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Once again, I loved it, particularly the characterization of Shakespeare. A few more detailed spoilery comments:
- I loved all the comments and references to lines in Shakespeare's plays - and J.K. Rowling - and Dylan Thomas. Beautifully done. I also loved the sense of this being a certain place in time, with not all the familiar plays written yet.
- Loved Shakespeare flirting with both the Doctor and Martha. He was nicely personable, and, yes, the script did justice to him.
- Loved the way Shakespeare saw the Doctor as a kindred spirit, and vice versa.
- Loved the references to Rose - nicely intense.
- I generally loved the interplay between the Doctor and Martha, though this time the focus was more on the interplay between Shakespeare and the Doctor, and Martha and Shakespeare.
- The witches were not very scary, but they were nicely atmospheric and fit the times.
- I liked the way history was handled, especially the wrath of Queen Elizabeth at the end. It seems the Doctor doesn't get on very well with English monarchs, though he did just fine with Louis XV in "The Girl in the Fireplace".
- I still love Martha, though she didn't have quite so much to do this time. I like the way she catches on fast to what's going on.
- I fantasized a bit of dialogue with the Doctor saying something like "The lady doth protest too much," and Shakespeare saying, "I wish I'd said that," and the Doctor replying, "You will, William, you will."
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Date: 2007-04-10 03:38 am (UTC)I too loved the references to Rose. And Shakespear in general. I love that character so much.
Waiting patiently for Shakespear/Doctor smut to start popping up.
I liked the witches a lot. Though as you said they were not scary. I just liked them a whole lot.
And I utterly loved the bed scene between Martha and the Doctor. LOVED IT.
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Date: 2007-04-10 12:29 pm (UTC)I did too. They made him larger than life, which is exactly what he should be, for maximum effect.
Waiting patiently for Shakespear/Doctor smut to start popping up.
I'd say I'm waiting not-so-patiently. I once wrote a story that slashed Shakespeare with Methos. Hmm...
I utterly loved the bed scene between Martha and the Doctor.
There was so much characterization there - so much of a contrast of characters, each so much their own person, with such different thoughts about what was happening. It was beautifully done.
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Date: 2007-04-10 06:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-10 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-10 06:10 am (UTC)I do love the brilliant quotes. Re your last point, I think it was a running joke of the Doctor quoting Shakespeare at the Bard, and him memorising the lines for future reference. Up to the 'I think I should be on ten percent' in the end.
Re Queen Elizabeth. My thought on finishing the ep was "Oh he definitely doesn't get along with queens! I wonder why!" Although the common drift might as well be British monarch, as you mention.
Another point. He never got to
road testingusing his sonic screwdriver in this episode. I wonder why about that one too (well, besides having Will demonstrate his genius...)I like the soft, candle-lit light in this episode as well (definitely reminds me of the Girl in the Fireplace). So many nice quotes again... I loved it when Shakespeare asked, "How can a man so young have eyes so old?" (To which the Doctor replied, I read a lot *chuckles*).
And in the end a gratuitious icon insertion (JB):
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Date: 2007-04-10 12:40 pm (UTC)That it was!
I really liked it, though I am not too keen on Harry Potter.
Neither am I, though I confess to a late-blooming fondness for Barty Crouch, Jr. But I liked the Rowling references here: they were so light-hearted and appropriate.
Up to the 'I think I should be on ten percent' in the end.
Yup, that was lovely. As parody it works on a lot of levels.
Re Queen Elizabeth.
I'm wondering if they're planning an episode that will explain what happened... I mean, what will happen. I'd have thought Elizabeth I would have really liked the Doctor, as a sort of lively cross between the Earl of Essex and John Dee.
He never got to using his sonic screwdriver in this episode.
He had a few openings for it, too. (Doesn't he always?)
I like the soft, candle-lit light in this episode as well
Very atmospheric. That added a lot. The visual ambience was wonderful. The fact that they had to film so much at night might have contributed to this.
I loved it when Shakespeare asked, "How can a man so young have eyes so old?" (To which the Doctor replied, I read a lot
Beautiful moment! Perfect. Maybe my very favourite. But I'll have to watch again (a few times) to be sure.
