A cold day...

[fajrdrako]

Suddenly today it turned wintry. golden_hinde said she saw snowflakes falling. I can believe it. I don't think the temperature went above 0C all day.

So this evening I watched Numb3rs with maaseru. Watching it again (for the first time in a couple of years) reminded me both of what I did and didn't like about the show. First of all, it was very predictable. Less than five minutes into the show I said to maaseru, "Do you think the kidnap victim is behind it all?" "Looks that way," she said, and so it was.

Second, it was all very superficial. In the episode, one of the protagonists broke up with his girlfriend. A more... colourless scene I can't imagine. And they were the characters I liked. I found Larry Fleinhardt's speech patterns very annoying.

I still like the show's motif of using math to solve situational problems, but I'm just not convinced by it.

And then I watched "Time Crash", the Doctor Who mini-episode that just aired for the Children in Need special today. A nice surprise: it was written by Steven Moffat, my favourite Doctor Who writer by far.

An even nicer surprise is that I totally loved it. It revived my Doctor-love that had hiccupped after "The Last of the Time Lords". It made me smile. It made me all sentimental not only about the show but about eras of the show I never even watched. I never saw Peter Davison as the Doctor before, and here I was, loving him. And the celery. And the jokes. (Especially the 'beard' joke.) Wibbley wobbley timey-wimey. Crickety cricket stuff. Butterfingers. Desktop theme. Not to mention, "Big emergency, universe goes bang in five minutes, but - brilliant!"

And the cloister bell. I don't even get it and I loved it.

It did a lot - and I can't even explain why - to soothe my mixed feelings about Ten. It was Ten at his silliest - and why do I like that so much, when I don't like other heroes being silly? It's one of the mysteries of the time-space continuum.

Aaah, that happy feeling of fannishness being stoked.

Comments

[brashley46.livejournal.com]

So this evening I watched Numb3rs with maasersu. Watching it again (for the first time in a couple of years) reminded me both of what I did and didn't like about the show. First of all, it was very predictable. Less than five minutes into the show I said to maaseru, "Do you think the kidnap victim is behind it all?" "Looks that way," she said, and so it was.

Yup. Patty Hearst crossed with Paris Hilton, and where else could they take it?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Patty Hearst crossed with Paris Hilton

Exactly.

I kept hoping for a surprise twist, but by halfway through it was clear there wouldn't be one.

I also wondered how, if she was the blonde-mega-celebrity type, she could have a secret boyfriend and the paparazzi not notice.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

And the cloister bell. I don't even get it and I loved it.

Traditionally, the cloister bell rings when the TARDIS is being badly damaged. It's an alert sound.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Traditionally, the cloister bell rings when the TARDIS is being badly damaged. It's an alert sound.

Like the annoying 'red alert' sirens in Star Trek?

So why don't we hear the cloister bells in the current series? Has the TARDIS not been damaged enough?

Come to think of it, I thought the TARDIS was invincible. Mongol hordes and all.

Time Crash

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

The bit I liked best was 10 being all fannish to 5. It was written to be plausible speaking from Doctor to Doctor, of course, but I suspect that it was literally true - DT was 10 when Peter Davison became the Doctor, a prime age for that incarnation to have been his favorite.

Re: Time Crash

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It was written to be plausible speaking from Doctor to Doctor, of course, but I suspect that it was literally true

Yes, the 'you're my Doctor' line sort of clinched that for me. And isn't that every young fan's dream - of meeting the Doctor, and being on the TARDIS?

Works for me, anyway!

Such a lovely snippet for us.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

I was walking along Laurier Avenue E about 3:30 p.m., and there were little flakes gently drifting down: not a lot, but definite harbingers. It warmed up afterwards.

Time Crash: so cool! I'm glad to see Dr. Who is getting back to form.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Little flakes. There will be more to come.

I'll show you "Time Crash" next time you're over.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Jennifer told me that it snowed last night. I'm thinking of the motto of House Stark: Winter is coming.

