because I'm tired of being negative . . .

[dbskyler]

. . . I've decided not to do a full review of "End of Time, part two." Instead, let me share with you the positives from it, the things that I really liked:



-- the conversation between the Doctor and Wilf on the spaceship, especially the "I'd be proud" moment.
-- the Doctor's expression when he recognizes the Woman in White. In my head, she's totally Susan.
-- the look on the Doctor's face when Wilf knocks. Really stellar acting there, DT.
-- the radiation poisoning scene, from when the Doctor says "it's my honor" through to when he says "it's started" and gets the hug from Wilf.
-- the Doctor saving Luke, and his little wave to Sarah (*melt*). I choose to believe that she knows he's regenerating, too.
-- the scene with Joan Redfern's great-granddaughter. I absolutely adore this scene, and I can't even tell you why -- I don't feel a particular connection with Joan Redfern, nor am I especially infatuated with Human Nature / Family of Blood, but this scene was just . . . something, I don't know what, but whatever it was, it was pretty awesome.
-- the scene with Rose. This took me by surprise because I am not a Ten/Rose shipper and even the "Rosita, nice name" comment annoyed me in "The Next Doctor," but I found this scene to be sweet and just right. I also thought Billie did a nice job of portraying 2005 Rose, who really was quite different from 2009 Rose.
-- the regeneration itself, where the Doctor's face started glowing and then his breathing sped up and then pow! Nice effects work, and great acting.
-- Matt Smith. I loved every second of his performance, and now I can't wait for series 5 to begin!

Comments

[shadowturquoise.livejournal.com]

You just named all the scenes I loved too. Interestingly, the 2 that surprised you also surprised me:

-- the scene with Joan Redfern's great-granddaughter. I absolutely adore this scene, and I can't even tell you why
I was puzzled that I liked that scene too, because I didn't particularly like Joan. I finally realized that what makes it special to me is that the great-granddaughter knew it was him and bothered to ask if he was happy. Aside from Wilf, people rarely ask how he is doing.

-- the scene with Rose. This took me by surprise because I am not a Ten/Rose shipper and even the "Rosita, nice name" comment annoyed me in "The Next Doctor,"
Agreed on all 3 points. I may not like Rose, but I do like Billie and she managed to act like a 19-year old even if her face doesn't look like she's that young any more. Camille, on the other hand, actually looked younger.

I still can't get over how incredible DT and Bernard Cribbins are together. And Sarah Jane, oh yes, she knew.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I think you've hit on what's so special about the book-signing scene -- I too love that she figures out it's him, I love that she asks if he's happy, and I love how she asks -- as if she really wants to know the answer. I also love his non-response. It's just a beautiful scene, and extremely well played by both actors.

I actually like Rose, but I get easily annoyed by Ten/Rose OTP or hints of Rose being the sooper-speshul companion. But that little scene let me say goodbye to her in a way that left me smiling instead of gagging, and I really appreciated that.

Yes, David Tennant and Bernard Cribbins were awesome together. They are both commensurate actors, and they have amazing chemistry. I wish we could've gotten Wilf as the companion for a whole season, but at least we got those scenes.

And Sarah Jane, oh yes, she knew.

She so did! :D

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

David and Bernard's scenes together were the only thing that really saved EoT for me (well, that and Martha/Mickey looking so damned hawt together!)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Yay for David and Bernard's scenes, which were indeed wonderful and worth savoring. The existence of those scenes has definitely helped me be able to re-watch EoT (also, the fast-forward button is my friend).

As for Martha/Mickey, the fact that they're hot together doesn't help me -- I still find that pairing extremely random and bizarre. I know you can rationalize it -- "They have stuff in common! They met that one time!" but to me their marriage is equivalent to being suddenly hit with Mickey/Gwen, or Jackie/Jake -- that same reaction of "um, what?" It made me wonder if RTD went playing with the DW random pairings generator. Just think, maybe we could've gotten Wilf/Leela! Come to think of it, that could have been pretty awesome.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Well I already ranted about how pasted on Martha/Mickey is - I've been rationalising it ever since I saw it. Yes, Rusty is a lazy so-and-so who only cared about making sure all the new New Who companions (ie anyone not SJS) were paired off, and yes, it pisses me off that the two characters rejected by Rose and the Doctor got paired off together (that's actually pretty skeevy on some levels, Rusty, you jerk!)... And yes, I'm pissed of that Rusty claimed Tom was Martha's rebound-from-the-Doctor guy, and that he really only paired up Mickey and Martha so he could call Martha Mrs Smith-Jones, after the title of her first ep! Srsly? WTF?!?!)

BUT - they are both awesome characters who grew and developed and showed that they do NOT need the Doctor to be pwning the universe on a regular basis. And Mickey will cherish Martha, unlike Mr Invisible Fiance of Invisibleness, who was apparently so indifferent to Martha that he buggered off overseas and stayed there!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

they are both awesome characters who grew and developed and showed that they do NOT need the Doctor to be pwning the universe on a regular basis.

