Doctor Who, series 1

[rm]

I have just finished disc three.


The Long Game -- fine but forgettable. Standard SF tropes.

Father's Day -- surprisingly nice

and then... we meet Captain Jack....

- first these two episodes creeped the fuck out of me
- second, the Brits really can't fuck it up when it comes to doing something weird with WWII stories, can they? Sooooo good.
- Jack! Jack is hillarious, charming and even more awkward at the people thing than in Torchwood. A lot of people have said to me he's more lighthearted with the Doctor, but wow did he seem fucked up and with a lot of pain behind his eyes to me.
- the ending. I loved the ending. A really joyous happy ending that didn't feel forced, but very random and glorious. I loved it!
- the dancing!
- Rose and the Doctor and Jack! OMG!

When I watch media that I love, that really gets me, I get very infected with it -- not the obsessive thing, so much as I just sort of get too much of the cadence of it for a bit -- I don't know how else to explain it -- it's like how I can't mimic people's voices but can mimic their cadences or physical gestures, but like with movies. So poor Patty has me on her hands, and I'm manic and making her dance in the living room!

Aaaaah! I love this shit!

And now I must go steal Patty out of the shower to spin her around the living room again!

I love my life.

Comments

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

*looks around to make sure that not too much of the internet is watching*

The first time I saw the "Everybody lives!" moment, I got very misty-eyed.

(Okay, I cried.)

I thought that "The Empty Child" was the creepiest DW story, ever - right until I saw "Blink"

(Why, yes, I am a squealing Steven Moffat fangirl...)

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

I thought that "The Empty Child" was the creepiest DW story, ever - right until I saw "Blink"

Word.

[iamradar.livejournal.com]

Me three.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Me four.

(Though "Ghost Light" is way up there for me still.)

[erratic0101.livejournal.com]

Me five.

Empty Child freaked me out for a day or so.

Blink has STILL got me freaked out.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Blink won a Rondo award, which I find remarkable given that this is a horror-oriented fan-based award.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I almost kicked Moffat in the shins¹ at Gallifrey One 'cos of that episode. I doubt I was the only one...

¹ - er, in a good way, I mean...

[tommx.livejournal.com]

I guess that makes me a Stephen Moffat fanboy because I got misty eyed cried too the first time I saw the "Everybody Lives" moment. (something I was not accustomed to doing while watching Dr. Who!!!)

I adore Jack in the early episodes of season 1 Dr. Who because you get to see him evolve as a character over those episodes. I'm really curious to see what you think of the rest of season 1.

My favorite bits of the Empty Child/Doctor Dances

The girl accosting the apparently gay/bisexual old guy
The night club. I love good period pieces.
Doctor Constantine saying "physical injuries as plague"....still gives me chills.
Every fucking scene with Jack, but especially his emergency program that generates a martini with olives.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

but especially his emergency program that generates a martini with olives.

Ahh, emergency protocol 471. I know it well. :)

(edited for stupid typo)

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I'm rather there with you on all points. I've seen The Doctor Dances three times and I tear up a bit every time. Moffat is the best writer they have by a whole lot and he's doing a 2-parter this season!

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Indeed!

And, if rumor is correct, a lot more next year. *happydance*

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard that - that's exceptionally nifty news!

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

he's being tipped as the next exec. prod after RTD leaves...

[heron61.livejournal.com]

OMG!!! YAY!!! That's absolutely fantastic news. Wow, that has definitely made my day.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Mind you, that's not *officially* confirmed or nothing. But, er, suffice it to say that if you get the writers drunk enough at a convention, things get said... ;)

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope!

[ashabeth.livejournal.com]

My kids and I are loving this newest DW.

Soooo nice the new season has started.

"Blink" rocks.

Beware the angels.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

*big nods*

Jack's relationship with Rose and the Doctor is so so interesting. "Parting of the Ways" has what I think is an absolutely perfect moment; "Boom Town" teaches us much about the dynamics of these characters and - heh - how good Rose really has it.

(Gods, I'm so eager for you to see "Parting of the Ways"..)

And - yes. The message of "The Doctor Dances". This is in part why I really think the show needs to kill off a Companion.

(Please Excuse My Cutting In)

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

This is in part why I really think the show needs to kill off a Companion

Well, they did... in the old series. Viz: Earthshock.

But I agree in that in really needs to happen in the new show. Hell yes.

