Wedding of SJS reaction post
Oct. 31st, 2009 02:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dbskylerAnd here we go:
I loved this episode. Seriously, seriously loved it. And the more I think it over, the more impressed I am with how well-written it was. Not to say that it was perfect, or that I wouldn't've written things a little differently (what, no Doctor/Sarah hug, Roberts?), but given what this story had to accomplish and the amount of time it had, I'm just really very impressed.
First, the Doctor. It was so great to see him, and so much fun to watch him interact with the SJA gang. The writing challenge here was to have the Doctor show up, and be the Doctor, while not letting him overshadow Sarah and the rest of the SJA regulars on what is their show, not his. Much as I yearned for more Doctor/Sarah screen time, I have to concede that the solution of separating them for much of the episode was the best way to go. I also liked how Clyde got to take on the Trickster -- go Clyde! -- and how the ultimate defeat of the Trickster was due to Sarah rather than the Doctor. On the other hand, the story still served the Doctor well, letting us re-visit some of our favorite catchphrases ("allons-y," "brilliant" and "I'm so sorry" all made their appearance) and behaviors (being self-congratulatory, making promises of getting everyone out, saying things like "no no no no no" and "Lukey-boy," scanning with the sonic screwdriver, being the stern Time Lord in a showdown with the villain and getting all angsty). We even got a little foreshadowing of the regeneration that we all know is coming soon. Apparently with a gate.
Plotwise, I was surprised that it turned out that Peter was not a villain and that Sarah had not been under any sort of mind control during the courtship or when she agreed to marry him. It feels a little like a stretch for the character, but on the other hand the ending of the episode was much more emotionally resonant because of it, so again I have to say that ultimately it was a great choice to have made. And I can make it work by remembering that Sarah is not that experienced with romantic relationships, so could well be swept off her feet, and that the Trickster went searching for Sarah's perfect match, so it's not so much of a coincidence that they met and fell in love so quickly. And Peter proved himself to be a great match for Sarah in the end by sharing her values and putting the fate of the world ahead of his own personal life and happiness. Even the Trickster was unsurprised that he wanted to make that choice; only surprised that he had the strength to do so.
There were so many wonderful moments throughout. In part one, the sound of the TARDIS trying to break through; the alien creature bought from eBay (how great was that?); everyone being so nosy about Sarah's boyfriend (loved Gita especially, but then I always love Gita); K-9 going after the alien while saying "all is normal" to Peter; and of course, the look on the Doctor's face as he rushed into the hall and yelled "Stop this wedding now!!!!" In part two I especially loved all the Doctor's interactions with the teens, the way he greeted K-9, and his confrontation with the Trickster; and my heart broke for Sarah, especially after the canceled wedding when she was sitting there in her non-wedding clothes looking so forlorn. The Doctor showing up to say goodbye was great, and so was the part where the teens got to see the inside of the TARDIS. And hey, was it my imagination, or did it look like the Doctor was willing to go along with their suggestion of a trip until Sarah shot it down? The look on his face when Sarah mentioned being grounded by the Judoon was priceless, though, and I also loved Sarah's "don't touch anything" admonition. Then the Doctor and Sarah's last interaction stabbed me through the heart, but I'll come to that in a minute.
Classic Who references: I'm not even sure if I got them all, but let's see what I can list. There was Sarah joking about sending the Doctor's wedding invitation to Metebelis 3. There was Rani saying how they were all Sarah's best friends. There was the Trickster mentioning the Key to Time. And there was the "don't forget me" moment at the end. (I'm a little embarrassed at how much that is still getting to me; what can I say, that original "don't forget me" exchange from the end of "Hand of Fear" is one of my top Doctor Who moments ever. Hell, it's one of my top television moments ever, and it stabbed my heart when I was an adolescent and it's never let me go since.)
Doctor/Sarah moments: We were a little short on these given the (justifiable) structure of the story, but there were still enough to make my inner Doctor/Sarah shipper go squee: "Any friend of Sarah Jane Smith is a friend of mine." The Doctor's fierce, Sarah-protective dialogue like "Stop this wedding now!" and "What do you want with her?" Sarah's "You came all that way. For me," and the Doctor's response of "You're so important. Not just to me." (Pardon me while I melt.) "Is this the last time I'm ever going to see you?" "I don't know. I hope not." (Melting some more.) "Don't forget me, Sarah Jane." (Stab to the heart, stab stab stab!!)
But I do have to say that there was one glaring omission, and that was Ten and Sarah's goodbye kiss hug. Because it did seem very strange for Sarah to just walk out like that without one. But other than that, I can't fault any of the story decisions that were made, and I really enjoyed it. A lot.
