Doctor Who: "Gridlock" thoughts...

[fajrdrako]

I liked the title.

It was a Sunday evening treat for myself: watching Doctor Who all my myself, on the sofa - well, with Logan, but he only emitted the occasional editorial chirp.


It wasn't quite what I expected - in some ways. I guess the 'trapped in the slipstream of traffic' was not unexpected, but the exaggeration of the situation at first almost lost me - and then seemed quite wonderful. I loved the various people the Doctor met, and I loved his dropping from car to car.

I was sorry to see the Doctor and Martha were apart for so much of the episode, because I do so like them together. I missed their interchanges. Still, when they were together, what we got was wonderful - less banter, more honesty.

Things I particularly loved:
- the Doctor telling Martha about Gallifrey in the beginning, but not telling her the truth
- the Doctor being only too aware (and regretful) that he had not told her the truth
- the Doctor's reflection that he had been "too busy showing off"
- the Doctor's description of Martha as a stranger - and hers of him as a man she hardly knows, but has faith in
- the cats (even though I'm really not a cat person, no, not at all, honest! well... sometimes.)
- the Doctor's moods. For some reason I find hard to analyze, I most love the Doctor when he is angry. Here we had him angry, regretful, joking, reflective, sympathetic, and so on, but his best moment was when he told the mood-dealers to close up shop because he'd come after them when he'd found Martha.
- come to think of it, I really loved the mood-drug vendors
- the cat-nun and her dedication to the Face of Boe. I was delighted to see the Face of Boe again - he's one of my favourites.
- the guy in the bowler hat
- the guy in white
- the garish girls
- the lines about the Doctor's coat - and its origin story
- was Rose mentioned? I am one of those fans who has loved and cherished each time when the Doctor has said her name, but I'm still glad if this time he didn't, just to prove we're not in a rut. I didn't notice Mr. Saxon, either.
- I liked it that the visual appearance of the place was so unlike that of New New etc. New York in "New Earth"

I could have done without the creatures at the bottom of the fast lane, but ... I guess they served their purpose: entertaining the eight year olds, and being metaphorical bottom-feeders.

Of course I liked the ending, not so much because of what the Doctor was saying, but because he was saying it to Martha. Seems to me she's reached some sort of turning point. Will the Doctor need an excuse to take her on the next adventure?

Am I right to think that the title refers to the Doctor, locked in his pattern of grief with regard to Rose and denial with regard to Martha? Or am I just being fanciful there?

Comments

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

Hon, your cut is borked. *averts eyes hastily*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oops. That's what I get when I post when I'm really too tired to think.... Fixed now!

[grlnamedlucifer.livejournal.com]

>was Rose mentioned?<

In the beginning, during the 'rebound' banter about how he was showing Martha the same places he showed Rose. Though I think it's Martha who first mentions her by name, the Doctor more obliquely.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes; not quite the same. But still mentioned.

[kiyuchan.livejournal.com]

There was a quick mention of Rose near the beginning, when the Doctor shows Martha the image of up top when they jump out of the rain.

Martha's muttering about rebounds made me giggle.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Rebound? That was a cute moment. I like the way Martha is clever.... Not just admiring and curious about the Doctor, but with a good sense of what makes him tick.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

my sister was quite upset that the catman called the two married ladies 'sisters' and when they insisted on being called married he went 'oh, don't you all go moderrn on me'. "After all this time, so far in the future and they are still making such a fuss about homosexuality", she fumed.

Like you I liked the eternal entrapment of the road (such a different type of roadmovie!) (as a concept, not to be part of) but I have problems seeing it actually work, how is the interaction with the live 'on the pavement' in the allies. Ok, I guess I shouldn't demand a whole working society in one episode, it just somehow feels a bit off for me. But not enough to let is spoil my enjoyment. Also, the kids who kidnapped Martha wanted to hold her to ransom, how were they planning to do that? they must have had the idea that they could somewhere leave the vehicle.

(Oh, and yes, not a great fan of the crabs either, though it gave Martha some time to be sanguine)

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

my sister was quite upset that the catman called the two married ladies 'sisters' and when they insisted on being called married he went 'oh, don't you all go moderrn on me'. "After all this time, so far in the future and they are still making such a fuss about homosexuality", she fumed.

But with that accent, and large number of (entirely adorable) kittens, he may be a fervent Irish Cat-holic… ;-D

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

LOL I told her that such thing (acceptance of non-mainstream sexualities) don't go in one progressive line towards disappearance of bigotry and prejudice. Anyway, it might be more agism than anti-lesbianism. At least, if the show is indeed geared at the young agegroup (lets be generous here, ranging from 8 till 28) than the idea that these knitting ladies are also sexual beings might be definitely a shock, whether they'd prefer to dive into the sack with an other woman or a man.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Groan!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

"After all this time, so far in the future and they are still making such a fuss about homosexuality", she fumed.

