Wallace and Gromit would have a field day
Apr. 23rd, 2006 11:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieI think my body holds insidious microbes in reserve for the weeks of choir concerts. Grrr. (It could be worse, I suppose; freshman year it was strep throat.)
Although I'm not sure if this is a cold or an allergy to something floating around in the air. It feels more coldlike than anything, and my eyes aren't all red and itchy, but for some reason I've got little mini-breakouts of hives on my hands and feet.
I don't understand my immune system at all.
*
In more cheerful news: Tooth and Claw
This made a lot more sense after a second viewing. Part of that was undoubtedly due to the technobabble delivered at speed in Scottish accents...which, given that most of them in this episode, at least, are closer to a generic American accent than Londony types from Rose and Ten, seems strange, but there you have it. (Although, dude...DT with his natural accent = love. DT throughout much of this episode = love.)
As is perhaps evidenced by the Secret Adventures of Jules Verne icon I'm using, I'm a sucker for anything steampunk. I kind of liked the idea of Victorian spaceships, even if they were controlled by evil werewolves. The Victorian and Edwardian periods are also my pet eras of history. And I really liked Scotland the three times I went there. So yes, the setting of this made me very happy. The telescope-as-laser was pretty cool, even if the whole bit with the diamond and Prince Albert and the utterly random insertion of mistletoe was a bit handwavey. Loved the Doctor's rudeness at the beginning. Heh.
RTD's carelessness in regard to plotholes strikes again in this episode, but not nearly as badly as in "New Earth." There was some semblance of cause and effect, which was rather amazing. I liked the idea of an alien parasite turning people into werewolves, although Queen Victoria's turnaround at the end after she'd been bitten (maybe) from "I'll destroy myself before letting it infect me" to "just a scratch" was a bit whiplash-inducing. Can a single cell really change a person that drastically? (I know, I know, drink more, think less. RTD scripts are the new Alias.) The TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AND REALLY ANNOYING bit near the end with the Doctor and Rose discussing the possible lycanthropy of the royal family seemed...tacked on, somewhat. Particularly Rose's very Jackie-esque squeal at the end. Shouldn't they be worried, maybe just a bit, since the werewolf-parasite kind of wanted to take over the world, or at least the British empire? (Is this an oblique commentary on the serious reduction of the empire since 1879, meaning that there's nothing left for the werewolf-parasite to take over, so there's no real reason to worry? Or would this be too subtle for a guy who's suggesting the royal family is made up of werewolves? Not that I'm not terribly amused by that last suggestion...) Or maybe it was just a scratch. *shrug*
Speaking of Queen Vicky...hee. She was pretty awesome otherwise. Loved the pistol in the handbag. I was definitely going, "...wah?" at the whole banishment thing coming out of nowhere on the first go-round, but it does actually make sense with her quite pious character. Also, "Sir Doctor of the TARDIS." Heh.
The monks, though...the monks needed to go. Or they needed to serve more of a purpose. Or at least get their loose end tied up! Dude, use your excess budget on something integral to the plot, not a Matrix spoof that goes nowhere. Also...nobody seems to care that the TARDIS materializes randomly in the middle of a glen, but they do care about Rose's "nakedness"? Meh? (Speaking of which, OMG, that outfit. Ugh. Even for 1979, that's truly awful. I so desperately wanted her to have time to change into anything else.)
There was a damn creepy moment when the main characters were trapped in the observatory with the werewolf prowling around outside, with no background music. That shot of the Doctor and the wolf nose-to-nose with the door between them was awesome in a very chilling way. More of those, please.
Speaking of music, it was quite good in this episode. It could get overpowering last season, and here they kept it to a.) a minimum and b.) it was good when it was used.
I really liked Robert and Isabelle. I have no particular reason for it, but they just seemed like they were actually in love without being overtly saccharine about it, and both got some nice moments that showed their mettle when under pressure.
