Getting it right
In the first episode of the 2005 Doctor Who series, Rose tries to find out something about this strange Doctor she’s met. Clive the conspiracy theorist tells her that he has one constant companion – Death.
Clive has a point. Though the Doctor usually prevents bad situations from getting much much worse, there’s no doubt that people drop like flies while he’s around, and that’s been the case throughout the 44-year history of the series. It’s strongly implied that just before he met Rose, the Doctor was partially (if, perhaps, accidentally) responsible for the death of his entire race.
So, for me, the scene in Friday’s episode where the Doctor begs the Chula nanogenes for one tiny miracle – one day where no one dies because he wasn’t a little faster, a little smarter, or a little luckier – is poignant as hell. Imagine the guilt that a compassionate man would carry after 900 years of not quite getting 100%, wondering if maybe he could have made it all work a little better.
Then, see the look on Eccelston’s face as this time he gets it right. For once in all his centuries, no one has died on his watch, and there are no horrors which are even partially his fault. Eccleston plays it beautifully, and maybe this is just a TV show, but it’s moved me every time I’ve watched it.
On the other hand, my geek cred is eroding a bit. 5 episodes into the new season, I haven’t managed to find time to watch even one of them. Oh well.
Tags: doctor who, tv
I’m very frustrated. The TiVO didn’t change the channel right, so I didn’t get the first episode of the Unearthly Child two parter.
I LOVE Eccleston as the Doctor. It makes me sad that he only did a season, but what a seaon. The writing is good, the acting is good and they’ve kept enough of the cheesiness that is still Dr. Who.
:nods: 😀 sorta reminded me of someone saying that gandalf is always coming before problems, implying that the problems were following gandalf, as opposed to him trying to beat the problems there to help…and yeah, don’t mind me, I just woke up…:grins: But yeah, cool point to catch…:laugh: I love this dr. so far, wish they hadn’t done just one season of him…:shrug: :Smiles: I haven’t finished watching the last ep that I have, so I’ve not gotten to any of the new season, which is sorta sad, considering I talked my Da through how to find the new season online…:grins: and they’ve watched all the eps that I gave them on my way through months ago….:laughing:
That ending got me, too. It especially says something about the Doctor (all of him) that, after nine centuries, he can still hope for a miracle.
You haven’t even gotten around to seeing the episode with Sarah Jane, K-9, and Giles? [Okay, the guy who played Giles. 😉 ] The Union rep will be paying you a visit any day now, buddy.
I notice that as the new series progresses, the Doctor is still spending almost as much time on or near Earth as he did in the UNIT years. Which is at least good for the actors playing Rose’s mother and quasi-boyfriend. However, it would be nice if the TARDIS got away from the vicinity of Sol for more than one episode at a time soon, just for variety.
I agree. I loved that moment. I tried to think of another episode in which no one died and had trouble coming up with one.
Well, you have a standing offer – any episode you’ve missed, I can provide you a digital recording. Just let me know 🙂
I think the reasoning for the Earth stories is the same as it was during the UNIT years – the budget. On the other hand, I have somewhat enjoyed the subplots which go into the effect a Companion’s disappearance can have on loved ones. Makes it a litle more three-dimensional (or four as the case may be).
Hmmm. The similarities between the Doctor and Gandalf could make quite a long LJ entry 🙂 Not human, gets around a lot, followed by trouble and death, strange powers that they don’t like to display often, etc. etc. etc.
:grins: winds up with the oddest companions sometimes….:D
I only just read this reply. THANK YOU! I’d love to get a copy of the Unearthly Child pair that aired in the last few weeks on Sci Fi.