Doctor Who 6.07 A good man goes to war
Jun. 10th, 2011 12:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakStarting my attempt to catch up on reviews with the DW one, since I saw the episode while in England.
So, the one before the newly invented hiatus. There was a lot in it I enjoyed, but overall it also exemplified my problem(s) with the current season, which is related my my problems last season. None of which made me dislike the seasons in question, to get that out of the way. Or be indifferent towards them. But I think it's not a coincidence that the season 5 eps that moved me most as entire episodes, as opposed to feeling generally entertained plus delighted by some elements while not so thrilled by others, were "Amy's Choice" and "Vincent and the Doctor", while in season 6 it's "The Doctor's Wife", hands down. What all of these have in common are that they're intense character studies. I love a good arc as much as the next B5 fan, but the choice of a hiatus intensified the feeling that the whole razzle dazzle of arcness and puzzles has taken over at the expense of character, which was why "The Doctor's Wife" felt like such a breathing space/emotional relief in addition to the thrill one got out of the Gaiman-ness of it. My general impression of A good man goes to war was the same I'm having of s6 overall so far: "It's all a bit much, isn't it?" as I said tojesuswasbatman when we met for lunch.
Meaning: I loved the Silurian and her Victorian sidekick. I loved the Sontaran nurse. (BRILLIANT IDEA, Moff!) (In addition to loving him for himself, I loved how he was juxtaposed with Rory in their scene together.) And if/when we get their backstories with the Doctor played out on screen later in the season, I will undoubtedly love them even more. But as it was in this particular episode, I felt like someone watching dazzling magic tricks and fireworks rather than someone following a story.
As for the big River revelation(s): again, a bit too much, imo, having River not only Rory's and Amy's daughter but also partially Time Lord and the little girl in the astronaut suit, and a trained by baddies ninja. (Though the last one puts her display in the opening two parter of this season in a new light, which I like.) It's not that I object to any of these connections by themselves, but all together in combination make me go.... "say what?"
I think I would have liked it better if River was simply a badass archaeologist from the 52nd century, but I reserve the privilege of changing my mind during the rest of the season. Also, the thing that squicks a lot of people in reviews I've seen - that now she's yet another little girl meeting the Doctor who'll grow up to have a relationship with him - isn't a problem with me because as opposed to, say, Amy, the Doctor met her first as an adult woman, and that's who he forms the relationship with. (I never could ship Doctor/Amy in the romantic sense because I kept thinking "but she's little Amelia, his replacement granddaughter".) This might make the Christmas episode a bit more layered, as Kazran is the other person from the Moffat era whom the Doctor meets first as an adult and then proceeds to befried as a child (with far more manipulative intentions).
Sadly, the episode confirms that the Doctor not immediately searching after the little girl at the end of "Day of the Moon" is this season's equivalent of last season's "omg the crack is the most dangerous thing ever, but only in arc episodes, otherwise we'll gallivant around the galaxy ignoring it". Similarly, the only reason why he didn't continue looking at the end of this season's opening two parter is "we can't allow that to happen yet".
The scene between River and Rory at the start of the episode together with River's "this is the day" etc. basically gave the game away, but I don't think Moffat minded, because it was a good character scene for River. Actually I think of all the River revelations the "daughter of Rory and Amy" is my favourite because those are definitely fascinating relationships to explore in the second half of the season. (likeadeuce, as a Cable fan, should approve as well.) And River having important relationships with people other than the Doctor enriches her character. Not that I don't still dig River/Doctor.
Character with most reason to complain during the first half of s1: Amy, without question, and I'm not talking about the kidnapping. (Such is a Companion's lot.) By having Amy present via avatar Moffat got around the lack of screen presence, but that emphasizes rather than disguises the problem that Amy really didn't do much during this first half of the season, nor did we learn anything new about her. River and Rory both got more fleshed out, but Amy just was sort of there, and reminded me of Nyssa after Castrovalva and before Terminus in that regard. Maybe it's inevitable that if you do full Team TARDIS stories that some members will be more neglected and others more showcased, but since it took me a while to warm up to Amy last season I regret that now that I'm warm, so to speak, she's just part of the TARDIS decor.
Lastly: didn't we already do the whole "army against the Doctor because of reputation of same" thing (repeatedly, both under RTD and the Moff) in the last few years? And we definitely did the "rise higher and fall lower than ever" in Waters of Mars very recently. Ah well, I'm withholding judgment until I've seen the rest of the season playing out.
So, the one before the newly invented hiatus. There was a lot in it I enjoyed, but overall it also exemplified my problem(s) with the current season, which is related my my problems last season. None of which made me dislike the seasons in question, to get that out of the way. Or be indifferent towards them. But I think it's not a coincidence that the season 5 eps that moved me most as entire episodes, as opposed to feeling generally entertained plus delighted by some elements while not so thrilled by others, were "Amy's Choice" and "Vincent and the Doctor", while in season 6 it's "The Doctor's Wife", hands down. What all of these have in common are that they're intense character studies. I love a good arc as much as the next B5 fan, but the choice of a hiatus intensified the feeling that the whole razzle dazzle of arcness and puzzles has taken over at the expense of character, which was why "The Doctor's Wife" felt like such a breathing space/emotional relief in addition to the thrill one got out of the Gaiman-ness of it. My general impression of A good man goes to war was the same I'm having of s6 overall so far: "It's all a bit much, isn't it?" as I said to
jesuswasbatman when we met for lunch. Meaning: I loved the Silurian and her Victorian sidekick. I loved the Sontaran nurse. (BRILLIANT IDEA, Moff!) (In addition to loving him for himself, I loved how he was juxtaposed with Rory in their scene together.) And if/when we get their backstories with the Doctor played out on screen later in the season, I will undoubtedly love them even more. But as it was in this particular episode, I felt like someone watching dazzling magic tricks and fireworks rather than someone following a story.
