Doctor Who 7x01 (and some Pretty Little Liars)

[gwaevalarin]

So, new series of Doctor Who. I wasn't as blown away by the episode as everyone else seems to be. It was okay, but I don't think it was brilliant.

Let's start with the good stuff: How amazing was Oswin? ♥
Jenna-Louise Coleman made me fall in love with her character within seconds. And that scene when she realised what was going on... that was some beautiful and heartbreaking acting.
I wonder how this will work out with her being the new companion. My guess right now is that the Doctor will meet a younger version of her. It would explain that she had fought the Daleks before. Was there any realy hint whether she did or did not recognise the Doctor? This theory feels a bit like River all over again, but what are the alternatives? She survived and... what? She'll be turned back somehow? Jenna will play another character, a relative? Oswin's mother who was once mentioned briefly?
Well, whatever it is, I hope she won't change too much because I feel that Oswin will/would be able to challange the Doctor as a companion. And I'd love to see that.

Then what was wrong with the episode? Two things, mainly:

1) I saw the plot twist coming. Not in this exact way but... It happened to everyone, so of course it happened to Oswin too. That plus the hints that there was something off. I mean, I expected the Dalek eye thing not THIS, so there was still some surprise but not too much. Am I really the only one?

2) I realised that I really, really dislike Amy. I was never quite sure how I feel about her, now I am. I think it's a bit like Rose all over again. I liked her at first, but the longer it went on, the more she started to annoy me. It's mostly the way she treats Rory, I think. Not just this episode, but this episode in particular.
I get that it's tough when you and your partner both want children but you can't - though, erm... what about Melody? - and I get that you may not able to talk about it, and that it can destroy your relationship. That's all makes for a perfectly tragic storyline.
My problem with the way it played out is that Amy decided that she knew what Rory wanted most, what was best for him. And then when it came out, I was supposed to feel for her because she sacrificed everything? Because she broke his heart out of love? I'm sorry but no. I find this sort of behaviour extremely horrible and selfish in a twisted way that actually makes it worse than "honest" selfishness. Being selfish, or not rational, or even hurtful to the people you love is part of being human. It's not pretty but it's okay. As long as you don't try to twist it around and try to turn yourself into the poor, selfless victim.
That, by the way, is also one of the main reasons I don't like Dean anymore.
I'm not saying that any of them are bad people. I'm just pretty allergic to that sort of behaviour. And every time it comes up I think back to Sarah Blake calling Sam out on it and remember why I like her so much, but I'm getting completely off topic now.

Bottom line, I'm so ready for a new companion which is a shame, because I want to be heartbroken over losing the current one. It's part of the experience, but I very much doubt I will be this time. Even more so now that I know the next companion's potential.


By the way, I'm all caught up with Pretty Little Liars, just in time for the mid-season hiatus. I'm still debating whether or not to write an entry about the big reveAl. But I'm not sure I really want to think about it. So let's just say that my heart is broken, that I'm praying that it's not what it looks like, and that sometimes there are characters I just refuse to give up on. This is one of those times.
Seriously, this show was supposed to be some fun entertainment to get me through the summer hiatus. I did not expect these feels.

Comments

[katwoman76.livejournal.com]

It's mostly the way she treats Rory
Not just in the way you mentioned above, but what really annoys me is the way she makes googly eyes at the Doctor all the time. I mean, really? She has this great guy with Rory and claims to love him that much, but at the same time it always feels like she would leave him in a second, if the Doctor would give her the time of the day as more than just a companion. That annoys the hell out of me.
So yeah, switching Amy for a new companion wouldn't bother me, although I would be sad to see Rory go.

I totally agree with the love for Oswin. And as much as I expected what happened to her, it was still so sad to see her realize what was going on. Since I don't read spoilers, I didn't know about the companion thing. Wonder how that will turn out. Guess we have to wait and see.

