Doctor Who 3.8: Hunan Nature
May. 28th, 2007 05:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenaySqueee!
Last week's episode was a simple, old fashioned save the ship before we die plot, which I loved. This week's episode is one of the period pieces that Doctor Who has always done well, a mystery thriller episode that's complex and fascinating, and I loved it, too.
I loved the gradual way that events were revealed, keeping us in the dark but dropping just enough information to keep us interested. When I watched the first time, I assumed that Martha also didn't know who she was and wondered if this was going to be one of those episodes where the Doctor and his companion have to fight to remember themselves before defeating the enemy. It was only when she went to the TARDIS that I was absolutely certain that she was "our" Martha.
My sister didn't get to see it on Saturday so we had to rewatch it last night with her (oh, the hardship) and I was able to focus much more on Martha in those early scenes. It was interesting to see how she was working to keep the Doctor believing that he's just a human school teacher. The subtle hints and expressions that show she's aware of what's happening but trying to keep up the pretence were brilliant.
Also, now I see why handing over the TARDIS key last week was needed :-) And I loved Martha saying hello to the TARDIS - beautiful moment.
I love the idea that, for once, it's Martha that has to protect the Doctor. It shows her strength and also how different she is from Rose. This is a plot that I can't imagine working with Rose.
I always try to avoid reading other people's reactions to episodes until I've made this post so that I come at it unbiased, but this time I'm really hoping that everyone enjoyed it as much as I did because I can't put my finger on one precise thing that's made me love it. There's the ideas, the atmosphere, the great acting and the sense of danger throughout, but it's all of it mingled together rather than one specific moment.
The psychic kid has me completely intrigued, particularly in light of what the Face of Bo told the Doctor earlier in the season. Except we've possibly seen the kid's death. However, that flash of Martha when he ran into her definitely looked modern in setting, so does he time-travel at some stage? So many questions!
My sister remarked that there's something incredibly creepy and sinister about that tilting of the heads that the villains were doing. She has a very good point. It's such a simple thing, not in the least showy, yet it's somehow more disturbing than many special effects.
The little girl with the balloon reminded me of the battle computer girl in the Seventh Doctor's Dalek adventure. Another incredibly simple thing, not showy, and yet thoroughly unnerving. It's touches like those that really gave this episode the atmosphere.
The other thing that I adored to pieces was the music. Doctor Who has had some fabulous scores, but this one somehow stands out. The perky, bubbly music that accompanies the Doctor when he's being human, the splashes of Martha's melody and the occasional hints of the haunting Doctor theme were timed perfectly. It wasn't something that stood out and waved at me on that first viewing (I was too absorbed), but I noticed on the second viewing how much the music fitted into the moods.
This is definitely a story that benefits from the double-episode format and I can't wait until next Saturday. I just hope the second half lives up to the first part!
Last week's episode was a simple, old fashioned save the ship before we die plot, which I loved. This week's episode is one of the period pieces that Doctor Who has always done well, a mystery thriller episode that's complex and fascinating, and I loved it, too.
I loved the gradual way that events were revealed, keeping us in the dark but dropping just enough information to keep us interested. When I watched the first time, I assumed that Martha also didn't know who she was and wondered if this was going to be one of those episodes where the Doctor and his companion have to fight to remember themselves before defeating the enemy. It was only when she went to the TARDIS that I was absolutely certain that she was "our" Martha.
My sister didn't get to see it on Saturday so we had to rewatch it last night with her (oh, the hardship) and I was able to focus much more on Martha in those early scenes. It was interesting to see how she was working to keep the Doctor believing that he's just a human school teacher. The subtle hints and expressions that show she's aware of what's happening but trying to keep up the pretence were brilliant.
Also, now I see why handing over the TARDIS key last week was needed :-) And I loved Martha saying hello to the TARDIS - beautiful moment.
I love the idea that, for once, it's Martha that has to protect the Doctor. It shows her strength and also how different she is from Rose. This is a plot that I can't imagine working with Rose.
I always try to avoid reading other people's reactions to episodes until I've made this post so that I come at it unbiased, but this time I'm really hoping that everyone enjoyed it as much as I did because I can't put my finger on one precise thing that's made me love it. There's the ideas, the atmosphere, the great acting and the sense of danger throughout, but it's all of it mingled together rather than one specific moment.
The psychic kid has me completely intrigued, particularly in light of what the Face of Bo told the Doctor earlier in the season. Except we've possibly seen the kid's death. However, that flash of Martha when he ran into her definitely looked modern in setting, so does he time-travel at some stage? So many questions!
My sister remarked that there's something incredibly creepy and sinister about that tilting of the heads that the villains were doing. She has a very good point. It's such a simple thing, not in the least showy, yet it's somehow more disturbing than many special effects.
The little girl with the balloon reminded me of the battle computer girl in the Seventh Doctor's Dalek adventure. Another incredibly simple thing, not showy, and yet thoroughly unnerving. It's touches like those that really gave this episode the atmosphere.
The other thing that I adored to pieces was the music. Doctor Who has had some fabulous scores, but this one somehow stands out. The perky, bubbly music that accompanies the Doctor when he's being human, the splashes of Martha's melody and the occasional hints of the haunting Doctor theme were timed perfectly. It wasn't something that stood out and waved at me on that first viewing (I was too absorbed), but I noticed on the second viewing how much the music fitted into the moods.
This is definitely a story that benefits from the double-episode format and I can't wait until next Saturday. I just hope the second half lives up to the first part!
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-28 05:33 pm (UTC)I would point out that you only have to wait one week to see the second part, whereas I have to wait three. Except since I've read the book I can answer most of those questions already :)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 02:38 pm (UTC)I am quite content not to know until I've seen it. Why the long wait at your end?
no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 04:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-28 09:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-29 12:02 pm (UTC)http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/race_to_strato/LTA11.htm
There was some debate over hydrogen vs helium, and combustability, but I can't remember too much on that...
no subject
Date: 2007-05-29 07:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 10:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 02:40 pm (UTC)PS. The icon is beautiful. Who is that handsome stranger? ;-)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 03:13 pm (UTC)I thought I remembered the dates - but, gah! So crap at the detail. All I could remember first off was the Hindenburg disaster, which was WAY off. I've also got a lovely newspaper from 1901 I was given by my grandma when I was really small (yes, smaller, if you can believe such a thing), celebrating the life of Queen Victoria - super pic of a baloon in that, if I remember rightly. Anyway, I'm wittering again. Balloons are cool, though :-).
no subject
Date: 2007-05-29 10:04 am (UTC)But I could easily be utterly wrong!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 02:41 pm (UTC)Not that I'm impatient for next week's episode at all!