ladyofleithian (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladyofleithian) wrote2013-02-21 10:04 pm
ladyofleithian) wrote2013-02-21 10:04 pm
So, got back from watching ARMY OF GHOSTS.
Actually more of a rewatch, really. Anyway, it's as good as I remember it, if not better! :D
I'll admit, I was a bit nervous about going into "Army of Ghosts" again, because while I love it (and "Doomsday", in this weird sort of masochistic way), I'm admittedly dreading Rose leaving. I personally can't imagine what it must have been like for those who caught it when it first aired, this two-parter. I mean, it's brilliant, but to say that the title of the next episode, "Doomsday", is pretty apt is probably putting it mildly. I remember first catching it when I barely knew Rose (I caught it on YouTube, I believe), and it...yeah. Broke my fucking heart. And I'll admit that being the newbie I was, I wasn't even coming in there for the Tearjerker; I was mostly coming for the Dalek-Cyberman verbal pissing contest. (And yes, it is as awesome and hilarious as it sounds. XD When RTD isn't meddling with your heartstrings, he's pretty good at making you laugh. And pretty much everything else, TBH. :) *Totally not suffering a case of Hero Worship, I swear. XD*) But yeah...I didn't actually cry, but I came close. I think it's just the image of Rose helplessly banging on the wall in the parallel world...yeah, this is getting depressing fast. Here's a picture of Daleks playing police officers: http://d2tq98mqfjyz2l.cloudfront.net/image_cache/1338247190501693.jpg.
And back on topic (sorry).
Let's say that the episode isn't as sob-provoking as the episode that follows; it's more about setting up the threat, and "Doomsday" being its payoff. And DOCTOR WHO has always been damn good at building suspense -- I know the scene where Adeola, one of the workers, is going to find her coworker, Gareth (BTW, little tip for people in horror movies or similar situations such as in this case: never assume that someone's just playing a prank, because ninety nine percent of the time, they're usually not. Seriously, Adeola, Toby said that in "The Impossible Planet" and he got possessed by the freaking *Devil*. I actually shouted "Never say that!" at the screen. XD)...great build-up of tension. I swear when they showed the Cyberman in question, I actually screamed. (My mom also screamed later when they showed the Cyberman again, which...yeah, I think screaming is not only forgiven, but encouraged) Especially considering that it just starts off with Adeola and Gareth going off to spend some, well, quality time with Gareth. (And it kind of leads to the question of whether or not he knew it would happen...then again, maybe he didn't) Not to mention that other poor guy that gets converted -- not helped by that damn Sound Only Conversion. *Shivers* It's really all the creepier because it allows our minds to really fill in the blanks. It also later crosses over into heartbreaking when the Doctor has to Mercy Kill Adeola and the others; his "Sorry, I'm so sorry" did not help at all. I think it's all the more heartrending because we saw glimpses of them, and really...they were just people who happened to be caught up in the Cybermen's rampage. (On second thought, yeah, this episode is probably as bad as "Doomsday". It's just more focused on the fear factor)
Speaking of which, I also really liked Yvonne Hartman. She was just really likable -- a Benevolent Boss, amiable towards the Doctor considering the circumstances, and even agreeing to shut down the Ghost Shift (basically, they're mistaking the Cybermen for ghosts because of...well, little side-effects of the Cybermen trying to get from the parallel Earth to here. Lot of complicated technical stuff), even though it fails thanks to the upgraded Adeola and the other two. Although I will admit I did find myself a tad "WTF" at her line about "The Doctor, lording it over us". I mean, it may be true, but honestly -- you're tinkering with a device that's going to let the Cybermen into our world and possibly send it falling into the Void! On the "bad decisions" scale, I think this could rate up there with...I dunno, putting Brian Green in charge as Prime Minister. (Was running low on comparisons, sorry) And to be fair, the Doctor does call her out on it, but...yeah. Still, I think it might have been intentional, at any rate. :)
Also, on the subject of tension...the Void Sphere. I love how they built it up as this sort of Brown Note-ish thing, and gradually build it up to see the Daleks come out of the sphere. My brother actually thought the Devil was in that ship at first, before the Daleks were revealed. Which...well, that would have been an interesting episode. XD And believe it or not, my mom and brother actually weren't scared of the Daleks. I mean...I'll admit I didn't quite get it, just because...well, their mentality and all. I remember my mom thought they looked a bit like Artoo-Detoo (and apparently someone else had a similar idea:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md3c7rxKS11qfbtfeo1_500.jpg), but... *Shrugs* I dunno; I think Davros just gave them that look to lull his enemies into a false sense of security. :)
I also loved the sheer weight of the Cybermen in general; for example, that poor reporter getting killed mid-sentence, and one group in a family's home. I think the worst part is that they don't think that what they're doing is wrong; they genuinely think that it's basically a good thing getting upgraded. Yeah, the process that strips out your brain and puts it in a suit of armor? That's what they consider a good thing. I mean, someone taking away your free will is bad enough, but them doing it "for your own good" makes it all the more chilling. Not to mention the *whole freaking crowd* of Cybermen throughout the world. Also a bit of a Funny Aneurysm Moment (obviously) because near the beginning, there were some news reports that were sort of having stuff like featuring girls wearing ghost T-shirts, the "I married a dead man" thing...yeah, this is getting depressing. Here's Kirk and Spock: http://iwanttobeapinup.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/sci-fi-fantasy-set-phasers-to-lol-in-the-middle-of-the-earth.jpg.
