jadesfire: Bright yellow flower (Eek! - Donna No!)
[personal profile] jadesfire
I should start this by saying that if I'm slightly incoherent, it's because podcasts are bad for my body clock. Since the age of about 12, I've been setting my body clock by Radio 4, and can tell the time just by what programme's on. So listening to 'The News Quiz' (seriously hilarious - download it just for the bit near the end about the sharks) after Doctor Who completely threw me. According to my internal clock, it's now just gone 7 on a Friday night. These things really mess with my head.

Anyway



[this ended up cut short as my stomach has decided it hates me - I shall just wander round and comment to everyone else tomorrow instead...]

There is not enough squee in the world to express how happy I am that Stephen Moffat is taking over Doctor Who. I was listening to the podcast commentary on "The Unicorn and the Wasp" and the writer of that was saying that the guy just has a twist of the brain that makes him think completely differently to most people. Fortunately for us, the twist makes him an incredibly horror writer.

I should also add that I don't like horror films, because I have an incredibly weak stomach and visuals stay with me and I still have nightmares just from movie posters, let alone the actual thing. But because the horror in Moffat's writing mostly takes place in my own head anyway, I can cope - without the visual, I'm left with the exciting horror feeling, rather than the squicked-out-ness.

But that doesn't mean that Moffat doesn't have an incredible instinct for what will be visually terrifying, if remarkably simple. Making the ordinary into the scary has always been a strength of Doctor Who, and this was no exception. In the interests of full disclosure, I need to add that I still have something of a fear of the dark, and if my husband would let me, I'd sleep with a night-light. Nightmares like me, and my tiger-face night-light was a great comfort during university. Anyway, that means that this episode pretty much pushed every button I had, in terms of fear.

And I loved it. Because at the heart of the fear is the Doctor, and you know that he's going to make everything alright. Still, Moffat does a better job than most of suggesting to me that maybe it won't be, of making me start to think that maybe the Doctor can't fix this. Most of the time, I can see the resolution coming a mile off, but with Moffat, I never know what's going to happen until I get there. And I love it.

I could go through the whole episode and talk about the acting (excellent), the story (mysterious), the set (gorgeous), the tension (unbearable) but what struck me most about this episode was the pacing and structure. It was the perfect mixture of being launched straight into the middle of the story and only learning things gradually as we go along. Each reveal really worked, and I was actually relieved when I realised it was a two-parter, because I was wondering how on earth they were going to resolve everything in time. Yes, two-parters are mean, but at least this had a story that could sustain it.

Finally, since I'm getting tired and rambly I thought Alex Kingston was fantastic, and the whole thing with her was suitably mysterious and suggestive. Does anyone know where I can get a diary like that?

Roll on next Saturday!

Yes, two-parters are mean

Date: 2008-05-31 09:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] apiphile.livejournal.com
Two-parters are GENIUS. I demand more of them. They're what I loved best about OldWho - the cliff-hangers. The desperation to get to next week and find out what happens, the sense of suspense. I fair shat myself with joy over The Empty Child when I realised it wasn't just going to be resolved in one episode.

Re: Yes, two-parters are mean

Date: 2008-05-31 10:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
They really are awesome, and Moffat always gets the pacing so spot on. There's always time to build up the atmosphere, but every scene moves the story forwards. And I should have mentioned something about the direction of this, because especially with the dumb-non-blonde (whose name escapes me), you're waiting for something to happen, but you still jump when it does. Fantastic stuff.

There's going to be a lot of people jumping at shadows this week!

Re: Yes, two-parters are mean

Date: 2008-05-31 10:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] apiphile.livejournal.com
Moffat is of the Roald Dahl mould when it comes to making the innocuous terrifying, isn't he? The Boy and I were discussing this at the time - now everyone's going to be as scared of the double-shadow under streetlamps as they became of statues after Blink and the phrase are you my Mummy?. Brilliant man. I am so GLAD he's taking the reins next.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-05-31 09:54 pm (UTC)
hllangel: Puppy with a stick. (Weeping Angel)
From: [personal profile] hllangel
I'm with you, I'm so excited that Stephen Moffat will be taking over RTD's role with Doctor who, because he is absolutely brilliant. Even if he does have a bit of a thing for the 51st century. Not that I'm complaining, mind.

Tonight's episode was brilliant. Seriously brilliant. I believe we saw a future companion/love interest for the Doctor, as she obviously knows a lot more about him than any of the new companions (not to mention she knows about Donna, and that there is probably something really bad about to happen for her - damn it, I love Donna)

Tiny little Jack reference (Squareness gun) which always makes me happy.

I could go on, and I can't WAIT for next week to see how the hell they're going to get out of this.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-05-31 10:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
I thought River made a great foil for the Doctor - not too brilliant, willing to let him lead (thereby avoiding Mary Sue territory) but funny and laid back and altogether a great female version of Jack. 51st century, squareness gun, "I don't fancy you" - so very Jack. I hope they meet. There may be some kind of explosion :)

I fear for Donna too, especially since she seemed a little shaky to me at the beginning of this. Catherine Tate does comedy and high emotion very well, but she seemed to be struggling a bit with suspense. Still, minor detail in a great performance.

Is it next Saturday yet?

Also, I'm so very shallow, but how much do I want icons from the episode? *throws arms wide* THIS MUCH!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-05-31 10:11 pm (UTC)
hllangel: Puppy with a stick. (Default)
From: [personal profile] hllangel
What do you want an icon of, specifically? I'll do my best to make you one.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-05-31 10:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
That's so kind of you! Thank you :) Hmmm...do you know, I'm not sure. I'm going to go through every icon post that goes up over the next few days, though. One of the Doctor and Donna looking suspiciously at the books (from right near the beginning) would be awesome, maybe with 'beware of the books' on it.

