Doctor Who - The Christmas Invasion

[raven]

Oh my god, that was fantastic. No pun intended. But it was. It was worth the wait - since June, oh-muh-guh! - and scary and hilarious and silly and touching and oh-my-god, it was brilliant. And I have been waiting so long to make this particular LJ cut.

To start with, everything about it was on just the right note. The beginning, the same zoom on London from space as in Rose, was a nice touch. Then, they got the run-up to Christmas just right, what with the tinsel draped over everything and the healthy dose of Slade in the background. And I love the way it carried straight on from Children In Need, with the crash landing (which I don't think they ever did in old-skool Who) and Ten still in the leather jacket.

And a pause for me to sigh wistfully and say, "Oh, Doctor." I still have that weakness for my favourite characters getting whumped. And Ten, or, as I am now going to call him, the Doctor, is as beautifully whumpable as Five. There were hints of Castrovalva and the almost-botched regeneration, but only hints. Which are good. I thought Jackie suddenly deciding to show the Doctor some tender loving care was rather sweet.

The Beeb tricked us, after all - the demonic Santas and falling Christmas tree weren't actually that integral to the plot after all, despite the Confidential on the boxset. The whirling Christmas tree was also a bit inexplicable - I mean, why? - but Jackie's line, "I'm going to be killed by a Christmas tree," almost made it worth it. And the Doctor waking up and then relapsing also appealed to the same part of me that likes Five so much. Nothing against Tennant any more, please, 'cause he is the Doctor.

Um, other things I liked:

-the apple in the dressing gown, and both Rose and the Doctor getting very distracted over the issue of pyjamas and dressing-gowns. Also, another thought - that means Rose and Jackie must have undressed the Doctor while he was unconscious. What did they do with the leather jacket, I wonder? Is it even still in the TARDIS?

-Harriet Jones! I love how she still thinks she has to introduce herself to everyone she meets. And the running gag, "We know who you are," extends even to the Sycorax*! Penelope Wilton is just fantastic as staunch British no-nonsense Prime Minister. And the continuous references to how the PM won't kowtow to the American president never fail to make me happy. (Not as much as the 45-minute gag in Aliens of London, but almost.)

-"There is an Act of Parliament banning my autobiography." Heeeee.

-The initial wackiness of the Sycorax translation. "People! Or maybe cattle..." I always used to get annoyed by the perfect translations in Star Trek, so that's a nice change.

-The TARDIS translator not working. No doubt there will be OG wank about that's not how the translator works, but I thought it was a nice way of emphasising how far gone the Doctor is, and his importance to the entire enterprise.

-The people climbing to the high-rise buildings. That was, for lack of a better word, chilling. It was properly scary in a way rubber monsters aren't scary, and Daniel Llewellyn claiming it was all his fault made it scarier.

-UNIT are now in the Tower of London! Who knew? (Am I the only one disappointed about no reference to the Brigadier?)

-The Torchwood references. I guess Jack isn't with them yet, because he would have checked Rose's flat already, but I liked them regardless.

-Rose's lapse into despair. That rang true, I thought, and was well done, and it was in character for her to want to save Mickey and Jackie and the Doctor even if everyone else dies.

-the hug between Harriet and Rose was sweet, I thought. They look so pleased to see each other. But that scene is mostly scary; the bones actually rattle when the Sycorax kill those people!

-Did anyone else think the vista of London as seen below the ship was taken straight from the Eastenders credits?

-There is still scaffolding on Big Ben, presumably from Aliens of London. Yay, continuity!

-And the Doctor comes round. Awww, bless him and his identity crisis. But I thought that a lot of this episode was very dark in tone, and no more so in what the Doctor says. "I don't know what sort of man I am," he remarks, and lists a lot of things he might be, but here's the thing: they were all negative. I seem to remember "traitor", "gambler" and "nervous wreck" among others, but none of them were good things to be. Interesting hangover from Nine.

-Swordfighting in a pyjamas and a dressing gown! That was fun, but I whimpered a bit when he said, "You've cut off my hand." Eeeek. And the hand growing back wasn't any less unsettling!

-And I got chills when he said, "No second chances. That's the sort of man I am." I do hope they run with that. Dark!Doctor! Yay.

-the Doctor has MET ARTHUR DENT. OHMYGODLOVE.

But a brief digression for a moment - the one thing I didn't like about the episode was the big massive plot hole. Initially, the Sycorax are after the Doctor, which explains the "pilot fish" sent after Rose and Mickey and the pronoun "they" used in the message. But then they don't seem to know what the TARDIS is or who the Doctor is, and have changed their minds in favour of all-out global conquest. What's going on there?

-Back on Earth, there is joy, and I did like Harriet calling him, "My Doctor." Even Jackie gets a hug from him! He seems a whole lot more touchy-feely than his predecessor, which can only bring further joy.

-Torchwood destroy the ship! Fuck, that was dark. I don't know the exact line, but it's something like: "The monsters are coming. The human race!" - and that was dark. I liked how cleverly the Doctor destroys Harriet's career, and it's a personal sort of revenge, but it doesn't adress this new "monstrous" view of the human race. I'm hoping for lots of Doctor/Torchwood conflict. That would be of the good.

