meta: Dark Mirror - A Town Called Mercy

[lonewytch]

Some meta on A Town Called Mercy. Looking at: some of the recurring motifs so far this series and exploring how they might link; the idea of the Monster within and Kahler-Jex as a dark mirror of the Doctor; where the Doctor is right now in his life, and what's wrong with that; eye symbolism, and other odds and ends.

Comments

[a_phoenixdragon]

GODS. I just wanna cuddle up to this meta and make it part of me. As always you have grasped SO, SO MUCH that I can only fic to realize. I just...thank you for making me a part of this. This is a beautiful meta. This was another episode where the monster was not obvious. The monster was an innocent. An innocent was a monster. Mirrors within mirrors...

*HUGS*

[lonewytch]

Aw, thank you my darling. Your reaction post helped spark off some thoughts about where the Doctor's head is at (or not at) right now, you have such a good understanding of him.

The monster not being the monster...key theme of Moffat's run, all the way back in series 5. He just rarely deals in the good/evil dichotomy. And i love him for it.

*HUGS*

[a_phoenixdragon]

*Blushes* And yet I always feel like I'm barely scrabbling at the surface! *Blushes again*

Right?! Things are not always so linear (as the Doctor would say), so black and white. Frigging ADORE it.

*Loves you*

[redjaywrites]

As always, you are a genius. I will be back with a more coherent discussion in the morning.

[lonewytch]

Oooh, thank you! Glad you enjoyed. <3

[easytheretyger]

Lovely meta <3

I thought every character in the episode was a Doctor mirror. From Rory letting the bad thing happen for what he believes to be the greater good, to Amy reminding him that they have to hold themselves to a higher standard.

Then there was Isacc, the keeper of law and order, the Gunslinger himself, watching over the town as the Doctor watches over the earth.

[lonewytch]

Oh, of course...Rory letting the bad thing happen. You know, i was so surprised at Rory for that, it didn't seem in keeping with the way he generally operates. But, Rory is really not happy at the mo, so I suppose that plays into it. Perhaps he just wanted to get out of there. Have you noticed how he's reacting to everything? He looks tired, like he's just at the end of his tether.

[easytheretyger]

Do you think he's behaving massively differently to how he previously has? He's always been the Dad on the TARDIS, even before there was ever a Melody.

I think now Amy has taken on the role of mother too and she worries about the Doctor as a mother worries about her child. She knows that he needs to find his own feet but the thought of him getting hurt is too much, so they keep going on trips with him to make sure he's okay.

They both know that the natural order is for children to outlive their parents but the thought is too horrible to face head on. (I know that it's certainly something I avoid thinking too deeply about with my own mother--What happens after? Who am I after she is gone?)

Rory has been ahead of Amy for a long time. He sees the Doctor as an adult (maybe still as his adult child) and he's more eager to let the Doctor stand alone so he ignores the worrying things where Amy cannot.

[lonewytch]

I think he is...I think it began with The Girl Who Waited. I think before that, even though he has always been less enthusiastic than Amy, he was at least exhibiting enjoyment and a desire to travel. In these last 3 eps, it seems like Arthur is being directed to act...almost without reaction to stuff. Arthur's a brilliant actor, nuanced, but there's been something really flat and expressionless about him. I barely remember seeing him smile (apart from when he got back together with Amy

[hawkmoth]

Wonderful meta, as always. So much to think about.

Glad you referenced a_phoenixdragon who helped get my thoughts in order for reaction fic:

http://hawkmoth.livejournal.com/316179.html#cutid1

[lonewytch]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed! Oooh, i'll go and have a look at that fic now!

[ljgeoff]

Lovely meta! Thank you!

-- "Oswin" means "God's Friend" and "Oswald" means "God's Power."

-- re: the light bulbs -- why are they all broken or being fixed?

-- I loved the way, in the quoted Jex line, how a steel the Doctor's face goes blank, like a steel door slamming down down.

-- Ah! Ben Browder! How I've missed you!

[lonewytch]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed and thank you for commenting.

Yeah, Oswin's name is significant for sure. Makes me wonder if she really is a family member.

The lightbulbs...this is the big question, why they are all broken. There's also a question of why we are seeing the symbol of the egg blown up/broken/damaged over and over. There is a tilt towards destruction this series. It's been suggested that this is a reflection of the natural cycle of birth/growth/fruition/decay/death. That with the Ponds the story is now in the final stage of this cycle. But they are stuck, all 3 of them, in a form of stasis, unable to move forward without letting go of a relationship that isn't healthy any more. So we are seeing the destruction/death part played out symbolically over and over. I hope it is their decision to let go and not one the Universe makes for them.