"The Girl Who Died" Grading and Discussion Thread

[intrinsical]

Wow my reaction is the complete opposite of you guys. I suppose if you watch Doctor Who for the monsters, then this week's episode is bad and cheesy. For myself, I usually watch Doctor Who for its story and I thought this episode's story was AMAZING.

And the story is in the title, all focused on The Girl Who Died. This episode links up nicely with The Doctor Dances' "Just this once, everybody lives!" with Donna's desperate plea "Just save one person" in Fires of Pompeii. The Doctor goes against the Time Lord's rules of non-interference just to save one person. Its kind of like Starfleet's Prime Directive of non-interference. Right now, we're thinking it can't be that bad... he just saved one little girl... It's going to be like the Fires of Pompeii, nothing will happen. I can't wait to see the consequences, I bet its horrific.

 

[tomalak301]

I thought this was the best episode of the season. There were so many character moments, and to take a serious look at immortality and its themes and consequences was refreshing because it didn't feel chaotic or a joke, as most episodes of the Moffet era have gotten (at least the chaotic part). Also what I liked was this was vey straight forward. The previous episodes have gotten bogged down in nonsensical babble (Moffetbabble?) while this one didn't have any of that or any convinces to cheat the plot. I've been starting to lose interest I this series and the last two episodes made me wonder if I should keep watching. If more episodes are like this, than there might be hope for the doctor yet.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

Even worse, Clara seems perfectly fine with the idea that her time in the TARDIS will likely end with her death. In fact, she'd prefer that to living out her natural life back on Earth wasting her time with 'hobbies.' There's nothing there for her anymore, and she's probably still a schoolteacher more out of habit than anything else now. All her other selves died aiding the Doctor - what's one more?

And I wonder if the immortality thing comes up again? It seems like he didn't have any more of those medical patches, and Clara didn't ask for one to make her immortal, but...what if, if she dies, and the Doctor is faced with a choice in using it on her, knowing that he couldn't save her other selves but has the chance to save this one?

Since Jenna is leaving I'm guessing the answer would be no, but it would be an interesting dilemma for the Doctor to have.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

A thought on immortality: one life is not enough. I'd take it, if I could. Yes, everyone you know, including children, will die... nut we all do anyway. Maybe I would ask it be conferred on tose I love instead... but they aren't me, and may grow to resent it. It's a tricky decision, and not opne made in seconds or minutes, even hours. To me, it's growing old that kills you. Not the physical deterioration, just the sheer weight of memories and experiences. Aaaand that's enough of that.

"Highlander" touched on the burden of immortality often. I guess other shows have too, but that one stands out in my mind the most. Your loved ones die while you go on. You have to pretend to die every once in awhile, and you have to keep on the move, never staying in one place more than 20 or 30 years. But that was back in the 90's. I wonder how a modern show would explore it?

There was the recent TV show "Forever" or did that get cancelled?

I'm sure the immortality for her only works barring accidents that could not be fixed like a severed head or such.

 

[Guy Gardener]

No? She lives her complete life on Earth, but every couple weeks/months the Doctor takes her away on adventures.

Part time companion.

It's really a question of how much time does the Doctor spend without her?

Doe he show up as soon as he starts to miss her after several decades, or is he still eating the same apple 4 months later when he stops by next to say hidey hi.

 

[Mage]

Three Doctor Who fans (me included) watched it last night. We loved it!

Funny, lighthearted, really showing the goofy nature of both Tennant and Smith but also the very serious side of The Doctor who can not bear letting people die.

As for the Choosing Of The Face..... Wow!! That was good. Not some sort of huge universe and time spanning meaning. Not something that will change the face of existence forever. Not something that needs to be told with little titbits over three seasons. No.
Simply, The Doctor reminding himself that sometimes you just do the right thing, no matter the rules.

 

[Cutter John]

I can handle the ocassional silly episode, though I suspect I'd be a lot more upset if there wasn't a second part. At least it had some good character moments.

If anything I found myself more bothered by the villagers calling themselves 'vikings', and the horned helmets.
Although its entirely possible that the helmets weren't worn in battle, but were put on after a successful raid. As a way of giving thanks to the gods perhaps?

Theres also the problem that electric eels are native to South America.

 

[NightJim]

I certainly enjoyed. It was fun, and did the job it set out too, even if its never going to be remembered as one of the best. Also, whose to say that's the whole explanation for the face. Maybe it's just the start. I don't think it's safe to take that as the complete explanation until the end of this season (I nearly wrote Capaldi's run, but I think since it was brought up here, it's probably this season).

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

It seems to have happened subconsciously. Otherwise he would have known right away after regeneration.

Oh, I get that. But it's still random. I just don't see Caecilius making THAT much of an impression on the Doctor that he'd even, subconsciously, model his face on him.

By that token, he should've regenerated into Donna, since it was her who told him he should rescue people in that fashion.

Now there's an image for you...

Anyway, agreed with ya. Totally came out of nowhere.

 

[Lakenheath 72]

If I remember correctly, the Doctor and Donna spent time with Caecilius' family before the volcano erupted. So, for the Doctor, the Pompeiian might have been more than a stranger to him when the act of saving took place. He might have been a friend, and remembering how he saved his friend is the reminder he needs. Thus, the face.

As an American, I was puzzled by the corn reference. When I think of corn, I think of maize. I do not think of any generic grain. Apparently, over the pond, corn is used for any grain.

