So, I am aware that I haven't posted in a while.

[ladyofleithian]

I've mostly been busy and all. College courses have been pretty tasking and I've been trying to keep up. That and I've been working on my stories. But I managed to get around to completing Season Eight ever since last year when I caught the Season Eight premiere, "Deep Breath". I watched "Into The Dalek" and "Robot Hood".

How were they? Well, I have mixed emotions.



I confess, one thing that's kind of turned me off a bit on those episodes is the personality of the Twelfth Doctor. Don't get me wrong; Peter Capaldi is a great actor, and Twelve has his moments, but there are times when he seems rather cold and removed. I guess it may be a bit of a throwback to William Hartnell's Doctor, who was rather brusque, and Christopher Eccleston's Doctor, who was a tortured soul, but even they had their softer moments (Eccleston especially). I know some of the comments about Clara in "Into The Dalek" (e.g. her being old. I mean, come on; maybe she's not like, twenty or so, but she's not old. Also, pot, kettle, just saying. XD *) as well as saying that Journey Blue shouldn't have been a soldier. I mean, the Doctor was also a soldier in the Time War. (Yes, technically the Time War didn't result in blowing up Gallifrey since "Day of the Doctor", but even so, a nod to the events would have been nice. One thing I really liked about the way the Time War was handled in the RTD era was how it was really emphasized how it weighed on the Doctor, as it would for anyone who had to do something like that) And a lot of what Journey was doing was perfectly understandable, considering her position. A lot of what the Galactic Resistance was doing was perfectly understandable. They did what they could, considering the circumstances.

Then there was the matter of the whole Robin Hood thing. I dunno; through a lot of the trip, it seemed like he was competing with Robin Hood. And generally acting sort of uptight. Not to mention when he revealed to Robin Hood that he was really an imposter, he seemed sort of gleeful about it. Sort of like he was rubbing it in. He did turn around at the end, by acknowledging Robin Hood as a kind of equal, and reuniting him with Marian (that was a genuinely touching moment). And in "Into The Dalek", the scene where he was showing the Dalek (or trying to show him) that there is life outside hatred, was a genuinely powerful, moving scene. So there is that. And who knows -- I might warm up to him a little more as I go through the season. Twelve was advertised as a darker Doctor, after all -- so this may be overall part of his arc.

As for the good things about the episodes? Well, for "Into The Dalek", the very idea was intriguing, not just the idea of a "good" Dalek (which was explored previously in "Dalek", "Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks", "Journey's End" and -- sort of -- "Asylum of the Daleks", even though it was technically a copy of Clara that ended up inside a Dalek) but going inside the Dalek, where you actually get to see inside the Dalek's biology. It was one of those things that I found very interesting, and the fact that they had to find a way to repair the Dalek (yeah, I'm aware that on the surface, it sounds like a terrible idea. It...makes more sense in the context of the episode) and later, get it to stop killing people, was also an interesting idea. (And the New Series wasn't the only one to come up with this idea. Back in the Second Doctor's era, they had "The Evil of the Daleks", I heard. Even before "Dalek", they had a story toying with the idea of "are the Daleks all simply Chaotic Evil? Can there be exceptions?" Very science fiction-y, come to think of it, considering that one part of science fiction is examining different ideas. Sort of one of those places where the "science" comes in) The part where the Dalek actually sees into the Doctor's soul and his memories was, again, a very powerful scene. And "Rusty" the Dalek was a very good character. The design of the interior of the Dalek was also very interesting, though from what the Doctor said in "Doomsday", I did picture it kind of like a Vader-esque prison. Sort of sealed away from the outside world, unable to really feel anything. Still, it makes sense they'd have antibodies to fight off interior threats, etc.

I also liked Clara's faith in the idea that the Dalek could possibly be saved. And I like that she turns out to be right, even if the Dalek (much to the Doctor's chagrin) ends up turning on the other Daleks. It's not as if there was much of a choice, though.

