i mingled with the dead with my ouija board but not anymore
"Next, on BBC1, SILENCE WILL FALL on one couple who'll leave So You Think You Can Dance!"
A+++++++++++
I have been spoiled. A little. It's what happens when you read everything you can get your hands on. It was mostly episode descriptions, like I knew the plot of The Lodger (mostly the naked/footballing parts) and the plot of Amy's Choice (Dream Leadworth, though not the v important fact that it was a dream). So BECAUSE what I have accidentally read I don't really know where it all fits in, and I don't half trust it, so combine with what I've just watched (for the second time since v late last night) basically my brain right now is just going AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Of course, that's what it was doing before the series started. I nearly jumped and shouted the first time I saw a "TRUST YOUR DOCTOR" bus ad (but I didn't, cos I was with friends) and I DEFINITELY screamed and dropped an issue of EW when I opened up to a full page ad. Like I've said before, I haven't been this consumed by a show for a long time, and it has only gotten worse. All I've been doing this past week (well, when I was home, which is never) is reading about the new series and listening to Daft Punk which lead me to realize 6 years late that the vocal track on The Brainwasher is TOTALLY someone speaking in to a Dalek vocoder, if those things exist in the public, but whatever listen to it, and scroll down to that quote, it wasn't even me who said it, IT IS A DALEK.
Anyway. I am just so in love with everything. That opening sequence was too perfect for words, um that painting of the naked Doctor? Somehow reminiscent of Green Wing, and Mel's paintings in Flight of the Conchords (though sadly not as pornographic, hah) and something else I can't remember. I've watched it twice, and I can definitely say that my brain benefited from doing so. Post-A Christmas Carol, I guess the Doctor dropped them off to have a proper honeymoon, and then brought them home? And said I'll be in touch? Rather out of character for the Doctor, though I suppose for Amy's life with the Doctor it's really not at all.
Whatever. I'm not going to go through this episode from the beginning. It's all about the big stuff. The spaceman. I really was convinced that was River, first time around, because I still want "the best man I ever knew" that she killed to be him. And then I thought it was the Doctor in there, an alternate version of the Doctor. I am guessing that two-hundred-years-plus Doctor brought everyone there to make SURE it happened exactly as planned, and even though he knew Amy and River and Rory would try to stop it from happening, everything they did would only bring them closer to that day, back on the shore of Lake Powell, and the Doctor's death. Which leads me to believe that that Stetson Doctor can't be the real or the right Doctor. I mean, obviously they're not going to stop the regenerations at eleven. And I'm pretty sure that Stetson Doctor is legit dead, although being burnt on a pyre never stopped the Master.
There are secrets on the TARDIS, is what I kept reading all up until the premiere, everyone is holding secrets from each other. No one but River knows who she is. Everyone but the Doctor knows what will happen at Lake Powell. And, I swear I hope I am right about this, only Amy and the Doctor know she is pregnant. Enter one of the things I was kind of spoiled about. Although I don't really know if it was just a lot of people guessing that was going to be Amy's secret, or if I actually read it anywhere. I kind of don't know how I feel about this storyline. They did an interesting fake-out, what with both Amy AND River feeling nauseated after seeing The Silence. Of course when Amy was sick, I was like OH GOD NO PREGGERS?, but then when River had a similar moment after seeing the Silence, I felt relieved. So there are several options: Silence causes nausea. Amy is lying. Amy AND River are pregnant. Amy is pregnant, prison food doesn't sit well with River. Or, I don't know, all of the above?
But anyway, I really think that Rory doesn't know. Because A) I feel like Rory would have been so super proud and have told the Doctor, or that they would have happily said, y'know, we have an announcement, and B) I feel certain if Rory knew, he wouldn't want Amy to ever get back into the TARDIS, and I bet you Amy has spent those two months away from the Doctor getting bored sick of Leadworth. In any case, I am conflicted because it seems like the ultimate cliche and a fake spoiler, but on the other hand I feel like they are the kind of couple who would have kids early on. Maybe. I don't know, people getting married at 21 is confusing for me, at that age you should be throwing shapes in the church of dance and making out with strangers, not getting married! Ahem.
