Doctor Who - Age of Steel
May. 20th, 2006 07:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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foulds and I walked across Oxford without getting attacked by giant bees and watched it like normal people. I have to admit to being curiously disappointed.
Firstly, massive kudos on the episode title. I love how Doctor Who episode titles are always either descriptive or campy. If they're allusive, it's still campy. But that said, I rather like this one. Simple and quite spooky (and possible Asimov allusion, but probably not). Anyway, moving on. I said I wouldn't pass judgement on the two-parter until I'd seen this one, and overall I think I liked it. No, scratch that, I did like. It was fast-paced and intricately plotted and clever and fun. I will always prefer episodes like School Reunion and Girl Inna Fireplace, but that doesn't mean I didn't like these two. They were good stuff. The only thing I didn't like was the tendency to be too pantomime-ish - rubbing one's hands together and saying "Excell-ent!" is hamming it up in all possible universes - and the way the drama sometimes has to be shoehorned in. More on that anon. Stuff I liked:
-the lighting. Oh, the lighting. So beautiful. It's dark and dim, but with bright electric lights fitting the theme of steel against the city backdrop. The smoke in the night scenes is a bit of a cheap trick to diffuse the light, but it does work, very well.
-but, okay. TARDIS ex machina yet again! Why is it always some doohickey from the TARDIS that saves the day! Not a good way to resolve a cliffhanger at all. I was displeased.
-I did like the scene in the van, though. The "Scooby Doo!" crack was fun, as was the reveal that Pete was Gemini, and aww, poor Doctor, no one wants to know who he is so he has to introduce himself.
-Mickey vs. Ricky; poor guy. Poor both of them, actually. I read a rumour that in the original rendering, Ricky and Jake were supposed to be together, but the idea was scrapped because of the whole plot, alternate-version-of-canon-character-turns-out-to-be-gay, was too much like the Buffy episode Doppelgangland. I have no idea how true that is.
-Rose wasn't going to get her parents back whatever happened. I'm glad they didn't sugarcoat that.
-I think it wasn't quite right, for the Doctor to give Mickey nothing to do despite the fact he's done a better job so far than the Doctor and Rose have. But I did like the "tin dog!" reference once again, and Mickey's decision to go charging off with Jake.
-the Doctor and Mrs Moore made such a wonderful double act! I found the whole bit where they were going through the cooling tunnel very creepy. The Cybermen are creepy if they're in the right light, and that was exactly the right light. The head lamps and torches made the whole thing very spooky. I was jerked about by it. And the conversation they have, about names, and families, was sweet. Interesting, that she didn't ask the Doctor's real name.
-ah, Doctor Who and its UTTER DISREGARD for science. "Emotional inhibiter" is just classic, and, well, it works. That's the theme they want to express, so they'll use any amount of bad science to get there. Bless them. And the scene with the dying Cyberman was curiously poignant.
-Mrs Moore died and I did not see it coming at all. Why must all the nice minor characters die? I really liked her, too. Boo.
-the Cyberman-formerly-known-as-Jackie was rather creepy. Actually, all the scenes with the "human upgrades" were creepy. The way the people stepped into flames and into the way of giant swishing blades really got to me. Eee.
-Jake and Mickey were a good double act, too! I liked the brief crack about looking for some control that has "TRANSMISSION CONTROL" on it in really big letters, and whaddaya know, they do find one!
-the Doctor is so snarky, sniping at Pete and Rose for being caught so they can't come and rescue him! And the reveal of Lumic of the Cybercontroller is genius. The lights in its eyes are such a silly detail, but it's a silly detail that works. I was impressed.
-I was also impressed with the writing here; the Doctor dances about and drops hints to Mickey and comes off as lunatic and sinister all at once and I love it. I also love that hubris or no hubris, he doesn't fall for a single second for the "no pain" argument. Bless him.
-Bless Mickey too. He gets it, he really does, he's not an idiot, and damn it, I really like him. Huh.
-the Cyberman on the Zeppelin ladder seemed a bit like padding, to be honest. Still, I liked Pete doing what he did "for Jackie!"
