Dr. Who 3/29.06 The Lazarus Experiment

[selenak]

She really is. I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating (in my prejudiced opinion): I love love love that the writers never forget with Martha that she's supposed to be a doctor (to be), smart and educated, and that they go the show, not tell route. Bear with me: I still am annoyed at the way Gwen's police background over at Torchwood was used (not), and didn't influence her characterisation. So, Martha thinking of the DNA sample? Win! Martha geeking out with the Doctor over the DNA sample, Martha diagnosing her brother's concussion? Ditto! And there's the way she uses the sonic screwdriver to let people out of the building.... But my absolute favourite Martha scene was definitely the one at the end where she does the same thing she does at the end of Gridlock, calling the Doctor out on his bullshit. I can't tell you how happy I am that she didn't accept the "one more trip" excuse this time (honorh sent me a list of Top Five Lame Excuses The Doctor Used For Not Bringing Martha Home After Shakespeare, which was great); if he wants her around, he has to say so. And he does. Added bonus: he admits that "you were never just a passenger" before. The Doctor is awfully good at lying to himself, which is why a Companion who calls him out on that now and then is so very very beneficial.

Meanwhile, we have arc plot ongoing, with Saxon (and we have first name now - Harold) financing the Lazarus experiment, and one of his flunkies whispering ominous things about the Doctor into Mrs. Jones' ear. Incidentally, my current guess is that what he whispered wasn't some big reveal lik the Timelord stuff, but "this man was responsible for the death of your cousin/niece Aedoela", which would be bad enough for Mrs. Jones without making her question the source too closely, as "he's a an alien! really!" would. Harold Saxon, hm? Harold as in the last Saxon king before the Normans came along. Someone likes his history jokes, methinks.

Speaking of the Jones family: loved the way Mrs. Jones first brought the Doctor up short when replying to the "told me so much about you..." with "What?"; among other things because that showed the Doctor that he doesn't really know much about Martha's background at all. The slap during the second encounter was a predictable gag - we all were waiting for her to slap him at some point, weren't we? - but it worked greatly, nonetheless. Letitia - "Tish" - was sympathetic while being a tad superficial, considering she's willing to give it a try with Lazarus when he's looking young (but had shown himself to be a sleaze before when she so brilliantly shot him down with the perfume-soap line); courageous, though, and unwilling to let her sister face danger alone. We'll definitely see more of her. Leo the brother did not have much to do but struck me as likeable as well, calming down his mother with "so she found a bloke, so what?", and teasing his other sister.

Lazarus was a very Old Who kind of character. I had a Blake's 7 flashback as well, for obvious reasons (obvious if you've seen the season 4 opening episode, down to the incredibly unsubtle name - the B7 guy was called Dorian, as in Dorian Gray). They went for parallels/contrasts with the Doctor there which worked in the church scene, but all in all, I thought we had better one shot bad guys, such as ASH's Brother Lazarus (!!!)/Mr. Finch in School Reunion. This being said, Lazarus provided the excuse for great Martha/Doctor teamwork and them being locked up in close space where the Doctor went down on her the Doctor admired her shoes while saving them, so, no problem there.

Coming up: Spiderman review, of both the movie and the Civil War run.

Comments

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

They really did Martha and her family proud this episode. I loved that Tish saved Martha from falling when the Doctor couldn't have and Martha telling Lazurus he couldn't know what he'd done untill he'd carried out proper tests made me completely forgive all the skience. Wish she was my student.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Oh, I never look for accurate science on Dr. Who - but if they give me believable scientists, I'm happy. Different thing.*g*

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

Just finished this episode 2 minutes ago. I loved Martha's smartness and competence, and take no crap attitude.
I think the Doctor has a real need for a companion who is not afraid to stand toe to toe with him and tell him he's not infallible.
I need to get some Martha and the Doctor icons!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

who_daily always links icon posts, and of course you can check lifeonmartha. One of my favourite icon makers who has beautiful Martha and the Doctor icons is cheesygirl!