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Another strong episode with some really, really good bits in it.
I did feel the 'message' about the Doctor as executioner was laid on a little thick. However, it was a very interesting concept, so I'll more or less excuse that. And I did love the way we gradually came to feel some sympathy and understanding for Margaret Blaine, despite knowing what she was and what she'd done. The little scene with the pregnant journalist was very moving. And of course there's that "I'm all on my own" thing again – that this is yet another character who's the last of her race, at least around here. They really were pushing that aspect, weren't they? Shame I never noticed the first time round!
I liked the idea of the TARDIS actually being used as a Police Box holding cell. And dinner with the Doctor and her remarking on him always running and avoiding the consequences. And the idea that you can live with yourself slaughtering millions by occasionally letting one get away.
I loved the camaraderie between the Doctor and his two companions. Beautiful dynamic. And poor old Mickey getting left out, as always. I felt really sorry for him, right from the start when he went up to the TARDIS expecting Rose and instead got a very handsome Captain Jack going "Who the hell are you?" No wonder he doubts Rose! And actually, this time round, I liked Mickey and got really annoyed with Rose for taking him for granted all the time. I know the Doctor and Jack are far more exciting than Mickey, and in her shoes, at her age, I would have been the same, but… poor old loyal Mickey.
Hmm. In my notes I have "3some hot sex" written down but I'm not sure exactly what I was referring to – in the episode, I mean! Maybe just the way the three of them were so very, very comfortable with each other, and the way that with Jack around, I'm finding the Doctor increasingly hot. Their flirting in that little exchange that inspired my drabbles yesterday is very hot.
I want to say more about that, and the way I really, really don't get Doctor/Rose or Jack/Rose but only Doctor/Jack out of this episode, but I think I'm going to do that in a separate post.
I loved Jack's plan at the town hall, and the Doctor's "Who's in charge here?" And to me, that exchange implies that Jack hasn't been with them that long, that not much time has passed since The Doctor Dances. Because Jack does look a little surprised and put out, as if he expected, as the military guy, to lead the attack, and as if this is possibly the first time the Doctor's put him down like that. (I only mention that because otherwise the way they're all three so easy with each other might indicate that's Jack's been with them for a while. But I suppose that could be still just the early euphoria of finding people they connect with.)
I loved the Doctor with Margaret's aide – "She's climbing out of the window, isn't she?" "Yes she is." And him interfering with her teleport. And the idea of a pan-dimensional surfboard. And 'Bad Wolf' in Welsh as the name for the power station – and the Doctor and Rose finally realising something's up with this Bad Wolf thing.
Jack's cuffs. 'Nuff said. *g* Oh, and Margaret's line: "Dinner in bondage. Works for me." How the hell did they get that into a children's show???
I like the way they brought in the idea of the Heart of the TARDIS in preparation for the finale.
So yeah. Good strong episode, great team dynamic and a very interesting villain.
9/10
I did feel the 'message' about the Doctor as executioner was laid on a little thick. However, it was a very interesting concept, so I'll more or less excuse that. And I did love the way we gradually came to feel some sympathy and understanding for Margaret Blaine, despite knowing what she was and what she'd done. The little scene with the pregnant journalist was very moving. And of course there's that "I'm all on my own" thing again – that this is yet another character who's the last of her race, at least around here. They really were pushing that aspect, weren't they? Shame I never noticed the first time round!
I liked the idea of the TARDIS actually being used as a Police Box holding cell. And dinner with the Doctor and her remarking on him always running and avoiding the consequences. And the idea that you can live with yourself slaughtering millions by occasionally letting one get away.
I loved the camaraderie between the Doctor and his two companions. Beautiful dynamic. And poor old Mickey getting left out, as always. I felt really sorry for him, right from the start when he went up to the TARDIS expecting Rose and instead got a very handsome Captain Jack going "Who the hell are you?" No wonder he doubts Rose! And actually, this time round, I liked Mickey and got really annoyed with Rose for taking him for granted all the time. I know the Doctor and Jack are far more exciting than Mickey, and in her shoes, at her age, I would have been the same, but… poor old loyal Mickey.
Hmm. In my notes I have "3some hot sex" written down but I'm not sure exactly what I was referring to – in the episode, I mean! Maybe just the way the three of them were so very, very comfortable with each other, and the way that with Jack around, I'm finding the Doctor increasingly hot. Their flirting in that little exchange that inspired my drabbles yesterday is very hot.
I want to say more about that, and the way I really, really don't get Doctor/Rose or Jack/Rose but only Doctor/Jack out of this episode, but I think I'm going to do that in a separate post.
I loved Jack's plan at the town hall, and the Doctor's "Who's in charge here?" And to me, that exchange implies that Jack hasn't been with them that long, that not much time has passed since The Doctor Dances. Because Jack does look a little surprised and put out, as if he expected, as the military guy, to lead the attack, and as if this is possibly the first time the Doctor's put him down like that. (I only mention that because otherwise the way they're all three so easy with each other might indicate that's Jack's been with them for a while. But I suppose that could be still just the early euphoria of finding people they connect with.)
I loved the Doctor with Margaret's aide – "She's climbing out of the window, isn't she?" "Yes she is." And him interfering with her teleport. And the idea of a pan-dimensional surfboard. And 'Bad Wolf' in Welsh as the name for the power station – and the Doctor and Rose finally realising something's up with this Bad Wolf thing.
Jack's cuffs. 'Nuff said. *g* Oh, and Margaret's line: "Dinner in bondage. Works for me." How the hell did they get that into a children's show???
I like the way they brought in the idea of the Heart of the TARDIS in preparation for the finale.
So yeah. Good strong episode, great team dynamic and a very interesting villain.
