[Doctor Who] 6.07 "A Good Man Goes To War"
If you are watching on the American schedule and want to see what I had to say about "The Almost People", that's here.
Last week's warning still applies:
HERE THERE BE SPOILERS
( It's all spoilers from here on out )
Last week's warning still applies:
HERE THERE BE SPOILERS
( It's all spoilers from here on out )
And who are the guest stars? But a couple of characters we've never met before, a dude we HAVE met but never in the same room as The Doctor, and some random people of various non-human species where we've seen the actors in the same make-up, but not the actual same characters. I mean, The Doctor knows a Victorian Silurian who is hunting (and eating, apparently) Jack The Ripper. THAT IS AN ADVENTURE I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE! Did we see it? NOPE.
Also, I loved the Hell out of that Sontaran nurse. Cracked up every time.
Seriously, though, I really do wish that Moffat would stop with the obvious trolling. If he wants to fuck with us subtly, that's fine. But he seems to be developing the opinion of himself that he is REALLY TOO CLEVER and is now forcing us to watch him be clever. And it's not. It is really, really not.
Also, I am concerned that he might start falling into RTD's habit of constantly trying to top himself. Because, let's face it, that's pretty much why RTD turned out half the crap he has.
Seriously, Moffat should just concern himself with churning out the stories. The stories are great. But the constant fucking with the audience is getting old. I like twists as much as the next person, but this is ridiculous.
I can't take any points on the River Song thing. I was spoiled for it a few months back.
So. Melody Pond = River Song = Girl in the Spacesuit. My question is, how do The Silents end up with her, later?
Meanwhile, the internet is already speculating that Madame Kovarian = The Rani. (Um, I really do not think so, Internet. No.)
I am so excited that now I can talk about this. So, here's what I've got figured out for the season: There's two Doctors running around. (Or there will be or there were.) It has been officially hammered into his head head that he has developed this reputation of himself that makes himself too dangerous to have around. (Which is an interesting parallel to David Tennant's run. I kinda really liked the connection. Because while 10 thought he was a danger to his companions, this proves he was right but completely NOT in the way he spent three years wangsting over.) So, he stages his death in front of witnesses so that there is a record of him having died so that armies stop being raised to fight him when he's trying to help people. (And any stuff he does in the interim, people can just assume happened before he's offed.)
Is this sudden inter-galactic fear of The Doctor that is so prevalent that alien species that HATE each other would form a coalition to defeat The Doctor part of an elaborate plot by The Silents? Possibly in revenge for his Neil Armstrong stunt? I think it might be.
And, yeah, I'll be watching Torchwood, but since I don't get Stars and I'm not sure what day of the week it will be airing, I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep up with the torrents. (I do not like torrenting shows because I really can't keep it up long-term. I can set a date with my TV set. But have me try to watch TV while on the internet? The internet wins every time.)
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Hey, and don't forget the FX shot the Doctor called in from "Victory of the Daleks"! I guess I don't really see this one as a trick because I wasn't expecting to see everyone from Donna down to Lynda-with-a-y lined up beside the Doctor, I was kind of expecting about what we got, a roundup of some of the cheaper guest stars we've seen. Also, in retrospect, I can't decide which is the more amusing possibility: that the Doctor was so confident he could get this done that he only brought his B team, or that the Doctor considers his companions the B team.
Seriously, though, I really do wish that Moffat would stop with the obvious trolling. [...] The constant fucking with the audience is getting old.
Agreed, again to a point. As obnoxious as the whole "stupid face" thing was, at least it did interesting things to the characters as we watched them react to it. The "Last Centurion" speech, though? Intended solely to screw with the audience by using half-truths and some blatant lies to play off one of the most common speculations about Amy's baby. I don't mind him fucking with the narrative when interesting or revealing things happen because of it, but when it's just the equivalent of him going "neener neener you thought you had this one figured out didn't you" then yeah, it needs to stop. Save it for Twitter, Steven.
Also, I am concerned that he might start falling into RTD's habit of constantly trying to top himself. Because, let's face it, that's pretty much why RTD turned out half the crap he has.
But isn't that really just a problem with any long-running show, and Rusty just had a habit of picking stupid shit instead of cool shit? I mean, look at Buffy; she went from fighting one vampire to fighting a god, and then the writers were like "well fuck, what now?" and we got Dark Willow and the First Evil, both of which were lametastic. The problem isn't going bigger than last year, the problem is coming up with a stupid idea while you're trying to go bigger than the last year. IT CAN'T TOUCH ANYTHING ALL IT CAN DO IS BASICALLY GLOAT AT YOU AGGGH WHY DID ANYONE THINK THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA ARRRRRGH
That said, "Last of the Time Lords" is still indefensible.
