Doctor Who: A Good Man Goes to War

[pellucid]

I'm over a week late with this (and I haven't rewatched it, so things are most likely fading from my memory), but I figured I should write up a few of my (predictably mixed) feelings about "A Good Man Goes to War."

Comments

[pellucid]

I don't think I've ever been quite as invested in River as you've been. I mean, I love her lots and lots and lots, but I don't see myself ever reaching epic levels of disappointment, no matter what happens. Not like with other shows and characters that I've loved and lost. But then again, I think I may also have a greater propensity to ignore or brush off the things I don't like in a show while also continuing to enjoy the things I do like than you do (it's how I watch all those brainless procedurals). It's as though after the series premiere, I decided to move Who into the brain space that I use for things like Castle and Leverage, and I find that's working really well for me. Also, given how everything came all full circle last season, I'm definitely reserving judgment until I see how it all plays out. *shrugs*

[crossoverman]

I love that it's un-Doctor-centric, too. In fact, as much as the episode was about the Doctor's influence and the long shadow of his own myth, it was also about how much he can't do and what he can't change

[clueless_02]

Hi, totally eavesdropping/butting in but: I don't think Moffat can screw her in quite the way that Rusty screwed Donna, for instance.

So much agreement. What happened to Donna was pretty much the worst ending that you could give her. God, that woman was so awesome and to have that ending just rips my heart out.

[crossoverman]

There is so much wrong with Donna's ending I could write an essay. Except it upsets me too much. It is the worst ending. If she'd been able to make that decision herself, I'd be okay with it. If she'd died to save all of creation, I'd be okay with it. But she didn't get to choose. Her life with the Doctor was taken from her. It was cruel and unnecessary.

And for it to happen in the same episode that Rose gets herself a shiny Doctor clone plaything just added insult to injury. (I actually think that ending is also pretty unjust, since no one deserves a consolation prize version of the man they fell in love with.)

At least Martha got to walk away with her head held high and pop back for occasional ass-kicking appearances!

[pellucid]

I do like that this is only one part of a reveal that can continue to go on for some time: no "and here are the answers," but rather part of an answer that continues to raise more questions than it resolves. I do wish the show hadn't built the whole thing up quite so much ("this is the day the Doctor finds out who I am," etc.), but as inevitably disappointing reveals go, it certainly could have been far worse.

I agree that River's beginning/end means that she can't be screwed up in quite the same way as Donna, but I'm still apprehensive about certain directions the character could go. I really love the idea of her as this independent agent who loves the Doctor but isn't dependent upon him, and if we discover that she's sort of been groomed from childhood to be the Doctor's partner or something, I would definitely be disappointed. Though I suppose in the grand scheme of things, that's still better than having your memories wiped

[kernezelda]

Fortunately, I don't put a lot of effort into Who fandom; my main question coming away from the episode was if Amy spoke to the Tardis about the baby and got a response or not. I couldn't quite understand that brief dialogue, but got the impression that they had had an actual conversation. Which would be neat. :)

[pellucid]

In this episode? I don't remember that part. But that's not surprising; I actually have a pretty lousy memory for visual and auditory things and can usually only discuss TV episodes in much detail when I've watched them more than once.

[clueless_02]

ACK! NO! PREGNANCY, UR DOING IT WRONG!!!! buttons.

Oh so much of THIS! It doesn't seem to matter about the show's genre, but inevitably, the super awesome female character gets saddled with an insane baby plot that makes you start framing the discussion as "Well,[insert show] was really good until [insert your favorite baby trope (a suddenly aching womb, magical god/alien baby, crazy kidnapping)] happened."

[pellucid]

"Well,[insert show] was really good until [insert your favorite baby trope (a suddenly aching womb, magical god/alien baby, crazy kidnapping)] happened."

Ugh, yes. WHYYYYYYYYYYYY, STUPID TV WRITER BOYS?????? WHYYYYYYYYYYYY??????

[beccatoria]

EVERY SHOW I have watched either seriously or casually so far this year has become infected with unexpected babiez (Fringe, Doctor Who, Bones). I am now quite nervous about Leverage's impending premiere. I fear I may have cursed television somehow. o.O

As to the episode, there were things I liked about it and things that made me roll my eyes. To take a second to note something I did enjoy before heading towards the things I feel complicated about, I did think Matt Smith's performance was pretty great. I especially enjoyed his scene with Colonel Runaway and the whole of his last scene with River. The way he goes from despair to anger to real joy at the reveal of who she is was, kind of lovely even though I am far more conflicted on what that reveal was. Plus obviously I think there has to be more to it; we still don't know why she's in prison, etc

[pellucid]

There are unexpected babies on Fringe, too??? Oh, television. *eyes Leverage protectively* I don't think they would put unexpected babies there, but, well, your track record isn't particularly good right now, is it

[beccatoria]

Indeed. The unexpected baby was in the altverse, at least, and also may...not exist after the events of the finale, but it happened and it was traumatic! *also eyes Leverage protectively* I apologise preemptively if I accidentally curse it