DW 8.10. Forest of the Night

[elisi]

Am trying to post something before Saturday... This could be longer, and I might come back to edit, but at least I've got SOMETHING out there. (For the William Blake connections, see this review: Tyger tyger, burning bright

PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY SPOILERS FOR THE FINALE!!!

Comments

[flowsoffire]

Loving your thoughts, as always-Maebh (I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to spell it, what a lovely name-I wonder what it means), Clara, and Danny! ♥ Yes, I love how Danny respects what she wants, how she is. Which makes it all the more painful when she finds herself lying to him, because he would accept. Another good man going to war! ♥ I would love this. Can't wait to see how the finale turns out…

[elisi]

Loving your thoughts, as always-Maebh (I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to spell it, what a lovely name
Thank you! And it's always useful to check out the fact file for the episode in question. :)

I wonder what it means
MEANING: From an old Irish name Madb, “the cause of great joy” or “she who intoxicates.” The great warrior queen of Connacht and embodiment of sovereignity she stars in Ireland’s greatest epic “The Cattle Raid of Cooley” (x)

Yes, I love how Danny respects what she wants, how she is. Which makes it all the more painful when she finds herself lying to him, because he would accept.
It also makes it *her* issue, which I think is important. (Rule One...)

Another good man going to war! ♥ I would love this.
I sincerely doubt they'd make him a soldier without using that to the greatest possible effect.

Can't wait to see how the finale turns out…
Two more days to part 1...

[flowsoffire]

Thank you! And it's always useful to check out the fact file for the episode in question. :)

MEANING: From an old Irish name Madb, “the cause of great joy” or “she who intoxicates.” The great warrior queen of Connacht and embodiment of sovereignity she stars in Ireland’s greatest epic “The Cattle Raid of Cooley” (x)
Thank you! :D

It also makes it *her* issue, which I think is important. (Rule One...)
Ohhh, yes. More mirroring, of course.

I sincerely doubt they'd make him a soldier without using that to the greatest possible effect.
*nods*

Two more days to part 1...
Yes ♥

[elisi]

It's ALLLLLLL mirrors!

[ever_neutral]

Say what you will about Moffat but he knows his fairytales.

And then - she rejects becoming him completely (“I don’t want to be the last of my kind.”).
YESSSSSSSSSSS.

There is also the wonderful mirrored dialogue from Kill the Moon - this time he claims the Earth as his also, using the exact words she threw at him so angrily
A+ touch.

Not to mention her own trauma of losing her mother - when she says the children will never stop missing their parents, she is speaking of herself also.
Good point -- we don't delve into Clara's trauma much but her background subtly informs a lot of her personal choices day to day.

Amen on Danny. I don’t care about Clara/Danny tbh but fandom’s complaints about Danny as a person are lost on me.

“Disagreeableness and danger will not turn you back, and God forbid they should.”
Interestingly I feel like this could apply to the Doctor too… (though he’s not without his paternalistic moments).

I am of course hoping that Missy will turn out to be the Master, because I love the Master.PRAYER CIRCLE

[elisi]

Say what you will about Moffat but he knows his fairytales.
He realllllly does!

YESSSSSSSSSSS.
So lovely. So understated.

A+ touch.
I really, really like the arc this season.

Good point -- we don't delve into Clara's trauma much but her background subtly informs a lot of her personal choices day to day.
Absolutely. And I like the fact that it's not constantly held up.

Amen on Danny. I don’t care about Clara/Danny tbh but fandom’s complaints about Danny as a person are lost on me.
Fandom is never happy. I'm just thrilled to have an emotionally mature adult male on a children's show. It's worth AN AWFUL LOT!

Interestingly I feel like this could apply to the Doctor too… (though he’s not without his paternalistic moments).
Oh yes, but then the Doctor is the one 'leading people astray...'

PRAYER CIRCLE
I hadn't thought of that!

IN CONCLUSION: May the finale ruin all of our lives.
No it will complete our lives. Again. And make everything canon that we could ever want. <3

[enevarim]

Splendid, as always

[elisi]

Splendid, as always.
Why thank you! :D

I love the way you are able to tie apparently random things in in a way that makes them suddenly obviously not random at all. “Why do you have three mirrors?” indeed. And who is the third?
Missy.

And the specific piece of Carmen used in Asylum is looking less accidental than ever, from Clara's words in the next time trailer. Prends garde à toi, indeed.
It really is excellent all the way through!

