Rec: Eleventh Doctor
I've decided to post a recommendation of a slightly different sort this week. Instead of recommending a fanwork, I'm going to recommend a TV series. Or.. well, a part of a TV Series.
This recommendation is for Doctor Who, but I'm not going to be talking about all of Who. I'm only going to tell you about the Eleventh Doctor.
Doctor Who is one of my ( Read more... )
Regarding your point about the War Doctor obviously being the Doctor - I do agree with you. In fact, my gut instinct has always been to agree with you, which is why that part of the episode is in my 'uneasy' basket.
I think, if I have a problem, it's that it wasn't shown brilliantly in the episode. I know from your meta that you can find meaning even when it's hidden about as deep as it can get (that's something I love about it!)
But, I'm not like that. For me the mechanics of the storytelling trump the meaning nine times out of ten. For me, in the Day of the Doctor, the War Doctor wasn't given enough screen time to really truly bridge the artificial divide that dialogue had created between him and the Doctor. In truth, I was a little sad that John Hurt didn't leap of the screen in the way I expected him to.
When I think it through, I can see that the final scene in the barn with the Moment proves without a doubt that the War Doctor is the Doctor. But...
Just, but. I can't really articulate why it doesn't entirely work for me, but it doesn't.
Often your meta takes things I find problematic (like the Wedding of River Song) and makes them feeling like they have an ocean of meaning to plumb, all of which is exciting and exhilarating. Hopefully your meta for this episode will do that for me again.
As it is, I wasn't all that capable of looking past the surface to the surfeit of meaning below.
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As for Twelve. I hadn't thought of it like that. I think you're probably right. It makes so much sense now you've said it!
I had a slightly different theory for the characterisation of Twelve, but it's rather out there, so I'm sort of waiting a bit to see how much of it is borne out.
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Well if something doesn't work, it doesn't. I hope I can make you look at it in a slightly more positive light though... (My daughters ADORE the War Doctor. They want him as a plushie.)
As for Twelve. I hadn't thought of it like that. I think you're probably right. It makes so much sense now you've said it!
It's not all mine! This post does a nice job of laying things out. Although considering he's the first of a new cycle of regenerations, a re-boot seems sensible. Also, he's quite like One. :)
ETA: Have you seen Fear Me, I Killed All Of Them? Still gives me chills, and v. relevant re. Day of the Doctor. (I even wrote meta on it!)
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