Doctor Who 3x12: The Sound of Drums
Spoilery review-ish commentary beneath the cut:
My first thought after the episode ended: "Damn. That's some fucked up shit right there."
Okay. How big of a cop-out was the beginning where Team Tardis beams back to Earth in the first five seconds of the episode? Way to make the previous episode's cliffhanger a bunch of bullshit.
Did I miss something in Martha going from "if he could be anyone" straight to "we missed the election"? That felt like a really weird segue to me.
But LMAO "The Master and his wife?" The Doctor was just pissed to find out the Master had dumped him for a trophy wife. TRUFAX. :D And good lawd did the two Saxons lay one on each other. It was almost a little disturbing. Especially Lucy Saxon's expression after Harold stepped away to talk to the cameras--what a "swoon-I-just-got-serviced" look. Actually Lucy herself creeped me the fuck out. But more on that later.
Hooray for the return of the Swirly Music of Doom!
Man, the main titles sounded meaty, more so than usual. Maybe I had my speakers turned up more than I usually do. Oh, and I giggled like a little girl again at John Barrowman's name in the main credits.
LOL at Saxon being all "quit shoving your red folders in my face" while making the walk to the cabinet room, or whatever it is they call it at 10 Downing Street. And again with the creeptacularness--Harry and Lucy going for a huge make-out right there in the hallway. I guess the Master can't do anything by halves. :) But yet I still found it--along with all the other displays of affection those two shared--to be oddly touching. Maybe I'm just trying too hard to ship them? :D
The hell is Tish doing there? Yeah, I know Saxon was apparently backing LazLabs, but still. O hay thar, your boss got dead so here, have a job being window dressing at Downing Street. She didn't find it in the least bit odd? And shouldn't there be other superiors besides the big cheese she should be asking what to do? That whole exchange = weird. Also worthy to note that Lucy is apparently comfortable enough seeing her husband vaguely flirt with other women.
Man, John Simm has one infectious grin.
When he busted out with the insults to the cabinet, I burst out laughing because I totally didn't see it coming.
I have to wonder, if the cabinet members hadn't been traitors as he called them, would he have gassed them? It sort of gave the impression that he was punishing them for not sticking to their principles. Although--and this thought just struck me as I was sitting here contemplating--I guess the Master only wants strong-willed and formidable people in his forthcoming empire, assuming he plans to let any humans live, and the cabinet members didn't fit the bill. (I have no idea what I'm rambling about here. It was a funny scene, but I guess I'm looking for a reason for it besides wiping out the core of the British government.)
Is Vivien Rook supposed to be like a clone of Harriet Jones with bad blonde hair?
LOL Photoshopped video clip with Ann Widdecombe and Saxon standing together. Stuff like that makes me cringe and laugh at the same time. Then I really started cracking up to see Captain Jack surfing the same Harold Saxon website I'd visited earlier today.
I bet the Doctor's jealous of the Master's manufactured life. Either that or he's remembering his sojourn as John Smith.
Man, what the hell kind of dig was that at Lucy--"not especially bright"? How much you want to bet she turns out smarter than she looks. I'd like that, at any rate.
And this is where I start to get really confused about Lucy Saxon. When Vivien Rook is questioning her, she almost looks like she's about to spill something, like she's struggling to remember something she can't quite grasp. (Also, how does saying Saxon was good to her father mean she has Daddy Issues? Some people seem to think that.) And then--I noticed this on second viewing--there's a movement of a shadow in the right-hand corner of the screen right before she says "I made my choice" that indicates Saxon coming into the room, and that would seem to suggest that he might have some kind of mind control over her. Even though he didn't make a sound, she still knew he was in the room. And he calls her "my faithful companion". Kinda weird thing to call your wife, right?
(I wonder who Lucy was saying sorry to--Vivien or Saxon? You could probably take it either way--she was looking at Vivien, but then she hadn't looked at Saxon even though she'd spoken to him.)
