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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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]

He'll survive. He always survives.

Sometimes with irreversible changes. But yes, he'll survive.

She will either get left behind, or possibly she won't survive her time with John Smith.

I hope she stays alive, remembering him.

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

We don't even know the scope of what's going on. If the Family wins and gets tehir hands on a Time Lord - what then? They take over the universe? Or all of time? Or just steal and use the TARDIS and the Time Lord technolog? Obviously they already have a few tricks like time travel, invisibility, and body-snatching. So what's their purpose? They seem pretty nasty.

Maybe they are big-game hunters, hoping to kill the last of the Time Lords.

I hope they don't get Tim.

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.

Yes to all of that. I hope Tim survives, too. He's great. But really confused just now.

Interesting that he had powers before he found the watch. There's something going on there.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I hope the Doctor treats her well, after he's back.

After what she's been through, and mostly for his sake, yes! And it looks from the trailer as if it will get worse before it gets better.

I want the Doctor back.

Yes, please. I think the scariest thing is that Martha has to go it alone. The Doctor doesn't understand or believe her about who she is. She's the only one (besides the Family) who has any idea what's going on, or what the danger is. And I don't think she knows anything at all about Tim yet.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

I wonder if those children do get born, or are just a part of a vision of Tim's. If they get born... do they have the potential to become Time Lords? Or, if not, might not one Pete Tyler be one of their descendants?
So much teaser, so much speculation.

And yes, we don't know the scope. They are hunting for him... definitely not with friendly intentions, judging by that shot that hit the TARDIS console.

I really want to know who Tim is. Um. OK. I just had a bad bad bad idea who he might turn out to be, if RTD really wants to make things screwy. What effect does the watch has on Tim? Mhm... I hope he doesn't get to assume the name of Saxon one day. I like him.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

mostly for his sake indeed. She's amazing. Seeing a clever, brave, educated woman being treated that way, even by him... I... :-/

I am not sure the Family actually really know who he is. They know he's the Doctor, and that's a Time Lord. But I don't think they are aware he is, all his humanity at present notwithstanding ('With a human brain... how pitiful' - was that what the boy-turned-Family said?), he is Karshtakavaar, the Oncoming Storm. I just... want him in his full capacity.

And yes, Martha and Tim. I think her distress was too great for her to realise he called her by her name, as nobody does but John Smith and the other maid, in 1913. Ah, but that scene was interesting. I want the next episode. Now.
How many weeks till Saturday? I think you phrased it just right!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So much teaser, so much speculation.

So very true - ! My guess is that it's a vision of an alternate future that doesn't actually come to pass.

They are hunting for him... definitely not with friendly intentions, judging by that shot that hit the TARDIS console.

An interesting parallel to the arrows shot by the guardsmen of Queen Elizabeth I! But more lethal.

I really want to know who Tim is. Um. OK. I just had a bad bad bad idea who he might turn out to be, if RTD really wants to make things screwy.

Were you thinking... as I was... that he looks a little like John Simm?

I hope he doesn't get to assume the name of Saxon one day. I like him.

From what we've seen, so do I. But it looks as if we were thinking along the same lines, which means there are real hints, and it wasn't just my imagination, and...

Uh-oh.

And it's about time for the mid-season two-parter to set up the action for the end-of-season climax.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Seeing a clever, brave, educated woman being treated that way, even by him... I... :-/

Terrible, isn't it?

I just... want him in his full capacity.

Yes. I love him in any form, but this being human isn't right. It's painfully wrong.

I want the next episode. Now.

Whimper.

It's a mark of how powerful this story is that it has distracted me from thinking about "Utopia"!

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

My guess is that it's a vision of an alternate future that doesn't actually come to pass.
I hope so. The Doctor having children... much as I think his face adorable, looking at that baby (!), I don't think it's right. *shakes head* no. No, not really. No. Besides... I am not sure I find John Smith so admirable... I don't think the Doctor would have been so indifferent to uttering that 'Permission granted' (for the beating of Tim) as he was.

Tim. He does look a little the way Saxon does in the trailers. Also, I thought the sequence when Tim stole the watch was extraordinary, I might go and watch it again. Tim was, across the wall, mirroring John Smith's movements and looks, in a way.
He looks like John Simm, true. But also, he looks a little like David Tennant himself.

Tim was bright enough for John Smith to remark that his grades have been low, despite the fact that he's in the TOP TEN of his class (whoa!!!). And maybe it was his psychic ability that let him 'hear' the watch, but maybe it wasn't.

On the other hand. In the sequence when Martha bumped into him and he got flashback into the 21st century. I think he looked like himself, and not Saxon, in the future footage. It went by too fast for me to be sure, but...
And he KNEW her by NAME.

Tim. I think Tim is going to be around for a while, and he's a key to the season - and not only for having the watch.

Yup, it's stopped me thinking about Utopia for a little bit too. But then again, this is the very first DW cliffhanger I do to myself (with the Daleks, I waited seeing Daleks in Manhattan till the Saturday next, so... not really. And the previous seasons cliffhangers, I just watched the pairs of episodes together. )

*lips quivering* Long week...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I am not sure I find John Smith so admirable...

No. He's limited not just in terms of what he could or should be or normally is, but in terms of being a man of his times who doesn't reach beyond the thinking of his times - for all he is nice to Martha compared to the others. He's still very limited, and there were people in 1913 who were more progressive than he.

I thought the sequence when Tim stole the watch was extraordinary, I might go and watch it again. Tim was, across the wall, mirroring John Smith's movements and looks, in a way.real suspense.

[the-10thdoctor.livejournal.com]

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

:)

[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.

[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.

[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!!

[brixtonbrood.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

We don't even know the scope of what's going on. If the Family wins and gets tehir hands on a Time Lord - what then? They take over the universe? Or all of time? Or just steal and use the TARDIS and the Time Lord technolog? Obviously they already have a few tricks like time travel, invisibility, and body-snatching. So what's their purpose? They seem pretty nasty.

It's easy to miss, because the dialogue goes by so fast at the beginning. The Family is dying, and they want the Doctor's ability to regenerate. Also, The Family hasn't just stolen any tech, but a Time Agent's Time Vortex Manipulator. Jack's old crowd aren't batting a thousand these days.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yes!

[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.

[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!