Doctor Who: A Good Man Goes to War

[pellucid]

I'm over a week late with this (and I haven't rewatched it, so things are most likely fading from my memory), but I figured I should write up a few of my (predictably mixed) feelings about "A Good Man Goes to War."

Comments

[crossoverman]

I love that it's un-Doctor-centric, too. In fact, as much as the episode was about the Doctor's influence and the long shadow of his own myth, it was also about how much he can't do and what he can't change.

And River Song is a great character, whoever her parents are. And it's tragic for Amy and Rory that they won't see their child grow up, but that's what makes River River. Just as Amy waiting for the Doctor made her what she is. And, essentially, she grew up without her parents, too. (I think Moffat has been fairly specific about the characters having lived all these experiences, even if time seems to have been reset.)

Of course, this reveal is also one point on the road toward answering the question of who she is to the Doctor - possibly his murderer, possibly not. It's also hinted that she is something else as well, but right now I like that the big reveal was about her lineage, which sets up some interesting dynamics for Team TARDIS in series 6b.

Since, River has already been killed off (in a weird, somewhat problematic, Doctor-centric kind of half-life), I don't think Moffat can screw her in quite the way that Rusty screwed Donna, for instance. And, in fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Eleven re-saves River from that electronic afterlife now and maybe have their own adventures in order. I dunno - pure speculation.

As for "special powers" - well, I don't think regeneration affects the character too much. Besides, we don't know if the child regenerated or just healed herself (like the Doctor's Daughter did in Series 3).

[clueless_02]

Hi, totally eavesdropping/butting in but: I don't think Moffat can screw her in quite the way that Rusty screwed Donna, for instance.

So much agreement. What happened to Donna was pretty much the worst ending that you could give her. God, that woman was so awesome and to have that ending just rips my heart out.

[crossoverman]

There is so much wrong with Donna's ending I could write an essay. Except it upsets me too much. It is the worst ending. If she'd been able to make that decision herself, I'd be okay with it. If she'd died to save all of creation, I'd be okay with it. But she didn't get to choose. Her life with the Doctor was taken from her. It was cruel and unnecessary.

And for it to happen in the same episode that Rose gets herself a shiny Doctor clone plaything just added insult to injury. (I actually think that ending is also pretty unjust, since no one deserves a consolation prize version of the man they fell in love with.)

At least Martha got to walk away with her head held high and pop back for occasional ass-kicking appearances!

[pellucid]

I do like that this is only one part of a reveal that can continue to go on for some time: no "and here are the answers," but rather part of an answer that continues to raise more questions than it resolves. I do wish the show hadn't built the whole thing up quite so much ("this is the day the Doctor finds out who I am," etc.), but as inevitably disappointing reveals go, it certainly could have been far worse.

I agree that River's beginning/end means that she can't be screwed up in quite the same way as Donna, but I'm still apprehensive about certain directions the character could go. I really love the idea of her as this independent agent who loves the Doctor but isn't dependent upon him, and if we discover that she's sort of been groomed from childhood to be the Doctor's partner or something, I would definitely be disappointed. Though I suppose in the grand scheme of things, that's still better than having your memories wiped.

And yes, River's ending is super-problematic for me, and the only way I tolerate it is to believe quite firmly that it's not really the end for her: at some point she'll get out of there, either with the Doctor's help or on her own, and the adventuring will continue. It's sci-fi, after all. (This fic, actually, is my personal canon for River getting out of the Library.)