Luke, Martha @ UNIT, Jack @ Torchwood (as usual Ianto got the best line: “Slight loss of dignity, but that’s nothing new.” Every time Torchwood came on screen I flailed and wibbled like you wouldn't believe. Srsly, I’ve missed them SO MUCH!)
And then Rose (with that f*cking huge gun!!!!) and the revelation - it was gorgeously, gorgeously done. A sky full of planets...
Oh - almost forgot about the DoctorDonna side of things. How he’s all ‘OMG it’s the end of the universe’ and she says ‘But isn’t it good that Rose is coming back?’ Just because she wants to make him happy! Have I mentioned how much I love Donna?
Which then leads to - Earth vanished! (I love the ‘fearsome’ line. It just really, really works. Because it takes a lot to impress the Doctor, and this time he’s almost speechless.) And then - The Shadow Proclamation! Squee!
Back on earth Rose was being zomg cool (loved her ‘Have one on me mate!’ and her pleasant threats.) Loved Ianto watching Paul O’Grady (Channel 4 *would* put Paul O’Grady on, wouldn’t they? *g*). Which of course leads to ‘Ex-ter-mi-nate!’ and we see Rose, Martha, Sarah Jane and Jack all utterly stunned, terrified and lost. (And Jack hugged both Gwen and Ianto and kissed them. Shiniest OT3 on screen, I *swear*!)
And then the Doctor spoke Judoon!!!!!! *flailflailflail* And sounded sooooo cool and commanding. (It was another one of those things that just worked on so many levels - it *sounded* great; it reminded us that the Doctor speaks 5 billion languages; that words can be very, very powerful; and showed again just how much respect he commands when he reveals who he is. Oh and Donna was BRILLIANT standing up for herself - and the Doctor was so pleased. Ilovethemsomuch!
The whole ‘missing planets’ exposition was beautifully done (My pet-theory is that Klom is the Weevil home world! *g*), and of course Donna was brilliant again, remembering what they’d been told in Pompeii etc.
And I am of course *impossibly* intrigued by the weird beat (sounded like a heartbeat) that Donna could hear, as well as the ‘there was something on your back’ ‘you are something new’ and ‘the loss still to come’. This show is KILLING me!
Anyway, this whole bit of course led us to the Daleks and so forth - don’t really have an *awful* lot to say about them, since they were just being fab and Dalek-like and Davros was great and Dalek Caan is *incredible*. It think this is one of the things I love most about this ‘verse - how it can take something that wasn’t really brilliant (‘cause honestly, the Daleks in Manhattan story was NOT the greatest of episodes) and then use it to create something truly spectacular. Have we ever seen a completely batshit crazy Dalek before? And not just that, but one that can tell the future/speak only truth, apparently? Little Miss M decided that he was The Dalek Prophet. I like that a lot. :) Oh and of course if Dalek Caan managed to find a way back into the Time War...
I’m doing this from memory btw. I think we go back to Earth now. And Daleks are rounding people up and generally being their evil Dalek selves, Wilf has a clever plan (that doesn’t work, omg! ‘My vision is not impaired!’) - ‘twas clever nonetheless. And then Rose comes to the rescue with her giant gun!
And then Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister to the rescue! This is one of the most *incredible* uses of a character ever. Also such gorgeous continuity, in the way she introduced herself, because she’d not changed from the woman we first met, who kept introducing herself as ‘Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North’ - except this time *everyone* knew who she was! (And making me laugh as someone is about to be executed, lump in my throat and everything, is bloody *amazing* writing. RTD I bow before you.)
Mr Copper set up a foundation! Having just re-watched VotD the other day, we again see how the Doctor’s influence inspires people. That said, I loved how Harriet never backed down from her stance. (And she sure has a point.)
All the introductions were brilliant, and so was the Martha reveal - again making me have two simultaneous and utterly different reactions: Poor Rose!/Yay! Martha is awesome!