I loved this episode. Seriously, seriously loved it. And the more I think it over, the more impressed I am with how well-written it was. Not to say that it was perfect, or that I wouldn't've written things a little differently (what, no Doctor/Sarah hug, Roberts?), but given what this story had to accomplish and the amount of time it had, I'm just really very impressed.
First, the Doctor. It was so great to see him, and so much fun to watch him interact with the SJA gang. The writing challenge here was to have the Doctor show up, and be the Doctor, while not letting him overshadow Sarah and the rest of the SJA regulars on what is their show, not his. Much as I yearned for more Doctor/Sarah screen time, I have to concede that the solution of separating them for much of the episode was the best way to go. I also liked how Clyde got to take on the Trickster -- go Clyde! -- and how the ultimate defeat of the Trickster was due to Sarah rather than the Doctor. On the other hand, the story still served the Doctor well, letting us re-visit some of our favorite catchphrases ("allons-y," "brilliant" and "I'm so sorry" all made their appearance) and behaviors (being self-congratulatory, making promises of getting everyone out, saying things like "no no no no no" and "Lukey-boy," scanning with the sonic screwdriver, being the stern Time Lord in a showdown with the villain and getting all angsty). We even got a little foreshadowing of the regeneration that we all know is coming soon. Apparently with a gate.
Plotwise, I was surprised that it turned out that Peter was not a villain and that Sarah had not been under any sort of mind control during the courtship or when she agreed to marry him. It feels a little like a stretch for the character, but on the other hand the ending of the episode was much more emotionally resonant because of it, so again I have to say that ultimately it was a great choice to have made. And I can make it work by remembering that Sarah is not that experienced with romantic relationships, so could well be swept off her feet, and that the Trickster went searching for Sarah's perfect match, so it's not so much of a coincidence that they met and fell in love so quickly. And Peter proved himself to be a great match for Sarah in the end by sharing her values and putting the fate of the world ahead of his own personal life and happiness. Even the Trickster was unsurprised that he wanted to make that choice; only surprised that he had the strength to do so.
There were so many wonderful moments throughout. In part one, the sound of the TARDIS trying to break through; the alien creature bought from eBay (how great was that?); everyone being so nosy about Sarah's boyfriend (loved Gita especially, but then I always love Gita); K-9 going after the alien while saying "all is normal" to Peter; and of course, the look on the Doctor's face as he rushed into the hall and yelled "Stop this wedding now!!!!" In part two I especially loved all the Doctor's interactions with the teens, the way he greeted K-9, and his confrontation with the Trickster; and my heart broke for Sarah, especially after the canceled wedding when she was sitting there in her non-wedding clothes looking so forlorn. The Doctor showing up to say goodbye was great, and so was the part where the teens got to see the inside of the TARDIS. And hey, was it my imagination, or did it look like the Doctor was willing to go along with their suggestion of a trip until Sarah shot it down? The look on his face when Sarah mentioned being grounded by the Judoon was priceless, though, and I also loved Sarah's "don't touch anything" admonition. Then the Doctor and Sarah's last interaction stabbed me through the heart, but I'll come to that in a minute.
Classic Who references: I'm not even sure if I got them all, but let's see what I can list. There was Sarah joking about sending the Doctor's wedding invitation to Metebelis 3. There was Rani saying how they were all Sarah's best friends. There was the Trickster mentioning the Key to Time. And there was the "don't forget me" moment at the end. (I'm a little embarrassed at how much that is still getting to me; what can I say, that original "don't forget me" exchange from the end of "Hand of Fear" is one of my top Doctor Who moments ever. Hell, it's one of my top television moments ever, and it stabbed my heart when I was an adolescent and it's never let me go since.)
Doctor/Sarah moments: We were a little short on these given the (justifiable) structure of the story, but there were still enough to make my inner Doctor/Sarah shipper go squee: "Any friend of Sarah Jane Smith is a friend of mine." The Doctor's fierce, Sarah-protective dialogue like "Stop this wedding now!" and "What do you want with her?" Sarah's "You came all that way. For me," and the Doctor's response of "You're so important. Not just to me." (Pardon me while I melt.) "Is this the last time I'm ever going to see you?" "I don't know. I hope not." (Melting some more.) "Don't forget me, Sarah Jane." (Stab to the heart, stab stab stab!!)
But I do have to say that there was one glaring omission, and that was Ten and Sarah's goodbye
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-11-01 06:12 am (UTC)That's how I interpreted the line, too -- that she was asking about seeing the Doctor again, not specifically about seeing Ten again.
And wasn't Clyde awesome??
He was!
One hug. Was that too much to ask?? ;)
I know!!! I swear, if I had any video editing skills then I would stick a hug in myself and always watch it that way.