The whole "we are not amused" gag got really, incredibly old from the very first mention. HATE. It just grated the entire time. I know they're setting up a whole pride-before-a-fall thing, but GOD, that was AWFUL. Also, I hate pride-before-a-fall stories, particularly when they are THIS OBVIOUS. Some of the Doctor's and Rose's lackadaisical attitude toward the fact that people were kind of getting killed there, thanks, seemed out of character even from NE, not to mention all of season one. Argh. I'm not looking forward to seeing this arc play out. *sigh*
Speaking of arcs, the Torchwood reference was definitely anvilicious at the end, but I'll reserve judgment on it until I see more of what it entails. I loved the ref to TPOTW, though; I wouldn't call it "understated," exactly, but it fit in nicely with what was going on in the scene at the time. I love that they're not going to brush everything about the Bad Wolf arc under the rug this season. I'm beginning to wonder if it'll play a big role in how Rose eventually leaves the series.
Random annoyance that relates to nothing else in this entry: So...Doc. You need glasses to read and watch TV from up close, but you need to peer over them to see the diamond? Are you nearsighted or farsighted? MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
So in sum...it gets better, but not perfect, with more watching. Definitely better than New Earth from a plotty standpoint, at least, although I liked some of the Doctor/Rose interaction less so this time around. Still looking forward to next week, when someone else is writing the script.
Although I'm not sure if this is a cold or an allergy to something floating around in the air. It feels more coldlike than anything, and my eyes aren't all red and itchy, but for some reason I've got little mini-breakouts of hives on my hands and feet.
I don't understand my immune system at all.
*
In more cheerful news: Tooth and Claw
This made a lot more sense after a second viewing. Part of that was undoubtedly due to the technobabble delivered at speed in Scottish accents...which, given that most of them in this episode, at least, are closer to a generic American accent than Londony types from Rose and Ten, seems strange, but there you have it. (Although, dude...DT with his natural accent = love. DT throughout much of this episode = love.)
As is perhaps evidenced by the Secret Adventures of Jules Verne icon I'm using, I'm a sucker for anything steampunk. I kind of liked the idea of Victorian spaceships, even if they were controlled by evil werewolves. The Victorian and Edwardian periods are also my pet eras of history. And I really liked Scotland the three times I went there. So yes, the setting of this made me very happy. The telescope-as-laser was pretty cool, even if the whole bit with the diamond and Prince Albert and the utterly random insertion of mistletoe was a bit handwavey. Loved the Doctor's rudeness at the beginning. Heh.
RTD's carelessness in regard to plotholes strikes again in this episode, but not nearly as badly as in "New Earth." There was some semblance of cause and effect, which was rather amazing. I liked the idea of an alien parasite turning people into werewolves, although Queen Victoria's turnaround at the end after she'd been bitten (maybe) from "I'll destroy myself before letting it infect me" to "just a scratch" was a bit whiplash-inducing. Can a single cell really change a person that drastically? (I know, I know, drink more, think less. RTD scripts are the new Alias.) The TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AND REALLY ANNOYING bit near the end with the Doctor and Rose discussing the possible lycanthropy of the royal family seemed...tacked on, somewhat. Particularly Rose's very Jackie-esque squeal at the end. Shouldn't they be worried, maybe just a bit, since the werewolf-parasite kind of wanted to take over the world, or at least the British empire? (Is this an oblique commentary on the serious reduction of the empire since 1879, meaning that there's nothing left for the werewolf-parasite to take over, so there's no real reason to worry? Or would this be too subtle for a guy who's suggesting the royal family is made up of werewolves? Not that I'm not terribly amused by that last suggestion...) Or maybe it was just a scratch. *shrug*
Speaking of Queen Vicky...hee. She was pretty awesome otherwise. Loved the pistol in the handbag. I was definitely going, "...wah?" at the whole banishment thing coming out of nowhere on the first go-round, but it does actually make sense with her quite pious character. Also, "Sir Doctor of the TARDIS." Heh.
