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ladyofleithianOddly apropos considering that today was Valentine's Day. Anyway, it was a really gorgeous episode, even though it was really sad.
I will confess that "Girl in the Fireplace" was one of those episodes I never thought I'd end up loving -- hell, the most I heard about it prior to seeing it was that it was a very polarizing episode. Some people adored it, others hated it. And I can see some of the criticisms, but I think overall, this episode's pretty lovely. For one thing, while a lot of it is kind of bittersweet at best, it had great moments of humor (for example, the guard looking utterly dumbstruck after the "I'm the Doctor, and I just snogged Madame DePompadour!" line, and Arthur the horse. And drunk Doctor -- I just love Rose's reaction as well; that was priceless. XD), and Reinette herself was intensely likable. While I obviously prefer the Doctor and Rose, I might come close to shipping Doctor/Reinette as well, just because of how amazingly well David Tennant and Sophia Myles worked in the episode. I'll admit some parts where I got sort of choked up were when the Doctor was sort of melding with Reinette, and she comes across some of his memories. "Such a lonely boy. Lonelier then and lonelier now." *Sniff* I mean granted, it wasn't all bad -- he had people like Sarah Jane, Jo Grant, etc., but it wasn't an easy existence. And then cut to New Who and though Rose and others have helped him in a way, it doesn't mean he's not lonely in a few ways. There's a part from the TNG episode "Sarek" that I think reminds me a bit of the Doctor very well, when Picard's mind-melded with Sarek and absorbed some of his thoughts and emotions, basically. Vastly different circumstances, yes, but the line about "dry bones and dead friends" -- it fits the Doctor far too well, I think. I think Reinette was right on the money there. And it shows how similar she and Rose are, even if they're so different -- both have seen the Doctor's loneliness, and both, in a way, encountered the Doctor before they knew who he was (Reinette as a child, Rose back in "The End of Time Part Two" when Ten's making his goodbyes). Both were confined in different ways and wanted to see the stars, except Reinette...well, she never got to. And I think that's one of the most tragic parts of the episode. I know the shot of her funeral carriage riding off, and the Doctor standing silently overlooking the carriage as it leaves...well, I think it was one of many parts that got me close to the waterworks. Then again, this was another one of those days where I was close to crying at times. It wasn't a bad day at all, but it was...well, it's a long story. My day was kind of emotional in places. And earlier, with the Doctor offering Reinette the chance to see the stars, and discussing the matter of the stars having titles. Something about them just sharing a drink and laughing was really moving, at least in a way. And Reinette speaking with Rose, and Rose telling her that it was going to be all right. And "One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel." Because it's kind of a beautiful counterpoint/Harsher In Hindsight in regards to Davros accusing the Doctor on the CRUCIBLE of turning his companions into weapons and asking how many people died for him (especially considering some of it was beyond his control). Because the Doctor is worth the monsters and the demons. Hell, Reinette even says, "But you and I both know, don't we, Rose, that the Doctor is worth the monsters." Because in the end, the Doctor made them, for lack of a word, better. He showed them better ways of living their lives. And the people who died -- regardless of how they felt about the Doctor, they chose to go down swinging.
(Ahem...sorry. I shouldn't ramble. But it's definitely the little things that make one realize how connected WHO really is. And the theme -- being a good guy isn't the matter of perfection. Just being kind, brave, determined, and embracing your full potential. Evil, meanwhile, is destroying something and calling it just, amongst other things. Davros and the Daleks, for instance)
I also loved things like the Clockwork Robots. *Shivers* While they were semi-ruined thanks to looking a bit like robot clones of the Jigsaw Killer from the SAW series (seriously, I almost expected Tobin Bell -- Jigsaw -- to be voicing them or something), they were also really chilling. I especially love the revelation of the derelict ship being fueled by *human body parts* (yeah, that joins "Are you my mummy" as one of my many nightmares for the week), and the fact that they're not evil as much as just doing their job. The problem is...well, they're causing problems, to put it mildly. I also loved the Doctor's Big Damn Heroes moment via using Arthur the horse to smash through the mirror to save Reinette, and earlier, Reinette showing no fear against the robots. Seriously, they have arms almost like buzzsaws pointed at her throat and she doesn't even blink. Bad. Fucking. Ass. I also loved Rose and the Doctor hugging after the Doctor comes back from the other side of the mirror (although it also serves as a Harsher In Hindsight thing regarding "Doomsday"), although Reinette's reaction...I really felt sorry for her, especially considering this was the last time she ever saw him. I also really loved the panning out end shot of the ship, and Mickey and Rose kicking ass in their ways, and Rose's reaction when she and Mickey seem to be temporarily cut off from the Doctor ("Doomsday" again, anyone?). Just Rose's face... *Hugs her* And Reinette talking with one of the women in the garden. Honestly, this episode...I can't name just one part I loved. It was perfect, beginning to end.