Don't worry if you can't - I shall do my usual and go through and save far more icons than I can use, just in case, once people start posting them :D

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 06:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
*claps happily*

Oh that's perfect, just what I had in mind - thank you so much!

*bounce*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-05-31 10:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com
sorry you aren't feeling well! *hugs gently*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-05-31 10:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Thanks hon - I rarely get stomach aches, but when I do, they really lay me out. Meep.

*hugs weakly back*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 02:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] taffimai.livejournal.com
*hugs*

Surely Who will start selling the TARDIS!diaries. Surely.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 07:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
I so hope so - it's definitely going on my birthday list :D

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 07:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] entangled-now.livejournal.com
I agree with you completely about Stephen Moffat, he not only makes you love his episodes he makes you want to see the episodes again. I absolutely adore the spooky ones. They are my absolute favourite episodes whether they be two-parters or one-shots. And Moffat's variation on sci-fi ghost stories are always just so delicious!

And yes, I really loved the first part of last night's episode, (though I can't remember what it's called either?)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 07:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
I'm not normally one for wanting to be scared, but Moffat does it so perfectly, it's impossible to resist. :D I can remember that it's called 'silence in the library', I just can't count...

BTW (and somewhat randomly) would you give me permission to record one of your stories as an audiofic? I've been re-reading 'Dead Again' and think I could make a decent go at it. No problem if not, but I figure there's no harm in asking :)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 08:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] entangled-now.livejournal.com
You can tell when I like episodes because I tend to gush while making no sense at all! And I forgot to mention that Alex Kingston was fabulous too!

No problem at all, feel free to take anything of mine you'd like to turn into audiofic. You do a great job at it! :D

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 09:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crystalshard.livejournal.com
I thought it was brilliant. Especially the 'dust in sunlight' line, which really gave me a visual on it. I got scared, even though I've never been scared of the dark - I think it's that I've always considered something you can see as something you can fight. But in the dark, you can't see anything.

I really want to know where Donna and the rest of the 4000-odd are. I strongly suspect that they're trapped in the teleport buffer, intact. After all, the machine only needs a model - the robot-things pick any face that they think the watcher will like, so it's not as if the face has been physically transplanted.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-02 10:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
It was those kinds of little details, like the dust in the air, that really make episodes like this. I honestly can't guess what's going to happen next, and that's what makes these episodes such a joy. For once, I'm happy just to sit back and be terrified out of my wits :D

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 10:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miss-zedem.livejournal.com
Most of the time, I can see the resolution coming a mile off, but with Moffat, I never know what's going to happen until I get there. *nods* That's what I love about his writing - there's no obvious way out. And there's no obvious way to tie all the strands of plot together - what does the little girl have to do with the library? Why does River know the Doc? Why doesn't the Doc know her? Where is everyone? How does the psychiatrist fit into it?

I'm worried for Donna, cos River doesn't know her, only by name. Her reaction when she worked out who Donna was made me very worried about Donna's future.

(I've seen a theory, btw, that River is Jack, in female form, which is just cracky and funny and I'd dearly love it to be true)

But overall, win! I can't wait to see what happens next week.

Hope you're feeling better this morning, chicken *hugs*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-02 10:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
The threads are awesome - they don't seem to be linked in any way, and yet you know it's all going to make sense in the end. Although like you, I'm getting seriously scared for Donna.

(hee, that's an awesome theory - I can haz crackfic? Or at least a story where they meet, because there's bound to be some kind of explosion...)

I'm...well...things go on as usual, unfortunately. Roll on the holiday!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-01 08:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] joanna-may.livejournal.com
I really liked this episode too, and I join your excitement that Miffat is taking over Who. Maybe he can bring back Martha and give her a decent episode? Just the one, I wouldn't complain. Moffat is definitely one of my favourite writers, along with Paul Cornell. I cant wait to see the back of Davies.

The episode was a little bit too much like Blink for me to ADORE it, but I definitely loved it a lot. I'm dying to know why River Song is, I'm thinking a companion from the Doctor's future. Sending the message on the psychic paper makes me think that she's probably not human, since the only other "person" able to communicate like that was the Face of Boe (I think?)

I want a TARDIS diary too! Doctor who has the best props. I'm still lusting after The Journal of Impossible Things from Human Nature! x

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-02 10:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
I've enjoyed some of RTD's stuff, but Moffat brings so much intelligence to the plots, without ever being patronising, that it just works somehow.

Ooh, that's such a good point about the Face of Boe. There are 51st century links and references ahoy in this one, and other references elsewhere this series. Things are definitely getting interesting...

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-02 03:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com
Since the age of about 12, I've been setting my body clock by Radio 4, and can tell the time just by what programme's on.

Aw. I've been been measuring weekend time by NPR programs since childhood! It was really weird when I figured out I could download This American Life and listen to it anytime, but I still *have* to listen to A Prairie Home Companion live on Saturday evenings when I'm home, otherwise it doesn't feel like Saturday evening.

My new Friday night ritual, though, is making pizza and listening to the BBC News Quiz as soon as the podcast is available. The bit with the sharks and the giraffe was hilarious!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-02 10:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jadesfire2808.livejournal.com
Hee. We listened to the News Quiz again last night in the car, and I nearly killed myself laughing, even the second time through - good job I wasn't driving!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-03 09:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mad-jaks.livejournal.com
Does anyone know where I can get a diary like that?
One will appear on the shop shelves at the same time as River Song's action figure I expect (so in time for Christmas??) and it will be aimed at 12 year olds... *grumbles*

The News Quiz
It was the one with someone having to borrow Sandi's glasses the other week and the hilarity that ensued cracked me up *G*