Deep Breath
Deep Breath
Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 1:
Reader, I liked it. There is something about series openers that Moffat gets right. This story was clear, clever and funny, with a touch of the horrible that makes me gasp and clutch a cushion to my chest. Which doesn't mean that there weren't some things that I didn't like, things that were big enough to leave behind a strange aftertaste even after the second viewing.
What I loved was the idea and the general execution of the mask/veil theme, as well as the broom metaphor. People do tend to see what they want to see or what they are able to conceive intellectually and emotionally. Which is why I really loved how Clara and the Doctor dealt with their version of the veil. For Clara it's hard to really see the Doctor, and to be honest I can't blame her for it. Although he changed in front of her very eyes she still cannot believe that this distinguished-looking man is her Doctor. Part of her knew, but it took her brain quite a while to catch up with what she felt. And in my experience, the brain can be quite a bit slow sometimes. So really, Eleven ringing her is exactly the last push she needed. Why didn't Rose need it? Rose loved the Doctor. She recognised him because she knew him so well because of their love.
The Doctor's veil is about recognising himself, and opposing him with the Droids was a clever move. The thing is that he has a soul (or whatever concept you deem adequate), which is why he undergoes regeneration after regeneration but remains the same person. He's more complicated than a broom. We all are. I think it's going to be interesting how he deals with that concept in the future. Capaldi is going to be a great Doctor because he understands and loves the character. It's going to be a privilege to see another fanboy in this role. I'm glad to have the chance to see an 'older' Doctor, to see how he'll click or not click with the people he encounters.
The Droids were, as I said, a great idea. It makes sense that the Doctor doesn't remember them - he's newly regenerated and ought to be resting. It's little wonder that he doesn't remember the Droids. Or the SS Madam de Pompadour. Which is why the bouquet of yellow roses was such a lovely nod to that episode. What I did not like about the Droids - which I recognised immediately - was their motivation. They are robots. There is no sign of consciousness and/or individuality about them, nothing that makes them human, if not in body, then in mind. And they are looking for paradise/heaven? Seriously? Why not have them try to achieve becoming human? Which would really justify them patching themselves up with human spare parts.
What I really didn't like was the fact that the Paternoster gang actually fought the Droids. Why? Clara knew how to trick them into thinking they were Droids too. Why not fool them again and do away with the gratuitous fighting? What happened to books/intellect and heart being the best weapons in the world?
Strax is great as a comic relief, but as with everything else, you can overdo it. He's lived with Vastra and Jenny for a while. And still he mistakes eyes for mouths and can't tell the difference between a hat and hair? While funny, these moments seemed a bit forced. The same goes for the water joke. The one with the newspaper, on the other hand, was genius (albeit not totally unexpected).
I also liked that essentially Madam Vastra remains alien, no matter how long she's lived in Victorian London - which, to be honest, is alien to us too, when it comes to mores and conventions. She's not misogynist despite being a woman. She is a different species, and she's dominant. While Jenny is strong and stands up to her, it's only so far she's able to go when calling Vastra upon her archaic attitudes. And please tell me what's wrong with having your partner pose for you even if you're not actually painting their portrait? It has everything to do with appreciating beauty as you see it in the person you love, and absolutely nothing with turning them into an object. I'm sure that Jenny likes looking at Vastra too, albeit not under the pretence of creating art. Married!
What I'm not sure about are Missy and the epilogue. I'll not say anything on the matter until we've seen more of her and Heaven. Obviously, it's part of the series arc, so I'll wait and see what it's all about. I hope (against hope I'm afraid) that the series will continue with clear-cut adventures like this.
Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 1:
Reader, I liked it. There is something about series openers that Moffat gets right. This story was clear, clever and funny, with a touch of the horrible that makes me gasp and clutch a cushion to my chest. Which doesn't mean that there weren't some things that I didn't like, things that were big enough to leave behind a strange aftertaste even after the second viewing.
What I loved was the idea and the general execution of the mask/veil theme, as well as the broom metaphor. People do tend to see what they want to see or what they are able to conceive intellectually and emotionally. Which is why I really loved how Clara and the Doctor dealt with their version of the veil. For Clara it's hard to really see the Doctor, and to be honest I can't blame her for it. Although he changed in front of her very eyes she still cannot believe that this distinguished-looking man is her Doctor. Part of her knew, but it took her brain quite a while to catch up with what she felt. And in my experience, the brain can be quite a bit slow sometimes. So really, Eleven ringing her is exactly the last push she needed. Why didn't Rose need it? Rose loved the Doctor. She recognised him because she knew him so well because of their love.
The Doctor's veil is about recognising himself, and opposing him with the Droids was a clever move. The thing is that he has a soul (or whatever concept you deem adequate), which is why he undergoes regeneration after regeneration but remains the same person. He's more complicated than a broom. We all are. I think it's going to be interesting how he deals with that concept in the future. Capaldi is going to be a great Doctor because he understands and loves the character. It's going to be a privilege to see another fanboy in this role. I'm glad to have the chance to see an 'older' Doctor, to see how he'll click or not click with the people he encounters.
The Droids were, as I said, a great idea. It makes sense that the Doctor doesn't remember them - he's newly regenerated and ought to be resting. It's little wonder that he doesn't remember the Droids. Or the SS Madam de Pompadour. Which is why the bouquet of yellow roses was such a lovely nod to that episode. What I did not like about the Droids - which I recognised immediately - was their motivation. They are robots. There is no sign of consciousness and/or individuality about them, nothing that makes them human, if not in body, then in mind. And they are looking for paradise/heaven? Seriously? Why not have them try to achieve becoming human? Which would really justify them patching themselves up with human spare parts.
What I really didn't like was the fact that the Paternoster gang actually fought the Droids. Why? Clara knew how to trick them into thinking they were Droids too. Why not fool them again and do away with the gratuitous fighting? What happened to books/intellect and heart being the best weapons in the world?
Strax is great as a comic relief, but as with everything else, you can overdo it. He's lived with Vastra and Jenny for a while. And still he mistakes eyes for mouths and can't tell the difference between a hat and hair? While funny, these moments seemed a bit forced. The same goes for the water joke. The one with the newspaper, on the other hand, was genius (albeit not totally unexpected).
I also liked that essentially Madam Vastra remains alien, no matter how long she's lived in Victorian London - which, to be honest, is alien to us too, when it comes to mores and conventions. She's not misogynist despite being a woman. She is a different species, and she's dominant. While Jenny is strong and stands up to her, it's only so far she's able to go when calling Vastra upon her archaic attitudes. And please tell me what's wrong with having your partner pose for you even if you're not actually painting their portrait? It has everything to do with appreciating beauty as you see it in the person you love, and absolutely nothing with turning them into an object. I'm sure that Jenny likes looking at Vastra too, albeit not under the pretence of creating art. Married!
What I'm not sure about are Missy and the epilogue. I'll not say anything on the matter until we've seen more of her and Heaven. Obviously, it's part of the series arc, so I'll wait and see what it's all about. I hope (against hope I'm afraid) that the series will continue with clear-cut adventures like this.