-and it's the end, and Rose can't convince Pete. Thank god for that. I don't think it would have worked, showing Pete the inside of the TARDIS. But it might have worked to show it to Jake! That was what I'd hoped, for a minute, especially when the two of them showed up with the Doctor's ordinary clothes. (Talking of which, I totally called that, I did! I said the Doctor was going to have to spend all the rest of his life in a tux!)
-Mickey being left behind was the hot prediction for this episode, and yes, okay, you were all right but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't like it for Mickey himself, because just when he wasn't being useless and instead being very likeable, he leaves, and not to replace himself, either. What's he going to tell his gran when she asks why his friends call him "Mickey", now? But mostly I don't like it because the Doctor and Rose, who were finally getting out of that irritating, irritating cliquey just-the-two-of-us mindset, are now going straight back into it like Sarah Jane, Reinette and Mickey were all for nothing. They work better with three no matter who the third one is. (Bring back Jack! Waaah.)
-Still, the scene where Mickey and Jake drive off to Paris was rather sweet. (And, Mickey dear, Paris is a good place to pick for a first date. Just sayin'.)
-And also sweet, in a diferent way, was the scene in Rose's original flat. It worked so well, with Rose hugging Jackie and talking to an almost laconic, little-bit-sinister Doctor. "Mickey's gone home." Yes, he has. And when they leave again, Jackie's going to be thinking, whether or not they tell her the full story, one down, one to go...
I've rambled enough. A good episode, that one, although I'm really going to miss Mickey now. Because that really means he won't be in any more episodes! And - just a thought - it might mean there are less episodes in London 2006 (2007 now, I guess), because I don't think Jackie could hold them up her own. Aww, Mickey. We hardly knew thee.
Yes, yes, enough ramble. I must go and do some work now, not that my sinuses and indeed all my other organs are going to let me, and in other news, the anonymous love meme is back up and running. Go and play and I'll tell you how much I love you.
foulds and I walked across Oxford without getting attacked by giant bees and watched it like normal people. I have to admit to being curiously disappointed.Firstly, massive kudos on the episode title. I love how Doctor Who episode titles are always either descriptive or campy. If they're allusive, it's still campy. But that said, I rather like this one. Simple and quite spooky (and possible Asimov allusion, but probably not). Anyway, moving on. I said I wouldn't pass judgement on the two-parter until I'd seen this one, and overall I think I liked it. No, scratch that, I did like. It was fast-paced and intricately plotted and clever and fun. I will always prefer episodes like School Reunion and Girl Inna Fireplace, but that doesn't mean I didn't like these two. They were good stuff. The only thing I didn't like was the tendency to be too pantomime-ish - rubbing one's hands together and saying "Excell-ent!" is hamming it up in all possible universes - and the way the drama sometimes has to be shoehorned in. More on that anon. Stuff I liked:
-the lighting. Oh, the lighting. So beautiful. It's dark and dim, but with bright electric lights fitting the theme of steel against the city backdrop. The smoke in the night scenes is a bit of a cheap trick to diffuse the light, but it does work, very well.
-but, okay. TARDIS ex machina yet again! Why is it always some doohickey from the TARDIS that saves the day! Not a good way to resolve a cliffhanger at all. I was displeased.
-I did like the scene in the van, though. The "Scooby Doo!" crack was fun, as was the reveal that Pete was Gemini, and aww, poor Doctor, no one wants to know who he is so he has to introduce himself.
-Mickey vs. Ricky; poor guy. Poor both of them, actually. I read a rumour that in the original rendering, Ricky and Jake were supposed to be together, but the idea was scrapped because of the whole plot, alternate-version-of-canon-character-turns-out-to-be-gay, was too much like the Buffy episode Doppelgangland. I have no idea how true that is.
-Rose wasn't going to get her parents back whatever happened. I'm glad they didn't sugarcoat that.
-I think it wasn't quite right, for the Doctor to give Mickey nothing to do despite the fact he's done a better job so far than the Doctor and Rose have. But I did like the "tin dog!" reference once again, and Mickey's decision to go charging off with Jake.