I also liked Martha's self-possession. Even when she was all wide-eyed and excited.
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Date: 2007-04-10 12:48 pm (UTC)Aaanyway.
I confess to a late-blooming fondness for Barty Crouch, Jr.
Oooh absolutely!!! oh dear oh dear... the one and only reason that actually made me see Goblet of Fire. *tries to clear head of images of mouth, teeth, and, especially, tongue*
I'm wondering if they're planning an episode that will explain what happened
I think somebody on the
I rather like Martha, though I do think that a lot of the conflict in the fandom (Doctor/Rose vs. Doctor/Martha) is going overboard. I rather like the way the Doctor really hasn't gotten over Rose - and if he has, quite so soon, it'd have been, um... really sad, I think. A very different personality of the Doctor than the one I have in my mind. Two huge hearts and place in them for everyone, is what I think, and Rose filled them up to bursting. Rather hard to purge her off.
Besides, Martha had a devout admirer and all, at least in the episode ;)
Although I must admit my favourite non-Doctor line was, "Is that a promise, Doctor?" He. Heh heh hehehehehehe!
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Date: 2007-04-10 12:56 pm (UTC)Oh, don't! I still love it with an enduring passion, just as I loved that scene in the episode.
the one and only reason that actually made me see Goblet of Fire.
Well, yes, indeed. Possibly the best thing about Harry Potter. Though a few of my other favourite actors appeared in one or more of those movies - Jason Isaacs, Ralph Fiennes - they didn't shine.
it was a proof that DT was going to be in series four - as there didn't seem to be another Elizabethan episode on S3, and she obviously recognised Ten as himself...
A nice speculation, though they are perfectly capable of just never telling us the full story. I hope they do, though. Just the thing for season 4. Yes.
I do think that a lot of the conflict in the fandom (Doctor/Rose vs. Doctor/Martha) is going overboard.
I see no point to it. I love them both. The Doctor loved Rose, but she's gone, and now we have a whole different dynamic between Doctor and companion. I'm happy about it.
I rather like the way the Doctor really hasn't gotten over Rose -
I like that too. It isn't as if he has a bad memory, or that he's transient in his affections. She mattered to him: of course he is reminded of her all the time. And of course he will develop new relationships and life will continue, even while he remembers and loves her still. I have no problem with any of that. I love the way they're handling it.
Two huge hearts and place in them for everyone, is what I think, and Rose filled them up to bursting.
Well said! In the world of my imagination and interpretation, he hasn't forgotten Jack, either.
Martha had a devout admirer and all
So she did! And quite rightly, too.
I must admit my favourite non-Doctor line was, "Is that a promise, Doctor?"
Oooh yes. Loved it with a passion. It was adorable.
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Date: 2007-04-10 05:32 pm (UTC)Martha at some point starts, "Forsooth, verily, egads..." and the Doctor tells her "No. Don't. Just don't."
Which very much reminds me of what he said to Rose in Tooth and Claw when she tried for the Scottish accent.
Which made me think of DT's Scottish accent... Which made me melt...
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Date: 2007-04-10 05:34 pm (UTC)I think I'm going to have to watch it again tonight. Just for the fun of it.
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Date: 2007-04-10 11:27 am (UTC)I was a great episode. I find it hard to believe I keep not being disappointed. Especially after Girl in a Fireplace. I thought that was the ultimate Doctor Who episode. So far, it is still my favourite, but even so this one was great!
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Date: 2007-04-10 12:46 pm (UTC)I adored that. Laughed out loud. Yes! Brilliant moment.
I find it hard to believe I keep not being disappointed.
Good point. It not only exceeded my expectations and hopes - because I had sternly told myself not to expect too much from any TV show about Shakespeare - it kept up to its own high standard of wit and action throughout.
My very favourite episode is "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances" but "The Girl in the Fireplace" and "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday" form a sort of trio of favourites. With four or five others not so far behind.
What a great show.
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Date: 2007-04-10 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-10 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-11 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-11 02:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-11 02:44 pm (UTC)