such_heights | Doctor Who 4x02: The Fires of Pompeii

GUYS. OMG. THE EPIC AWESOME OF THE DOCTOR AND DONNA. a;dlkjasadl :D :D :D

There was plot in this, I think? But considering I was streaming it on iplayer with a connection that could barely stand it I probably lost some of the finer details, so. But Donna freaking Noble! So, so awesome! Their dynamic in this whole episode made me ridiculously happy and super psyched for what's to come in the rest of the series. The way she challenges him right to the bones, this early on, is so great to watch and I really think we're going to get right down to the heart of things this season. I'm excited!

Also, yes Donna, I bloody love him as well for fighting the aliens with a water pistol. ♥!

Really, I enjoyed this episode the most in terms of what it might be foreshadowing for the future. This is all my own speculation based on our grand total of two episodes so far. The themes that are sticking out at me that seem like they're going to be picked up on include the following:

-- the creation of new races. The Adipose, and the stone things the fire lot were making this time around. I suspect that at the very least episode six, 'The Doctor's Daughter', is also going to play into this.

-- the Doctor's own destructive nature. The Adipose would have worked out fine in 'Partners in Crime' were it not for the interference of him and Donna. In this episode, this is made even more explicit by the choice he must make, whereby he actively brings about the deaths of 20,000 people, in the name of the greater good. He is also acutely aware of the destruction he brings down on those who have travelled with him - he describes Rose as 'lost', and knows all too well what he did to Martha. He seems afraid of himself, hiding behind the rules of the Time Lords to escape the fact that he does bring bad luck in his wake, always. I think this is his particular angst of the season, and I rather like it.

-- Donna's readiness for self-sacrifice. This is a trait we see in all companions at some point or other, but with Donna it's made very explicit very quickly. She cares about others, deeply, and will lay down her life with no qualms if it means others will survive. The way we saw this played out in her second episode of the series makes me a bit worried for her eventual well-being, I have to say.

If you know more details than I, needless to say please do not be sharing. But speculate away by all means, I am intrigued!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but do you not think it's a bit of coincidence that both episodes so far have involved a race of aliens using Earth for their own purposes because their own planets are 'gone' or 'destroyed'? Well, at least, the breeding planet for the Adipose is simply 'gone', though it's never explained why, and it's made fairly clear in tonight's episode about their planet. Are they deliberately drawing parallels with the Doctor's situation? Could it be that something bigger is happening and planets all over the galaxy are being 'destroyed' or 'taken away'? Am I just imagining things? Is this linked to Rose's return?

*shrugs*

But, yes, Donna is really growing on me. I love how passionately she cares about life and how she's not afraid to tell the Doctor what a mess he's making of everything. I'm glad there's not a sexual element to their relationship, as there had been with both Rose and Martha. It's nice to know that she doesn't have an ulterior motive, and because she's not in love, she isn't afraid of him. S'goood. :)

Ooh! That had crossed my mind, actually, and I'd forgotten to mention it. But yes yes, I do wonder if that's at the very least going to be a recurring motif this time around. And mmmm, could well be something to do with Rose's return - I suspect we're already being introduced to a theme that's to do with why she's coming back, though which one remains to be seen.

Exactly! Also, the fact she's a bit older and has more experience under her belt is already making a world of difference, and it's a lovely change. They've found chemistry with each other very quickly indeed, and this promises nothing but good things. :D

I was going to mention that! The whole 'lost planet' thing - I thought perhaps it had something to do with the Time War, as lots of planets, not just Gallifrey (which I;m too tired to spell properly atm) were lost in. You know, just something else to add to the Doctor's already astronomical guilt complex - "hey, remember that Time War that caused you to destroy your own planet and lots of other planets? Yeah, well all the species from the other planets seem to have made their way to earth and are killing people there! Way to go!" That sort of thing.

And OMG the AWESOMENESS of Donna! We had another 'I could save the world but lose you' moment, and she was wonderful!

Ooooh yes, that would be great in a horribly tragic sort of a way! Gah, Doctor!

I KNOW. Eeeeee she is so great!

My husband reckons that the lost planets thing is to do with the Sontarans, who are meant to be back this season from the archives.

Also, that's 2 episodes and 2 references to the Shadow Proclamation. We should be paying attention to that, IMO.

Oooh, that'd be cool.

Yes! Considering we've only had it mentioned twice before, I think (Rose and Christmas Invasion?) it does seem to be appearing a lot. Generally there seem to be galactic shenanigans going on.

Oh yes yes, The Shadow Proclamation is very much 'HELLO, LOOK AT ME' already

I am intrigued by many things, but alas don't really have anything to add other than the fact that Donna is brilliant! :D

That's pretty much all there is to say, yup!

I KNOW I SERIOUSLY LOVE THE TWO OF THEM KICKING ASS TOGETHER!!

Oh yes, creation of new races or just creation in general is already big, both episodes having to do with it. Only in one we let the new creations live and in the other the new creations died.

I also think choices is going to be a big thing. I mean Donna choosing to help destroy Pompeii with the Doctor and them him choosing to go back and save that family. And yes I think he is much more aware of the choices he makes now and how they are affecting people. That comment about Martha in "Partners in Crime" was a big thing for him I think, to actually acknowledge it.

And Donna, oh Donna, I love how she is not in love with the Doctor for one and challenging him straight off and ready to help like none other. She may elevate above Martha for me, real fast and I love Martha!

OH! And the comment "You have something on your back" is such a foreshadowing for Donna. I am slightly worried about that but have no theories as of yet.

Also that bees disappearing comment from "Partners in Crime" do we think that is our classic set up for the season something needed later on? No? I don't know.

First off, ICON. THAT'S AMAZING. XD

Ooh yes choice, that's a good one. Actually, because some of the prophecies in this episode extending beyond the immediate future - "she's returning" and "there's something on your back" - I wonder if the girl's prophecy about choices is going to play out over more than just this episode.

I know, I adore Martha so much and yet Donna is worming her way in there and I feel all conflicted in my affections, haha.

Dunno about the bees - they may well have been some foreshadowing, but I don't think we're actually investigating the Case of the Missing Bees at any point, although what do I know! Certainly things seem to be vanishing - from planets to bees to Rose. Hmm.

Hey, we're allowed to like more than on companion. We can like both Martha and Donna (*cough* and Romana and Adric and Sarah Jane)

Oh don't get me wrong, I love them all (although not Adric so much, gotta say :P), but I'm a little startled how quickly she's shooting up the bestest companion evah charts! o.O

I don;t know why I like Adric. I think its because the first episodes of Doctor 4 that I saw were in the ones in.... what was it, negative space? Where Romana left and the Doctor gained Adric as a companion. So, the two of them were my first old school companions and thus have a special place :-p

Oh Romana is fabulous, I adore her. Adric, on the other hand, I've only really seen in bits and pieces, most particularly Black Orchid where Nyssa and Tegan were way cooler.

Doctor Who 4x02: The Fires of Pompeii

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject