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locker_monsterNow that we're past the all crucial premiere, I'm starting to get more into the newness of things. It's kind of fun, re-discovering the show over again. What works, what doesn't. At the same time, the show, the heart of the show, is still there.
I liked that the premise of this episode is sort of steeped in the continuity of the show. It was established during Four's era that the Earth got burnt up in the 29th century and the humans had to abandon Earth. Well, they abandoned it for a bit, but good thing Nerva Beacon was floating around in orbit. But yeah, humans out in the stars because their home is gone. The idea of living your life on this ship, never touching solid ground, is really powerful. Clearly on Starship UK, the confined living has intensified everything that makes Britain Britain. It's fun to think other countries made their own ships and headed for the stars. Ooh, there could be a Starship Canada floating around out there!
And also an interesting ethical dilemma at the heart of the story, or so it seems. Continued existence but at the sake of another life. Going that route seemed a bit obvious, so, third option. And this being Steven Moffat, the clues are all laid out for you; you just have to see them, like Amy does. The episode is clearly a showcase for Amy. This is who this Companion is. I'm getting that she doesn't let anything stand in her way, but she's a bit insecure about who she is. I think it's the Confidential that raises a good point. Amy's running away from the one day where she's going to become a grown-up. She's run away with her childhood imaginary friend because she never had a proper childhood? This is her chance to be a child and learn who she is? In my head, the Companion needs to have a good reason for travelling with the Doctor. Just packing up and saying good-bye to Earth seems a bit weird.
I also liked that this was sort of a small story. No explosions, no running for your life, no deaths even. Just a tale about a ship full of people and the mystery below them. And within that, a glimpse of who the Doctor was and is. It seems the Doctor has learned his lesson about lying to the Companion about the truth of the Time Lords. Here, he gives Amy a quick rundown without mentioning the Time War and I get the feeling Steven Moffat is trying to distance the show from that. It's still a part of the Doctor, but I think he has come to terms with it. Or maybe not; we'll see when the Daleks come back next week. But true to the Doctor, he dances around mentioning family. At Amy's question of whether he was a parent, he immediately changes the subject. Oh, Doctor. But Amy brings up a good point about the Doctor when comparing him to the Star Whale (more on that name later): the last of his kind, lonely, and so very old and he's kind. That's who the Doctor is. He didn't become this bitter person with all this rage. He's remains a kind man who goes out of his way to help people because, really, what else would you want to do in life? But why does he lie about interfering? Or was that just the Doctor being cheeky?
And his hug with Amy at the end?
It really felt like he was relieved that he found someone to travel with, that he wasn't alone anymore.
The Smilers? Creepy. They're kind of like clowns. Heaven help you if you're afraid of clowns and you were watching this episode. I don't get why the ship has Smilers or the Winders, and apparently, neither does Steven if you watch the Confidential. They're just there, basically, because they look scary. I thought very briefly that Liz Ten might have been a descendant of Martha, because Liz Ten sounds like a cool future, sci fi name, but she's literally the tenth Elizabeth, which is fine. Fits with the idea of the UK being a starship. And she's got guns. Can Elizabeth II claim she runs around in a red cloak, firing at creepy people with scary faces? ;-) And the Star Whale. Star Whale. At least they didn't call it a Space Whale. A bit on the nose, that name would have been. The Doctor and Amy landing in the mouth was like that bit from Finding Nemo, only they didn't escape through the blow hole. But doesn't Starship UK run into other ships or other species? Wouldn't someone notice, "Hey, your ship's got a big alien whale underneath it!"
Random, this time with pictures, just because!
Look, there are Gallifrey type designs above the TARDIS doors. It's kind of cute and random.
The new TARDIS interior is starting to grow on me. Still need to see more of it, though. But hey, they kept the hatstand by the door. Hee, continuity! And the TARDIS does have a scanner on the wall, kind of how they had it in the old days.
