Then You Stole Me. And I Stole You. - Doctor Who 6x04 "The Doctor's Wife" Review

Neil Gaiman is my hero.


So, "The Doctor's Wife" is (except for "Vincent and the Doctor") the first episode of "Doctor Who"'s Steven Moffat era that I really truly enjoyed. 
I attribute that to Neil Gaiman. That man is a genius.

I don't want to say that the episode was perfect, but it sure was quite brilliant. It was exciting, scary, funny, original and above all, it had the heart that I had been missing since RTD handed the show over to Moffat. 

"Yeah. But I was writing the first draft before even Matt had auditioned. So I was doing what Moffat did in his first draft of The Eleventh Hour, which a lot of people did during season five, which is that you’re really writing for a hypothetical Doctor. And you kind of had David Tennant’s voice in your head, but you know it’s not going to be that, so it’s getting a bit bland.

What was great for me was, having already written my version, the first draft, the point where my episode got bounced from episode 11 of last season to episode four of this season, I had the luxury that nobody else had of, at that point, I got to watch Matt. I got to rewrite all of Matt’s dialogue, going, I know what he sounds like now. I got to go in and un-Tennant any lines of dialogue that were Tennant-y. Even though they were good Tennant-y things."

Neil Gaiman

I think you could see that and feel that Gaiman wrote the episode before series 5. It had more of the RTD vibe and wasn't as Moffat-y.
I can't help it, I just like that better.


I really liked the character of Idris and I think Suranne Jones did a great job portraying her. She had some kind of Helena Bonham Carter thing going on and I think it fit perfectly (would have been even better if Helena had played the role). 

The idea that she became the impersonation of the TARDIS was just marvelous. I mean, we always knew that the TARDIS was more than just a machine, that she has a soul and that the Doctor really loves her like she was a person. Being able to interact with her as a person, that must have been his secret wish all along. 

I loved her scenes with the Doctor. Matt and Suranne worked together perfectly and managed to portray such a range of emotions: The fighting like an old couple (well, the Doctor and his TARDIS kind of are) over the most ridiculous things, the kind of flirtatious scenes, the sad goodbye (I really was crying at that point). 

It was also fun because you got to know more about the TARDIS (now that she had a voice) and her perception of the Doctor.
Also: TARDIS stole the Doctor, not the other way around! That's just... one of the best things ever.

“I wanted to see the Universe so I stole a Time Lord and ran away. And you were the only one mad enough.”

These two are just perfect for each other. (Yeah, I ship it)



I also really liked the parts with Rory and Amy fighting for their lives in the TARDIS - that is: the police box, not the person.  You could see how much Amy really does care for Rory, although he might still doubt it at some point. And also, how guilty she still feels because Rory waited all these years by the pandorica, just for her. Although it's kind of mean that they keep killing and torturing poor Rory.



Further highlights:

The TARDIS graveyard. It was sad, but it made it clear again that a TARDIS really is a living thing.

The TARDIS/Idris thinking that Rory is "the pretty one".

The Doctor calling TARDIS/Idris "Sexy" and TARDIS/Idris calling the Doctor "My Thief". <3

The return of the RTD era TARDIS-console. That was and will always be my TARDIS, and it felt really good to be home again. It really did feel like coming home.

Amy's and Rory's bedroom has bunk beds!!!! I just love this idea. Every child loves bunk beds and the Doctor (especially Eleven) really is still a child at heart. Of course he would give them bunk beds!




Yeah, I really liked the episode. I enjoyed not having to think about the Silence, or Amy's non-pregnancy or any other of Moffat's mind fucks. Because that's one of the things I really dislike about him as a show runner.
RTD did place subtle hints leading to something bigger in all of his episodes too: We had the Bad Wolf, Torchwood, Vote Saxon, the disappearing planets... but it was never as in your face as with Moffat. It was still very easy to enjoy the episodes separate from these hints. With Moffat I always have the feeling that he riddle gets bigger and bigger with each episode and you just have to figure out what it means and in the end it's complete mind fuckery again and everything is going to be different and... yeah. It reminds me a little bit of LOST in that way and that was the reason why I stopped watching that show.