I also liked Danny Pink. He was pretty cool, from what I saw of him, and I am intrigued to know more about him as a character, and his suggested past. Considering that it's referenced that he was apparently a soldier, I'm also wondering how the Doctor's going to react to this.

As for "Robot Hood" -- well, I think the premise is intriguing. I like how it ties back in to "Deep Breath" with the matter of the Promised Land, the acting was genuinely good in this (I haven't found a single bad actor in Doctor Who, really), Robin Hood was genuinely likable here (the actor who played him did a great job playing him as the sort of romantic hero of the tale. ** I also really liked Clara in this -- in this and "Into the Dalek", she was clever, she was brave, she was funny...I already liked her quite a bit as a companion, but I'm liking her more and more by the episodes. The guy who played the Sheriff was very good as well. I liked how Robin Hood ended up living up to his legend anyway, even though he was still a copy, by coming to the Doctor's aid. I liked the humor at the beginning of the episode as well, with the Doctor and Robin's first interaction. And I liked Robin reuniting with Marian at the end, as I said, and how he, Clara and the Doctor used the golden arrow prize in order to save the day in the end.

So yeah, they were decent episodes. The Doctor's going to take me a while to get used to, but nonetheless, they were pretty decent.




* And to be fair, I guess that might have been intentional, especially from Clara's reactions. Sort of like Ten saying rude things without realizing it.

** And I agree with Clara; Robin Hood is awesome.




So overall? I recommend them. Not as much as other episodes, but I still recommend them.

Comments

[jackdavfan692.livejournal.com]

Give him time 8]. He definitely becomes less grumpy and cold as the season goes on (at least it seemed like he did to me) :). *Nods* And his remarks to Clara weren't meant to be mean, he was just teasing her, like friends do.

As to him telling Journey he wished she hadn't been a soldier, I'd say the fact that he fought in the Time War is exactly why he said that--- people often hate/don't like in others what they see in themselves. He doesn't like the fact that twice now, he's had to be a soldier--- once in the Time War, potentially for thousands & thousands of years, perhaps even millenia, and again on Trenzalore, for very nearly as long (and he essentially did that all on his own). So he projected the negative view of that part of his life (he may have accepted it, but that doesn't mean he's proud of or likes it) onto Journey and the rest of the soldiers on the ship.

Those things, Journey, and Rusty were the only ones I actually liked about "Into The Dalek". The rest of it was just very "meh" to me (it's the episode of S8 I ranked lowest & thought was the weakest)-- all the minor and supporting characters but those two were flat & one-dimensional, the pace was too fast, and the plot was too action-oriented for me. I just didn't find the episode particlarly memorable, save for the scene between the Doctor & Rusty that you mentioned :[. *Shrugs*

I liked "Deep Breath" and "Robot Of Sherwood" a lot more. I loved the character focus in the former, and the chemistry amongst the actors who played the main lead characters in the latter (the Doctor, Clara, Robin Hood, and the Sheriff) was excellent, I thought. Robin Hood wasn't the titular robot of the episode, BTW, the Sheriff was. That scene toward the end, with the hand reaching out of the vat of gold? That wasn't the last gasp, as it were, of a dying man, that was a robot starting to reactivate ;).

Glad to see someone else who likes Danny 8)! The general reaction to him, in the DW fandom, at least, has seemed to be dislike.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

First off, good to see you! *Hugs* How are you doing?

And that's definitely good, regarding Twelve. I definitely have a feeling I'll warm up to him over the course of the season. He's a very odd Doctor and definitely someone to get used to, but I think I'll warm up to him just the same.

And that definitely makes sense regarding the Doctor and Journey. I admit I didn't really think of that. Sort of like "You deserve a heck of a lot better than that." Especially from what he saw in the Time War and Trenzalore. (I mean, spending what's basically most of the rest of the Eleventh Doctor's life -- until Clara finds him again -- must have been pretty bad for him) But yeah, I will confess I liked "Deep Breath" and "Robot of Sherwood" better as well. (By the way, what would you say are the best episodes of Season Eight?)

