So, got back from watching "Utopia", "Sound of Drums" and "Last of the Time Lords"...
...and God, such wonderful episodes, but boy were they sad. Or at least draining.
I've really always loved this three parter. I know others have their issues with it, but me? I love it. Seriously. And watching it again reminded me why I love it.
First is the matter of the emotional content. I know that the little things, like Jack embracing Ten after hearing that Rose is alive (and of course he would. She was...well, one of his best mates. If he didn't also care for her more than that. * Then again...he's Jack. :), as well as Chantho and Yana's joy when Ten gets the rockets to work. And that little boy who meets Martha, and that man who reunited with his mother (one of the few heartwarming moments in "Utopia"). It really makes it more heartbreaking when you learn the boy, along with everyone else, is turned into a Toclafane. And even more heartbreaking considering...well, the Master didn't care about the Utopia project, but Yana...goddamn did he ever. And if he saw what the Utopia project would produce...well, his heart would probably break. The worst part is that the whole Toclafane...it's a result of a whole Yank the Dog's Chain -- these people have been trying to get to Utopia for quite a while, only they find absolutely fucking nothing. And so they turn savage. Primitive, even. Turning themselves into flying little balls that kill other humans (in the past, sort of a cosmic...I dunno what it is; you guys probably have better metaphors than I do)...and considering what we can be capable of at times, I doubt that it's much of a stretch. I think that's really how one teaches a sort of morality lesson -- show good and evil, and all sides of the spectrum, really. The audience can kind of go from there. DOCTOR WHO, really, has become a handy guide for me on things to avoid doing.
I think there was also a reason why Davies made the show a bit more about the companions (unless DOCTOR WHO has always done it and I'm still in my newbie stage? #Sorry) -- it was to show, really, how humanity is. How honorable it can be, or how cruel it can be. Those who are honorable stand and fight, and show compassion to others no matter who they are (for example, I can't picture a hero from any other show showing mercy to a Dalek, or mourning for the Pig Men), and those who are not...well, they're willing to tear each other apart at the first opportunity. I think there's a reason some of Davies' most despicable villains happen to be the Dirty Coward types. Call it noticing a few patterns, really.
Yet Davies isn't really averse to showing them pity. There's the Master, obviously, but there's also the little boy who told Martha the sky was made of diamonds. Something about his voice, and the idea that such a sweet, helpful little boy, along with everyone else on Malcaissaro could have become those monsters... *Sighs* This is just getting depressing; here's a Scooby Doo/Doctor Who crossover: http://imgfave.com/view/2448675. And now back to our program.
Speaking of the Master, while he had some funny lines ("I could never resist a ticky clock", for example, from LAST OF THE TIME LORDS, and dear God, I want that on a T-shirt, as well as his sort of misunderstanding, shall we say, Americans. And...well, a lot more. Master, how do you have such good dialogue?), he was also horrifying. For example, how he treats Lucy later, as well as the Doctor, sending down the Toclafane to *literally* decimate Earth, and a lot more -- yeah, don't be fooled by the funny, guys; he's just doing it to lull you into a false sense of security before he strikes. (And on a bit of an off-topic note, John Simm's got quite the lovely voice. I'm starting to think that the Archangel Network wasn't the only reason that people got to trusting the Master; he could be reading from one of those phonebooks and it would sound great. But I digress) Still, he's not without his pitiable moments -- for example, dying in the Doctor's arms. I dunno, something about his "Will it stop, Doctor? The drumming, will it stop?"