Doctor Who 2x11: Fear Her

[icepixie]

Something you should watch on YouTube: Doctor Who: Attack of the Spoiler. I think it's a Dead Ringers sketch, maybe? Anyway, hilarious.

2x11: Fear Her

On the one hand, I may possibly have been misting up towards the end. Possibly. I make no guarantees. On the other hand: OW, MY HEAD HURTS. BECAUSE I HAD TWELVE DIFFERENT ANVILS DROPPED ON IT IN THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

Hey, do you think maybe Rose and the Doctor will be separated at the end of the season? And maybe that Rose will die? I don't know what's giving me that impression...

Right. So. I was thinking that this could not possibly be a decent episode, but it surpassed all expectations. There was a lonely kid and a lonely alien and a lonely god Doctor and I was totally empathizing with the kid because I HAVE BEEN HER. Well, without the alien. But that would have made my childhood much more interesting, let me tell you.

Anyway, that allowed me to ignore the crap science in this one (I'm not even going to ask how the Beast ghost of the father was "made out of energy from the Isoleus" or whatever; it's just not worth it), and the uber-cheesy moment that was the Doctor lighting the Olympic torch (the hell? Like security wouldn't have shot him down immediately...), and Rose's "Feel the love" line (gack), and of course the anvils.

I loved Rose's independence in this episode beyond the telling of it, although her snooping in the kid's room was perhaps less than cool. She basically solved the whole damn problem BY HERSELF, and that's pretty cool. (Okay, so some people say that kind of thing makes it less "Doctor Who" than "The Doctor and Rose," which I can kind of see, but I also really enjoy competent companions with initiative, so hey.)

The Olympics thing actually worked! I figured from right about the time when the mother turned on the TV in the kid's room that the crowd was going to be sucked into her pictures, so it wasn't exactly a surprise, but it worked nonetheless.

Nina Sosanya was fantastic. Yay Bellino! Also, there was very little evidence of smuggery from Rose and the Doctor, which was nice. I like their little jokes about being police officers, but they didn't take them too far this time, which was nice.

Random comments:

- *snerk* at the opening, with the TARDIS landing the wrong way round, and the Doctor having to turn it 90 degrees. I always thought that there was more room for error than we usually saw on the TV.

- "Why is it so cold?" ...Because it's England?

- So a lot of small children are going to be scared of their closets tonight, aren't they? *snicker* Not to mention of Narnia. Nothing in this episode scared me in the slightest, but if you're a kid, I can see how it might be frightening.

- I have mixed feelings about the continual use of light-through-Venetian-blinds in this episode. It drove me a bit crazy, but deep yellow light through blinds also screams "horror film!" to me (I have no idea why), so it also kind of worked.

- Not a cat person. Hahahahaha.

- Loved the Vulcan greeting. Hee.

- "I was a dad once." *watches the asexualists go boom*

- Two hugs and handporn. Awwwww.

- "Who's gonna hold his hand now?" DUN DUN DUN DUN.

- I think the music made me cry. *sniffle*

- Who was the "her" in "Fear Her"? The kid?

Am avoiding the trailer for next week and all talk of the next two episodes because what with the BBC's big spoiler (not to mention THE ANVILS), I already know more than I want to. LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

Comments

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Something you should watch on YouTube: Doctor Who: Attack of the Spoiler.

BWAH!!! So, so true. (I'd actually rather that they funnel the energy from Confidentials and Tardisodes into additional episodes...)

Hey, do you think maybe Rose and the Doctor will be separated at the end of the season? And maybe that Rose will die? I don't know what's giving me that impression...

Wait...what? ROSE IS GOING TO DIE????

Heh.

- Not a cat person. Hahahahaha.

So funny!! *uses icon*

- "I was a dad once." *watches the asexualists go boom*

*snickers*

"Who's gonna hold his hand now?" DUN DUN DUN DUN.

*pout*

[icepixie]

BWAH!!! So, so true. (I'd actually rather that they funnel the energy from Confidentials and Tardisodes into additional episodes...)

