5x06 The Vampires of Venice (Grading/Discussion) SPOILERS!!

[Gov Kodos]

I just put vamps of Venice on for Lesley, who missed it last night, and noticed that the phone in Amy's bedroom is exactly the same model of phone as we have on the living room table...

So, how long before Moff is accused of being an evil racist racefail type cos the cast aren't all black heroes? I've noticed the rumblings beginning just because the black characters in the last two episodes died, overlooking the fact that *all* the guest characters died and that having a rich boat-builder of colour in the setting actually looks to me more like some kind of affirmative action to boost the racial variety...

But, hey, I said that about WoM, and nobody listened, because everybody loves a bandwagon to jump on, especially if it's about slagging somebody off for what you can make out is a socio-political reason, so you can look like a mover and a shaker...

Really? I haven't seen these rumblings beginning here or over on Gallifrey Base. Have you got any links to that?

Those rumblings are on LiveJournal communities and my LJ friends list.

Another thing I noticed on the rewatch- although there was no CG crack this time, the lower edge of the clearing in the clouds when the sun came out was exactly the same shape! (but clearly not deliberate, as it was just part of circle and didn't glow or have any music/sound effects

I thought the outline of the TARDIS keyhole bore a resemblance to the crack. I do believe the crack is connected to the TARDIS engine trouble at the outset of the Eleventh Hour. I am also wondering if the shadow that ran by the window (though we are made to think it's prisoner Zero) was the Doctor, especially as Flesh and Stone gave the impression the Doctor may be crossing his Timeline in dealing with the crack.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Maybe the plague killed off most of the boatmakers, and, seeing as how the vampire lady closed off the city, a black boatmaker who happened to be passing through was their best bet. That's as good an explanation as any. Otherwise, you might as well complain about how Venice of the period had no man eating fish in the canal.

There was no plague. The Doctor knew this from actual history. The plague was a lie that the Calvierri's used as a pretext to close the city to protect their interests.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Maybe the plague killed off most of the boatmakers, and, seeing as how the vampire lady closed off the city, a black boatmaker who happened to be passing through was their best bet. That's as good an explanation as any. Otherwise, you might as well complain about how Venice of the period had no man eating fish in the canal.

There was no plague. The Doctor knew this from actual history. The plague was a lie that the Calvierri's used as a pretext to close the city to protect their interests.

There was a plague, it was just that it'd ended a few years earlier.

 

[David cgc]

Amy: "....my boys..."

There you go. Moffats' hidden message.
Amy is actually the Doctor's mother (last seen in END OF TIME) that came thru the crack, not knowing she's a Time Lord. Rory is the Doctors' BROTHER, the MASTER, coming from the crack in the Universe (and Time Lock).

Can't be. Donna's the Doctor's mother.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Amy: "....my boys..."

There you go. Moffats' hidden message.
Amy is actually the Doctor's mother (last seen in END OF TIME) that came thru the crack, not knowing she's a Time Lord. Rory is the Doctors' BROTHER, the MASTER, coming from the crack in the Universe (and Time Lock).

Can't be. Donna's the Doctor's mother.

The Doctor has two mommies.

 

[davejames]

Not really sure what to think of this one. It started out great, and there were a lot of fun little character moments throughout... but the actual plot seemed like kind of a mess. By the end it felt like just a bunch of random stuff happening, with no clear narrative drive.

I don't mind a fun little romp, but I still think they should hold together a little better than this one did. Still, Smith was a lot of fun to watch here, and I'm sure it'll improve a bit on a second viewing.

 

[WillsBabe]

Oh, hell, I thought it was fabulous. There's so much in it that I loved. And I think that the humour was great. I think that Matt Smith does it very well, and I like this humourous Doctor. It helps that I adore Venice and Croatia and that added to my enjoyment enormously. I love the episodes where they go back in time and it's aliens. Loved it.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Oh, hell, I thought it was fabulous. There's so much in it that I loved. And I think that the humour was great. I think that Matt Smith does it very well, and I like this humourous Doctor. It helps that I adore Venice and Croatia and that added to my enjoyment enormously. I love the episodes where they go back in time and it's aliens. Loved it.

Did you watch Doctor Who Confidential where the writer, Toby Whithouse, and Matt Smith actually went to Venice to meet Francesco Da Mosta? That was even better than the episode.

 

[starbuck]

very good, liked it when the doctor came out the cake ,think we will have more laughs with this doctor.

 

[Brent]

I'm a bit surprised many people are saying this is the weakest episode of the season yet, or just flat out didn't like it. IMO, I really enjoyed it and thought it was a very good "classical" type of episode. Indeed, I felt like it was laid out in a much more classic Doctor Who format, and kind of story. So, I liked it, and I'd rate it very high, going with a "Quite good indeed"

I'm surprised the boat makers daughter died, and then he died! That was kind of shocking, I didn't see both of them biting the dust in this episode. I loved the Library Card. While it was still on Earth, at least we got some time travel into the past plus a different location away from London finally. It was all a very good episode IMO.

