Doctor Who: 2nd half of S1
May. 29th, 2010 01:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peroxidepirateOh, wow. I just blew through the second half of Doctor Who, Season 1 in about three days. I mentioned that I didn't feel the immediate affinity for Rose and Nine that I did for Amy and, especially, Eleven. But, well, somewhere around "The Long Game," I started to get it.
I enjoyed "Father's Day," but I don't have strong feelings about it. Then "The Empty Child" clinched it. I absolutely love the last five eps of the season, and I have some pretty strong feelings about the characters, too.
The creepiness of "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" is fantastic. I often dislike suspense and horror, but this one works for me because, by the end of the story, there is an explanation that makes sense.
And the last three episodes set up some really intriguing moral questions. For the most part, I like the answers the Doctor came up with (and yes, though I love the other characters too, I agree with the assessment that it really is all about the Doctor). I realize both "Boom Town" and the finale were Tardis ex machina at the end; otherwise, both stories would have ended in disaster. On the other hand, "The Parting of the Ways" wouldn't have ended that way without the Doctor's protectiveness, Rose's determination, and Mickey and Jackie's understanding.
I still don't like Jackie very much. I'm sorry, but I have a hard time with mother characters who just want "happiness" (which usually translates to "a normal life") for their free-spirited, world-saving daughters. I don't like Joyce Summers very much, either. This is my issue, rooted in the knowledge that my mom hoped for a daughter who would graduate from college and have a white wedding and provide her with grandchildren, and instead she got... me. There's no changing that fact, or me, or my reaction to this (at least at this point in my life). But I am very touched by some of the scenes between Jackie and Rose.
My heart kind of breaks for Mickey. I love him for trying to help Rose rescue the Doctor, and for mostly understanding that she has to go. But I wish he really could move on. Rose shouldn't ever have a "normal" life*, but Mickey should, and as long as he's in love with Rose, that's impossible. Poor kid.
By this point, I just adore Rose, and the Doctor, and their relationship. I get it. I see why it's ficced like crazy -- but I don't think I'll be inclined to write it, because I like it just the way it is, in all its intense, ambiguous glory. I have so much love for the mutual rescuing at the end -- the Doctor saves Rose; then she saves him and the entire Earth; then he saves her again. Beautiful. Also, go figure, I really fell for Nine in the last three episodes of the season.... just in time to be brokenhearted because he's gone. Now I'm furious with Ten, on principle, just for not being Nine. I'm sure I'll get over it, but not just yet.
I'm really not sure what I think of Jack Harkness. I was prepared to hate him out of indignation, since he pretty much defines the trope "Anything That Moves." At some point I decided he was like a less funny Barney Stinson: an entertaining jerk who I wouldn't want to know in Real Life, but I like watching him on TV. But, see above about Rose and the Doctor? At this point, Jack is (sometimes) part of that, too. I can't not love that. I love the three of them, telling stories and finishing each other's sentences. I love that he kisses them both goodbye (partly because I'm old enough -- and have watched little enough TV in the past ten years -- that same-sex kissing on TV is still a novelty). I'm a touch worried about him, since nobody seems aware that he came back to life, and I'm curious about when he'll turn up next. And, yeah, I'm going to end up watching Torchwood, too.
And I have three whole seasons (plus some specials) ahead of me! *bounces*
*Yes, I've already read![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
green_maia 's meta on what happens to Rose later. Sigh. And so much for not becoming emotionally invested in the characters -- it happened so fast, but now it's much too late for that.
I enjoyed "Father's Day," but I don't have strong feelings about it. Then "The Empty Child" clinched it. I absolutely love the last five eps of the season, and I have some pretty strong feelings about the characters, too.
The creepiness of "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" is fantastic. I often dislike suspense and horror, but this one works for me because, by the end of the story, there is an explanation that makes sense.