Then they get out in the hallway, and it looks like Lucy really does know everything about him--after all, he admitted his true identity to Vivien in front of her and she didn't bat an eye, and she's worried about who else might know the truth. Apparently she has no problem with her husband being an alien, a murderer, a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur, etc etc etc. A couple of times throughout the episode she gave me the vague impression that she might not have full control of her own mind, but on the whole, it seems like she has complete free will. Which makes her extremely interesting, in my opinion. What is she with Saxon for? Does she love him, does she love the power he has, is he using her, is she using him, am I making any sense whatsoever, yadda yadda yadda...
Basically, in conclusion, I can't quite figure out what Lucy Saxon's game is, considering it all depends on what level of mind control she's under, if in fact she's being controlled at all. But I heartily endorse the Harry/Lucy ship, because it is definitely not run-of-the-mill sweetness-and-light.
Also, the Toclafane are totally miniature torture droids imported from Star Wars.
WTF Martha tapping out that drumbeat. Also, LOL when did she change clothes?
Why the hell is Lucy crossing her fingers?
I laughed at the Doctor spewing "What?!" at the Toclafane--he obviously knows they're not what Saxon says they are, but damn I wish he'd clue the rest of us in.
Literally went "OH SHIT" when Saxon said "...medical student?" and the Doctor swiveled the TV around to show the bomb on the back. Awesome drama moment, but I don't quite get it. Why does Saxon want to blow Team TARDIS up? Wouldn't that kinda put a damper on his plans? I mean, there have to be better ways to say "I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE MOOHAHAHA".
HOORAY for Martha telling the Doctor to shove it. About damn time. You can so tell in this episode she's about reached her breaking point with all the non-explanations and general bullshit the Doctor feeds her.
Dude I wanna know just who the evil blonde chick is. She is totally badass.
Martha's brother has a baby? The hell? Did we know this?
Whoa with Saxon practically diving to get his phone out of his pocket when the Doctor stole Martha's cell, and then WHOA the way he said "Doctor". Phonesex ahoy. And this is supposed to be a kids' show!
Also, where are Martha and Jack during this conversation? Hanging out off-camera?
I have no clue what Saxon is talking about when he says he was there to see the Dalek Emperor take control of the Cruciform, but the emotion in his voice and on both their faces speaks fucking volumes. Apparently it's some serious bad news, if the Master ran to the end of the universe and made himself human all just to hide. And to make him admit he was scared. That doesn't sound like something he'd normally do.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" = MAJOR LULZ.
So is the Master's motivation for all his megalomania only to make the drumming in his head stop? Interesting. Though I still don't get it.
The Master is totally bisexual. Making out with Lucy left right and center, orgasming over hearing the Doctor's voice, calling Jack "handsome"...
Oh God the thing with the Teletubbies and "now that is evolution" -- I cracked up so hard.
Okay, plz to be explaining what is the darkness and the cold that the Gelth Toclafane are running from?
Beautiful shot of the Citadel on Gallifrey, even if it did look a little like the Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz.
Dude was that Don Warrington in Time Lord robes?!
The sequence where the Doctor is doing his jiggery-pokery was lifted straight out of Torchwood, I swear. Quasi-techno music and all. (But hee Jack still had his TARDIS key!)
YAY UNIT!
On my God Saxon's behavior towards President Winters was hi-lar-i-ous. Guess he was acting like an idiot because he knew there was nothing for him to lose, given the morning's planned activities? Also, love that Lucy seems to go everywhere with him. Also also, I would vote for Winters purely on the basis of "Since Britain elected an ass, yes".
Aaaaaand I think Winters may have done just what Saxon wanted him to do, which was assume control of the First Contact meeting.
Yup, Lucy totally knows everything about what Saxon's up to. Muy interesting.
I wonder if Saxon could see Team TARDIS despite their perception filter keys (how convenient, those, btw)? I think he certainly sensed the Doctor, at any rate.
AHAHAHAHAHA "HI GUYS!" to Martha's family. Oh that was an insane moment. John Simm brings some awesome batshit.
You know, you'd think that, after all the times the Doctor tried to "save" the Master, he would've learned his lesson about that by now. Guess not. But I suppose he can be forgiven for it considering they're the only two Time Lords left.
Holy shit, the Valiant is really impressive.
Lucy seriously is always at Saxon's side. There has to be a reason for that. Heh heh the both of them rolling their eyes at President Winters.