Matt Smith and Eleven are also starting to grow on me. I still cannot peg down Eleven's personality. He seems a bit more brisk with people, like he's channelling Six or One a bit. And he's all gangly. Also, does his accent seem, I don't know, more upper class? I don't know British accents at all, so what do I know, but sometimes when Eleven says a line, he says it sort of proper. *Shrug* On a personal level, I'm not sure what to make of Matt Smith. From some angles, he's kind of cute, but from others, meh.
And we get a proper look at the new sonic screwdriver this week. It's, um, bigger and thicker than the last one. Wow, you cannot talk about the sonic screwdriver without it sounding like an euphemism. Also, weird prong things at the top when the Doctor is scanning stuff. Doubles more efficiently as a flashlight, though.
Amy wandering around in her nightgown for the episode was funny. I suspect she finds something to wear next episode. Her space walk at the beginning of the episode was random. Magpie Electrics still exists, which was a nice nod to New Who continuity. And the future wasn't the 51st century! Steven Moffat was able to restrain himself this time. No doubt they will visit the 51st century later. And the crack in the universe returns. Who knows what it means, but something to look forward to.
And the flipping Daleks are back. In wartime, futurey England. I assume it's the future since the trailer had a dogfight in space with lasers and stuff. Angsty Doctor time? Yeah, probably.
I'm sad I'm missing out on new Doctor Who next week due to being vacation. I didn't realize Space will be two weeks behind in showing the new episodes. Seems like standard policy for when the show airs overseas. It has to be a few weeks behind. I salute you people who watch the show on BBC America or Space. Your will power is greater than mine. :-)
I liked that the premise of this episode is sort of steeped in the continuity of the show. It was established during Four's era that the Earth got burnt up in the 29th century and the humans had to abandon Earth. Well, they abandoned it for a bit, but good thing Nerva Beacon was floating around in orbit. But yeah, humans out in the stars because their home is gone. The idea of living your life on this ship, never touching solid ground, is really powerful. Clearly on Starship UK, the confined living has intensified everything that makes Britain Britain. It's fun to think other countries made their own ships and headed for the stars. Ooh, there could be a Starship Canada floating around out there!
And also an interesting ethical dilemma at the heart of the story, or so it seems. Continued existence but at the sake of another life. Going that route seemed a bit obvious, so, third option. And this being Steven Moffat, the clues are all laid out for you; you just have to see them, like Amy does. The episode is clearly a showcase for Amy. This is who this Companion is. I'm getting that she doesn't let anything stand in her way, but she's a bit insecure about who she is. I think it's the Confidential that raises a good point. Amy's running away from the one day where she's going to become a grown-up. She's run away with her childhood imaginary friend because she never had a proper childhood? This is her chance to be a child and learn who she is? In my head, the Companion needs to have a good reason for travelling with the Doctor. Just packing up and saying good-bye to Earth seems a bit weird.
I also liked that this was sort of a small story. No explosions, no running for your life, no deaths even. Just a tale about a ship full of people and the mystery below them. And within that, a glimpse of who the Doctor was and is. It seems the Doctor has learned his lesson about lying to the Companion about the truth of the Time Lords. Here, he gives Amy a quick rundown without mentioning the Time War and I get the feeling Steven Moffat is trying to distance the show from that. It's still a part of the Doctor, but I think he has come to terms with it. Or maybe not; we'll see when the Daleks come back next week. But true to the Doctor, he dances around mentioning family. At Amy's question of whether he was a parent, he immediately changes the subject. Oh, Doctor. But Amy brings up a good point about the Doctor when comparing him to the Star Whale (more on that name later): the last of his kind, lonely, and so very old and he's kind. That's who the Doctor is. He didn't become this bitter person with all this rage. He's remains a kind man who goes out of his way to help people because, really, what else would you want to do in life? But why does he lie about interfering? Or was that just the Doctor being cheeky?
And his hug with Amy at the end?
It really felt like he was relieved that he found someone to travel with, that he wasn't alone anymore.