-The TARDIS wardrobe is every bit as amazing as anything anyone's ever surmised about it. And I was pleased to notice the Doctor considering a very long scarf, even if he did finally reject it in favour of the indie chic thing. And it's interesting to note that this Doctor has no problem about having dinner with Rose and her family, down to cracker-pulling.

And, finally - those lovely Christmas promo shots, with the snow coming down, and it wasn't snow at all! Its being ash instead made for an intruigingly irreverent ending. Mickey's still a bit of an idiot. But Rose is still Rose, and the Doctor is ohmygod amazing, and in short I can't wait for the new series.

(The trailer for which was fantastic, too: Cybermen! Sarah-Jane! ASH! That kiss! Wonderful.)

That was worth Christmas. Why can't it be spring already?

---

*Spelling from the subtitles, so it is right.

Comments

[bekkypk.livejournal.com]

I'm too excited to read the whole lot (trust me, my attention span is virtually NIL right now, maybe laterkthnxbye) but OMGZ YES. And the odd comparison to Five? True. *nod*
xx

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I think we're all a bit overexcited. Just yay for new Who!

[cavalorn.livejournal.com]

Initially, the Sycorax are after the Doctor, which explains the "pilot fish" sent after Rose and Mickey and the pronoun "they" used in the message.

The pilot fish were a different race altogether. They just followed the discharges of 'Tardis energy' that the Doctor kept breathing out. The Sycorax followed behind the pilot fish to see what they were after, caught the Guinevere probe, and went 'aha, rich planet, let's take it'.

... well, that's what I thought was going on. :)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

That explains a lot, thank you, but still, why "they" in the message?

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

The effect when the Santas disappear is identical to the Sycorax teleporter, though.

[me-ves-y-sufres.livejournal.com]

I liked it a lot, but I felt a little saddened at what they did to Harriet. I felt a bit uncomfortable when she was all "I represent the human race!". I like that they sort of went in a different direction at the end, with the Torchwood thing. It was all very Belgrano.

I did like the mess ups with the translation, yes. And the bit with the people climbing the buildings also freaked me the hell out.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm with you there. I really liked Harriet, damn it. But I sort of think that they pulled it off better than they might otherwise have done with the Torchwood link.

[melata-fic.livejournal.com]

Yay, a coherent review! *grin*

Sounds like it's gonna be great.

(And of course the Doctor has met Arthur Dent. *giggle*)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

You haven't seen it yet? Poor child. But I'm jealous that you have it all still to come!

[eternalwings.livejournal.com]

Oh MY GOD WHERE WAS THE ARTHUR DENT REFERENCE!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Just after the Sycorax leader has fallen off the ship, the Doctor's talking about finding a satsuma in his dressing gown pocket and then mentions something about how the dressing gown reminds him of that nice man Arthur Dent...

I squeed.

[robette-wild.livejournal.com]

*cries*

*tries to avoid spoilers*

the stupid dvd recorder managed to record the whole thing... without sound! just typical. >:(

hope you're having a good holiday, not too disturbed by the wailing you can probably hear all the way up north XD

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I wondered what the strange keening sound was, and oh my. I am so sorry! Are they repeating it?

[calapine.livejournal.com]

Swordfighting in a pyjamas and a dressing gown!

Right now I can't possibly believe there is anything better than this in the entire universe ever, yes. *nods*

I do hope they run with that. Dark!Doctor! Yay.

While I agree with virtually everything else, that's the one thing I desperately hope they don't do. I want a nice, happy, cheering hero of goodness, yes. Ahem.

The trailer for which was fantastic, too: Cybermen! Sarah-Jane! ASH! That kiss! Wonderful.

Eek! Yes! And I didn't get to see it properly for there was talking during it and now the telly has been kidnapped by A Soap, forshame.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

The only thing better was the Arthur Dent reference, because, well, omg.

Nine wasn't a cheering hero of goodness. I do hope Ten is an improvement on him, so in that respect we are agreed. And the preview trailer was just awesome. :)

[chains-of-irony.livejournal.com]

It was wonderful! But I miss the old doctor... and where's Jack? And gah...

When are they playing it again? I've only just started watching repeats of the last series!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Jack is alive and that is all we know. Except Torchwood, of course.

The old series is still on UK Gold; the new one from about March on BBC1, I think. Can't wait, myself...

[bekkypk.livejournal.com]

Incidently sweetie - http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/photostories/xmas/images/2docs.jpg
XD!!!!
xx

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

OMG! That's brilliant! Heee. A cameo would've been good, but you can't have everything. :)

[tmpe5t.livejournal.com]

The 'Harriet zaps the space-ship thing was deliberatly very Belgrano. Ultimately Harriet had to make a choice, and her choice was the Ripley choice. 'It's the only way to be sure'... The Doc likes to get on his high horse about stuff like that, but well, we don't have a high horse, and while he's here a lot, he's not here all the time, and We need to look after ourselves. Sort of thing... I understand why she did it, and i understand why he was narked....
And yeah, Arthur Dent!! 'lovely bloke' yaaaay!!! I love the idea of Arthur hitching a lift, and the silliness of the hitchhikers universe being part of the Whoniverse...
Star Wars anyone? Did they nick the Torchwood ap gun thing off the Death Star or what?
'Sycorax Rock!' That means that they, er rock... :-D

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

We already knew the Guide universe was a part of the Whoniverse, I guess, but it's just fantastic to have it confirmed again.