Whoa, cannibalized and red-evil TARDIS. And someone said they could hear the Cloister Bell in the background? And what's a Paradox Machine? And why does Jack recognize it for what it is?
LOL Saxon breaking out the snacks as the broadcast begins. And they're jelly babies! WIN! Heh, the way he offered them to Lucy and the smile she gave him almost made it seem like an inside joke between the two of them.
OMG is that an old-fashioned wheelhouse telegraph on the bridge of the Valiant?! My inner Titanic enthusiast just squeeed really, really loudly. :)
Saxon totally knows the Doctor just came in the room. Although LOL continuity error? Right after the shot of him frowning as Team TARDIS comes in, in the wide shot of the room he's back to leaning back and grinning.
Did the Doctor say if he could get the TARDIS key around Saxon's neck, and something about the perception filter, then everyone would see Saxon for who he really was? I'm confused. That is what he looks like. Also, his widening grins leads me to believe he can hear everything Team TARDIS is saying. Yay for alien senses.
Dude, Jack said "yes sir" to the Doctor. They have totally got their game on.
"I will accept mastery over you, if that is God's will" -- I wanted to die laughing.
I love how John Simm goes from batshit silly to deadly serious in a heartbeat.
Also, I want to give another shoutout to Murray Gold for his music this episode. I thought he sometimes chose to peak phrases at weird moments, or that could have just been a directorial thing, but the weirdly "Brother and Sister"-esque (that'd be from Return of the Jedi, eclecticmuse may know what I'm trying to get at) music during this scene with the Toclafane when everything starts to go to shit especially struck a chord in me.
Saxon laughing and clapping madly and turning to Lucy almost in approval and... I can't put words to the expression on her face. It was almost... ferocious?
"Oh look... it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which" -- hilarious when applied to Jack, brings up a shitload of questions when applied to Martha. Namely, how is she a freak?
O HAY MARK GATISS! (Though sadly only in flashback form. ;_;)
So if putting Tish in a job at LazLabs was an attempt to trap the Doctor, I guess Saxon really has been trying to kill him, and the bomb at Martha's wasn't just a way of saying HAY GUYS?
Dammit, I just realized Saxon is sitting there more or less describing his entire evil plan to the Doctor. I know we as an audience need it for exposition's sake, but still.
Interesting way to show the Doctor aging a hundred years--genuinely jarring, at least to me. And interesting shot of Lucy--maybe she's not entirely kosher with the torturing? Who knows.
LMAO WTF the music of choice for the end of the world. And Saxon rocking out to it and even Lucy bouncing on her feet. Talk about jarring, transition-wise. :D
Holy shit the sky ripping open. Have we seen that before? I think I saw someone comment that we have, somewhere, and anyway it looks familiar. Not "The Unquiet Dead"? Also, is the sky ripping open what the Paradox Machine was supposed to do?
So, the scene where Saxon and Lucy are on the bridge, watching all the Toclafane streaming through the rip in the sky--am I just really freaking weird, or am I the only person who somehow got the vibe of a man showing/giving his wife the universe? I can't just be deluded in thinking they're really close, because seriously--damn. I saw someone make a point in another post that perhaps they're going for the parallel of the Doctor who is good but can't show affection to his companions, versus the Master who is evil but adores his wife? Hell, I'll buy into that in a heartbeat. All available (visual) evidence really does seem to be that Saxon truly cares for Lucy.
Also, the Mill have totally outdone themselves on the effects in this episode.
OMG Saxon and Lucy were so totally about to have hawt monkey sex right there on the bridge when he was asking her if they should decimate the Earth. Though that brings up the question of whether Lucy herself is human, if she doesn't mind seeing her race slaughtered?
Martha breaks up with the Doctor? I think I was slightly lost on the import of this scene, but maybe I'm just dense like that. Also, O HAY DOOMSDAY MUSIC. I liked the new arrangement.
You know, if there's that many Toclafane over London alone... damn.
Wonder where exactly Martha's running to, besides "anywhere but here".
For some reason both Saxon and Lucy supporting Old!Doctor struck me as funny. And LOLOLOL bright beaming smile from Saxon at Old!Doctor. Wonderfully wonderfully batshit.
In conclusion, this episode was all kinds of fucked up, the Saxons are insane together and I love it, and also I demand more of it. John Simm FTW.
