1. New Who has done several episodes where the Doctor encounters literary figures, and this is the first one. What did you make of the use of Charles Dickens as a historical figure and as a character in this episode? I am a fan of the literary figure episodes and I love that in an episode with Dickens, they have to deal with ghosts. Lol. I mean it’s so corny, but come on! Dickens is probably best know for A Christmas Carol which deals with ghosts, so it’s just kind of obvious and yet fun that ‘ghosts’ are the creature that the Doctor deals with in this episode. I LOVE Dickens as an author, so I was really excited to see him in this episode and I think he's pretty decent as a character. Like he starts out the episode as a crotchety old man at the end of his career and through his experiences with the Doctor, he gains an appreciation for the fantastical and starts to see life as an adventure again.
2. This episode also introduces the idea of the rift in Cardiff which is an important part of the first couple of series of Torchwood. Do
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4. This is Rose's first trip to the past. What do you think about Rose's attitude to visiting the past as well as her interactions with Gwyneth?I love that Rose kind of waxes poetic about time travel. You wouldn't really expect someone like Rose to do that, but she does. I love what she says at the beginning of the episode. "But, it's like... think about it, though. Christmas. 1860. Happens once. Just once, and it's gone. It's finished. It'll never happen again. Except for you. You can go back and see days that are dead and gone and a hundred thousand sunsets ago... no wonder you never stay still... " Rose is clearly already in love with time travel. I love how excited she when she first steps out into the snow. (LOL @ HER BEING DISAPPOINTED WHEN IT TURNS OUT THE DOCTOR ACCIDENTALLY TOOK THEM TO CARDIFF THOUGH
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Rose is clearly already in love with time travel. I love how excited she when she first steps out into the snow. (LOL @ HER BEING DISAPPOINTED WHEN IT TURNS OUT THE DOCTOR ACCIDENTALLY TOOK THEM TO CARDIFF THOUGH.)
That bit, combined with the Doctor's disgusted reaction to the thought of dying in Cardiff, made me wonder if Cardiff was the butt-monkey area of the UK, sort of like New Jersey is for the US (kinda). I didn't know at the time that New Who was filmed in Cardiff and they were just poking fun at themselves. :-)
I always forget about that bit with Gwyneth and I really like it because I think it's very true to life -- I do think that pretty much anyone (but probably especially a woman re: a woman) from the 21st century, no matter how well-intentioned, would feel sort of superior to someone from the past. And I like that the show acknowledges that and calls Rose out for it, even though she means well.
It was the first time, I think, that a historical person had really had an important role in a Doctor Who story, as opposed to a cameo. I thought they handled it pretty well.
As for the Doctor and Rose's conflict over whether to let the Gelth take over dead human bodies, I guess that even though I can sympathize with Rose's stance, I'd side with the Doctor. Too bad the Gelth turned out to be lying.
My favorite scene is the one in the dungeon. "I'm so glad I met you." "Me too." Awwww.
A bit of trivia: David Tennant tried out for the part of Sneed. (I'd guess the only reason he didn't get it was that he was way too young.)
Aw I like that bit of trivia! Makes me think of Freema and Amy's cameos before they became companions. I wonder if they'd already been thinking about Tennant for the Doctor and refused him because of that.
I don't know if Eccleston was already set on leaving at the time the ep was filmed, or if so, whether they were considering Tennant to succeed him yet. I know they had at least three other top candidates to play Ten.
But I can imagine DT, having been a lifelong fan who (according to legend) got into acting partly so he could be the Doctor, getting all excited when the new series started, and just hyperventilating to play SOME kind of part on it! (I know he had done minor roles in some of the audios, and narrated the first Confidential, but that's not the same...)
1. New Who has done several episodes where the Doctor encounters literary figures, and this is the first one. What did you make of the use of Charles Dickens as a historical figure and as a character in this episode? Aw, I liked ol' Charlie boy. His arc was a one-episode review of what the Doctor could do- open your eyes to the mysteries of the universe, and show you yourself at the same time- without the larger Companion-specific themes of the Doctor bringing pain and trauma with him wherever he goes.
