Saturday Squee: "The Doctor's Wife"

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

I'm starting this post early to be on the safe side, as I've noticed sometimes there's a delay on new topics showing up for people who aren't logged in.

Please post all your comments and short reactions on "The Doctor's Wife" here. Please be aware there will be spoilers in the comments.

Comments

[onlineminiboss.livejournal.com]

Oh good idea... I'm gonna be posting an early comment too now, just to say I hate the earlier stupid viewing time! I don't get off work until 6, which means no chance of watching it and going "Oooooo" along with the rest of you guys. Why can't it go back to seven?!

Ah well. Have fun all y'all <3

[welshgirl15.livejournal.com]

Unfortunatly this week I have to wait until it is up on iPlayer until I can watch it. I will check back at people's comments afterwards though!

[tasty-kate.livejournal.com]

I CAN'T WAIT!!! *keyboard smash*

[mmgage.livejournal.com]

It still amazes me that they air Doctor Who so early in the UK! I know the show was originally conceived as a children's show but I look at the new series and think this is prime-time TV. This is 8pm stuff - safe for the older kiddies but not really appropriate for the youngsters. Of course I know we're far more prudish about what goes out on our airwaves over here but still - the differences fascinate me.

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

Note to self: never watch Doctor Who with "normal people." They just don't understand.

That was... well.... proper weird. I don't really know what to think. I loved Idris/the TARDIS/Suranne Jones. Especially the biting/kissing. And Auntie and Uncle and particularly their sudden deaths. Those felt like some really Gaiman-y touches.

Having said that, there was an odd feeling to parts of this episode, and it took me a while to identify why. This felt as if it had been written for RTD-era Who. And whilst I enjoyed the RTD era whilst it was happening, it feels a bit odd and out of place now to see Idris' giving a fond farewell and people... well... CRYING. (That's such a Ten thing to do, Eleven. Pull yourself together man.)

Regarding the House thing... I'm not really sure what the point is in getting Michael Sheen in to do a Generic Invisible Villain Voice. Also a bit of a cop-out to have the TARDIS supposedly taking a horrible revenge when we can't actually SEE anything except a bit of mist. I also felt the corridor stuff was unnecessary (if you really don't need Amy and Rory in this episode, just send them off on holiday somewhere) but then I've always been of the opinion that I'm not really bothered about what's in the rest of the TARDIS. Plus, I gotta say, television in general and Doctor Who in particular needs to stop trying to make young actors up as older versions of themselves. It's the most unconvincing thing ever, and anything being said in such scenes loses its power because everybody is distracted thinking "that is some really shit looking make-up there." My last criticism is that my feelings about the Ood remain the same as ever: "Meh."

Seeing the old TARDIS did give me a nice nostalgia moment (that perhaps might have been more suited to series 5). Also on the good side: Mad Bitey Lady, Auntie and Uncle, the boxes of distress signals and the awkwardness of the Doctor actually having to look the object of his affections in the eye. I love the idea that the Doctor has been annoying the TARDIS by opening the door the wrong way and the stuff about how the TARDIS wanted to see a world so it stole a Timelord (aww...).

Best lines: "Did you wish REALLY hard?" and "Biting's like kissing, only there's a winner."

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

And also: "can we lose the bunk beds?"

[loolaa.livejournal.com]

Pah, stupid normal people. I hope they didn't talk over it.

I didn't get that feeling that it had been written for the RTD era, at least not the regular RTD episodes. I never got the same creepy/excited feelings from RTD era, except in a few episodes like the Empty Child.

The fond farewell I didn't like but I didn't mind the Doctor crying so much, but only because she was the TARDIS. I figure if the Doctor has to cry about something it would be the TARDIS.
If it was for some strange girl he'd only known for four hours then then I wouldn't like it so much, it would seem wrong.
But yeah, I see where you're coming from. Eleven does seem less likely to get all tearful. In season 5 when over emotional he got all shouty not teary.

I actually liked the Amy and Rory stuff in the episode, I think their prescence confirmed (if anyone was in any doubt) just how evil House was and how it deserved the Tardis to destroy it.
And I loved to see them running around the Tardis corridor because it reminded me of all the Old Who's a watched as a kid. I love that hexagon/spot pattern.

