michelel72 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
michelel72) wrote2010-04-25 10:58 pm
michelel72) wrote2010-04-25 10:58 pm
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DW 5x04 The Time of Angels
No spoilers in this post; no guarantees for comments.
Now that is what I was hoping for from the new season!
In contrast, Behind the Sofa's Neil Perryman nails one of the greatest problems I've had with the series before this point. (This point was made in specific reference to "The Beast Below", but it applies to various extents to all three initial episodes.)
Now that is what I was hoping for from the new season!
In contrast, Behind the Sofa's Neil Perryman nails one of the greatest problems I've had with the series before this point. (This point was made in specific reference to "The Beast Below", but it applies to various extents to all three initial episodes.)
Ah, but it's all a fairytale, isn't it? It's not supposed to make any sense. Er, well, in that case stop trying to weave intricate plot threads that are supposed to lead to logical conclusions - and stop imploring us to pay attention to these details in order to work it all out. It's not working.To be honest, my greater problem has been the way the show has served as an object lesson for why "show, don't tell" is one of the most basic writing directives ever, but the "it's okay because it's a fairytale!" defense is one I've expected to hear in response to both that and the completely incomprehensible plotting. (TWoP's Jacob has used that defense before, but to my surprise, he seems to have the same problems with the early episodes I've had, which is a surprise.) But I don't have nearly that reaction to this latest episode, so — at least for now — I have hope that they just needed to get their feet under them.
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And yet...it left me cold. River annoyed me, and Amy annoyed me more often than not (though she did have some good moments too), and I actually found myself getting bored and wishing for the episode to just get on with things. Preferably things not involving River. I dunno. I feel like I'm not being properly appreciative of the things the ep did do right, but I just didn't enjoy watching it in the same way I have the other eps.
I mean, I enjoyed the DALEK EPISODE more than this one! And that's just...wrong! Daleks are something to be accepted for the sake of the superior episodes!
I'm hoping my problem is just a visceral reaction against River, and once she goes away (...please let her go away) they will indeed -- as you say -- have their feet under them and I'll enjoy the eps.
What was your opinion of River, btw? (I seem to be alone in the wanting-her-to-get-out-of-my-Who camp, as far as I can tell)
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I don't mind seeing the doctor's pomposity punctured sometimes too, but I'd much rather it be from someone I like. Also, you're right about her knowledge is just stuff the Doctor doesn't know yet, but apparently he learns these things from her. Like how to use the blue boringers, or the fact that he's been leaving the parking brake on. I'm totally down with him having not known these things -- after all, he did steal the TARDIS -- but the way she told/showed the Doctor that she knew these things that he didn't was so...ooh, it got on my nerves.
Your suggestion of River actually being the Master...hmm! I think that actually has a lot of merit, and would go a long way towards me feeling better about River. Because then there's a reason for her/him being smug that I can appreciate: s/he's pulling one over the Doctor! I'm down with the Master being smug because, well, he's got issues that he's trying to paper over. River, on the other hand, shows no weakness. She's all, I'm the awesomest awesome person that ever awesomed. Giving her the backstory of being the Master would mean I could then appreciate her smugness on the same level. And that would actually be kind of cool. AND I could then totally get behind the Doctor/River romance that the show seems to be trying to push.
OH GOSH YES the 'sir' thing bothered me SO much! HOW DOES AMY KNOW THAT? Someone wasn't thinking, and was just throwing her into the role of 'generic companion' there, methings.
I have a theory about the being-left-behind thing. I've been reading a bit of speculation that the Doctor brought Amy along for a purpose, and not because he felt lonely like he claimed in the first episode. Something to do with those cracks that keep showing up, which he first saw in Amy's bedroom wall. And he took her along because she's somehow involved/connected and he needs her to figure out what's going on. So he needs her to stay absolutely safe, and as a result treats her as less a companion and more a person to be protected. Or something.
The militarized church fascinates me too, and I really hope they go a little more into that in the next ep, but somehow I doubt we'll get more about it (because of the potential for controversy)!
With the Dalek episode, I was basically going, dude, it's kinda stupid, but it's rather hilarious so I'll enjoy it anyways. It is indeed interesting that we responded so differently to these episodes! I wonder if our disparate reactions will continue through the rest of the series, or if this was just a crazy random happenstance.
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