Doctor Who: The Empty Child...

[fajrdrako]

I had been intending to watch the Doctor Who episodes in order - insofar as I can get them - but since I've been seeing them out of order anyway, I gave in to curiosity and the temptation to get a look at Captain Jack. So I watched The Empty Child.

Now, in my current infatuated state, I'd have enjoyed it even without the Captain. I liked the creepy story, the Halloweenish mood, and the background of the Blitz. Mostly I liked the Ninth Doctor and I'm coming to like Rose, almost reluctantly.

And of course I liked Captain Jack, in a happy "I can't believe what I'm seeing" and "this is too good to be true" bemusement. Charming, smart, and brazenly bi from the first couple of sentences out of his mouth - of course I like him. If you haven't seen this delightful moment, here's the scene: Jack, dressed an an American Air Force Pilot, has been staring through binoculars at Rose, who is hanging in mid-air on a rope tied to a dirigible while German planes shoot around her and at her. The scene goes like this:

[Jack zooms in on Rose's bottom]

JACK: Excellent bottom.

ALGY (a British soldier): I say, old man. There's a time and a place. Look - you should really be off.

[Jack turns to face him]

JACK: Sorry, old man. [He laughs and comes back inside] I've gotta go and meet a girl. But you've got an excellent bottom too.

[He slaps Algy's bottom on the way out to emphasize this point. Algy looks rather pleased]

Flirtatious devil. Even if I didn't like him, I'd like him in principle - an attractive bi man in a cleverly-written, entertaining TV show marketed for family viewing. This, when most American TV is going out of its way to make slash-proof stories with relentlessly straight characters. Way to go.

There are things I should be doing, other than watching Doctor Who. Really. But maybe I can squeeze in another episode or two after work.

Comments

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

If you haven't, go read the TWoP recaps of The Empty Child and part two (I can't remember the episode name). Jacob's analysis of the themes and symbols is beautiful to read.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes - thank you for the tip. I'm so new to the Doctor Who thing, and so excited over it, that I haven't even starting thinking about the resources I know are out there, let alone looking for the ones I don't know about yet. Yes: I'll read that tonight. Looking forward to it.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

I know! Isn't it brilliant that children are being exposed (ahem!) to Captain Jack whose cheerful bisexuality is treated so matter-of-factly? ::fangirls Russel T Davies and the BBC::

Oh, and you'll be pleased to know that Capt. Jack exposes rather more of himself in a later episode...in a very funny scene. LOL.

You know, you really should be watching them in order - yes, okay, I'll stop telling you what you already know. *g* But whatever you do, pleeease don't watch Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways before you've seen episodes 6 and 7. You'll thank me, I promise. Heh. And you need to have seen eps 4 and 5 for Boom Town (ep 11) to have the intended impact. I think it's safe to watch The Doctor Dances - and anyway, who could resist it after having watched the first half of the story in The Empty Child? *g* So you see, I'm not suggesting the impossible, merely, um, suggesting guidelines which will maximise your viewing pleasure...

I love the Ninth Doctor - more with each rewatch, in fact. And I do like Rose quite a lot. Like you, more than I expected to - considering that she's a seventeen year old peroxide blonde who wears too much mascara. *g*

But maybe I can squeeze in another episode or two after work.

That's the spirit! Of course you can!! :) And in sympathy, I'll re-watch episode 3 later today and feed my obsession. ::grins manically and cuts self adrift from Real Life::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Captain Jack whose cheerful bisexuality is treated so matter-of-factly?

Oh my goodness yes. It gives me that 'light in the darkness' feeling -the way they can and do just take it for granted, make it part of the story and the character, not even a big deal - just the way he is. Even the way Rose treats him with a 'he's so full of it' enjoyment of his flirting.

I will take your 'watch them in order' instructions to heart and go back to watching in order once I see The Doctor Dances so I'll know how this story ends. You know I'm always careful about spoilers and seldom watch anythingout of order.... It was just that the temptation of Captain Jack was too much to bear.

Guidelines and suggestions are always welcome, especially from those more conversant with a fandom than I am.

Rose seems to rise above her image and her style. She isn't the type of hero I like, but there's something appealing to her, in an "I can relate to this" sort of way. As viewpoint, she's rather sympathetic.

I too love the Ninth Doctor. For so many reasons. Thank you for encouraging my new obsession, like a true friend!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Oh, bah! I've just lost a great long comment! ::wails despairingly::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've just lost a great long comment!

That is so sad! Hate it when that happens. And it's always the long ones that get away.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Let's try again...

I know there's a bit somewhere in one of the Confidentials, where CE says that the openmindedness of the Doctor and indeed of the whole show was one of the reasons he went for the role. I like the idea of instilling this attitude in children - after all, it is a children's programme. And it's no great stretch of the imagination to suggest that RTD and co. mean us to apply the same philosophy of openmindedness and tolerance not just to weird-looking alien lifeforms but to human sexuality in all its diversity.

I agree about Rose - there's a lot more depth to her than is initially apparent. She's brave and she's loyal and she learns. And she's not intimidated by the Doctor, and she disagrees with him and argues with him and takes him for chips - and generally keeps him human. Except of course, he isn't. Heh. And he needs her. Hmm. Which episodes have you watched? So that I know how much I can say!

Thank you for encouraging my new obsession, like a true friend!

