30 Days of Doctor Who Meme: Day 1
So I decided to do this for funsies. Because obviously it should be done in a month that doesn't even have thirty days. *g*
Oh dear, this is a tough one. I think I'll cheat and put up the top contenders with an explanation of why.
The emotional
"Oh yes, I can when I want to. And that's the point, really. I have to really want to, to bring them back in front of my eyes. The rest of the time they... they sleep in my mind and I forget. And so will you. Oh yes, you will. You'll find there's so much else to think about. To remember. Our lives are different to anybody else's. That's the exciting thing, that nobody in the universe can do what we're doing." (the second Doctor, Tomb of the Cybermen)
This quote means a great deal to me. Not only is it delivered by my favorite Doctor; that's just icing on the cake. I lost my father at a very young age and have very few memories of him left, but the ones that do exist are powerful in their emotions. They have to slumber most of the time; life goes on; but they're still there, accessible when I need or want them. So these words spoke particularly clearly to me.
The poetic
"Planets come and go. Stars perish. Matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns, other worlds. Nothing can be eternal." (the sixth Doctor, The Mysterious Planet)
"Hold my hand, Doctor. Try to see what I see. We're so lucky we're still alive to see this beautiful world. Look at the sky. It's not dark and black and without character. The black is in fact deep blue. And over there! Lighter blue. And blowing through the blueness and the blackness, the winds swirling through the air. And there shining, burning, bursting through, the stars! Can you see how they roll their light? Everywhere we look, complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes." (Vincent van Gogh, Vincent and the Doctor)
These two are just gorgeous pieces of poetry in prose, something I've always been weak for. And I love the message of the first. Big picture it's true, even if as über-ephemeral human beings we'd rather not think about it.
The political
"All over the world fools are poised, ready to let death fly. Machines of death, Morgaine, screaming from above. Light brighter than the sun. Not a war between armies, nor a war between nations, but just death. Death gone mad! A child looks up into the sky, his eyes turn to cinders. No more tears, only ashes. Is this Honour? Is this War? Are these the weapons you would use?" (the seventh Doctor, Battlefield)
"In all my travelling throughout the universe, I have battled against evil, against power-mad conspirators. I should have stayed here. The oldest civilisation: decadent, degenerate, and rotten to the core. Power-mad conspirators, Daleks, Sontarans, Cybermen - they're still in the nursery compared to us. Ten million years of absolute power. That's what it takes to be really corrupt." (the sixth Doctor, The Ultimate Foe)
In the short time since I've gotten into Doctor Who, the Time Lords have always been terribly fascinating. I am a political junkie in real-life terms as well, which probably explains it. I love how the Doctor, hero though he is, comes from such a dysfunctional society. And the former quote, well, it's eloquent and poetic (have I mentioned how much I like that already?) and anti-nuclear war. What's not to love?
The just plain HNNNNNNNGGGG
"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea's asleep, and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace. We've got work to do." (the seventh Doctor, Survival)
Yet another piece of poetry, but obviously this one has extra significance due to its position as the last line of broadcast Who for over fifteen years. I was far too young, not to mention too American, to catch it in 1989, so its meaning isn't quite so tied in with memory and emotion as it is for some people. However, it never fails to bring a lump to my throat even so. I can just imagine how it must have felt to know your favorite show was OFF THE AIR. At least by that time there was VHS, so you knew there was a good chance they'd put it out on home video, but still. Gods.
----
So is there a conclusion in all of this? Not really. I'm a Gemini and invoke my right to be indecisive.
Day 01 - Your Favorite Quote
Day 02 - Your Favorite Classic Series Episode
Day 03 - Your Favorite New Series Episode
Day 04 - Your Favorite Doctor
Day 05 - Your Favorite Companion
Day 06 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 07 - Your Favorite Piece of Music
Day 08 - A Who-Related Photo That Makes You Happy
Day 09 - A Who-Related Photo That Makes You Angry/Sad
Day 10 - A Who-Related Photo That You Took
Day 11 - Your Favorite Season (Classic or New)
Day 12 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 13 - Your Favorite Villain
Day 14 - The Villain Who Scared You the Most
Day 15 - Favorite Who-Related Tumblr
Day 16 - Your Favorite Who-Related FanFic
Day 17 - A Piece of Who-Related FanArt
Day 18 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 20 - The Character Who Is Most Like You
Day 21 - Your Doctor Who OTP
Day 22 - A Who-Related Fan-Site
Day 23 - A Who-Related YouTube Video
Day 24 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 25 - Favorite Who Actor
Day 26 - Favorite Who Actress
Day 27 - An Episode You Wish Hadn’t Been Made
Day 28 - An Episode Idea You Created Yourself
Day 29 - Who You Think Should Be the Next Doctor
Day 30 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Oh dear, this is a tough one. I think I'll cheat and put up the top contenders with an explanation of why.
