How to seduce a friend into watching New Who
Jul. 5th, 2009 04:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakThis weekend one of my oldest fandom friends, V., came for a visit; we first met on a Star Trek convention eons ago. We've shared many a fandom since, and she had asked me to introduce her to New Who, being in the somewhat unusual position of knowing all of the Sixth and Seventh Doctor eras, but next to nothing else from Old Who. (One or two Tom Baker stories, plus the movie of doom, but that's it.) So I treated her to a New Who marathon, which led to the watching of the following episodes:
season 1/27: The End of the World - Rose is a nice enough pilot, but End of the World when I decided I would keep watching back whenhmpf gave me the Eccleston season. I still think it's one of RTD's finest on DW. Also, it introduces the whole Time War backstory. (No need to break it gently to V. that RTD made Gallifrey go boom; due to having started her Whovian life with Six, which meant she had watched all of Trial of a Time Lord, she wasn't very attached to it.) So I started with this one. V. was suitably impressed with Eccleston's performance, liked Jabe, did notice the Face of Boe and remarked that the Michael Jackson joke couldn't be done anymore today.
Dalek: V. had a very similar "ZOMG they managed to make a Dalek scary" and "Dalek character exploration works, who'd have thought it?" reaction, as I had when first watching. She also pointed out that the concept of an collector of unique alien artifacts is straight from Star Trek: TNG's episode The Most Toys, which I had somehow missed.
Parting of the Ways: V. was most intrigued by the display of TARDIS power, liked Jackie and Mickey and was sure Rose wouldn't be able to cope with the regeneration. I picked this one mostly for continuity reasons, not having rewatched since first watching it years ago, and came to conclude that Rose's "there is nothing for me here" (to Mickey) irritated me a whole lot more than it had done when I had originally watched. Which might be due to lessened sympathy for Rose since then, or with fannish discussion, I don't know. V. wanted to know why the Rose-TARDIS amalgan didn't resurrect anyone else besides Jack.
CiN immediate post regeneration scene: V. was more convinced Rose would leave than ever.
Season 2/28: School Reunion: V. loved this one, despite not remembering whether her one or two Fourth Doctor tales had Sarah Jane in them. But she adored her here, was amused by Tony Head as Mr. Finch/ Brother Lazar, and said somewhat impatiently during the Doctor-Rose "how many of us have travelled with you?" conversation that Rose should grow up. (This scene always strikes me as one that shippers and non-shippers see in completely different ways. If you're a non-shipper, the emphasis lies on "Yes, it does matter if I'm just the latest in a long line" - "as opposed to what?" If you're a shipper, it presumably lies on "no, not you". V outed herself as a non shipper with her impatient "oh, grow up!" comment.) She was delighted to hear Sarah Jane got her own spin-off and based on the episode decided she'd watch Toby Whitehouse's Being Human as well.
The Girl in the Fireplace: V. found it predictable that Reinette would die because that was the entire concept - a whole life experienced so quickly -, but admired the Rokoko aesthetics and the automatons. I picked this one because it's my secret favourite of Moffat's, but like much of fandom, V. went for another Moffatian opus instead (more later.)
This was all from season 2; I explained Rose did leave in the end, though not voluntarily. If one is talking to a genre fan, the whole "paralle worlds, barriers" explanation goes over far more quickly.
season 3/29: Gridlock: picked because it's one of my overall New Who favourites, because it showcases both Martha and the Doctor in characteristic ways, for continuity reasons and for kittens. V. loved it and declared it the best one yet. She admired the visuals, remembered the Face of Boe instantly and dug the Gallifrey talk at the beginning and end. (Just before, she had asked whether we'd ever hear from the whole Time War backstory again or whether that was gone with Nine.) The whole endless traffic jam/ unexpected lifesaver instead of oppression cause concept amused and impressed her. She was a Father Ted fan but nonetheless did not recognize the actor playing Brannigan before I pointed it out.
