Doctor Who: 42..

[fajrdrako]

I loved it for a lot of reasons.

Loved the way Martha did her bit. I like her scenes with the Doctor better, always, than the scenes she has without him, but here I thought her scenes with him were so strong that the balance was well kept - she didn't need to be with him all the time.

Of course it was reminiscent, over and over, of the storyline of "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit" - not a bad thing, since I loved both of those, though I didn't love the secondary characters here nearly as much. This too was not a bad thing, since I wouldn't have wanted Zachary Cross Flane to suffer a fate like that of Kath McDonnell - which was, in the context of this story, perfect: a heroic act to atone for a thoughtless crime.

So many parallels. The Doctor's hug and his smile, in the space suit. Martha's take-charge heroism, very like Rose's. The space ship/space station setting, near a star or black hole they are falling into. The sense of time being short.

This time, though, Martha could and did phone home. Her mother seems even more bitchy, but I like the relationship between them - more troubled than warm, but meaningful to them both, and Francine comes across as oddly vulnerable. The sinister blonde woman who was her guest - who was using her on Mr. Saxon's behalf against the Doctor - was chilling and fascinating and reminded me of the role Laurie Holden played on X-Files.

Martha's friendship with Riley Vashtee was interesting... a nice theme in a minor key.

And this time it was the Doctor possessed by the alien being. I loved it, both his strength and his vulnerability, and particularly his loss of control.

Wonderful small bits: that he didn't know the answer to the question about Elvis and the Beatles, and testily said so. That he promised Martha he'd save her, and then did. And then she saved him. Everything balances.

And he gave her a TARDIS key. This makes me a happy fan.

Comments

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

I *loved* 42. They really were at their best weren't they?

And even though obviously I knew Martha and the Doctor weren't going to fall into the sun and die, I found it *very* tense and suspenseful!

[atheneunknown.livejournal.com]

The comparison between these two eps was so strong, I was full well expecting it to be a story arc. I thought that the critters in the sun were actually gonna be the devil still alive inside the sun.

And that it was actually just attacking at random, but totally sucked the doctor in by accident.

I loved Martha in this. But then, I always have.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

I so dislike Martha's mother. I mean, a mother shouldn't be conspiaring against her daughter, should she!!! Yeah yeah she propably thinks it for the best but still!!! How come she is so quick to believe some weird man in a suit who is doing nothing while people are being pursuited in front of her eyes by a weird and scary creature and while she can see that the Doctor saves them. Ok, a bit of suspicion may be natural, but to actually let yourself be used like that. Bitch!!!
(Ok, yes, I do really dislike her, sorry for the exlamationmarks). (I am not good at handling characters that ought to be good (like family) and are/or seem to be bad. I am afraid I often get sucked in a rather black and white morality-scheme.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I was full well expecting it to be a story arc. I thought that the critters in the sun were actually gonna be the devil still alive inside the sun.

I thought that for a bit, too. It felt like the same kind of installation, the same kind of future history. I was expecting someone to get calligraphy on their skin - in fact, I thought at first that Corwin, with his face and hands covered, had those marks and the glowing eyes and we just couldn't see it.

I did very much like the way the story progressed and diverged, though. And I liked the way the sun was not really an evil entity, but felt itself to be attacked, and was defending itself, and deserved restitution.

I loved Martha in this. But then, I always have.

Me too, and she hasn't let me down yet. Not for a minute. Well, maybe for a second - when she suggested selling Shakespeare's unknown play - but she was teasing, and anticipated the Doctor's disapproval. So: even better.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

The basic plot is not one of my faves, but the character moments and performances really made it special. I also wanted ties to TIP/TSP, but I guess that falls into the basic plot not being one of my faves, and they should have tried a little harder o n the strictly structural level.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

They really were at their best weren't they?

Yes, in so many ways. And they were both heroic in their own right, which is probably what I love most, even if there hadn't been a lot of delicious interaction going on.