And yes, the way the actors worked together in "Robot of Sherwood" was amazing. I really like the actor who played Robin in particular; he was pretty awesome. And the Sheriff -- you can tell that the actor was just having a lot of fun.

And oh. *Smacks self upside the head* Thanks. :) I just thought while watching the episode that it was kind of a case of everyone in the setting being a robot. But yeah, that makes sense regarding the Sheriff and why he had that strange, metallic appearance after he landed in the vat. And the outstretched hand (which was genuinely creepy).

And yeah, Danny's pretty cool, from what I saw of him so far. That sucks that he isn't really that popular in Doctor Who fandom. I didn't really see much of him except for "Into the Dalek", but he sounds intriguing.

[jackdavfan692.livejournal.com]

You too 8)! *Hugs you back* I'm good 8]. Been busy with college courses and what not myself. How are you doing?

That's the best view to have 8]. *Nods* Moffat or someone said in an interview a little while back that it wasn't until episode five or so that we'd get a good handle on Twelve's personality, so if you're okay with waiting that long (and it sounds like you are), your patience is definitely going to pay off :]. *Nods again* Unusually enough for someone who only started watching the show with the reboot, I actually didn't need to adjust to him that much, even though I thought I would. My guess is it had to do with (1) the fact that, due to reading interviews with Moffat & others, I was more or less expecting (and kind of hoping for) a grumpier, less cuddly Doctor with an older actor in the role, so I was prepared for it, I guess you could say, and (2) I'd already seen Capaldi in three other roles before he was announced as the new Doctor, and was beginning to really like him as an actor. The fact that he was convincing to me as the Doctor from his very first scene (that had never happened before) probably helped a lot, too.

Sort of, yeah. Oh, definitely. *Nods* Being stuck on a planet for a few thousand or so years, and basically single-handedly fighting a war most of the time you're there? That would be absolute Hell D=! I personally attributed this current incarnation's grumpiness, meanness, and all-around unpleasantness toward others (unless he liked and/or trusted them) to what the previous one experienced while on Trenzalore. I think basically, he (has)had a massive case of PTSD, and his behavior (is)was his way of covering that up and/or coping with it.

The best ones? Well, these are my top five, in descending order:
"Dark Water"/"Death In Heaven" (10/10)
"In The Forest Of The Night" (9.7/10)
"Listen" (9.5/10)
"Mummy On The Orient Express" (9/10)
"Flatline" (8.5/10)

He was great, wasn't he 8]? He and Capaldi really played off one another well in their scenes together. And yes, it did look like Ben Miller (that's the name of the actor who played the Sheriff) was having a blast in that role :D. No need to give yourself grief over not figuring that out. It was an understandable mistake to make :]. The reason? That episode originally aired not long after ISIS beheaded its first hostage. Out of respect for the victim's family, the BBC cut out a scene in which a character was beheaded. That character? The Sheriff. The scene went something like this: during the climatic fight between Robin and the Sheriff, the former cuts off the latter's head. You think that's the end of the Sheriff, but then, his headless body takes Clara hostage & threatens her with his (its?) sword. Robin Hood gives the Sheriff back his head, and he screws it back onto his body. When he's done doing that, he reveals that when the robot knights' ship landed, it crushed him, so they literally reconstructed most of his body.

It does. *Nods unhappily* It's all based on their perception of the writing of him. For some, he was written too flatly. Others viewed his later behavior as overly controlling. I (obviously) don't agree with either view. In the case of the former, I reacted to his first appearance in a way I hadn't since the RTD era— I got an idea of who he was as a person & connected with him on an emotional level immediately. Until that point, all of the minor/supporting characters in all three previous Moffat-run seasons had just been "there"— very little to no personality & depth to them at all, and really one-dimensional.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

*Hugs more* That's good to hear. And I'm fine. I've been busy with college and all -- mostly English and Communications, but it's been fun so far. :)

Ah, gotcha. :) And I'm pretty good with that. It definitely is a very interesting and different way in terms of how they're taking the Doctor. I admit, I haven't really watched much of Capaldi's stuff outside of Torchwood and "Fires of Pompeii". I should really get to it.

