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locker_monsterSlightly off topic, but I picked up my Ray-Ban Wayfarers aka sonic sunglasses today. They look pretty rad. And prescription sunglasses! So if I end up doing a Twelve cosplay, I can wear them and actually see!
Anyway, onto the episode. With these two parters, I feel like I should watch both parts together and then form an opinion, but this is how the episodes air, apart, so that's how I'm judging them. Perhaps I'll have a better opinion of season nine after I do a re-watch where I watch all of the two parters together.
Once again, the resolution was okay. Oh look, Clara in the pod messes about and she causes Bonnie to miss. Since we didn't see the RPG or missile hit the plane last week, it was sort of conceivable. Certainly gave the Doctor and Osgood enough time to find parachutes and jump out (though that means the Zygon, the UNIT soldiers, and the pilot are all died). I don't know. We didn't know that going in that Clara could influence Bonnie so it kind of feels cheap. Though, we've never seen what it's like for the victims who are being doubled, so it makes some sense that the link could be a two way street. It just seemed too easy, too fast. Suddenly, Clara is texting and winking without Bonnie knowing and you don't see her struggling. Yes, Clara has a strong will, but come on.
I quite enjoyed seeing Osgood Companion-ing it up with the Doctor for a little bit. She can see through his bull crap and can keep up in a rapidly changing situation. Maybe Osgood can be the next Companion? It seems more likely that it won't happen, not with the way the episode ends. Both Osgoods need to be around to keep the peace. I guess I don't care that we never find out if the surviving Osgood is human or Zygon, but I feel like they've set it up now that we'll have a never ending supply of Osgoods. One dies? Well, that's okay, because we can have another Zygon take the place of the other one. Of course, that could mean you have two Zygon!Osgoods keeping the peace, but you still wouldn't know.
As for how the war is adverted, wow, there was a lot of standing around while Peter Capaldi acted his heart out. He's very good in the scene, but the other characters get to do absolutely nothing. Yes, talking is what the Doctor does best, but we could have used more interaction with Bonnie and Kate. More arguing, more back and forth might have punched up the emotions. I did like that the Osgood Box was not what I was expecting. They are just empty boxes with big buttons to press. No nerve gas or bomb or anything else that could have influenced the war. And it was wonderful when the Doctor referred back to "The Day of the Doctor" and related how he was in the exact same position. The whole scheme is very elaborate, but I believe it because you know the Doctor would never, ever let another war happen.
The whole Zygon plot to start a war is still a little fuzzy with me, so that's where watching both parts together might come in handy. I still feel like not much happened, though. There wasn't panic in the streets or anything like that. The Zygons take over UNIT and then, well, I don't know what the other Zygons were doing besides sitting around in their human forms, looking creepy. But I was right about Kate! She did kill the other Zygon and then pretended to be them. Most obvious thing in the world. And though she had to kill the Zygon to get the upper hand, her response about how she survived made me grin: "Five rounds rapid." I know, I know, that the Brig's line through and through, but I love that line so I'm always happy to hear it. And hey! Five rounds rapid actually worked this time. Just for once, human weapons were effective against an alien menace.
Random: Nice that Osgood got a diss in on the sonic sunglasses. "Wouldn't that be like a visual hearing aid?" I noticed a Mire helmet in the Black Archive. Is that the same one that killed Ashildr? If so, why is it locked up in a vault that's already in a vault? It's framed very purposely behind the Doctor the entire time he's talking. Or maybe it means nothing at all. The Doctor's Union Jack parachute reminded me of a stunt they did in one of the James Bond movies where Bond also had a Union Jack parachute. So we're led to believe that the Doctor has a parachute tucked away in his pocket? Because I don't see UNIT stocking them aboard Boat One. Random American accent from the Doctor. Please, never again. I much prefer Peter Capaldi's Scottish accent. Hey, they said Harry's name! The Doctor still calls him an imbecile. Hmm, I don't have much else to comment on.
Next week's episode looks like a found footage deal. Like, there's going to be some poor person running around this space station, filming everything while horrible things go down. It's a concept that's really taken traction because of the Paranormal Activity movies, but do we really need an entire episode filmed that way? We'll see. But I do believe, then, that the episode will be a contained story. Yay!
Gah, episode eight. We only have four episodes left!
Anyway, onto the episode. With these two parters, I feel like I should watch both parts together and then form an opinion, but this is how the episodes air, apart, so that's how I'm judging them. Perhaps I'll have a better opinion of season nine after I do a re-watch where I watch all of the two parters together.
Once again, the resolution was okay. Oh look, Clara in the pod messes about and she causes Bonnie to miss. Since we didn't see the RPG or missile hit the plane last week, it was sort of conceivable. Certainly gave the Doctor and Osgood enough time to find parachutes and jump out (though that means the Zygon, the UNIT soldiers, and the pilot are all died). I don't know. We didn't know that going in that Clara could influence Bonnie so it kind of feels cheap. Though, we've never seen what it's like for the victims who are being doubled, so it makes some sense that the link could be a two way street. It just seemed too easy, too fast. Suddenly, Clara is texting and winking without Bonnie knowing and you don't see her struggling. Yes, Clara has a strong will, but come on.