The monks, though...the monks needed to go. Or they needed to serve more of a purpose. Or at least get their loose end tied up! Dude, use your excess budget on something integral to the plot, not a Matrix spoof that goes nowhere. Also...nobody seems to care that the TARDIS materializes randomly in the middle of a glen, but they do care about Rose's "nakedness"? Meh? (Speaking of which, OMG, that outfit. Ugh. Even for 1979, that's truly awful. I so desperately wanted her to have time to change into anything else.)
There was a damn creepy moment when the main characters were trapped in the observatory with the werewolf prowling around outside, with no background music. That shot of the Doctor and the wolf nose-to-nose with the door between them was awesome in a very chilling way. More of those, please.
Speaking of music, it was quite good in this episode. It could get overpowering last season, and here they kept it to a.) a minimum and b.) it was good when it was used.
I really liked Robert and Isabelle. I have no particular reason for it, but they just seemed like they were actually in love without being overtly saccharine about it, and both got some nice moments that showed their mettle when under pressure.
The whole "we are not amused" gag got really, incredibly old from the very first mention. HATE. It just grated the entire time. I know they're setting up a whole pride-before-a-fall thing, but GOD, that was AWFUL. Also, I hate pride-before-a-fall stories, particularly when they are THIS OBVIOUS. Some of the Doctor's and Rose's lackadaisical attitude toward the fact that people were kind of getting killed there, thanks, seemed out of character even from NE, not to mention all of season one. Argh. I'm not looking forward to seeing this arc play out. *sigh*
Speaking of arcs, the Torchwood reference was definitely anvilicious at the end, but I'll reserve judgment on it until I see more of what it entails. I loved the ref to TPOTW, though; I wouldn't call it "understated," exactly, but it fit in nicely with what was going on in the scene at the time. I love that they're not going to brush everything about the Bad Wolf arc under the rug this season. I'm beginning to wonder if it'll play a big role in how Rose eventually leaves the series.
Random annoyance that relates to nothing else in this entry: So...Doc. You need glasses to read and watch TV from up close, but you need to peer over them to see the diamond? Are you nearsighted or farsighted? MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
So in sum...it gets better, but not perfect, with more watching. Definitely better than New Earth from a plotty standpoint, at least, although I liked some of the Doctor/Rose interaction less so this time around. Still looking forward to next week, when someone else is writing the script.
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-24 04:54 am (UTC)Prince Albert's Plan: This seemed handwavey to me too at first, but actually made more sense once I'd thought about it a bit. Albert has a friend on the Highlands, they believe there's a werewolf in the area, they make a plan to protect their loved ones if it ever comes a-knockin'. Both men die before they can pass on the secret to said loved ones, however. And I LOVED the whole "message from beyond the grave" spin the Doc put on it. :?)
The Banishment: Made perfect sense to me, because the way I saw it...Victoria is a kindhearted woman personally, but has a will of steel when it comes to defending her country and people. So she could respect and even like the Doctor, and still feel he needed to be far away from Britain. The safety of the realm cannot be risked, whatever her own feelings.
The Monks: But...but...NINJAS! How can you complain about NINJAS?
The TARDIS' Appearance: I figured they hadn't actually seen the TARDIS arrive, just heard the noise and went to investigate and found the Doctor and Rose coming out?
Music: Loved it too. I so need a Who soundtrack, dangnabbit!
Robert & Isabella: I really liked them too, for pretty much the same reasons you stated. :?) And :?( for Robert.
Doc & Rose's attitude: I don't think they were blase about people getting killed...but I do think, whether it's a coping mechanism or irresponsibility or both, they've developed a tendency to let the grieving and fear go more quickly and live in the moment. It's almost zen, which is a big theme with those show and one I love...the idea of living life to the full even knowing there's horror, even having lived through that horror. I think in a way it's healthy for the Doc, to be learning to enjoy the ride more and grieve for his people and planet a little less. Rose has helped him move on. I do agree it's setting up some sort of fall--partly because RTD has dropped some hints along those lines, that overconfidence is their weakness a bit this season. But on the other hand, I love, love, love watching them love time travel. And I love the complexity, that this IS all so muddled...not so much the bit where I babble and don't explain it so well, but the way in which the same attitude which makes them indomitable temporal adventures might also cause them problems down the line! And the way in which it's not written simply as a flaw or a strength but both.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-26 01:26 am (UTC)I think Who has done every story ever. *g* I forget, are you one of the few and far between fans of The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne? If not, you should check it out.