As for the big River revelation(s): again, a bit too much, imo, having River not only Rory's and Amy's daughter but also partially Time Lord and the little girl in the astronaut suit, and a trained by baddies ninja. (Though the last one puts her display in the opening two parter of this season in a new light, which I like.) It's not that I object to any of these connections by themselves, but all together in combination make me go.... "say what?"
I think I would have liked it better if River was simply a badass archaeologist from the 52nd century, but I reserve the privilege of changing my mind during the rest of the season. Also, the thing that squicks a lot of people in reviews I've seen - that now she's yet another little girl meeting the Doctor who'll grow up to have a relationship with him - isn't a problem with me because as opposed to, say, Amy, the Doctor met her first as an adult woman, and that's who he forms the relationship with. (I never could ship Doctor/Amy in the romantic sense because I kept thinking "but she's little Amelia, his replacement granddaughter".) This might make the Christmas episode a bit more layered, as Kazran is the other person from the Moffat era whom the Doctor meets first as an adult and then proceeds to befried as a child (with far more manipulative intentions).
Sadly, the episode confirms that the Doctor not immediately searching after the little girl at the end of "Day of the Moon" is this season's equivalent of last season's "omg the crack is the most dangerous thing ever, but only in arc episodes, otherwise we'll gallivant around the galaxy ignoring it". Similarly, the only reason why he didn't continue looking at the end of this season's opening two parter is "we can't allow that to happen yet".
The scene between River and Rory at the start of the episode together with River's "this is the day" etc. basically gave the game away, but I don't think Moffat minded, because it was a good character scene for River. Actually I think of all the River revelations the "daughter of Rory and Amy" is my favourite because those are definitely fascinating relationships to explore in the second half of the season. (
likeadeuce, as a Cable fan, should approve as well.) And River having important relationships with people other than the Doctor enriches her character. Not that I don't still dig River/Doctor. Character with most reason to complain during the first half of s1: Amy, without question, and I'm not talking about the kidnapping. (Such is a Companion's lot.) By having Amy present via avatar Moffat got around the lack of screen presence, but that emphasizes rather than disguises the problem that Amy really didn't do much during this first half of the season, nor did we learn anything new about her. River and Rory both got more fleshed out, but Amy just was sort of there, and reminded me of Nyssa after Castrovalva and before Terminus in that regard. Maybe it's inevitable that if you do full Team TARDIS stories that some members will be more neglected and others more showcased, but since it took me a while to warm up to Amy last season I regret that now that I'm warm, so to speak, she's just part of the TARDIS decor.
Lastly: didn't we already do the whole "army against the Doctor because of reputation of same" thing (repeatedly, both under RTD and the Moff) in the last few years? And we definitely did the "rise higher and fall lower than ever" in Waters of Mars very recently. Ah well, I'm withholding judgment until I've seen the rest of the season playing out.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-10 12:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-10 01:54 pm (UTC)If it is River in the spacesuit, then one reason why Future!Doctor lets himself be shot by her is probably that this is the only reason child!River will be able to free from the programming by the Silence (i.e. she will have fulfilled her mission).
no subject
Date: 2011-06-10 02:13 pm (UTC)But why did the Silence want Amy to tell the Doctor she was pregnant?
no subject
Date: 2011-06-10 02:23 pm (UTC)(Also, now you're back on the right side of the channel, might I trouble you for that recommendation? I should have been more organized and asked you to do it weeks ago, but at least now I have it all ready to go on my end.)
no subject
Date: 2011-06-10 02:41 pm (UTC)Rec:
The truth of it is this: Charles Xavier cannot go to confession, because there is no word for the sin he attempted. Even 'genocide' implies an attempt on the lives of a specific segment of the human race. What do you call the attempted annihilation of its totality?
This story, set after X2, manages to be both the best Charles Xavier character study I’ve read and a wonderful take on the ensemble oft he first two X-men movies, doing justice to the enormity of the actions done to and by Xavier. I have a particular soft spot for the scenes with Kurt throughout and Charles’ dream of Jean at the end, but everyone’s voices are spot-on. A well deserved classic.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-11 12:14 pm (UTC)I am also tempted to go back and watch The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone two-parter. Not that I think River gives any hints away, but it has to be interesting to look at it in light of that.
This story, set after X2, manages to be both the best Charles Xavier character study I’ve read and a wonderful take on the ensemble oft he first two X-men movies, doing justice to the enormity of the actions done to and by Xavier. I have a particular soft spot for the scenes with Kurt throughout and Charles’ dream of Jean at the end, but everyone’s voices are spot-on. A well deserved classic.
There you go making me blush again *g*. Thank you so much for your kind rec and your assistance in getting the whole thing up and running!
no subject
Date: 2011-06-12 03:42 am (UTC)This and this. Those three things together seem rather unnecessary, like it has to be in big, bright flashing lights instead of just something that would make for an interesting story. And while I'm a pretty easy sucker for River shooting things anyway, reason or no (I'm weak!), I like the trained by baddies ninja thing way more than I otherwise would for the shadow it casts back on that particular display in the season-opener. I mean, we'll see how much of any of that they actually explore going forward. It seems almost impossible for them to really delve into all three aspects of her identity--unless they know something about her airtime that we don't--so I'm a bit afraid of Big Reveal with disappointing exploration of the consequences. But we shall see!
no subject
Date: 2011-06-12 05:01 am (UTC)