Status Report of the USS Hadhafang.
Generally doing okay. Feeling a little sad at the moment, but otherwise? I'm fine. *Sighs* I just wish that my hormones didn't seem dedicated to sucking.
On a brighter note, got to watching CURSE OF THE BLACK SPOT in DOCTOR WHO. Verdict? A little weird, but overall? It was pretty excellent.
I think one thing that really made the episode was the antagonist who turns out to not really be villainous at all. I love how they built up her menace, I love how she managed to play upon the fear of reflections (although, seriously? "Family of Blood" was bad enough. We didn't need another reason to fear mirrors. Or any sort of other reflective surface. *), and I love how it turns out that the crew wasn't actually dead, just transported onto a spaceship if only to be healed. So really, the "siren"...well, she actually has good intentions, sort of like the nanogenes in "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances", or the clockwork robots in "The Girl In The Fireplace". She just doesn't know everything. And it makes sense as to why she would go after people who accidentally cut themselves -- it was sort of her doctor's programming, in a way, going, "Oh dear; people are injured -- I better get to work!" Also makes sense as to why she would go after the sick also; again, the healer's instinct. And it makes sense regarding her song being a sort of anesthetic; that and I can imagine that singing would not be unpleasant whilst on the job. But then again, I guess that's why I'm not really a doctor.
I also really liked Amy in the beginning taking up a sword to try and save the Doctor's life. That was a really kickass moment, and probably one of my favorite Amy moments. And considering that Amy is Awesome Incarnate (along with Rose, Martha, Donna, River and pretty much everyone else on this show; seriously, this is like a whole freaking world of awesome), she has many. Although it kind of backfires when she accidentally cuts one of the pirates. I also love the Doctor being all chatty while he's walking the plank **, including the whole...well, having the pirates get all cackling and such. Add with the whole "yo-ho-ho!" he does in the beginning, and...Doctor, I think you watched one too many pirate movies. XD
I also love Amy using CPR on Rory. It's just a really well done scene, from Rory's complete and utter faith in Rory to her grief when it seems that it failed to, ultimately, thank God that it worked. I also loved Amy and Rory's interactions afterwards with Eleven, what with Eleven admitting that he calls Amy "Amelia" when he's worried about her, to Rory telling Amy that they can't tell the Doctor about his future "death" at Lake Silencio. And the flashing of the screen checking for Amy's pregnancy that the Doctor's looking at, that flashes from NEGATIVE to POSITIVE. Really chilling, but very well-done. And I liked his little "go to bed, Pond" earlier; that was cute. People say that character moments don't matter if the plot is thin, but really? I think character is more important than plot. Well, every element is important, really, but if the characters aren't somehow compelling, there really isn't any point in reading on, or watching any further. Then again, I guess I really like my character stuff, so I may be biased. :) But yeah, I like beats like those; it really gives a lot of dimension and a lot of depth.
I also liked the pirate captain. He was really cool. I like how he was talking with Eleven out on the bridge while Amy and Rory were below deck, and Eleven's "The journey is no fun if there's no one to share it with." (Basically) It's one of those quotes that says so much about the Doctor. His loneliness, his desperate need for companionship, his wandering nature...it's even more powerful considering that the Doctor...well, after the Time War, he traveled alone for quite a long time. Rose was really the first companion that he had after that, and then she was separated from him, then there was Donna, briefly, then there was Martha, but she had to leave, then there was Donna, but she lost her memory, and then the Doctor decided to travel alone, and "The Waters of Mars" showed how wrong it went. And even Amy and Rory die (in a way) in the end. The Doctor...well, it seems that he can't really catch a break. Even in Old Who, if I recall correctly, he had his share of heartbreak. Susan, Jamie and Zoe, for instance, and Adric. And the relaunch really brought all of it to the foreground. It took chances and explored the darkest parts of the Doctor as well as the light, his cruelty and his compassion, his tragedy and his hope. And it's really one of many reasons I love it so. It provides good lessons to learn (such as that no one is unworthy of compassion, to stand up and do what's right, even -- and especially -- if no one else will, etc.), it takes risks (how many other shows have had something like "The Waters of Mars" or "Dalek"? At least, I doubt any of my other books I've read, etc. would do that. I think it's because society has very strict definitions of hero and villain, and fiction has to sort of adhere to them. Which is...kinda admittedly depressing), its characters are amazingly complex, its plots are great...it's just a good show. And it's influenced so many of what I've written -- hell, I admit that one of my KOTOR fics had its influence, at least in how my male!Revan speaks to Malak -- from "Last of the Time Lords" and "The End of Time" *** But I'm straying off-topic (sorry).
But yeah, I loved that scene. I also loved the Captain saying that he had ultimately set his course. I would have liked to learn what led him to become a pirate, but...well, I can only assume that it doesn't really matter in the end. After all, to him, why should it matter? That was then, this is now. I also like the Captain ultimately staying behind to help his son and to fly the ship near the end, and seeing the inside of the TARDIS for the first time. Honestly? I liked this episode. Seriously. Only problem? When it ended.
* Which means that there is a very likely chance that I am completely screwed.
** Although here's a bit of Fridge Horror for you; what if the Siren had whisked him away to the spaceship? I mean...that would have been rather bad, I think.
*** And I admit, I kind of wish that we had more bits like this, if only because of the Doctor offering the Master a chance for redemption. And it never comes off as sanctimonious either. Because the Doctor...well, he's doing it because he genuinely wants to help the Master. And, at least according to the Confidential for "Last of the Time Lords", he's just a tad lonely. And he wants a chance to redeem himself. So in a way, the Doctor's being...well, for lack of a better phrase, human and divine at the same time.
