Dr. Who 29/3.12 The Sound of Drums

[selenak]

So, um. Rusty made it canon?



The Doctor/Master'ship, that is. While simultanously reassuring people who were worried about the long lost brother rumour ("you've watched too much tv" indeed); fandom being what it is, this wouldn't have stopped anyone from 'shipping, of course, but hey, still nice to hear, RTD.

But seriously. It's not even the obvious lines like "are you asking me on a date?", it's how the Master reacts as soon as he hears the Doctor's voice, and vice versa, and "I'm going to save him" and... okay. Official now. Thanks!

Simm!Master is completely insane, of course, and yet never so that you don't take him seriously as a threat. The poor TARDIS. That was one of the must gut-wrenching visuals on New Who. Plus despite getting all the one liners this episode, he also gets continuity from the last episode - the drums - and the Gallifrey moment (which goes into chilling again, because you can't decide whether he's horrified or turned on by the idea or both) - and obviously there is the big question as to what is responsible for that sound of drums in the Master's head, and is there a third party with an agenda (possibly represented by whoever Lucy Saxon really is; I know the journalist said she had a genuine background, but that could just mean she has it better faked). Or it could tie in to the "I could tell you, but your hearts would break" line, the fact the Master used a fake name that was obviously the Gallifreyan equivalent of leprechauns for the aliens, and the chunks of backstory we got, about looking into the vortex and the Master having been resurrected by the Time Lords after the tv movie of doom. I'm still working on a theory, but it could be that this whole enterprise somehow is a part of an operation to bring back the Time Lords - mirroring what the Daleks tried in the Dalek two parter earlier this season - and is what the Master was programmed to do as a price for his resurrection in the event of a complete Time Lord defeat.

Speaking of backstory and continuity: we get a Gallifrey visual! And the collars are back, now with GCI! Aw. Also, clearly the fact Gallifreyans make their eight years old look into the abyss explains a lot about the Doctor and Master both.

Meanwhile, Dr. Who continues the tradition of taking pot shots at US Presidents (both metaphorically and literaly); maybe cheap, but still funny, and it's not like they spare the British side, what with Simm including some neat Tony Blair parody in Saxon's first day in office.

I don't think we've seen Martha as genuinenly angry with the Doctor before as she was in this episode. It reminded me of the tone she had said "she's dead" about Chantho last episode (nobody but Martha even noticed; the Doctor was too busy yelling at the Master, and Jack was busy with the door). Seeing her family - and her planet - used as a chess piece in some struggle between Time Lords would do that to a person. At the same time, she focused on what was important, because she's Martha, and when the Doctor got aged up, she was there to support him. Not just literaly, but in the end by doing what she did when the Doctor was out of commission in Human Nature/Family Blood as well; step up and be the Doctor. I've no doubt she teleported as part of a plan to save the day, and by the exchange of looks between her and the Doctor, he doesn't doubt her, either. *hearts Martha*

Good tie-in with Torchwood this week, btw, and thanks, RTD, for telling us what Team Torchwood is up to while all of this is happening. I'm so writing the Himalaya trip story. Also for answering whether or not the Doctor was aware Jack is working for Torchwood; that was another intense moment, though poor Jack - "I build it in your honor" is a pretty open declaration, but the object of his affection is busy with his bitter ex boyfriend arch nemesis.

Now: is it next week, please?

And lastly: jelly babies!

Comments

[ide-cyan.livejournal.com]

Jelly BABIES.


philistine

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It's still early in the morning and I'm writing in another language! *edits*

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

""I build it in your honor"" line = one of the hottest things I've seen in a long, long time.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

True, but "I like it when you use my name" was hotter!

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

I found it a little stilted, to be honest, but maybe that's just because he built it like the B-ark, incompetent and full of childish people, and it's sort of more pleasant to think he did that as a favor so Torchwood wouldn't be a problem, rather than as a testament to the Doctor's qualities. :) Or maybe it's just because I have almost zero romance in my soul, and I roll my eyes when people dedicate things to other people...

[buffyannotater.livejournal.com]

I don't think we've seen Martha as genuinenly angry with the Doctor before as she was in this episode.

Yes! And that also ties in thematically with Joan blaming The Doctor for the deaths in "Family of the Blood."

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It does. This season is just chock-full with emotional continuity goodness.

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

I'm still working on a theory, but it could be that this whole enterprise somehow is a part of an operation to bring back the Time Lords - mirroring what the Daleks tried in the Dalek two parter earlier this season - and is what the Master was programmed to do as a price for his resurrection in the event of a complete Time Lord defeat.