...that coupled with the visual of the young Master (or Koschei as he was once called -- always nice to name the villain before he became a villain, really. :) staring into the Time Vortex...it's almost as if in that moment, he's not really the man that tortured Martha's family and the Doctor, but a frightened little boy, haunted by the drums. And earlier, when he's asking the Doctor if he can hear the drumming in his head. Even if he basically says "good" when the Doctor says it's only him, I think he was just trying to convince himself that he didn't need the Doctor's help. After all, it's who he is. And he's the Master; he doesn't need the Doctor's help just because of a drumbeat. (Both of these at least to himself) He's very complex, the Master -- he's not just one-dimensional evil; he has layers and motivations and justifications for what he does. He has moments of vulnerability and even moments where he and the Doctor aren't so different (some of the way he speaks and acts; hell, he even purposely chooses his regeneration to be like the Doctor, in a way -- either to compete with him, which is most likely, to be like him, or both, which is possibly even more likely). There's also the matter of attempting, in the worst way possible, to build a New Gallifrey -- add in some later stuff from "The End of Time" and I think he might have some affection for Gallifrey left, even though I doubt he'd come out and directly say it. He's not just a caricature -- there's a lot more to him, and that's really what grabbed me. (That and being bizarrely fun to watch)
There's also the matter of Yana. Seriously, I love Yana. He's just so sweet, friendly, funny, hopeful -- and he genuinely wants to help other people. I also loved his relationship with Chantho (before it went to shit -- perhaps it's just me, but I can't help but wonder...if not for this ugly thing that the Time Lords planted in the Master's head, what would have been for Chantho, and so many others? And the Master...would he have been happy, in the end?), and was really distraught when he shot her (although she managed to at least shoot him before she died. Sad-awesome, really). And I loved his bonding with the Doctor, and his conversation with Martha (sort of calling himself a "stupid old man" if I recall correctly, which really isn't true in the slightest), even though that went south later. And his sort of remembering, in a way -- and crying. Just imagine how terrifying it must be, in a way -- you have this drumbeat in your head, you have these memories you don't understand...we already saw how terrible it was when it happened to John Smith. Imagine how Yana was experiencing it. Not to mention...at least the Doctor's essence gave John Smith a choice. Yana didn't have that luxury. He had it forced on him. Add in why he fled in the first place, and...well, it's like John Smith being unable to escape his destiny if it were amped up a bit. Although on a more technical note, I loved the little sound clips in the watch, like Delgado!Master in "The Daemons" and Ainley!Master cackling. *Shivers* And the Master stealing the TARDIS -- horrifying, even heartrending considering how he killed Chantho (just...that poor thing. :( Dying without even knowing why her dearest friend -- and the man she loved, to boot -- is doing this), and the Doctor pleading with him to come back...yeah, amazing cliffhanger.
Hell, the Doctor and the Master had a lot of great interactions in the episode. Stuff like the phone conversation (seriously amazing), as well as some of their scenes on the VALIANT. And...well, this is the selling point for me: the Doctor rejuvenated. Besides being a Crowning Moment of Awesome for Martha Jones (all the awards, Miss Jones. All of them) and having great lines ("Tell me the human race is degenerate now when they can do this!" for instance)...well, there's this: the Doctor forgiving the Master. Because the Doctor's glowing with the energy of the Archangel Network, the Master's terrified, only the Doctor to go over and, after all this time, all the misery the Master's caused, embrace him and say "I forgive you". Because even after all this time...well, he loves the Master. Honestly, he does. And if he can save the Master, if he can save a life after all the times he's destroyed...well, to him it will make all the difference. And because he still remembers not just the boy he was once friends with, but the brilliant Professor he met on Malcaissaro. And the Master...well, he loves the Doctor as well, even if he'd never come out directly and say it.
I also loved the scene where the Master dies in the Doctor's arms. I just love both John Simm's and David Tennant's acting there, as well as when the "This Is Gallifrey" theme starts up. Just that theme playing, the Doctor just breaking down (seriously, it's one of those times it hurts to watch) -- I also love how it's shot -- a sort of far away shot to make it clear how small the Doctor seems in that moment, while the others, the people who survived the "eye of the storm" stand around, watching him. And his *scream* -- one of those instances where the Big No works beautifully. And the Doctor lighting the funeral pyre, all while the Gallifrey theme is playing.
I also loved seeing Gallifrey for the first time in the Doctor's flashback -- seriously, such a lovely place. Seriously.