Meanwhile, the internet is already speculating that Madame Kovarian = The Rani. (Um, I really do not think so, Internet. No.)
Hmmmmm . . . it's not really how the Rani worked though, isn't it? She does like her science and experimenting on people but she never really had that KILL THE DOCTOR impulse -- she just wanted him to quit getting in the way of her experiments. Also if Kozarian did turn out to be the Rani I'd have to just quit watching right there because it would bring up all my buried memories of "Time and the Rani" which are four of the worst episodes of any TV show I have ever seen, and I watched "The Web Planet."
(continued in second comment -- I overran the character limit)
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Oh, I totally wasn't expecting to see Donna or Jack. (Some people were, though. And I found that hilarious.) But it would've been nice if there had been someone we had a connection to. (I don't really count the spitfires.) I mean, there was brief Captain Avery, but it was REALLY BRIEF.
Also, when I found out that there was a character in the show called "Jenny"... well. I guess you can tell what I was hoping. Seriously, there are too many characters on this show named "Jennifer". And when Moffat specifically requests a one-off be kept alive, well, one would hope he would have a reason for it later. (Though he did later admit to having completely forgotten he made that request until after he saw the episode.)
The "Last Centurion" speech, though? Intended solely to screw with the audience by using half-truths and some blatant lies to play off one of the most common speculations about Amy's baby. I don't mind him fucking with the narrative when interesting or revealing things happen because of it, but when it's just the equivalent of him going "neener neener you thought you had this one figured out didn't you" then yeah, it needs to stop.
Yeah, I don't have a problem with all the twist endings and unanswered questions and plot-related misleads. But Always!Dying!Rory and other smaller troll-bait stuff? Sick of. So very, very sick of.
But isn't that really just a problem with any long-running show, and Rusty just had a habit of picking stupid shit instead of cool shit?
Point. But it's been my experience that the really cool shit will always eventually become incredibly stupid. The question is how long the stupid can be held off for. Rusty just... well, it didn't take him very long for him to get there, did it?
I mean, look at Buffy; she went from fighting one vampire to fighting a god, and then the writers were like "well fuck, what now?" and we got Dark Willow and the First Evil, both of which were lametastic.
I never actually had a problem with the concept of Dark Willow. (They'd been setting that up for awhile.) The writers just FAILED UTTERLY at pulling it off. Magic drug addiction, wtf?
IT CAN'T TOUCH ANYTHING ALL IT CAN DO IS BASICALLY GLOAT AT YOU AGGGH WHY DID ANYONE THINK THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA ARRRRRGH
BWA! Yes. Man, memories.
Hmmmmm . . . it's not really how the Rani worked though, isn't it?
Supposedly, Kovarian might be fobwatched. Again, I REALLY don't think so. Among other reasons, The Rani is a creator-owned character like The Daleks and unless Moffat got the BBC to pony up a lot of cash, I'm pretty sure he's not allowed to use her.
Also, if you're gonna bring back a Time Lord, bring back Romana. All I'm saying. She is a way better Time Lord to resurrect.
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To be fair I suspect Georgia Moffett was a little bit too pregnant to appear in this episode, depending on when it was shot.
Rusty just... well, it didn't take him very long for him to get there, did it?
One season. :-\ "Parting of the Ways" works, but it relies on an awful lot of magic. "Doomsday" is probably the best of Rusty's finales and even it has that goddamn Ten/Rose SINGLE EMO TEAR bullshit tacked onto the end.
I never actually had a problem with the concept of Dark Willow. (They'd been setting that up for awhile.) The writers just FAILED UTTERLY at pulling it off. Magic drug addiction, wtf?
ARGH STARTING TO REMEMBER SEASON SIX EXISTED AGGH AGGH
I live in a universe where Season Six was merely a really awesome musical episode and a one-off special followup called "Tabula Rasa".
Supposedly, Kovarian might be fobwatched. Again, I REALLY don't think so. Among other reasons, The Rani is a creator-owned character like The Daleks and unless Moffat got the BBC to pony up a lot of cash, I'm pretty sure he's not allowed to use her.