And then there's The Silence. And their wannabe TARDIS from James Corden's house. Oh I am so. damn. happy. that Moffat planted that seed in the most silly and joyful of sideline episodes, and I am so glad that they're bringing it back. The Silence, though not more scary than the Weeping Angels, are pretty fucking awful and terrifying. I feel like they would have retained more of their power had they not destroyed the lady in the bathroom with electricity, which felt a bit RTD Who, I must say. If they had just kept it with the lights flickering (OMG, LIKE IN THE LODGER, I JUST GOT IT) and their horrible long arms raising and their face stretching and she'd just gone paralyzed and exploded I would have been much more frightened. As it was, that shot of it lifting its arms behind her was a clapping-hands-over-the-face, silent scream moment.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL THE SEXY TALK BETWEEN RIVER AND ELEVEN. Hoo boy. Bad girl this, Mrs. Robinson, Eleven and his LEERING and nose touching and oh my god, "I'm a screamer"? It's so funny how they've developed their relationship, that I was kind of rolling my eyes at River's comments in Silence in the Library to smiling when "Oooh, [the Doctor] SONICCED her!" in Time of the Angels to full on flailing at their interactions in this episode. I would have been hard pressed to find anyone who really liked River Song circa SotL, and I really, really think that's exactly how Steven Moffat wanted it. He wanted us to not really get it when she died, but to have that moment burned into our memories and get slowly but surely more significant, and more painful. I'm pretty sure that conversation between her and Rory was my favorite scene in the episode. For two reasons -- River's heartbreaking explanation of how every time they meet it gets closer to their last meeting, when he will know nothing of her. "And I think it'll kill me." (OH GOD.) But also, something that hasn't been brought up before -- he came into her life when she was a young, impressionable girl. And he knew everything about her. Do you have any idea what that does to a girl? And Rory's like, UM YEAH I THINK I DO. Which is why I really feel like Steven Moffat, for all his declarations, doesn't believe that Amy and the Doctor's relationship is a strictly platonic one. There's still something there.
I absolutely loved everything about this episode, from the timeplay (I love that Amy and Rory have become a bit like River) to Mark Sheppard (AND DADDY!), Nixon, and the Empty Childesque little girl. And Utah. I think that anyone saying that shooting in the US was a producers' ploy is so far off the game. I mean, they are right -- it is a way to hook in American audiences. But in such a wonderful fashion! Tying Doctor Who to OUR imagery and mythology and history in a way that's never been done (properly) before can only make our love grow stronger. For me, especially, connecting it to my childhood climbing and rafting the wilds of the Southwest -- it all felt closer to me, somehow. And with Area 51 coming up next week (as I can only assume), the only way I could have felt I own it more is if they'd gone to 1995 and Mulder and Scully had shown up. (Which, I believe I have mentioned before, would have resulted in a lot of Mulder-Eleven mutual fanboying and a lot of redheads rolling their eyes. ♥)
In conclusion, recent events on Parks and Recreation have made me realize, you know who would be the perfect couple on the TARDIS? APRIL AND ANDY. How amazing would that be? You know it would. I leave you with that, and great hopes that we can all make it until next week without our brains exploding.
A+++++++++++
I have been spoiled. A little. It's what happens when you read everything you can get your hands on. It was mostly episode descriptions, like I knew the plot of The Lodger (mostly the naked/footballing parts) and the plot of Amy's Choice (Dream Leadworth, though not the v important fact that it was a dream). So BECAUSE what I have accidentally read I don't really know where it all fits in, and I don't half trust it, so combine with what I've just watched (for the second time since v late last night) basically my brain right now is just going AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Of course, that's what it was doing before the series started. I nearly jumped and shouted the first time I saw a "TRUST YOUR DOCTOR" bus ad (but I didn't, cos I was with friends) and I DEFINITELY screamed and dropped an issue of EW when I opened up to a full page ad. Like I've said before, I haven't been this consumed by a show for a long time, and it has only gotten worse. All I've been doing this past week (well, when I was home, which is never) is reading about the new series and listening to Daft Punk which lead me to realize 6 years late that the vocal track on The Brainwasher is TOTALLY someone speaking in to a Dalek vocoder, if those things exist in the public, but whatever listen to it, and scroll down to that quote, it wasn't even me who said it, IT IS A DALEK.
Anyway. I am just so in love with everything. That opening sequence was too perfect for words, um that painting of the naked Doctor? Somehow reminiscent of Green Wing, and Mel's paintings in Flight of the Conchords (though sadly not as pornographic, hah) and something else I can't remember. I've watched it twice, and I can definitely say that my brain benefited from doing so. Post-A Christmas Carol, I guess the Doctor dropped them off to have a proper honeymoon, and then brought them home? And said I'll be in touch? Rather out of character for the Doctor, though I suppose for Amy's life with the Doctor it's really not at all.
Whatever. I'm not going to go through this episode from the beginning. It's all about the big stuff. The spaceman. I really was convinced that was River, first time around, because I still want "the best man I ever knew" that she killed to be him. And then I thought it was the Doctor in there, an alternate version of the Doctor. I am guessing that two-hundred-years-plus Doctor brought everyone there to make SURE it happened exactly as planned, and even though he knew Amy and River and Rory would try to stop it from happening, everything they did would only bring them closer to that day, back on the shore of Lake Powell, and the Doctor's death. Which leads me to believe that that Stetson Doctor can't be the real or the right Doctor. I mean, obviously they're not going to stop the regenerations at eleven. And I'm pretty sure that Stetson Doctor is legit dead, although being burnt on a pyre never stopped the Master.