Also, on the emotional content subject, the scene with Martha's family discussing who's going to kill the Master. Such a well-done moment, and I loved the touch of Mr. and Mrs. Jones kissing right after Mr. Jones says he'll kill the Master. Really heartbreaking (yeah, I know, I'm using that word a lot. XD), and yet...well, it's clear the Jones family is a bit messy, but it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And I love Tish talking about the Master making them watch the Japan islands burn...God, just the way she says it... ;.; And Martha telling the Resistance about the Doctor (I know that her speech warms and breaks my heart at the same time. Especially the "I know him...I love him" line. Damn it, Freema Agyeman; why are you so awesome? Hell, DOCTOR WHO cast, why are you so awesome?) and the "fifteen satellites" scene. Especially Martha's speech to the Master, and the score, and everyone on Earth, almost as if crying a prayer to the heavens, saying the Doctor's name. Not to mention Lucy joining in. *Hugs Lucy tight as she needs it* And Martha's departure -- it's one of those moments that, again, warms and breaks my heart. For example, leaving her phone with the Doctor, their hug prior to that...things like that. And it's a nice beat on Martha's character growth as well -- having the strength to move on, as well as...back in "Smith and Jones", she was running away from her family, in a way. Now, she's going back home if only to be there for them. Lovely bookends, really -- well, okay, not really bookends, but you get my meaning.
Also, in "Utopia", Jack and the Doctor discussing Rose while Jack's in the radiation room.
I also loved the moments of humor in there, like Jack being the Face of Boe (although all things considered, it's a bit sad), Jack and Martha flirting (Jack flirting in general, really, especially the Doctor telling him to stop. XD), Martha and Chantho talking (also adorable. :), and a lot more. And Martha and Tom Milligan, on a sweeter note. Honestly, I am so shipping them. :)
Honestly, these episodes had a lot of great moments. Great emotion, great villains, a satisfying if bittersweet ending...I really almost forgot how much I loved them. :)
* Personally I ship Jack with Ianto or Martha, but I can see the appeal of...y'know.
So yeah...loved them. Definitely recommend. :) (And yeah, I came close to crying during those episodes. I really did, I will admit)
I've really always loved this three parter. I know others have their issues with it, but me? I love it. Seriously. And watching it again reminded me why I love it.
First is the matter of the emotional content. I know that the little things, like Jack embracing Ten after hearing that Rose is alive (and of course he would. She was...well, one of his best mates. If he didn't also care for her more than that. * Then again...he's Jack. :), as well as Chantho and Yana's joy when Ten gets the rockets to work. And that little boy who meets Martha, and that man who reunited with his mother (one of the few heartwarming moments in "Utopia"). It really makes it more heartbreaking when you learn the boy, along with everyone else, is turned into a Toclafane. And even more heartbreaking considering...well, the Master didn't care about the Utopia project, but Yana...goddamn did he ever. And if he saw what the Utopia project would produce...well, his heart would probably break. The worst part is that the whole Toclafane...it's a result of a whole Yank the Dog's Chain -- these people have been trying to get to Utopia for quite a while, only they find absolutely fucking nothing. And so they turn savage. Primitive, even. Turning themselves into flying little balls that kill other humans (in the past, sort of a cosmic...I dunno what it is; you guys probably have better metaphors than I do)...and considering what we can be capable of at times, I doubt that it's much of a stretch. I think that's really how one teaches a sort of morality lesson -- show good and evil, and all sides of the spectrum, really. The audience can kind of go from there. DOCTOR WHO, really, has become a handy guide for me on things to avoid doing.
I think there was also a reason why Davies made the show a bit more about the companions (unless DOCTOR WHO has always done it and I'm still in my newbie stage? #Sorry) -- it was to show, really, how humanity is. How honorable it can be, or how cruel it can be. Those who are honorable stand and fight, and show compassion to others no matter who they are (for example, I can't picture a hero from any other show showing mercy to a Dalek, or mourning for the Pig Men), and those who are not...well, they're willing to tear each other apart at the first opportunity. I think there's a reason some of Davies' most despicable villains happen to be the Dirty Coward types. Call it noticing a few patterns, really.