Blink (I slightly changed continuity because I wanted to go from Human Nature to Utopia uninterrupted, and after that one we took a break, just like after the three s1's): she loved it and was very impressed by the whole timey-wimeyness of it all. Clever, clever writing, she said, and followed everyone's suit in cursing the Moff for making her suspicious of all statues from now onwards.
Human Nature and Family of Blood: now Cornell came in for praise. She liked that the episode didn't shy away from the racism and prejudices of the time, found Martha awesome and was impressed by DT's acting. And by Harry Llyod being creepy. I told he he later was a Merry Man in the new Robin Hood for a while, which made her laugh, given his role as Baines here. Having grown up with Colin Baker, she found the fates of the Family of Blood dark and cruel but not ooc, and underscoring the alienness.
Utopia: she twigged something was up with Yana but not what until the conversation between Jack and the Doctor started and we intercut with Yana, at which point she said "oh my god, he's a Time Lord, isn't he?" She still audibly drew in breath at the watch reveal. Knew it had to be the Master before Jacobi said the words because "who else would it be? Unless Time Lords can change gender and he's the Rani?" (She remembered Ainsley!Master from his Six and Seven stints, and Roberts from the movie, and hadn't been much impressed; otoh, she had seen the Stephen Moffat sketch in which Jonathan Pryce plays the Master to Rowan Atkinson's Doctor, and had thought Pryce had been far better than Ainsley and Roberts. I briefly sang Delgado!Master's praises before starting the next episode.)
Sound of Drums: "Okay," said V after a certain scene. "That was phone sex, that was." She loved it, and the entire episode.
Last of the Time Lords: No complaints about Dobby!Doctor or the big Tinkerbell effect from her; she declared it better than Parting of the Ways. (My own heretic opinion, upon rewatching, is that PotW is better written, but I like LotTL better. Both are very Rusty in the good and bad sense, but the LotTL solution is actually less dea/deus ex machina because it's something planned on the part of the characters, with the fact there is a plan repeatedly hinted at before.) The death scene was very affecting to her; she said it and all the previous stuff in these episodes had made her finally believe in Doctor/Master, which - again, just based on the two Ainsley!Master episodes she was familiar with - she had not done before. As was the Toclafane reveal mid-episode. She cheered when Martha had her "this is me, getting out" speech - she liked Martha a lot, and asked whether Martha would be back (but wanted her to be without being still in love with the Doctor) - and expressed the wish for Doctor/Master fanfiction.
Originally, I had planned to show her The Runaway Bride slightly out of order and follow it up with some Donna episodes, but we were pressed for time, so I didn't, gave a brief summary and just showed the final conversation between the Doctor and Donna - the "you just want to mate?!?!!!" one) from Partners in Crime - before starting on with The Fires of Pompeii as her first proper Donna episode.
season 4/30: The Fires of Pompeii: she thought that the depiction of the volcano outburst was far better than in any of the movies using Pompeii as a background she had seen, and that this was the first time she was genuinenly affected by the human catastrophe instead of regarding it as some historical fact. Loved all the Doctor-Donna interaction and arguments, and the bad Latin jokes (Lucius Petrus Dextrus indeed). Thought it was genius to bring the Doctor in a situation where he didn't just have to let it happen but had to actively push the ledge/button, so to speak, and be personal responsible so history could take its course. I picked it as the quintessential Doctor 'n Donna episode, of course.
The Unicorn and the Wasp: this she pronounced "sweet and adorable" and was familiar with enough Agatha Christie to be in stitches about the parodies. She was familiar with the mysterious disappearance story, too, and so was amused that the episode provided an explanation. Picked by me because I find it adorable as well; fluff, but fun fluff, with my favourite TARDIS team in fine form, plus the Agatha and the Doctor scene where she bitchslaps him for his thrillseeking in a real tragedy does exactly what was needed in Tooth and Claw and does it better.
Midnight: awed her with the Lesley Sharp and David Tennant acting. "That's what humans are like in a crisis, just like that, sad to say," declared V. and said it reminded her of the group dynamic in her place of work. (Yikes!) She said it was really scary and one of the best of our marathon. (My own thought upon rewatching was that I don't understand why Turn Left was nominated for the Hugo instead of this one, but I know I'm a minority there.)