It was tense and suspenseful, because even knowing they would survive, there was the question of how. I love it too that the Doctor had to extend himself, or overextend himself, physically to save Martha - a trick that involved cleverness, stamina and dexterity.

Wonderful.

[atheneunknown.livejournal.com]

I've not disliked her a single bit yet. It did take me a while to ADJUST to her...but I've liked her from the start.

And her mother reminds me of my Aunt...I can just hear her mother saying 'I was just trying to do what was right for you'. Like Martha isn't an adult and cannot make her own choices.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

a mother shouldn't be conspiaring against her daughter, should she!!! Yeah yeah she propably thinks it for the best but still!!!

Well... the best I can see is that Francine wants to 'talk' and, if we want to give her the benefit of an open mind, Martha is so caught up in her adventuring with the Doctor that she hasn's sat down to give her mother her side of the story - though I wonder how much she can. ("You see, Mum, he's an alien from a planet that's been destroyed, no, not Krypton... no, he doesn't have a steady job, but he he has a police box!")

But making excuses for Mummy Dearest doesn't really work: it's clear Francine doesn't have an open mind where the Doctor is concerned, and probably wouldn't have an open mind about anyone Martha liked, even without the evil influence of the Saxon people. And the attempt to trace Martha's call was beyond the pale, as was the attempt to trap the Doctor by inviting him for tea. Which is what I think was going on.

Francine is obviously blinded by prejudice. And I agree with you, a mother shouldn't behave that way. She's a bitch.

I hope she sees the error of her ways, but I think things will get worse before they get better.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the character moments and performances really made it special

Yes, I thought so too. Particularly the ones related to Martha and the Doctor, both singly and together. I liked seeing the Doctor act like a Doctor, trying to save Corwin - and then telling McDonnell the truth.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

my problem is also that I strongly have the feeling that her actions in this are a plot device, as opposed to being a more or less logical consequence of her personality. It just all so totally irks me. (I am a coward, I cannot write stories for I never want someone to be a bad guy, let there please be peace all around).
And yes, I agree with you, likely worse before better.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, and it seems to me that rule #1 of parenting should be: Give your kids' friends a chance. Especially if you think there's romantic interest. I know it's hard to do, but Francine doesn't seem to be trying - least of all to give the Doctor a fair chance to prove himself.

Mind you, she has entertainment value. I loved the scene in "The Lazarus Experiment" when she put him on the spot - "What were you told about me? What have you and Martha been busy doing?" The woman's a gorgon.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

her actions in this are a plot device, as opposed to being a more or less logical consequence of her personality.

I think it's both - that is, she has that kind of 'jumping to conclusions' personality, and the desire to control her daughter's life, and it does fit neatly into the plot against the Doctor because she is a link the Saxon people can use to reach him. Or so they think.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I think also her control-freakery has been exacerbated by the break-up of her marriage: she couldn't keep her husband under her thumb (I can rather understand why her husband went off with a bimbo!), so she's damn sure she'll keep a grip on her daughter!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Francine's also an amusing contrast with Jackie, who had a bit of a crush on the Doctor herself!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think that's all true. From what we've seen, she's trying to exert the same kind of control over Tish, but Leo - who seems to have a family of his own - is more assertive with her.

Interesting family dynamics!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

...And who then slapped him after he'd gone off with Rose - was it motherly protectiveness, or jealousy, or both?

In any case, Jackie was endearingly human, and Francine has yet to show much of an endearing side - though I think we can be sure she really does love Martha.

[atheneunknown.livejournal.com]

ha.

yah its funny how critical a parent can be.

my moms never going to accept who i love, but she accepts that i'm happy. which is all that matters to her, thank god.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Parents tend to want for their children what they would have wanted for themselves - it can be difficult for them to understand that the child might want something different.

I don't know if my mother would have accepted the people I chose to love. I wonder. She died before I could put it to the test.