The Girl in the Fireplace, actual review

[in_purple_skies]

So, we've already established that I suck and am a bad fan for forgetting my show yesterday, but I have watched the download now, and all is right with the world. The advantage of being late like this is that there is no need to review frantically directly after the airing. I've had time to think about this one and put together my thoughts properly

Comments

[alsi_o]

I actually managed to watch- though I did miss the first 15 minutes or so. It was good and I really liked the "lonely little boy" scene. I didn't really notice the plot holes but then I'm never very critical- and plus I've never seen Doctor Who before.

[in_purple_skies]

If you spend much time in a time-related fandom with fic, you realise that there aren't that many things that aren't possible with time travel. It sticks out. :)

[saturnalia]

I rebel against the metaphor and firmly believe only literal dancing happened.

Actually, in the commentary for this episode Moffat says that even he only thinks literal dancing took place, rather than the metaphorical kind. I think Reinette was mostly just flirting by using the dancing metaphor the way she did- after all, she'd just been inside the Doctor's head, she would've known what 'dancing' meant to him. Hope that helps :)

[in_purple_skies]

Oh, that is nice to know. Considering there were repeating themes from Moffat's last episode (eg "bananas are good"), it was easy for the mind to go there at first.

[parma_violets]

I am a bit disappointed but not raging hatred disappointment like some large chunks of the fandom are.

It's always nice to get a shout-out! Nah, I'm kidding. I too really wanted this episode to be better than it was, but it felt wrong from so many different angles. I'd have loved to see it from the point of view of Madame de Pompadour, being startled by this strange man and these monsters all through her life; maybe then the romance would have had the remarkable, fairytale quality it was going for but never achieved.

[in_purple_skies]

It's always nice to get a shout-out!

Hee! Don't worry, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular, just reading down the list on who_daily. Although, you've got some nice eloquent raging going on there in your review. *thumbs up* :P

Seriously though, I think you've hit it on the head that more of Madame de Pompadour would have been very effective, and a lovely haunting fairytale was exactly what this episode could have been, if only it had been done better. :(

[parma_violets]

Thumbs ups are always appreciated. Thank you!