Doctor Who 6x01

[such_heights]

OMG. OMG. OMG. SOMEONE HOLD ME.

So, right, I feel like I missed a whole bunch of things this time around because I was alternating between "OMG HI TEAM ELEVEN" and "HOLY CRAP WHAT IS HAPPENING". a;lsdkjasl;kjda

+ Mark Sheppard was, as ever, a fabulous guest star! I am most pleased.

+ What a fantastic, fantastic way to start the season - and not just the opening, which, oh god, what on earth is going on and the Doctor really was super dead there. That proves one of my theories about who was 'Marked For Death' right -- a future version of one of the characters. And watching that whole scene was really horrible but also comforting because, well. We know the Doctor will never die for good, even if this all looks set up to be angst central.

+ But also, adorable picnic was adorable, as was Amy and Rory being domestic at home and trying to figure out what the Doctor was up to. And I guess I should have realised something was up as soon as the Doctor and River started being much more in sync in their timelines, but it was a glorious moment nonetheless.

+ RIVER. OMFG, RIVER SONG. STILL THE BADASS, and also breaks my heart into tiny, tiny pieces with her line about meeting the Doctor when he doesn't know her and how it will probably kill her. ;____; Though I am somewhat comforted by the fact that we know it's not a strictly linear case of going in reverse, because of the time they have together when he gives her his screwdriver.

+ Rory! Bless his heart! He's the newest! I suppose he didn't have a particular plot to himself in this episode but was generally delightful, which I am entirely fine with. <3333

+ Eleventy! Still my Doctor, still has gorgeous, gorgeous relationships with all three of them, remains charming and ridiculous and wonderful. AND HOLY CRAP THE UST WITH ELEVEN AND RIVER, THEY NEED TO MAKE OUT ALREADY OMG OMG. So still very on board the canon het train with this show, what even is this. I DO NOT QUESTION, I JUST SQUEE.

+ AMELIA POND. LOVE OF MY LIFE. You GUYS, I CAN'T EVEN DEAL. Her complete brokenness at the Doctor's death, her willingness to do anything to save him at the end there, oh shit, and also EVERY TIME SHE WAS ON SCREEN AND HOW GREAT IT WAS.

+ I am withholding judgement on Amy being pregnant, but it does not immediately thrill me on account of the often dubious mixing of pregnancy and sci-fi. I'll be delighted to be wrong! Also, less than impressed with the not-particularly-original casting choice of getting the one black dude of the episode to be the military grunt who is too by-the-book and gets overruled. At least he's not dead yet?

+ That aside: OMG, TEAM ELEVEN, MY FAVOURITE PEOPLE, I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED TO HAVE THEM BACK. THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS ARE GOING TO BE AWESOME.

+ I hope this seems reasonably obvious given the general tone of this post - and in all likelihood most of the post I'll be making while the series airs - I am very squeeful and happy to be so, please do not harsh my squee in comments. Thank you! (I'm still enjoying this rare thing of being totally in love with a currently-airing show!)

Comments

[shei]

I don't know what the fuck happened AND I LOVE IT.

[purplefringe.livejournal.com]

About to go and watch it again! (have made myself some dinner first, as was getting lightheaded with squee. Kept dropping things, however. Note to self: DO NOT MAKE DINNER WHILST HIGH ON DOCTOR WHO)

ARGH AMY OMG. Yes, though, the point about the less-than-original-casting was something I was going to mention to you on the phone, but forgot in the general flailyness of the situation. As much as I loved that whole scene in the oval office with all my heart, that did make my heart sink as I watched his role unfold. Oh well, as you said - Not Dead!

BUT BUT BUT ARGH WHY IS IT NOT NEXT SATURDAY YET?!? WHYYYYYYYYYYYY?!

[rheanna]

IT WAS AWESOME. AWESOME LIKE AN AWESOME THING. I LOVE THEM ALL.

I may be coherent at some point; this is not that point.

[(Anonymous)]

YESSS!! Lots of squee going on here but also holy crap how scary was that episode?! I had to keep hiding behind my hands!

Two thoughts (selected from many!):

1. I'm okay with Amy being pregnant until proven otherwise! I totally called it, as well. I think it would be really kickass to have a pregnant lady still being an actionwoman and running around saving the world instead of being confined to bed with a cold compress or similar. Fingers crossed it does actually go down that route! But did she tell the Doctor before she told Rory? Rory didn't seem to know... but maybe he did. Would be kind of harsh to tell the Doctor before Rory! Possible drama?

2. At least the black guy wasn't a wisecracking black guy who tells stupid jokes and dies right away...

Extra bonus thought no. 3: "I'm quite the screamer" = cringe but I was still LOVING IT.

Char xxx

[pocky_slash]

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SQUEE AT YOU AS I WATCHED <3

I'm being hopeful about Amy's pregnancy. Moffat's usually pretty good with kids, so... fingers crossed!