Before leaving, she declared she was won over completely and now would get all the seasons in their entirety. Mission accomplished. I shall proceed to introduce her to the Three era next.
season 1/27: The End of the World - Rose is a nice enough pilot, but End of the World when I decided I would keep watching back when
hmpf gave me the Eccleston season. I still think it's one of RTD's finest on DW. Also, it introduces the whole Time War backstory. (No need to break it gently to V. that RTD made Gallifrey go boom; due to having started her Whovian life with Six, which meant she had watched all of Trial of a Time Lord, she wasn't very attached to it.) So I started with this one. V. was suitably impressed with Eccleston's performance, liked Jabe, did notice the Face of Boe and remarked that the Michael Jackson joke couldn't be done anymore today. Dalek: V. had a very similar "ZOMG they managed to make a Dalek scary" and "Dalek character exploration works, who'd have thought it?" reaction, as I had when first watching. She also pointed out that the concept of an collector of unique alien artifacts is straight from Star Trek: TNG's episode The Most Toys, which I had somehow missed.
Parting of the Ways: V. was most intrigued by the display of TARDIS power, liked Jackie and Mickey and was sure Rose wouldn't be able to cope with the regeneration. I picked this one mostly for continuity reasons, not having rewatched since first watching it years ago, and came to conclude that Rose's "there is nothing for me here" (to Mickey) irritated me a whole lot more than it had done when I had originally watched. Which might be due to lessened sympathy for Rose since then, or with fannish discussion, I don't know. V. wanted to know why the Rose-TARDIS amalgan didn't resurrect anyone else besides Jack.
CiN immediate post regeneration scene: V. was more convinced Rose would leave than ever.
Season 2/28: School Reunion: V. loved this one, despite not remembering whether her one or two Fourth Doctor tales had Sarah Jane in them. But she adored her here, was amused by Tony Head as Mr. Finch/ Brother Lazar, and said somewhat impatiently during the Doctor-Rose "how many of us have travelled with you?" conversation that Rose should grow up. (This scene always strikes me as one that shippers and non-shippers see in completely different ways. If you're a non-shipper, the emphasis lies on "Yes, it does matter if I'm just the latest in a long line" - "as opposed to what?" If you're a shipper, it presumably lies on "no, not you". V outed herself as a non shipper with her impatient "oh, grow up!" comment.) She was delighted to hear Sarah Jane got her own spin-off and based on the episode decided she'd watch Toby Whitehouse's Being Human as well.
The Girl in the Fireplace: V. found it predictable that Reinette would die because that was the entire concept - a whole life experienced so quickly -, but admired the Rokoko aesthetics and the automatons. I picked this one because it's my secret favourite of Moffat's, but like much of fandom, V. went for another Moffatian opus instead (more later.)
This was all from season 2; I explained Rose did leave in the end, though not voluntarily. If one is talking to a genre fan, the whole "paralle worlds, barriers" explanation goes over far more quickly.
season 3/29: Gridlock: picked because it's one of my overall New Who favourites, because it showcases both Martha and the Doctor in characteristic ways, for continuity reasons and for kittens. V. loved it and declared it the best one yet. She admired the visuals, remembered the Face of Boe instantly and dug the Gallifrey talk at the beginning and end. (Just before, she had asked whether we'd ever hear from the whole Time War backstory again or whether that was gone with Nine.) The whole endless traffic jam/ unexpected lifesaver instead of oppression cause concept amused and impressed her. She was a Father Ted fan but nonetheless did not recognize the actor playing Brannigan before I pointed it out.
Blink (I slightly changed continuity because I wanted to go from Human Nature to Utopia uninterrupted, and after that one we took a break, just like after the three s1's): she loved it and was very impressed by the whole timey-wimeyness of it all. Clever, clever writing, she said, and followed everyone's suit in cursing the Moff for making her suspicious of all statues from now onwards.