Is commodorified still out of town? I'm getting a little stir crazy and would like to watch something with someone - or do anything fannish!

[idiotgrrl.livejournal.com]

And the Numb3ers plot was 40 years out of date, to boot. The kid spouting all that stuff about oppression of the workers would have been dead on back in the day, but, come on, have the script writers SEEN today's young activists? Now, if her grandmother were behind it, I might buy it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And the Numb3ers plot was 40 years out of date, to boot

Also a good point!

Is Judd Hirsch still in the show? I was disappointed not to see him.

[chatona.livejournal.com]

... I want to see that Children in Need special, but it's not on youtube yet and it's not like I could have watched it *pouts*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Too bad you can't just drop by to see it! I'm sure there'll be a YouTube version up soon, though.

[kittyfisher.livejournal.com]

awww i loved it! The 'my doctor' and, above all, the MAster's wife being his 'beard'.

I grinned at Moffat's effrontery for about an hour!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Moffat is wonderful. This has whetted my appetite for more. More! Christmas special, series 4, whatever...!

[cupati.livejournal.com]

Just found Time Crash on youtube, as realplayer hates me.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Ten is a stark raving fanboy and no mistake, I love the little loop of time paradox they have there, and an explaination how a ship could get wedged into the tardis. Awesome.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, isn't Ten fun sometimes? So loopy and smart. I love it when he just doesn't seem to need to stop for breath.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Patty Hearst meets Paris Hilton was the first phrase that ran through my mind, too. She even looked like Patty. William Atherton playing her father was worth the price of admission, though. I haven't seen him in anything in a long time, and while he's not aged all that well, he's still a terrific actor.

I confess, I mostly watch Numb3rs because I've had this little thing going for David Krumholtz ever since he played Mr. Universe in Serenity, but we won't go there [g].

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, Krumholz is the best reason to watch Numb3rs, I just wish it was a better show. And I liked him better in Serenity, but that was a function of the script, not a reflection on him.

Funny how Firefly brings out the best in everyone.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

I loved "Time Crash." Indeed, Davison's swansong, "The Caves of Androzani," is one of the best Classic eps.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well - I'll have to watch it then, somehow, won't I?

[myfavouriteplum.livejournal.com]

"An even nicer surprise is that I totally loved it. It revived my Doctor-love that had hiccupped after 'The Last of the Time Lords'".

Me, too. And it's nice to see Ten shouted down by someone*g*

And I was a little surprised how much dignified the old Doctor seemed to be, even in ill-fitted costumes with decorative vegetable on his lapel, being obviously much older than last seen in the role. I guess I just forgot Tennant and Moffat were big fanboys or Mr Davison was a good actor. I guess in the end all three got a bit carried away in the making of the thing, projecting themselves in their roles/writing: the scene has such a bittersweet feeling of time slipping away from all of us. Everything changes. Yet we remember, and are remembered.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It was Ten as I most love him - smart and loopy and over-energized. I do have some difficulty reconciling this image of Ten with the concept of a Ten who could be so callous to Jack Harkness, but that's okay, I'm perfectly happy to enjoy what I have here, and mull over the discrepancies until I either reconcile them, or get fanfic ideas, or my head explodes, whichever comes first.

"Not many men can carry off a decorative vegetable." That's hilarious. Did he really wear celery? Why?

it's nice to see Ten shouted down by someone*g*

I think part of the fun is that Ten is, generally speaking, so full of himself, it's great to see him with someone he really loves and respects. (Even if it's himself.) It's one reason I loved "The Shakespeare Code" so much, and why I loved him most with Martha when he admired her (as in "Smith and Jones") rather than when he was taking advantage of her ("The Family of Blood" or "Blnk" or "The Last of the Time Lords").

I was a little surprised how much dignified the old Doctor seemed to be

Yes. He ought to have seemed absurd, but we saw him through Ten's eyes, and he never did. And I must confess that vanity is not my favourite characteristic of a hero, but here both Ten and Five made it seem charming - in each of them.

the scene has such a bittersweet feeling of time slipping away from all of us. Everything changes. Yet we remember, and are remembered.

