Doctor Who 3x01

[icepixie]

That was...surprisingly unmockable. I think it might actually be the most coherent RTD has been in, like, ever. Big rolleyes to the kiss, but other than that, there's little I failed to like about it. I really like Martha. She's got spunk, and she's smart, and she's going places in her life, and she knows it's just a once-around-the-block sort of trip, instead of an open-ended sort of deal. She's also just as charming as Ten can be.

Of course, now I wonder how RTD will screw her up. I really, really, reeeeeeeally hope she's serious about not being interested in the Doctor, but I'm sure that'll go by the wayside in less than three episodes. (Actually, I would be unhappy, but okay with her being interested, as long as she isn't eventually sacrificed on the altar of Twu Wuv.) I would really like some plain adventure stories without the overwrought emotionality, plzkthks.

So the Judoon are the lovechildren of the Borg, the Peacekeepers, and the Sontarans? Okay.

One thing that did bother me is that there is no hospital in that location in London. If I remember correctly, that's where the Saachi Gallery and the aquarium are. But I suppose this is probably an alternate universe anyway, so, eh. ;) I did like Martha's, "Dude, we've totally seen aliens. I don't care how the government tries to spin it." I will give RTD props for that continuity.

The jury is still out on Martha's family. They're amusing at the moment, but extended exposure to them could easily change that opinion.

Please, please, please let Martha keep on calling the Doctor "Mr. Smith." That would be awesome.

Ooooh, Shakespeare this week! Hey, it's gotta be out by now...

Comments

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

I really, really, reeeeeeeally hope she's serious about not being interested in the Doctor

Don't read anything RTD has to say about her. Just... don't.

So the Judoon are the lovechildren of the Borg, the Peacekeepers, and the Sontarans? Okay.

I was getting more of a "militant Vogon" vibe, myself...

One thing that did bother me is that there is no hospital in that location in London.

Me too! I was thinking, "Wait, right by the Eye?"

The jury is still out on Martha's family. They're amusing at the moment, but extended exposure to them could easily change that opinion.

Dunno, I was already getting a little tired of them. Maybe because I miss Jackie? Probably more because Annalise was incredibly annoying. But maybe she was a one-off? Please? And I did wonder about her 21-year-old brother seeming to have a girlfriend/wife and a baby, considering that her family seems upper middle-class. But I hear there's more of them to come, so I guess we'll see.

Please, please, please let Martha keep on calling the Doctor "Mr. Smith."

Heh. It *is* cute. Though his "I'll just lurk in a dark alley and seduce her pedophile-style into my big blue box with my questionably-symbolic power tools!" act was... sketchy...

Oh, and his hair *does* recover from the horrible "apply two bottles of gel and then sleep funny on it for several hours" stylings of this ep... what were they *thinking* when they did that to him? Poor DT.

Yay for Who buddies! Go fetch tonight's episode, it is cracktastic!

[icepixie]

Don't read anything RTD has to say about her. Just... don't.

Aw, hell. Is it bad?

I was getting more of a "militant Vogon" vibe, myself...

That'll work too...

Me too! I was thinking, "Wait, right by the Eye?"

*sigh* RTD, people can in fact figure out this is set in London without seeing the Eye or Big Ben. Really, they can.

Dunno, I was already getting a little tired of them. Maybe because I miss Jackie?

They're definitely better than Jackie.

Probably more because Annalise was incredibly annoying. But maybe she was a one-off?

Does kind of look like it.

And I did wonder about her 21-year-old brother seeming to have a girlfriend/wife and a baby, considering that her family seems upper middle-class.

That was weird, yes. Although then again, several people at work seem to have gotten married/had kids around 20/21, so it's not striking me as totally off the wall anymore.

But I hear there's more of them to come, so I guess we'll see.

Bah. They were okay, but I could live without seeing much more of them...

Heh. It *is* cute. Though his "I'll just lurk in a dark alley and seduce her pedophile-style into my big blue box with my questionably-symbolic power tools!" act was... sketchy...

Well, he's the Doctor. The Doctor-as-written-by-RTD. "Sketch" is his middle name.

Oh, and his hair *does* recover from the horrible "apply two bottles of gel and then sleep funny on it for several hours" stylings of this ep...

That's...good...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Aw, hell. Is it bad?

Well... his alleged arc for her *could* be done reasonably well, if the rest of the production team manages to bind and gag RTD and stuff him in a closet. It remains to be seen. Or he could just be a big fat liar and have something totally different in mind. I think it's best for you if you just pretend RTD doesn't exist? And wait for him to quit Who?

*sigh* RTD, people can in fact figure out this is set in London without seeing the Eye or Big Ben. Really, they can.

GASP. Are you saying there's more to London than that little stretch of the Thames???

They're definitely better than Jackie.

Aww, but I loved Jackie. She was so evil, and tragic.

Although then again, several people at work seem to have gotten married/had kids around 20/21, so it's not striking me as totally off the wall anymore.

STOP STOP STOP HAVING BABIES, PEOPLE.

Bah. They were okay, but I could live without seeing much more of them...

Yeah, the only way they'd be interesting would be if the Doctor were forced to interact awkwardly with them... muahaha.

