Doctor Who: The Doctor's Wife
Just to warn you ahead of time, I pretty much loved this episode. It was sweet, and kind of cheesy, and a little bit sad, and after a rather rotten week it was exactly what I needed. Neil Gaiman continues to earn his nerd street cred, and despite not yet having finished one of his books (I'm listening to the audio version of "Neverwhere" currently), this episode makes me kind of adore him.
So, preliminary thoughts at 2am immediately after viewing:
So, preliminary thoughts at 2am immediately after viewing:
- I am so glad this didn't turn out to be the River explanation episode like everyone assumed it was. Hooray for episode names not actually giving away the entire plot!
- I do kind of love the idea of getting to hear the TARDIS speak and think and be a real part of the adventure. I know it's a little bit fan service-y, but y'know what? We're very devoted fans, we deserve some love once in awhile. The TARDIS has always felt like another character on the show. I cheered when she finally showed up in "Turn Left" and "Planet of the Dead". It's like getting a glimpse of an old friend. It's why I have an awesome TARDIS cookie jar.
- For the record, "Spacey Wacey" is not nearly as cool sounding as "Timey Wimey". Not something I'd put on a t-shirt.
- Amy and Rory running around in the House infected TARDIS was just kind of boring, to be honest. The episode was so clearly about the Doctor and his relationship with his TARDIS, locking Amy and Rory in the House!TARDIS was just an excuse to get them out of the way for awhile. I think i would have been perfectly happy without any Amy or Rory in this episode at all and had the focus simply be the Doctor and TARDIS/Sexy/Idris. I do sort of miss those double banking episodes they did in the RTD era where we'd get an episode with a focus on just the Doctor or his companion or someone else entirely. Hell, look at how popular "Blink" is. And I think "Midnight" and "Turn Left" are some of the greatest hours of television I've ever seen. Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill could easily have been given the week off without really detracting from the episode.
- That being said, it was cool to finally see other parts of the TARDIS. If only the hallways weren't so damn ugly. After seeing the wardrobe room in Ten's first episode, I always imagined the TARDIS hallways to look more like the inside a well-lit, rather homey, cave. Speaking of, I practically jumped for joy when Nine/Ten's control room popped up. Aw, busted up, corally TARDIS, I missed you! Does this mean the old set was still lying around somewhere or did they have to rebuild the entire thing?
- I saw TARDIS/Sexy/Idris thinking Rory was "the pretty one" from a mile away and I LOVED it. Rory IS pretty, damnit. I loved hearing the ways the TARDIS saw all of her current passengers, mostly that she spent half the episode calling the Doctor "Thief" as though it was the name she'd always called him by.
- The TARDIS stole a Time Lord so she could see the universe! "I like biting, it's like kissing, only there's a winner." She doesn't always take him where he wants to go, but she always takes him where he needs to! "I just wanted to say, 'Hello, Doctor.'" Constantly speaking out of order! Love! So much love! The TARDIS wins as my favorite character. I always knew I liked her. We've even got the same taste in men.
- Poor, sad Ood. Ood never catch a break. They're always getting enslaved or mind-controlled or both. Ood are so creepy looking, but then they blink and nod and I kinda want to hug them. Is that weird?
- How the hell did Amy and Rory fall for that lame, "I forgot my sonic screwdriver" line. Really?! He doesn't even SHOWER without the damn thing!
- Oh, they killed Rory again. Drink!
- "The only water in the forest is the river." Or "The only water in the forest is the River"? Subtle foreshadowing's not really Moffat's thing, is it?
- ::snort:: Bunk beds.