Doctor Who: "Human Nature"

[fajrdrako]

The Journal of Impossible Things.

I loved this episode thoroughly. Maybe my favourite so far this season, though considering how much I've loved some of the other episodes, that's saying a lot - and maybe hard to judge, since it's only the first half of this story. The best line was: "...With a girl in every fireplace."

Good things about it:
- It's so different. Now, one could rightly argue that no episode of Doctor Who is quite like another, and that's a good part of its high quality. Yes.¹ But this... was more different than usual, partly because, I think, it so completely evokes the atmosphere of 1913. This too is suitable because if we're thinking with the Doctor's point of view, his immersion is complete. We aren't on the outside looking in. Unless we're Martha.

- I loved the way Martha bore servitude with dignity, and without losing her sense of self. I love Martha more with each episode.

- I wonder if one of these days we'll get an episode in which the Doctor is scrubbing floors and Martha is a Grande Dame. I'd like to see that, to balance things.

- It has one of the best opening scenes I've ever seen.

- The scarecrows and the Family creep me out - but not too much, just enough. Scary, scary and interesting.

- Tim Lattimer is good. The actors playing the Family are all beautifully creepy.

- I have the feeling I should like Nurse Joan more than I do. I find her bland. Ilike her role, though. And she did have that "girl in every fireplace" line which more than justifies her existence. My heart bled for Martha when she saw them kissing. Aaargh!

- Love the watch as a prop, or a mcguffin, or whatever it is. Loved the way the Doctor could produce a convincing piece of 1913 technology for his use in a split second. Did the TARDIS just cough it up for him? Maybe. She's good that way.

- I absolutely, totally and completely loved "The Journal of Impossible Things". It reminds me of my friend Larry's notebooks, and I love it that the Doctor can draw (though his handwriting is a mess), and that he admitted to having learned to draw on Gallifrey, which is not in Ireland. The wonderful lixa_turner screencaped the pages of the journal. I wish they'd publish a facsimile.

- How many weeks till next Saturday?

~ ~ ~
¹ Last week's episode would belie that, but not in any way I disliked. Playing on a theme is not the same as descending into repetition.

Comments

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

The idea that the Doctor is lost, and they might be stuck there for years has me thoroughly creeped out. Thoroughly and completely. *shudders*

Although the flashes... "Where did you learn to draw?" "Gallifrey." "Is that an island?"

But OH POOR MARTHA! I just hated the way she was treated, true as it might be for the period.

Nurse Joan. I think she had a wonderful insight on John Smith that made me warm up towards her. But oh she is so damned LOST as to what things really are!

[cupati.livejournal.com]

But he's lost, too.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

He'll survive. He always survives.
But her? She will either get left behind, or possibly she won't survive her time with John Smith.

All are in danger when the Doctor is not there. All are.

On the other hand... I really want to know about that little boy, and his appearance in 2007, or the psychic connection to somebody who saw Martha as she was in the Lazarus Experiment.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

They're all lost in different ways. The Doctor because he has lost his nature and his identity. Nurse Joan because she is clueless as to who he was and will be. Martha because she has lost all status and power. Tim because he doesn't really know what's going on but he has the Time Lord knowledge.

Having a nasty alien gun pointed at your head, or your friends' heads, isn't such a great thing either.

The only people who aren't lost at this point are the villains.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The idea that the Doctor is lost, and they might be stuck there for years has me thoroughly creeped out.

Oh, me too. It would be creepy even without those awful villains. Terrifying. And I love the way the Doctor still has his personality but is so much not the Doctor we know and love, so much more clueless and lost.

But OH POOR MARTHA! I just hated the way she was treated, true as it might be for the period.

Oh, so did I! I cringed. The horrors of racism and sexism and classism all together. And I was impressed at the way she coped (better than I ever could!) and heroically kept her sights on the big picture, on the reality she knew rather than the reality she was living in.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

... and only lost it when things really got scary. She's amazing, Martha is. I hope the Doctor treats her well, after he's back.

But bloody frell, I want the Doctor back.

[brixtonbrood.livejournal.com]

(actually I'm pretty sure she was saying "Is that in Ireland?" - because it sounds like an Irish word)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It certainly does sound like an Irish town! No wonder he was a little confused.

[the-10thdoctor.livejournal.com]

Ooh, and don't forget his 'parents' - Sydney and Verity!

:)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yes!

[boji.livejournal.com]

Just saw it. I think it's a masterpiece of dramatic story-telling. Really, really, brilliant.

Should waxed on more about how I adore Martha, which I do.

I should like Nurse Joan more than I do. I find her bland.

I thought it was a typical Edwardian romance, until she said that she's a widow and then I rather liked the fact that the Doctor falls in love with those who have lost... everything.

*grin*

Acting was superb. Writing, sound, cgi. All superb. They should rain Bafta's on this episode.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think it's a masterpiece of dramatic story-telling.

Oh, undoubtedly. It hit all the rights notes on so many levels and for so many reasons.

I rather liked the fact that the Doctor falls in love with those who have lost... everything.

