They should have had someone play "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes at Jenny's funeral.
Doctor Who – 4x06 – The Doctor’s Daughter (Grade/Discuss)
- Thread starter Servo
- Start date
Hm, not sure what to make of this. It seemed to be missing something, but I don't know what. Ending was very predictable. And Martha... that whole plot was pointless. She didn't even need to be there.
They really need to learn to write better for multiple companions... at the moment it looks like they can't even cope with two.
I gave it above average, but barely.
They really need to learn to write better for multiple companions... at the moment it looks like they can't even cope with two.
I gave it above average, but barely.
First one I've ever voted poor. Very gimmicky and rushed. Had some interesting concepts which went to waste.
I'm trying not to judge this episode based on my disappointment that Jenny was just a clone and not The Doctor's actual daughter (either Susan's mum or aunt or an offspring with Romana). Yeah, there were some nice ideas about how a clone is still your blood and that shouldn't stop you from loving them, but the whole episode seemed forced an gimmicky.
The only interesting thing I found about the episode was that the war had only lasted 7 days and not the centuries the mentioning of generations implied. However, that idea wasn't fully explored and instead flailed back and forth between The Doctor's relationship with Jenny (which felt very rushed) and yet another statement about war.
My biggest problem with the episode was the ending and not just Jenny's telegraphed death (although seeing The Doctor go through the pain of losing family again was somewhat interesting). We all knew it she would die but it would have been far more interesting if Jenny lived and decided not to go with The Doctor, because she decided to go against her "programming" and not want to live a dangerous life and stay with the colonists. However, my biggest problem with the ending was that she miraculously revived after The Doctor left and decided to go off exploring. Can we say corny ending?
One last thing: I liked the Hath, but at the same time, I felt we didn't really get to know their culture all that way. This is one of the big problems with new Doctor Who's format: It doesn't allow a natural development of the cultures that The Doctor and company visited like we did with classic Doctor Who. Most of the time, the whole thing is rushed and we don't get to know them, but with the serial format, the viewer gets to know the culture well. A good example of this is The Sensorites, hailing all the way back to the first season.
The only interesting thing I found about the episode was that the war had only lasted 7 days and not the centuries the mentioning of generations implied. However, that idea wasn't fully explored and instead flailed back and forth between The Doctor's relationship with Jenny (which felt very rushed) and yet another statement about war.
My biggest problem with the episode was the ending and not just Jenny's telegraphed death (although seeing The Doctor go through the pain of losing family again was somewhat interesting). We all knew it she would die but it would have been far more interesting if Jenny lived and decided not to go with The Doctor, because she decided to go against her "programming" and not want to live a dangerous life and stay with the colonists. However, my biggest problem with the ending was that she miraculously revived after The Doctor left and decided to go off exploring. Can we say corny ending?
One last thing: I liked the Hath, but at the same time, I felt we didn't really get to know their culture all that way. This is one of the big problems with new Doctor Who's format: It doesn't allow a natural development of the cultures that The Doctor and company visited like we did with classic Doctor Who. Most of the time, the whole thing is rushed and we don't get to know them, but with the serial format, the viewer gets to know the culture well. A good example of this is The Sensorites, hailing all the way back to the first season.
Not in the slightest. Jenny was girly and high educated, whereas Leela was savage and had cunny insightfulness.
Last edited:
I voted fantastic. A low fantastic, but better than an above average.
I just got the hand bit. Not just that Jenny existed in a paradoxical way, but to remind us that within 20 hours of regeneration things can be regrown or healed.
Thought the Hath were interesting. The seven days idea was cool, though it would have taken longer than that to build the tunnels, robot drones or not. Perhaps.
I though Freema's acting was a step up from last week, fer shure. And hints of that tough woman who travelled the world in that lost year. Was she essential to the story? She was probably the only way we were going to get the idea that the Hath weren't really bad guys - couldn't have had Donna in the same position (and how good is Tate turning out to be?!!).
Might add more later.
I just got the hand bit. Not just that Jenny existed in a paradoxical way, but to remind us that within 20 hours of regeneration things can be regrown or healed.
Thought the Hath were interesting. The seven days idea was cool, though it would have taken longer than that to build the tunnels, robot drones or not. Perhaps.
I though Freema's acting was a step up from last week, fer shure. And hints of that tough woman who travelled the world in that lost year. Was she essential to the story? She was probably the only way we were going to get the idea that the Hath weren't really bad guys - couldn't have had Donna in the same position (and how good is Tate turning out to be?!!).
