Doctor Who: "The Shakespeare Code" comments...

[fajrdrako]

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."

Comments

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

(sorry, can't get enough of this icon... I might have to replace it to get over it, maybe. *considers replacing with the Oncoming Shag one* or maybe not...)

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 tennant_love came up with the idea that 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...

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!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

can't get enough of this icon... I might have to replace it to get over it, maybe.

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.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh! One more thing I realised!

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...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - I wouldn't have liked that bit on its own, but its reference to "Tooth and Claw" was delightful.

I think I'm going to have to watch it again tonight. Just for the fun of it.