My first thought after the episode ended: "Damn. That's some fucked up shit right there."
Okay. How big of a cop-out was the beginning where Team Tardis beams back to Earth in the first five seconds of the episode? Way to make the previous episode's cliffhanger a bunch of bullshit.
Did I miss something in Martha going from "if he could be anyone" straight to "we missed the election"? That felt like a really weird segue to me.
But LMAO "The Master and his wife?" The Doctor was just pissed to find out the Master had dumped him for a trophy wife. TRUFAX. :D And good lawd did the two Saxons lay one on each other. It was almost a little disturbing. Especially Lucy Saxon's expression after Harold stepped away to talk to the cameras--what a "swoon-I-just-got-serviced" look. Actually Lucy herself creeped me the fuck out. But more on that later.
Hooray for the return of the Swirly Music of Doom!
Man, the main titles sounded meaty, more so than usual. Maybe I had my speakers turned up more than I usually do. Oh, and I giggled like a little girl again at John Barrowman's name in the main credits.
LOL at Saxon being all "quit shoving your red folders in my face" while making the walk to the cabinet room, or whatever it is they call it at 10 Downing Street. And again with the creeptacularness--Harry and Lucy going for a huge make-out right there in the hallway. I guess the Master can't do anything by halves. :) But yet I still found it--along with all the other displays of affection those two shared--to be oddly touching. Maybe I'm just trying too hard to ship them? :D
The hell is Tish doing there? Yeah, I know Saxon was apparently backing LazLabs, but still. O hay thar, your boss got dead so here, have a job being window dressing at Downing Street. She didn't find it in the least bit odd? And shouldn't there be other superiors besides the big cheese she should be asking what to do? That whole exchange = weird. Also worthy to note that Lucy is apparently comfortable enough seeing her husband vaguely flirt with other women.
Man, John Simm has one infectious grin.
When he busted out with the insults to the cabinet, I burst out laughing because I totally didn't see it coming.
I have to wonder, if the cabinet members hadn't been traitors as he called them, would he have gassed them? It sort of gave the impression that he was punishing them for not sticking to their principles. Although--and this thought just struck me as I was sitting here contemplating--I guess the Master only wants strong-willed and formidable people in his forthcoming empire, assuming he plans to let any humans live, and the cabinet members didn't fit the bill. (I have no idea what I'm rambling about here. It was a funny scene, but I guess I'm looking for a reason for it besides wiping out the core of the British government.)
Is Vivien Rook supposed to be like a clone of Harriet Jones with bad blonde hair?
LOL Photoshopped video clip with Ann Widdecombe and Saxon standing together. Stuff like that makes me cringe and laugh at the same time. Then I really started cracking up to see Captain Jack surfing the same Harold Saxon website I'd visited earlier today.
I bet the Doctor's jealous of the Master's manufactured life. Either that or he's remembering his sojourn as John Smith.
Man, what the hell kind of dig was that at Lucy--"not especially bright"? How much you want to bet she turns out smarter than she looks. I'd like that, at any rate.
And this is where I start to get really confused about Lucy Saxon. When Vivien Rook is questioning her, she almost looks like she's about to spill something, like she's struggling to remember something she can't quite grasp. (Also, how does saying Saxon was good to her father mean she has Daddy Issues? Some people seem to think that.) And then--I noticed this on second viewing--there's a movement of a shadow in the right-hand corner of the screen right before she says "I made my choice" that indicates Saxon coming into the room, and that would seem to suggest that he might have some kind of mind control over her. Even though he didn't make a sound, she still knew he was in the room. And he calls her "my faithful companion". Kinda weird thing to call your wife, right?
(I wonder who Lucy was saying sorry to--Vivien or Saxon? You could probably take it either way--she was looking at Vivien, but then she hadn't looked at Saxon even though she'd spoken to him.)
Then they get out in the hallway, and it looks like Lucy really does know everything about him--after all, he admitted his true identity to Vivien in front of her and she didn't bat an eye, and she's worried about who else might know the truth. Apparently she has no problem with her husband being an alien, a murderer, a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur, etc etc etc. A couple of times throughout the episode she gave me the vague impression that she might not have full control of her own mind, but on the whole, it seems like she has complete free will. Which makes her extremely interesting, in my opinion. What is she with Saxon for? Does she love him, does she love the power he has, is he using her, is she using him, am I making any sense whatsoever, yadda yadda yadda...
