Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned...

[fajrdrako]

I probably can't adequately express how much I loved the Christmas episode this year - but I can make a list of things I loved about it.

The Twelve Best Things About Voyage of the Damned

1. The repair of the TARDIS after a total wall breach - that was stupendous! And I don't usually care much about special effects. But I have my weaknesses. The TARDIS is a big weakness. I have probably loved other space ships, but probably never so much!



2. Astrid: Still, you look good for 903.
   Doctor: You should see me in the mornings.
   Astrid: Okay.



3. "I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborus. I'm 903 years old, and I'm the man who's gonna save your lives and all six billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"



4. Midshipman Alonzo Frame - doing his duty! Horatius on the bridge! Young, nervous and stalwart. I love the type. Years of Horatio Hornblower fandom warped my brain. All the better that in him, the Doctor at last found his Alonso.



5. Bannakaffalatta. An intriguing character, with an interesting look. An opening for a point being made about prejudice. Interesting on all grounds. And the same actor, Jimmy Vee, was the Moxx of Balhoon - I'd never have guessed. And that horrible kiddy-Slitheen. It's a little like Paul Kasey playing the Host - a familiar person in a familiar role, but I wouldn't know what he looked like if I didn't read Doctor Who Magazine sometimes.



6. Astrid. Such a lost soul. She reminded me of Rose, in that she was blonde, bored and unhappy in a career in the service industries, and wanted adventures and travels in space and time. And liked the Doctor. She didn't have Rose's spirit, but her courage and sense were delightful.



7. The money themes. The rich guys being villains. Foon Van Hoff spending as much on winning the contest as she would have on the cruise if she'd just paid for it. People feeling helpless because they are poor (like Astrid and Mr. Cooper), and arrogant when they can boss others around because they have money. People being corrupted by money, like the Captain, even though the money wasn't for himself. The Doctor telling Astrid that he didn't have a penny, which is one of the things I love about him. And, of course, the nasty Max Capricorn - reminiscent of John Lumic. Only with a much better name.



8. The Poseidon Adventure pastiche. I like it when Doctor Who and Torchwood take a famous movie theme and run with it. I'd like to see them do Casablanca, myself.



9. Astrid kisses the Doctor. The Doctor kisses Astrid. Awww. I want more of that. But - of course - not necessarily with Astrid.



10. All the ship-stuff: bells and whistles and brass and elegance. And the whole look of the Titanic.



11. The scene of London, deserted because everyone was afraid of the aliens. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, third time is enemy action...!



12. The appearance of the Queen, or at least her bedroom slippers.

Comments

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

1. I had forgotten about that - that probably was my favourite moment in the episode. It was a nice, believable special effect, kind of like basketweaving.

The look was probably the best thing about the episode for me, although I also liked #11, and Astrid's excitement, "It stinks!"

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

1. I had forgotten about that - that probably was my favourite moment in the episode.

Yes, me too. It was delightful and exciting - I'm not even sure why it appealed to me so much. So convincing! And reminding me (as if I needed reminding) of the great power of the TARDIS, and its implications.

And yes, it was fun to see Astrid's reaction to London. I felt sort of like that they first time I went there - ! Damn, wish I could just teleport...

[atheneunknown.livejournal.com]

I loved Astrid, more then I thought I would. I was quite sad when she died, and her 'undeath' at the end was only a bit worse then I'd have expected for me since I barely knew the woman.

I actually liked her spirit more in the short time I knew her, then I ever liked Rose, and that might be for the same reasons you've listed as reasons they are similar. Blonde, bored, and infatuated.

She was better though, to me, because she didn't have time to wear on me.

And the little bit about 'you should see me when I wake up.' and Astrids reply of 'Okay!' was just so perfect. I am ashamed they aren't going to have a chance to do more with her character, she was lovely to know for such a short time.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I loved Astrid, more then I thought I would.

I did too. She was endearing. I liked the way she was so... unpretentious. Kind. And what you saw was what you got.

I was quite sad when she died

I choked up.

Blonde, bored, and infatuated.

That sums it up! The thing is, Rose got so much more of a story - a life, a family, a past, a setting, and we saw her mature and grow in experience and courage with the Doctor, so that her own talents could shine. We didn't get any of that with Astrid because she was a one-episode deal, but we could have.