But this episode wasn't like that. Yeah, we did have  little Moffat-y thing: "The only water in the forest is the river". No idea what that's supposed to mean, but my initial reaction was: <u>River</u> Song dies in the episode "The <u>Forest</u> of the Dead"!!! I'm sure it has something to do with her, just not sure about the forest part.




All in all: I do think there was still some Tenth Doctor feel to the episode. I really could imagine some scenes with Ten in them and they would have worked just as brilliantly as did with Eleven.
For example the whole sorrow for the dead time lords, the building a new TARDIS, the scenes between the Doctor and TARDIS/Idris (maybe not all of the flirting, but the fighting and the emotional goodbye). I did hear Tennant's voice in my head sometimes.


What can I say? 

Neil Gaiman for new "Doctor Who" headwriter!!!!

"Doctor Who has never pretended to be hard science fiction … At best Doctor Who is a fairytale, with fairytale logic about this wonderful man in this big blue box who at the beginning of every story lands somewhere where there is a problem."

Neil Gaiman

You know, this isn't nearly as bad as it looks. - Doctor Who 6x01 "The Impossible Astronaut"

"Doctor Who" is back! And you have no idea how happy I am about this. I've been so excited for weeks now and yesterday I couldn't wait till I finally got to watch the new episode.

The Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen made me happy and sad at the same time. I still find it hard to get over losing her, but it's nice that she was honoured by the show she did so much for.

But still...



When the episode started I thought it was gonna be good. Real good. Like... Oh, I might have to give Steven Moffat a little more credit for his brilliance.
But seriously, now I think I might never love and feel about Moffat's "Doctor Who" as I did with Russell T. Davies' "Doctor Who".

Don't get me wrong, I still love this show, but I don't FEEL as much when watching it anymore.

I love the Ponds. I think Amy and Rory are one of the cutest couples ever, and I'm really glad they got together and Amy is not another companion pining after the Doctor. Also, Rory's love for Amy is just wonderful.

I also really loved the idea of the Doctor staying in touch with them via making history: showing up in history books, bouncing around (in a fez) on their telly screen.

But really: act paintings of the Doctor and him hiding under women's skirts... I don't think I approve. I mean, the series got sexier with its renewal in 2005, and we know that the Doctor had his fair share of ladies (it's probably thanks to him the Elizabeth I wasn't quite the "Virgin Queen" and we all saw Ten snog Madame de Pompadour). but he was never depicted as overtly sexy - although that painting really wasn't that sexy IMO.
The topic of sexiness only got frequently mentioned since Moffat took over in series 5. Before that, it was never much of an issue, the Doctor's relationship was mainly based on friendship, except for his obvious love for Rose, but that was really chaste and kind of platonic as well. And when there was snogging, than it was mostly for comic reasons, someone in someone else's body (Lady Cassandra), not the real Doctor (Human!Ten), or with some special agenda (like saving the world, saving himself, saving his companion etc). Yes, we did have Captain Jack Harkness, but he's Captain Jack and not the Doctor. I really don't mind one or the other sexy innuendo - whoever knows me, I'm always up for those - but I like them better when they don't come as often, it makes them more special.

But away from the sexiness and back to the episode.

I loved the idea of the Doctor sending our TARDIS-blue letters to his friends to invite them to a certain place. If that place has to be America... well, ok. He travels in time and space after all, and cannot always end up in London.
I also loved the whole scene with the Doctor in his stetson (Stetsons are cool), sitting on that really nice vintage car, I loved River shooting the hat from his head. I don't love her "Hello Sweetie", it's annoying as hell.
The idea of having a picnic was great. Loved it.

And that was about it. Afterwards this episode just went downhill.

Really, the Doctor only gets to live another 200 years before he will get shot by an Apollo astronaut from 1969 that came out of a lake? And he will die in his eleventh regeneration?
What I disliked the most was that there was absolutely no emotion in this scene. I didn't feel anything when he died. I cried when Nine and Ten regenerated knowing that there would be another regeneration of the Doctor. This time he died for good and I didn't feel a thing.
I mean, Amy was shocked and sad and cried but River and Rory just talked about his burial. There was nothing from them. Really, how can the Doctor's death be that... blah?!

