Dinosaurs on a spaceship. DW 7.2

[elisi]

Very brief thoughts.

If I was not so very tired, I would attempt a comparison of this episode with The Ark in Space (the 2nd episode of Season 12 - 4th Doctor travelling with Sarah Jane and Harry). Or maybe more of a Compare and Contrast...

Anyways, here are Things I Found Interesting/Good About Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

- Rory's dad. The trowel. The eating sandwiches whilst watching Earth. Just... everything. <3

- Rory. Especially the moment where he threatens the robots. Because it's not an empty threat - his father doesn't know that, nor do the robots; but we do. There is some very nice Doctor-mirroring going on there - the surface looks daft, but underneath there's a core of steel. (Nurse/Doctor vs. warrior)

- Amy. Darling Amy who is now very Doctor-y in her own right. All take-charge and confident and brilliant.

- Nefertiti and Riddell. I found them entertaining and a nice addition - already 'friends' with the Doctor, so they didn't need lengthy explanations, but also new to adventuring, so (along with Brian) could fill the more traditional companion role.

- The Doctor and Solomon. So much of the episode was a fun and frothy frolic, but underneath it had a true heart of darkness - genocide and murder and the ever-present theme of death. Solomon was in many ways a very dark mirror for the Doctor (many thanks to owlsie for this insight): A magpie searching the universe for shiny things, but attaching a monetary value to everything. We have rarely has as truly vile a villain as this, and rarely has the Doctor's response been as unambiguous. He didn't give Solomon 'a choice', didn't try to reason with him [certainly not after learning about how he'd killed the Silurians] - he very deliberately killed him, and just as deliberately let Solomon know that this was what he was doing. ("He never raised his voice. That was the worst thing. The fury of the Time Lord.") My thoughts on this are twofold: One, being anonymous/unknown/worthless is - quite probably - a bad thing, as there is nothing to hold him back [I'm sure this will be a theme] and Two, I love how he owns his actions. No 'You forced me to do this' just 'I am doing this because you are despicable'. And that honesty is good. Dangerous, but good.


There were Other Things, but I am in no fit state to ponder them. Like music and Christmas lists and perception... Was reminded of van Statten from 'Dalek' who was so very excited when he discovered how rare the Doctor was, and the Doctor's verdict: "You just want to drag the stars down and stick them underground underneath tons of sand and dirt. And label them. You're about as far from the stars as you can get." Solomon's and van Statten's aims were technically different - one wanted to make money, the other was a collector - but it ended up as the same thing: Only wanting something in order to possess it, and attaching an arbitrary value to everything. The Doctor was priceless/worthless and judged on those terms, no other.

Oh and I loved the matter-of-fact way in which he fixed Solomon's legs.

Comments

[ladymercury-10.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's interesting about Rory and the robots. Because he really does mean it, doesn't he? I mean, not just that he would do it, but that he could. He was a robot, after all. He'd know how to make them suffer, if he wanted to. And he'd know what it meant that he was doing it.

That makes me a bit sad, actually.

[elisi]

Oh, that's interesting about Rory and the robots. Because he really does mean it, doesn't he? I mean, not just that he would do it, but that he could.
That's it, exactly.

He was a robot, after all. He'd know how to make them suffer, if he wanted to. And he'd know what it meant that he was doing it.
Well he was a Nestene - living plastic isn't quite the same, but he would certainly have the knowledge and determination to follow through. It makes me sad and very pleased at the same time. Mirrors mirrors everywhere...

(Added a bit to the post right at the end which you might find interesting.)

[ladymercury-10.livejournal.com]

Oh, right. Yes, he was a different kind than they were. It was a nice mirroring moment, yeah, but I just feel really bad for Rory a lot of the time. It does hard things to all of them, but I think Amy and River and the Doctor want adventure badly enough that they'll take it. I'm not sure Rory does. That's part of why this episode made me so happy--because they all seemed okay for once, even though some of the things that happened were actually very intense. Rory in particular didn't walk around looking a little bit heartbroken the whole time.

(going to look at the end, then.)

[elisi]

It was a nice mirroring moment, yeah
It's possible I phrased it badly, but I meant that Rory was a Doctor-mirror [much like Amy although in a different way] - in that the Doctor looks daft and silly, but is actually a fierce warrior. Like Rory. ETA: Which is what I did write, but obviously forgot... I am going to bed now, and letting my poor head rest. Clearly it's in no fit state for actual discussions. /o\

Rory in particular didn't walk around looking a little bit heartbroken the whole time.
♥

[ladymercury-10.livejournal.com]

No, no, I got that you were saying Rory was supposed to be mirroring the Doctor. I think what I meant was just that while I could appreciate it in its meta-ness, it was more sad for me on a character level, although the episode on a whole was quite joyful. Gah, now I'm afraid I'm not making sense either.. Anyway, have a good sleep then!

[kikimay]

LOVED this episode.
I'm also very sleepy, but I just want to say that the gang was magnificent, that Rory is simply amazing (And he would and COULD kill the robots. Never mess with the Last Centurion!)

One, being anonymous/unknown/worthless is - quite probably - a bad thing, as there is nothing to hold him back [I'm sure this will be a theme] and Two, I love how he owns his actions. No 'You forced me to do this' just 'I am doing this because you are despicable'. And that honesty is good. Dangerous, but good.

I quote everything.
No one can stop the Trickster now!

[elisi]

LOVED this episode.
I really need to re-watch it... A lot.

I'm also very sleepy, but I just want to say that the gang was magnificent, that Rory is simply amazing (And he would and COULD kill the robots. Never mess with the Last Centurion!)
IKR? Rorrrrrry!