Yet Davies isn't really averse to showing them pity. There's the Master, obviously, but there's also the little boy who told Martha the sky was made of diamonds. Something about his voice, and the idea that such a sweet, helpful little boy, along with everyone else on Malcaissaro could have become those monsters... *Sighs* This is just getting depressing; here's a Scooby Doo/Doctor Who crossover: http://imgfave.com/view/2448675. And now back to our program.
Speaking of the Master, while he had some funny lines ("I could never resist a ticky clock", for example, from LAST OF THE TIME LORDS, and dear God, I want that on a T-shirt, as well as his sort of misunderstanding, shall we say, Americans. And...well, a lot more. Master, how do you have such good dialogue?), he was also horrifying. For example, how he treats Lucy later, as well as the Doctor, sending down the Toclafane to *literally* decimate Earth, and a lot more -- yeah, don't be fooled by the funny, guys; he's just doing it to lull you into a false sense of security before he strikes. (And on a bit of an off-topic note, John Simm's got quite the lovely voice. I'm starting to think that the Archangel Network wasn't the only reason that people got to trusting the Master; he could be reading from one of those phonebooks and it would sound great. But I digress) Still, he's not without his pitiable moments -- for example, dying in the Doctor's arms. I dunno, something about his "Will it stop, Doctor? The drumming, will it stop?"...that coupled with the visual of the young Master (or Koschei as he was once called -- always nice to name the villain before he became a villain, really. :) staring into the Time Vortex...it's almost as if in that moment, he's not really the man that tortured Martha's family and the Doctor, but a frightened little boy, haunted by the drums. And earlier, when he's asking the Doctor if he can hear the drumming in his head. Even if he basically says "good" when the Doctor says it's only him, I think he was just trying to convince himself that he didn't need the Doctor's help. After all, it's who he is. And he's the Master; he doesn't need the Doctor's help just because of a drumbeat. (Both of these at least to himself) He's very complex, the Master -- he's not just one-dimensional evil; he has layers and motivations and justifications for what he does. He has moments of vulnerability and even moments where he and the Doctor aren't so different (some of the way he speaks and acts; hell, he even purposely chooses his regeneration to be like the Doctor, in a way -- either to compete with him, which is most likely, to be like him, or both, which is possibly even more likely). There's also the matter of attempting, in the worst way possible, to build a New Gallifrey -- add in some later stuff from "The End of Time" and I think he might have some affection for Gallifrey left, even though I doubt he'd come out and directly say it. He's not just a caricature -- there's a lot more to him, and that's really what grabbed me. (That and being bizarrely fun to watch)
There's also the matter of Yana. Seriously, I love Yana. He's just so sweet, friendly, funny, hopeful -- and he genuinely wants to help other people. I also loved his relationship with Chantho (before it went to shit -- perhaps it's just me, but I can't help but wonder...if not for this ugly thing that the Time Lords planted in the Master's head, what would have been for Chantho, and so many others? And the Master...would he have been happy, in the end?), and was really distraught when he shot her (although she managed to at least shoot him before she died. Sad-awesome, really). And I loved his bonding with the Doctor, and his conversation with Martha (sort of calling himself a "stupid old man" if I recall correctly, which really isn't true in the slightest), even though that went south later. And his sort of remembering, in a way -- and crying. Just imagine how terrifying it must be, in a way -- you have this drumbeat in your head, you have these memories you don't understand...we already saw how terrible it was when it happened to John Smith. Imagine how Yana was experiencing it. Not to mention...at least the Doctor's essence gave John Smith a choice. Yana didn't have that luxury. He had it forced on him. Add in why he fled in the first place, and...well, it's like John Smith being unable to escape his destiny if it were amped up a bit. Although on a more technical note, I loved the little sound clips in the watch, like Delgado!Master in "The Daemons" and Ainley!Master cackling. *Shivers* And the Master stealing the TARDIS -- horrifying, even heartrending considering how he killed Chantho (just...that poor thing. :( Dying without even knowing why her dearest friend -- and the man she loved, to boot -- is doing this), and the Doctor pleading with him to come back...yeah, amazing cliffhanger.
