Doctor Who 2x01 - New Earth

[jetpack_monkey]

Okay, Tennant can stay.

I wasn't terribly fond of 10 in The Christmas Invasion, but who could blame me? It was a lackluster episode. Now that we're starting to get a feel for what he's really like, I'm fond. I'm not Eccleston-fond, but that was borderline-obsession and Tennant should be gratified.

"New Earth", being a season premiere, is of course setting up whatever underlying arc is going to be informing the other 12 episodes. The Face of Boh is up to something (and hey - Boh talks! And he doesn't look a day over 500,000! Get it? Boh-talks? Yeeeee), and I like it! Woo.

Of course, it also meant there was way too much going on. Cassandra, Boh, Cat People, Disease People... Russell T. Davies manages to keep it going apace, though. Rose and 10 seem to have much sparkier chemistry than she and 9, but I'm still holding firm to her still being slightly traumatized, dammit. I'm hoping Jack shows up later in the season (yes, I know Torchwood, but dammit - he should) and smacks her upside the head a little. Girl needs to take some time and deal. Seriously.

On one hand, most of the stuff popping out of 10's mouth could have easily been said by 9, but the tone would have been different. 9 may have been full of himself in a cheeky way, but 10 is full of himself in a deadly serious way. When he says that the authority doesn't go any higher than him, he means it. That's going to get him into some trouble. For the moment, though, it works out. He's also an ADD goofball the rest of the time, though, so there's a balance. It's a far more MPD balance, but it's a balance.

Billie had a heyday acting out two parts this time. She really pulled it off, and I give her kudos. I can even forgive her for the pop career. Almost.

The disinfectant solution was a bit silly. He happened to have every single cure right there in the same ward? Sure, why not? Good to see him in giddy, "Everybody lives!" mode, though. This Doctor's a little more universally aware -- 9 would've been happy that he could save everybody. 10 is much more concerned with the possibilities of the new species. 9 was hanging on to whatever thread of life he could. 10 ... 10 has hope for a continuing, evolving future.

Should be fun.

Comments

[mara-sho.livejournal.com]

I love the way the episode handled - it wasn't great, three were some seriously dodgy points in it, but overall it was a good season start. I think it served to highlight what kind of Doctor 10 will be a lot better that TCI did. The manicness Eccleston brought to the role is now a kind of giddy awareness - and dark. The hints at darkness in Tennant's portrayal bode will for the rest of the season, I think.

Jack will be back... in season three apparently. :)

And I'm intrigued, did some of the jokes translate? "Oh my God! I'm a Chav!" Does that make sense outside of the UK, or is it a case of getting it from the context?

(and yes, Tennant can definitely stay)

[jetpack-monkey.livejournal.com]

I got the chav from context. She was unhappy with her body or somesuch. I assumed it was a weight thing, which makes sense for our lady of the thin Cassandra.

Season 3? Aw... It was impossible enough waiting for Season 2...

[mara-sho.livejournal.com]

Chav is actually a description of a specific subculture (which in Scotland we've been calling "Ned" for a lot longer than the Chav name has been in use for). I guess the closest American connection would be the "poor white trash" label to be honest. Here's the Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavs).

Hopefully we'll have Torchwood before season three, so there will some Cap'n Jack before too much longer...

[jetpack-monkey.livejournal.com]

Ah, well. Color me culturally lobotomized. Thanks for the heads-up. I wonder if they'll overdub or cut that line for the Sci-Fi showing...

I believe Torchwood should be coming in the Autumn. I look forward to it.

[booster17.livejournal.com]

Listened to the commentary track yet? RTD mentions that he's still writing the Doctor, so to speak, but the way it's delivered by Ten is the difference. And, I suspect, will influence the writing in the future. Interestingly, the first draft had the Doc mixing up the mixture to kill them all off, until RTD read something by Steven Moffat.

And I too, get the impression that we're heading for a fall sometime soon. Personally, I reckon the Cyberman/parallel earth story looks like the perfect spot for that.

[jetpack-monkey.livejournal.com]

Much better ending, RTD. The man has a violent, vicious streak to him, and no doubt about it. Yay for Moffat.

Cybermen? Parallel Earth? Oooooh. Also *aaaaaagh! Spoilers!*

[booster17.livejournal.com]

Sorry for that inadvertant spoiler, btw. Just how much do you know about the season?

[jetpack-monkey.livejournal.com]

Cybermen, yes. Parallel Earth, no.

I also know about the familiar new Companion coming on board after next ep.

[booster17.livejournal.com]

*blink blink blink*

coming on board? I knew about the person in question, but I didn't know that. Spoiler count : one all.

[jetpack-monkey.livejournal.com]

It may not be who you think, unless we're both referring to a male character.

[booster17.livejournal.com]

Oh, him. Yeah, that wasn't who I was thinking of from your comment. *slaps self* I suspected you meant the small, shiny one.

[bellatemple]

Just caught up with the whole series (as in, like, spent all of last week downloading and watching season one and snagged 2x01 today and immediately watched it). Have to say? Soooooooooooo much good.

I don't think TCI gave 10 enough of a chance to set himself up properly in the doctory position, just because he spent so very much of it just lying about. So this episode really was the first chance to get a look at what this new doctor would be like. And I for one rather like it.

Though, yes, I will be missing 9's cheeky cheer.

[qkellie.livejournal.com]

I loved so very much, although I agree that the chemistry is abrupt and strange and totally "Davies" the fic I'm writing, wherein the chemistry is much more cautious, due to my thinkint that Rose would, for a while, still be all "Dude, what the hell, I'm having issues about him being all different-like!" Maybe more time passed in between TCI and NE than was clear to the audience?