1. I liked the magic door just fine. I liked the whole "villains that are not really villains" aspect to the robots, since they weren't really evil (just badly programmed), especially in contrast with the somewhat inexplicable evil werewolf who was just evil because reasons. And steampunk + Versailles? Sounds good! Were they scary? Eh, a little, at least a first before I knew what was going on. I'm a little at a loss as to HOW they managed to use human parts to work a spaceship because...let's just say that I can think of about a million better alternatives for pumps than a human heart. But therein lies the wonderful mystery of Doctor Who.
2. Oh, Reinette... You were both short-changed and over-exaulted, in my opinion. You didn't get to kick any ass at all. You didn't really get lauded for any of your actual awesomeness. Equally troubling is that you were vaulted as being some grand option for a new companion without anyone addressing the fact that you: 1) come from any incredibly class-driven society wherein you hold a position of extreme privilege and what that would mean for you, as a person, when you are expected to run from crazed aliens, or wade through a river of mud or, idk, serve chips at a middle school for days at a time, and 2) you are kind of...hmm, let's say ambitious. Not that it makes you bad, persay, (although one might make an arguement for "callous") but it does make me question your potential hero-quotient. (I'll also add that the whole "little girl meets the Doctor, goes on to lust after him in adulthood" thing is a particularily icky Moffat-ism that I could happily do without.)
3. I just met youuuuu and this is craaaazy but come thru my fiiiireplaaaace and let's have teh babiiieez.... Yeah, no. That's not love -- that's infatuation, and it's not nearly as compelling, from a character-development standpoint. Especially because in this episode Reinette apparently luvs him because he's magical mystery man, and the Doctor is interested in Reinette because BOOBS, which pretty much demeans them both. Actual love takes time. (At least the better part of an afternoon.)
One of the best parts of the whole Rose/Doctor thing is that she DIDN'T fall in love/become infatuated with him right away. Martha did, but then her whole story arc was about her discovering herself and deciding to leave. Donna never viewed him as anything other than a friend. All three of them were portrayed as actual people with thoughts/dreams/plans/family/interests. Reinette seemed more like unrealistic fantasy material.
4. Ugg, Mickey. I don't know what else to say for this one. He is neither heroic nor helpful nor fun. I think they could have written him a better episode, honestly.
All-in-all, I can only make sense of the characterizations from this episode by thinking that the Doctor has basically decided to ignore his own feelings for Rose because he doesn't want to love her and lose her AND he doesn't want her to sacrifice her humanity to spend her life with him. Thus, he invites Mickey onboard in a "here, have a pet boyfriend" sort of a way, and his reactions to Reinette are born out of the resulting recklessness that cutting loose from his companions usually causes (sort of a mini-Time Lord Victorious). Meanwhile, Rose is trying to be nice to Mickey to make up for her earlier reluctance to have him onboard, trying to figure out what the hell the Doctor is thinking, and trying not to get her head cut off by crazy robots.
There yah go, Mr. Moffet. That's the best I can do for you.
Thats pretty much the only way I have managed to interpret this story in a way that makes any sense, re the Doctor pushing Rose away. I was kind of stricken by how off balance he seemed for the whole episode. I hadn't really equated it to the whole Time Lord Victorious thing but now that you mention it it's an interesting taste of what's to come.
Out of all the ridiculous parts of this episode him leaving Rose and Mickey behind instead of utilizing them as the quality companions they are(/could be) irritates me the most I think. Doctor (well, Moffat) what what what are you doing
2. Oh, Reinette... You were both short-changed and over-exaulted, in my opinion. You didn't get to kick any ass at all. You didn't really get lauded for any of your actual awesomeness. Equally troubling is that you were vaulted as being some grand option for a new companion without anyone addressing the fact that you: 1) come from any incredibly class-driven society wherein you hold a position of extreme privilege and what that would mean for you, as a person, when you are expected to run from crazed aliens, or wade through a river of mud or, idk, serve chips at a middle school for days at a time, and 2) you are kind of...hmm, let's say ambitious. Not that it makes you bad, persay, (although one might make an arguement for "callous") but it does make me question your potential hero-quotient. (I'll also add that the whole "little girl meets the Doctor, goes on to lust after him in adulthood" thing is a particularily icky Moffat-ism that I could happily do without.)
3. I just met youuuuu and this is craaaazy but come thru my fiiiireplaaaace and let's have teh babiiieez.... Yeah, no. That's not love -- that's infatuation, and it's not nearly as compelling, from a character-development standpoint. Especially because in this episode Reinette apparently luvs him because he's magical mystery man, and the Doctor is interested in Reinette because BOOBS, which pretty much demeans them both. Actual love takes time. (At least the better part of an afternoon.)
One of the best parts of the whole Rose/Doctor thing is that she DIDN'T fall in love/become infatuated with him right away. Martha did, but then her whole story arc was about her discovering herself and deciding to leave. Donna never viewed him as anything other than a friend. All three of them were portrayed as actual people with thoughts/dreams/plans/family/interests. Reinette seemed more like unrealistic fantasy material.
4. Ugg, Mickey. I don't know what else to say for this one. He is neither heroic nor helpful nor fun. I think they could have written him a better episode, honestly.
All-in-all, I can only make sense of the characterizations from this episode by thinking that the Doctor has basically decided to ignore his own feelings for Rose because he doesn't want to love her and lose her AND he doesn't want her to sacrifice her humanity to spend her life with him. Thus, he invites Mickey onboard in a "here, have a pet boyfriend" sort of a way, and his reactions to Reinette are born out of the resulting recklessness that cutting loose from his companions usually causes (sort of a mini-Time Lord Victorious). Meanwhile, Rose is trying to be nice to Mickey to make up for her earlier reluctance to have him onboard, trying to figure out what the hell the Doctor is thinking, and trying not to get her head cut off by crazy robots.
There yah go, Mr. Moffet. That's the best I can do for you.
Reply
LMAO
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Out of all the ridiculous parts of this episode him leaving Rose and Mickey behind instead of utilizing them as the quality companions they are(/could be) irritates me the most I think. Doctor (well, Moffat) what what what are you doing
Reply
Leave a comment