Hell, the Doctor and the Master had a lot of great interactions in the episode. Stuff like the phone conversation (seriously amazing), as well as some of their scenes on the VALIANT. And...well, this is the selling point for me: the Doctor rejuvenated. Besides being a Crowning Moment of Awesome for Martha Jones (all the awards, Miss Jones. All of them) and having great lines ("Tell me the human race is degenerate now when they can do this!" for instance)...well, there's this: the Doctor forgiving the Master. Because the Doctor's glowing with the energy of the Archangel Network, the Master's terrified, only the Doctor to go over and, after all this time, all the misery the Master's caused, embrace him and say "I forgive you". Because even after all this time...well, he loves the Master. Honestly, he does. And if he can save the Master, if he can save a life after all the times he's destroyed...well, to him it will make all the difference. And because he still remembers not just the boy he was once friends with, but the brilliant Professor he met on Malcaissaro. And the Master...well, he loves the Doctor as well, even if he'd never come out directly and say it.
I also loved the scene where the Master dies in the Doctor's arms. I just love both John Simm's and David Tennant's acting there, as well as when the "This Is Gallifrey" theme starts up. Just that theme playing, the Doctor just breaking down (seriously, it's one of those times it hurts to watch) -- I also love how it's shot -- a sort of far away shot to make it clear how small the Doctor seems in that moment, while the others, the people who survived the "eye of the storm" stand around, watching him. And his *scream* -- one of those instances where the Big No works beautifully. And the Doctor lighting the funeral pyre, all while the Gallifrey theme is playing.
I also loved seeing Gallifrey for the first time in the Doctor's flashback -- seriously, such a lovely place. Seriously.
Also, on the emotional content subject, the scene with Martha's family discussing who's going to kill the Master. Such a well-done moment, and I loved the touch of Mr. and Mrs. Jones kissing right after Mr. Jones says he'll kill the Master. Really heartbreaking (yeah, I know, I'm using that word a lot. XD), and yet...well, it's clear the Jones family is a bit messy, but it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And I love Tish talking about the Master making them watch the Japan islands burn...God, just the way she says it... ;.; And Martha telling the Resistance about the Doctor (I know that her speech warms and breaks my heart at the same time. Especially the "I know him...I love him" line. Damn it, Freema Agyeman; why are you so awesome? Hell, DOCTOR WHO cast, why are you so awesome?) and the "fifteen satellites" scene. Especially Martha's speech to the Master, and the score, and everyone on Earth, almost as if crying a prayer to the heavens, saying the Doctor's name. Not to mention Lucy joining in. *Hugs Lucy tight as she needs it* And Martha's departure -- it's one of those moments that, again, warms and breaks my heart. For example, leaving her phone with the Doctor, their hug prior to that...things like that. And it's a nice beat on Martha's character growth as well -- having the strength to move on, as well as...back in "Smith and Jones", she was running away from her family, in a way. Now, she's going back home if only to be there for them. Lovely bookends, really -- well, okay, not really bookends, but you get my meaning.
Also, in "Utopia", Jack and the Doctor discussing Rose while Jack's in the radiation room.
I also loved the moments of humor in there, like Jack being the Face of Boe (although all things considered, it's a bit sad), Jack and Martha flirting (Jack flirting in general, really, especially the Doctor telling him to stop. XD), Martha and Chantho talking (also adorable. :), and a lot more. And Martha and Tom Milligan, on a sweeter note. Honestly, I am so shipping them. :)
Honestly, these episodes had a lot of great moments. Great emotion, great villains, a satisfying if bittersweet ending...I really almost forgot how much I loved them. :)
* Personally I ship Jack with Ianto or Martha, but I can see the appeal of...y'know.
So yeah...loved them. Definitely recommend. :) (And yeah, I came close to crying during those episodes. I really did, I will admit)