BUT ALL THE LOVE EVER IN THE WORLD FOR EVERYONE. I WANT TO DRAW HEARTS ALL OVER ALL OF THEIR FACES ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[fly_to_dawn]

AMY, AMY, THIS SHOW ♥

[some_stars]

I share basically all of these feelings. OMGGGGGGG, THEIR FACES, I have missed their faces SO BAD. Amy following the Doctor through history books, and the picnic, and the Amy-River parallels--loads of great Amy/River fuel this episode actually.

[pocketmouse]

I'm too full of squee to do anything other than repeat what I posted, but OMG OMG OMG OMG.

All the old-school shoutouts! And now I totally want River & Rory fics.

[rike_tikki_tavi]

Oh River, how so awesome with the gun and shooting the Doctor's hat yet again.

I also loved that they cast William Sheppard to play old!Canton.

[such_heights]

BASICALLY. :D

[such_heights]

LOADING IT UP TO REWATCH NOW OMG. MAY THEN BE TOO EXCITED TO SLEEP.

[such_heights]

*FLAAAAAIL*

[such_heights]

It was SO freaky! a;lsdkjas Moffat, stop giving me nightmares.

I think Amy being a kickass pregnant lady would indeed be totally great, I hope that you're right! I guess I am a bit concerned just with the timing and the tension around her announcement that there are Shenanigans afoot of some kind -- but then, I was super dubious about the wedding dress reveal at the beginning of last series but loved how it turned out. And yeah, I hope that Rory does know otherwise that seems unnecessarily angsty!

2. Oh, totally, could have been a lot worse. I suppose primarily it struck me as a bit boring and predictable in an episode that very much wasn't either of those things otherwise.

3. RIVER SONG MAKES EVERYTHING AWESOME, this is why. :DDD

Squee!

[such_heights]

I am also trying to be hopeful - I don't have a Who-specific reason not to be, just a general mistrust of these plotlines in sci-fi. I am probably wrong!

THEIR FAAAACES, AHHHH. THEY'RE ALL THE BEST. <33333

[such_heights]

I CAN'T EVEN DEAL, AHHHHH.

[such_heights]

YESSS, I was so pleased for some quality Amy-River interaction! Bless them, they're awesome friends, and should also totally makeout. My OT4 feelings are strong!

[such_heights]

YES YES YES EEEEE. And River-Rory interaction was quite high of my list of wishes for this season, so I'm glad it's off to a good start. :D

[such_heights]

She's SO AMAZING, how is anyone that cool. :D

And yes, I didn't realise the casting link until afterwards but that's really great!

[walkthegale]

RIVER IS BETTER THAN ALL THE THINGS! :D :D :D

Er, yes.

So confused but so squeeful! ;D

[pocketmouse]

Based on the confidential, it sounds like the pregnancy is going to be a Thing, which I am Unsure about. And I couldn't tell if Rory knew -- I doubt he'd not say anything about it before they went off with the Doctor. I just hope that if it's true, that they don't handle it like Gwen and Rhys, especially after the 'what's the point of you' moment last season.

[contrarywise]

I was all OMGWTFOMGWTF???!!!!! pretty much all the way through. Also, LOLing that two of my fandoms collided here. ("Hey, why did Nixon call in The Dutchman to help him??") Not the DW/White Collar crossover I was looking for! :D

AARGH *SQUEEZE*

[copracat]

Mark Sheppard and MARK SHEPPARD'S DAD \0/. I am, of course, completely intrigued by who it is illegal for Canton to marry as Loving v. Virginia was 1967.

I think the pregnancy is a fakeout/part of the action plot as River also felt queasy after forgetting the scream face guys. The scream face guys are messing with her mind, I think.

The utter, utter hotness of Doctor/River flirting is making me more happy than I can say. OMG did the casting people know there would be that much chemistry when they picked Matt Smith? Oh Doctor/River, so clever and affectionate and teasing and sexy and grown up and wonderful.

Ponds in Space has made me quite happy.

[zephre]

YAY YAY YAY this was so exciting!!!
How can I wait for next week???

Amy and Rory and River are so awesome! And bonus Mark Sheppard! Nice. :D

[arch]

OMG OMG OH MY FUCKING GOD

This... it... AMY! RORY! RIVER! ELEVENTY! I just... I was not prepared and I am so glad I avoided all the spoilers and how is Moffat going to write his way out of this and holy shit.

BRB FLAILING FOREVER

[gorgeousnerd]

I AM SO CONFUSED. But happy! Super duper happy. I started flailing when the theme song started and didn't stop!

[theniwokesoftly.livejournal.com]

Ok so while I loved the flirting, it's messing with the whole Eleven-is-asexual-no-really-we-did-it-right-this-time. Because goddammit it WAS right when Amy kissed him and he was like WAIT WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING NO NO NO FUCKING NO.

The adorableness will probably weigh out the longing for a truly asexual character (Sherlock almost counts), but yeah.

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

River Song is the hottest thing on earth. Just about everything she does here is magic.

This was such a great episode! Rory! Amy! Eleven! And the things the episode does with perspective!

