In Which I Flail Over Doctor Who, 5
This was my favorite episode ever. Not "one of my favs." NO. THE ABSOLUTE BEST ONE.
Let me begin by saying that I cried even harder over this one than I did for The End of Time, when Wilfrid was all like "You're the most wonderful man and I don't want you to die." Sure, I cried then. But this one? I cried with Vincent, I cried for Vincent, and I cried BECAUSE of Vincent. Can you get dehydrated because of tears? I think so.
I cried because of a few things. First of all, when their adventure was over and they were laying under the stars? That was beautiful. I've seen "The Starry Night" in person twice now, and the first time I wept (yeah, I'm a weeper, sorry!). How could I not? It meant something to me, because I've seen nights like that. I remember the last time I was in Santa Maria. On our last night there, the stars looked like that, and that is what I always think of when I think of the sky that night! It was GORGEOUS, how they made the night sky look like Van Gogh's painting. I didn't know I was all teary until I felt them start to spill out, seriously. I will never see the painting in quite the same way again. Lovely!
Second time was when Bill Nighy (of all people. He usually makes me chuckle, because he is a BAMF. In this ep, he made me cry AND laugh, so bravo) was making his speech about Van Gogh in 100 words or less, and Vincent was unable to hold back his tears. I absolutely agree with the speech by the way. He took abject misery, poverty, and crushing solitude, and found beauty. "Everything that is done in love is done well." The words of the man himself. I'm also reminded of another quote I used in my Van Gogh/Dickens project this last semester, about him wanting to one day show people what such an outcast, such a misfit, has in is heart. Once more, the most important thing is love. It's a damn shame that depression took such a man from this world when he was still so young.
Third time? You guessed it: "For Amy." She was so sad, thinking she hadn't made a difference after all, but then the Doc talked about lives being "heaps of good things that outweigh the bad" (Agreed!) and really, his speeches are always so moving in and of themselves, but then there was that beautiful moment when Amy saw the painting. So sweet!
Something else that is awesome: Vincent/Amy. I sort of saw it coming, but it was still so wonderful and cute! :) His "I love you" was so damn adorable and sincere, and I like that the writers had them being kindred spirits, because neither was able to understand why they were so deeply sad: Vincent had depression (I do NOT think Van Gogh was "mad." Depression wasn't really a concept then, so of course there was no proper therapy for him. Very sad!) and Amy is missing the man she loved, but doesn't know it. Them holding hands under the stars was a great moment as well. Maybe I just have a bias towards people with ink on their hands (mine are absolutely spotted by ten each morning, or it's NOT a normal day, trust me), but his hands were lovely then, if you ask me. ;)
The Doctor was great in this one too. I liked his bit about other artists he had encountered, particularly Michelangelo and Picasso. "It's one eye on either side of the face!" Hee! Also, bow tie porn was awesome this week because it involved Bill Nighy. Twice.
Tony Curran as Van Gogh? AWESOME. He freakin NAILED it, hit it out of the park, and several other obscure metaphors! I LOVED his "Dutch" brogue (so friggin Scottish XD) and how well he captured the artist's rusticity. Bravo! He really looked like him too.
The recreations of the paitnings were all really amazing. I flailed so hard my shoulder ached this morning when I got up! Haha
The giant space chicken was a bit weird, but it worked fine as a plot device to get the Doc and Amy some time with Van Gogh. They made an excellent trio, and I think Amy learned some great things about life and love this time around. As did the Doc, because he's always learning. Vincent too, I suppose, though his ending did not change (perhaps it's another of those things in time that must remain the same?).
I will say that although I know the correct pronunciation to be "Van Gawff," I am so used to the American "Van Go," that it was a little weird to keep hearing it.
Overall, the love, the paintings, the characterization, and (damnit, why is he so lovable?!) VINCENT made this my favorite episode ever. It did not disappoint in any respect. And I can't believe I cried like such a baby.
Parting words from the man himself: "There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."