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

[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.