Sort of, yeah. Oh, definitely. *Nods* Being stuck on a planet for a few thousand or so years, and basically single-handedly fighting a war most of the time you're there? That would be absolute Hell D=! I personally attributed this current incarnation's grumpiness, meanness, and all-around unpleasantness toward others (unless he liked and/or trusted them) to what the previous one experienced while on Trenzalore. I think basically, he (has)had a massive case of PTSD, and his behavior (is)was his way of covering that up and/or coping with it.

That makes a lot of sense. Poor Doctor. :(

And thanks! I'm actually coming up on "Listen"; I know the preview for it at the end of "Robot of Sherwood" was really intriguing, and creepy. I can't wait to see it! And I heard that "Dark Water/Death in Heaven" is really good.

And yes, the actor who played Robin did great. As did Ben Miller. I mean, he just made a fantastic villain as the Sheriff. (The fact he was obviously having a lot of fun with that role definitely helped. I think both he and the actor who played Robin were definitely having a lot of fun. :)

And that makes a lot of sense. But yeah, I can see why they would have cut that out after the first ISIS beheading video was released. It was a good decision on their part.

I agree. There was definitely something about Danny's first appearance in "Into the Dalek" where I just really felt for him. I definitely can't wait to see more of him as a character.

[jackdavfan692.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it :). Yep, same. *Nods* My current semester, which only started two or three weeks ago, is the first one in a while in which I've been enrolled in courses for my major (it's Environmental Studies), so I think I'm really going to enjoy them 8].*Nods again*

It definitely is a very interesting and different way in terms of how they're taking the Doctor.

It is, in terms of the current iteration of the series, or New Who, as I and others call it. *Nods* From what I've read on this forum called Gallifrey Base, it sounds as if the same thing was done with the original Doctor.

That makes a lot of sense. Poor Doctor. :(

I thought so, too 8]. And yes, I know :(. *Nods*

You should, he's a very good actor :]. His acting style is very subtle, but really, really good (That's something to keep in mind, too, should you, by chance, find yourself disliking his portrayal of the Doctor, or beginning to feel like the entirety of Twelve's characterization and personality is grumpiness, meanness, and coldness. That's what's made him problematic for some in the fandom, I think— they're not used to a more subtle, somewhat restrained portrayal of the character.). That scene toward the end of "Deep Breath", when he literally pleads with Clara, "Just see me." is an excellent example of what I mean. Pay close attention to the expression on his face & the look in his eyes, and you'll see that he appears angry & profoundly hurt, all at the same time. A great moment there, I thought.

You're welcome 8)! Cool =]! As long as you don't mind a story that's purely a character piece (as, IMO, "Deep Breath" was), e.g. one with a very thin, simple plot, you'll like it 8]. It is (well, I thought it was, at least) 8]. *Nods* Characterization-wise and arc-wise (Yes, there is a bit of an arc in the season, besides Twelve finally figuring out who he is as a person.), it's very well-written. There's a big surprise in store, too (though by the time you get to watching those two episodes, you might have figured it out already) ;).

As did Ben Miller. I mean, he just made a fantastic villain as the Sheriff. (The fact he was obviously having a lot of fun with that role definitely helped. I think both he and the actor who played Robin were definitely having a lot of fun. :)

I thought so, too. *Nods* I got a very Master-y vibe from his portrayal of the Sheriff, actually.

And that makes a lot of sense. But yeah, I can see why they would have cut that out after the first ISIS beheading video was released. It was a good decision on their part.

I cried foul on them doing that at first, as it occurred in a completely different context from the ISIS video, but eventually, I wound up understanding their reasoning. What did bug me, though, was a later announcement that that scene wouldn't be added back in on the DVD release. I just couldn't figure out their reasoning behind doing that. Even making it an extra would have been fine with me. What's done is done, though. Nothing to do about it now :]. *Shrugs*

You'll definitely like Danny a lot by the time you get around to watching "Dark Water"/"Death In Heaven" 8]. *Nods*