Status report of the USS Hadhafang.
Apr. 3rd, 2013 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofleithianGenerally had a good day. Got a lot of sleep, for one thing. Also catching up on SF Debris' review of BATTLEFIELD EARTH, which is...well, a really fucking excellent review, really. Also thinking about sort of using hot beverages to help me function a bit more -- coffee in the mornings (because I function horribly in the morning), tea for night, and hot chocolate for when I have to relax a bit. Because...well, I've been on a bit of a nonfunctional bend lately. Time I actually got better.
Also watched THE IMPOSSIBLE ASTRONAUT. Seriously, a damn good episode, but a really damn mean cliffhanger. More on the episode under the cut.
First off, I have to say Moffat choosing to (seemingly) kill off the Doctor was a really gutsy move, and the scene itself was done beautifully. Sort of that slow building of tension, with that slow hint of something not being right as the scene progresses, up until the astronaut rises from the lake (Lake Silencio, like the foreshadowing couldn't be more obvious). Also, the reactions from the others at the Doctor's death were really well-done -- Amy begging for the Doctor to wake up and just plain sobbing...Karen Gillan just did beautifully in that scene. And it's made worse because...well, the Doctor was Amy's friend since she was a child. It's almost like, in that moment, she's become like a frightened, heartbroken little girl, unable to comprehend that the Doctor is actually dead. In contrast, River...well, Alex Kingston manages to communicate so much with just her eyes: http://www.the-medusa-cascade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=153413&fullsize=1. And River just sort of taking control of the situation, saying that they have to do what the Doctor's friends would do. Although she does slap the Doctor later (his younger self -- yeah, wibbly wobbly timey wimey and all, long story) for pulling that stunt. *
I also loved River's talk with Rory down in the tunnels. About how she knows the Doctor more and more every day, and he seems to know her less and less. In the...timeline we're seeing, at least, he's learning more about her, but as she hops further back in time...well, it has to be sad and frightening for her. Having a husband that barely knows who you are. Also lends a new layer of sad to that scene in "Silence in the Library", when Ten says, "Who are you?" It's almost as if her worst fears have come to life right in front of her. And her death...Ten has no idea who she was (although she still weighs heavily on him; judging from "Journey's End", it's obvious that he blames himself for it. Another person who died for him seemingly needlessly. **). But for River...she did this, all of it, not just for the library, but to protect him. Almost like Rory, really, with Amy. Though she takes after Amy personality-wise, she takes after Rory in a few areas also. I can picture Rory sacrificing himself to protect Amy, *** and I can see River sitting outside the Pandorica to guard the Doctor. And I have a feeling that for all the heartbreak that might follow...she wouldn't miss anything with the Doctor for the world.
(God, that probably didn't make sense, sorry. A lot of emotions)
But yeah...it was a wonderfully acted scene. Alex Kingston is just amazing.
I also loved the Silence (in that odd way that you can think those things are awesome, really). Such awesome villains. I think there's something really frightening about villains who make you forget the moment you turn your head. (Although my brother didn't get why the Silence, considering how they made people forget, needed Amy to carry a message to the Doctor) You could just see a Silence and just by turning your head, forget it. Also, their appearance is seriously creepy. And their voice -- it's like something rumbling up from the pits of hell. Seriously, their voice actually hurt my ears it was so deep. Not to mention when Amy encounters that Silence in the bathroom and it kills that one woman (Joy), and when Amy calls out the Silence for killing her, the Silence says, and I quote, "Joy. Her name was Joy." Seriously, they just killed a woman because her name was Joy. Who the hell does that?
*Shivers*
Christ, that got frightening fast. And depressing. Here's the Star Trek TNG cast as eggs: http://cheezburger.com/7209664256.
And now back to our program.