As for the Ood. All I could think was "Why?" What wsa the point of it?

[sashafarce.livejournal.com]

I was thoroughly confused by this episode and I'm not sure I can say I liked or disliked it at this point. I usually rewatch later in the week so perhaps I will get it more then!

[mmgage.livejournal.com]

Wow. There were so many excellent lines in this episode. Loved Amy to Rory "That's just what they're called. It doesn't mean they know what they're doing." Also liked Amy worrying over the Doctor, which made his trick to get her and Rory away from him seem extra mean.
I had no problem with 11 crying; it felt more him than 10 to me (I can't see Tennant actually crying; scowling was more his thing than tender emotions). I loved the moments between him and Idris/TARDIS, especially when he was realizing who she was. I adored the exchange when he's saying he stole her and she's saying she stole him. :) I absolutely LOVED it when she reached out to Rory ("the pretty one!").
I was waiting for something MORE in the corridors I guess. Maybe going through some rooms rather than just dashing through halls? I didn't object to House playing mind games but again, I was expecting something MORE than a renegade Ood to turn up (and then get vaporized immediately). I liked the way the Doctor tricked House into transporting them back to the main control room but yes, the destruction of House did seem a bit anticlimactic.
It's interesting you say it's more like a RTD ep, because Gaiman said he wrote the first draft before Matt had even been cast. That being said, I did feel the lines were suited to Matt, or he made them his own.
I did feel something was missing and the thing was emotion. I was expecting to feel MORE while watching this. I was ready to cry, and it didn't happen. Perhaps having the Doctor explain to Amy & Rory about the Time Lords on camera would have done it, or giving us more time to respond to the realization the messages were just a lure? That bit felt rushed and the Doctor snapped right in to anger rather than taking any time to sorrow.
So, to sum up - a big improvement over last week but not up to what I'd expected. However, next week looks VERY INTERESTING. Is the Doctor getting cloned?

[loolaa.livejournal.com]

I loved the Doctor's mean trick! It made me chuckle. I must have a sadistic side.

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

All I have to say is:

"A BED with a LADDER! You can't beat that!"

[goldvermilion87.livejournal.com]

I loved this episode SO much. Uber-creepy plus Tear-jerker-y plus excellent humor is a win in my book.

[loolaa.livejournal.com]

I adored this episode. It had me on edge for quite a lot of the episode, both when the Doctor was trapped on the world and when Amy and Rory were running through the corridors. The bit with Amy and aging Rory completely messed with my head and I actually got frightened when ancient Rory was shouting and lunging at Amy and I haven't felt frightened by Doctor Who before (creeped out yes, with the Weeping Angels and the Silence, but never frightened). I was also crapping it when Amy slowly turned the corridor and the writing was all over the walls.

Loved the banter between the Doctor and Idris and there were some great lines, my favourite being: "Biting is like kissing only there's a winner."

Loved pretty much all of the episode apart from the bit where Idris was dead but not dead and having the corny goodbye scene with the Doctor, but that's really only because I tend to hate stuff like that.

I was glued to it and as I watched it I was thinking that it will probably count as one of my favourite episodes. So YAY.

[randomgirl666.livejournal.com]

I've watched it again since my first reaction and, as expected, I enjoyed it much more without other people sat round saying "what have I seen HER in?" and "he DOES have a big chin, doesn't he?"

I think it's an episode that rewards a second viewing because when you know what's coming, you pick up all the neat bits of set-up/foreshadowing. I've now gotten over my issue with the Doctor crying - I think it's fair enough probably and it was more subdued than I remembered. Also picked up/remembered a lot more good stuff in terms of dialogue this time around. And I had completely missed Rory's adorable/funny hand gesture when he first sees the Ood when first watching! (if there's an icon of that, I want it)

Still think House was a bit of a generic villain and still don't see the point in the Ood, but I'm definitely convinced now that Rory's repeated assertions that he's a nurse and his repeated brushes with death actually MEAN something.