So overall? Awesome episode. Definitely recommended.
On a brighter note, got to watching CURSE OF THE BLACK SPOT in DOCTOR WHO. Verdict? A little weird, but overall? It was pretty excellent.
I think one thing that really made the episode was the antagonist who turns out to not really be villainous at all. I love how they built up her menace, I love how she managed to play upon the fear of reflections (although, seriously? "Family of Blood" was bad enough. We didn't need another reason to fear mirrors. Or any sort of other reflective surface. *), and I love how it turns out that the crew wasn't actually dead, just transported onto a spaceship if only to be healed. So really, the "siren"...well, she actually has good intentions, sort of like the nanogenes in "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances", or the clockwork robots in "The Girl In The Fireplace". She just doesn't know everything. And it makes sense as to why she would go after people who accidentally cut themselves -- it was sort of her doctor's programming, in a way, going, "Oh dear; people are injured -- I better get to work!" Also makes sense as to why she would go after the sick also; again, the healer's instinct. And it makes sense regarding her song being a sort of anesthetic; that and I can imagine that singing would not be unpleasant whilst on the job. But then again, I guess that's why I'm not really a doctor.
I also really liked Amy in the beginning taking up a sword to try and save the Doctor's life. That was a really kickass moment, and probably one of my favorite Amy moments. And considering that Amy is Awesome Incarnate (along with Rose, Martha, Donna, River and pretty much everyone else on this show; seriously, this is like a whole freaking world of awesome), she has many. Although it kind of backfires when she accidentally cuts one of the pirates. I also love the Doctor being all chatty while he's walking the plank **, including the whole...well, having the pirates get all cackling and such. Add with the whole "yo-ho-ho!" he does in the beginning, and...Doctor, I think you watched one too many pirate movies. XD
I also love Amy using CPR on Rory. It's just a really well done scene, from Rory's complete and utter faith in Rory to her grief when it seems that it failed to, ultimately, thank God that it worked. I also loved Amy and Rory's interactions afterwards with Eleven, what with Eleven admitting that he calls Amy "Amelia" when he's worried about her, to Rory telling Amy that they can't tell the Doctor about his future "death" at Lake Silencio. And the flashing of the screen checking for Amy's pregnancy that the Doctor's looking at, that flashes from NEGATIVE to POSITIVE. Really chilling, but very well-done. And I liked his little "go to bed, Pond" earlier; that was cute. People say that character moments don't matter if the plot is thin, but really? I think character is more important than plot. Well, every element is important, really, but if the characters aren't somehow compelling, there really isn't any point in reading on, or watching any further. Then again, I guess I really like my character stuff, so I may be biased. :) But yeah, I like beats like those; it really gives a lot of dimension and a lot of depth.
I also liked the pirate captain. He was really cool. I like how he was talking with Eleven out on the bridge while Amy and Rory were below deck, and Eleven's "The journey is no fun if there's no one to share it with." (Basically) It's one of those quotes that says so much about the Doctor. His loneliness, his desperate need for companionship, his wandering nature...it's even more powerful considering that the Doctor...well, after the Time War, he traveled alone for quite a long time. Rose was really the first companion that he had after that, and then she was separated from him, then there was Donna, briefly, then there was Martha, but she had to leave, then there was Donna, but she lost her memory, and then the Doctor decided to travel alone, and "The Waters of Mars" showed how wrong it went. And even Amy and Rory die (in a way) in the end. The Doctor...well, it seems that he can't really catch a break. Even in Old Who, if I recall correctly, he had his share of heartbreak. Susan, Jamie and Zoe, for instance, and Adric. And the relaunch really brought all of it to the foreground. It took chances and explored the darkest parts of the Doctor as well as the light, his cruelty and his compassion, his tragedy and his hope. And it's really one of many reasons I love it so. It provides good lessons to learn (such as that no one is unworthy of compassion, to stand up and do what's right, even -- and especially -- if no one else will, etc.), it takes risks (how many other shows have had something like "The Waters of Mars" or "Dalek"? At least, I doubt any of my other books I've read, etc. would do that. I think it's because society has very strict definitions of hero and villain, and fiction has to sort of adhere to them. Which is...kinda admittedly depressing), its characters are amazingly complex, its plots are great...it's just a good show. And it's influenced so many of what I've written -- hell, I admit that one of my KOTOR fics had its influence, at least in how my male!Revan speaks to Malak -- from "Last of the Time Lords" and "The End of Time" *** But I'm straying off-topic (sorry).
But yeah, I loved that scene. I also loved the Captain saying that he had ultimately set his course. I would have liked to learn what led him to become a pirate, but...well, I can only assume that it doesn't really matter in the end. After all, to him, why should it matter? That was then, this is now. I also like the Captain ultimately staying behind to help his son and to fly the ship near the end, and seeing the inside of the TARDIS for the first time. Honestly? I liked this episode. Seriously. Only problem? When it ended.
* Which means that there is a very likely chance that I am completely screwed.
** Although here's a bit of Fridge Horror for you; what if the Siren had whisked him away to the spaceship? I mean...that would have been rather bad, I think.
*** And I admit, I kind of wish that we had more bits like this, if only because of the Doctor offering the Master a chance for redemption. And it never comes off as sanctimonious either. Because the Doctor...well, he's doing it because he genuinely wants to help the Master. And, at least according to the Confidential for "Last of the Time Lords", he's just a tad lonely. And he wants a chance to redeem himself. So in a way, the Doctor's being...well, for lack of a better phrase, human and divine at the same time.
So overall? Awesome episode. Definitely recommended.