[snorkackcatcher]

I think it would be really kickass to have a pregnant lady still being an actionwoman and running around saving the world instead of being confined to bed with a cold compress or similar

You mean like Major Kira Nerys? :)

Hell of an opener, though. Moffat seems to be going for the "Watch me paint myself into an corner and then get out of it!" arc. There's bound to be at least one reset button of some sort though (duh!) so am bracing for the inevitable fanwhine when it happens. (I almost don't like reading reaction posts any more, because yes, they do tend to be squee harshers.)

One fairly horrible thought is that the trapped child is actually Amy's, although basically they could go a number of ways. Maybe it will turn out to be River. :)

[tellitslant]

Homygod, RIVER. HOW IS SHE SO HOT.

Alex Kingston's FACE in that scene with Rory, and her interactions with eleven, I just, cannot even. SO MUCH HEARTBREAK AND YET SO MUCH SQUEE, IT IS CONFUSING

:DDDDD

("She's just a friend.")

[wildestranger]

River Song is the best ever and I want to be her when I grow up. I'm greatly enjoying all the flirting between her and the Doctor - or rather, that at the moment he is actually flirting back. Also, I like it when he calls her Doctor Song. &hearts

[laurashapiro]

So happy with all of them and everything OMG! Shipping Eleven-River like BURNING. Need fic and vids! Might finally have DW vids to make again! Flailing a lot! ::eeeeeeeeee::

[fallingtowers]

I'll reserve my final verdict for the second part next week, but, yes, all the characters were ADORABLE.

And I think it'd be okay if Amy were in the family way and we got a bad-ass pregnant companion to show that Having a Baby and Having Adventures in Time and Space are not mutually exclusive. (And it would be a bit like Wendy Darling and Peter Pan all over again, with Peter coming to fetch the children as long as they are innocent and gay-in-the-19th-century-sense and heartless.)

We shall see.

[such_heights]

Hahaha, yes, that's pretty much it!

[such_heights]

ahahaha, I'm pretty sure everyone ever had that, given how many cult shows Mark Sheppard's been in. For me he'll always be Badger from Firefly!

Re: AARGH *SQUEEZE*

[such_heights]

That's such a cool piece of casting! And yes, I totally assumed Canton meant he was gay when I first heard the line, but I'm hoping we go back to it for clarification.

PONDS IN SPAAAACE. <3

[such_heights]

I WANT A TARDIS JUST SO I CAN WATCH ALL THE EPISODES AT ONCE. a;sldkjas

[such_heights]

*JOINS YOU OMG*

Is it Saturday yet?!

[such_heights]

I am flail central every time I rewatch bits, omg. :DDD

[such_heights]

Yes, I agree, I'd love to see more asexual representation on TV. Buuut, they are so cute together, I am a little powerless to resist. Though I do still read Eleven as pretty grey-A-ish.

[such_heights]

Yes, absolutely - I love the post you wrote about the perspective, I completely agree. So cool!

[such_heights]

NNNNGH, I CAN'T EVEN DEAL WITH HER EXISTENCE, BASICALLY. <3333

[such_heights]

Yes! I'm glad he's finally seen sense in the matter.

[such_heights]

Yay! :D That is excellent news.

[such_heights]

Definitely, if it's a 'normal' pregnancy and doesn't stop being herself, I'll be pretty happy.

[out_there]

You know the awesome thing about fandom? Getting to watch the episode on TV and then go back a week to find all the excited posts from last week when everyone was so excited to have just seen the same episode.

+ That aside: OMG, TEAM ELEVEN, MY FAVOURITE PEOPLE, I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED TO HAVE THEM BACK. THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS ARE GOING TO BE AWESOME.

Absolutely. Honestly, I want to keep all of them. (Although I seriously doubt DW will turn into such an ensemble show. But I wish it would.) Especially Canton -- I'd love for us to keep him.

I think I've finally stopped mourning Ten. All of last season, I wanted to love Eleven more, I wanted to love Amy more, but it just never hit the same fannish love that Ten and Donna had from me. But with this episode, I loved Eleven and Rory and River and Amy (and, yes, Canton. So awesome.). An incredible amount of love for all of them -- like seeing old friends that you want to hug and spend hours talking to.

As for the pregnancy, I'm hoping it can be an adorable Rory-and-Amy thing, not a weird scifi alien pregnancy (not that those aren't fun, but it's been done in Torchwood and Angel and I'd like it not to be done here unless it can be done in an interesting and new way). I know the reveal was a bit duh-duh-DUUUUH but I'm hoping that was due to Amy knowing she had big news to tell the doctor (the incredibly creepy forgetable aliens) but not being able to remember what the news was (aliens! creepy killer aliens!) and substituting the pregnancy news instead.

Much like she did when holding her phone after the bathroom alien encounter -- she knew she had to tell the doctor something and knew it had to do with the phone, so I think there's a little Amy awesomeness that shows parts can be remembered. Not all of it, but parts.

I'm waiting for the moment she flicks through photos taken on her phone and gets the scare of a lifetime of creepy not-remembered alien in a picture.

[januar]

Though I am somewhat comforted by the fact that we know it's not a strictly linear case of going in reverse, because of the time they have together when he gives her his screwdriver.

His screwdriver! I totally forgot about it. That means he can't be dead-dead, because Eleven's is green, not red. *clings to this hope*