"Sea devil!" "Land parasite!" "All right, no need to start throwing slurs."
Pirates & sea devils! Doctor Who is back!
(I am still seeking an alternative to LJ, preferably one that allows crossposting for at least a transition period. I've backed everything up to Dreamwidth, at least, but an attempt to crosspost did not work and frankly I don't really like Dreamwidth's interface, so...still looking. Recommendations, or even reccomendations for ways to adjust Dreamwidth's interface, are welcome.)
I was not able to do a liveblog for this one, unfortunately, as I actually had to work today. I managed to wrangle my schedule so I could watch the episode on my lunch break, but it did kind of prevent me from writing down thoughts as I watched. Which may be a good thing, depending on your inclination, IDK. Writing this later, instead, after having also (kind of) watched the second-run airing (I was still working shh don't tell my job). (I need to sit down and watch it while I'm NOT working/on a limited break where I also need to eat.)
I generally enjoyed the episode. I have some quibbles (the editing is the biggest one...the scene in which our TARDIS crew first meets the Sea Devils is edited really, really badly for example; and the pacing is not great; and uhh that one Dan moment), but overall it was quite fun. Madame Ching was amazing, although I wish we'd learned a little more about her. The Sea Devil redesign worked wonderfully and they had a lot of personality (and I LOVED the implication that they are a rogue splinter group).
And the real stars of the episode are the three Thasmin moments; in the oxygen bubble (not a bad date, am I?); when the Doctor finally confronts her feelings about Yaz (if it could be anyone it'd be you); and when they finally make it to the beach (I can't fix myself...to anyone). All three moments are so tender and vulnerable and also ... not quite there yet, that they land perfectly. Thirteen's defining characteristic (IMO) is that she's absolutely terrified of emotional vulnerability; that's why she masks so hard with aggressive cheerfulness. Putting it out to Yaz that if it could be anyone, it'd be you costs her a lot, but she does it, because Yaz deserves to hear it.
(Also, you know, casually dropping River into conversation and then running away from it because OH SHIT NO CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT WITH ANYONE DEFINITELY NOT WITH YAZ that is very Thirteen)
So overall episode: 6.5/10, but Thasmin scenes 10/10 definitely.
Dan dressed up like a pirate from an 80s children's movie because Yaz told him to: also 10/10 would recommend. Glad to see we're continuing the fine tradition of companions totally not understanding how to dress in historically accurate ways.
Next episode (last episode of 2022 and not for several months which is wildly unfair): [Spoiler (click to open)]The Master! Kate! Tegan! ACE! REGENERATION! EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT ONCE!
(I am still seeking an alternative to LJ, preferably one that allows crossposting for at least a transition period. I've backed everything up to Dreamwidth, at least, but an attempt to crosspost did not work and frankly I don't really like Dreamwidth's interface, so...still looking. Recommendations, or even reccomendations for ways to adjust Dreamwidth's interface, are welcome.)
I was not able to do a liveblog for this one, unfortunately, as I actually had to work today. I managed to wrangle my schedule so I could watch the episode on my lunch break, but it did kind of prevent me from writing down thoughts as I watched. Which may be a good thing, depending on your inclination, IDK. Writing this later, instead, after having also (kind of) watched the second-run airing (I was still working shh don't tell my job). (I need to sit down and watch it while I'm NOT working/on a limited break where I also need to eat.)
I generally enjoyed the episode. I have some quibbles (the editing is the biggest one...the scene in which our TARDIS crew first meets the Sea Devils is edited really, really badly for example; and the pacing is not great; and uhh that one Dan moment), but overall it was quite fun. Madame Ching was amazing, although I wish we'd learned a little more about her. The Sea Devil redesign worked wonderfully and they had a lot of personality (and I LOVED the implication that they are a rogue splinter group).
And the real stars of the episode are the three Thasmin moments; in the oxygen bubble (not a bad date, am I?); when the Doctor finally confronts her feelings about Yaz (if it could be anyone it'd be you); and when they finally make it to the beach (I can't fix myself...to anyone). All three moments are so tender and vulnerable and also ... not quite there yet, that they land perfectly. Thirteen's defining characteristic (IMO) is that she's absolutely terrified of emotional vulnerability; that's why she masks so hard with aggressive cheerfulness. Putting it out to Yaz that if it could be anyone, it'd be you costs her a lot, but she does it, because Yaz deserves to hear it.
(Also, you know, casually dropping River into conversation and then running away from it because OH SHIT NO CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT WITH ANYONE DEFINITELY NOT WITH YAZ that is very Thirteen)
So overall episode: 6.5/10, but Thasmin scenes 10/10 definitely.
Dan dressed up like a pirate from an 80s children's movie because Yaz told him to: also 10/10 would recommend. Glad to see we're continuing the fine tradition of companions totally not understanding how to dress in historically accurate ways.
Next episode (last episode of 2022 and not for several months which is wildly unfair): [Spoiler (click to open)]The Master! Kate! Tegan! ACE! REGENERATION! EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT ONCE!