9/10
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That bit about letting one go every now and then is fantastic, and "She's climbing out the window, isn't she?" always makes me grin. Plus, of course, the Doctor, Jack, and Rose are just great fun together.
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Glad you thought the message was a bit heavy-handed too!
Plus, of course, the Doctor, Jack, and Rose are just great fun together.
Watching this has inspired me to write a bit about their relationship in these 5 episodes, actually - watched TEC and TDD this afternoon and made notes, but there's a lot of writing up and I've run out of time today - have to go and pick up Jack in 7 minutes, then tea, then show!
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Yay for you writing more about their relationship when you get a chance!
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I'm pretty sure we're supposed to think they've been together a little while, and that a month or so has passed since "The Doctor Dances". I reckon it would take a bit longer than that for Jack not to try and take over a situation from the Doctor. It's hard to say, though.
I also want to know how they got 'dinner and bondage' into a children's show!
And... now I really want to write some Nine/Jack.
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And while I really don't like Doctor/Rose, or think Jack/Rose would be likely once he encountered the Doctor, they make such a fun trio.
*Nods* That's pretty much what my bit of writing about their relationship (see reply to Medley's comment) is about.
I think it's supposed to have been a while since TDD too. But Jack certainly looked surprised when the Doctor cut in. Ah well, maybe they just hadn't had any similar situations yet.
And... now I really want to write some Nine/Jack.
Any reason why you shouldn't? :-)
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And on the subject of how long Jack was on the TARDIS, I wish RTD would offer up some sort of rough time-line for Jack, to make it easier to get our heads round it, and fill in some of the gaps.
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Looking forward to you writing Jack/Nine... *g*
And yeah, yet again I really wish they'd make it easier to write fanfic!
Some indication of how old Jack was in S1 would be extremely useful too!
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I also like the eppy because it shows how much trust the Doctor has put in Jack, leaving him alone in the TARDIS doing repairs and whatnot.
(I hate the continuity issue it creates for UTOPIA though, it shouldn't change that much to refuel the TARDIS, from 24 hours to 20 seconds...)
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There is a bit of running. Across the Plass. With giant cracks appearing.
it shows how much trust the Doctor has put in Jack
Yes, there's definitely a feeling of mutual trust there. Which is nice :-)
And I agree about the time taken to refuel. I was going "Hang on! How did they do it so quickly in Utopia then?" Though maybe it was just a little top-up then - as quick as the Doctor could possibly get away with.
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There's one set of quiz questions that says 'what legendary creature might Jack one day become?' So not definite, but yeah, he really better sort out at least what he thinks the canon is, even if he's not going to tell us.
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At least it says "Might"!
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1. Jack's brain would have to expand to contain all the memories he'd accumulate, so his head would have to get bigger.
2. The different species thing: 5 billion years is longer than the earth has been around - a lot of change could happen to a person in that time, especially wtih future technology, and then he wouldn't be technically human any more. Also, she further claims that he hasn't really been human since the TARDIS/Rose brought him back anyway.
3. Alternative explanation: the FoB is actually the TARDIS Jack's grown for himself and he uses it as a disguise so he can give the Doctor that incredibly vital (note sarcasm) message in Gridlock.
Personally, I like No. 3 a lot. :-)
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a) it's all a joke on Jack's part (Jack showed no reaction to the name FOB in Utopia)
b) Jack had the nickname having been a posterboy (and thus 'face') from Boshane but that's all it was. Or, conversely, he got the nickname for that reason, but also because the FOB was already a famous being and people thought it was funny
c) RTD was smoking something when he wrote the eppy
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I still prefer the joke explanation myself, too. But Omphalos' post (read in its entirety) was extremely convincing at pointing out the flaws in everyone's arguments.
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I can't hear you! Tis a JOKE! A JOKE!!!
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Please debate as you like. I'm going to bed! :-)
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I think my main problem was the pair Martha ended up with. They were so bloomin' drippy.
Plus traffic jams don't make for the most exciting viewing... :-)
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(Also, I keep meaning to say, mind if I friend you?)
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Please do friend me, and I'll do the same, we certainly chat often enough!
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Not that it makes any difference to how child friendly it is AT all but I always thought it was dinner and bondage... And one of Blon's brothers quite clearly (if you 'look' rather than listen)says bollocks in a previous episode
*g*I mean BAD BBC. In this house my youngest certainly didn't ask any awkward questions so we're assuming it just sailed over his head as she says it so perfectly reasonably...And the idea of a pan-dimensional surfboard
Watching again the other day befroe I fell asleep that description of it's used now almost works as a foreshadow for Jack clinging to the outside of the TARDIS...
to me, that exchange implies that Jack hasn't been with them that long, that not much time has passed since The Doctor Dances
Rose lists at least 3 planets/adventures in this ep and I like to believe they did these as a threesome despite the fact she doesn't specify. IF you squint hard it's possible for it to be a reflection of their (already very settled) sex life *G*
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I had a really close listen to that when I rewatched Boom Town yesterday for my essay, because other people had obviously heard it as 'and' as well - but it still sounded like 'in' to me. And it's down as 'in' in the transcript I've been using - not that that's necessarily correct or anything.
I guess it's not that important either.
foreshadow for Jack clinging to the outside of the TARDIS...
Oooh, yes!
The time passing thing is something I'm going to be addressing in my essay, so I won't go into it here except to say I'm finding evidence for different amounts of time, which is isn't particularly helpful!
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*pets you* looks forward to reading the essay
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So I'm taking the evening off (except for betaing Medley's Halloween fic) and once Jack's in bed and I've done some of the huge pile of ironing, I'm going to watch some telly with hubby and generally chill out. I've even had a G&T and a glass of wine, which is something I haven't felt like for ages, and I'm feeling very mellow. :-)
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