And Martha went home - I love that to pieces, because I think that’s the important thing about Martha: She chose her family over the Doctor, which is the opposite of Rose (‘There is nothing for me here.’). And I think Martha might have done that even if the Doctor *had* loved her the way she wanted. And her mum was so happy. *adores Martha* And the Sarah Jane/Jack introductions were EXACTLY like everyone has always imagined (there’s a lot of fic out there) - he admires her work, and she wants to stay far away from all the guns. And then he hits on her and she’s flattered! Eeeeeeeeee! *is in fannish heaven*
And of course poor Rose feels all marginalised and out of the picture, when Martha is introduced as ‘The Doctor’s former companion’. Despite her hurt feelings, I have to say that I love this - most fic featuring Rose’s return inevitably have Martha (if she’s around) feeling somewhat inferior, or second best. This turned it on its head in a very plausible fashion. (And without anyone being in any way to blame!)
Anyway, then we have the Indigo Project (and Ianto being jealous! Can’t be easy dating Jack!), and that weirdly named key that has the most ominous theme I’ve ever heard on the show (the Dalek theme is *jolly* in comparison), and even Harriet Jones [former Prime Minister] refuses to consider it.
Somewhere inbetween all this we have the Doctor & Donna fleeing the Shadow Proclamation (the bees - they were aliens! Huzzah! It’s totally ‘So long and thanks for all the fish’, RTD is a genius!!!!!!), although I am hoping and praying that the Doctor *will* come back and lead the universe in a war against Davros and the Daleks, because that would be the coolest thing EVER, especially since he’s been running away from fighting for 4 series now. It’s something he really needs to deal with. *crosses fingers like mad* ETA: Please read![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
selenak's comment on this!
And the Medusa Cascade with another rift in time and space - that the Doctor apparently closed single-handedly... (And what about his name? Evelina: “Even the word 'doctor' is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars, in the Cascade of Medusa herself.” *needs to know more*) Anyway, then the trail goes cold and he just... stops. I don’t think I have the words to describe how that affected me.
Still, we have all our human heroes working together and figuring out a way to call the Doctor (and the shoutout to LotT made me squee. Yes, I loved that ep!) and of course it works! (Loved the Ianto moment too [IANTO!!!], as well as Jack taking an interest in Luke. Sarah Jane is lucky that he’s so young, or Jack would’ve offered him a job on the spot, I think!
Then of course the Doctor gets his call, Harriet dies, and everyone is sad and happy. Jack’s ‘WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?’ might be my favourite bit, although Donna asking who Jack is was PERFECT! *profound love* And can anyone tell me what Ianto said in response to Gwen’s statement that the Doctor was younger & prettier than she’d thought? I’ve re-watched it about 10 times, and I still can’t make it out clearly. But I love Jack’s reaction! *g*
Annnyway, then Davros cuts in and eeeeeeeee! Gorgeous exposition again (did I mention that insane!Caan is one of my favourite things ever? There should be more loopy Daleks!) and the Doctor tried to save Davros! I adore that. And the ‘I have one thing to say to you - byeeeee!’) And by the way, the word ‘Crucible’ (or Cruciform or Crucifle - does anyone have a canon spelling/pronunciation?) made me sit up - do we have any idea what it is? This is what the Master said: “I was there when the Dalek Emperor took control of the Cruciform. I saw it. I ran. I ran so far. Made myself human so they would never find me because…I was so scared.” Whatever it is, it terrified *the Master* enough to run to the end of time and space itself. And, he wasn’t afraid to admit it to the Doctor, which speaks *volumes*!
Where was I? Oh yes, the Doctor comes to earth and all his friends run to be by his side. Sarah Jane runs off, abandoning her son, and Jack runs out on Ianto & Gwen again, promising to be back... and that is one of the most incredible scenes in the entire episode. Because looking at all the TW scenes, and Jack’s behaviour, I think we can see the fallout from ‘Exit Wounds’ - he tells Ianto off for inappropriate behaviour; he (with good reason, certainly) doesn’t even attempt to think of a way to fight the Daleks; he tells his team to ignore the message coming through. I think he’s just so tired, and traumatised too, that a lot of the fight has gone out of him...
