DW Reaction: Episode 6x08 "Let's Kill Hitler"

[lorelaisquared]

I wrote out a lovely, detailed post the other night right after I watched the episode, but LJ managed to eat it and it was far too late to restart then. So now I've just rewatched the episode and I thought I'd share my thoughts now.

Comments

[lorelaisquared]

Thats sad but I understand. I think a lot of people are more bothered by some of the details than I am. There are lots of little things that I'm able to just handwave, accept or shrug off that I see others obsessing about on their journals. I think that's just the way of fandom.

I'm glad you like Matt Smiths performance in this. I really did think he did a fabulous job.

[karenor]

Oh but wait, that wouldn't make sense because then why would she try to kill the Doctor now? *sigh* THIS IS ALL SO CONFUSING!

Indeed. I can only think it's because she grew up in a world where the Doctor was decidedly not dead (yet). Only...how did little girl Melody, who regenerates into toddler Mels in New York (was it?) 2011 end up in (90's?) England?

[lorelaisquared]

Indeed. I can only think it's because she grew up in a world where the Doctor was decidedly not dead (yet).

Maybe. I think this is just one of those instances where we have to wait and see what evolves in future.

Only...how did little girl Melody, who regenerates into toddler Mels in New York (was it?) 2011 end up in (90's?) England?

LOLOLOL I just had this EXACT debate with my flatmate. The only logical conclusion that I can come to is that someone helped her get there. But who? and how? Does she have a way to time travel or is this more about the Silence manipulating her into where they want her to be? I honestly don't know because then she also made that comment about how hard it was to find her parents so IDEK! *sigh*

[earlgreytea68]

Was she a toddler in the past? Was that regeneration scene in the present day? Or was it in 1969? I don't remember anymore.

And I think she must have a way to get around in time. I don't know how, but clearly the people who raised her have that capability, and she seems to have quite deliberately sought her parents out when they were young.

[lorelaisquared]

Was that regeneration scene in the present day? Or was it in 1969? Oh, that's a very good question. Maybe I should watch that episode again to see. I really don't remember.

I agree that she must have a way to get around. In fact I've wondered that for a while now - even before we knew that River was Melody if she has that ability. Maybe the people who raised her taught her some kind of trick?

[earlgreytea68]

I didn't call the Mels/Melody thing at all. I feel so ashamed! But I was totally shocked when the reveal happened and was like, "Ack! Of course!"

I think you're right when you say that they seem to view Melody and River as two different people. I've seen a lot of people complaining that Amy and Rory don't seem upset enough at leaving River behind, but I genuinely think it's because they're unable to wrap their mind around *her* as their daughter. They want their baby daughter back, yes, but I think in their heads they can't understand that River, this woman they've known all along, *is* that daughter. River is River, and their baby is Melody, and it's Melody they want back. I think.

[lorelaisquared]

Aww don't feel ashamed. It's not so much that I called it as that I wasn't in the least surprised when it was revealed. Does that make sense?

Oh, I really like what you say about Amy and Rory not being able to wrape their minds around River as their daughter. And they barely had time to get used to Mels being their daughter either so even though they care about both and think you're right and they are a bit removed from it emotionally because it hasn't sunk in that this is the little baby they've been desperately trying to find.

[lorelaisquared]

I love the idea that the Doctor sort of named her that, and she adopted that name, but then you went and mentioned it! *claps excitedly* Hee! I'm glad you're so excited by that. It's rather circular isn't it? I certainly makes my brain go all pingy!

I absolutely believe that seeing him struggle through pain of death to get up those stairs on the verge of tears and begging for her help to save the people he loves, that she saw everything she was brainwashed to believe was wrong. That the Doctor was a good man, with so much love and compassion---and in fact I think it's probably the greatest, biggest display of love and compassion she's probably ever seen at this point in her life. I love this. It's beautiful. And so true. The Doctor's compassion and love has always been one of his biggest strengths, (and one that also plagues him with guilt, sadly) and I suspect that it's going to be important that THIS is what changed River. It will be interesting to see how things play out from here

[lorelaisquared]

People always think the loops in time things are a cheapshot or lame or don't make sense, but I love it. Especially since the Doctor corrected our linear thinking by saying time isn't a straight line, it's a big ball constantly changing and constantly moving (wibbly wobbly!), so yeah. I love it. :D And on the note of the Doctor giving her/making her who she is, I love that he gave her the TARDIS blue diary. All this time I thought she made it, which I don't know what, but I did. But I love the idea he gave it to her, after their first official meeting on her end. Just... awww! I love the loops too. They make me happy. Plus, I don't think they take away someone's choice the way others seem to think - it's just one of those things where everything that was going to happen anyway falls into place so neatly. I also love that he gave her the diary. It made me squee.

Oh, definitely! In fact I'm going to be sad whenever she's not in an ep now, lol! I WANT HER 24/7. FULL TIME COMPANION NOW Y/Y??? (<---I do expect this at some point,

[lingrem]

I too, loved the episode. I also called that Mels was River pretty much immeditely.. she acted so very much like her and once I heard "Mels" I was like "RIVER!!!!!" Plus who else loves guns that much?

I liked how we get to know WHY it was that River dies as River later on, and why she didn't regenerate - liked knowing that she used them all up to save the Doctor. That's a pretty huge sacrifice to make in a short amount of time.

[lorelaisquared]

YAY! I'm glad you liked it too! And yes I'm really glad they cleared up any confusion about why she didn't regenerate in SitL - I like it when loose ends like that are tied neatly. And yes, it is a HUGE sacrifice. I suspect this will be significant in some way.