I quite enjoyed seeing Osgood Companion-ing it up with the Doctor for a little bit. She can see through his bull crap and can keep up in a rapidly changing situation. Maybe Osgood can be the next Companion? It seems more likely that it won't happen, not with the way the episode ends. Both Osgoods need to be around to keep the peace. I guess I don't care that we never find out if the surviving Osgood is human or Zygon, but I feel like they've set it up now that we'll have a never ending supply of Osgoods. One dies? Well, that's okay, because we can have another Zygon take the place of the other one. Of course, that could mean you have two Zygon!Osgoods keeping the peace, but you still wouldn't know.
As for how the war is adverted, wow, there was a lot of standing around while Peter Capaldi acted his heart out. He's very good in the scene, but the other characters get to do absolutely nothing. Yes, talking is what the Doctor does best, but we could have used more interaction with Bonnie and Kate. More arguing, more back and forth might have punched up the emotions. I did like that the Osgood Box was not what I was expecting. They are just empty boxes with big buttons to press. No nerve gas or bomb or anything else that could have influenced the war. And it was wonderful when the Doctor referred back to "The Day of the Doctor" and related how he was in the exact same position. The whole scheme is very elaborate, but I believe it because you know the Doctor would never, ever let another war happen.
The whole Zygon plot to start a war is still a little fuzzy with me, so that's where watching both parts together might come in handy. I still feel like not much happened, though. There wasn't panic in the streets or anything like that. The Zygons take over UNIT and then, well, I don't know what the other Zygons were doing besides sitting around in their human forms, looking creepy. But I was right about Kate! She did kill the other Zygon and then pretended to be them. Most obvious thing in the world. And though she had to kill the Zygon to get the upper hand, her response about how she survived made me grin: "Five rounds rapid." I know, I know, that the Brig's line through and through, but I love that line so I'm always happy to hear it. And hey! Five rounds rapid actually worked this time. Just for once, human weapons were effective against an alien menace.
Random: Nice that Osgood got a diss in on the sonic sunglasses. "Wouldn't that be like a visual hearing aid?" I noticed a Mire helmet in the Black Archive. Is that the same one that killed Ashildr? If so, why is it locked up in a vault that's already in a vault? It's framed very purposely behind the Doctor the entire time he's talking. Or maybe it means nothing at all. The Doctor's Union Jack parachute reminded me of a stunt they did in one of the James Bond movies where Bond also had a Union Jack parachute. So we're led to believe that the Doctor has a parachute tucked away in his pocket? Because I don't see UNIT stocking them aboard Boat One. Random American accent from the Doctor. Please, never again. I much prefer Peter Capaldi's Scottish accent. Hey, they said Harry's name! The Doctor still calls him an imbecile. Hmm, I don't have much else to comment on.
Next week's episode looks like a found footage deal. Like, there's going to be some poor person running around this space station, filming everything while horrible things go down. It's a concept that's really taken traction because of the Paranormal Activity movies, but do we really need an entire episode filmed that way? We'll see. But I do believe, then, that the episode will be a contained story. Yay!
Gah, episode eight. We only have four episodes left!
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Date: 2015-11-14 10:44 am (UTC)I pointed out on another post that no matter what kind of extreme circumstances Clara is in, she will be A-OK. You know why?. Because she's Clara!. I wish I was that resourceful.
I've seen mix reviews on Osgood. I don't mind her. I think she would make a great champion, especially with Twelve. I loved her explanation of how much she was a fan of the Doctor.:D
Moffat really likes using boxes as a metaphor for something dangerous. Luckily these one's were only used as a decoy. Similar to how Martha pretended to have a special gun to kill the Master.
I'm not sure if we were given a reason to the Zygon's motivations for war besides being desperate. I wish they had written some dialogue for Kate and Bonnie where they debated against each other, like in a court room and the Doctor could be the "Judge". It looked more like an "intervention" where the Doctor was trying to convince Bonnie she had a problem.
I love Peter Capaldi's Scottish accent. Well I usually love Scottish accents in general. That's why I got annoyed David Tennant couldn't used his when he was the Doctor. But I know some people who don't like it because they can't understand him which is a shame. I think that "cheesy American quiz show host accent" he used was suppose to be cringe worthy. I was like: "Stop it!. Go back to your normal accent".
no subject
Date: 2015-11-14 11:23 pm (UTC)I would like to see Osgood as a Companion because she'd be something a bit different. Yes, she's a fan of the Doctor, but she's analytical like him and a scientist to boot. She could share some of the science jargon with him rather than just asking question like the Companion normally does. Maybe she'll come back next season and she'll get a proper trip in the TARDIS.
I think the Zygons' motivation could have been laid out a little better. Were they being mistreated? I never got a sense that they were living under horrible conditions.
I think that "cheesy American quiz show host accent" he used was suppose to be cringe worthy. I was like: "Stop it!. Go back to your normal accent".
Yes, it was definitely cringe worthy. :-) But I guess Twelve is a little more whimsical this season. He will do something a bit strange to make his point.
no subject
Date: 2015-11-15 06:16 am (UTC)Even if it means we get another female champion, Osgood's knowledge of science would certainly shift the stories in a different direction. We could have got some of that with Martha but alas the storytelling focused less on her medical skills and more on her crush on Ten.
I couldn't get into the Zygon plot because I was distracted by the paranoia of who was a Zygon. I really don't want to do a rewatch, because you know my dislike of how these aliens transform, superficial as I may sound.
"But I guess Twelve is a little more whimsical this season. He will do something a bit strange to make his point."
As grating as that accent Peter Capaldi put on, I think it worked for Twelve, especially in the stage the Doctor is at. That he would mock what was going on. He was probably fed up with having to deal with this scenario once again. I couldn't imagine Ten playing it that way, maybe Eleven.