Doctor Who 8x02

[such_heights]

If you're going to do a Dalek episode, then doing a remix of S1's 'Dalek' is an EXCELLENT choice. I loved that last week the threat was localised, the Earth wasn't in danger, just the people caught up in this particular battle.

*___* Journey Blue *___* she was lovely, I'm so happy she survived, and gutted she didn't get to go travelling with them though I saw that coming a mile off. Also if no one writes me any Journey/Clara I'm going to be very sad.

*___* Danny Pink *___* he was lovely! So I'm really delighted and a bit relieved that we're getting a main member of the cast who isn't white because it's been far too long, and I'm nervous he'll get a bit of the Mickey and Martha treatment from the Doctor given the soldier thing but obviously Clara's on his side so that's good. And the fact we've just seen them meet now, and he's been given a Tragic and Mysterious Backstory, and he has no idea about the Doctor yet are all good things to set him apart from Mickey and Rory so that's good. Also, Sam Anderson. <3333 Always delighted to see History Boys alumni pop up!

CLARA. So I'm seeing some criticism that's suggesting she's only getting a personality this season, which is nonsense, there was lots of stuff about her in s7 -- Rings of Akhaten alone for instance -- but definitely her life is being foregrounded more now which is great. I think the teacher job is such a good choice for her, especially given that she's at Coal Hill. And the Doctor is one of her hobbies and so I think we're going to see that conflict between real life and Doctor life in a way that hasn't quite been done before - Martha tried, the Ponds tried later on, but Clara's established that boundary right from the start, which is fabulous.

And the re establishing of the companion as not just moral compass but teacher for the Doctor is excellent too.

Because oh, Doctor. He was not exactly his kindest self this week. Which is interesting! There was a callousness to him that haven't seen so much recently, though it's certainly not a new trait. And I don't know what exactly he thought mind melding with a Dalek was going to achieve, because, um, yes.

And if every week can have surprise Michelle Gomez then that is a good good thing.

Comments

[silverhare]

Journey Blue! <3 Delightful and beautiful, and definitely Journey/Clara yes. Yes. I liked the way the Doctor said all those beautiful things about her before, er, well - rejecting her. I wish his own personal desire not to think of himself as a soldier - to think of himself as anything but 'dalek' - wouldn't stop him from liking any soldiers he meets.

And Danny Pink! Hopefully the one soldier he will like. The way Danny was set up was so absolutely endearing and beautiful; I hope he's in it next week too.

[elisi]

but definitely her life is being foregrounded more now which is great.
She started out as a mystery, which was an interesting angle, but... difficult if you wanted to get to know her intimately. Her S7 episodes led up to revealing why she was impossible. And then can DotD and TotD which were both Doctor-centric. BUT HERE WE ARE. :D

[odessie]

Loving Clara and Danny and all the Coal Hill School stuff so much so far! Sort of the new Ian and Barbara but without actually being Ian and Barbara in any way whatsoever, but just a lovely reminder for those of us who remember them. Looking forward to seeing more of Danny properly.

It does feel like they're invoking the Hartnell era a lot actually, with references to the Doctor's first visit to Skaro and the 'birth of a star' stuff (deliberate inspiration from Edge of Destruction?) - maybe the Doctor's trying to figure out who he is again, in the way he had to right at the beginning? And once again a couple of teachers from Coal Hill School will give him that identity and moral grounding.

Love how Clara is independent from the Doctor too, not just in her life but in her thinking; like the difference of opinion over soldiers, where she's not trying to shout him down or argue with him about it, but also isn't going to change her opinions to fit in with his. She's just going 'yep, this is who I am and this is who he is and that's cool' about it all. <3

And yeah, Journey was fabulous.

[littlered2]

I liked this episode a lot more than last week! I quite like it when there's just one Dalek as the antagonist, rather than a whole load of them (admittedly, there were lots more later on in the episode) - it reminds you how scary they are when just one is doing so much damage. I also really liked all of the stuff we got to see of Clara's life (definitely including Danny Pink).