And I know that time can be rewritten this is probably not how the Doctor is really gonna die.

I mean, I guess that's the reason why he sent out those invitations to his companions and that FBI guy and his younger self.

Another thing I didn't particularly like was the reunion of younger Eleven (909) and the companions. Again: kind of emotionless although it was funny how Rory poked the Doctor just like the Doctor poked Roman!Rory in "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang" to make sure he was alive and real, and how River slapped him. I would have expected a bit more anger from Amy though.

OMG I'm really bashing this episode, aren't I?

All that the Doctor has to trust River and Amy and Rory and not ask questions and travel to 1969 was... annoying. And again, it lacked a certain kind of dramatic feeling I would have liked to see/feel. Amy swearing on fishfingers and custard was very cute though.

Invisible!TARDIS: yup, that was a good one, Moffat.

Also the Doctor meeting President Nixon was kind of cool.

 "It's a police box. Can't you read? I'm your new undercover agent. On loan from Scotland Yard. Code named The Doctor. These are my top operatives. The Legs, The Nose and Mrs. Robinson."

Yup, Amy does have great legs, and we all know that the Doctor loves Rory's nose but calling River "Mrs. Robinson": genius! I loved this part.

What I don't love is all the flirting going on between the Doctor and River, not only from her side anymore!!!! I don't want this!

The Silence: Scary. Really, these things don't look that scary too me (ugly, yes, but not scary) but that fact that you forget that you saw them: scary as hell.

In hindsight there have been hints already in series 5, moments when characters thought they saw something, looked confused but didn't mention anything. Also: dark figures in the museum in "The Big Bang".
I think that's Moffat's evil plan.

I don't like that River is showing up more and more. She does have her moments of win, but I still don't like her as a character. Maybe I'd like her if we finally got to know who she is (this "spoilers!" thing is getting really annoying) and if there wasn't a chance that she will become the Doctor's wife or anything.

Rory: What did you mean— what you said to Amy? There's a worse day coming for you?
River: When I first met the Doctor—a long long time ago. He knew all about me. Think about that. Impressionable young girl and suddenly this man just drops out of the sky. He's clever and mad and wonderful. And knows every last thing about her. Imagine what that does to a girl.
Rory: I don't really have to.
River: Trouble is, it's all back to front. My past is his future. We're travelling in opposite directions. Every time we meet I know him more, he knows me less. I live for the days when I see him. But I know that every time I do he'll be one step further away. The day's coming when I'll look into that man's eyes—my Doctor—and he won't have the faintest idea who I am. And I think it's going to kill me.

That was kind of nice and touching, especially considering that River will indeed die the day the Doctor meets her for the first time ("Silence in the Library"/"The Forest of Dead").
OMG I just realized that River first showed up in "Silence in the Library" - *shakes fist* Moffat!

What I hated Moffat most for in this episode:

Amy is pregnant!? What the fuck?!

That's a move not worthy for "Doctor Who". This is not a soap opera!!!
But maybe River is gonna turn out to be Amy's and Rory's child?
If it's Rory's at all. Maybe it's the Doctors. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Moffat planned a dick move like that.

Oh, and Amy shot the little girl in the astronaut's suit to save the older Doctor's life. She really shouldn't have done that.
Now I guess that Amy will have to make up for that mistake and turn out to be the astronaut from the beginning of the episode, the one that shot the Doctor.

I'm kind of dreading next week's episode.



Yeah, well, that wasn't very Moffat-friendly now, was it?
Sorry.

Come on Einstein, put in the password! - Primeval Webisodes and episode 4x03 Review

This morning I finally managed to watch the "Primeval" series 4 Webisodes:

 Webisode #1:  
Webisode #2
Webisode #3
Webisode #4
Webisode #5

 Basically, they just show a little bit of what happened between series 3 and 4, which is a nice touch, but nothing that really needs watching. Except you wanna see more of Lester, Becker, Jess and Matt, of course ;)


 However, a new proper episode aired as well (that I watched at 4 am because I couldn't download it earlier):

 I hate it that Connor isn't allowed to go play catch creatures with Becker and Abby anymore. I mean, I do like him as IT guy, but it's still more fun with the three of them. Also: he shaved. I don't approve.