But then Harriet Jones rallies him, leading to the Doctor appearing - and suddenly he’s found that spark again. He’s running around, getting his wrist strap to work, grabbing the biggest gun he can find (and Ianto helps him his coat on!!!! It’s like everything I love wrapped up in a few scenes!), all action and gung-ho again... and Ianto and Gwen have just seen that the Daleks are on their way.
But they look at Jack (and I soooo wish there were screencaps up somewhere! Got one! Many thanks to cowboyhd!), and I think they just fall for him all over again - how can you not love him? He’s wonderfully larger than life and heroic and ready for anything and HAPPY - I mean, just look at him! (Sorry about my poor vocabulary, I’m afraid my brain’s too scrambled to think up clever or beautiful language.)
So they say ‘Just go, we’ll be fine,’ knowing that they’re moments away from being slaughtered - but they don’t want to upset him. And that just slays me. And despite missing Owen and Tosh SO MUCH, I think that at this moment the show works better because it is just Ianto and Gwen.
Also, have I mentioned how much I love Gwen? ‘I plan to go out fighting. Like Owen. Like Tosh!’
*waves hands helplessly*
(They CAN’T die, OK? Because then I’d have to *kill* RTD and I really don’t want to go to prison... Seriously though, I doubt they'll die. And last-minute rescues are obligatory on this show!)
Of course, then we have the Doctor and Rose. And despite hating RTD (you know what I mean), I still kinda love him, because it was all just *so* perfect! (I’m not a Rose/Doctor ‘shipper’ btw, but I do love their story.) Seeing each other at opposite ends of a road and running towards each other is so clichéd that I can’t quite find the words, but I’m so glad that they did it that way - with a story like that you can’t *not* play the romance.
And then the Dalek!!!!! At first I felt sure that it’d aim for the Doctor and Rose would jump in the way, so seeing the Doctor shot was a *huge* shock. When Jack turned up, I was actually yelling at him to kiss the Doctor (it worked with Ianto! Why not a Timelord too?) But no.
RTD is definitely an evil genius, because killing the Doctor just as Rose has found him is HORRIBLE - although undoubtedly brilliant story telling! (Not just from our POV I mean. Devastating for *her*, because Ten was definitely *her* Doctor.) Donna is just confused and desperate to know what’s happening, and Jack wonderfully matter-of-fact ('Good luck Doctor' was it? I *adore* Jack). And we see how Jack has grown - the Doctor, despite being very important to him, is far from his whole world anymore.
And the whole thing has me biting my nails like very few things ever have. Possibly the only thing to shock me more was Spike getting his soul back. If the Doctor really *is* regenerating it is the best kept secret in the history of forever. (We are only getting a few specials next year because of DT’s Hamlet. DO NOT TOY WITH US LIKE THIS!)
Anyway, I am clinging to three things:
1) The hand. They only ever show us the hand when it’s important.
2) Jenny didn’t regenerate.
3) River Song. If she doesn’t meet the Tenth Doctor at some point before going to the Library her story makes no sense.
*takes deep breath* That’s all for now - although there might be more once I’ve re-watched another half dozen times. Basically I love how they've taken 4 years worth of canon, plus two spin-offs, and just got everything out of them that they could. In with maximalism! :) And now I can finally go read other people's posts. (So far I've only read those featuring capslocks and exclamation points! *g*)
In other news, the next chapter of ‘My Immortal’ is very nearly done. Will post Monday or Tuesday. (You all need a distraction, don't you? I know I sure do!)
ETA: DO NOT SPOIL ME, I KNOW NOTHING!!!!
::is still in shock::
Seriously though. I watched it three times last night (don't think I've *ever* done that before with any episode of *any* show), and I’m still utterly awed. I can’t remember the last time we had an episode this dense - not a single second wasted. Crammed full of characters and plot and story and continuity and... *flails* Not to mention the worst cliff-hanger EVER!
But, let me try to find some coherence. (Not much, admittedly, but *some* at least.)
The beginning was *brilliant* - the Earth being normal (and a Saturday), and then everything being shaken up, before cutting to all our heroes and teams: Sylvia and Wilf, Sarah Jane and Luke, Martha @ UNIT, Jack @ Torchwood (as usual Ianto got the best line: “Slight loss of dignity, but that’s nothing new.” Every time Torchwood came on screen I flailed and wibbled like you wouldn't believe. Srsly, I’ve missed them SO MUCH!)