Oh, intriguing. It did occur to me that he was opening rifts in space, and therefore it was quite possible these were, say, alternate-dimension evil Gallifreyans post-Dalekification (android killing machines with human voices? I'm just sayin'). But the number of them was suspiciously like the population of Earth; I wonder if it's not an AU Earth population he's using to subjugate the Earth.

Something clearly is off about Lucy Saxon... it's very hard to know what, though. I do hope she's human, because I think that has a lot more mileage than if she's not (or maybe I just enjoy the parallels of Rose she represents). There is something about her father that we might see. And huge, huge touches to the past in this one: baby!Master's robes were the Troughton-era robes, the jelly babies, lots of UNIT. I enjoyed how full of plot and detail this story was; it didn't feel nearly as light-weight as last week's. And there really was rather a lot of sexual tension, wasn't there? I very much preferred the Master in this episode, where there was quite a bit of vulnerability, and, as you say, that ambivalent but nonetheless shocked reaction to the whole Gallifrey thing.

[shezan.livejournal.com]

My theory is that Lucy Saxon is Mary Archer.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

But the number of them was suspiciously like the population of Earth; I wonder if it's not an AU Earth population he's using to subjugate the Earth.

Ohhh, new thought: what if it's the remains of mankind after they arrived in "Utopia"? That would also qualify as breaking the Doctor's hearts, and tie in with Jacobi!Master taking that disc with him.

I very much preferred the Master in this episode, where there was quite a bit of vulnerability

The way he closed his eyes when hearing the Doctor's voice... and the "can't you hear it, I thought it would stop, but it's always there..."

[shezan.livejournal.com]

... and Martha & Jack BOTH communing in the obliviousness of the Doctor towards them...

Great episode but what or where were the jelly babies?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Jelly Babies = totally gratitious and adorable fan service. The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker, aka the one with the brown curls and the shawl) used to carry them around and share them with companions (and enemies) all the time. What with the Doctor/Master parallels, it totally fit.

[srichard.livejournal.com]

I'm really loving Martha too (and I totally shipped her with Chantho, so that was a wrench for me). I have to admit, though, I still haven't gotten past, "Man, this would be so awesome if only it were Christopher Eccleston." I doubt I ever will, with Tennant. Just not my cup of tea. Ah, well, it's still good tv.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

See, and while Eccleston was there, I never got over the "he's a great actor delivering a great performance, but I never quite believe him as the Doctor" element, whereas with Tennant I did from the get-go. Different strokes, etc., plus having seen other regenerations before and seeing echoes of those in Tennant but not Eccles.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I'm just sitting tight waiting for them to see sense and cast Paterson Joseph.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

The jelly babiies. I leapt up off the couch and yelled "YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT!".


And yes, clearly official.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

They love us fans, clearly they do. I'm totally forgiving all the gratitious Rose mentions this season for this.

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

possibly represented by whoever Lucy Saxon really is;

I've been trying to figure out who her father could possibly be. I doubt that was a throwaway line. The only father I associate the Master with is, of course, Nyssa's father, but she can't be Nyssa.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Nyssa would be really perverse, too, considering what the Master did to her father. Hmmmm...

...if she is human: how about Jo Grant's daughter by what's his name, with the Master having found out what became of Jo and deciding to play another mind game with the Doctor? What's his name could have been in trouble for any number of reasons and being helped out by "Harold Saxon"?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Jelly babies! When I went to a games con in the USA a few years back I took several quid's worth with me (which turns out to be illegal, but I didn't know at the time) and gave them away to all and sundry, and they were a huge success.

That was unbelievably slashy throughout, a million fangirls and boys squeed in unison.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I knew it was illegal, but only because when I was fourteen I participated in an American exchange program, and every single one of the Americans brought masses of jelly babies back to the States and told us it was ever so forbidden there.

...and I'm still squeeing.

[kathyh]

It's not even the obvious lines like "are you asking me on a date?", it's how the Master reacts as soon as he hears the Doctor's voice, and vice versa, and "I'm going to save him" and... okay. Official now.

I was trying so hard not to tell you that last night *g*. The intimacy of that conversation was astounding, it was as if they were alone in the universe. And we got more backstory in one episode than I think we have done in the last three series.

and is what the Master was programmed to do as a price for his resurrection in the event of a complete Time Lord defeat.

Intriguing theory and I do hope it is that though the "it would break your heart" line makes me wonder if the Time Lords have actually programmed him to destroy the universe if they no longer exist.

jelly babies!

I think the squeeing could be heard all over the country. J now thinks that the entire population of Gallifrey were addicted to jelly babies.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

The intimacy of that conversation was astounding, it was as if they were alone in the universe.

Absolutely. And the Master went immediately from speaker to phone because he wanted that intimacy.

though the "it would break your heart" line makes me wonder if the Time Lords have actually programmed him to destroy the universe if they no longer exist.

