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This was amazing. I was worried it wouldn’t be, because usually only one part of a two-parter is good and last week was fantastic, but this proved to be the exception to the rule. Great writing, great story-telling, great acting, great everything!
David Tennant really proved himself as an actor in this. To make John Smith and the Doctor so very, very different – so very believably two different people – whilst still keeping the feeling that the Doctor was still there somewhere in John Smith and vice versa…well, that takes a hell of a lot of talent. And the way he acted John Smith being terrified and not wanting to change back to the lonely alien who doesn’t fall in love, whilst at the same time knowing he had to because he was a good man, was beautifully done: not over the top, just very believable. And then the Doctor subtly revealing how much it had cost him not to stay and have the happy family and the normal life, without saying so in words, because he would never do that!
I loved the little flash-forward through what his life could have been as John Smith. I think it both made it harder for him to give up, but then also easier, because he knew he was more than an ordinary man and he could do more as the Doctor.
I loved the way Joan got to the heart of the matter by asking him if anyone would have died if he hadn’t chosen that time and place to hide. That whole scene was beautifully written and acted, and gave a good sense of completion to their relationship. And Joan was a wonderfully rounded character.
Martha had a wonderful part to play in this story too: she had a chance to show just how strong and clever and courageous she really was. I could still do without all the declarations of love for the Doctor, though. We don’t need her to be in love with him. I’d be more comfortable for her just to love him.
The scene with the boys preparing to fight for their lives was heart-breaking. Especially, of course, knowing that in a year or two they’ll be doing it for real. (I didn’t expect the guns to actually kill the scarecrows, though!) Loved the way the watch was used to stop Tim and his friend dying, because they knew to dodge. And the Doctor and Martha appearing at the Remembrance Day ceremony.
I wasn’t too sure about the little round-up of what the Doctor did to the Family, though. It felt like it would have felt fine in the book (which I haven’t read) but it just felt jarring to suddenly switch to Bains’ POV, and the description of the punishments felt rushed. They also seemed a little excessive, presumably due to the Doctor’s anger and grief, but they weren’t exactly the worst villains he’s ever met, were they?
Anyway, one fabulous episode, and the best of the season so far.
9.5/10
David Tennant really proved himself as an actor in this. To make John Smith and the Doctor so very, very different – so very believably two different people – whilst still keeping the feeling that the Doctor was still there somewhere in John Smith and vice versa…well, that takes a hell of a lot of talent. And the way he acted John Smith being terrified and not wanting to change back to the lonely alien who doesn’t fall in love, whilst at the same time knowing he had to because he was a good man, was beautifully done: not over the top, just very believable. And then the Doctor subtly revealing how much it had cost him not to stay and have the happy family and the normal life, without saying so in words, because he would never do that!
I loved the little flash-forward through what his life could have been as John Smith. I think it both made it harder for him to give up, but then also easier, because he knew he was more than an ordinary man and he could do more as the Doctor.
I loved the way Joan got to the heart of the matter by asking him if anyone would have died if he hadn’t chosen that time and place to hide. That whole scene was beautifully written and acted, and gave a good sense of completion to their relationship. And Joan was a wonderfully rounded character.
Martha had a wonderful part to play in this story too: she had a chance to show just how strong and clever and courageous she really was. I could still do without all the declarations of love for the Doctor, though. We don’t need her to be in love with him. I’d be more comfortable for her just to love him.
The scene with the boys preparing to fight for their lives was heart-breaking. Especially, of course, knowing that in a year or two they’ll be doing it for real. (I didn’t expect the guns to actually kill the scarecrows, though!) Loved the way the watch was used to stop Tim and his friend dying, because they knew to dodge. And the Doctor and Martha appearing at the Remembrance Day ceremony.
I wasn’t too sure about the little round-up of what the Doctor did to the Family, though. It felt like it would have felt fine in the book (which I haven’t read) but it just felt jarring to suddenly switch to Bains’ POV, and the description of the punishments felt rushed. They also seemed a little excessive, presumably due to the Doctor’s anger and grief, but they weren’t exactly the worst villains he’s ever met, were they?
Anyway, one fabulous episode, and the best of the season so far.
9.5/10
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I was talking about that to a friend and I totally agree with you, Binding in chains? Pushing into the heart of a collapsing galexy? locked in a mirror? Frozen as a scarecrow? If he wouldn't kill the daleks when he could (Dalek, The Parting of the Ways, Evolution of the Daleks) why shoud he give The Family that punishemnt, surely the daleks have done more to ruin his life than the Family has! Daleks- Gallifrey, Other Time Lords, Time War, Rose, Rose's family, Family of Blood- Made him turn back into a Time Lord.
Tim's story was done brilliantly and the Remembrance Day scene was beautiful.
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(Exculding The Doctor Dances/Fear Her)
Over Kill I think.
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I thought the punishments were a bit much too but Russell T said on the Confidential programme the Doctor couldn't kill them but in a way gave them what they wanted as they did want to live forever. It could go back to that different morality that 9 mentioned to Rose in series 1.
Lisa
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That would be a decent explanation, definitely.
I haven't seen Confidential yet, but that sounds interesting. Will hopefully see that tonight.
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Lisa
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Lisa
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You remember the bit at the end, where Rassilon grants the Lord High Chancellor guy his wish for immortality, and it turns out to be more of a curse (which the Doctor had already realised, and thus turned the oportunity down), stuck as a face on a wall forever like the Scarecrow deal in this episode?