My Thoughts on "The Girl Who Lived"
I haven't commented much on this current season of Doctor Who, mostly because I've been too damn busy. Here's my thoughts on "The Girl Who Lived" and spoilers abound, so don't read if you haven't seen it.
Just a warning...I wrote this while watching the episode and slightly pickled on triple chocolate cheesecake and two rather large glasses of Moscato.
Oh, shut up. I had cramps and have a husband who loves me.
Well, I liked this episode. I loved the dichotomy between Ashildr and the Doctor. She's like a reflection of him, he's appalled at some of the things she's done. She tells him he doesn't understand what it's like to be so old, but he tells her he does.
“How many have you lost? How many Claras?” Good question, Ashildr. I think that's something he doesn't think about very often.
I think it's an interesting commentary on the Doctor's immortality, how old he's gotten and the ramifications of living so long. Ashildr is a representation of that immortality. He's appalled and intrigued at her. His whole, “I've left you alone too long” made me tear up.
This whole season has really started off strong and has kept me on the edge of my seat, unlike last season. I love that they're exploring the Doctor's past and maybe some of the consequences of his decisions. It's freaking awesome and I feel like Capaldi has the kind of gravitas to pull that off. I think Matt Smith was way too young to do this exploration of the Doctor's past. Peter Capaldi is really hitting the nail on the head with his portrayal of an older Doctor coming to terms with his former selves and I LOVE it. Caecilius' face and his realization of why he chose it had me cheering last week.
“Kill him and you'll make an enemy of me.” That's 100% the Doctor right there. I could hear those same words coming out of Tennant's mouth, coming out of McGann's mouth, coming out of Hartnell's mouth.
I think he's a little horrified at what he's created in Ashildr. A little bit of Dr. Frankenstein's regret there, Doctor? I don't think he always realizes what the consequences are for saving people. He can never be too sure. His intentions for saving Ashildr were noble, but ultimately flawed. She grew bitter and cold. Humans are not meant to live forever and I wonder if the Doctor has forgotten that, or doesn't want to believe it? He's watched so many people die that maybe Ashildr was his way of fighting against our frail mortality, of refusing to acknowledge death. It sort of reminds me of “The Waters of Mars” where the Doctor declares war on the Laws of Time and says he's in charge. He realizes that he isn't when his actions backfire. Has he learned anything from that moment? Ashildr's creation makes me think that perhaps he hasn't.
Our Doctor isn't perfect. Immortal he may be, but he's still learning. Perhaps it takes him much longer to learn those lessons because that immortality.
Maybe he needed Ashildr to help him realize the consequences. He compares humans to Mayflies and says that it's because of their limited lives that they understand everything. Life is fleeting. It's easy to forget that when you're immortal.
And oh my gosh, he mentions Jack! I love that!And I love that whole “He'll get around to you eventually” when Ashildr asks who Jack was.
“So while you're busy protecting this world, I'll get busy protecting it from you.” That line makes me wonder if, in the future, Ashildr has anything to do with Torchwood or even UNIT? That would be a really cool tie in.
I like Ashildr, I really do. I feel like we needed another character like her, someone to keep the Doctor on his toes and I don't mean just the old ones like the Master. She's an enigma and I love that.
Also, that ending with Clara...wow. We know we haven't seen the last of Ashildr. Why was she watching Clara? What's up with that? She's the one who takes care of the ones the Doctor leaves behind? Is this a foretelling (I mean, we know that Jenna Coleman isn't returning next season).
All in all, I think this is one of the best Doctor Who episodes I've seen in a long time. Sure, the villain of the week was a recycled Thundercat, but hey...it's Doctor Who. The villains are prone to be cheesy from time to time (he's still not as bad as the stupid Absorbaloff). As transparent as the episode was at times, I think it was a very necessary episode in terms of understanding the Doctor's psyche and his journey, both of which are more than complicated enough to fill an entire season of episodes.
As I've said before, last season left me wanting and disappointed. This season has me excited and wanting more.