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

[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.