I agree 100%. Also, I think Mickey is hands-down the best catch out of all the men of New Who -- far better relationship material than the Doctor, or Handy, or Jack -- so I do really like the idea of Martha ending up with him, because she definitely deserves to have that. It's just that it doesn't work for me to have their marriage dropped out of the blue in the middle of a shoot-out. It also really undercut the emotion of the scene for me, because we had dying Doctor saving them but I couldn't appreciate it because my brain was too busy going "What? WHAT????"

But now despite my best intentions I've strayed into the negatives . . . let's see, that kiss Mickey gave Martha was sweet, wasn't it?

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I agree 100%. Also, I think Mickey is hands-down the best catch out of all the men of New Who -- far better relationship material than the Doctor, or Handy, or Jack -- so I do really like the idea of Martha ending up with him, because she definitely deserves to have that. It's just that it doesn't work for me to have their marriage dropped out of the blue in the middle of a shoot-out. It also really undercut the emotion of the scene for me, because we had dying Doctor saving them but I couldn't appreciate it because my brain was too busy going "What? WHAT????"

Ah well, that's because RTD thinks that writing in a logical fashion with proper foreshadowing is dull. I quote:

“I can see how annoying that looks. I can see how maddening it must be, for some people. Especially if you’re imposing really classical script structures and templates on that episode, even unconsciously. I must look like a vandal, a kid or an amateur… The simple fact is, all those things were planned. All of them were my choice. They’re not lazy, clumsy or desperate. They’re chosen. I can see more traditional ways of telling those stories, but I’m not interested. I think the stuff that you gain from writing in this way – the shock, the whirlwind, the freedom, the exhilaration – is worth the world. I’ve got this sort of tumbling, freewheeling style that somersaults along, with everything happening now - not later, not before, but now, now, now. I’ve made a Doctor Who that exists in the present tense. It’s happening now, right in front of your eyes! If you don’t like it, if you don’t join in with it then… blimey, these episodes must be nonsensical. But those classical structures can be seen in Primeval, in Demons, in Merlin, in all of them – and yet we stand with millions more viewers. And I think that’s partly why.”

(This is from the second edition of 'The Writer's Tale' - and no, I did not waste my hard earned on that excrescence - SFX magazine quoted it on their website.)

But now despite my best intentions I've strayed into the negatives . . . let's see, that kiss Mickey gave Martha was sweet, wasn't it?

The kiss was very sweet - I loved him kissing the top of her head like that, not least because Freema's such a dot! :D

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I’ve got this sort of tumbling, freewheeling style that somersaults along, with everything happening now - not later, not before, but now, now, now . . . If you don’t like it, if you don’t join in with it then… blimey, these episodes must be nonsensical.

OMG, that's it! Yes, that's exactly the problem I have with RTD's writing! Or more accurately, with some of his writing, because he's written plenty of episodes that I've liked, and some that I've absolutely loved. So he must not do it all the time, or perhaps in some cases I've been able to unconsciously go along, and in other cases I haven't? But yes, that's exactly the problem I have with the episodes I most hate -- I feel bombarded with nonsense.

Oh well, at least now I know he was doing it deliberately . . . in a strange way, that does make me feel better.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Glad I made you feel better...

Sometimes he forgets himself and writes a properly structured episode (Midnight, Smith and Jones, Turn Left) - but it doesn't happen too often, sadly...

[pitry.livejournal.com]

You're braver than I am - I agree with everything that;s been said now about Martha & Mickey, but I still rebel against it. It just feel so forced!

But yes. That WAS a sweet kiss :)

[shadowturquoise.livejournal.com]

Just think, maybe we could've gotten Wilf/Leela! Come to think of it, that could have been pretty awesome.

Ummmm . . . I actually have a very detailed outline for a Wilf/Leela fic that makes a LOT of sense. I've played with it off and on for about a year. I'm just not enough of a fic writer to do it justice. (Dissertations on why company return-to-work training programs can lower insurance costs I can write - but good fic is beyond me).

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I actually have a very detailed outline for a Wilf/Leela fic that makes a LOT of sense.

Oooh! I hope you don't give up on it, because I'd be very interested in reading it. Or, if you really believe there's no chance of ever getting it written, maybe you could someday share the outline?

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, I loved all these moments too!

(but then again, I loved 99% of the episode, so I guess I'm not really a good example... :|)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I guess it would indeed be strange if you loved most of it but didn't love those moments! But a lot of people seem to have loved this episode, so you might be a better example than I.

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Oh, I dunno. Almost everyone I discussed it with had really good reasons to hate bits & pieces and all I could say in reply was "but but but".... ;)