Doctor Who: The Sound of Drums...

[fajrdrako]

Adventure with rhythm. I can't think of anything to say without spoilers except: how could I possibly love this show more?

1. Martha is true blue. She's wonderful. Loved the scenes in her flat. And the Master blew it up! The fiend.



2. Loved the drums. maaboroshi pointed out that the Master was drumming the Doctor Who theme.



3. Scenes of Gallifrey. I love it when the Doctor talks about Gallifrey. Since I am pretty much ignorant about Gallifrey, this was like a first introduction to it. I loved the Doctor's line about how he ran at eight - and I guess he's hardly stopped running since.



4. The Master is magnificent. His dialogue, his scenes, his wackiness. He's like one of the better Batman villains. Why did giving him a pretty wife make him seem scarier?



5. Jack belongs with the Doctor. They are wonderful together. Perfect. I love the blue coat/brown coat thing they've got going. And Martha is perfect with them.



6. A Paradox Machine? maaboroshi said, "Isn't that an improbability drive?" Uh-huh. The fannish in-jokes were coming thick and fast and we laughed a lot but that didn't seem to damage the tension and suspense.



7. It squicked me to see the Doctor aged. Change him back, quick.¹



8. It squicked me to see the Master had messed with the TARDIS. I am protective of the TARDIS.



9. I think I loved all the dialogue between the Master and the Doctor. All of it. And his dissing Jack and Martha - 'the girlie and the freak - although I'm not sure which one's which.'



10. Once again we see disastrous results from one of the Doctor's actions. Harold Saxon was able to get political power because of the fall of Harriet Jones, and we know it was the Doctor who toppled her from her position as Prime Minister because he was miffed at how she treated the Sycorax. Echoes of the destruction of the regime of the Jagrafess in "The Long Game" leading to the power of the Daleks in "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways".



11. Jack said all the things I'd want him to say, including the way he rebuilt Torchwood for the Doctor's sake. I wanted to shout, "Yes! I called it!" That's Jack as I most love him. I was also chuffed that they got back to the 21st century by one of the means I'd speculated. Handy, that wristband of Jack's. I wonder if he'll be able to keep it in working order for the next series of Torchwood.



12. Our reaction to the death of the American President was raucous. The aliens are like Daleks remade in the Master's image.



13. I really can't predict where the story is going and how they'll get out of this mess. I'll have to think a little harder.

maaseru even said it was a good show. Since she has been resistant to any attractions Doctor Who might have all along, I felt that was something of a triumph.

Was Rose mentioned in this episode?

~ ~ ~

¹ Although I think it's remarkable, and one of the best effects they have, I think Russell T. Davies and co. are getting just a little too carried away with their wonderful aging techniques.

Comments

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

At this point I'm loving each episode more than the previous!

Oh lord, the INSTANT we saw the American President we knew he was toast.

The Master is like an evil Pee Wee Herman sometimes. This is a GOOD thing as far as I'm concerned.

Jack was so sweet - he rebuilt Torchwood in the Doctor's honor.

Also, his "You too, eh?" to Martha was very perceptive - they need to have a slumber party when all this is over.

I'm wondering if RTD has a relative who does age makeup; I've never seen it done so many times in a single series.

king_chiron says the show is "silly", but he never fails to watch it with me and offer theories (today's: the Doctor picked on the Master in school).

That TARDIS had better be fixed up by the time the next episode is over! And the Doctor, that goes without saying.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

At this point I'm loving each episode more than the previous!

Me too, and I wouldn't have thought it possible.

the INSTANT we saw the American President we knew he was toast.

And then again as soon so he opened his mouth! It was inevitable.

Jack was so sweet - he rebuilt Torchwood in the Doctor's honor.

Of course he did. And better still, he got away with it.

Also, his "You too, eh?" to Martha was very perceptive - they need to have a slumber party when all this is over.

It was wonderful and I adored them both for it. Yes, slumber party. Absolutely.

I'm wondering if RTD has a relative who does age makeup; I've never seen it done so many times in a single series.

Neither have I - ! I don't really mind, or at least, I didn't mind - until they used it on David Tennant! That's desecration or something.

king_chiron says the show is "silly"

Cleverest 'silly' I ever saw.

he never fails to watch it with me and offer theories (today's: the Doctor picked on the Master in school).

Would the Doctor do that? I think he's too nice. And too... nonconformist.

That TARDIS had better be fixed up by the time the next episode is over!

I hate having anything bad happen to the TARDIS. What that poor machine has been through - !

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

You never know, the Doctor might have been less nice as a little kid. Or he might have felt like the Master got all the attention from the teacher, or something. Maybe he was just trying to get his attention 'cause he had a crush, and the Master took it wrong?

God, you are so right about the makeup - fine before (because what attachment do we have to Dr Lazarous or whatever), but NOT MY DOCTOR!!!

I want the TARDIS to turn out to have a trick of her own that nobody expects. Because she really deserves more respect.

Jack and Martha need a slumber party, with cupcakes and a pillow fight, to commiserate over the unrequited Doctor love.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Ditto to everything that's been said. Plus, Lucie Saxon either has a screw loose or has major self concept issues to have gone along with the Master.

[kittyfisher.livejournal.com]

Hated the ageing too!

And I wonder what the Americans will make of the ep? *cough*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I admit to the merest hint of disappointment about this episode. Maybe I just loved Utopia (possibly beyond reason) and this one will grow on me, but two little details got in the way. The music was driving me mad - instead of guiding my reaction, it was getting in the way. Normally I'm hardly aware of it, but this time, I was seriously contemplating the mute button and subtitles. Some of it just didn't work. And the 'speeded up' effect I thought was just awful. The make up was absolutely amazing (freaky but amazing) but the effect to get him there was like the kind of thing I've seen on bad kids' programs. It just didn't work.