Knowing there is a galactic hub helps to explain, for me anyhow, how the Dalek from series 1 could successfully navigate the web and not get bogged down with, well, unmentionable things.

It is a strange juxtaposition to go from a show which is historically flawed to a show that attempts to depict the world more accurately, as one can with the distance of time. Over here, in America, there is Doctor Who followed by the Last Kingdom.

Lastly, I like it when characters refer to events that happen outside the episode. Like for instance, the Doctor and the yo-yo.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Actually, the other thing that struck me about Dr Who this week was that it *felt* like what was left after something had vastly overrun and then been hacked down to fit in the timeslot - and probably had been assembled from a shopping list rather than developed from an idea (which happens in the business, you can't always avoid that.)

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Wow my reaction is the complete opposite of you guys. I suppose if you watch Doctor Who for the monsters, then this week's episode is bad and cheesy. For myself, I usually watch Doctor Who for its story and I thought this episode's story was AMAZING.

I also loved it.

I agree with the criticisms raised by the thread in general, but if these things bothered me too much I wouldn't be watching Doctor Who to begin with. There's no episode that didn't contain a truckload of silliness, childishness and cheesiness, so if they were a bit more this week, I didn't seem to care—I am already desensitised to those. If testosterone harvesting is silly, at least we weren't hijacking the souls of the dead as radio transmitters again—both of which did great job for the dynamics of their stories, but also for raising eyebrows at face value (not sure if pun). So maybe it was an episode made for five-year olds, which is a huge departure from the usual which are just made for six-year olds, but it did send me on an emotional trip that was eligible all ages.

The villain, mystery and resolution took the back seat, and we focused on the story of Ashildr. You knew that from the her first impression that's what we were going for. It went far beyond making her immortal.

From someone who preferred dying to leaving home, she got unwillingly and unwittingly taken on an eternal journey where her home is going away forever, and she's going to places far alien than the next village. She also got unwittingly drafted as a future companion to the Doctor for next week. But before that, she was left to figure it all out on her own, which is an obvious reference to the girl who waited (not the episode, but rather Amy in The Eleventh Hour).

And she was left to live with all that in the Middle Ages, giving her centuries to wait for the world to catch up with what she's about to figure out. And she's no Captain Jack, she's as an ordinary human as you can have it. She's left to deal with unthinkable wonders ahead, with nobody to guide her but herself—first, she is the wonder herself, then she is the only one perceiving the wonders to come, and before she knows it she's the only living Viking in the 21st century which is a time remarkable time to nobody but her. (One has to wonder whether she'll join a Viking metal band then...) That's a fate ranging from amazing to downright cruel, and I expect a wide range of implications to follow next week. (Haven't seen any trailers and previews.)

For all its flaws, the episode painted one hell of a set up, and created one hell of a pickle. And since the pickle is personal, we're not going to reboot the universe for it, so it's here to stay.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Ok. Liked the way they explained his face. No one would really care if they had never seen Fires of Pompeii, so they kept it low key enough. Those people would get that it was at least a previous Doctor who had to be convinced and then did save someone over the rules.
And the fans who have seen the episode can connect the dots even more and know that the entire episode was about about cheating fate, which he can because he is the Doctor and that sometimes he has to to keep calling himself that.

No, I want an explanation why he is scottish!

 

[Guy Gardener]

Meanwhile if he had gotten his face from a character in the Waters of Mars, that would have been his past-self (at the moment of regeneration) telling him now (in this episode) not to change time, because the unforeseen will bite him in the ass.

Was this a point in his life were the Doctor needed advice from a past self stacking the deck, fixing the choices he is capable of making?

Or was the new face just a suggestion and there was no guarantee when he was finally going to figure out that it was a message to himself and what it meant or why it was sent? "This is how I would like you to behave, if you have to make this type of decision again, please, thank you, you're welcome."

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

As Cutter John said, when did the Vikings get to South America? I thought electric eels (actually a type of knifefish and related to catfish) were from the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. More likely are electric catfish or electric rays, which were used by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans for medical purposes. Not found near Scandinavia, though the Vikings did get as far south as the Mediterranean I believe.

Anyway, it was silly but not too silly and had enough good character moments and acting to be enjoyable.

 

[Shazam!]

The whole little chip keeps her alive forever then why aren't these things mass produced and every villain has one. Doctor Who needs to hold back sometimes from OTT statements - just make it something that can extend her life a long time and heal from most injuries just don't claim immortality ffs.

Well I imagine it's 'To Be Continued' for a reason.

 

[Starkers]

Absolutely loved it. Funny, touching and jam packed full of great moments. Five eps in and not a duff one, I am loving this year! Best season since 6.

Oh and highest ratings so far this series. So much for the Xfactor

So is next week Clara lite?

 

[Shazam!]

Absolutely loved it. Funny, touching and jam packed full of great moments. Five eps in and not a duff one, I am loving this year!

*high five*

 

[Starkers]

Absolutely loved it. Funny, touching and jam packed full of great moments. Five eps in and not a duff one, I am loving this year!

*high five*

I won't leave you hanging.


They are really pushing the Clara's going to die theme, which does make me wonder...especially now there's a second immortality device? that might come in handy later...

 

[The Four Doctor]

It does raise the question as to why the first Doctor modeled his next face after Salamander - he wanted to be a ruthless politician and tyrant?