Another step into the TARDIS

[Neroon]

Tonight, I finished the third disc of series 3. It's been the usual fun ride of madness and humor balanced with poignancy. Initially, I wasn't sure about Martha, but she's grown on me as the season has worn on. I'm a little worn out this evening, so I'll post more about the episodes themselves tomorrow.

But it's reassuring to see what I loved so much last series is still very much alive.

 

[jamestyler]

Is that the Human Nature disc?

Human Nature was definatly a highlight. I quite liked Martha, but Freema's acting was limited The first couple of es had flaws, but I enjoyed them. Especially Gridlock and Smith and Jones gets a thumbs up just for the Doctor noticing there was a little shop

I know some thought the finale was a bit OTT, but I qite enjoyed the whole thing. I shall say no more in case I'm spoiling.

 

[Neroon]

Ahhh..... just a wee bit o' time to relax and START talking about Series 3. Trying to recall my impressions as I watched each episode.....


The Runaway Bride
After the heart-wrenching that was "Doomsday", I needed something fun and energetic. Entertaining but not necessarily silly. This episode was an excellent way to start it off. Catherine Tate... I may have to do some more research on her, because she was charmingly over the top. So very different from Billie Piper/Rose Tyler but in a good way. She has an interesting combination of annoying shrew but decided vulnerability. Her character was the vehicle for what I consider one of the great strengths of this new series - combining manic adventure with definite human compassion. It's good that she comes back in series four, because I really did like her by the end of "Runaway Bride". She is the favorite companion of a few other friends here, people who have seen about all of the show.

I am going to have to go back and watch the episode again, because I tend to miss so many of the "little things". There was a newspaper somewhat featured, but I don't know what it said. Watching B5 multiple times I picked up on things like headlines that would be connected to actual later episodes. did that happen here?

Something that hits hard is the reaction Donna gives when she finally allows herself to realize that Lance never loved her. How she has been nothing more than a pawn to him. The Doctor recognized it moments before, and you see him standing there quietly watching her, ready to support her or what is needed. But the pain that comes over her face as the knowledge tears at her heart and her dreams......

Loved the stuntwork with the cab ride! It's such a great sight gag and it's pulled off with a a great bit of hilarity.... this police box and this cab tearing down the highway as a bride attempts to jump from one to the other. That is almost surreal!

I'll add more thoughts as they come to me. It's doubtless stuff that everyone has discussed on and on ad infinitum, but it's been fun for me so far. And it's good to have something to share.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I think Catherine Tate is the best companion so far. She was fantastic. Runaway Bride was a good introduction to her character is it's good to contrast her at the start of The Runaway Bride, and during her run in series 4. It'll be interesting to see what's you think of her when you see it.

 

[ITL]

I think Catherine Tate is the best companion so far. She was fantastic. Runaway Bride was a good introduction to her character is it's good to contrast her at the start of The Runaway Bride, and during her run in series 4. It'll be interesting to see what's you think of her when you see it.

Yup. Some people ended up loving Tate in S4 even though they hated her in Runaway Bride, so if you like her in Bride, you'll definitely love her in S4.

Err...yeah.

 

[Neroon]

It seems pretty clear to me that Donna is intentionally written for the viewer to dislike her at first, only to "come 'round to her side" by episode's end. She's brusque and demanding... but you can see just a tiny bit of fear in the middle of all that frustration. Along with that aforementioned vulnerability

 

[ITL]

Oh, absolutely.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

All this talk of Donna is making me want to go back and watch all her episodes again.

 

[Neroon]

Something else that appealed to me is that this episode, while with that poignance, was also a nice simple straightforward story. The villain was grand and gloriously evil looking as well as acting. Okay, so the Empress looks a little like a host of other alien villains we've seen before, she was still nice & nasty if one dimensional. Much as I like villains with something more than a Snidely Whiplash sneer, some days you just need one with no moral ambiguity whatsoever. The closest we get to a moral quandry is when Donna tries to ake the Doctor to task for downing all of those Racnoss offspring. She can't believe what she just witnessed the Doctor doing... and if gives her pause. Truth be told, even if we're meant to think we saw some tiny bit of regret in the Doctor's eyes.... I saw coldness and sheer lack of emotion in him.

 

[The]

"It's a new morality. Get used to it, or go home!"

-The 9th Doctor from The Unquiet Dead

​

 

[Neroon]

That's just it.... such reactions from The Doctor serve to remind the viewer that while he may appear human and often actu human... he is not human.

 

[DWF]

Something else that appealed to me is that this episode, while with that poignance, was also a nice simple straightforward story. The villain was grand and gloriously evil looking as well as acting. Okay, so the Empress looks a little like a host of other alien villains we've seen before, she was still nice & nasty if one dimensional. Much as I like villains with something more than a Snidely Whiplash sneer, some days you just need one with no moral ambiguity whatsoever. The closest we get to a moral quandry is when Donna tries to ake the Doctor to task for downing all of those Racnoss offspring. She can't believe what she just witnessed the Doctor doing... and if gives her pause. Truth be told, even if we're meant to think we saw some tiny bit of regret in the Doctor's eyes.... I saw coldness and sheer lack of emotion in him.

All of this will make you reaction to the fourth season ender all that much more interesting.

 

[OmahaStar]

She is the favorite companion of a few other friends here, people who have seen about all of the show.

Of the modern era, she is by far my favorite companion. Of all companions, easily in the top four, with Jamie, Sarah Jane, and Romana 1 rounding them out.

I just don't see how any future companion could possibly come close.

 

[captcalhoun]

count me as another Donna lover. (and i would. love her. alright, she's probably 15 years older than me, but i would so love a piece of that fine ginger ass! )

 

[Starkers]

How charming, bet she'd be swept off her feet by sophisticated lines like that she's probably only about 10 years older than you as well, I think she's about 40 (if that)

 

[The]

How charming, bet she'd be swept off her feet by sophisticated lines like that

 

[jamestyler]

Killing the Raknos children was probably my favourite part in the whole ep. For all the suffering and pain the Doctor was supposed to have been through, it was hard to see it from Tennant in series two as he was often quite bouncy and cheery. It was nice to see a darker side peeking through - then Donna's line at the end telling him he needed someone to balance him out.

I didn't like the Raknos though. A bit too over the top for me (yes, I know what show I'm watching ) but overall I loved it. Especially the car chase as it was something we'd never been able to see before.

 

[DWF]

How charming, bet she'd be swept off her feet by sophisticated lines like that she's probably only about 10 years older than you as well, I think she's about 40 (if that)

I believe she's closer to 37 and she's married anyway.

 

[jamestyler]

Don't be discouraged. Married is just another word for challenge.

 

[Starkers]

How charming, bet she'd be swept off her feet by sophisticated lines like that she's probably only about 10 years older than you as well, I think she's about 40 (if that)

I believe she's closer to 37 and she's married anyway.

Actually going by Wiki and IMDB she's actually almost 41--but yes happily married with children by all accounts.