All that, and it reminds us to cherish and appreciate what we love while we have it.

Barrowman On Children In Need

[raissad.livejournal.com]

In case you missed it, here's JB singing "Your Song:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BZtX6JH9Do

Re: Barrowman On Children In Need

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the link - I didn't know about this - it's beautiful!

[firko.livejournal.com]

With the cast that it has, Numb3rs should be really brilliant but when I've seen it, it just doesn't live up to expectations. The only bits I like are the family scenes with the brothers (and occasionally dad). I couldn't be less interested in the procedural stuff even though I like math.

Time Crash was fantastic. I do remember Peter Davison as the Doctor although my recollections are a little hazy (I don't remember the cloister bell, although I do remember seeing other rooms within the TARDIS back then). I'd completely forgotten that his Doctor didn't use the sonic screwdriver so much until it was referenced.

I love that Stephen Moffat can turn a tiny throwaway scene into canon and, of course, the lead in to the Christmas episode. As for Ten being silly - it's respectful silly when he could be cruel. He never loses his super-intelligence and somehow, the fact that he likes to play makes him more human.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Numb3rs should be really brilliant but when I've seen it, it just doesn't live up to expectations.

No, and it's a real pity. I'm not sure what the problem is. The writers just aren't good enough, maybe, to make the most of the potential.

I do remember Peter Davison as the Doctor

I'm thinking of buying one of the DVD sets from his era. Just because "Time Crash" is a good starting-off point - and David Tennant's enthusiasm (as the Doctor, for the Doctor) is infectious.

I love that Stephen Moffat can turn a tiny throwaway scene into canon

He did it beautifully. How I wish he would write an episode of Torchwood. How I hope he will write another episode of Doctor Who. And I really should watch Jeckyll or something else by him.

As for Ten being silly - it's respectful silly when he could be cruel. He never loses his super-intelligence and somehow, the fact that he likes to play makes him more human.

I agree with that, and that's Ten at his best. It's the reason I still love him. I can't quite reconcile that with the Doctor who was callous towards Jack or unloving towards Martha, but that's okay - gives me things to mull over, story ideas, and the like.

It's got to be almost Christmas now, right? Soon? Are we there yet?

[raissad.livejournal.com]

We learn why Five wore celery in "Caves of Androzani." It had to do with an allergy that incarnation had to certain gases. If he was near those gases, the celery would turn purple, and he would eat it for medicinal effect.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

How useful!

[filkferengi]

We're having blizzards of leaves here, which is quite appropriate for the middle of November. We've also taken our walks in shorts & t-shirts the last couple of days. As my spouse so pithily opines, "That's just wrong." ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

"That's just wrong."

Silly weather doesn't know what it's doing!

I was just reading newspaper clippings from 1972, when we had a huge blizzard. It was comparing it to blizzards of 1885 and other banner years - 1923? - I forget the other dates. It seems that the weather in these parts has always been wonky.

We get so much snow in an average year, it's a scary thought to think what it might be like at record levels.

So we have snow today. Not the record levels of 1972 or 1885 - well, not so far, I'd better not speak too soon, that's tempting fate - but a good pile on the ground. Enough to make walking difficult, so I took the bus to work.

I took photos, becuase it was pretty. May post them tonight, if I get a chance.

Time Crash Behind-The-Scenes

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Here's a Behind-The-Scenes Featurette:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9L0ch0r4pQ

Re: Time Crash Behind-The-Scenes

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That was delightful. Totally charming.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

It did a lot - and I can't even explain why - to soothe my mixed feelings about Ten. It was Ten at his silliest - and why do I like that so much, when I don't like other heroes being silly?

could Ten's sillyness be (one of) his superpowers? Intertwined with a way he had to persuede people. Being very silly but extremely earnest at the same time.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He certainly has a talent for a kind of endearing silliness. It's where he shines, though I like the occasional moments of anger as well.