[gwaevalarin.livejournal.com]

Yes, that too. And again, it's not that she may have feelings for the Doctor as well, it's the way she acts about it. She knows how insecure Rory is when it comes to their relationship. Or if she doesn't she is not paying any attention to him at all. It has been brought up so often. And still she can't at least try to be a little more tactful? Telling Rory that she only loves him, and acting like he's stupid for doubting that, just to turn around and swoon over the Doctor again is certainly not helping.
But yeah, I will be sad to see Rory go as well.

Sorry about the companion thing. I hope I didn't spoil too much.

[katwoman76.livejournal.com]

No worries. I don't care about spoilers for Doctor Who, so it didn't matter for me.

[shaitanah.livejournal.com]

I realised that I really, really dislike Amy. OMG, I'm not the only one! <333 Everywhere I turn, ppl fangirl her so hard. T_T I agree with all the points you made about her.

[gwaevalarin.livejournal.com]

That's probably the reason why it took me so long to figure out how I feel about her. Everyone seems to love her, and I just went from "I guess she's okay." to "I'm not sure? Is she really?" and now finally to "Nope, looking forward to seeing her go."

[shaitanah.livejournal.com]

Same here. I thought she was more or less all right in the first couple of eps but she kept spiralling down and I genuinely can't understand why ppl love her so much. Esp. those who yell about sucky female representation in every tv-series. Well, Amy is that sucky representation!

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

What you said about Amy. Although I still like her because I kind of like it when my characters are dicks (*cough*Dean*cough*) but that's only because I SEE her actions as dickish and kinda silly. This is, however, predominately a kids' show and it was presented like Amy was a martyr and... I think kids will be confused...

Also, it was a bit daft to set up a break up all the way to DIVORCE and then fix it IMMEDIATELY in the same episode...

IDK. Issues with DW lately. I still actually really enjoyed the episode... but DW's something I watch v. casually now. If I were to invest in it, like I do with SPN, I suspect I'd see more and more flaws... which SUCKS because I've generally really really ENJOYED Moffat's writing...

And that's not even getting into the issues of misogyny in Moffat's writing that, the more I hear about it, the more evidence keeps piling up :( I never ever thought I'd miss RTD, and I STILL think Moffat's writing is better narrative-wise but... I'm UNEASY about Moffat's stories now in a way I never was with RTD's *sigh*

[gwaevalarin.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with characters being dickish as long as their show acknowledges that fact, which is something neither Doctor Who nor Supernatural does. It probably is more problematic with DW because it's a kid's - or at least family - show. It doesn't seem that it's only the kids who are confused though.

I still enjoy DW, and usually I just look past the issues. I guess it just was a bit too much this episode. It's weird because Moffatt was my very favourite DW writer back in the RTD era, and, like you, I still believe he is the better writer narative-wise. I also enjoy Matt Smith's version of the Doctor a lot. But ever since Moffatt took over the show lacks... soul?

But I don't really want to complain about the show in general. It's still a great show, just different, and I still love it. I just really hope for the next companion and that maybe this will solve the main problems for me.

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with characters being dickish as long as their show acknowledges that fact, which is something neither Doctor Who nor Supernatural does

I think SPN acknowledges it fine - but we've had this conversation before :p

I'm slightly more lenient on the issue anyway too. Because I don't even need a show to outright acknowledge a character is a dick - sometimes the lack of acknowledgement is the POINT of the story and the audience is SUPPOSED to figure it out on their own (eg. Lolita - Humbert Humbert is presented as sympathetic and no one outright calls him a pervert or anything, you're supposed to realise it from his actions). So for me, I just need a dickish character NOT to be clearly labelled as a hero/saint.

With Amy though, I think the episode was trying to actively imply she was in the right... which I don't think she was... but IDK. Maybe it wasn't implying that any more than SPN implies that about Sam and Dean so... maybe it's okay.

As to lacking soul... maybe. But then I think Rusty OVERDID the 'soul' to the point of being emo and melodramatic.

Guess I just can't win with this one :p

We will both have to see what a new companion brings to the series :)