but the stars really do exist

[riseoverrun]

So, this is pretty off the cuff and jumbled up, but I really felt the need to share my thoughts on "The Big Bang" and the season in general. Warning: There is word vomit under the cut.

Comments

[zombie_boogie]

I was hestitant to call series 5 my favourite of the modern series, and even after the finale it feels weird saying so because I don't have much perspective. But it's my favourite. I'm calling it. And Eleven is my favourite Doctor. Lovelovelove. I think that other series had stronger individual episodes, but this one was the best in creating a great overarching storyline that didn't always make sense but it was always compelling. Cap it off with Matt Smith as my absolute favourite Doctor, Amy Pond as a brilliant, feisty companion, and Steve Moffat's writing (which I've always been partial to) and you have yourself a winning combination. I totally agree with you on your best/worst episodes, but even the weaker ones had some good bits in them ("Victory of the Daleks" had jammie dodgers and the lulz of iPod Daleks, and "The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood" had a couple of good Rory moments).

The whole series, and especially the finale, was a study in the Rule of Cool/Awesome/Funny. I didn't particularly care if everything made sense, because I can just wave it away with "wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey" stuff and go back to having fun watching. Because that's what I loved most about this series: that it brought fun and adventure back to the show after a patch of melancholia.

I loved that the finale wasn't the Doctor vs. The Villain in some bombastic showdown; the villains from last episode weren't even featured except for that one Dalek who totally justified its existence by getting shot awesomely by River.

I was probably still too full of squee in my own review to give it proper though, but I basically agree with your points regarding Eleven/Amy/Rory. I generally love this OT3 and all of the various dynamics within, but I'm hoping next season we a) don't lose the spark between Eleven/Amy and b) get to see a more equal dynamic between Amy/Rory. They're totally presh, but I know Amy's comments about snogging Eleven will rankle some fans. I don't want it to become a situation where Rory is "too good" for Amy or is just a third wheel. I'd like the trio to be trio-ish. I'm still excited to see adventures with the three of them because it will be an interesting dynamic for the show.

And ohhhhh, the TARDIS being the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." There's just something so beautiful about the way Moffat took that old adage and made it about this box that encompasses so much, not only for Amy but for us as viewers and fans of the show.

This was so, so great. Subliminal messaging!

I cannot say enough good thing about Matt Smith's performance all season. He brings such a beautiful subtlety to both his darker, sad moments as well as his moments of levity. There are too many brilliant touches to name; a quirk of the eyebrow, an inflection in his voice, a wave of his hand. He's magnificent.

EVERYONE IS SAYING ELEVEN DANCES LIKE A DRUNK GIRAFFE! I don't know if one person said it first and everyone is copying it or if people came up with it individually, but it's brilliant.

[riseoverrun]

This whole season... Matt and Steven were so on the nose when they called it magical, because that's what it was. The overall feeling and tone throughout the whole thing was so, like you said, compelling as well as enjoyable. I just want to mine Moffat's brain and see what other brilliant things he's got going on in there.

I agree, there was so much angst and sadness towards the tail end of RTD's run that it was becoming somewhat of a chore to watch. And this was supposed to be a show for kids to enjoy with their parents on Saturday night!

New rule: Daleks are only allowed back on the show if River or someone else is there to take them down in an awesome (and quick) fashion.

It should be very interesting to see the trio from here on out because from what I can tell, a married couple has never been aboard the TARDIS before. I wonder if we'll get to see more of a domestic side of the Doctor that we usually never see.

Agreed on all points. Like I said before, Matt Smith is such a great find, and I'm glad that he's the one that's taking us on all of these adventures. He brings so much to the character, and I'm sure he'll only get better as time goes on.

I think Steven made that comparison first, and then Karen mentioned it in the Confidential. It's awesome and so, so apt.

[zombie_boogie]

Oh it's from the Confidential! I haven't seen it yet, which I should remedy immediately because it's always a goldmine of ridiculosity and adorableness.