For serious. The logical part of my brain accepts the "only one standing set, only two regular castmembers, no set style of camera operation and thus ninety-billion shots to line up with each episode, etc. etc.," and the addict within me says, "If American shows can do 20-24 episodes a year, you can too, dammit!"

Wait...what? ROSE IS GOING TO DIE????

*flails*

- Not a cat person. Hahahahaha.

So funny!! *uses icon*

Hee. I was actually thinking of it more in relation to K9--the Doctor's more of a dog person from way back. *g* (OMG, can't wait until you start watching Old Skool stuff.)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

For serious. The logical part of my brain accepts the "only one standing set, only two regular castmembers, no set style of camera operation and thus ninety-billion shots to line up with each episode, etc. etc.," and the addict within me says, "If American shows can do 20-24 episodes a year, you can too, dammit!"

YES.

Hee. I was actually thinking of it more in relation to K9--the Doctor's more of a dog person from way back. *g* (OMG, can't wait until you start watching Old Skool stuff.)

K-9 was with Four, right?

[icepixie]

K-9 was with Four, right?

Yep. He was with Four for the last two-thirds or so of his incarnation, when he was with Leela and both Romanas. (Speaking of K9: so cute I may implode, so cute I may implode again.)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

OMG AWWWWWW!!!

[icepixie]

I love how both the new and the old series have really fun publicity photos that capitalize on goofy icons like the scarf or the TARDIS or the Daleks or whatever, instead of being a relentless barrage of everyone looking sober and heroic, like some other shows I could name. *coughSG-1andAtlantiscough* Although I suppose a lot of the ones here aren't necessarily publicity photos so much as candids...

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Attack of the Spoiler: Heheheh.

Her: I think it was meant to be the kid, though with a nice possible double for Rose being all assertive. Speaking of which...

Rose being assertive: Rocked, I agree. And the Doctor still drew the torch and gave her the key, so he's still the brains of the operation. *snerk*

Rose dying: I really do NOT think it's gonna happen. Not just because they've made it so anvilicious, but also because we have to remember that this is a family show. I really don't think RTD is going to kill off the first companion kids of this generation have gotten attached to, watched the adventures through her eyes. The only way I think Rose might die is if the Doctor ends up pulling a Superman-the-movie...

Next week's trailer: Even if you wait and go back once you've watched the epi, you *have* to see this trailer. It took my breath away, literally...just so brilliantly put together and narrated..by Rose.

[icepixie]

Rose being assertive: Rocked, I agree. And the Doctor still drew the torch and gave her the key, so he's still the brains of the operation. *snerk*

Hey, now, let Rose have her moment; after all, she is but a puny human and the Doctor's had 900 years of being the brains of various operations. *g*

Rose dying: I really do NOT think it's gonna happen.

Yeah, I don't either; see the post I just made on this very same subject. ;) But they certainly are trying to make us think she will, aren't they?

The only way I think Rose might die is if the Doctor ends up pulling a Superman-the-movie...

And then I will yell, "But you didn't go back for Adric!" and growl a lot. Not because I like Adric, but just on principle. *g* ("Superman-the-movie" does refer to him going back in time to save his dead girlfriend, right? I've never seen it, but I think I remember hearing about that...) I'm hoping the ending is a complete surprise, because all the possibilities I've come up with are a bit on the dull side.

I'll go back after the two-parter and watch the trailer, sure.

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was the Superman thing I was referring to. But for me...the fact that he didn't go back for Adric is just what makes me excited about the idea. To see the Doctor pushed to a place he's never been pushed before, at least that we've seen. To do for Rose what he's never done for anyone--unless I'm right about his wife anyway, and that had to end badly. I figure it'll be dramatic and glorious and messy. I also suspect Father's Day could be key. Both because the Doctor *almost* succeeded in rescuing Rose's dad that time...and because I could see the Reapers coming into play after the Doctor pulls off the rescue, perhaps being the reason Rose can't travel in time and space anymore.

On the other hand...I just caught a line on Outpost Gallifrey's news saying that there are still a few main cast members for Torchwood that have yet to be announced. Hmmm.

[icepixie]

I could see the Reapers coming into play after the Doctor pulls off the rescue, perhaps being the reason Rose can't travel in time and space anymore.