I still can't stand Burton. After all, he's the one responsible for Connor having to stay behind. Also, he's an arrogant prick.

 Jess is becoming more and more a favorite of mine. I think she's just adorable and her and Connor were really cute together - in a friendship-y sort of way, cause Connor belongs with Abby and Jess with Becker.

 Does anyone else think that it wasn't an accident that Rex out of his cage will Connor did that scan? I think someone wanted the A.R.C. (omg, I almost wrote "Hub" - it just reminds me so much of the "Torchwood" Hub these days) to go on lockdown.

 -> Burton? At least it would have served him right had he choked to death, after all it was his "improvement" of Connor's programme that did it.

 And what is this "New Dawn" thing he was talking about to Connor when he thought he was dying? And why didn't want to talk about it afterwards? Something's rotten in the state of Denmark! Or in the A.R.C.

 It was so cute that Rex was more important to Connor than Burton - I'm glad we were on the same page there, cause my first thought was "Please Rex, don't die. Oh, Burton is dying too? Well, I ain't even bovvered." (sorry, that Catherine Tate allusion needed to be made.)
Also, how cute was it that, after the doors opened again, Jess and Connor first cared for Rex and let that medic do to Burton whatever he liked? I call that priorities!

 Connor you genius! Built a trapdoor in his programme! And the password is "Abby Temple"! That's the cutest, most adorable slightly hilarious thing ever! And it's so series 1-3 Connor.
And the ring kissing! I wonder whom he got the ring from. It can't be Abby, since he already had it in the begging, but who else then? Mother? Father? Some other relative? (Yup, I'm totally ruling out a former girlfriend)

 And meanwhile Abby, Becker and Matt are out catching weird creatures (is that thing a new kind of future predator - only that it doesn't come from the future? I'm pretty sure things like these didn't exist.) and people.

 People! Let's forget about evil Ethan for now, but: Emily and Charlotte?! Hello, Bronte Sisters! Only Anne was missing. They should have called Ethan Anne instead. Or Acton, after her male alter-ego. That would have been awesome!

 I'm not sure how I feel about people coming from the past. I mean, sure it's kinda plausible that Anomalies don't only open in our time, and we already had Sir William, the knight in series 3 coming through (which was genius, not only because they cast Tony Curran who's simply awesome), so.. yeah. I don't know. I mean, they come from the Victorian Age (at least Emily says she was born in the 1840s), which is, like, my favorite period ever. Also, I loved the clothes. And it all has a very steampunk-y feel to it, which I really like... I'm just not sure whether it's such a good twist for the series. But for now I guess I'll fangirl over all the victorianisms and Emily, whom I really like and just hope that they'll go through to her time with her in one episode.

 I'm really looking forward to what will happen with Emily (and Ethan) in the future.

 Also, the slight romance (or romance to come or whatever?) or chemistry between Emily and Matt, makes him a lot more likeable to me, although I'm still unsure about what he might be up to. And he's definitely up to something.
 His flat is really amazing, too. Although I wouldn't wanna live there. Still: How much money do they earn?! I mean, Jess has an awesome flat, that's apparently big enough to house at least 3 people, but I thought maybe she's go rich parents or something. She seems like a little princess that has been spoilt by her parents. But now Matt has a great flat, too! Why does Connor even complain about his salary? If they all earn the same, then it should be sufficient.

 Also: Is it just me or does Becker get hotter by the episode?
 Really, I never really thought he was hot in series 3, but now... Hello, Captain! Wanna teach me how to handle your gun?

 erm... yeah

 Didn't like how he wanted to treat Emily though. After all, she is a human being that you can talk to and not some rare creature.

 He was still hot.

 Connor should let part of the beard grow back (not as much as it was in the Cretaceous, a slight shadow would be enough, but it definitely made him manlier, sexier) cause Becker is becoming more and more of a competition.

 btw Why was there only one episode this weekend? Last week, they totally lead us on with two episode and now it's only one episode on Saturday. Not fair. Although, at least that way the series won't be over too quick.

I hope you brought me back a souvenir. - Primeval 4x01 and 4x02 Reviews

Primeval is back! And it's as awesome as ever!