I would pay Moffat right now, I would get out my checkbook and write him a check NOT to pay Pip & Jane Baker for the Rani. "Mark of the Rani" wasn't great but "Time and the Rani" torpedoed any interest I had in the character, and anyone who still wants to see the Rani brought back needs to go rewatch "Time and the Rani" until they come to their senses.
actually I may have once speculated that River was the Rani
Also, if you're gonna bring back a Time Lord, bring back Romana. All I'm saying. She is a way better Time Lord to resurrect.
This this this this this this this. I know a lot of people were hoping that Donna would turn out to be a fobwatched Romana when the spoilers started to break about the end of S4. Romana wouldn't even be that hard to bring back, just have some magic break down the barriers between N-space and E-space. And they could get K-9 too since *sob* Sarah Jane's gone. Then just make Matt Smith wear a scarf and presto, INSTANT AWESOME. (But seriously though, I suspect Amy and Rory are not long for the show so it's never too early to start speculating about next companions.)
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I think at this point it's still "will be" -- much like the tie gag, we see the end result before we see the start. He hasn't really had the time to set that one up and I think that's going to be the plot for the back half of the season.
It has been officially hammered into his head head that he has developed this reputation of himself that makes himself too dangerous to have around. (Which is an interesting parallel to David Tennant's run. I kinda really liked the connection. Because while 10 thought he was a danger to his companions, this proves he was right but completely NOT in the way he spent three years wangsting over.)
Hmm, yes, agree on the first part. People have been trying to tell him he needs to tone it down since "The Runaway Bride." Hearing it from River though, who he trusts deeply, really made him understand it. I don't think the Tenth Doctor ever really made the connection that his reputation as the "Oncoming Storm" put his companions in danger, though, nor do I think he ever really worried about it. He wangsted about a lot of stuff but it was a pretty constant theme that he really got off on being the Oncoming Storm -- hell, even the Eleventh Doctor has pulled a couple of Oncoming Storm stunts. I think this is the first time he's ever really put it together that when you continually terrify a large part of the galaxy, one day they will come after you. And if they can't come after you, they'll come after your friends.
So, he stages his death in front of witnesses so that there is a record of him having died so that armies stop being raised to fight him when he's trying to help people. (And any stuff he does in the interim, people can just assume happened before he's offed.)
Hmmmmm. Does give a plausible reason for the death being staged. You're thinking he rigged up some sort of clone, possibly even Ganger!Doctor, to die for him then? The age gap would give him time to work in like you're speculating, and it would explain why Future Doctor has no TARDIS (because he's a clone dropped off for that moment and doesn't need one.)
Is this sudden inter-galactic fear of The Doctor that is so prevalent that alien species that HATE each other would form a coalition to defeat The Doctor part of an elaborate plot by The Silents? Possibly in revenge for his Neil Armstrong stunt? I think it might be.
I wouldn't say the fear's so much sudden -- the Doctor's been terrifying species with nothing more than the mention of his name since at least the Vashta Nerada, curiously enough a Moffat episode -- but this impetus to work together to bring him down is definitely new. I do think the Silents are behind it as they were built up way too much last season to be a one-shot villain. I don't think it's revenge by the Silents for the Neil Armstrong trick, though. I think this is The Pandorica II. They tried going after him directly and it didn't work, so this time they went after exactly what enabled him to get out the last time: his friends -- Amy, Rory and River.
And, yeah, I'll be watching Torchwood, but since I don't get Stars and I'm not sure what day of the week it will be airing, I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep up with the torrents. (I do not like torrenting shows because I really can't keep it up long-term. I can set a date with my TV set. But have me try to watch TV while on the internet? The internet wins every time.)
Torchwood will be airing Friday nights on Starz, which is going to be a pain for me to keep up with as well. I'd presume there's going to be a BBC airing as well but no bets on when. Damn you, Torchwood, I said I was going to quit you but then Children of Earth was awesome and you went and hired Jane Espenson. NOW I CANNOT LEAVE
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Not quite what I was getting at. Ten's BIG thing was that he fully believes that he is personally responsible for ruining people's lives because they know him. Of course, this wasn't true. Everyone knew what they were getting into when they joined up with him. Everything all of his companions did were their decision. Stuff happened, but no one really regretted it. (Except for the Donna memory-erasure. But we'll not go there for the sake of space and sanity.)
