Doctor Who 2.7: The Idiot's Lantern
Jun. 5th, 2006 08:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenayA shorter review than normal because I'm a little behind, but I had to mention a few things about this episode:
- Mark Gatiss credited as writer is always a good guide to the episode quality.
- RTD and co. are definitely not afraid to make a few points this season: I really enjoyed the commentary on the goggle box/idiot box and B-plot involving the bullying father was really well done.
- Things are becoming a little more serious for Rose and the Doctor - this was the first episode where the possible consequences for them became a little more worrying.
- I knew that the Doctor would rescue Rose, but that hug between them at the end was fabulous whether or not you're a shipper.
- Rose and the Doctor are becoming closer each week - how bad is this fall they're setting up going to be?
- The 50s outfits, especially the Doctor's hair, were just fab.
- Maureen Lipman did a brilliant job as the Wire. She looked just right as one of the BBC's female announcers complete with evening dress, but she managed to look completely phsychotic, too, when the nature of the Wire was revealed. Fabulous job, particularly considering that she was acting in a studio by herself and must have felt like a complete wazzuck with some of the stuff she had to do :-)
- Did I mention the Doctor's hair?
- And the Doctor's moped?
- The alien entity plot was fun, and I adored the climactic struggle on the tower at Alexandria Palace, but it never really felt like the heart of the plot. That was reserved for the smaller plots between Rose and the Doctor and within the family. It worked well, don't get me wrong, but I hope we have an equal mix of action episodes and these kinds of episodes.
- The Doctor on a moped :-)
- Mark Gatiss credited as writer is always a good guide to the episode quality.
- RTD and co. are definitely not afraid to make a few points this season: I really enjoyed the commentary on the goggle box/idiot box and B-plot involving the bullying father was really well done.
- Things are becoming a little more serious for Rose and the Doctor - this was the first episode where the possible consequences for them became a little more worrying.
- I knew that the Doctor would rescue Rose, but that hug between them at the end was fabulous whether or not you're a shipper.
- Rose and the Doctor are becoming closer each week - how bad is this fall they're setting up going to be?
- The 50s outfits, especially the Doctor's hair, were just fab.
- Maureen Lipman did a brilliant job as the Wire. She looked just right as one of the BBC's female announcers complete with evening dress, but she managed to look completely phsychotic, too, when the nature of the Wire was revealed. Fabulous job, particularly considering that she was acting in a studio by herself and must have felt like a complete wazzuck with some of the stuff she had to do :-)
- Did I mention the Doctor's hair?
- And the Doctor's moped?
- The alien entity plot was fun, and I adored the climactic struggle on the tower at Alexandria Palace, but it never really felt like the heart of the plot. That was reserved for the smaller plots between Rose and the Doctor and within the family. It worked well, don't get me wrong, but I hope we have an equal mix of action episodes and these kinds of episodes.
- The Doctor on a moped :-)
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no subject
Date: 2006-06-05 09:24 pm (UTC)Spoilery stuff.
No faces. Veeery freaky. I could easily be a Doc/Rose shipper given what's in there, but what's this fall you mention? Where the hell is Cap'n Jack when ya need him, eh?? Maureen Lipman was fab as always. Love her. Liked her Mum, too. The only thing that threw me off was the fifties Teddyboy and girl look, with a Sixties scooter. That kind of machine was normally ridden by Mods and it just looked a bit odd to me. Weird and wonderful continuity. Liked the look of it, it just wasn't AFAIK historically accurate.
But that might just be me being picky ;)
A few things ...
Date: 2006-06-06 10:56 am (UTC)And The Doctor thought they were arriving in 1957 USA (if I remember correctly) rather than 1953 UK (which is why he told the boy to keep the scooter hidden in a shed for a few years, as it was indeed anachronistic)
But whether they had scooters in 1957, erm, don't know.
(quick google search later)
In the 1950s companies like Vespa in the UK started selling the first of their gas motor scooters. It was a big hit at the 1950 Motorcycle Show and quickly became a big hit in the UK as well. Vespa sold over 125,000 in the UK between the years of 1950 to 1958
http://www.theallineed.com/travel/06031006.htm
So yes, scooters in the 1950s in the UK would have been fine.
Re: A few things ...
Date: 2006-06-06 02:28 pm (UTC)I stand corrected :) I had no idea they were brought in that early! Still, at least it shows it was before my time LOL
I remember the Doctor thinking it was 1957 USA, but even then I thought scooters would be before that time. Thanks for clearing all that up for me.
Re: A few things ...
Date: 2006-06-06 06:47 pm (UTC)Now I didn't know that. I was willing to forgive them because the Doctor and Rose expected to be in New York several years later, but it's cool to know that they probably wouldn't have been totally out of place. Although when it comes down to available models, that particular Vespa might not have existed yet so the Doctor's comments to the boy worked.
I did like the outfits - they would have been just right in 1957 New York, created a fun splash of colour in 1953 London.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 06:40 pm (UTC)*g* It's not hard to read it in, which is what makes it a good ship. Of course, Doctor/Jack isn't difficult to find either...
Darn this shippy slashy show!
but what's this fall you mention?
Um...pretend I didn't say that. It's possibly spoilery :-)
Where the hell is Cap'n Jack when ya need him, eh??
Hear, hear! I'm hoping that he reappears soon.
And I believe that
no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 07:26 pm (UTC)Oh yah. Mind, given how old the Doctor is, I'm willing to believe it might just possibly be a little *parental* affection. Please? Humour me?? ;o)
And I believe that the_magician has already covered the anachronisms...***
Oh indeed. Comprehensively :o) I really had no clue either.
Um...pretend I didn't say that. It's possibly spoilery :-)***
So spoil me, spoil me. I don't mind!
Hear, hear! I'm hoping that he reappears soon.***
Oh wouldn't that be lurvely? And with a follow on from the big smackerooney he gave the last Doctor (sigh)
no subject
Date: 2006-06-08 10:46 am (UTC)What I love about their relationship is that they love each other and it's so easy to read whatever kind of love you want into their relationship - whether it's parental, best friend, brother-sister or ship. It's a relationship that gives everyone options, with the big constant being that they love each other and other people can't compete with the depth of that.
So spoil me, spoil me. I don't mind!
*snort* Not eager or anything, are you? All I know is that at some stage, and I think it will be in the next couple of episodes, the Doctor and Rose are heading for some kind of fall that's going to be rather traumatic. Honest injun, that's all I know.
Oh wouldn't that be lurvely? And with a follow on from the big smackerooney he gave the last Doctor (sigh)
*g* That wouldn't be a bad way to return him...
no subject
Date: 2006-06-08 10:57 am (UTC)Totally. All the time. It's my downfall ;o)
It's a relationship that gives everyone options, with the big constant being that they love each other and other people can't compete with the depth of that.***
ITA It's very cool. I'm actually quite surprised at how much I've really taken to DT, considering how much I liked CE. I'm beginning to think he's the best Doctor ever.
I also loved The Impossible Planet. Real spooky stuff. Can't wait 'til the next part.
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Date: 2006-06-05 10:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 08:31 am (UTC)(He gets this gossip being Barrowman's partner's ex-landlord, apparently. Go figure!)
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Date: 2006-06-06 08:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 09:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 02:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 02:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-08 10:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-06 06:44 pm (UTC)