And then Rose (with that f*cking huge gun!!!!) and the revelation - it was gorgeously, gorgeously done. A sky full of planets...
Oh - almost forgot about the DoctorDonna side of things. How he’s all ‘OMG it’s the end of the universe’ and she says ‘But isn’t it good that Rose is coming back?’ Just because she wants to make him happy! Have I mentioned how much I love Donna?
Which then leads to - Earth vanished! (I love the ‘fearsome’ line. It just really, really works. Because it takes a lot to impress the Doctor, and this time he’s almost speechless.) And then - The Shadow Proclamation! Squee!
Back on earth Rose was being zomg cool (loved her ‘Have one on me mate!’ and her pleasant threats.) Loved Ianto watching Paul O’Grady (Channel 4 *would* put Paul O’Grady on, wouldn’t they? *g*). Which of course leads to ‘Ex-ter-mi-nate!’ and we see Rose, Martha, Sarah Jane and Jack all utterly stunned, terrified and lost. (And Jack hugged both Gwen and Ianto and kissed them. Shiniest OT3 on screen, I *swear*!)
And then the Doctor spoke Judoon!!!!!! *flailflailflail* And sounded sooooo cool and commanding. (It was another one of those things that just worked on so many levels - it *sounded* great; it reminded us that the Doctor speaks 5 billion languages; that words can be very, very powerful; and showed again just how much respect he commands when he reveals who he is. Oh and Donna was BRILLIANT standing up for herself - and the Doctor was so pleased. Ilovethemsomuch!
The whole ‘missing planets’ exposition was beautifully done (My pet-theory is that Klom is the Weevil home world! *g*), and of course Donna was brilliant again, remembering what they’d been told in Pompeii etc.
And I am of course *impossibly* intrigued by the weird beat (sounded like a heartbeat) that Donna could hear, as well as the ‘there was something on your back’ ‘you are something new’ and ‘the loss still to come’. This show is KILLING me!
Anyway, this whole bit of course led us to the Daleks and so forth - don’t really have an *awful* lot to say about them, since they were just being fab and Dalek-like and Davros was great and Dalek Caan is *incredible*. It think this is one of the things I love most about this ‘verse - how it can take something that wasn’t really brilliant (‘cause honestly, the Daleks in Manhattan story was NOT the greatest of episodes) and then use it to create something truly spectacular. Have we ever seen a completely batshit crazy Dalek before? And not just that, but one that can tell the future/speak only truth, apparently? Little Miss M decided that he was The Dalek Prophet. I like that a lot. :) Oh and of course if Dalek Caan managed to find a way back into the Time War...
I’m doing this from memory btw. I think we go back to Earth now. And Daleks are rounding people up and generally being their evil Dalek selves, Wilf has a clever plan (that doesn’t work, omg! ‘My vision is not impaired!’) - ‘twas clever nonetheless. And then Rose comes to the rescue with her giant gun!
And then Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister to the rescue! This is one of the most *incredible* uses of a character ever. Also such gorgeous continuity, in the way she introduced herself, because she’d not changed from the woman we first met, who kept introducing herself as ‘Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North’ - except this time *everyone* knew who she was! (And making me laugh as someone is about to be executed, lump in my throat and everything, is bloody *amazing* writing. RTD I bow before you.)
Mr Copper set up a foundation! Having just re-watched VotD the other day, we again see how the Doctor’s influence inspires people. That said, I loved how Harriet never backed down from her stance. (And she sure has a point.)
All the introductions were brilliant, and so was the Martha reveal - again making me have two simultaneous and utterly different reactions: Poor Rose!/Yay! Martha is awesome!