Speaking of lightening the mood, there were definitely some funny parts in there as well. I know stuff like the Doctor and Jackie bickering was pretty priceless (during the Doctor inventing a cover story), as well as the Doctor getting so excited about "Allons-y, Allonso!" that he fails to realize he basically kidnapped Jackie by accident. XD Jackie's reaction just makes it all the funnier. XD Also, the Doctor, regarding Torchwood and the armed guards outside the TARDIS: "They can shoot me dead, but the moral high ground is mine!" And earlier, the Ghostbusters reference. XD Also adorable; I just love Rose's laugh. :) Also, Mickey comes back! :D How awesome is that? :D And even between the levity , there were some really serious moments, like Jackie talking to Rose about what's happening to her. Just her worries that in forty years or so, Rose will be a stranger...oh, Jackie. ;.; It's really one of many reasons I love DOCTOR WHO; it has these very quiet, emotional moments in between the action and the different creatures and other things. And it's well-handled at that. :)
Not to mention: best. Cliffhanger. Ever. Rose, Mickey and Singh staring down a bunch of Daleks...amazing. <3
So overall? Loved it. Definitely recommend. :)
I'll admit, I was a bit nervous about going into "Army of Ghosts" again, because while I love it (and "Doomsday", in this weird sort of masochistic way), I'm admittedly dreading Rose leaving. I personally can't imagine what it must have been like for those who caught it when it first aired, this two-parter. I mean, it's brilliant, but to say that the title of the next episode, "Doomsday", is pretty apt is probably putting it mildly. I remember first catching it when I barely knew Rose (I caught it on YouTube, I believe), and it...yeah. Broke my fucking heart. And I'll admit that being the newbie I was, I wasn't even coming in there for the Tearjerker; I was mostly coming for the Dalek-Cyberman verbal pissing contest. (And yes, it is as awesome and hilarious as it sounds. XD When RTD isn't meddling with your heartstrings, he's pretty good at making you laugh. And pretty much everything else, TBH. :) *Totally not suffering a case of Hero Worship, I swear. XD*) But yeah...I didn't actually cry, but I came close. I think it's just the image of Rose helplessly banging on the wall in the parallel world...yeah, this is getting depressing fast. Here's a picture of Daleks playing police officers: http://d2tq98mqfjyz2l.cloudfront.net/image_cache/1338247190501693.jpg.
And back on topic (sorry).