Might add more later.
I went with average...to be completely honest It just felt like there should have been...I don't know just more of something I can't quite pin down.
I have to admit RTD's religious connotations for the Doctor were a bit thick in this one as the the one bringing life to a planet. Bringing peace and in the process having a part of him in the form of a child die so that the Doctor could show mercy. Then having the child rise from the dead...
I just wish the ending with Jenny didn't feel like that was going to be the new spin-off this fall.
I have to admit RTD's religious connotations for the Doctor were a bit thick in this one as the the one bringing life to a planet. Bringing peace and in the process having a part of him in the form of a child die so that the Doctor could show mercy. Then having the child rise from the dead...
I just wish the ending with Jenny didn't feel like that was going to be the new spin-off this fall.
I went with above average. Some things seems rushed or under-done with the episode. Jenny was cute. The ending seemed was predictable. Good we get to see her again.
BTW after watching Confidential, I'm almost certain we'll see Jenny before the end of the season. Maybe we won't, or maybe she'll be in the specials next year, but it wouldn't surprise me if we see her sooner than that, after Tennants very mysterious comments at the end of Confidential.
Where are people getting the idea that Jenny was a clone? They specifically stated in the episode, they're not clones, you act as mother and father. Your DNA is split, and randomised, or something along those lines, it said.
I was assuming she'd come back in the 12th episode, the one we don't know the title of, because letting you know she was in it, would spoil this episode way in advance.
I was assuming she'd come back in the 12th episode, the one we don't know the title of, because letting you know she was in it, would spoil this episode way in advance.
Well, I thought it was bloody brilliant. It had so much stuff in it that I really enjoyed: Martha getting upset at the death of the Hath came across really heartfelt; Donna's understanding of the Dewey decimal system was wonderful; Jenny was a great combination of good things and little niggles; the breath of life orb thing was suitably cliche but in a good way. I even liked the way they made Jenny in the first 30 seconds and the rest of the ep was about dealing with her or not. I loved the moment when she faced off with the old leader and decided not to kill him. I liked the way all the references to "soldier" reffed back to Donna remarking that the Doctor had made Martha into a solider.
The only bit I didn't like was that Jenny lived at the end, but it's a family show so I can understand that, and I can understand that the beath of life gasses and her Time Person/Lord/Lady heritage gave her the edge of the grim reaper.
Really, it's been my favourite episode for ages and ages and ages. 11/10.
ps. PS forgot to mention. I cried.
The only bit I didn't like was that Jenny lived at the end, but it's a family show so I can understand that, and I can understand that the beath of life gasses and her Time Person/Lord/Lady heritage gave her the edge of the grim reaper.
Really, it's been my favourite episode for ages and ages and ages. 11/10.
ps. PS forgot to mention. I cried.
I thought it was great. I did like the sharp input from Donna about the whole "daughter". She's every bit of an equal to the Doctor - even going so far as to do the whole summary of her adventures so far - "...and a whole lot of running" 
.
It was the witty comebacks that made the whole episode great.
.It was the witty comebacks that made the whole episode great.
You know, whilst I've enjoyed every episode so far - that hasn't been anything that's blown me away. If the back half on the season improves on the first six then it it could be the best season yet. The only jaw-dropping moment was the return of Rose in Ep1 (which made me push that episode into an excellent), there has been some good stuff this season, but I've not seen anything outstanding...yet. I prefer last year.
Blink, Utopia and the Family of Blood two-parter were some of NuWho's finest moments I think. I also loved stuff like Deadlock & The Shakespeare code.
I've never heard of this "Deadlock" episode you speak of. 
Never heard of "Gridlocked," either.
Damn that reliance to coffee!
Damn that reliance to coffee!
Yeah but even in classic Who companions would sometimes go off and have adventures of their own, this did seem a tad pointless- but then at least one of Freema's Torchwood episodes she was similary extraneous (sp?) which to be honest fits in neatly with the theory I postulated when it was announced she was leaving, but would be in X number of Who and TW eps last year- they foolishly gave her a 2 year deal then realised she wasn't that great. There is the question of why they didn't just pay her off but I figured either RTD and co genuinely like Freema and feel a touch sorry for her, or else she has a damn good agent!
Like I said earlier though, pointless or not this was one of her better performances.