Love & Monsters

[carmen_lj]

In which I refuse to engage any critical faculties that may or may not exist and say stuff about tonight's episode of Doctor Who. Which I liked, big surprise there, I know.

• Okay, so if it happened every week it would be terrible and awful and rubbish. It is Doctor Who, not Random Character of the Week (though, actually, if this was an episode of another TV series, I'd really like to see that series too, yay), but, but, but, as a one-off I really, really enjoyed it. Utterly loved this gorgeous new perspective, yes.
  
  
• Mainly, I loved because I adored Elton and Ursula and the actors playing them. There was no way I wasn't going to like them. Shirley Henderson especially; have loved her in everything I've ever seen her in, yes. And she was so, so fab here. Especially when she got mad, yes.
  
  
• Jackie remembers Mickey! Woo!
  
  
• And it's quite Jackie's story too, really, I guess.
  
  
• But I don't actually like Jackie that much, and I know that about twenty minutes in I was wondering if the Doctor ever was actually going to be in this at all really, hmph.
  
  
• Squeed a bit at the flashbacks, yes. Cause, dude, it is great that there are Consequences In The Real World, hurrah!
  
  
• Do we have to call fandom Linda (with an i) now?
  
  
• And the Cheery Music made such a lovely change that I did get a bit hmph at the WOOOOooooWooo stuff.
  
  
• Oh, cack, cack, "Bad Wolf virus"? Please let that just be a random off-hand reference. Also, TORCHWOOD FILES. Were there any TORCHWOOD FILES? Did anyone spot the TORCHWOOD FILES?
  
  
• Oh, Jackie getting all hard after being left behind and protective of the Doctor and stuff, and darnit, she does have good scenes in this and she plays them well. Hrrm.
  
  
• Elton asking Ursula out was FABULOUS! I danced and jumped and it made me happy like woah, yes! :D That's the way! Forget about the Doctor and go get a Chinese with Shirley Henderson, dude!
  
  
• The alien as concept is a bit scary, but the execution is very, um, Slitheen (ha! I had that thought before he said he was from their twin planet, heh). Or Wirrn. Though they weren't to know how popular bubblewrap would become.
  
  
• Oh, and I cried again this week. It's becoming a terrible habit. (Ursula and Elton's exchange as she gets absorbed.)
  
  
• And me likes the director of this one lots. There's a really shiny feel to it with all the angles and such. Yes.
  
  
• Elemental Shadow? Shade from the Howling Halls? Dude! Shiny fic possibilities! And the little snippet of adventure that we get in the Doctor's and Rose's other scene. That was cute. I really liked Rose in this one, by the way. Ahem.
  
  
• This was the sort of love story I can like lots. Elton/pavingslab!Ursula, hurrah!
  
  
• Ooh, thingie from Teachers is in it next week, yay!
  
  
• Why was Mickey's website not mentioned? HMM?
  
  
  
• So he's had the most terrible and most brilliant things happen and he can't tell the difference and they're just him? Sounds a thing most companions would say. And wonderful things being destroyed by the Doctor? And the DOCTOR IS DEATH? And Rose and Jackie PAYING THE PRICE? Oh, is that FORESHADOWING? IS IT?

So B5 had A View from the Gallery, TNG had Lower Decks and Doctor Who's now got Love & Monsters. I think DW wins, dude.


I wonder what the more hardcore shipper will say...for now, off to the OG, yes.

Comments

[nostalgia-lj.livejournal.com]

ilikedthatquiteabit

[doyle_sb4.livejournal.com]

This week I'm condemned to be the one who didn't like it (except the Jackie bits) *cries*

[calapine.livejournal.com]

itwasasshinyyay

[glow-boy.livejournal.com]

Well Billie's leaving statement did have the words "for now" in it. Maybe she will be back but not as a companion?

I really liked this episode and I would have loved to have seen an episode of "The Man From Linda" *g*.

[calapine.livejournal.com]

Dude! Yes, it would be a fabulous show and all about Elton and Ursula and this would make me gleeful indeed, yes!

...

Ahem.

[sea_thoughts]

I loved the Absorbaloff - "I SPIT ON THEM!" Loved it. However, the script was TERRIBLE.

And yes, mention of Mickey! Thank you! I liked Jackie's scenes, even though my mother and I were sitting there going, "Um, Elton? ELTON? SHE IS COMING ONTO YOU!"

Iffy episode but I did like the POV.

[calapine.livejournal.com]

I have much love for Elton and his cluelessness.

[artela.livejournal.com]

I'm afraif I thought that was the worst ever episode across all series' (both old and new) that I've ever had the misfortune to sit through - and I reckon ratings next week will fall as a result.

[calapine.livejournal.com]

Oooh, go join in at OG if ye can. There is WAR! Ahem.

[dawniky.livejournal.com]

I was in a fandom-happy mood because I watch Two Pints of Larger, which "Bliss" was in, Peter Kay of course and Harry Potter/Bridget Jones, which Ursula was in. Boyfriend fan of Hussle as well! Hurray!

[calapine.livejournal.com]

That's where she from. I knew I recognised Bliss but ah couldnae recall from where.

Shirley Henderson was great! I love her lots, yes.

[boji.livejournal.com]

I thought it had the potential to be a good episode - especially with all the self-referential fan!boy moments but I thought it stank.

Different tastes.

What is interesting when you mention this:
Oh, cack, cack, "Bad Wolf virus"? Please let that just be a random off-hand reference. Also, TORCHWOOD FILES. Were there any TORCHWOOD FILES? Did anyone spot the TORCHWOOD FILES?