And the little bit about 'you should see me when I wake up.' and Astrids reply of 'Okay!' was just so perfect.

I forgot to mention that - ooh, how could I miss it! I adored that. Yes, that's my second favourite moment of the show, I think, my very favourite being the TARDIS self-repair job.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Ditto everything you said. But, I do have one purely subjective nitpick. I didn't like the Stowaway song as much as Song For Ten and Love Don't Roam.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll have to watch again (no hardship!) to see what I think about that. I certainly loved Song for Ten and Love Don't Roam. The Stowaway song hasn't made much of an impression yet.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Here's a link to the soundtrack's record company, where you can hear the song in full:

http://www.myspace.com/silvascreenrecords

Re: The Doctor's age is a continuity headache. Six said he was 953, whereas Ten said he'd been traveling for 900, which made a good deal older than that.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I like it. Whether I like it more or less than the other songs - I'm not sure. I like them all.

I think the Doctor plays fast and loose with his age. Only the TARDIS knows for sure.

I like that.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

12. I was a little confused. I know that Torchwood has a direct line to the UK government and that the Doctor had an in with Harriet Jones (and therefore presumably with other prime ministers) but did we know before this that the Doctor knows the queen?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that the Doctor knew the Queen, but there's lots of backstory I don't know, and it was one of those things that 'felt right' even if we've never had a reference to it before. I suspect not many people know that he knows the Queen, and that he prefers it that way.

I'm not sure he has an in with other Prime Ministers - he got to know Harriet Jones in "Aliens of London" and then she became Prime Minister afterwards. He knew the Master long before he was PM. Will he know the next one? I suppose it depends who it is! VOTE DONNA NOBLE.

[research-girl.livejournal.com]

The Doctor knew Queen Victoria - who was decidedly unamused by the encounter ;-)('Tooth and Claw')

You've listed most of my favourite bits - but I would add Mr Cooper's wonderfully garbled explanation of Christmas

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The Doctor knew Queen Victoria - who was decidedly unamused by the encounter

She was grumpy because he'd sussed out the family secret.

Yes, the explanation of Christmas was quite - wondrous.

[firko.livejournal.com]

#1 was a superb way to start the episode - definitely made me squee.

I kept thinking that RTD must have had a whale of a time writing that episode. All the important Doctor stuff ("I'm the Doctor, I'm a timelord, I'm 903 years old and I'm going to save your life and those of the 6 billion people on the planet below" or thereabouts) and Astrid standing on a box to give the Doctor a kiss. I did think there was a little whiff of cheesiness when Astrid/Kylie turned into stardust at the end, but forgiveable.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I kept thinking that RTD must have had a whale of a time writing that episode.

Yes. I'd say he pulled out all the stops. In the nicest possible ways.

That Gallifrey speech - did I list it among my favourite bits? I should have. It was tingles-up-the-spine superb. I can hardly wait to see it again.

Yes, the box was a wonderful touch! Adorable.

There was cheesiness, definitely, but I viewed it with an affectionate eye.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I thought 11 was hilarious - really nice little in-joke. I pretty much agree with all your other points too, especially the wonderfulness of Midshipman Frame.

Though I did have a moment of wondering what Torchwood were doing and if they'd noticed the spaceship plunging towards Buckingham Palace at all! (Maybe they were all hungover after the office Xmas party).

Oh, they repeated The Runaway Bride here the other day. It was interesting to watch again - I liked Donna more on the second viewing and it made me more hopeful for S4.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I thought 11 was hilarious - really nice little in-joke.

There were a few other details where events from the previous Christmas specials built on each other to enhance this one. I love that.

As for Torchwood: I can imagine Owen looking at the scene on his viewscreen and saying, "What the fuck?" while the Doctor rolls his eyes and mutters, "Doctor, not again!" But by that time it was all over and Jack wouldn't let them investigate, even though they all wanted a trip to London.

I liked Donna more on the second viewing and it made me more hopeful for S4.

Yes, I watched it a while ago and liked her much more. Thank goodness.

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

Ah, you approach everything so rationally!

My reaction?

**squee**

***wtf Poseidon Adventure***

**squee**

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yeah - "squee" pretty much covers it!