The Impossible Astronaut
Apr. 28th, 2011 12:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tardis_stowawaySo, new Doctor Who happened. I'm late to the reaction post party, but I'm here now and wearing my party hat. (Party hats are cool.)
Overall, I thought The Impossible Astronaut was a strong episode. It's not going to take over a place on my all time favorite list, but there was lots to appreciate and not too many problems. Mostly, I have no idea what the fuck is going on, and it's splendid. I'm glad that I've been making a real effort to avoid spoilers, because I quite like this state of having no clue what's going to happen next or what it all means.
The aliens were creepy as all get out. The concept of aliens that you can't remember as soon as you look away is very clever and very scary. You can't even run away effectively because as soon as you turn to run, you won't know why you suddenly had this urge to run anymore. The dark suits and mouthless (until feeding time) faces add to the ominousness. I'm also intrigued to see the console room from The Lodger again.
I also appreciate the Silence because they fit in well with the themes of memory we saw repeatedly in S5. Amy quite literally remembered the Doctor back into existence in The Big Bang. She's uniquely powerful as a vessel of memory. Even against the Silence, whenever she sees one of the aliens she recalls her previous encounters, unlike the woman in the bathroom who had the exact same reaction the second time she looked at it because the first viewing didn't return to her memory. I'm interested to see how this plays out.
The death of the Doctor didn't hit me much emotionally, since from a Doylist perspective there's no way that's as unalterable as it seems. The show can do all manner of awful things to the Doctor, and it can kill companions permanently, but it can't kill the Doctor forever. However, from a Watsonian perspective, that was very bad indeed. :( I have no clue how the show will untie this knot.
Speaking of things the show needs to get itself out of, I hope the Amy pregnancy thing turns out to be somehow not real. Pregnancy and baby storylines are frequently a source of shark-jumping and general fail (I'm looking at you, Angel.) Arguing for her pregnancy not being real, we have her casual wine-drinking in the picnic and the fact that River felt sick near the aliens too. Then again, I suppose River could be pregnant too! Actually, if River and Amy were both pregnant, I would take back my opposition to the pregnancy plotline. I want to see an episode later in the season with River and Amy with matching enormous baby bumps saving the Doctor's butt in some BAMF-y way.
Following my surprise conversion in The Pandorica Opens, I continue to be a a fan of River Song, though every now and then she still manages to do something that irritates me. For example, her ability to fly the TARDIS better than the Doctor is a bit too much for my taste (though I'd forgive it if she eventually turns out to be a Time Lady, a personification of the TARDIS, or something else where it makes sense that she flies it better than someone with centuries of experience and a telepathic bond with the ship). Mostly, however, I'm loving the hat-shooting, lock-picking, sexy-banter-tossing, and general awesomeness of her. I got irritated Moffat for her lines about living for the days she sees the Doctor, because part of what I like about the character is that she has her own life that doesn't revolve around him 100%.
Other things that made me happy:
-"Canton, on no account follow me into this box and close the door behind you." *Canton runs in and closes door behind him* So far, I think Canton is pretty fantastic.
-Oooh, lovely Utah scenery. I'm hoping the next ep delivers more of that and less warehouse set.
-The opening sequence with the Doctor getting into trouble across history. Hee!
-For a more solemn thing I liked, the Doctor's funeral pyre scene was beautifully shot. Given the flaming boat, I'm wondering if Rory spent time hanging out with any Vikings during his Pandorica guardianship.
-I watched it legally without having to wait a ridiculously long time! Thanks, BBC America!
I could go on about some things I liked less, but I've got other things to do this evening than type my gripes. I'd rather focus on topics of squee, like the fact that there is more THIS VERY WEEKEND. Huzzah!
Overall, I thought The Impossible Astronaut was a strong episode. It's not going to take over a place on my all time favorite list, but there was lots to appreciate and not too many problems. Mostly, I have no idea what the fuck is going on, and it's splendid. I'm glad that I've been making a real effort to avoid spoilers, because I quite like this state of having no clue what's going to happen next or what it all means.
