Doesn't It Get Lonely Riding Up There To The Sun On A Single Raft For One?

[redbrunja]

I was largely underwhelmed by "Vincent and the Doctor." I'm not sure if that was a natural consequence of watching it over the course of two weeks (i.e. watch ten minutes one day, 10 minutes four days later, finally finish almost a week after 'The Lodger' aired) or because with regards to the monster of the week, it seemed like 'our lack of budget; let us show it' (which is actually a complaint I had about 'The Lodger' as well, even though I really liked the romance in it). That said, I did get misty-eyed at the end. I think, considering the role Vincent Van Gogh plays in our art history and his own tragic (and greatly romanticized) life, it is understandable to have the fantasy of showing him the role he played in history and how successful is art ended up being. I really wanted him to have painted a picture of Amy, though. (On the subject of Amy, I loved her crying without realizing it, and how that echos the memory wipe she had in the second episode.)

Using Bill Nightly for only four minutes in a minor, minor role, however, is just fucking criminal.

I know some people didn't like the two stand-alone episodes leading up to the final two of this season but I didn't mind it, especially given that Doctor Who tends to be pretty stand-alone (and that 'The Lodger' was, my problems with the villain aside, a solid episode).

Plus, "The Pandorica Opens" was great.

I cannot express how hard I was squeeing at the montage of people who have interacted with the Doctor this season. Especially River Song and  Liz Ten. Seriously, each time I watch a River Song episode, I start to adore her more. I just... I have no words for her awesome. (But I must note that apparently, she drives with the brakes on too.)

And Rory was... okay, heroic and heart-string-tugging and sexy are NOT words that I typically use for Rory but he just... he worked for me here. I don't know if it was the nipple-armor or the cape or what, but I was completely emotionally invested in him and Amy's relationship, and I think him shooting her without meaning to right after Amy remembered him hurt in the best way.

Now, back to the Pandorica itself - another reason I didn't mind only having one episode dealing with what the Pandorica is is that it was really, really obvious to me that the Doctor was in the box. Now, admittedly, I got the tense wrong, but I could not have stood another episode mentally yelling 'You are the Pandorica! It's for you! You drop from the sky and end worlds! You just bragged about it over loudspeaker!'

Honestly, knowing Karen Gillian is signed for next season and that the next episode is most likely going to be about getting the doctor out of the box, the things I am most invested in are:

–finding out more details about Amy Pond. I will be greatly disappointed if she is only important because she's a trap. I want her to be a construct or a creation or someone the cause of the time-cracks!

–River Song and the TARDIS. When she opened the door and it was solid rock?

Comments

[keirelle.livejournal.com]

I have to say, The Pandorica Opens totally did it for me when the shot focuses on the Doctor struggling to get away from being put in the box and his voice is breaking when trying to convince his captors to let him go. Even though I know things will be alright and he obviously gets out, it still added a wonderful hopeless, "how can they possibly win this" feeling to the end, which is what I good cliffhanger does imo.

I agree with you about River. I like her more and more (catburgler River omg<3). Though admittedly I still don't want her to be all hitched to the Doctor, mostly because everything about him screams "not the marrying type ever". I'd really love it if she stays his match and they like, weirdly flirt or something. Also YES, what is with the solid rock in the TARDIS door.

I think with Amy, she will turn out to be the person causing the cracks; like, because of this massive event that happens on Amy's wedding day, the cracks are made in time wherever she goes. Or something like that.

Also I think the rescue of the Doctor by Amy will involve the rescued Doctor going back in time throughout the series to fix certain things and make Amy remember/figure out how to save him.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

The Pandorica Opens totally did it for me when the shot focuses on the Doctor struggling to get away from being put in the box and his voice is breaking when trying to convince his captors to let him go.

Agreed. Matt Smith is an amazing author.

I like her more and more (catburgler River omg<3)

I KNOW RIGHT?

Though admittedly I still don't want her to be all hitched to the Doctor, mostly because everything about him screams "not the marrying type ever". I'd really love it if she stays his match and they like, weirdly flirt or something.

See, since I watched "The Forests of the Dead" I am fine if they end up getting "married." (Which I'm not convinced of, at this point.) From their interactions so far, it's clear that River Song has the same arc with the Doctor as a companion, only she has her own life spliced in between her adventures with him and isn't unfamiliar with the time travel hijinks in the way the companions usually are.

I think with Amy, she will turn out to be the person causing the cracks; like, because of this massive event that happens on Amy's wedding day, the cracks are made in time wherever she goes. Or something like that.

Works for me!

Also I think the rescue of the Doctor by Amy will involve the rescued Doctor going back in time throughout the series to fix certain things and make Amy remember/figure out how to save him.

That would be fantastically epic.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I guess capes make everything better?

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Who doesn't?

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Just watched this ep tonight.

I keep remembering "Prisoner Zero has escaped" from the premier, and trying to recall if that was ever explained? Was P-0 the monster of the week that ep? If not... is the Doctor prisoner Zero? Because in my head-fanon, it would totally be referring to him.

I expected a future Doctor to be in the box, not that it would be a trap for him now. I feel like I got it half-right!


ETA: Also, everything you said about Rory being unexpectedly romantic, sexy (it's the cape and the soldier thing that appeared to give him confidence he lacked before, maybe?) and his storyline with Amy was moving and heartfelt? SO THERE. I shipped them in-canon before but I really felt for them in this episode.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure prisoner zero is just the monster of the week.

I expected a future Doctor to be in the box, not that it would be a trap for him now. I feel like I got it half-right!

Same here.