So yeah, overall, loved it. :3 Definitely recommended. (Also...yeah, Season 2 seems to be heading into the episodes-that-make-you-cry territory, isn't it? Honestly. Still a great episode, but man was it sad)
I will confess that "Girl in the Fireplace" was one of those episodes I never thought I'd end up loving -- hell, the most I heard about it prior to seeing it was that it was a very polarizing episode. Some people adored it, others hated it. And I can see some of the criticisms, but I think overall, this episode's pretty lovely. For one thing, while a lot of it is kind of bittersweet at best, it had great moments of humor (for example, the guard looking utterly dumbstruck after the "I'm the Doctor, and I just snogged Madame DePompadour!" line, and Arthur the horse. And drunk Doctor -- I just love Rose's reaction as well; that was priceless. XD), and Reinette herself was intensely likable. While I obviously prefer the Doctor and Rose, I might come close to shipping Doctor/Reinette as well, just because of how amazingly well David Tennant and Sophia Myles worked in the episode. I'll admit some parts where I got sort of choked up were when the Doctor was sort of melding with Reinette, and she comes across some of his memories. "Such a lonely boy. Lonelier then and lonelier now." *Sniff* I mean granted, it wasn't all bad -- he had people like Sarah Jane, Jo Grant, etc., but it wasn't an easy existence. And then cut to New Who and though Rose and others have helped him in a way, it doesn't mean he's not lonely in a few ways. There's a part from the TNG episode "Sarek" that I think reminds me a bit of the Doctor very well, when Picard's mind-melded with Sarek and absorbed some of his thoughts and emotions, basically. Vastly different circumstances, yes, but the line about "dry bones and dead friends" -- it fits the Doctor far too well, I think. I think Reinette was right on the money there. And it shows how similar she and Rose are, even if they're so different -- both have seen the Doctor's loneliness, and both, in a way, encountered the Doctor before they knew who he was (Reinette as a child, Rose back in "The End of Time Part Two" when Ten's making his goodbyes). Both were confined in different ways and wanted to see the stars, except Reinette...well, she never got to. And I think that's one of the most tragic parts of the episode. I know the shot of her funeral carriage riding off, and the Doctor standing silently overlooking the carriage as it leaves...well, I think it was one of many parts that got me close to the waterworks. Then again, this was another one of those days where I was close to crying at times. It wasn't a bad day at all, but it was...well, it's a long story. My day was kind of emotional in places. And earlier, with the Doctor offering Reinette the chance to see the stars, and discussing the matter of the stars having titles. Something about them just sharing a drink and laughing was really moving, at least in a way. And Reinette speaking with Rose, and Rose telling her that it was going to be all right. And "One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel." Because it's kind of a beautiful counterpoint/Harsher In Hindsight in regards to Davros accusing the Doctor on the CRUCIBLE of turning his companions into weapons and asking how many people died for him (especially considering some of it was beyond his control). Because the Doctor is worth the monsters and the demons. Hell, Reinette even says, "But you and I both know, don't we, Rose, that the Doctor is worth the monsters." Because in the end, the Doctor made them, for lack of a word, better. He showed them better ways of living their lives. And the people who died -- regardless of how they felt about the Doctor, they chose to go down swinging.
(Ahem...sorry. I shouldn't ramble. But it's definitely the little things that make one realize how connected WHO really is. And the theme -- being a good guy isn't the matter of perfection. Just being kind, brave, determined, and embracing your full potential. Evil, meanwhile, is destroying something and calling it just, amongst other things. Davros and the Daleks, for instance)
I also loved things like the Clockwork Robots. *Shivers* While they were semi-ruined thanks to looking a bit like robot clones of the Jigsaw Killer from the SAW series (seriously, I almost expected Tobin Bell -- Jigsaw -- to be voicing them or something), they were also really chilling. I especially love the revelation of the derelict ship being fueled by *human body parts* (yeah, that joins "Are you my mummy" as one of my many nightmares for the week), and the fact that they're not evil as much as just doing their job. The problem is...well, they're causing problems, to put it mildly. I also loved the Doctor's Big Damn Heroes moment via using Arthur the horse to smash through the mirror to save Reinette, and earlier, Reinette showing no fear against the robots. Seriously, they have arms almost like buzzsaws pointed at her throat and she doesn't even blink. Bad. Fucking. Ass. I also loved Rose and the Doctor hugging after the Doctor comes back from the other side of the mirror (although it also serves as a Harsher In Hindsight thing regarding "Doomsday"), although Reinette's reaction...I really felt sorry for her, especially considering this was the last time she ever saw him. I also really loved the panning out end shot of the ship, and Mickey and Rose kicking ass in their ways, and Rose's reaction when she and Mickey seem to be temporarily cut off from the Doctor ("Doomsday" again, anyone?). Just Rose's face... *Hugs her* And Reinette talking with one of the women in the garden. Honestly, this episode...I can't name just one part I loved. It was perfect, beginning to end.
So yeah, overall, loved it. :3 Definitely recommended. (Also...yeah, Season 2 seems to be heading into the episodes-that-make-you-cry territory, isn't it? Honestly. Still a great episode, but man was it sad)
