Comments | arabian: 'Doctor Who' Series Five, Episodes 11-13

arabian

'Doctor Who' Series Five, Episodes 11-13

Jul 02, 2010 18:00

Alright, in the homestretch now, and erm, Moffat fans, you won't like much of this post. I'm really continuing to not love his work. Other than "The Eleventh Hour" -- which was passable, and great moments (with one particular long stretch in "The Big Bang") in his others, the only episodes that I like are those that aren't written by him, and don' ( Read more... )

matt smith, doctor who, tv

Comments 30

lavendergaia July 2 2010, 22:13:18 UTC

And I still had a huge issue with Amy (and Rory to a degree) having no sense of wonder and joy over traveling with the Doctor.

I'm a little confused. Is your issue that you miss that aspect or is it an issue you have with their characterization?

arabian July 2 2010, 22:26:52 UTC

I miss that aspect of the writing. It's not their characterization. Rose, Martha and Donna were all different (heck, include how Sarah Jane was written in the new Who), but they all had this sense of wonder. Based on his interviews, I feel that came from RTD -- that giddy joy. I'm just not getting that from the people traveling with Eleven. Not Amy, or Rory, or even River. I miss that.

larissa_j July 2 2010, 22:21:15 UTC

*snort*

I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh but I can't help it. Right now I'm really glad I steered clear of S5 (or is it S1? I don't even know that's how out of the loop I am).

Why did you do this to yourself? Surely PBS had some documentary on the life cycle of the weevil you could watch over a season of Moffat?

arabian July 2 2010, 22:29:01 UTC

I know you haven't read them all, but I'm SO GLAD that I did watch them. Matt Smith is amazing, but more than that, the tenth episode ("Vincent and the Doctor") is amazingly brilliant. One of THE finest hours of television EVER! (Not written by Moffat, and very un-Moffat-y. In fact, it would have fit perfectly in the RTD-era.) I'd recommend watching that one episode. It's amazing.

And as I said, there were good episodes that weren't Moffat-written. Plus, Matt Smith = love!

larissa_j July 2 2010, 22:40:02 UTC

Yeah, I didn't read the others and it's good that you enjoyed a couple of the episodes. Sadly, I know myself well enough to know that I can't get over my dislike for Moffat to be objective about anything relating to S5 even if the non-Moffat episodes are positively brilliant. It's one of the reasons I decided not to watch in the first place. I didn't want to be like the ant-RTD people who watched even though they knew they'd hate every little thing about every episode.

arabian July 2 2010, 23:04:26 UTC

Ah, I see. I understand, I wish I could change your mind on "Vincent and the Doctor" because it has absolutely not one single hallmark of Moffat. It's so RTD, it's not even funny. Written by Richard Curtis who wrote Love Actually. But I get it.

I chose to watch because people who know me and my fandom ways told me what I would possibly like, and they were right. I also knew that if Moffat did anything worthwhile, I'd acknowledge it -- like being in charge of the whole thing certainly helped with mitigating much of his horrible writing issues. I try to be fair, and I knew I could be. Good for you for doing that, though, because I've never understood watching/reading something JUST to snark at it. Makes no sense to me.

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butterfly July 2 2010, 22:25:39 UTC

I think, after reading your reviews, that I will go ahead and download the Vincent episode to watch. And I think there was one other episode that you found particularly compelling - "Amy's Choice"? I find that the names of the episodes don't stick well in my head (likely because I haven't seen them). Part of the reason that I think I want to do that is because Paul Cornell might write an episode next season (it was rumoured) and I adore his writing enough that I will probably watch it no matter what.

I've found your reviews thoroughly enjoyable to read!

arabian July 2 2010, 22:29:59 UTC

Yes, "Amy's Choice" and YES!! to "Vincent and the Doctor!" YES!! A gazillion times. Just be warned, you may fall head over heels for Matt Smith.

I've found your reviews thoroughly enjoyable to read!

Thank you. I'm glad. :)

butterfly July 2 2010, 22:31:05 UTC

I consider myself warned!

arabian July 2 2010, 22:31:50 UTC

He's just ... oh, lord, no words, but I love him to bits and bits and bits!!!!