Ooooh, now that would be interesting. I like that idea. And hopefully they would have enough sense not to attempt some kind of long-long-long-long-distance relationship. ;) (Although that would be really nifty to explore in fic. Might get a bit Time Traveler's Wife, though.)

On the other hand...I just caught a line on Outpost Gallifrey's news saying that there are still a few main cast members for Torchwood that have yet to be announced. Hmmm.

Hmmmm...

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't see them going for a long-long distance kind of thing either. It'd be interesting in fic, but on the show...again, it would be a false hope and an unneccessary cluttering of the narrative. Who shouldn't have that kind of baggage...and pretty much no show does well with it anyway.

How was 'Time Traveler's Wife' btw? I've heard bad things...

[alto2.livejournal.com]

"I was a dad once." *watches the asexualists go boom*

You do realize that I'm a dyed-in-the-wool old-school no-hanky-panky-in-the-TARDIS girl, right? And that this comment's got to be a throwback to Susan, even though she was supposed to be his granddaughter. I don't see how the being a Dad/Doc-is-asexual ideas are mutually exclusive, really, considering the longevity of the character and how different regenerations have different personalities. One being a grandfather doesn't mean Two-Ten have any interest whatsoever (though it also doesn't necessarily mean they don't).

Frankly, I don't really care what these characters are up to in that regard as long as it isn't canon and therefore I don't have to see it on my TV screen. :)

I find it interesting that you saw the crowd disappearing so early on--I was convinced, what with there being so many shots of him, that it was going to be the guy with the torch. And the moment with the Doctor lighting the torch is the only one where my willing suspension of disbelief said "Huh??" Big agreement on the lack of smuggery, which I think is why I liked this ep so much, in addition to Rose kicking ass.

[icepixie]

So do you think that the Doctor never had a wife/sexual relationship that would have produced the boy or girl who would become Susan's parent? I took that line as confirmation (or as close to as we're likely to get) that Susan was his biological granddaughter, thus pretty much debunking the idea that the Doctor had never ever ever had sex at any point in all of his lives. (Although I still love the mind-bendy idea that Susan's mother or father is the Doctor's child from a future regeneration. Wheee, time travel!)

I find it interesting that you saw the crowd disappearing so early on

Well, the way they highlighted the crowd in the "broadcast," I figured that meant they were going to be important somehow. When more and more kids were starting to disappear, I quickly put two and two together.

And the moment with the Doctor lighting the torch is the only one where my willing suspension of disbelief said "Huh??"

I'm just...going to pretend that that didn't happen, I think.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

So do you think that the Doctor never had a wife/sexual relationship that would have produced the boy or girl who would become Susan's parent?

No no, that's not what I'm saying at all. I'm more saying that regardless of what that situation is/was, it doesn't have to influence the sexuality or lack thereof of the character now, given passage of large amounts of time and regeneration. I think it's entirely okay to take it the way you took it, but that's not necessarily too different from saying "Okay, if Susan's his actual granddaughter, it had to have happened at least once." Which is sort of where I've always been on the issue, and that's where I've always been quite content to leave it.

Like I said, they can be having no sex at all, or wild orgies--I really don't care as long as I don't have to see it or hear about it ;) (And that mind-bendy idea of yours just made me make those Beaker-like distress noises!!)

Sounds like your reasons for figuring the crowd would disappear were similar to why I figured it would be the torchbearer, which is a conclusion I drew before we got to the 4 billion family members ;)

Did you see someone put together a petition for David Tennant to light the torch in 2012? Some days I just want to make people put their heads down on their desks for a while...

[icepixie]

Who shouldn't have that kind of baggage...and pretty much no show does well with it anyway.

I agree with you on the first part of that sentence, but SG-1 didn't do so badly with Daniel and Sha're. That was sort of nifty. It works for some, but not all, shows.

I haven't read TTW either. I read the first twenty or thirty pages in a bookstore, and it was much more romance novel and much less sci-fi, than I was expecting, so I haven't picked it up since.

[icepixie]

Okay, if Susan's his actual granddaughter, it had to have happened at least once." Which is sort of where I've always been on the issue, and that's where I've always been quite content to leave it.