Though wouldn't be too dark even for Time Lords with an ego?

J now thinks that the entire population of Gallifrey were addicted to jelly babies.

Clearly. Someone made a killing when first importing them from Earth...

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

It's not even the obvious lines like "are you asking me on a date?", it's how the Master reacts as soon as he hears the Doctor's voice, and vice versa,

Yes. Oh, god, the look on the Master's face... Best Master characterization moment ever. And that whole conversation was rather disturbingly sexy. (I think I give up now. The Whovian smut bunnies win. :))

That was one of the must gut-wrenching visuals on New Who.

It was the sound that wrenched my guts. The cloister bell ringing and ringing and ringing, like the TARDIS screaming... *whimper*

and the Gallifrey moment (which goes into chilling again, because you can't decide whether he's horrified or turned on by the idea or both)

I think both. I think not only does he kind of get off on the thought of that kind of power (and probably on the thought of the Doctor giving in to that kind of power), but I can't help but think that discovering he'd out-survived his entire species is the sort of thing that would please his ego.

possibly represented by whoever Lucy Saxon really is; I know the journalist said she had a genuine background, but that could just mean she has it better faked

I think I'm more curious about her than anything else in this episode, which is saying something. Who is she? How much does she know? What exactly is the nature of her relationship with the Master?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, the look on the Master's face... Best Master characterization moment ever.

And masterfully, pun intended, played by John Simm. Such great casting!

And that whole conversation was rather disturbingly sexy.

It was. If that doesn't inspire writers, nothing will! Which leads me to:

(I think I give up now. The Whovian smut bunnies win. :))

Yay!

I think I'm more curious about her than anything else in this episode, which is saying something. Who is she? How much does she know? What exactly is the nature of her relationship with the Master?

I think it all depends whether she's truly human or not. If she's human, then I think she knows as much as Lance did in Runaway Bride (when he was working with the Empress of the Raccnoss) and probably goes along to be queen of the world or something like that. If she's not human but something else, she could be the Master's liason to whatever the flying 'bots truly are (AU timelord? The human race post-Utopia? Entities living in the Vortex?). Either way, meta-wise we obviously have another mirror to the Doctor/Companion relationship; Yana and Chantho were one in a positive way (as long as he was still Yana), the Master and Lucy are the psycho and psychodelic version.

Also? So very amused the Doctor is put off by the sight of the Master smooching someone else on tv.*g* ("...his WIFE?")

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

possibly represented by whoever Lucy Saxon really is; I know the journalist said she had a genuine background, but that could just mean she has it better faked

I think she might be genuine, actually; one of the viral marketing websites lists her background (http://www.haroldsaxon.co.uk/lucysaxon.shtml) and her father is named as Lord Cole of Tarminster (which, even if faked, is quite funny since Tarminster is apparently the (invented?) town where Terror of the Autons, the first serial the Master appeared in, takes place) who seems to have been somewhat of a public figure. She also seems to have siblings, and, judging from her profile, isn't the most interesting person ever (netball?), so I'm guessing he chose her for her connections, and then, er, discovered that they have a lot in common? I didn't have the feeling that she is the sanest person, either (in fact, she reminded me of rather restraint version of Crazy!Drusilla).

I really liked how they explained the Master's background, and why he is back - I guess the Timelords must have been somewhat desperate indeed, because resurrecting him in a state which makes my cats look rational just has "really, really bad idea" written all over it. I like your idea that they might have programmed him for a possible repopulation plan, should everything go wrong, since it would also fit with the Master usually having far less control over the situation than he thinks he does (Which I'm wildly speculating from the two serials I've now seen with Delgado, and the one I've seen with Ainley, mind you. :) )

And the slash is canon, isn't that wonderful? I felt vaguely sorry for the Rose/Doctor shippers, as it seems quite obvious now that it isn't Rose who is the Doctor's OTL. *g* "I'm here to save him!" indeed. (This also gave the episode a little Star Wars touch, like the fact that the Gallifreyan families send their eight-year-olds to the Citadel to become Padawans Timelords.)

Speaking of killing or saving (or both), I'm getting the distinct feeling that the Master might end up human again in the end, not least because killing him likely wouldn't stick, seeing that the Timelords seem to have completely rebooted him.

And Jack is also in love with the Doctor? It does make sense, in a weird way. I loved that it caused him to bond with Martha, who he seems to get along with fabulously anyway. There should be Jack & Martha fic Oh, and I would soo read your Torchwood-in-the-Himalaya story. "It all went well, until Owen decided to kick what turned out to be a very bad-tempered Yeti..." You don't happen to be interested in writing a "How Harry met Lucy" story as well

As for Martha, who is now going to kick so much ass, it will be amazing, I really wonder how she'll continue travelling with the Doctor after this. I mean, it's all quite a lot, and her family was threatened, and for the first time she sees that his battles can be fought on a decidedly large scale. We'll see, I guess...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I really liked how they explained the Master's background, and why he is back - I guess the Timelords must have been somewhat desperate indeed, because resurrecting him in a state which makes my cats look rational just has "really, really bad idea" written all over it.