I recognized the “not one man in ten thousand” subhead, from my own favourite book.
♥

but lines in The Caretaker like “I'm the one who carries you out of the fire: he's the one who lights it” feel as though at least some of the time he's letting his six centuries of possessive blood get the better of his years of over-sensitized intellect.
LOL. Although Danny is emphatically NOT the 'gentleman officer'. And at that moment he's speaking about soldiers generally.

And pair that with “I'm saying it because if you don't tell me the truth I can't help you, and I could never stand not being able to help

[enevarim]

Missy, yes, but I had her as the second mirror, so if there are three mirrors they are The Doctor, and Missy, and ... ?

And yes, totally agree that Danny has “good man” and “no more” stamped all over him. And, oh dear, I just thought of something I really don't want them to do in the finale. Is it tomorrow yet?

“Clara and Danny, a love story with Doctorish interruptions.” Partly from the inside, as Clara becomes the Doctor. “These Time Lord hands,” she said, watching him. “You knew that, though, didn't you?” (The difference being of course that Danny didn't, at first, though he is catching up.) Is Moffat on record anywhere talking about Sayers, do we know?

[elisi]

Missy, yes, but I had her as the second mirror, so if there are three mirrors they are The Doctor, and Missy, and ... ?
I have Clara as the middle mirror. If that makes sense?

And yes, totally agree that Danny has “good man” and “no more” stamped all over him. And, oh dear, I just thought of something I really don't want them to do in the finale. Is it tomorrow yet?
Nope. 26 hours to go.

“Clara and Danny, a love story with Doctorish interruptions.” Partly from the inside, as Clara becomes the Doctor.
Oh that's excellent. Although of course Harriet becomes a 'doctor'[/detective] too...

“These Time Lord hands,” she said, watching him. “You knew that, though, didn't you?”
HANDS! (You've seen Promethia's vid, right? The New Age. (Also you are just killing me... I'm sure I know great swathes of Busman's Honeymoon by heart.)

Is Moffat on record anywhere talking about Sayers, do we know?
Not as far as I know.

[sea_thoughts]

He is so deliberately laid back and unconfrontational (except when pushed), but with Clara herself on the line, I think he might snap into action again.

Well... it seems so far that Danny's best course of action was to do nothing (much like Draco Malfoy in Deathly Hallows). Hope that's not too spoilery!

I truly love Danny. I can't understand why people think him 'dull and manipulative'. This man has obviously gone through serious trauma and would prefer to stay on Earth, cherish each moment and take care of the children in his charge. He doesn't want to be a soldier any more, he wants to be a teacher. A teacher, moreover, of Maths, the language of the universe (really, Doctor, you are missing on some great conversations by judging Danny the way you do), a subject which enables you to spot patterns and understand buildings and music. This is a man who is able to step back and tell Clara "think about it and let me know what you want" without pressuring her or trying to protect her. It makes an interesting contrast with Rory.

[elisi]

Well... it seems so far that Danny's best course of action was to do nothing (much like Draco Malfoy in Deathly Hallows). Hope that's not too spoilery!
Ooooh I've seen it now! (It takes a lot for me not to be in front of the TV when it airs...) But it'd be nice to keep this post spoiler free, so thank you! :)

I truly love Danny. I can't understand why people think him 'dull and manipulative'.
Manipulative? Really? Well bless whoever they are, even if that were true he is FAAAAAR out-ranked by Clara & the Doctor. *g*

And I think I misjudged his arc. Am loving where it is going, but it was unexpected.

[sea_thoughts]

I saw that you'd seen it but I wanted to be cautious for the sake of others, so you're welcome. :)

Yeah, manipulative because he wants Clara to be truthful with him and doesn't force her to make any decisions and tries to hep her think about what she's doing. *snort* This despite the fact that Clara is actually the manipulative one in the relationship and, of course, the Doctor is even more manipulative than Clara...

I really hope he sticks around.

[elisi]

I saw that you'd seen it but I wanted to be cautious for the sake of others, so you're welcome. :)
I am very grateful. Thank you again. :)

Yeah, manipulative because he wants Clara to be truthful with him and doesn't force her to make any decisions and tries to hep her think about what she's doing.
Tied with Rory Williams as the mastermind of the new show.

I hope he sticks around too!