Ah, okay, that makes sense. I thought that might have been what you meant, but I wasn't totally certain.

Me, I ship all over the place. I'm a horrible Old Skool fan. ;) I'm all for seeing evidence that The Doctor Does Sex and various shippy bits on my screen (and can totally twist the gen-est of gen things to favor my ship if I'm in the mood, although I tend not to say anything publically about it), although I recognize that most relationships I might be interested in seeing would come with a massive dose of power issues (900-year-old supremely intelligent alien vs. 20-year-old shopgirl...yeah) and angst because of the nature of the Doctor's alienness and lifestyle and its total non-conjunction with most of his companions', and I don't necessarily trust that these will be dealt with very well.

Okay, that sentence was way too long. But anyway, I like to play with all kinds of pairings and have no objection to seeing them onscreen.

(And that mind-bendy idea of yours just made me make those Beaker-like distress noises!!)

Hee. Sorry. :)

Did you see someone put together a petition for David Tennant to light the torch in 2012?

*facepalm* Hadn't seen it. Not gonna hunt it down. Gah.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

I'm all for seeing evidence that The Doctor Does Sex and various shippy bits on my screen

I guess my issue comes from the general obliviousness he displays most of the time. I mean, Nine saying that Rose looks beautiful at the beginning of "The Unquiet Dead" is really quite something, considering that Tegan tries to get a reaction from Five in "Enlightenment," but what she gets is basically "Huh. Now, about this party we have to go to..." And that's pretty typical of the classic series. It's kinda tough to see where sex enters into things at all when he doesn't even process that Tegan's actually wearing a dress for a change :)

I think it's also because I was watching them 20 years ago. That, and the part where every companion leaves eventually, and I just really don't need to see the one constant character hooking up with everything that sets foot in the TARDIS. (As tselmende puts it, you really don't want As the TARDIS Turns when you thought you were tuning in for Doctor Who (until *ahem* recently, this was an idea that the T&C types, especially, couldn't seem to wrap their heads around). It just ends up cheapening whatever companion/companion relationship you end up with later on, IMever-soHO.

Anyway, I will shut up about it now :)

And yeah, avoid the torch petition, 'cause....eeep.

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I dunno...Daniel and Sha're only half worked for me. It was kind of forgotten about for large portions of early SG-1...which I think is a danger of that kind of storyarc. You're kind of stuck...either your whole show is driven by a very narrow quest every week, which gets old, or your characters look like they're forgetting something important. And then when they finally did wrap it up...it was so sad! :?P

[icepixie]

I think that kind of narrow arc works better for the shorter BBC season, though, so it might work better on DW. Hypothetically, of course; I doubt they'll end up doing that.

It was sad at the end, but that episode is probably one of the best they've done, too. IMO, of course. :)

[elflore.livejournal.com]

Hmm...while it could work, I still don't see it working out so well. Partly because one of Who's great strengths is that it does standalone adventures so excellently. I love my arc-driven shows like mad, but who's kind of the one real episodic show I love as much...I think because the imagination's so big it never feels like planet-of-the-week. Of course, RTD has figured out how to make arcs work brilliantly inside the adventures, but there's still a fine line...

I think the other thing, though, which makes me think it wouldn't work out well is that we've all been given the impression that Billie really does mean to move on for good. If Rose could actually come back, the arc could be interesting, but if she's not gonna come back then it'd be hard to pay off to anyone's satisfaction, methinks.

And which SG-1 ep are you referring to exactly? The one where Sha're dies? That was a great one. I also rather liked the ep where he found the Buddha-baby. Except for the fact that the utterly western writers kinda missed the bit about Buddhist types not, y'know, killing people. Or Ja'fa. *snerk*

[icepixie]

*very carefully avoids finale talk*

And which SG-1 ep are you referring to exactly? The one where Sha're dies?

Yeah, that one ("Forever in a Day," I think). One of my favorites.

I also rather liked the ep where he found the Buddha-baby.

I almost remember this one, but not quite. I remember Daniel and a kid...and it being Not Great...but I can't remember any specifics.