Well, considering that war later only ended via two-way complete genocide, I suppose a resurrected Master looked like the smaller of two evils, but yes. Yes indeed.

I like your idea that they might have programmed him for a possible repopulation plan, should everything go wrong, since it would also fit with the Master usually having far less control over the situation than he thinks he does

Going by the drums in his head, it's clear someone other than himself did a number on him, which is a nice irony, considering his hypnotism gig. It's just that we don't know yet who!

And the slash is canon, isn't that wonderful? I felt vaguely sorry for the Rose/Doctor shippers, as it seems quite obvious now that it isn't Rose who is the Doctor's OTL. *g*

Quite. *g* Mind you, I still maintain he loves the TARDIS best (and won't forgive the Master for what he did to her), but after the old girl, it's clearly the Master, all the way.

"I'm here to save him!" indeed. (This also gave the episode a little Star Wars touch, like the fact that the Gallifreyan families send their eight-year-olds to the Citadel to become Padawans Timelords.)

I was thinking of that, too, though I doubt the Master will end up sacrificing himself for the Doctor. Otoh, it would fit with this season on tv being clearly in love with RotJ, she says meaningfully.

Speaking of killing or saving (or both), I'm getting the distinct feeling that the Master might end up human again in the end, not least because killing him likely wouldn't stick, seeing that the Timelords seem to have completely rebooted him.

Quite. Right now, I can see several possibilities:

a) The Doctor uses the chameleon device to turn the Master human again and dumps him somewhere in time and space, hoping he'll turn out like Yana once more. This gives RTD the possibility to bring him back, or not, depending on how the show goes.

b) The Master ends up as the Face of Boe, and living that way is his millennia-taking redemption and explains the instinctive connection the Face of Boe had with the Doctor as well as the "you are not alone".

c) The Master ends up in the Vortex, fitting with the awful fates dealt out to other opponents this season. Which I hope he won't. I've grown fond of the Evil One!

I really wonder how she'll continue travelling with the Doctor after this. I mean, it's all quite a lot, and her family was threatened, and for the first time she sees that his battles can be fought on a decidedly large scale. We'll see, I guess...

It would make sense if she called it quits after this, but otoh, she could also decide his battles are fought on Earth whether she travels with him or not, as he's so fixated on humans, and when she's with him, she has a chance to be forewarned and fight back!

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

Simm!Master is completely insane, of course, and yet never so that you don't take him seriously as a threat.

Exactly! He's the kind of insane that could do anything, just so long as it's horrible, not the convenient kind that will wander off at a critical moment. And, as usual, he gathers as many minions as possible, then despises them and kills them horribly - it makes me wonder what Lucy might have done, that she is the only one not treated like that.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Something is clearly up with Lucy. Though I think he even meant it when he called the cabinet a bunch of traitors - it would fit his warped notions, never mind their treason benefited him. And Lucy so far is Faithful Companion!Lucy, who hasn't betrayed anyone (other than the entire human race).

Unless she's something else. Guess we'll find out next week!

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

I'm so writing the Himalaya trip story.

DO THAT, AND I WILL WRITE YOU A DR. WHO DRABBLE OF YOUR CHOOSING!!11!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It is already written by someone else:

http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=13431

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

I know the journalist said she had a genuine background, but that could just mean she has it better faked

Pity her page on the Harold Saxon website can't spell Roedean, but one might argue that a perfect fake wouldn't have made the mistake.

I suppose she's probably too young to have been born 38 weeks after the Master visited Tarminster? (That's why I visited the site; I hoped it might give her birthdate.)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Which year did the Master visit exactly?

[lakester.livejournal.com]

I'm still working on a theory, but it could be that this whole enterprise somehow is a part of an operation to bring back the Time Lords - mirroring what the Daleks tried in the Dalek two parter earlier this season - and is what the Master was programmed to do as a price for his resurrection in the event of a complete Time Lord defeat.

But if that's what the Master's actions are leading up to (and he knows that's why he's doing what he's doing, which admittedly he might not) then wouldn't that mean he knew the Time Lords and Gallifrey were lost before the Doctor told him of it. The reaction to that part of the phone call seemed genuine, on both their parts. Of course the Master may not be in as much control as thinks he is - especially as trying to stop the drumming by propogating it over a global communication seems just a little counterproductive.