Can't say about the Death Star - I never quite finished watching Star Wars...

[shipperkitten.livejournal.com]

Heehee!

For me the verdict is still out on Tennant as the Doctor... his facial expressions scare me a little bit! ;)

The spaceship going over London amused me... I was like "Hey, it's Hyde Park! I can see my halls! It's over my halls!" and was very glad I was at home! ;)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

And Eccleston's didn't?! Holy crap. *g* That man's grin could scare seagulls.

I love the whole British aspect to the show. You never get quite the same thrill on tv shows where New York or LA are destroyed by aliens yet again, yawn...

[gwynnega]

Ten does seem Five-ish in many ways. And I squeed at the scarf! :-)

And the trailer!!!!!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I missed hathy_col, for there was so much opportunity for the Dance of Backstory... even the trailer had Sarah Jane!

[amchau.livejournal.com]

That's it. I am fully vindicated in being a wholehearted Doctor/Arthur shipper. (Not that I was, but dammit, I am now.) THEY HAVE MET. IT IS CANON. (sorry about the shouting). SQUEEE!!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

And clearly, you must write it! *g*

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

And the way he looks at her in that ending shot is just... I can not wait to see what they have up their sleeves...

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Eeee, neither can I. The new series can't come soon enough.

[the-acrobat.livejournal.com]

So, I just watched it, and, um... I think I need to buy a television.
:P

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Yes, you do! *G* He's such a good Doctor, and I'm childishly pleased that you liked it. :)

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

Arthur. Oh, God, Arthur. ;) You really should've seen the look on my face...

And, finally - those lovely Christmas promo shots, with the snow coming down, and it wasn't snow at all! Its being ash instead made for an intruigingly irreverent ending.

I can't think of ashfall without picturing Eastern Washington getting blanketed with it after Mt. St. Helens erupted... eerie sort of thing to remember.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I suspect it was something like the look on mine. Sort of "eee!"

That's a much more contemporary association than mine: I thought Pompeii. :) I liked it in the show because it was a way to have the traditional "it's snowing!" ending without being an all-out cliché.

[tau_sigma]

Ooh, fantastic, yes (having finally seen it only last night!). I like reading your reviews, you put into words so much of what I feel but have no idea how to express.

I also liked the people/cattle translation uncertainty, although I did think it got a little too accurate after that. The 'they will die - it's definately the right pronoun' felt a bit dubious to me, considering the variety of pronouns and pronoun usage across all the languages on Earth. But I also liked the people/cattle uncertainty for the vague implication it gave of the Sycorax mindset and view of the human race.

The people standing, ready to jump, was indeed chilling, and creepy, and ... *shivers*

I also loved Rose's attempts to save the planet, despite her despair. I have to admit, for a while I was vaguely irritated with Rose: she seemed to be very much depending on the Doctor, and unwilling to think and act for herself, which didn't seem to ring true with her speech in the cafe at the end of the last series. But then, she had had a mindblowing few hours. Anyway, I loved the return to the Rose who'll fight even if she knows it's pretty much hopeless.

The plot hole, I don't know... from other people's reviews, and from the idea of what pilot fish are, it seems reasonable to assume that perhaps they and the Sycorax are entirely independant entities, not necessarily after the same thing, but more sort of coexisting in a harmonious relationship and both benefitting from the protection/other things that they can perhaps offer one another? Something like that, anyway, I'm not entirely sure that made sense.

And finally, the kiss? What kiss? How on Earth did I miss that? I keep seeing icons of it, but I swear I didn't notice that while watching... *wanders off to watch TCI again* - any excuse! *g*

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's sweet. :) I love having the omg-must-review feeling again.

I'm with you on the pronoun thing; some languages don't even have them (Hindi is one, so I have the bitter experience :)) and it's hard to see how they could have that level of precision. Still, let 'em have their dramatic license.

I don't know if you're an SG-1 fan - it was my first fandom, back in the day! - but it's the only other show I've ever seen with translation anxiety. One of my favourite quotes from the show is: "I think it means 'the place of our legacy'. Um... it could also be 'piece of our leg'..."

Ah, Rose comes through in the end, even if she is driven to despair. Also, as far as we know, Parting of the Ways has only just happened, right? She's having a bad day, poor girl.

The kiss! Right at the end of the trailer! I direct you here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/time_and_chips/1202914.html).

[rhipowered.livejournal.com]

There is still scaffolding on Big Ben, presumably from Aliens of London. Yay, continuity!

Didn't notice that...will have to go back and look.