 I loved the scenes with Connor and Abby in the Cretaceous. Seeing them fighting for their lives, keeping each other sane and alive... Abby teaching Connor how to fight. And I very much love the Cretaceous look - dirty clothes, messy hair, and so on - especially on Connor. Damn Andrew just looks very hot and badass in that outfit. 

 It's just sad that Danny didn't make it back to the present with them. I really liked him. And the poor guy is now stuck somewhere else, all alone. 

 I'm glad that Lester and Becker are still on the A.R.C. team. (How did Sarah die, by the way?) I always loved Lester, Ben Miller is just brilliant. And Becker keeps on growing on me - besides, Ben Mansfield is really hot (I only noticed this last night). 

 Highlights: Abby/Becker/Connor hug ("I hope you brought me back a souvenir.") and later on the Abby/Lester hug. So he does care for them after all (not that I ever doubted that). 

 I already love Jess, the new girl on the team. Looks like she's Connor's replacement, she seems to be really good with computers and stuff. And she's terribly cute. Female geekiness, I approve. 

 Matt... is he supposed to replace Danny? I don't like him. I don't trust him either. Who's the old guy he's always running to? 

 And is Philipp Burton, that famous scientist guy Lester's boss now? I don't like him either. He's almost as bad as that Christine Johnson woman last season. 

 But, really, guys, how cute was the ending of the episode? Half-naked Connor between white bedsheets, and then still half-naked (no, that's not important at all) Connor and Abby being all cutesy on the balcony, watching the sun rise? It's great to see them as a proper couple now, finally. 
Connor: Are you keeping watch? 
Abby: It still feels as though one of us has to keep guard. 
Connor: Yeah. Why don’t I take the next shift? Get some rest. 
Abby: I’m happy here with you. 


 Second episode was great as well. I loved how Connor, after becoming jobless goes to investigate on his own. I loved even more that Jess probably knew what he was up to and still told him he could use the computer at her place. (How awesome is that flat? - made me love her even more)

 It was also great to see Duncan again. And to see that Connor's geeky side is still there. I like badass Connor, but I also always loved the nerd from series 1, so it's great to have a combination of both. 

 I still don't like and don't trust Matt. When will Danny come back? 

 And Jess has a crush on Becker, how cute is that? And he brought her back chocolate (the chocolate that she requested from Matt when he followed Abby to the docks - bad bad guy - and he forgot - even worse) and even remembered that she doesn't like chocolate with oranges in it - he so does like her too!!! 

 Highlight: Connor/Becker high-five :) 

 I also very much adored the ending: Jess, Connor and Abby being roommates now. How awesome is that? (I wanna move in with them, too) Can't wait for next weekend.


Here, have a little video of yummy Ben Mansfield:


  He called Andrew "Pottsy". I died of cute.

Film and Television Review Quickie

Despite all the Christmas Carol adaptations I had to watch for my BA thesis (Scrooged, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Mickey's Christmas Carol, A Christmas Carol (1971), A Christmas Carol (1999) with Patrick Stewart), I luckily managed to watch some other stuff as well.
 I finally watched

• Sci-Fi's/Syfy's Tin Man: (3 part mini series) 

starring: Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough, Richard Dreyfuss, Kathleen Robertson, Raoul Trujillo
director: Nick Willing (who already gave me my beloved Alice)
about: Dorothy Gale, a.k.a. DG, is all grown up and bored. She mopes around, works as a waitress, and goes to school part time. Before she knows it she's back in OZ (a.k.a. Outer Zone) and on the run from the evil sorceress Azkadellia and her storm troopers and clumsy bats. Along the way she falls in with some strange characters including the brainless Glitch, Raw, a cowardly and psychic lion-man hybrid, and, in the largest deviation, Wyatt Cain, a cowboy cop from Central City called a "tin man" because of his tin badge.