In this one instance.... in a way, The Doctor really did "ruin" his companion's lives. But not because he fashioned anyone into a weapon. Amy had already left the Tardis when she was taken. By all accounts, the two of them should have been DONE and this happened and it was his fault because he had finally traded in on his reputation one time too many.
Ten believed that people got hurt for knowing him. But no one ever intentionally plotted to hurt one of his loved ones to get to HIM, before. I don't think it ever occurred that people - humans, no less - would do that to him in any way other than the purely academic. Because he is The Doctor. He helps people. He only destroys the Bad Guys. And now the very people he'd been protecting are so scared of him that they would kidnap his best friend and her baby? That is one Hell of a wake-up call.
So, yeah, he worried that he was a danger to his companions, but not in the way that turned out to actually be the case. And, um, yeah, it looks like we basically said the same thing, there.
You're thinking he rigged up some sort of clone, possibly even Ganger!Doctor, to die for him then?
I haven't quite sussed out the specifics. This gets really complicated on account of timey-wimeyness. Either it's a clone and it always was a clone.
Or The Doctor is doing something he's not supposed to do and deliberately messing with his own timeline. So, the first time it was the REAL Doctor from a now aborted timeline, but then in subsequent loops, it's a ganger/clone in order to stabilize the new one. (I hate discussing time travel. I have a pretty good understanding of various sci-fi temporal theories, but explaining them coherently is a bitch.) Usually, when Moffat starts playing with causality paradoxes, what we see is the end result. It's possible that this time we are seeing the, um, second run-through, as it were. (The first one being one where Amy was kidnapped and no one EVER finds out about it. Until a LOT later.)
Seriously, once I tried to calculate exactly how many run-throughs The Doctor and Sally Sparrow had to have in "Blink" in order to create a successful causality loop and the answer was a whole fucking lot. I don't think this one is quite as complicated.
I don't think it's revenge by the Silents for the Neil Armstrong trick, though. I think this is The Pandorica II.
But how do you know that Neil Armstrong didn't happen first? Just because The Doctor experienced the Pandorica first doesn't mean that The Silents did. And they left him alone for a real long time. What goal would they have for killing him, really? The Doctor protects Earth. The Silents live on Earth. Destroying your planet's protector is a little counter-intuitive when you're basically a race of mind-controlling parasites. Unless he did something to piss you off, of course.
Damn you, Torchwood, I said I was going to quit you but then Children of Earth was awesome and you went and hired Jane Espenson. NOW I CANNOT LEAVE
Yes, that is exactly it.
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Yeah, we both wind up at "The Doctor has never considered that anyone would go after his friends as revenge for what he did," we just get there through different interpretations of the Tenth Doctor. To me, the Tenth Doctor was always driven far more by his loss and guilt over what he did in the Time War and his need to take on the mantle of the last Lord of Time and Space. He was the Doctor and his pronouncements were law and if you didn't like that well fuck you then, and his companions came second to that. Was he protective of them? Sure. But protecting them wasn't his primary concern, saving the universe was.
But I also admit I'm coming at the Tenth Doctor with a few years' distance and some calcified rage.
But how do you know that Neil Armstrong didn't happen first? Just because The Doctor experienced the Pandorica first doesn't mean that The Silents did. And they left him alone for a real long time.
Urgh. This is actually the major problem I have fitting the Silents in with any greater plan, trying to figure out exactly what they're capable of. Are they Earth-bound? Well, they've got spaceships, fairly advanced ones, so the best I can say is "maybe". Are they time-bound? The fact that they've been trying to reverse-engineer the TARDIS and grow/steal a Time Lady would seem to point to yes. But if they're time-bound, then they can't be behind the Pandorica (how would they know about the Doctor from 104 AD or whenever that was?) But if they're not time-bound, then why are they trying to reverse-engineer the TARDIS and get a Time Lady?
What goal would they have for killing him, really? The Doctor protects Earth. The Silents live on Earth. Destroying your planet's protector is a little counter-intuitive when you're basically a race of mind-controlling parasites. Unless he did something to piss you off, of course.
Simple: they want him out of the way. The Silence have plans. They want complete dominion over space-time, and the Doctor doesn't look kindly upon anyone trying to take that from him. So once they're ready to make their move, they try to get him out of the way by stuffing him into the Pandorica, and when that doesn't work they go for the nuclear option, Demons Run.
It'd be funny if this ended up being the Silents' version of "The Family of Blood" -- they tried the merciful option, locking him in the Pandorica, and now they're getting nasty.
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