I also really love Canton. Seriously, the guy is awesome. Gentlemanly, funny, friendly, kickass...I just love him. And I love how they portrayed Richard Nixon. It might sound odd, me saying this, considering Nixon was quite the scumbag (Watergate, for one thing), but I really like how Moffat sort of humanized Nixon, in a way. It really isn't easy making Richard goddamn Nixon sympathetic, but Moffat pulled it off. At least, I like seeing Nixon as sort of human. And I liked the little sprinklings of humor here and there, such as River bickering with the Doctor (Matt Smith and Alex Kingston, how do you work so beautifully together?), Eleven finding the spacesuit, and River's "They're Americans!" after the Doctor is "You think you can shoot me?" -- the Doctor's Oh Crap reaction after she says it is priceless. XD Also, the Doctor's awkward entrance into the office in general. Also, Canton, earlier, snarking at Nixon over the phone.
I also really liked the cliffhanger with the little girl in the astronaut suit. I also really liked the sort of irony with the Doctor not knowing what's going to happen, and Amy shooting the astronaut if only to save the Doctor. Also, the actress who played the little girl was heartbreaking in her role. And terrifying. Just her pleading for help against the "spacemen" (I at first thought she meant the Doctor, because of Donna calling him "spaceman"; it was only later I realized that she meant the Silence)...even if it may have been a bluff, it was still heartbreaking. She just sounded so scared. And considering what we later learn about her (she's River as a little girl. Melody, to be more precise)...yeah, this is getting more depressing. Here, have some cockblocking gizka, courtesy of DarthFar: http://darthfar.deviantart.com/art/The-Tryst-for-Vinree-39931340.
So yeah...awesome episode. Seriously. And a great start to season six. :)
* And granted, the younger Doctor didn't know, but I think this is one of those rare instances where it's actually believable because...River and the others thought that the Doctor was dead (not sure if River knew already because of the diary, but then again, I guess that's a minor complaint); I think that they definitely have a right to be pissed. And considering River...well, she says that the Doctor's death or her own -- sort of retroactively foreshadowing "Forest of the Dead" -- doesn't really scare her, just the day she reveals her identity to him. It doesn't mean that it wouldn't hurt her, though; he means the universe to her. And something like that...well, I think it would scare her even if she said otherwise. So I think River may be half-lying in that regard. The Doctor actually being killed off...that would devastate her. So...definite kudos for making the scene work, Moffat.
** And I say seemingly because...well, in the end, River Song was a hero.
*** And vice-versa.
So overall? Awesome episode. Definitely recommended.
Also watched THE IMPOSSIBLE ASTRONAUT. Seriously, a damn good episode, but a really damn mean cliffhanger. More on the episode under the cut.
First off, I have to say Moffat choosing to (seemingly) kill off the Doctor was a really gutsy move, and the scene itself was done beautifully. Sort of that slow building of tension, with that slow hint of something not being right as the scene progresses, up until the astronaut rises from the lake (Lake Silencio, like the foreshadowing couldn't be more obvious). Also, the reactions from the others at the Doctor's death were really well-done -- Amy begging for the Doctor to wake up and just plain sobbing...Karen Gillan just did beautifully in that scene. And it's made worse because...well, the Doctor was Amy's friend since she was a child. It's almost like, in that moment, she's become like a frightened, heartbroken little girl, unable to comprehend that the Doctor is actually dead. In contrast, River...well, Alex Kingston manages to communicate so much with just her eyes: http://www.the-medusa-cascade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=153413&fullsize=1. And River just sort of taking control of the situation, saying that they have to do what the Doctor's friends would do. Although she does slap the Doctor later (his younger self -- yeah, wibbly wobbly timey wimey and all, long story) for pulling that stunt. *
I also loved River's talk with Rory down in the tunnels. About how she knows the Doctor more and more every day, and he seems to know her less and less. In the...timeline we're seeing, at least, he's learning more about her, but as she hops further back in time...well, it has to be sad and frightening for her. Having a husband that barely knows who you are. Also lends a new layer of sad to that scene in "Silence in the Library", when Ten says, "Who are you?" It's almost as if her worst fears have come to life right in front of her. And her death...Ten has no idea who she was (although she still weighs heavily on him; judging from "Journey's End", it's obvious that he blames himself for it. Another person who died for him seemingly needlessly. **). But for River...she did this, all of it, not just for the library, but to protect him. Almost like Rory, really, with Amy. Though she takes after Amy personality-wise, she takes after Rory in a few areas also. I can picture Rory sacrificing himself to protect Amy, *** and I can see River sitting outside the Pandorica to guard the Doctor. And I have a feeling that for all the heartbreak that might follow...she wouldn't miss anything with the Doctor for the world.