Let's say that the episode isn't as sob-provoking as the episode that follows; it's more about setting up the threat, and "Doomsday" being its payoff. And DOCTOR WHO has always been damn good at building suspense -- I know the scene where Adeola, one of the workers, is going to find her coworker, Gareth (BTW, little tip for people in horror movies or similar situations such as in this case: never assume that someone's just playing a prank, because ninety nine percent of the time, they're usually not. Seriously, Adeola, Toby said that in "The Impossible Planet" and he got possessed by the freaking *Devil*. I actually shouted "Never say that!" at the screen. XD)...great build-up of tension. I swear when they showed the Cyberman in question, I actually screamed. (My mom also screamed later when they showed the Cyberman again, which...yeah, I think screaming is not only forgiven, but encouraged) Especially considering that it just starts off with Adeola and Gareth going off to spend some, well, quality time with Gareth. (And it kind of leads to the question of whether or not he knew it would happen...then again, maybe he didn't) Not to mention that other poor guy that gets converted -- not helped by that damn Sound Only Conversion. *Shivers* It's really all the creepier because it allows our minds to really fill in the blanks. It also later crosses over into heartbreaking when the Doctor has to Mercy Kill Adeola and the others; his "Sorry, I'm so sorry" did not help at all. I think it's all the more heartrending because we saw glimpses of them, and really...they were just people who happened to be caught up in the Cybermen's rampage. (On second thought, yeah, this episode is probably as bad as "Doomsday". It's just more focused on the fear factor)
Speaking of which, I also really liked Yvonne Hartman. She was just really likable -- a Benevolent Boss, amiable towards the Doctor considering the circumstances, and even agreeing to shut down the Ghost Shift (basically, they're mistaking the Cybermen for ghosts because of...well, little side-effects of the Cybermen trying to get from the parallel Earth to here. Lot of complicated technical stuff), even though it fails thanks to the upgraded Adeola and the other two. Although I will admit I did find myself a tad "WTF" at her line about "The Doctor, lording it over us". I mean, it may be true, but honestly -- you're tinkering with a device that's going to let the Cybermen into our world and possibly send it falling into the Void! On the "bad decisions" scale, I think this could rate up there with...I dunno, putting Brian Green in charge as Prime Minister. (Was running low on comparisons, sorry) And to be fair, the Doctor does call her out on it, but...yeah. Still, I think it might have been intentional, at any rate. :)
Also, on the subject of tension...the Void Sphere. I love how they built it up as this sort of Brown Note-ish thing, and gradually build it up to see the Daleks come out of the sphere. My brother actually thought the Devil was in that ship at first, before the Daleks were revealed. Which...well, that would have been an interesting episode. XD And believe it or not, my mom and brother actually weren't scared of the Daleks. I mean...I'll admit I didn't quite get it, just because...well, their mentality and all. I remember my mom thought they looked a bit like Artoo-Detoo (and apparently someone else had a similar idea:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md3c7rxKS11qfbtfeo1_500.jpg), but... *Shrugs* I dunno; I think Davros just gave them that look to lull his enemies into a false sense of security. :)
I also loved the sheer weight of the Cybermen in general; for example, that poor reporter getting killed mid-sentence, and one group in a family's home. I think the worst part is that they don't think that what they're doing is wrong; they genuinely think that it's basically a good thing getting upgraded. Yeah, the process that strips out your brain and puts it in a suit of armor? That's what they consider a good thing. I mean, someone taking away your free will is bad enough, but them doing it "for your own good" makes it all the more chilling. Not to mention the *whole freaking crowd* of Cybermen throughout the world. Also a bit of a Funny Aneurysm Moment (obviously) because near the beginning, there were some news reports that were sort of having stuff like featuring girls wearing ghost T-shirts, the "I married a dead man" thing...yeah, this is getting depressing. Here's Kirk and Spock: http://iwanttobeapinup.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/sci-fi-fantasy-set-phasers-to-lol-in-the-middle-of-the-earth.jpg.
Speaking of lightening the mood, there were definitely some funny parts in there as well. I know stuff like the Doctor and Jackie bickering was pretty priceless (during the Doctor inventing a cover story), as well as the Doctor getting so excited about "Allons-y, Allonso!" that he fails to realize he basically kidnapped Jackie by accident. XD Jackie's reaction just makes it all the funnier. XD Also, the Doctor, regarding Torchwood and the armed guards outside the TARDIS: "They can shoot me dead, but the moral high ground is mine!" And earlier, the Ghostbusters reference. XD Also adorable; I just love Rose's laugh. :) Also, Mickey comes back! :D How awesome is that? :D And even between the levity , there were some really serious moments, like Jackie talking to Rose about what's happening to her. Just her worries that in forty years or so, Rose will be a stranger...oh, Jackie. ;.; It's really one of many reasons I love DOCTOR WHO; it has these very quiet, emotional moments in between the action and the different creatures and other things. And it's well-handled at that. :)
Not to mention: best. Cliffhanger. Ever. Rose, Mickey and Singh staring down a bunch of Daleks...amazing. <3
So overall? Loved it. Definitely recommend. :)