One thing I've noticed this season is how many aliens know about the Doctor, Timelords and Gallifrey. In past seasons the Timelords were all but myth. But now it seems aliens like Prisoner Zero, even these Fish Aliens, know about Tiemlords. The Fish Aliens knew even so much as that the race was wiped out, burned to ash, or whatever, obviously aware of the Time War. It is a bit of a change.

 

[Neroon]

IOne thing I've noticed this season is how many aliens know about the Doctor, Timelords and Gallifrey. In past seasons the Timelords were all but myth. But now it seems aliens like Prisoner Zero, even these Fish Aliens, know about Tiemlords. The Fish Aliens knew even so much as that the race was wiped out, burned to ash, or whatever, obviously aware of the Time War. It is a bit of a change.

What's more, Rosanna at least knew not only of the Timelords but of the Doctor as well. In her conversation with the Doctor, he only said that he was from Gallifrey but never that he is called "The Doctor". Yet a minute later she calls him "Doctor".


Another interesting thing.... each week a character has either mentioned "silence" or "The Doctor in the Tardis doesn't know". Each is apparently a connection to the overall goal of this particular series, it seems

 

[tomalak301]

Not my favorite episode of the season but still enjoyable. Loved the chemistry between Rory and the Doctor, and I'm glad he's sticking around for another episode. I thought bringing him along would be kinda like "The Long Game" with that other guy, but I found myself actually enjoying scenes like him telling the Doctor he's not going to take his crap, or when he was fighting with the broom. Yeah, it's doofus-like, but it's doofus like in a playful fun kind of way. After the big Angels two parter, this one just felt like going back to fun Doctor Who with a in-episode adventure. I don't mind that.

I'm almost afraid though I'm going to lose this story about the cracks and silence and stuff like that. I'm intriqued, but it feels like there are so many variables and I feel like I've been watching this show and it's just passing over me. I hope that's not the case, but I honestly didn't understand the final scene when everyone disappeared.

 

[O'Dib]

What's more, Rosanna at least knew not only of the Timelords but of the Doctor as well. In her conversation with the Doctor, he only said that he was from Gallifrey but never that he is called "The Doctor". Yet a minute later she calls him "Doctor".

She may have surmised that from having heard Amy refer to him as uncle Doctor earlier.

 

[DAK]

I gave it a "quite good". I wonder what the Doctor meant when he said he was worried that he popped out of the wrong cake - again? I'd love to see that! (I'd also love to see him pop out of *my* cake! ) I thought the "yours is bigger than mine" gag was hilarious, especially since it's not something you expect to see in Doctor Who! It caught me off guard. Glad to see Rory sticking around, I liked him in the first episode.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Maybe the plague killed off most of the boatmakers, and, seeing as how the vampire lady closed off the city, a black boatmaker who happened to be passing through was their best bet. That's as good an explanation as any. Otherwise, you might as well complain about how Venice of the period had no man eating fish in the canal.

There was no plague. The Doctor knew this from actual history. The plague was a lie that the Calvierri's used as a pretext to close the city to protect their interests.

There was a plague, it was just that it'd ended a few years earlier.

Yes, many, many years earlier (around 200 years, in fact). My point still stands.

 

[Jamee999]

That was odd. I'm not convinced it made any sense whatsoever, but it was certainly fun, and I approve of pretty much anything involving vampire girls, tbh (the blonde one was amazing, as was the mum, actually).

 

[Gov Kodos]

There was no plague. The Doctor knew this from actual history. The plague was a lie that the Calvierri's used as a pretext to close the city to protect their interests.

There was a plague, it was just that it'd ended a few years earlier.

Yes, many, many years earlier (around 200 years, in fact). My point still stands.

The Plague was still seen as a serious threat and Vienna had a large outbreak in 1679. Plague was a serious threat and quarantine was the only really effective defense at the time. Venice had had a serious bout in 1630. Nearby plague areas could easily be used to shut the city down, which is what the quarantine officer said was happening.

 

[Starkers]

I gave it a "quite good". I wonder what the Doctor meant when he said he was worried that he popped out of the wrong cake - again? I'd love to see that! (I'd also love to see him pop out of *my* cake! ) I thought the "yours is bigger than mine" gag was hilarious, especially since it's not something you expect to see in Doctor Who! It caught me off guard. Glad to see Rory sticking around, I liked him in the first episode.

Yeah the whole cake routine was brilliant, especially bursting out backwards!!

There must be something wrong with me because I tittered at the "Yours is bigger than mine gag" as well, and I think if they'd done it silently it'd have been worse. We needed the Doctor to say "Don't start that."

 

[Admiral_Young]

I also liked the gag of the Doctor whipping out his library card and it having a picture of the First Doctor on it!!!

 

[Brent]

Anyone know who the actress is that played that blonde vampire?