And the last three episodes set up some really intriguing moral questions. For the most part, I like the answers the Doctor came up with (and yes, though I love the other characters too, I agree with the assessment that it really is all about the Doctor). I realize both "Boom Town" and the finale were Tardis ex machina at the end; otherwise, both stories would have ended in disaster. On the other hand, "The Parting of the Ways" wouldn't have ended that way without the Doctor's protectiveness, Rose's determination, and Mickey and Jackie's understanding.
I still don't like Jackie very much. I'm sorry, but I have a hard time with mother characters who just want "happiness" (which usually translates to "a normal life") for their free-spirited, world-saving daughters. I don't like Joyce Summers very much, either. This is my issue, rooted in the knowledge that my mom hoped for a daughter who would graduate from college and have a white wedding and provide her with grandchildren, and instead she got... me. There's no changing that fact, or me, or my reaction to this (at least at this point in my life). But I am very touched by some of the scenes between Jackie and Rose.
My heart kind of breaks for Mickey. I love him for trying to help Rose rescue the Doctor, and for mostly understanding that she has to go. But I wish he really could move on. Rose shouldn't ever have a "normal" life*, but Mickey should, and as long as he's in love with Rose, that's impossible. Poor kid.
By this point, I just adore Rose, and the Doctor, and their relationship. I get it. I see why it's ficced like crazy -- but I don't think I'll be inclined to write it, because I like it just the way it is, in all its intense, ambiguous glory. I have so much love for the mutual rescuing at the end -- the Doctor saves Rose; then she saves him and the entire Earth; then he saves her again. Beautiful. Also, go figure, I really fell for Nine in the last three episodes of the season.... just in time to be brokenhearted because he's gone. Now I'm furious with Ten, on principle, just for not being Nine. I'm sure I'll get over it, but not just yet.
I'm really not sure what I think of Jack Harkness. I was prepared to hate him out of indignation, since he pretty much defines the trope "Anything That Moves." At some point I decided he was like a less funny Barney Stinson: an entertaining jerk who I wouldn't want to know in Real Life, but I like watching him on TV. But, see above about Rose and the Doctor? At this point, Jack is (sometimes) part of that, too. I can't not love that. I love the three of them, telling stories and finishing each other's sentences. I love that he kisses them both goodbye (partly because I'm old enough -- and have watched little enough TV in the past ten years -- that same-sex kissing on TV is still a novelty). I'm a touch worried about him, since nobody seems aware that he came back to life, and I'm curious about when he'll turn up next. And, yeah, I'm going to end up watching Torchwood, too.
And I have three whole seasons (plus some specials) ahead of me! *bounces*
*Yes, I've already read
green_maia 's meta on what happens to Rose later. Sigh. And so much for not becoming emotionally invested in the characters -- it happened so fast, but now it's much too late for that.![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-29 11:58 pm (UTC)The Empty Child cinched it.
It does that to people. I believe it was Stephen Moffat's first DW script. There are several more fabulous/terrifying episodes of his before he takes over as Creative Director.
I agree with you entirely re: rose, Rose/Eleven and the messy-and-best-touched-lightly glory that they make.
*grin* and I'm excited reading that you have three more seasons. I love all this.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-30 12:47 am (UTC)I'm definitely going to watch every episode before the end of the summer. Possibly well before.
Are you watching the new season?
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-30 01:07 am (UTC)At first I was convinced that Jack was evil, but now I adore him. I'll definitely be watching Torchwood too! ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-30 02:25 am (UTC)When are you going to Europe? I think we have to get through the whole series while you still have reliable internet. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-30 04:07 am (UTC)I'm 5 episodes into S2, so I'm only a couple ahead of you. I like the next one you're about to watch, episode 4. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-31 02:15 am (UTC)Sorry to say, I just couldn't get into Torchwood. I just wanted to line up all the characters and slap them with a single group slap, Three Stooges style. YMMV, though.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-31 01:28 pm (UTC)And I'm coming around about Ten, enough to continue being obsessive (though at this point, I like both Eleven and Nine better).