Thread 7

danceonstardust July 2 2010, 23:55:29 UTC

First, The Lodger was adorable but I agree, it was more of a filler. I couldn't be saved from rewinding... um certain parts. Damn it.

FREAKING F-YES IA to the two-parter. I thought I was the only one annoyed by those episodes and yes the marriage was cute. I couldn't stand Amy's flower hairband in the wedding, that ruined it for me. THE DOCTOR'S SUIT!!! I LOVED THE DOCTOR'S SUIT. I'M HUGE FAN OF THAT SUIT. AND THAT DANCE. XD

So I ended the series with a smile on my face. I love that the Doctor will be traveling with Amy and Rory (although, what's up with Amy going on about snogging the Doctor?!)CUTE. First married couple ever! I ship them both. Rory/Amy for the adorable. Doctor/Amy for the Chemistry ( ... )

arabian July 3 2010, 02:07:03 UTC

Yes, "The Lodger" was filler. That describes it perfectly.

Re: Amy kissing the Doctor, oh I get why she did it. The Doctor explained that well enough in the following episode. My issue was that I shouldn't have had the Doctor (or anyone else) have to explain it, and certainly not a week later.

Yes, "The Lodger" was filler. That describes it perfectly.

Re: Amy kissing the Doctor, oh I get why she did it. The Doctor explained that well enough in the following episode. My issue was that I shouldn't have had the Doctor (or anyone else) have to explain it, and certainly not a week later.

I can say this much, RTD was freakin' JEALOUS. He wanted Matt! WHY RTD DID YOU LEAVE? WHY!?

SOBS UNCONTROLLABLY!!!

danceonstardust July 6 2010, 04:38:56 UTC

I'm on the phone with you!!! XD

Re: Amy kissing the Doctor, oh I get why she did it. The Doctor explained that well enough in the following episode. My issue was that I shouldn't have had the Doctor (or anyone else) have to explain it, and certainly not a week later.

Cliffhangers suck and seriously wtf!Moffat!

SOBS UNCONTROLLABLY!!!
:'(

(The comment has been removed)

arabian July 3 2010, 02:02:50 UTC

Matt Smith and Karen Gillan's chemistry is excellent, and it's probably also what has made the series go when there were mistakes in the writing (which, of course, there have been, but that's something that happened on the RTD era as well - regardless of how much I liked/disliked it).

Agreed, completely. "Fear Her" was a very weak episode, and it was David and Billie's fluffy chemistry that made it work. Same with moments/scenes in this series. Matt and Karen's chemistry made it work.

I just love their relationship, whether you see it as a friendship or a love relationship they just click and I love how she adores him and I love how he protects her and it's just beautiful. And Eleven/Rory/Amy... I'm sure they're going to be amazing. I hope Arthur joins the cast as a regular, because I LOVE when there are three people in the TARDIS. This time, better with three :)

This.

I guess I can see your point about the joy being planet-bound related, but I can blame Moffat for that then, can't I? ;)

LOOK HOW META YOU MAKE ME GET. GODDAMN ( ... )

arabian July 3 2010, 02:00:50 UTC

Yeah, we really just disagree because I felt loads of emotion building up through RTD's series' and not much here. I just, I don't know if it's my bias now, but something about how he writes just rubs me wrong. I wasn't even sure that he was writing ep 12 (wasn't sure where I was), and I rolled my eyes at a few things, thinking "oh, Moffat!" and then realized, I could be wrong, maybe it wasn't Moffat, maybe it was just my bias, but then, no it was a Moffat episode.

Whatever reason you have issues with RTD and I don't, and vice versa with regards to Moffat is what makes up how we feel about their eras, I suppose. We just disagree.

As for River -- ack! I hated Lady Christina with a passion, she's my least favorite RTD-created character ever, sorry :( -- we do agree. There simply has GOT to be more with her. There has to be.

I would love to slap that face anytime she says "Oooh, spoilers!", though.Yes. That's the one thing that she does that still makes me want to slap her. Ugh ( ... )

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