The emotional
"Oh yes, I can when I want to. And that's the point, really. I have to really want to, to bring them back in front of my eyes. The rest of the time they... they sleep in my mind and I forget. And so will you. Oh yes, you will. You'll find there's so much else to think about. To remember. Our lives are different to anybody else's. That's the exciting thing, that nobody in the universe can do what we're doing." (the second Doctor, Tomb of the Cybermen)
This quote means a great deal to me. Not only is it delivered by my favorite Doctor; that's just icing on the cake. I lost my father at a very young age and have very few memories of him left, but the ones that do exist are powerful in their emotions. They have to slumber most of the time; life goes on; but they're still there, accessible when I need or want them. So these words spoke particularly clearly to me.
The poetic
"Planets come and go. Stars perish. Matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns, other worlds. Nothing can be eternal." (the sixth Doctor, The Mysterious Planet)
"Hold my hand, Doctor. Try to see what I see. We're so lucky we're still alive to see this beautiful world. Look at the sky. It's not dark and black and without character. The black is in fact deep blue. And over there! Lighter blue. And blowing through the blueness and the blackness, the winds swirling through the air. And there shining, burning, bursting through, the stars! Can you see how they roll their light? Everywhere we look, complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes." (Vincent van Gogh, Vincent and the Doctor)
These two are just gorgeous pieces of poetry in prose, something I've always been weak for. And I love the message of the first. Big picture it's true, even if as über-ephemeral human beings we'd rather not think about it.
The political
"All over the world fools are poised, ready to let death fly. Machines of death, Morgaine, screaming from above. Light brighter than the sun. Not a war between armies, nor a war between nations, but just death. Death gone mad! A child looks up into the sky, his eyes turn to cinders. No more tears, only ashes. Is this Honour? Is this War? Are these the weapons you would use?" (the seventh Doctor, Battlefield)
"In all my travelling throughout the universe, I have battled against evil, against power-mad conspirators. I should have stayed here. The oldest civilisation: decadent, degenerate, and rotten to the core. Power-mad conspirators, Daleks, Sontarans, Cybermen - they're still in the nursery compared to us. Ten million years of absolute power. That's what it takes to be really corrupt." (the sixth Doctor, The Ultimate Foe)
In the short time since I've gotten into Doctor Who, the Time Lords have always been terribly fascinating. I am a political junkie in real-life terms as well, which probably explains it. I love how the Doctor, hero though he is, comes from such a dysfunctional society. And the former quote, well, it's eloquent and poetic (have I mentioned how much I like that already?) and anti-nuclear war. What's not to love?
The just plain HNNNNNNNGGGG
"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea's asleep, and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace. We've got work to do." (the seventh Doctor, Survival)
Yet another piece of poetry, but obviously this one has extra significance due to its position as the last line of broadcast Who for over fifteen years. I was far too young, not to mention too American, to catch it in 1989, so its meaning isn't quite so tied in with memory and emotion as it is for some people. However, it never fails to bring a lump to my throat even so. I can just imagine how it must have felt to know your favorite show was OFF THE AIR. At least by that time there was VHS, so you knew there was a good chance they'd put it out on home video, but still. Gods.
----
So is there a conclusion in all of this? Not really. I'm a Gemini and invoke my right to be indecisive.
Day 01 - Your Favorite Quote
Day 02 - Your Favorite Classic Series Episode
Day 03 - Your Favorite New Series Episode
Day 04 - Your Favorite Doctor
Day 05 - Your Favorite Companion
Day 06 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 07 - Your Favorite Piece of Music
Day 08 - A Who-Related Photo That Makes You Happy
Day 09 - A Who-Related Photo That Makes You Angry/Sad
Day 10 - A Who-Related Photo That You Took
Day 11 - Your Favorite Season (Classic or New)
Day 12 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 13 - Your Favorite Villain
Day 14 - The Villain Who Scared You the Most
Day 15 - Favorite Who-Related Tumblr
Day 16 - Your Favorite Who-Related FanFic
Day 17 - A Piece of Who-Related FanArt
Day 18 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 20 - The Character Who Is Most Like You
Day 21 - Your Doctor Who OTP
Day 22 - A Who-Related Fan-Site
Day 23 - A Who-Related YouTube Video
Day 24 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy
Day 25 - Favorite Who Actor
Day 26 - Favorite Who Actress
Day 27 - An Episode You Wish Hadn’t Been Made
Day 28 - An Episode Idea You Created Yourself
Day 29 - Who You Think Should Be the Next Doctor
Day 30 - Whatever Tickles Your Fancy