Prince Albert's Plan:
Yeah, but they just happened to have the diamond there. Hmm. It seemed a bit convenient. I would think that if Albert knew more about the werewolf wanting to specifically infect the royal family he would've been more open about it. Perhaps a big "never stop at this estate" message to Vicky at some point?
And I LOVED the whole "message from beyond the grave" spin the Doc put on it. :?)
That was nice, I suppose. It didn't do a whole lot for me, but...eh.
The banishment made more sense to me on second viewing, mostly because of the religious aspect, but I can see it as part of what you're saying as well.
The Monks: But...but...NINJAS! How can you complain about NINJAS?
They have no relevance to the plot?
The TARDIS' Appearance: I figured they hadn't actually seen the TARDIS arrive, just heard the noise and went to investigate and found the Doctor and Rose coming out?
But they were waiitng with guns cocked when they came out, and Doc and Rose didn't take that long to exit. And that's a pretty flat plain; I think they probably did see it arrive.
I do agree it's setting up some sort of fall--partly because RTD has dropped some hints along those lines, that overconfidence is their weakness a bit this season.
Maybe if I didn't have that in my mind already, I might not have leaped to that conclusion, but I think it did color my viewing of this episode. Zen or not, they did seem a little...I dunno. Maybe not.
But on the other hand, I love, love, love watching them love time travel.
I think that's what keeps me watching despite the plotholes and nitpicks I yammer on about each week. And I think having them get too overconfident will ruin that delicate balance they've struck, and make me not like the show nearly as much, which is why I'm so against the idea. Grrr.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-26 05:27 am (UTC)Albert's plan: The diamond was with them because Albert had always taken it along that route to get it recut, which fits well enough with his planning. As for not warning Vicki off...I see it as him thinking he could simply protect her on his own, and not wanting to worry her. As for why he wouldn't say 'don't go to this house', I think that's both because it WAS the house of a good friend of his, even before he knew of the wolf, and because he was planning the trap within the trap. If he'd stopped her coming to that house, the monks might have had to try and bring the wolf elsewhere--somewhere he and his buddy hadn't built a giant anti-wolf ray gun disguised as a telescope. *g*
Ninjas: Plot, schmott! NINJAS!
TARDIS arrival: The soldiers would've had to move fast, sure, but I still think there was enough time for them to get over and surround the TARDIS after it had landed. The plain was flat, but there might still be dips...it just seems to me like Occam's Razor would suggest they didn't see the arrival or they would've said something about it. *shrugs*
The overconfidence thing: Y'know, after starting to discuss this here with you and also checking out some of the opinions on both sides in the Outpost Gallifrey forum, I went back and rewatched the ep...and it really worked even better for me the second time. They really aren't being that cocky. The main place they get a little goofy is the bit about "Y'know what? Werewolf!" and the hug and the bad joke that follows, but when you really watch that...Rose is shaken, it's the kind of giddy giggle that is holding the panic down. The Doc isn't spazzing in return so much as helping her cope--and you'll note the thing he asks isn't "Isn't this cool?" but rather, "Are you okay?". And I actually became more impressed with the writing because while, yeah, it's still setting up a fall, it's actually got a lot of complexity to it, I'd say. It really isn't that overt...they're still clearly scared, and angry when people aren't listening to them and getting killed, and saddened when some of the men sacrifice themselves. I really think the things that set Queen Victoria off so are the things we in our time don't even think about. Rose & the Doc's familiarity with each other. The Doctor's rudeness. The Doc's crack about "your wife was away, I just thought you were happy". I think Queen Vic is calling them on the carpet because they don't behave at all like Victorians--even though it is the first hint of troubles to come.