The aliens were creepy as all get out. The concept of aliens that you can't remember as soon as you look away is very clever and very scary. You can't even run away effectively because as soon as you turn to run, you won't know why you suddenly had this urge to run anymore. The dark suits and mouthless (until feeding time) faces add to the ominousness. I'm also intrigued to see the console room from The Lodger again.
I also appreciate the Silence because they fit in well with the themes of memory we saw repeatedly in S5. Amy quite literally remembered the Doctor back into existence in The Big Bang. She's uniquely powerful as a vessel of memory. Even against the Silence, whenever she sees one of the aliens she recalls her previous encounters, unlike the woman in the bathroom who had the exact same reaction the second time she looked at it because the first viewing didn't return to her memory. I'm interested to see how this plays out.
The death of the Doctor didn't hit me much emotionally, since from a Doylist perspective there's no way that's as unalterable as it seems. The show can do all manner of awful things to the Doctor, and it can kill companions permanently, but it can't kill the Doctor forever. However, from a Watsonian perspective, that was very bad indeed. :( I have no clue how the show will untie this knot.
Speaking of things the show needs to get itself out of, I hope the Amy pregnancy thing turns out to be somehow not real. Pregnancy and baby storylines are frequently a source of shark-jumping and general fail (I'm looking at you, Angel.) Arguing for her pregnancy not being real, we have her casual wine-drinking in the picnic and the fact that River felt sick near the aliens too. Then again, I suppose River could be pregnant too! Actually, if River and Amy were both pregnant, I would take back my opposition to the pregnancy plotline. I want to see an episode later in the season with River and Amy with matching enormous baby bumps saving the Doctor's butt in some BAMF-y way.
Following my surprise conversion in The Pandorica Opens, I continue to be a a fan of River Song, though every now and then she still manages to do something that irritates me. For example, her ability to fly the TARDIS better than the Doctor is a bit too much for my taste (though I'd forgive it if she eventually turns out to be a Time Lady, a personification of the TARDIS, or something else where it makes sense that she flies it better than someone with centuries of experience and a telepathic bond with the ship). Mostly, however, I'm loving the hat-shooting, lock-picking, sexy-banter-tossing, and general awesomeness of her. I got irritated Moffat for her lines about living for the days she sees the Doctor, because part of what I like about the character is that she has her own life that doesn't revolve around him 100%.
Other things that made me happy:
-The Doctor, regarding Founding Fathers Jefferson, Adams, and Hamilton: "Lovely fellows, two of them fancied me." Y HALLO THAR, DOCTOR WHO'S GAY AGENDA! I MISSED YOU. PLEASE STICK AROUND. Possible additional presence of the Gay Agenda in the exchange between Amy and Canton about Canton's desire to get married. ("Is that a crime?" "Yes.") There could be other explanations for that, but I choose to believe that he wanted to marry a man until I hear otherwise.
-"The Legs, the Nose, and Mrs. Robinson." I giggled hard at that one.
-Rory in general. ♥
-Rory in general. ♥
-"Canton, on no account follow me into this box and close the door behind you." *Canton runs in and closes door behind him* So far, I think Canton is pretty fantastic.
-Oooh, lovely Utah scenery. I'm hoping the next ep delivers more of that and less warehouse set.
-The opening sequence with the Doctor getting into trouble across history. Hee!
-For a more solemn thing I liked, the Doctor's funeral pyre scene was beautifully shot. Given the flaming boat, I'm wondering if Rory spent time hanging out with any Vikings during his Pandorica guardianship.
-I watched it legally without having to wait a ridiculously long time! Thanks, BBC America!
I could go on about some things I liked less, but I've got other things to do this evening than type my gripes. I'd rather focus on topics of squee, like the fact that there is more THIS VERY WEEKEND. Huzzah!
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-28 03:06 pm (UTC)My thoughts exactly!
And, actually, most of the rest of your review
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-28 10:05 pm (UTC)I agree with so much of what you've said, but OMG, ESPECIALLY THIS. Rory and the funeral pyre, with him knee-deep in the lake, broke my heart.