Oh, how'd you like the thinly-veiled busted screwdriver/Rose metaphor? Heh. So evil.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

I think it's best for you if you just pretend RTD doesn't exist? And wait for him to quit Who?

'Scuse me while I jump into the conversation here! I think that's the only way to survive these days, though, sadly, it sometimes seems the only way to pretend he doesn't exist is to abstain completely, which is sad. I've heard he's leaving after next year, which is good--assuming he hasn't thoroughly wrecked the show by then.

I was sick of Martha's family in about 2 minutes. Been there, done that, Rusty. If you keep carrying on this way with every single companion's family, you'll be asking us to believe that the whole of London knows the Doc eventually, an that's just...straining credibility, to put it mildly. You've explored the effects of Companion Runs Off From Family Without Explanation syndrome already. Move on.

I was so hoping the screwdriver was dead, not to be replaced. As it was, there was almost no point frying it, since he seems to have a few crates of the damn things lying about the TARDIS storerooms...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

I think that's the only way to survive these days, though, sadly, it sometimes seems the only way to pretend he doesn't exist is to abstain completely, which is sad.

Oh, but somehow parts of the show always manage to be awesome, no matter how bad RTD gets. I've found that avoiding all RTD interviews and the Confidentials goes a long way towards letting me stick my fingers in my ears and go "LALALALALA!" at his influence. That, and "creative interpretation" of his mistakes. (Yay denial!)

I've heard he's leaving after next year

Oooh!!

assuming he hasn't thoroughly wrecked the show by then.

Aw, but it's Who, it's like a cockroach - no matter what apocalypses happen, Who will still be around a million years from now. : )

I was sick of Martha's family in about 2 minutes.

Yeah, it was an okay way to introduce her character in her own familiar context, but... I could stand not seeing much more of them. And why does Rusty always have to have a family involved? How about a companion who just has a circle of friends? Non-boyfriend friends? The family theme kinda highlights the sketchy cradle-robbing aspects of the show that I could do without...

You've explored the effects of Companion Runs Off From Family Without Explanation syndrome already. Move on.

Yup. New, please!

I was so hoping the screwdriver was dead, not to be replaced.

But he's gotta have his Magical Cheating Device! Otherwise he'd have to, you know, operate *locks*!

As it was, there was almost no point frying it, since he seems to have a few crates of the damn things lying about the TARDIS storerooms...

But endless stock of screwdrivers = endless stock of impressionable young women! A bit cruel on the writer's part, but accurate.

[icepixie]

Well... his alleged arc for her *could* be done reasonably well, if the rest of the production team manages to bind and gag RTD and stuff him in a closet. It remains to be seen. Or he could just be a big fat liar and have something totally different in mind. I think it's best for you if you just pretend RTD doesn't exist? And wait for him to quit Who?

Oh, dear. Does his arc include horrifying romantic things? And then Martha crying on a beach in Norway?

GASP. Are you saying there's more to London than that little stretch of the Thames???

SHOCK. I know. It shouldn't be possible.

Aww, but I loved Jackie. She was so evil, and tragic.

But so irritating at the same time...

STOP STOP STOP HAVING BABIES, PEOPLE.

I know. Ack.

Yeah, the only way they'd be interesting would be if the Doctor were forced to interact awkwardly with them... muahaha.

Yeees...

Oh, how'd you like the thinly-veiled busted screwdriver/Rose metaphor? Heh. So evil.

Wait, what? That flew over my head.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Does his arc include horrifying romantic things? And then Martha crying on a beach in Norway?

Okay, you've probably already noticed its effects by now, but what I've heard is that RTD has declared that Martha's character arc is gonna be a big unrequited-love, "Oh woes, he doesn't even notice me!" ickfest. But there's a lot of speculation floating around that RTD is also an evil manipulative bastard and that he has something entirely different in mind besides this red herring. Grrrr. I've avoided additional research on the matter, for fear of asploding my brains.

Yeees...

Bring on the Awkward!

Wait, what? That flew over my head.

Screwdriver = companion
Screwdriver's busted = woes, Rose is gone!
Martha: "Doctor!"
Doctor: "You called me Doctor! Shiny new toy companion!" [chucks screwdriver/Rose behind him without looking]
Doctor, later: "I've got a new screwdriver, so the obvious next step is skulking in dark alleys and luring young women into my police box for 'test drives'!"

Evil, yet humorous.

[icepixie]

Okay, you've probably already noticed its effects by now, but what I've heard is that RTD has declared that Martha's character arc is gonna be a big unrequited-love, "Oh woes, he doesn't even notice me!" ickfest.

UGH.

But there's a lot of speculation floating around that RTD is also an evil manipulative bastard and that he has something entirely different in mind besides this red herring.

Well, we all thought Bad Wolf in S2 was going to lead to something cool, and that was definitely a red herring...

Evil, yet humorous.

Indeed. And since Rusty wrote that episode, almost certainly entirely unintentional. (Which doesn't say much for Rusty's brain...)

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

I did like Martha's, "Dude, we've totally seen aliens. I don't care how the government tries to spin it." I will give RTD props for that continuity.

I'll give him props for not overplaying it, which is what he usually does with that sort of thing. It was just the right contrast to Donna's "WTF are you on about," without beating it to death.

[icepixie]

This is also true. Yay for restraint.