And Martha went home - I love that to pieces, because I think that’s the important thing about Martha: She chose her family over the Doctor, which is the opposite of Rose (‘There is nothing for me here.’). And I think Martha might have done that even if the Doctor *had* loved her the way she wanted. And her mum was so happy. *adores Martha* And the Sarah Jane/Jack introductions were EXACTLY like everyone has always imagined (there’s a lot of fic out there) - he admires her work, and she wants to stay far away from all the guns. And then he hits on her and she’s flattered! Eeeeeeeeee! *is in fannish heaven*
And of course poor Rose feels all marginalised and out of the picture, when Martha is introduced as ‘The Doctor’s former companion’. Despite her hurt feelings, I have to say that I love this - most fic featuring Rose’s return inevitably have Martha (if she’s around) feeling somewhat inferior, or second best. This turned it on its head in a very plausible fashion. (And without anyone being in any way to blame!)
Anyway, then we have the Indigo Project (and Ianto being jealous! Can’t be easy dating Jack!), and that weirdly named key that has the most ominous theme I’ve ever heard on the show (the Dalek theme is *jolly* in comparison), and even Harriet Jones [former Prime Minister] refuses to consider it.
Somewhere inbetween all this we have the Doctor & Donna fleeing the Shadow Proclamation (the bees - they were aliens! Huzzah! It’s totally ‘So long and thanks for all the fish’, RTD is a genius!!!!!!), although I am hoping and praying that the Doctor *will* come back and lead the universe in a war against Davros and the Daleks, because that would be the coolest thing EVER, especially since he’s been running away from fighting for 4 series now. It’s something he really needs to deal with. *crosses fingers like mad* ETA: Please read
selenak's comment on this!And the Medusa Cascade with another rift in time and space - that the Doctor apparently closed single-handedly... (And what about his name? Evelina: “Even the word 'doctor' is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars, in the Cascade of Medusa herself.” *needs to know more*) Anyway, then the trail goes cold and he just... stops. I don’t think I have the words to describe how that affected me.
Still, we have all our human heroes working together and figuring out a way to call the Doctor (and the shoutout to LotT made me squee. Yes, I loved that ep!) and of course it works! (Loved the Ianto moment too [IANTO!!!], as well as Jack taking an interest in Luke. Sarah Jane is lucky that he’s so young, or Jack would’ve offered him a job on the spot, I think!
Then of course the Doctor gets his call, Harriet dies, and everyone is sad and happy. Jack’s ‘WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?’ might be my favourite bit, although Donna asking who Jack is was PERFECT! *profound love* And can anyone tell me what Ianto said in response to Gwen’s statement that the Doctor was younger & prettier than she’d thought? I’ve re-watched it about 10 times, and I still can’t make it out clearly. But I love Jack’s reaction! *g*
Annnyway, then Davros cuts in and eeeeeeeee! Gorgeous exposition again (did I mention that insane!Caan is one of my favourite things ever? There should be more loopy Daleks!) and the Doctor tried to save Davros! I adore that. And the ‘I have one thing to say to you - byeeeee!’) And by the way, the word ‘Crucible’ (or Cruciform or Crucifle - does anyone have a canon spelling/pronunciation?) made me sit up - do we have any idea what it is? This is what the Master said: “I was there when the Dalek Emperor took control of the Cruciform. I saw it. I ran. I ran so far. Made myself human so they would never find me because…I was so scared.” Whatever it is, it terrified *the Master* enough to run to the end of time and space itself. And, he wasn’t afraid to admit it to the Doctor, which speaks *volumes*!
Where was I? Oh yes, the Doctor comes to earth and all his friends run to be by his side. Sarah Jane runs off, abandoning her son, and Jack runs out on Ianto & Gwen again, promising to be back... and that is one of the most incredible scenes in the entire episode. Because looking at all the TW scenes, and Jack’s behaviour, I think we can see the fallout from ‘Exit Wounds’ - he tells Ianto off for inappropriate behaviour; he (with good reason, certainly) doesn’t even attempt to think of a way to fight the Daleks; he tells his team to ignore the message coming through. I think he’s just so tired, and traumatised too, that a lot of the fight has gone out of him...
But then Harriet Jones rallies him, leading to the Doctor appearing - and suddenly he’s found that spark again. He’s running around, getting his wrist strap to work, grabbing the biggest gun he can find (and Ianto helps him his coat on!!!! It’s like everything I love wrapped up in a few scenes!), all action and gung-ho again... and Ianto and Gwen have just seen that the Daleks are on their way.