Looking at this (and my own reaction post) I think I loved the writing and acting, but thought that some aspects of the production needed more thought. But I loved all the things you mentioned. The jibes about Jack (and Martha, but mostly Jack), the "you too" (which made me jump so much that I nearly did serious injury to the other half), the back-story infilling, which makes so much sense, were all wonderful.

I'm not sure about the chemistry between John Simm and DT. They're both amazing actors, but I want some more scenes of the two of them in the same place before I make a call on that one. Chemistry between the Doctor and Jack (and Martha)? Bloomin' perfect.

And I hadn't thought of it, but I don't think there was any mention of Rose in this. But then, they were busy with the plot :)

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

It was, in a word, fabulous!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Maybe he was just trying to get his attention 'cause he had a crush, and the Master took it wrong?

Misunderstandings happen! I wonder if we'll learn more about that?

you are so right about the makeup - fine before (because what attachment do we have to Dr Lazarous or whatever), but NOT MY DOCTOR!!!

So right!

I want the TARDIS to turn out to have a trick of her own that nobody expects.

I've been hoping that.

Jack and Martha need a slumber party, with cupcakes and a pillow fight, to commiserate over the unrequited Doctor love.

And flannelette jim-jams? They'd be so cute.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Lucie Saxon either has a screw loose or has major self concept issues

Yes - I wonder what her story is? I'd been wondering if she were one of the aliens.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hated the ageing too!

I love the way this show can get strong reactions from me.

I wonder what the Americans will make of the ep? *cough*

I wonder!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I admit to the merest hint of disappointment about this episode.

I wasn't disappointed, but then, the things that bothered you were things I didn't notice. We'll see what I think on watching again. The only thing I hated was the aging of the Doctor, and that was supposed to be bad. It wasn't the how it was done that bothered me, it was that it was done.

he "you too" (which made me jump so much that I nearly did serious injury to the other half)

Hee! Dangerous, this TV-watching business.

the back-story infilling, which makes so much sense

Yes, that was particularly good.

I suppose it could be admitted that it's vaguely disappointing that we didn't get any Jack/Doctor snogging scenes, but that's what my imagination is for.

I'm not sure about the chemistry between John Simm and DT.

I certainly had no problem with them - I think either of them has enough oomph to have charisma with a brick wall, if necessary. The resonance between them was mostly in the clever dialogue.

Yes, plenty of plot in this one!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It certainly was! I'm going to watch it again while doing yoga this morning.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

That's possible.
Or she may simply have been brain-washed by the Master.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I'm on tenterhooks till next week!
It was great to see Gallifrey again, complete with the traditional Time Lord costumes!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I should confess: I have a sort of crush on those Time Lord outfits. I can't explain it, can't justify it, and can't understand it, but I think they are just wonderful. In an otherworldly 'we're so dorky we're cool' kind of way.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

In any case, I thought she hit the right balance of plausibility and scariness.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

They've always dressed like that. In the old days, there were sometimes whole episodes set on Gallifrey.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yes. She's his Eva Braun.

In plot terms, the Master has never had a companion before. I see this as more of the clever 'mirroring' we have with this incarnation of the Master, as an evil parody of the Doctor.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And maybe some day I'll watch them.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Check my LJ. Short answer, loved it. Knew POTUS was toast, but did wonder why we didn't nuke the Valiant out of the sky 10 seconds later on principal. We're bitchy like that.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Check my LJ.

Will do - of course!

Short answer, loved it.

Hee! Good! Me too.

Knew POTUS was toast

Yeah. Inevitable, really. Presidents - regardless of what they are President of - don't fare too well in this show.

did wonder why we didn't nuke the Valiant out of the sky 10 seconds later on principal.

I'm sure they were trying, there at the Pentagon, with some poor guy's finger uselessly jabbing a FIRE button. But The Master had jammed all the frequencies already. Hah!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

She's his Eva Braun.

Well said.

the Master has never had a companion before. I see this as more of the clever 'mirroring' we have with this incarnation of the Master, as an evil parody of the Doctor.

I've heard old school fans say that the Doctor needs a companion - that Time Lords need company, or they go nuts. It would follow then, that one of the reasons for the Master being so crazy would be that he didn't have a companion. I've heard this explanation used to explain why the Doctor seemed so much at loose ends - and a notch crueller - in "The Christmas Invasion" - he'd been living for six months without Rose at that point.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

It was a delicious episode. "You too, huh?" FTW!!!

Jack/Doctor/Martha is just perfect. Perfect.

Oh, and back to a comment you made loooong ago ("I want to be in Freema's place"), here's a bonus pic...


Umgh... IS IT I CAN HAS NEXT TIME NAO?

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

*rolls eyes* I mean to make the comment a bit longer.

I don't think Rose was mentioned. But. Sending Martha away? That so reminded me of the 2005 season finale...

Animated DW, Part 11, & More

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the Classic DW ep. "The Deadly Assassin," yet? It has Gallifrey, the Master, and a companionless Four in it. It'll provide context for everything these past new eps. have brought to the fore. TDA is the ep. following Sarah's departure. That return to Gallifrey is why he couldn't keep her with him.

Re: Lucie -- When she was talking to the reporter, Lucie mentioned something about "Saxon" being so kind to her father. Maybe, the Master went through a twisted whirlwind courtship, or maybe it's an implanted memory.

Btw, here's Part II of the animated DW story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puQENZjqYPw