Basically, in conclusion, I can't quite figure out what Lucy Saxon's game is, considering it all depends on what level of mind control she's under, if in fact she's being controlled at all. But I heartily endorse the Harry/Lucy ship, because it is definitely not run-of-the-mill sweetness-and-light.
Also, the Toclafane are totally miniature torture droids imported from Star Wars.
WTF Martha tapping out that drumbeat. Also, LOL when did she change clothes?
Why the hell is Lucy crossing her fingers?
I laughed at the Doctor spewing "What?!" at the Toclafane--he obviously knows they're not what Saxon says they are, but damn I wish he'd clue the rest of us in.
Literally went "OH SHIT" when Saxon said "...medical student?" and the Doctor swiveled the TV around to show the bomb on the back. Awesome drama moment, but I don't quite get it. Why does Saxon want to blow Team TARDIS up? Wouldn't that kinda put a damper on his plans? I mean, there have to be better ways to say "I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE MOOHAHAHA".
HOORAY for Martha telling the Doctor to shove it. About damn time. You can so tell in this episode she's about reached her breaking point with all the non-explanations and general bullshit the Doctor feeds her.
Dude I wanna know just who the evil blonde chick is. She is totally badass.
Martha's brother has a baby? The hell? Did we know this?
Whoa with Saxon practically diving to get his phone out of his pocket when the Doctor stole Martha's cell, and then WHOA the way he said "Doctor". Phonesex ahoy. And this is supposed to be a kids' show!
Also, where are Martha and Jack during this conversation? Hanging out off-camera?
I have no clue what Saxon is talking about when he says he was there to see the Dalek Emperor take control of the Cruciform, but the emotion in his voice and on both their faces speaks fucking volumes. Apparently it's some serious bad news, if the Master ran to the end of the universe and made himself human all just to hide. And to make him admit he was scared. That doesn't sound like something he'd normally do.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" = MAJOR LULZ.
So is the Master's motivation for all his megalomania only to make the drumming in his head stop? Interesting. Though I still don't get it.
The Master is totally bisexual. Making out with Lucy left right and center, orgasming over hearing the Doctor's voice, calling Jack "handsome"...
Oh God the thing with the Teletubbies and "now that is evolution" -- I cracked up so hard.
Okay, plz to be explaining what is the darkness and the cold that the Gelth Toclafane are running from?
Beautiful shot of the Citadel on Gallifrey, even if it did look a little like the Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz.
Dude was that Don Warrington in Time Lord robes?!
The sequence where the Doctor is doing his jiggery-pokery was lifted straight out of Torchwood, I swear. Quasi-techno music and all. (But hee Jack still had his TARDIS key!)
YAY UNIT!
On my God Saxon's behavior towards President Winters was hi-lar-i-ous. Guess he was acting like an idiot because he knew there was nothing for him to lose, given the morning's planned activities? Also, love that Lucy seems to go everywhere with him. Also also, I would vote for Winters purely on the basis of "Since Britain elected an ass, yes".
Aaaaaand I think Winters may have done just what Saxon wanted him to do, which was assume control of the First Contact meeting.
Yup, Lucy totally knows everything about what Saxon's up to. Muy interesting.
I wonder if Saxon could see Team TARDIS despite their perception filter keys (how convenient, those, btw)? I think he certainly sensed the Doctor, at any rate.
AHAHAHAHAHA "HI GUYS!" to Martha's family. Oh that was an insane moment. John Simm brings some awesome batshit.
You know, you'd think that, after all the times the Doctor tried to "save" the Master, he would've learned his lesson about that by now. Guess not. But I suppose he can be forgiven for it considering they're the only two Time Lords left.
Holy shit, the Valiant is really impressive.
Lucy seriously is always at Saxon's side. There has to be a reason for that. Heh heh the both of them rolling their eyes at President Winters.
Whoa, cannibalized and red-evil TARDIS. And someone said they could hear the Cloister Bell in the background? And what's a Paradox Machine? And why does Jack recognize it for what it is?