Re: (Please Excuse My Cutting In)

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Oh, it did; but over the course of over 20 years? It's sorta surprising that it's not happened more.

New Who is doing a helluva job in pushing the concept that the Doctor is dangerous, and traveling with him is dangerous. I think they need to demonstrate that.

Re: (Please Excuse My Cutting In)

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

New Who is doing a helluva job in pushing the concept that the Doctor is dangerous, and traveling with him is dangerous.

Indeed!

If you don't mind my asking, have you listened to the between-TV-continuity audios? They've done some moderately brave things, there (including killing companions, if not TV-canon ones...)

Re: (Please Excuse My Cutting In)

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

To my shame, no I haven't.

Re: (Please Excuse My Cutting In)

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Some of them are utterly excellent - although, of course, there are a few clangers, too.

Big Finish made an Eighth Doctor fan of me, and that was no small task.

If you're curious, I've got a list of reccs, although it's in bad need of updating, as it's over a year old... but the reccs still stand. ;)

Re: (Please Excuse My Cutting In)

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Re: (Please Excuse My Cutting In)

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

...and you've prompted me to add a new list covering the releases of the past year.

[weirdodragoncat.livejournal.com]

So far the only ep I've seen that genuinely creeped me out (although granted, I haven't watched *nearly* enough) was a recent-ish one about statues that look like angels but move when you're not looking. Freaked ..me...the...hell...out! I swear I'll never look at statues the same way again!

[weirdodragoncat.livejournal.com]

"Blink" ...that was the name of it. Creepy...

[rm.livejournal.com]

Okay, I totally read a fanfiction that uses these creatures, but it was a lame fic, so I find it weird that this was an actual episode and that it freaked everyone the fuck out. I am really curious now.

[weirdodragoncat.livejournal.com]

it was fairly recent so maybe it will get re-run on BBC America again soon. And as I said in my follow up comment...the ep is called 'Blink'

Its not *quite* as creepy as the Buffy ep called 'Hush' but it comes close.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, I am this obsessed and don't have BBC-A. Which led to me watching Torchwood at my parent's house recently, which was.... interesting.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Even knowing it had this crazy hype of being creepy as hell?

I fully confess to jumping a few times and - indeed - being a little creeped out at the end. (The episode has a decidedly non-Who-feel.)

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

And also?

I love that you were moved to dance. Repeatedly.

I'm very glad I stumbled across your path all those LJ years ago. :)

[rm.livejournal.com]

And I still can't believe I haven't met you.

Also, I am glad someone gets the dancing thing.

Eventually, when my head has it figured out a little better, I have to write a long screed about why I apparently identify with Jack in the DW/TW universe, as opposed to Ianto, who very much amuses me and I thought would be one of those characters for me (repressed, conniving, good suits -- Snape!). Because seriously, that is some weird shit.

[fleur.livejournal.com]

I have been waiting for you to report that you finally met Jack in series 1! I thought you would really enjoy that.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. It's such a bloody shame for me to be so into a character I so can't convincingly cosplay. I've been spoiled by all these years of Snape.

[fleur.livejournal.com]

There is a HUGE reveal at the end of Season 3 about Jack that could possibly impact how you watch Torchwood after you see it. Watch faster pls!!

[magnetgirl.livejournal.com]

Okies-I can't read this post because I just started watching the doctor last night. Saw some season 3 eps on BBC America on my JetBlue flight and got hooked.

However, wondering your opinion on this whole scenario:
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/24559
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/science-sheds-light-on-yale-art-project/?hp

[rm.livejournal.com]

Well it was a hoax, and that was in fact the art.

What she claimed to have done was tacky at best.
Making art about people's reactions to said claim in an effort to make art about the power of media, discourse and assumptions, was in my mind, equally crass. Hoaxes can be art, but this was such a blunt instrument I remain unimpressed.

Oh, I am psyched you're getting onto the DW/TW bandwagon as I need more people to obsess with.

[marchek.livejournal.com]

I am intrigued by the episodes you're all talking about, I can't wait to see them. I'm still waiting for disc two to show up in the mail.

I really should think about upgrading my neflix account now that I'm trying to watch a series. Seriously.

...

[keith418.livejournal.com]

Have you seen this?

[amberite.livejournal.com]

...and just as I rejoin the cult, it gains an illustrious new member. :-)