Review of Boom Town (Doctor Who 1.11)

[unfeathered]

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

Comments

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

In Gridlock, all the 'running' is downwards. That's another RTD episode I love to bits.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

good point. Gridlock is a great episode, until you watch "LOTTL" and what it implies for the FOB

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

No, shh, it didn't happen!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Oops, right... I refuse to believe in it anyway!

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

If we believe hard enough that it didn't happen, it will be so.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I think RTD threw it in there thinking it was cool or funny or clever and then it hit him HOW badly it truly was and how many problems there were with the idea. During the commentary at the BBC website he totally backed off the idea, claiming it wasn't to be taken seriously.

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

Poor bloke! Well, at least without his backing it's not necessarily canon. Although I got the Captain Jack fact file yesterday, and it's mentioned in there (twice), even if they do sort of side-step around it.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Capt Jack fact file? What's that? (Holy cow, RTD better come up with some line about Jack joking or whatever about that, it's such a horrific idea with SO MANY continuity issues it's not even funny.)

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

They've published loads of fact files on characters and monsters and things from the series. They're really kids' books, but they're fun. See here (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/026-9278546-5302038?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Doctor+Who+Files&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go). I don't own any of the others, but I had to buy me and my friend a Jack one.

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.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

ahh, thanks. I don't spend money on TW if I can avoid it (at least not yet, those DVDs are going to be MINE!)

At least it says "Might"!

[unfeathered]

omphalos wrote an extremely convincing post about the FoB question the other day - unfortunately it's flocked so there's not point in pointing you to it, but the important points so far as I was concerned were that:

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. :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

But FOB is first mentioned at the game station in the year 200,000. That's not enough time for Jack to evolve into anything... I'll vaguely accept #3, but I'm still not positive that:
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

[unfeathered]

But FOB is first mentioned at the game station in the year 200,000. That's not enough time for Jack to evolve into anything...

omphalos defends that one too with the very obvious explanation that it's a show about time-travel... The FoB could have got there from any point in time. *g*

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.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I can't hear you! Tis a JOKE! A JOKE!!!

[unfeathered]

I didn't like Gridlock. It was boring.

Please debate as you like. I'm going to bed! :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I loved the cat-driver guy. His make-up was cool. Sleep well!

[unfeathered]

Yeah, Ardal O'Hanlon was cool. Though I kept seeing him as his Father Ted character despite the cat make-up.

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... :-)