I quote everything.
No one can stop the Trickster now!
Well. There's still his wife & inlaws to be reckoned with! *g*

[kikimay]

Well. There's still his wife & inlaws to be reckoned with! *g*
No one but The Ponds! *w* (Which is kinda great) Rory!! <3

[eve11]

I loved the Christmas list bit! And yes, Soloman had a Sharaz-Jek-like creep factor going for him, didn't he? Like a cross between Jek and Sil... yipes.

Since you mentioned liking Riddell, I will point you to this story for posterity's sake: it's an Eleven and Riddell meetup story and it's fantastic: The Game Hunter by NellyN. 4000 words, the Doctor drops in on Riddell on the African Savannah on New Year's Eve. I loved it to pieces; it's totally my head-canon now.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm a little disappointed that the dinosaurs didn't have feathers. /geek

I'm really liking this season so far; it's (IMO) off to a much more promising start than season 6. I'm not sure what to think about them taking the doctor into such a dark direction though. In a way, "Nobody knows my name" seems to be shaping up to be at least a little "no higher authority". And it's not that I don't think he made the right choice, I'm just... concerned.

But so much love for Rory and his dad! And Rory's Dad's folding shovel. And especially the two of them piloting the ship!

[lyricwrites.livejournal.com]

I'm a little disappointed that the dinosaurs didn't have feathers. /geek

The raptors actually did, IIRC. I mean, not a lot of feathers, but you could see them sort of ruffle up every once in a while, like a dog getting its hackles up.

I had a bit of trouble with the triceratops, because I've always envisioned them acting more like rhinos with a bug up their nose. But then I decided that it was actually a Silurian draft animal, bred to be friendly with humanoids and thoroughly acquainted with the concept of Pockets That Have Apples In. And then I was happy. My suspension of disbelief is easily placated, I've found.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

THIS. All of it.

Now it seems (since he is doing the time) he might as well indulge in the crimes the Silence accuses him of. Might be freeing. After all - is he even the Doctor anymore. A man is not just the sum of his memories. His NAME means something, too. Take that away, what have you got left.

LOVE Dark!Doctor. And Smith brings that lovely subtlety to it that just...*shivers*

[amy8benson.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Doctor did give Solomon 'a choice'. Something like "Leave this spaceship while you still can". It was quite early in the episode, but it still happened.

Love the mirroring between the Doctor and Solomon. Piracy and genocide, crimes the Doctor won't forgive?

[lyricwrites.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Doctor did give Solomon 'a choice'. Something like "Leave this spaceship while you still can".

Yes, I remember that.

I also think he would have been willing to spare Solomon's life right up until Solomon kidnapped and threatened to "break" Nerfertiti. Which, if you stretch it sufficiently, could also be a sort of dark and twisted mirror, something to do with young women being snatched away.

Although if the Doctor actually sees it like that, I'd start to be very frightened of who he thinks he is right now.

[amy8benson.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if the Doctor really sees it like that. I hope not :) But it's quite similar to the way Dreamlord sees the Doctor ("Anything could happen").

This dark mirror is like the Doctor plus evil intent.

[elisi]

That is a very good way to put it!

[lyricwrites.livejournal.com]

This dark mirror is like the Doctor plus evil intent.

Which reminds me of Oswin's How-To-Make-A-Dalek summary. You take a human being, you strip out all forms of love, and you add overwhelming anger. That's it. That's all there is to it. As a sort of parallel, to make a complete monster, all you need is to take the Doctor, take away all compassion, and add ill intent.

[elisi]

*nods* (I love that the show keeps peering over the edge of all this.)

[elisi]

Yes, I remember that.
See my response below. :)

I also think he would have been willing to spare Solomon's life right up until Solomon kidnapped and threatened to "break" Nerfertiti. Which, if you stretch it sufficiently, could also be a sort of dark and twisted mirror, something to do with young women being snatched away.
Oh yes. Although I think the turning point came when Solomon told him what had happened to the Silurians. Nefertiti was just the icing on the cake...

Although if the Doctor actually sees it like that, I'd start to be very frightened of who he thinks he is right now.
Oh I very much doubt that the Doctor sees it like that. He seemed startled at how the Daleks viewed him, and I can't imagine that he sees Solomon as anything other than everything he hates.

[elisi]

Actually, the Doctor did give Solomon 'a choice'. Something like "Leave this spaceship while you still can". It was quite early in the episode, but it still happened.
Very true. I was more thinking of the end and - in my head - comparing it to Ten offering to save Davros (who had just tried to destroy the whole universe). It's much closer to Ten in Human Nature/Family of Blood - initial lenience, but then absolute condemnation (although the punishment then was far worse and out of proportion). Here it is... 'I gave you a chance/I didn't realise how truly awful you were - now suffer the consequences'. Hope that makes sense> :)

Love the mirroring between the Doctor and Solomon. Piracy and genocide, crimes the Doctor won't forgive?
Oh I think he's fine with piracy (just see Curse of the Black Spot), it's the crime of attaching a monetary value to everything I think.

[amy8benson.livejournal.com]

We've got used to Ten offering help till the very last moment, that's why it took us more time to get it in this case.

And Human Nature/Family of Blood is an interesting one, because it was also about the Doctor's mercy (and his wish to keep his hands clean) and what it may lead to.

[elisi]

We've got used to Ten offering help till the very last moment, that's why it took us more time to get it in this case.
Ten was usually very much guided by his emotions - hence offering to save Davros, and condemning the Family of Blood - whereas Eleven is generally more rational in his decision making.

And Human Nature/Family of Blood is an interesting one, because it was also about the Doctor's mercy (and his wish to keep his hands clean) and what it may lead to.
it was the perfect catch-22.