I like that too, and I liked the effect on Martha. I also liked the way she sometimes showed more wisdom and experience than he did. Loved it when she asked him if he could dance, so she'd know what to expect. And it wasn't something he'd anticipated so he didn't know.

They should rain Bafta's on this episode.

I think. Hugos and such to.

[atheneunknown.livejournal.com]

This episode had me squeeing all thru.

I love the fact that he trusted Martha with the situation, but asks her if SHE trusts HIM in the beginning. He knows shes capable, and knows she can help him,but that still seems like a lot to give to a person who you haven't known that long.

I too support the theory that the little boy grows up to be saxon. Based soley on one thing. The trailer that came out that first had Jack in it...the voice saying the rant about the Doctor seeing the whole of time and space...Was not spoken in a childs voice. Rather a man, while the video showed Saxon. Then in the preview for next weeks ep last night, that little boy was saying those same words. There was no paraphrasing, nothing changed...exact same dialouge.

God I loved this episode. If I hadn't allready planned on writing a martha POV story at some point, I would be now.

[shadowcircus.livejournal.com]

"I too support the theory that the little boy grows up to be saxon."

But Saxon looks to be in his thirties in 2007... If the kid in 1913 grows up to be Saxon he would be about... 104 by the time we caught up to him in present day. Pity that Lazarus experiment failed.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

This episode had me squeeing all thru.

Me too. I was enjoying it so much I didn't want it to end. And when it did end, I screamed, "Is that all there is?"

I love the fact that he trusted Martha with the situation, but asks her if SHE trusts HIM in the beginning.

That was brilliant. A sort of inverted paradox whose implications I am still considering.

He knows shes capable, and knows she can help him,but that still seems like a lot to give to a person who you haven't known that long.

Heavy responsibility, and she's so at the mercy of the situation. And the world they're in.

Now, thanks for explaining about the trailers - I didn't know that. It helps to support our theory. How cool! (Now I feel all clever and vindicated, and will do so unless and until we're proved wrong.)

God I loved this episode.

me too. I've been mildly obsessed by it all day, with tons of other things going on.

If I hadn't allready planned on writing a martha POV story at some point, I would be now.

Oh, yes, please do!

[raissad.livejournal.com]

I loved everything covered so far, plus the song the choir sang at the beginning was like the Doctor's personal fight song. And, you're right. He's not human; he's the last of the Time Lords, and it's time to fight!!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

plus the song the choir sang at the beginning was like the Doctor's personal fight song.

Oh, yes, that was wonderful! All sorts of good touches.... I think I'm going to half to watch it a dozen times more before I've even noticed all the details and the levels of meaning.

He's not human; he's the last of the Time Lords, and it's time to fight!!

Yes! How on earth will he save Joan and Martha? Will he do something like his trick with the piano?

[firko.livejournal.com]

I saw it tonight and am sharing the love for this episode. Definitely one of the best of this series. I love how John Smith has that faraway, slightly absent minded thing going on, and dreamed of being as brave and adventurous as the Doctor. Great writing, and they weren't afraid to show the political incorrectness that would have been around in 1913. The visions worked well although I am dying to know if the young lad is just psychic or where they came from. 'The family' and their scarecrow soldiers are creepy enough (the head movements, although the surrounding of the village hall reminded me of the cybermen at Jackie's birthday party last season.
It was great that Martha had a lot to do and that she is the only one who can restore the Doctor - I felt her pain at seeing him fall for someone else though *bless*
Can't wait for the next installment.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I saw it tonight and am sharing the love for this episode. Definitely one of the best of this series.

What are your other favourites?

I love how John Smith has that faraway, slightly absent minded thing going on, and dreamed of being as brave and adventurous as the Doctor.

And then thought it was all just dreams, imagination and fantasy. (I thought of Tolkien, too.)

Great writing, and they weren't afraid to show the political incorrectness that would have been around in 1913.

They handled that beautifully, showing the snobbery of the obnoxious boys in the beginning, marking the Doctor by his kindness to Rose, even though it made clear he was part of the system too.

The visions worked well although I am dying to know if the young lad is just psychic or where they came from.

He had the visions before he found the watch and became infused with it .... Even if we've figured out who he is, we still don't know his story. My guess was that he was seeing the past and future (as the Doctor can) in bits and pieces, having no way to know what he was seeing or what is truly to come and what is a possible alternate future.

'The family' and their scarecrow soldiers are creepy enough (the head movements

Those head movements were ghastly, and the things they did with their eyes.

I felt her pain at seeing him fall for someone else though *bless*

Heartbreaking! I do so hope there's some compensation for her soon - that in the next episode he shows how much he values her. She's earned it.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Check out the "Fact File" for Human Nature on the official site. It's quite interesting. The video podcast is quite interesting too, confirming The Family's motivation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/308.shtml

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I can't listen to the podcast at work - will watch it at home at the soonest opportunity!

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Family Of Blood is available here (http://www.dailymotion.com/videos/relevance/search/Doctor+Who+S03E09+-+3/1"). If you have technical difficulties, it will also show up here (http://www.tv-links.co.uk/show.do/1/26).

You'll love it! :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Eeee! I did!

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Sorry. Here's an alternate link (http://www.dailymotion.com/DracoDeVis).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you.