There are secrets on the TARDIS, is what I kept reading all up until the premiere, everyone is holding secrets from each other. No one but River knows who she is. Everyone but the Doctor knows what will happen at Lake Powell. And, I swear I hope I am right about this, only Amy and the Doctor know she is pregnant. Enter one of the things I was kind of spoiled about. Although I don't really know if it was just a lot of people guessing that was going to be Amy's secret, or if I actually read it anywhere. I kind of don't know how I feel about this storyline. They did an interesting fake-out, what with both Amy AND River feeling nauseated after seeing The Silence. Of course when Amy was sick, I was like OH GOD NO PREGGERS?, but then when River had a similar moment after seeing the Silence, I felt relieved. So there are several options: Silence causes nausea. Amy is lying. Amy AND River are pregnant. Amy is pregnant, prison food doesn't sit well with River. Or, I don't know, all of the above?
But anyway, I really think that Rory doesn't know. Because A) I feel like Rory would have been so super proud and have told the Doctor, or that they would have happily said, y'know, we have an announcement, and B) I feel certain if Rory knew, he wouldn't want Amy to ever get back into the TARDIS, and I bet you Amy has spent those two months away from the Doctor getting bored sick of Leadworth. In any case, I am conflicted because it seems like the ultimate cliche and a fake spoiler, but on the other hand I feel like they are the kind of couple who would have kids early on. Maybe. I don't know, people getting married at 21 is confusing for me, at that age you should be throwing shapes in the church of dance and making out with strangers, not getting married! Ahem.
And then there's The Silence. And their wannabe TARDIS from James Corden's house. Oh I am so. damn. happy. that Moffat planted that seed in the most silly and joyful of sideline episodes, and I am so glad that they're bringing it back. The Silence, though not more scary than the Weeping Angels, are pretty fucking awful and terrifying. I feel like they would have retained more of their power had they not destroyed the lady in the bathroom with electricity, which felt a bit RTD Who, I must say. If they had just kept it with the lights flickering (OMG, LIKE IN THE LODGER, I JUST GOT IT) and their horrible long arms raising and their face stretching and she'd just gone paralyzed and exploded I would have been much more frightened. As it was, that shot of it lifting its arms behind her was a clapping-hands-over-the-face, silent scream moment.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL THE SEXY TALK BETWEEN RIVER AND ELEVEN. Hoo boy. Bad girl this, Mrs. Robinson, Eleven and his LEERING and nose touching and oh my god, "I'm a screamer"? It's so funny how they've developed their relationship, that I was kind of rolling my eyes at River's comments in Silence in the Library to smiling when "Oooh, [the Doctor] SONICCED her!" in Time of the Angels to full on flailing at their interactions in this episode. I would have been hard pressed to find anyone who really liked River Song circa SotL, and I really, really think that's exactly how Steven Moffat wanted it. He wanted us to not really get it when she died, but to have that moment burned into our memories and get slowly but surely more significant, and more painful. I'm pretty sure that conversation between her and Rory was my favorite scene in the episode. For two reasons -- River's heartbreaking explanation of how every time they meet it gets closer to their last meeting, when he will know nothing of her. "And I think it'll kill me." (OH GOD.) But also, something that hasn't been brought up before -- he came into her life when she was a young, impressionable girl. And he knew everything about her. Do you have any idea what that does to a girl? And Rory's like, UM YEAH I THINK I DO. Which is why I really feel like Steven Moffat, for all his declarations, doesn't believe that Amy and the Doctor's relationship is a strictly platonic one. There's still something there.
I absolutely loved everything about this episode, from the timeplay (I love that Amy and Rory have become a bit like River) to Mark Sheppard (AND DADDY!), Nixon, and the Empty Childesque little girl. And Utah. I think that anyone saying that shooting in the US was a producers' ploy is so far off the game. I mean, they are right -- it is a way to hook in American audiences. But in such a wonderful fashion! Tying Doctor Who to OUR imagery and mythology and history in a way that's never been done (properly) before can only make our love grow stronger. For me, especially, connecting it to my childhood climbing and rafting the wilds of the Southwest -- it all felt closer to me, somehow. And with Area 51 coming up next week (as I can only assume), the only way I could have felt I own it more is if they'd gone to 1995 and Mulder and Scully had shown up. (Which, I believe I have mentioned before, would have resulted in a lot of Mulder-Eleven mutual fanboying and a lot of redheads rolling their eyes. ♥)
In conclusion, recent events on Parks and Recreation have made me realize, you know who would be the perfect couple on the TARDIS? APRIL AND ANDY. How amazing would that be? You know it would. I leave you with that, and great hopes that we can all make it until next week without our brains exploding.