Planet of The Dead
So, after last night's Fest o' Crap, which culminated in me getting absolutely nothing done that I wanted to and sort of wallowing for a long time, I wrote a drabble while I waited for my good friend Vylla to finish downloading the special. Since she's the one that got me into Who, it was ten kinds of cool to watch it "together", although she's in Colorado and I'm in Hell Kansas.
Some thoughts, most of which I've seen all y'all have on your journals, with a notable exception:
1. Lady Christina: I am much of the "meh". As with most one-off specials, I think you have a hard time selling me on the companions because they're always like "Wahoo! There's this person, and they're awesome!" and don't really let you get to the "yeah, they're awesome!" stage yourself. (Which, honestly? Takes me about a minute and a half when Russell T. Davies doesn't insist on telling me EVERY DAMN MINUTE how "made" for each other the Doctor and the Flavor of the Week are. See: Rose, Partners in Crime, Smith & Jones and Runaway Bride for the proper way to do this). Aside from that, she had some amusing moments. All in all I think she was a decent character shorted the opportunity to really grow and impress me. More on the complete lack of character arch for anyone later. In that black catsuit, I'm sure the fanboys are crying for more. (Also because she's not Rose. Y'know how that goes.)
Also: Lady Christina is waaaay to close to LadyChi. That's all I'm saying. I keep going, "WHY are they talking about m... oh...."
2. Malcolm: OMG. SO. MUCH. LOVE. Like Wilf, I adore these quirky little characters that turn up and turn a pile of "meh" into a few moments of WTF?EARS and cracking my shit up. I will need to use him in fic. I (blatantly mis)quote Robin Williams, making fun of Dick Cheney: "I don't know where, I don't know when, but something (awesome) is going to happen..."
3. The Stunning Lack of An Emotional Journey: Or rather, how the plot didn't serve the characters. I'm not one of those snobs that's like "every story has to take the character on an emotional journey" -- because actually -- no wait, I am. Every story has to take the character on an emotional journey. Even if you're doing fluff -- if the characters remain stagnant, I get bored. And this just could be because I'm very much a characters/dialogue/development and THEN plot person. But I have a feeling I'm not alone. Even the moments where you're supposed to be all OMG!OHNOES DAVID TENNANT IS LEAVING... I just couldn't get there. I felt the characters on the bus were underused. Then again, if he had used them, it would have been "Midnight" -- and I just don't know that you beat "Midnight". That's the problem with being as good as you are, RTD. You reach a certain level and you just expect that level every script and when I don't get it, I get cranky.
4. Here Ends the Deep Thinky Thoughts; Chi and Vylla discuss Whovian monsters: Okay, so... there's no way, in words, to describe what we thought of the Tritovores. This is a (slightly edited) transcription of the conversation we had while watching the episode
V: OMG, I hate flies. Look at their mouths. They look like vaginas.
C: I hope your vagina doesn't look like that.
V: Okay, vaginas with like, actual, literal crabs coming out of their... vaginas.
C: I just had a thought. I can't share it. It's too immature. But it was a funny thought.
V: Yesssss?
C: Okay, so you talked me into it. You know the sounds they're making?
V: Yeah.
C: Imagine if you put a microphone in your vagina. Do you think it would sound like that?
V: HA!
Obviously, we both need help.
Another funny conversation
V: Monsters, of the Who School. Give me a Halloween mask and a mechanic's costume!
C: Oh, so that explains Mickey...
(I don't hate Mickey, I just couldn't resist the jibe. I love Mickey. Honest, I do!)
Anyway, overall these specials are shaping up to be about the same quality as Season Three, leaving me alternately laughing and mehing, without really tugging any of my heartstrings. I'm waiting for a Human Nature/Family of Blood or Utopia. C'mon, Davies! Bring it!
Some thoughts, most of which I've seen all y'all have on your journals, with a notable exception:
1. Lady Christina: I am much of the "meh". As with most one-off specials, I think you have a hard time selling me on the companions because they're always like "Wahoo! There's this person, and they're awesome!" and don't really let you get to the "yeah, they're awesome!" stage yourself. (Which, honestly? Takes me about a minute and a half when Russell T. Davies doesn't insist on telling me EVERY DAMN MINUTE how "made" for each other the Doctor and the Flavor of the Week are. See: Rose, Partners in Crime, Smith & Jones and Runaway Bride for the proper way to do this). Aside from that, she had some amusing moments. All in all I think she was a decent character shorted the opportunity to really grow and impress me. More on the complete lack of character arch for anyone later. In that black catsuit, I'm sure the fanboys are crying for more. (Also because she's not Rose. Y'know how that goes.)
Also: Lady Christina is waaaay to close to LadyChi. That's all I'm saying. I keep going, "WHY are they talking about m... oh...."
2. Malcolm: OMG. SO. MUCH. LOVE. Like Wilf, I adore these quirky little characters that turn up and turn a pile of "meh" into a few moments of WTF?EARS and cracking my shit up. I will need to use him in fic. I (blatantly mis)quote Robin Williams, making fun of Dick Cheney: "I don't know where, I don't know when, but something (awesome) is going to happen..."
3. The Stunning Lack of An Emotional Journey: Or rather, how the plot didn't serve the characters. I'm not one of those snobs that's like "every story has to take the character on an emotional journey" -- because actually -- no wait, I am. Every story has to take the character on an emotional journey. Even if you're doing fluff -- if the characters remain stagnant, I get bored. And this just could be because I'm very much a characters/dialogue/development and THEN plot person. But I have a feeling I'm not alone. Even the moments where you're supposed to be all OMG!OHNOES DAVID TENNANT IS LEAVING... I just couldn't get there. I felt the characters on the bus were underused. Then again, if he had used them, it would have been "Midnight" -- and I just don't know that you beat "Midnight". That's the problem with being as good as you are, RTD. You reach a certain level and you just expect that level every script and when I don't get it, I get cranky.
4. Here Ends the Deep Thinky Thoughts; Chi and Vylla discuss Whovian monsters: Okay, so... there's no way, in words, to describe what we thought of the Tritovores. This is a (slightly edited) transcription of the conversation we had while watching the episode
V: OMG, I hate flies. Look at their mouths. They look like vaginas.
C: I hope your vagina doesn't look like that.
V: Okay, vaginas with like, actual, literal crabs coming out of their... vaginas.
C: I just had a thought. I can't share it. It's too immature. But it was a funny thought.
V: Yesssss?
C: Okay, so you talked me into it. You know the sounds they're making?
V: Yeah.
C: Imagine if you put a microphone in your vagina. Do you think it would sound like that?
V: HA!
Obviously, we both need help.
Another funny conversation
V: Monsters, of the Who School. Give me a Halloween mask and a mechanic's costume!
C: Oh, so that explains Mickey...
(I don't hate Mickey, I just couldn't resist the jibe. I love Mickey. Honest, I do!)
Anyway, overall these specials are shaping up to be about the same quality as Season Three, leaving me alternately laughing and mehing, without really tugging any of my heartstrings. I'm waiting for a Human Nature/Family of Blood or Utopia. C'mon, Davies! Bring it!