I love DW so much that it's a delight to be able to talk about it with you! I've been hoping and hoping for people on my flist to discover DW, and now you have. And I couldn't be happier! ::beams::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

CE says that the openmindedness of the Doctor and indeed of the whole show was one of the reasons he went for the role.

Excellent. I applaud. No wonder I like the show so much: there are so many angles from which I approve of it, and the actors seem to reflect that. The show does seem to reflect two values that are very important to me - tolerance, and a sense of adventure.

Episodes I have watched (checking my cue sheet, which I can do, now I'm home):
Season 1: "Rose", "The End of the World", "The Empty Child"
Season 2: "New Earth", "School Reunion", "The Idiot's Lantern"

And that's it. So far.

I knew there were some people on my flist who were into Doctor Who, and I'm glad you're one of them. Simon was urging me to try it back in the fall. I am delighted to have fallen under the spell.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Ok, you're starting to win me over with the attractive, clever, bi-sexual man.

You know I can't resist those.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think the characters in the show might agree that Captain Jack is hard to resist. I at least am finding it difficult to do so! He's a little too pretty to be exactly my type, but the charm makes up for it - Here, you can have a look at him:



So far, he seems quite the roguish swashbuckler.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Ooh! That is by far the best pic of John Barrowman that I have ever seen!

I like the long(ish) floppy hair - his post-Biggles hair (i.e. eps 11 to 13) was a grave disappointment. ::shakes head sadly::

And on that terribly profound note, I shall do 15 mins of yoga and go to bed.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

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<i.That is by far the best pic of John Barrowman that I have ever seen!</i>

Gorgeous, isn't it? Those eyes!

Hmm; we shall see what I think of his hair as time progresses. His hair in "The Empty Child" was pretty much perfect; he looked good in uniform.

15 minutes of yoga - <i>yes</i>. I will earn my leisure with <i>Doctor Who</i> by doing fifteen minutes of yoga first. I've been skipping yoga lately and feeling guilty about it. The remedy? Doing it - then I don't have to feel guilty any more.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like him already. :)

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

He looks a little thick for my taste but it's all about the charm.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, this is why I say he's not quite my type - Christopher Ecceleston is the primary appeal - but Captain Jack's role and dialogue and style are all terrific, and the show, of course, has the appeal of both of them so it works perfectly.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

So... are you watching the old series or the new one? Where is the new one being shown?

Aware of this? -

Clicky! (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E41MS6/qid=1150131056/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-3906656-6722450?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=130)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

New series - i.e., the Doctor Who 2005 with the incomparable Christopher Eccleston and Doctor Who 2006, with David Tennant. Yes, the very series with your link is the one I am obsessively watching - when I'm at home and not at work just obsessively thinking about it.

Great fun.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

It doesn't appear to be out yet on dvd here. I will try to make it a request at the library fo collection purchase.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've seen the DVD set of the first season, the 2005 episodes with Christopher Eccleston, on sale in Canada for about $120. Too steep for me - I'll have to save up for it.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

That episode FREAKED ME OUT, but still? TOTALLY AWESOME. And my love for Captain Jack knows no bounds... thank goodness Torchwood is only a couple of months away!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Why'd it freak you out? In a good way, you mean? About Jack? Or the creepiness with the Empty Child? Chills down my back there, really. But I didn't hide behind the sofa. 'Course, you're the brave one who likes "Supernatural". It must take a lot to scare you.

Otherwise: Yeah. Me too.

"Torchwood" is a couple of months? Do you know when? I haven't actually found a date for it yet. Oooh... I can hardly wait.

That's a really nice icon you have there. You can tell I'm besotted: I'm smiling just to see him.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

The creepiness of the child, but also that I watched it late at night, so the building kept making weird noises. Supernatural freaks me out, too, so I've taken to watching it during the day :D.

The only date for Torchwood is a very broad one: October. Some time in October. I'm thinking it'll be more towards the very beginning of October, because I think they'll probably do it similiar to Doctor Who... 13 episodes, and then a Christmas special, and there are only barely 13 weeks between the beginning of October and Christmas. This is all speculation, but I think they'll do Torchwood in the fall and Doctor Who in the spring and early summer.

I need more Who icons :D

[haydenthorne.livejournal.com]

From Barrowman's site:

For the occasion of his first "gay" interview, though, Barrowman has pushed the boat out and invited us to his beautiful house in Earl's Court, where he's happily rolling around on the rug and exposing his chisled midriff to the photographer's lens. His enviably lovely boyfriend, Scott, a sucessful architect, hovers decoratively in the background. There's the tantalising possiblity that friend and temporary neighbor Lorna Luft might drop in any moment. "We've all got friends of Dorothy," says Barrowman, "but I've got her daughter. On top of all this , John Barrowman is so handsome it hurts, has an athlete's body, and looks younger then he is. Yes, readers, he is in every sense the perfect homosexual male.

*dies*

The scene where Jack's nekkid (in an upcoming episode) killed me. I was laughing so hard in spite of the relative seriousness of the situation.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Excuse me. You said Jack was ... nekkid?

I swallow, shifty-eyes like Lex Luthor facing a blushing Clark.

Jack? Beautiful Jack?

Okay, this I look forward to.

Thanks for the lovely quote. This man just sounds better all the time.

[haydenthorne.livejournal.com]

Excuse me. You said Jack was ... nekkid?

Yepyepyepyepyepyepyepyepyepyepyepyep...

'Scuse me, I just butchered my keyboard with drool.