 I liked "The Wizard of Oz" but obviously, since it's the modern Syfy version, "Tin Man" is more awesome (not better, though). I gotta say, I was a bit disappointed, I had expected it to be just as good, maybe even better than Syfy's "Alice" but it can't compare. It's good, though. I really like Zooey Deschanel as D.G., Alan Cumming as Glitch is just adorable and Neal McDonough as Tin Man is just hot. Also: all the links to the original are just fun to see and figure out (Trivia). It's good - I already watched it 3 times and told my Mum to watch when it was on German telly. And I watched it with Anna. So, I tell you: If you like Syfy stuff, watch it.

• Band of Brothers: 

starring: Scott Grimes, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Neal McDonough (Tin Man!), Rick Gomez, Andrew-Lee Potts (in one episode), Michael Fassbender, Colin Hanks, Simon Pegg (2 episodes), Eion Bailey (yummy) and many more (all awesome)

 director: 

about: 10 episodes mini series about the U.S. Army's Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Training, D-Day, Normandie, Holland till Berchtesgarten. History, if you want. 

 At first I refused to watch the series because I was so bored with the topic. Now I finally watched it, just because of Andrew-Lee Potts who's only in one of the later episodes (8 or ) I think. But I started with episode one and there were Damian Lewis and Scott Grimes and Ron Livingston and I love them all so much and the series was so awesome I kept watching and loving and almost forgot about Andrew until he finally showed up. Lots of yummy men in uniforms. And a good plot, cause even if they don't get out of their fox holes sometimes, it's never boring. And you get really emotionally envolved with all of them. Omg, I love this whole Company. And all the languages! There was real German (not a fake accent)! And the American translator guy who spoke German, which was so cute. And it's really funny when you understand both German and English and don't need the translation. I even understood the little Dutch and French that was spoken. (Yeah, I'm weird but things like that make me happy). It's a really good series, I cried so many times because it was so sad sometimes but then you get peaceful times and the guys joking around so it's not all depressing. And I'm so gonna re-watch all 10 episodes very soon.

• Disney's Lady and the Tramp: 

starring: (the voices of) Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Peggy Lee, Bill Thompson, Bil Baucom 

director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske 

 about: Lady, a golden cocker spaniel, meets up with a mongrel dog who calls himself the Tramp. He is obviously from the wrong side of town, but happenings at Lady's home make her decide to travel with him for a while. 

We all love bad boys, don't we? Lady and Tramp is so much more romantic than Romeo and Juliet. And it's Disney. And we all remember the spaghetti-eating scene, right? It's a classic. And gee, these siamese cats still creep me out. And how classic is it that Lady refers to her family as "Darling" and "Jim Dear" because they call each other that?

• The Haunted Airman: 

starring: Robert Pattinson, Julian Sands, Rachel Stirling 

director: Chris Durlacher 

about: erm.. good question. So Robert is a RAF pilot who has to sit in a wheelchair. And he's haunted, by visions of burning houses and spiders creeping all over him. And he's brought to this private hospital or something. By his aunt. Whom he wants to marry. Which is yucky. But his aunt has something going on with his doctor. And it's weird. 

 First of all, the tagline is hilarious "What exists beyond the twilight will haunt him forever..." - I rather think Twilight will haunt him forver. Well, when I bought the dvd the plot sounded really interesting and since it's from the BBC I thought it must be awesome. Maybe I just didn't get it. I watched it with my friend B. and neither of us understood this movie. We're still at a loss. Well, Robert Pattinson at least got to show us that he's a good actor and should we ever meet him, we really gotta ask him what it's all about. Maybe he knows. Or maybe he just wanted the money and played the role without knowing what he was playing. This movie is weird shit.

• The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: 

starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Jackson Rathbone, Ashley Greene, Peter Fascinelli, Elizabeth Reeser, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Billy Burk, Bryce Dallas Howard, Taylor Lautner 

director: David Slade 

about: the third Twilight book, duh! Victoria wants to kill Bella with the aid of a bunch of newborn vampires. Bella is in love with Edward, Jacob is in love with Bella. Vampires and werewolves protect Bella from the newborns & Jasper and Alice are awesome as always. 

 Although I'm not much of a fan of the franchise, that was the best of the 3 movies so far. Jackson Rathbone is awesome and his Major Whitlock flashback scenes and the fight scenes are made of pure awesome. Also, his Southern accent is SEX! And Jasper/Alice are super cute. Way better than Edward/Bella.