School Reunion

[carmen_lj]

So this is the episode where I realise just how fabulous Ten is. And, indeed, David Tennant. He was wonderful before, but in this episode he was just magic.

And this is my favourite episode of the New Series.

And, yes, it did break me a little bit. I need to watch it again. When I'm not bursting into tears every five minutes.

• The first time I cried was at the look on Ten's face when he saw Sarah Jane. Then again when she found the TARDIS. And then when she asked the Doctor why he left her behind. And then when he left K-9. And then when he and Sarah ran. And that whole bit with her in the TARDIS at the end. I cried at that.
  
  
• I love Sarah Jane Smith.
  
  
• I love Mickey Smith. He was not the tin dog. He was Harry Sullivan. That quiet, under-stated heroism. But he screamed! (loved that bit too) But he wanted to run away! (and so would I) He was also the bravest person there - he's not used to that sort of danger, he's not got the experience of Rose and Sarah or the intelligence of the Doctor and yet he still goes in and he saves all the kids. With a little help from K-9 admittedly, exactly the same sort of help Nine got from Rose in Rose. So, really, he's the Doctor.
  
  
• That look on Ten's face when Rose confronts him. "As opposed to what?" That was beautiful. That was him saying You're Not Special, You Silly Human (finally!). And then back-tracking a bit. Though I think that he does believe that whoever is with him at the time will stay forever. But that look is just one of my favourite moments in the series ever. He looks so old there. So alien.
  
  
• This was exactly what I needed to stop hating on the Rose/Ten cliqueiness. Not only did Rose discover she ain't special (so she didn't know about other companions), but they got Mickey coming with them (SARAH WHY DID YOU NOT SAY YES DAMMIT) and the contrast between Rose's reaction to him coming on board here and when she asked him to come in WWIII is remarkable. And gosh, it really is just what's needed. Mickey is just wonderful here. Every time he appears I love him more. And I adore the relationship between him and Ten, yes.
  
  
• He gave her back K-9! YAYNESS!! :D
  
  
• I love Sarah Jane. I love her so much.
  
  
• There was so, so much fantastic Ten characterisation in this. And it's solved the problem I was having with Ten - he didn't have those big character scenes Nine did at the beginning of his run. And I think I understand him a lot more now. Think I'll feel a lot more comfortable writing him too. I adored the confrontation with Rose, and every single second he had with Sarah and that temptation at the end. Oh, it was beautiful. And the shoot-out with Mr. Finch. Just, yes, Ten makes more sense now. And that line about having so much mercy when he was younger was scary, yes.
  
  
• DID ANYONE NOTICE ANY GOD THEMES THIS WEEK?
  
  
• There were so, so many gorgeous lines in this one.
  
  
• He was so happy to see her again. And he so hates goodbyes and he keeps running and running and fighting things and fighting harder now they're all dead and is so scared of looking at himself, looking at what he is and what he's left and what he's lost. HE BREAKS ME ALMOST AS MUCH AS SARAH.
  
  
• ABERDEEN?!! I have been Russelled, dammit. I have to go correct Everything I Learned About Being A Woman now. Though I am delighted that after thirty years we found out where he dumped her.
  
  
• What a fantastic opening, by the way. Jumping straight into the story like that, with the Doctor and Rose already undercover. Loved the Doctor's face as he commented on that teacher winning the lottery, heh.
  
  
• I LOVE SARAH JANE SMITH SO MUCH.
  
  
• He held her hand and ran with her. And that hug he gave her when she found out what he did to K-9, omg, THE LOVE. And at the end HE LIFTED HER UP AND I BROKE INTO WEE PIECES.
  
  
• "You've redecorated!" Luckily she was not Two and did not tell Ten she did not like it.
  
  
• Oh, I am feeling so much better after this one that last week. For I could not stomach much more of that cloying stuff between the pair of them. And Sarah Jane has fixed it all. And they talked about him stroking the TARDIS and being in love with her BECAUSE HE IS. OMG! Why did they not realise that he is in love with the TARDIS and that she is his constant companion. I bet Rose realised and hates on the TARDIS now and wishes she was one.
  
  
• And this episode CATEGORICALLY PROVES the love between the Doctor and Romana.
  
  
  
  Did I mention how much I love Sarah Jane? Did I?