One of the things I liked so much about the special was how so often, you see that the story is trying to make a meta gesture. Moffat knows how beloved Rose is, but he doesn't necessarily want ROSE back... so he brings in Billie and does something just lovely with her in a way that leaves Rose alone. It's transparent... but it still WORKS so beautifully in the story.
And then there's Tom Baker. It makes ZERO SENSE to have him there, but the loveliness of having the icon of Classic Who (sorry, other Doctors, but it's still Baker who dominates that landscape) there to be kind and twinkle at New Who makes it worthwhile. It's batty, I have no idea what I'm supposed to make of it, but it DOESN'T MATTER.
I'm invoking the "cheap tricks" rule from "Smith and Jones" re: Tom Baker. Don't ask me how he'd aged, but oh well! It was still awesome!
And yes - I can't imagine a good story with Rose - she's already come back so much for someone trapped in a parallel universe! - but bringing Billie back as the interface, which acknowledges that Rose means a lot to the Doctor but allows Moffat to do something new and interesting, was a lovely move.
I haven't seen An Adventure in Space and Time yet, but I've heard good things!
It started to feel to me like the whole Time War thing was about trying to make the Doctor a different kind of hero than he is - an angst-ridden tragic figure, rather than…well, a guy who goes traveling around through space and time, getting into trouble and solving problems. And I think that fundamentally, he's really a comic hero, not a tragic one. So I'm not upset about the idea that this undoes Nine's arc or what have you, even though I can see why that might bother people.
An Adventure in Space and Time is lovely. You have a treat to look forward to.
Yes, I like the Doctor more this way than as the angst-ridden tragic figure.
I don't think it undoes Nine's arc really. After all, thinking that he did terrible things that he didn't is its own kind of tragedy. But yes, I can see how some people might prefer that version, and not want the revised version.
Personally, I am glad if the Doctor no longer has to bear the burden of having killed his people, even if Nine still thinks he did (I'm fuzzy on whether or not that's the case), but to each her own!
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And then there's Tom Baker. It makes ZERO SENSE to have him there, but the loveliness of having the icon of Classic Who (sorry, other Doctors, but it's still Baker who dominates that landscape) there to be kind and twinkle at New Who makes it worthwhile. It's batty, I have no idea what I'm supposed to make of it, but it DOESN'T MATTER.
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And yes - I can't imagine a good story with Rose - she's already come back so much for someone trapped in a parallel universe! - but bringing Billie back as the interface, which acknowledges that Rose means a lot to the Doctor but allows Moffat to do something new and interesting, was a lovely move.
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I'm glad the Doctor did something different than mass murder his own people. That part of the backstory of his character doesn't sit right.
I loved the title of the painting at the end. Clever.
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It started to feel to me like the whole Time War thing was about trying to make the Doctor a different kind of hero than he is - an angst-ridden tragic figure, rather than…well, a guy who goes traveling around through space and time, getting into trouble and solving problems. And I think that fundamentally, he's really a comic hero, not a tragic one. So I'm not upset about the idea that this undoes Nine's arc or what have you, even though I can see why that might bother people.
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Yes, I like the Doctor more this way than as the angst-ridden tragic figure.
I don't think it undoes Nine's arc really. After all, thinking that he did terrible things that he didn't is its own kind of tragedy. But yes, I can see how some people might prefer that version, and not want the revised version.
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Personally, I am glad if the Doctor no longer has to bear the burden of having killed his people, even if Nine still thinks he did (I'm fuzzy on whether or not that's the case), but to each her own!
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