I see her point, but why worry about that, when they had so many other problems we have now? Including traffic congestion, drug use and pollution! I think that's applying logic in the wrong way.... It wasn't one of the more realistic images of the future.

a different type of roadmovie!

That's it! And recognizable and varied types 'on the road' too.

is the interaction with the live 'on the pavement' in the allies

I kept asking such questions of myself, and then firmly quashing them. Seemed to me likely that lots of people would do what the Doctor did - dropping from one car to another, actually socializing (besides with the radios). Especially the people who were solo in their cars! I liked the way the 'fast lane' got a car eaten by the monsters. But it also seemed unlikely that this would go unnoticed for thousands of years....

It wasn't the link of episode you could apply much logic to. Luckily it fulfilled its mood and was fun to watch anyway.

Also, the kids who kidnapped Martha wanted to hold her to ransom, how were they planning to do that?

I thought she was just their ticket into the 'fast lane'. They needed to have three people in the car.

it gave Martha some time to be sanguine

Yes, that was good.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Great episode! I like the idea of cat-people!
The Face of Boe's last words… I'm worried. I have a nasty suspicion which other Timelord may be out there…

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

the Master?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of cat-people!

It was nice to see one of them who wasn't a nursing sister.

I have a nasty suspicion which other Timelord may be out there…

Don't we all? I'm hoping that there is more than one Time Lord out there.

(Actually I thought the Master was trapped within the TARDIS from the story about the Eighth Doctor but I'd rather think that isn't true anyway..)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I think even if I hadn't seen the credit at the beginning, I would have known it was an RTD episode. All his favourite themes were there - using the future as a metaphor for the present, religious imagery, the whole 'who is the doctor' question and the big set-up question for the series. Plus, he was having far too much fun with all the different car inhabitants. Talk about a writer's dream set-up!

I loved the way Martha forced the Doctor to talk to her properly - the 'rebound' comment was priceless and perfect. Having them apart for the whole episode was such a good idea, forcing the Doctor to realise that he can't just mess around with her and making Martha a bit more willing to push him, not just take everything he says at face value.

Oh, and how long before we get "The Doctor meets Janice Joplin" fanfic? :D

Did you watch the 'Confidential' as well? I don't want to spoil you if you're going to, but there was some interesting stuff in it, not least how you get a kitten to say "mama".

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I would have known it was an RTD episode

I've yet to learn the hallmarks. I should think about this a little more.

using the future as a metaphor for the present,

I like that one.

religious imagery

Really? I associate that more with Torchwood. Am I just oblivious? What was the religious imagery here?

the whole 'who is the doctor' question

Which I totally love.

forcing the Doctor to realise that he can't just mess around with her and making Martha a bit more willing to push him, not just take everything he says at face value.

I certainly loved the way it worked out.

Oh, and how long before we get "The Doctor meets Janice Joplin" fanfic?

I'm sure it's already been posted somewhere!

Did you watch the 'Confidential' as well?

No, I haven't had a chance to... er... acquire it yet. I might be able to see it tonight. (Hope so!)

[lacesforalady.livejournal.com]

I appear to have started on something epic. I didn't mean to, it just sort of grew that big on it's own- there's no way to wrap it up in a short story.

You asked for Peter and Nathan meeting Jack and Ianto and the Doctor? Hooboy are you getting it, with a cherry on top.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There is nothing wrong with epics. Just ask Homer.

Hooboy are you getting it, with a cherry on top.

You've put a happy smile on my face on a ghastly Monday morning.

(I didn't ask for Nathan but if you've got him, I'll take him!)

[raissad.livejournal.com]

It looks like I won't be seeing any more eps. until later in the US. I went where I usually go to watch them, and I got the following message (the previous two eps. as well)...

This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by a third party.

Oh, well. It was nice while it lasted.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's really a shame! I'm sure they will be shown in the U.S., possibly soon - they're airing in Canada starting in June, I think.

I find it very frustrating that you can get shows in some countries but not in others. Especially with so many reruns going on.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

They are available (at least as of today) at
http://www.tv-links.co.uk/

The weird thing about the Youtube copyright irritation is that they seem fine with the music videos people made from clips, but have taken down the ones that are whole episodes.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

I adored the character moments; the plot, not so much. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I officially weep fpr FoB. Via con Cosmos!

Ten seems to have worked through his dislike of cats, as established in Fear Her. DT + kittens equals ADORABLE.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have always loved the Face of Boe. I'm not convinced he won't survive. I think we'll see him again.

Oh, yes, the Doctor with kittens - I surrender, it's just too much, I succumb to the lure.

The Next DW Ep...

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Daleks In Manhattan is available:
http://www.tv-links.co.uk/show.do/1/26

Re: The Next DW Ep...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Got it! I'm working on comments.