Doctor Who 6x11

[donna_c_punk]

(ETA: I'm going to leave this post unLocked for a while. At least until the end of the current series.)

Okay, I finished rewatching (and taking two pages worth of notes on) the last episode of Doctor Who. Yes, I took notes on a television show. It's not as though it's new territory to me, since I would take notes on entertainment often in my

Comments

[jantalaimon]

That's a really interesting view, and it actually makes me want to rewatch an episode I mostly found disappointing and a bit tedious. Though I will say I was right there with you about Gibbis. I expected more out of him as well, for exactly the reasons you describe. And I won't be surprised if he makes an appearance in at least one further episode.

[donna_c_punk]

Quoting myself from below re: Gibbis: I would love for at least Gibbis to be something more than he seemed from this episode, even if the rest doesn't pan out. From what I gathered, David Walliams is something of a name in Britain as an actor and people were confused why he was in a role that seemingly any actor could've filled. If he were meant to come back and expand his role, it'd make sense. And, you know, I could've sworn before the break, I read somewhere Walliams' character was supposed to have been some puppetmaster in this hotel. Another reason I'd expected the lead up to pay off.

[donna_c_punk]

I would love for at least Gibbis to be something more than he seemed from this episode, even if the rest doesn't pan out. From what I gathered, David Walliams is something of a name in Britain as an actor and people were confused why he was in a role that seemingly any actor could've filled. If he were meant to come back and expand his role, it'd make sense. And, you know, I could've sworn before the break, I read somewhere Walliams' character was supposed to have been some puppetmaster in this hotel. Another reason I'd expected the lead up to pay off

[donna_c_punk]

There are just too many oddities about Gibbis and his behavior for him not to be found out as something more than he appeared to be. I need to rewatch that scene where the Doctor gets up in his face when Gibbis wanted to just give over Howie to the Minotaur. The vibe between them suggested the Doctor thought his planet's lack of will to fight back had evolved from weakness into a passive-aggressive strength. Just step aside, let them take over and kill them with kindness. Because, I wonder, if people KEEP invading them, what happens to these invaders that leaves the planet open to more of them???

Not really related, but in light of my assessment River is becoming the Rose of the Moffat era, and my growing issues with River/Eleven, a friend of mine posted this wonderful short essay on why she's against it now. Why I Don't Ship Doctor/River Anymore. It's a good read and brought up issues I didn't even consider.

[donna_c_punk]

My own thoughts were just mulling this over in comparison to Curse of Fenric -- I can't believe that the parallels are coincidental.

I never thought of parallels with COF because I haven't seen the serial in several years. Plus, I've actively blocked out a lot of the Seventh Doctor stuff. After reading a plot synopsis of the event in question, it is similar and it can't be coincidence. If you consider that Amy's faith was never an issue - if, in fact, Joe, Rita and Howie were all programs - it was always the Doctor's faith that needed to be destroyed. As you mentioned, his issues and focus have shifted since the end of the Time War, he would probably put more faith in himself (hence "The God Complex") than his companions. So to fully breakdown that, they need him to believe he's doing more harm than good to not just his current companions - Amy & Rory - but ALL of them. Even the ones he hasn't even taken into the TARDIS yet, re: Rita.

My guess as to what was behind the Doctor's door was that it was himself -- the Dream Lord

[mswyrr]

Oh! And one more comment, I think you're point about the significance of the Doctor seeing little Amelia when he's telling Amy how much he fails at life is backed up by the scene in "Let's Kill Hitler" where it's only Amelia's image/voice that could make the Doctor believe in himself enough to get up off his feet and keep moving once he’d been poisoned.

[donna_c_punk]

Oh yeah! That is right!

I was talking to muses_circle in email earlier and we'd also picked up on the theme of rooms, also maze type buildings. "Night Terrors" had the dollhouse, where a lot of the same things happened with the Doctor and everyone involved in the ep. And it was an acceptance/realization on someone's part which ended the scenario before it killed everyone. The father accepting the son, blah blah. Then you have the father figure of the Doctor accepting not only he now believes he causes more harm to his companions than good coupled with the illusion-shattering he'd done to Amy as well. On a smaller level, there was the seemingly throwaway comment he made in "Let's Kill Hitler". I can't remember who said, "What room is this?" but the Doctor'd replied, "I don't know every room in the universe, I had yesterday off" or something to that effect.

[donna_c_punk]

I think Moffat has some kind of deep-seeded family issues in his past. I wouldn't say his present, at least not consciously, because he seems to be rather steady about his own family. You should read/hear his explanations on how he developed the ideas for most of his episodes. The guy's mind has to be disturbed from way back to find the terror in such mundane things. Like the crack in the wall. I'm not sure how much influence he had in the writing of "Night Terros", but I'm sure he had to have given the basic premise for the ep to Mark Gatiss.

[medelle]

I love your theory - it's very much along the lines of what I was thinking as I watched the episode, only you put it so much more coherently than I could have. :)