But they look at Jack (
cowboyhd!), and I think they just fall for him all over again - how can you not love him? He’s wonderfully larger than life and heroic and ready for anything and HAPPY - I mean, just look at him! (Sorry about my poor vocabulary, I’m afraid my brain’s too scrambled to think up clever or beautiful language.) So they say ‘Just go, we’ll be fine,’ knowing that they’re moments away from being slaughtered - but they don’t want to upset him. And that just slays me. And despite missing Owen and Tosh SO MUCH, I think that at this moment the show works better because it is just Ianto and Gwen.
Also, have I mentioned how much I love Gwen? ‘I plan to go out fighting. Like Owen. Like Tosh!’
*waves hands helplessly*
(They CAN’T die, OK? Because then I’d have to *kill* RTD and I really don’t want to go to prison... Seriously though, I doubt they'll die. And last-minute rescues are obligatory on this show!)
Of course, then we have the Doctor and Rose. And despite hating RTD (you know what I mean), I still kinda love him, because it was all just *so* perfect! (I’m not a Rose/Doctor ‘shipper’ btw, but I do love their story.) Seeing each other at opposite ends of a road and running towards each other is so clichéd that I can’t quite find the words, but I’m so glad that they did it that way - with a story like that you can’t *not* play the romance.
And then the Dalek!!!!! At first I felt sure that it’d aim for the Doctor and Rose would jump in the way, so seeing the Doctor shot was a *huge* shock. When Jack turned up, I was actually yelling at him to kiss the Doctor (it worked with Ianto! Why not a Timelord too?) But no.
RTD is definitely an evil genius, because killing the Doctor just as Rose has found him is HORRIBLE - although undoubtedly brilliant story telling! (Not just from our POV I mean. Devastating for *her*, because Ten was definitely *her* Doctor.) Donna is just confused and desperate to know what’s happening, and Jack wonderfully matter-of-fact ('Good luck Doctor' was it? I *adore* Jack). And we see how Jack has grown - the Doctor, despite being very important to him, is far from his whole world anymore.
And the whole thing has me biting my nails like very few things ever have. Possibly the only thing to shock me more was Spike getting his soul back. If the Doctor really *is* regenerating it is the best kept secret in the history of forever. (We are only getting a few specials next year because of DT’s Hamlet. DO NOT TOY WITH US LIKE THIS!)
Anyway, I am clinging to three things:
1) The hand. They only ever show us the hand when it’s important.
2) Jenny didn’t regenerate.
3) River Song. If she doesn’t meet the Tenth Doctor at some point before going to the Library her story makes no sense.
*takes deep breath* That’s all for now - although there might be more once I’ve re-watched another half dozen times. Basically I love how they've taken 4 years worth of canon, plus two spin-offs, and just got everything out of them that they could. In with maximalism! :) And now I can finally go read other people's posts. (So far I've only read those featuring capslocks and exclamation points! *g*)
In other news, the next chapter of ‘My Immortal’ is very nearly done. Will post Monday or Tuesday. (You all need a distraction, don't you? I know I sure do!)
ETA: DO NOT SPOIL ME, I KNOW NOTHING!!!!
no subject
Oops, so you have *g*. It was just the "most faithful companion" comment, which can really only apply to the TARDIS.
I'm much more worried about Donna than Rose too and am infinitely more attached to her. Somewhere along the line I lost the Rose love and haven't regained it, sadly.
Joins you in clinging to Ten.
no subject
*clings to logic* Logic will save the TARDIS!
Somewhere along the line I lost the Rose love and haven't regained it, sadly.
To quote Martha: 'I like her...' I think it's just that so much has happened since they were parted. I don't think he's the same man she knew, and this regeneration (however it turns out) will probably show her that. It's Buffy/Angel all over again - there is no way they can re-capture that innocence they once had. When I look at Doctor/Rose eps, I feel like River Song: 'Your eyes. You're younger than I've ever seen you.'