2. This episode also introduces the idea of the rift in Cardiff which is an important part of the first couple of series of Torchwood. Do you think that there's continuity between the rift here and the one in Torchwood? Also, do you think that this episode was written with Torchwood in mind or if the rift was just something they thought would be a good idea to use on Torchwood in retrospect?My personal headcanon is that this debacle is what made the Rift as unstable as it is- I'm not sure if anything to that effect has been clearly
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3. Rose and the Doctor butt heads again. What do you make of their conflict in this episode? Was either of them particularly in the right and what were their motivations?
I think that their conflict says a lot about both of them and the roles they'll play in their future travels. Rose is consistently proving herself as a human (in this case her human instinct that using dead bodies is somehow bad turning out to be so right) and speaking up for her people while the Doctor looks at the bigger picture. I also think it's important for them to have this conflict, as they are still learning what the other values. The Doctor threatening to take her home if she doesn't agree with him seems like bluffing to me, and also more closed-minded than I would've expected from the Doctor, but I too think that comes from guilt/the great desire to save the Gelth.
I happen to side with Rose on this one. But I can also see the Doctor's side- really being able to get both arguments makes for a great conflict.
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I am a fan of the literary figure episodes and I love that in an episode with Dickens, they have to deal with ghosts. Lol. I mean it’s so corny, but come on! Dickens is probably best know for A Christmas Carol which deals with ghosts, so it’s just kind of obvious and yet fun that ‘ghosts’ are the creature that the Doctor deals with in this episode. I LOVE Dickens as an author, so I was really excited to see him in this episode and I think he's pretty decent as a character. Like he starts out the episode as a crotchety old man at the end of his career and through his experiences with the Doctor, he gains an appreciation for the fantastical and starts to see life as an adventure again.
2. This episode also introduces the idea of the rift in Cardiff which is an important part of the first couple of series of Torchwood. Do ( ... )
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That bit, combined with the Doctor's disgusted reaction to the thought of dying in Cardiff, made me wonder if Cardiff was the butt-monkey area of the UK, sort of like New Jersey is for the US (kinda). I didn't know at the time that New Who was filmed in Cardiff and they were just poking fun at themselves. :-)
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As for the Doctor and Rose's conflict over whether to let the Gelth take over dead human bodies, I guess that even though I can sympathize with Rose's stance, I'd side with the Doctor. Too bad the Gelth turned out to be lying.
My favorite scene is the one in the dungeon. "I'm so glad I met you." "Me too." Awwww.
A bit of trivia: David Tennant tried out for the part of Sneed. (I'd guess the only reason he didn't get it was that he was way too young.)
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But I can imagine DT, having been a lifelong fan who (according to legend) got into acting partly so he could be the Doctor, getting all excited when the new series started, and just hyperventilating to play SOME kind of part on it! (I know he had done minor roles in some of the audios, and narrated the first Confidential, but that's not the same...)
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Aw, I liked ol' Charlie boy. His arc was a one-episode review of what the Doctor could do- open your eyes to the mysteries of the universe, and show you yourself at the same time- without the larger Companion-specific themes of the Doctor bringing pain and trauma with him wherever he goes.
2. This episode also introduces the idea of the rift in Cardiff which is an important part of the first couple of series of Torchwood. Do you think that there's continuity between the rift here and the one in Torchwood? Also, do you think that this episode was written with Torchwood in mind or if the rift was just something they thought would be a good idea to use on Torchwood in retrospect?My personal headcanon is that this debacle is what made the Rift as unstable as it is- I'm not sure if anything to that effect has been clearly ( ... )
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I think that their conflict says a lot about both of them and the roles they'll play in their future travels. Rose is consistently proving herself as a human (in this case her human instinct that using dead bodies is somehow bad turning out to be so right) and speaking up for her people while the Doctor looks at the bigger picture. I also think it's important for them to have this conflict, as they are still learning what the other values. The Doctor threatening to take her home if she doesn't agree with him seems like bluffing to me, and also more closed-minded than I would've expected from the Doctor, but I too think that comes from guilt/the great desire to save the Gelth.
I happen to side with Rose on this one. But I can also see the Doctor's side- really being able to get both arguments makes for a great conflict.
4. This is Rose's first trip to the past. ( ... )
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