LOL Saxon breaking out the snacks as the broadcast begins. And they're jelly babies! WIN! Heh, the way he offered them to Lucy and the smile she gave him almost made it seem like an inside joke between the two of them.
OMG is that an old-fashioned wheelhouse telegraph on the bridge of the Valiant?! My inner Titanic enthusiast just squeeed really, really loudly. :)
Saxon totally knows the Doctor just came in the room. Although LOL continuity error? Right after the shot of him frowning as Team TARDIS comes in, in the wide shot of the room he's back to leaning back and grinning.
Did the Doctor say if he could get the TARDIS key around Saxon's neck, and something about the perception filter, then everyone would see Saxon for who he really was? I'm confused. That is what he looks like. Also, his widening grins leads me to believe he can hear everything Team TARDIS is saying. Yay for alien senses.
Dude, Jack said "yes sir" to the Doctor. They have totally got their game on.
"I will accept mastery over you, if that is God's will" -- I wanted to die laughing.
I love how John Simm goes from batshit silly to deadly serious in a heartbeat.
Also, I want to give another shoutout to Murray Gold for his music this episode. I thought he sometimes chose to peak phrases at weird moments, or that could have just been a directorial thing, but the weirdly "Brother and Sister"-esque (that'd be from Return of the Jedi, eclecticmuse may know what I'm trying to get at) music during this scene with the Toclafane when everything starts to go to shit especially struck a chord in me.
Saxon laughing and clapping madly and turning to Lucy almost in approval and... I can't put words to the expression on her face. It was almost... ferocious?
"Oh look... it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which" -- hilarious when applied to Jack, brings up a shitload of questions when applied to Martha. Namely, how is she a freak?
O HAY MARK GATISS! (Though sadly only in flashback form. ;_;)
So if putting Tish in a job at LazLabs was an attempt to trap the Doctor, I guess Saxon really has been trying to kill him, and the bomb at Martha's wasn't just a way of saying HAY GUYS?
Dammit, I just realized Saxon is sitting there more or less describing his entire evil plan to the Doctor. I know we as an audience need it for exposition's sake, but still.
Interesting way to show the Doctor aging a hundred years--genuinely jarring, at least to me. And interesting shot of Lucy--maybe she's not entirely kosher with the torturing? Who knows.
LMAO WTF the music of choice for the end of the world. And Saxon rocking out to it and even Lucy bouncing on her feet. Talk about jarring, transition-wise. :D
Holy shit the sky ripping open. Have we seen that before? I think I saw someone comment that we have, somewhere, and anyway it looks familiar. Not "The Unquiet Dead"? Also, is the sky ripping open what the Paradox Machine was supposed to do?
So, the scene where Saxon and Lucy are on the bridge, watching all the Toclafane streaming through the rip in the sky--am I just really freaking weird, or am I the only person who somehow got the vibe of a man showing/giving his wife the universe? I can't just be deluded in thinking they're really close, because seriously--damn. I saw someone make a point in another post that perhaps they're going for the parallel of the Doctor who is good but can't show affection to his companions, versus the Master who is evil but adores his wife? Hell, I'll buy into that in a heartbeat. All available (visual) evidence really does seem to be that Saxon truly cares for Lucy.
Also, the Mill have totally outdone themselves on the effects in this episode.
OMG Saxon and Lucy were so totally about to have hawt monkey sex right there on the bridge when he was asking her if they should decimate the Earth. Though that brings up the question of whether Lucy herself is human, if she doesn't mind seeing her race slaughtered?
Martha breaks up with the Doctor? I think I was slightly lost on the import of this scene, but maybe I'm just dense like that. Also, O HAY DOOMSDAY MUSIC. I liked the new arrangement.
You know, if there's that many Toclafane over London alone... damn.
Wonder where exactly Martha's running to, besides "anywhere but here".
For some reason both Saxon and Lucy supporting Old!Doctor struck me as funny. And LOLOLOL bright beaming smile from Saxon at Old!Doctor. Wonderfully wonderfully batshit.
In conclusion, this episode was all kinds of fucked up, the Saxons are insane together and I love it, and also I demand more of it. John Simm FTW.