The Smilers? Creepy. They're kind of like clowns. Heaven help you if you're afraid of clowns and you were watching this episode. I don't get why the ship has Smilers or the Winders, and apparently, neither does Steven if you watch the Confidential. They're just there, basically, because they look scary. I thought very briefly that Liz Ten might have been a descendant of Martha, because Liz Ten sounds like a cool future, sci fi name, but she's literally the tenth Elizabeth, which is fine. Fits with the idea of the UK being a starship. And she's got guns. Can Elizabeth II claim she runs around in a red cloak, firing at creepy people with scary faces? ;-) And the Star Whale. Star Whale. At least they didn't call it a Space Whale. A bit on the nose, that name would have been. The Doctor and Amy landing in the mouth was like that bit from Finding Nemo, only they didn't escape through the blow hole. But doesn't Starship UK run into other ships or other species? Wouldn't someone notice, "Hey, your ship's got a big alien whale underneath it!"
Random, this time with pictures, just because!
Look, there are Gallifrey type designs above the TARDIS doors. It's kind of cute and random.
The new TARDIS interior is starting to grow on me. Still need to see more of it, though. But hey, they kept the hatstand by the door. Hee, continuity! And the TARDIS does have a scanner on the wall, kind of how they had it in the old days.
Matt Smith and Eleven are also starting to grow on me. I still cannot peg down Eleven's personality. He seems a bit more brisk with people, like he's channelling Six or One a bit. And he's all gangly. Also, does his accent seem, I don't know, more upper class? I don't know British accents at all, so what do I know, but sometimes when Eleven says a line, he says it sort of proper. *Shrug* On a personal level, I'm not sure what to make of Matt Smith. From some angles, he's kind of cute, but from others, meh.
And we get a proper look at the new sonic screwdriver this week. It's, um, bigger and thicker than the last one. Wow, you cannot talk about the sonic screwdriver without it sounding like an euphemism. Also, weird prong things at the top when the Doctor is scanning stuff. Doubles more efficiently as a flashlight, though.
Amy wandering around in her nightgown for the episode was funny. I suspect she finds something to wear next episode. Her space walk at the beginning of the episode was random. Magpie Electrics still exists, which was a nice nod to New Who continuity. And the future wasn't the 51st century! Steven Moffat was able to restrain himself this time. No doubt they will visit the 51st century later. And the crack in the universe returns. Who knows what it means, but something to look forward to.
And the flipping Daleks are back. In wartime, futurey England. I assume it's the future since the trailer had a dogfight in space with lasers and stuff. Angsty Doctor time? Yeah, probably.
I'm sad I'm missing out on new Doctor Who next week due to being vacation. I didn't realize Space will be two weeks behind in showing the new episodes. Seems like standard policy for when the show airs overseas. It has to be a few weeks behind. I salute you people who watch the show on BBC America or Space. Your will power is greater than mine. :-)
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no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 02:47 am (UTC)I did think it funny the doctor was going back to WW2 yet again. One of these days he's going to run into himself there.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 05:19 pm (UTC)I did think it funny the doctor was going back to WW2 yet again. One of these days he's going to run into himself there.
That would be cool. I'd watch that.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 11:16 am (UTC)I like your take on Amy. There's definitely something else going on there, she is very interesting.
It seems the Doctor has learned his lesson about lying to the Companion about the truth of the Time Lords
Completely with you on that one. I think it shows a lot about how Eleven has developed.
I'm kind of intrigued by next weeks ep. Assumed he is going back to WW2, but you make a good point about lasers...
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 05:26 pm (UTC)When it comes to the Companion, I need them to have a reason for travelling with the Doctor. Either they wandered on board and had no way home, like in the old days, they had no home so the TARDIS became theirs, or you genuinely want to be there. The want to be there Companions are tricky though. Why would they want to leave their friends and family to travel in a blue box? That was the thing I didn't get about Martha for the longest time. If Amy is running away from her life, that's a new take.
It looked like a dogfight in space with lasers, but I could be wrong. I was all "boo, Daleks" and kind of stopped paying attention. :-)
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 08:46 pm (UTC)To me it kind of felt like Martha was running away too. Or that she thought she had to run away, to make her realise that she didn't really after all. For Amy, I'm not sure. Almost like she's holding on, rather than running away.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-12 11:19 pm (UTC)