yet more rambly thoughts on "Death of the Doctor"

[dbskyler]

I've re-watched "Death of the Doctor" about 507 times now (to name a number), and I still absolutely love it. However, I do have to say that Gareth Roberts delivered a better script in "The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith," as that was indisputably an SJA episode that also happened to have the Doctor in it, while this felt a lot more like a Doctor Who episode that also happened to have the SJA cast in it.

But what can I say, I love it all the same. In fact, I think I like it even better, if only because Sarah and the Doctor got to actually interact this time, at least a little bit. I still laugh at the "ventilation shaft, that takes me back," line, every single time. The Doctor just seems so gleeful, and then Sarah gives him this look and it's priceless.

By the way, a random thought -- remember how there was all that talk after "School Reunion" on how Sarah didn't seem to remember "The Five Doctors?" Well, we have more of the same here, as the Doctor's exhortation to remember "every face, every madman, every Doctor, every me" failed to turn up a hint of Peter Davison, and at the end Sarah says she "can't be sure" about Tegan even though they've actually met! So now I wonder: did the Time Lords (or Rassilon) erase Sarah's memory, or is "The Five Doctors" not considered part of canon?

Finally, there's one word in the Doctor's speech through the door that I can't quite catch. Can anyone help fill it in? Here's what I have:

I want you to remember, every single day with me, every single second. Because your memories are more powerful than anything else on this planet. Just think of it, Sarah, remember it, Jo, but properly; properly. Give the memory weave everything, every planet, every face, every madman, every [____?____], every sunset, every scent, every terror, every joy. Every Doctor. Every me.

Even with the missing word, isn't that an awesome speech? I really love Matt Smith's delivery, too.

Comments

[clocketpatch]

I want you to remember, every single day with me, every single second. Because your memories are more powerful than anything else on this planet. Just think of it, Sarah, remember it, Jo, but properly; properly. Give the memory weave everything, every planet, every face, every madman, every loss, every sunset, every scent, every terror, every joy. Every Doctor. Every me.

And damn, Eleven isn't half bad with the really stirring speeches and quotables is he? (Except maybe for that awful stone henge speech... that one makes me cringe a bit every time)

But even so. I love him far too much and more than I thought I would.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for the missing word! And yes, Eleven can really deliver a stirring speech. He's very quickly become one of my all-time favorite Doctors.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could bear to watch it once more, let alone 507 (or any other number) of times... I'd sooner punt naked through Oxford! :(

[tempestas-inu.livejournal.com]

I banged my head into the table and then burst out laughing when I read you used the "507" number here XD

I'd have to agree that the Wedding Episode was more sound in terms of story (and for better or worse, RTD fell to a few of his usual devices, and I STILL WANTED MY HUG), but I really did enjoy this episode. Like you said, this episode felt more like a Doctor Who/SJA crossover episode or something. I think part of the difference deals with the fact Wedding episode was that the Doctor didn't necessarily have to be there for that plot to occur, whereas this episode was ABOUT the Doctor (well, enough to have his name in the title).

About the Five Doctors, what's interesting was that in the Madwoman in the Attic, there was a clip from the Five Doctors in there, with her and K9. Maybe it was just overlooked by the people who put it there? Also, I've never seen the episode but maybe the clip was from a part in the episode prior to when Sarah was taken to the death zone? so it's like, the part when she went to the death zone she forgot, but it still happened? I don't know.

Matt is good a delivering very believable speeches as the Doctor, I really liked that one. Also, I'm noticing a memory theme with his Doctor.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Yes, there were the usual RTD plot holes, although for some reason they didn't bother me this time out. In fact, I thought it was a reasonably coherent script, as at least the sequence of events made sense even if the explanations were a little dodgy. I was more bugged by the fact that Sarah didn't do much in the episode. Her only contributions to the resolution of the plot were a) realizing that the Doctor was alive, and b) having a sonic lipstick. And since the Doctor would've made it to Earth whether or not anyone knew he was alive, really her only substantive contribution was b). And that just doesn't seem right for an SJA episode. The teens fared a little better as they were the ones who figured out that the funeral was a trap, but they too were sidelined once the Doctor showed up. Overall it was the Doctor who solved everything and drove most of the action, just like in a Doctor Who episode.

On the other hand, I like Doctor Who episodes . . . ; )

in the Madwoman in the Attic, there was a clip from the Five Doctors in there, with her and K9.

I don't remember that, but I do remember "The Five Doctors" and you're right, the scene with K-9 happened before Sarah got taken to the death zone, so it's conceivable she would remember that part. Although I suspect that the people who put it in the episode weren't being that thoughtful about it and were just looking for a good K-9 clip.

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Hmm - you're quite right about it feeling more DW than SJA - I think it might have something to do with Jo's return AND having the Doctor: they've managed an old companion before well and they've managed having the Doctor on before well, but that was each element separately. Having both of them together turns it into a DW reunion in a way, which would mean more dominant Doctor.

Well, and possibly Rusty missed writing the Doctor. But I'm not going to grudge him that (I know - you're shocked! :D) especially as this was such a brilliant episode! And I agree, I quite liked Eleven's speech there. Actually, I quite liked Eleven there - refreshing! :D

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Yay for liking Eleven! And Matt Smith is really amazing, because even with lines like Katy's "what, into a baby?" he doesn't look young to me; he just looks like the Doctor. Even with the huge real-life age difference, I have no trouble at all imagining that he's older than Sarah and Jo by hundreds of years.