Was my thought that either Jack has corrupted all information referring to Rose or else whatever infected Rose has corrupted Torchwood. Also, how did the alien get his hands on the files? Stolen? Mocked up? A slew of dodgy dossiers as it were?

And is Jack part of Torchwood or will be be fighting against Torchwood? I can't imagine him wanting to catalogue everything to do with the Doctor unless he's infiltrated the organisation and is an undercover man - pun intended ;-)

[calapine.livejournal.com]

Aye, I can see how it's definitely not to everyone's taste (and, to be fair, I could have hated it if they hadn't cast actors I loved)

Aliens getting old of Useful Files is lovely Who goodness, for it are so cheesy and convenient it makes me smile and ignore such things as Logic.

Torchwood will be soon! We may know! They might tell us Important Things!

[owl]

Was my thought that either Jack has corrupted all information referring to Rose or else whatever infected Rose has corrupted Torchwood.

Yeah, me too. And I do wonder what Jack's doing in Torchwood.

[padawanpooh.livejournal.com]

Just posted my thoughts on my LJ - I loved it too and I'm very happy and surprised to see it's about 50/50 on T&C at the mo - thought comments would be waaaaaaaaaaaay more hostile.

So B5 had A View from the Gallery, TNG had Lower Decks and Doctor Who's now got Love & Monsters. I think DW wins, dude.

Word! Hubby and I were thinking The X-Files "Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space'" - the whole thing of twisted perceptions.

And ELO *gives RTD a big smacker on the cheek*

[calapine.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh, I thought T&C was a wee bit harsh, then I went to the OG and it are at War, dude.

[serriadh.livejournal.com]

I thought it was good, enjoyable viewing for 45 minutes or so, but not great. It was a bit meh, really.

One bit I did love, which I thought would have been commented on more on LJ was the scene where the Doctor tells them that he is passionate, etc. but don't ever let that con you that he's NICE. I squeeed.

The FORESHADOWING OF DOOM was pretty damn obvious, wasn't it? RTD just doesn't do subtle, apparently.
Do you think there's any chance that Elton will be recruited as a new companion? I was getting that vibe a bit, before Ursula was restored to him.

[calapine.livejournal.com]

I suppose the foreshadowing is so blatant so kids get it, because kids don't know about subtlety, so I am told.

[gwynnega]

I really enjoyed it. Elton and Ursula were marvelous...

[calapine.livejournal.com]

Woo! They were Smashing indeed, yes. ::happy dance::

[neohippie.livejournal.com]

You LIKED the paving slab part? Wha?

Oh well, I guess somebody has to. Good for you.

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

I was really hoping that whoever survived would take the mantle from our Mickey, now he can't update it from BEYOND THE GRAVE/Alternate Universe.

[calapine.livejournal.com]

Mickey's Ghost! That would be a fun story, oh yes.

[calapine.livejournal.com]

TIP/SP was a wonderful episode showed just how messed up the Doctor and Rose's relationship is and how what she wants and what he wants are two very different things and was quite wonderful for that in addition to all thw other marvellous things about the story. I ship them as a dysfunctional couple, not true love, and that's exactly the way I love to see them.

But despite what some may think, I am not obssessed and cna view things with non ship bias quite easily.

I'd love to know who these 'some' are.

And, incidentally, one does tend to be biased due to their viewpoints. I'm certainly viewing all the new episodes thorugh my existing bias of loving DW and being willing to overlook what may be percieved as faults because of that. There's nothing wrong with being subjective, as that's just what opinions are.

I am personally hoping the Bad Wolf virus will connect back to Rose, because I do not want her gone for good and flaws and all I love her character and think there is much more potential with it.

I find this unlikely, that is, her return and the Bad Wolf virus being a major plot point. And part of the problem is her seeming lack of flaws, or at least the fact that she suffers no consequences when she messes up or behaves in a selfish or self-absorbed manner.

Her character potential has been thoroughly explored in the past two years, and this is, I think anyway, the best time for her to go, when she's still popular, still-liked and there's still a wee bit of mileage left in the charater..

[rpgamera.livejournal.com]

I wanted to like it a bit more than I did. I think, if anything, I loved the fact that the people brought together by the Doctor were initially inquisitive and curious. That's exactly what he would have wanted for them, and the natural effect of his indirect presence in the characters' lives was certainly the coolest part of this episode. From there, I was really rather disappointed.

And wasn't the virus Mickey uploaded at the end of World War Three to destroy any information about the Doctor called the "Bad Wolf virus"? I thought I heard it mentioned very vaguely and briefly in a previous episode. I can't be sure about that, though.

But man... the absorbing monster? Random cousin to the Slitheen? Meh. Not impressed at all. Love with Ursula the Granite Slate? Weird, slightly sweet, but really silly. The plot devices used to propel the episode along were ridiculous, and I really did NOT like them at all.

This episode had so much potential. I really loved the view from the trenches, and the periodic happiness and nifty music. But there were so many other ways the objectives of the episode could have been achieved. Furthermore, what the hell happened after Jackie got mad? Couldn't there have been at least an explanation offered? Hell, Elton and Jackie could have gotten along after the Doctor and Rose came and went, and potentially been great friends. Like, Elton did very little if anything to manipulate Jackie; Jackie threw herself at him like a horny teenager, and then got pissed off at him wanting in infiltrate her life. Gah, classic stupid Jackie.

This episode could have been so much more positive and interesting than it was. *frustrated*

And this is a complete aside and unrelated to the comments above, but in this episode, what the fuck was up with Rose's hair!?