(God, that probably didn't make sense, sorry. A lot of emotions)
But yeah...it was a wonderfully acted scene. Alex Kingston is just amazing.
I also loved the Silence (in that odd way that you can think those things are awesome, really). Such awesome villains. I think there's something really frightening about villains who make you forget the moment you turn your head. (Although my brother didn't get why the Silence, considering how they made people forget, needed Amy to carry a message to the Doctor) You could just see a Silence and just by turning your head, forget it. Also, their appearance is seriously creepy. And their voice -- it's like something rumbling up from the pits of hell. Seriously, their voice actually hurt my ears it was so deep. Not to mention when Amy encounters that Silence in the bathroom and it kills that one woman (Joy), and when Amy calls out the Silence for killing her, the Silence says, and I quote, "Joy. Her name was Joy." Seriously, they just killed a woman because her name was Joy. Who the hell does that?
*Shivers*
Christ, that got frightening fast. And depressing. Here's the Star Trek TNG cast as eggs: http://cheezburger.com/7209664256.
And now back to our program.
I also really love Canton. Seriously, the guy is awesome. Gentlemanly, funny, friendly, kickass...I just love him. And I love how they portrayed Richard Nixon. It might sound odd, me saying this, considering Nixon was quite the scumbag (Watergate, for one thing), but I really like how Moffat sort of humanized Nixon, in a way. It really isn't easy making Richard goddamn Nixon sympathetic, but Moffat pulled it off. At least, I like seeing Nixon as sort of human. And I liked the little sprinklings of humor here and there, such as River bickering with the Doctor (Matt Smith and Alex Kingston, how do you work so beautifully together?), Eleven finding the spacesuit, and River's "They're Americans!" after the Doctor is "You think you can shoot me?" -- the Doctor's Oh Crap reaction after she says it is priceless. XD Also, the Doctor's awkward entrance into the office in general. Also, Canton, earlier, snarking at Nixon over the phone.
I also really liked the cliffhanger with the little girl in the astronaut suit. I also really liked the sort of irony with the Doctor not knowing what's going to happen, and Amy shooting the astronaut if only to save the Doctor. Also, the actress who played the little girl was heartbreaking in her role. And terrifying. Just her pleading for help against the "spacemen" (I at first thought she meant the Doctor, because of Donna calling him "spaceman"; it was only later I realized that she meant the Silence)...even if it may have been a bluff, it was still heartbreaking. She just sounded so scared. And considering what we later learn about her (she's River as a little girl. Melody, to be more precise)...yeah, this is getting more depressing. Here, have some cockblocking gizka, courtesy of DarthFar: http://darthfar.deviantart.com/art/The-Tryst-for-Vinree-39931340.
So yeah...awesome episode. Seriously. And a great start to season six. :)
* And granted, the younger Doctor didn't know, but I think this is one of those rare instances where it's actually believable because...River and the others thought that the Doctor was dead (not sure if River knew already because of the diary, but then again, I guess that's a minor complaint); I think that they definitely have a right to be pissed. And considering River...well, she says that the Doctor's death or her own -- sort of retroactively foreshadowing "Forest of the Dead" -- doesn't really scare her, just the day she reveals her identity to him. It doesn't mean that it wouldn't hurt her, though; he means the universe to her. And something like that...well, I think it would scare her even if she said otherwise. So I think River may be half-lying in that regard. The Doctor actually being killed off...that would devastate her. So...definite kudos for making the scene work, Moffat.
** And I say seemingly because...well, in the end, River Song was a hero.
*** And vice-versa.
So overall? Awesome episode. Definitely recommended.