Human Nature and Family of Blood: now Cornell came in for praise. She liked that the episode didn't shy away from the racism and prejudices of the time, found Martha awesome and was impressed by DT's acting. And by Harry Llyod being creepy. I told he he later was a Merry Man in the new Robin Hood for a while, which made her laugh, given his role as Baines here. Having grown up with Colin Baker, she found the fates of the Family of Blood dark and cruel but not ooc, and underscoring the alienness.
Utopia: she twigged something was up with Yana but not what until the conversation between Jack and the Doctor started and we intercut with Yana, at which point she said "oh my god, he's a Time Lord, isn't he?" She still audibly drew in breath at the watch reveal. Knew it had to be the Master before Jacobi said the words because "who else would it be? Unless Time Lords can change gender and he's the Rani?" (She remembered Ainsley!Master from his Six and Seven stints, and Roberts from the movie, and hadn't been much impressed; otoh, she had seen the Stephen Moffat sketch in which Jonathan Pryce plays the Master to Rowan Atkinson's Doctor, and had thought Pryce had been far better than Ainsley and Roberts. I briefly sang Delgado!Master's praises before starting the next episode.)
Sound of Drums: "Okay," said V after a certain scene. "That was phone sex, that was." She loved it, and the entire episode.
Last of the Time Lords: No complaints about Dobby!Doctor or the big Tinkerbell effect from her; she declared it better than Parting of the Ways. (My own heretic opinion, upon rewatching, is that PotW is better written, but I like LotTL better. Both are very Rusty in the good and bad sense, but the LotTL solution is actually less dea/deus ex machina because it's something planned on the part of the characters, with the fact there is a plan repeatedly hinted at before.) The death scene was very affecting to her; she said it and all the previous stuff in these episodes had made her finally believe in Doctor/Master, which - again, just based on the two Ainsley!Master episodes she was familiar with - she had not done before. As was the Toclafane reveal mid-episode. She cheered when Martha had her "this is me, getting out" speech - she liked Martha a lot, and asked whether Martha would be back (but wanted her to be without being still in love with the Doctor) - and expressed the wish for Doctor/Master fanfiction.
Originally, I had planned to show her The Runaway Bride slightly out of order and follow it up with some Donna episodes, but we were pressed for time, so I didn't, gave a brief summary and just showed the final conversation between the Doctor and Donna - the "you just want to mate?!?!!!" one) from Partners in Crime - before starting on with The Fires of Pompeii as her first proper Donna episode.
season 4/30: The Fires of Pompeii: she thought that the depiction of the volcano outburst was far better than in any of the movies using Pompeii as a background she had seen, and that this was the first time she was genuinenly affected by the human catastrophe instead of regarding it as some historical fact. Loved all the Doctor-Donna interaction and arguments, and the bad Latin jokes (Lucius Petrus Dextrus indeed). Thought it was genius to bring the Doctor in a situation where he didn't just have to let it happen but had to actively push the ledge/button, so to speak, and be personal responsible so history could take its course. I picked it as the quintessential Doctor 'n Donna episode, of course.
The Unicorn and the Wasp: this she pronounced "sweet and adorable" and was familiar with enough Agatha Christie to be in stitches about the parodies. She was familiar with the mysterious disappearance story, too, and so was amused that the episode provided an explanation. Picked by me because I find it adorable as well; fluff, but fun fluff, with my favourite TARDIS team in fine form, plus the Agatha and the Doctor scene where she bitchslaps him for his thrillseeking in a real tragedy does exactly what was needed in Tooth and Claw and does it better.
Midnight: awed her with the Lesley Sharp and David Tennant acting. "That's what humans are like in a crisis, just like that, sad to say," declared V. and said it reminded her of the group dynamic in her place of work. (Yikes!) She said it was really scary and one of the best of our marathon. (My own thought upon rewatching was that I don't understand why Turn Left was nominated for the Hugo instead of this one, but I know I'm a minority there.)
Before leaving, she declared she was won over completely and now would get all the seasons in their entirety. Mission accomplished. I shall proceed to introduce her to the Three era next.