-the Doctor and Mrs Moore made such a wonderful double act! I found the whole bit where they were going through the cooling tunnel very creepy. The Cybermen are creepy if they're in the right light, and that was exactly the right light. The head lamps and torches made the whole thing very spooky. I was jerked about by it. And the conversation they have, about names, and families, was sweet. Interesting, that she didn't ask the Doctor's real name.
-ah, Doctor Who and its UTTER DISREGARD for science. "Emotional inhibiter" is just classic, and, well, it works. That's the theme they want to express, so they'll use any amount of bad science to get there. Bless them. And the scene with the dying Cyberman was curiously poignant.
-Mrs Moore died and I did not see it coming at all. Why must all the nice minor characters die? I really liked her, too. Boo.
-the Cyberman-formerly-known-as-Jackie was rather creepy. Actually, all the scenes with the "human upgrades" were creepy. The way the people stepped into flames and into the way of giant swishing blades really got to me. Eee.
-Jake and Mickey were a good double act, too! I liked the brief crack about looking for some control that has "TRANSMISSION CONTROL" on it in really big letters, and whaddaya know, they do find one!
-the Doctor is so snarky, sniping at Pete and Rose for being caught so they can't come and rescue him! And the reveal of Lumic of the Cybercontroller is genius. The lights in its eyes are such a silly detail, but it's a silly detail that works. I was impressed.
-I was also impressed with the writing here; the Doctor dances about and drops hints to Mickey and comes off as lunatic and sinister all at once and I love it. I also love that hubris or no hubris, he doesn't fall for a single second for the "no pain" argument. Bless him.
-Bless Mickey too. He gets it, he really does, he's not an idiot, and damn it, I really like him. Huh.
-the Cyberman on the Zeppelin ladder seemed a bit like padding, to be honest. Still, I liked Pete doing what he did "for Jackie!"
-and it's the end, and Rose can't convince Pete. Thank god for that. I don't think it would have worked, showing Pete the inside of the TARDIS. But it might have worked to show it to Jake! That was what I'd hoped, for a minute, especially when the two of them showed up with the Doctor's ordinary clothes. (Talking of which, I totally called that, I did! I said the Doctor was going to have to spend all the rest of his life in a tux!)
-Mickey being left behind was the hot prediction for this episode, and yes, okay, you were all right but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't like it for Mickey himself, because just when he wasn't being useless and instead being very likeable, he leaves, and not to replace himself, either. What's he going to tell his gran when she asks why his friends call him "Mickey", now? But mostly I don't like it because the Doctor and Rose, who were finally getting out of that irritating, irritating cliquey just-the-two-of-us mindset, are now going straight back into it like Sarah Jane, Reinette and Mickey were all for nothing. They work better with three no matter who the third one is. (Bring back Jack! Waaah.)
-Still, the scene where Mickey and Jake drive off to Paris was rather sweet. (And, Mickey dear, Paris is a good place to pick for a first date. Just sayin'.)
-And also sweet, in a diferent way, was the scene in Rose's original flat. It worked so well, with Rose hugging Jackie and talking to an almost laconic, little-bit-sinister Doctor. "Mickey's gone home." Yes, he has. And when they leave again, Jackie's going to be thinking, whether or not they tell her the full story, one down, one to go...
I've rambled enough. A good episode, that one, although I'm really going to miss Mickey now. Because that really means he won't be in any more episodes! And - just a thought - it might mean there are less episodes in London 2006 (2007 now, I guess), because I don't think Jackie could hold them up her own. Aww, Mickey. We hardly knew thee.
Yes, yes, enough ramble. I must go and do some work now, not that my sinuses and indeed all my other organs are going to let me, and in other news, the anonymous love meme is back up and running. Go and play and I'll tell you how much I love you.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2006-05-20 07:41 pm (UTC)Now folks.....you could have won this wonderful cybercontroller on a dralon sofa if you had just...
no subject
on 2006-05-20 08:27 pm (UTC)exactly what i thought. i burst out laughing at that moment.
no subject
on 2006-05-20 08:29 pm (UTC)It was a bit camp really - and the mechanism the "cyber settee" was on was a but juddery and not unlike Sale of the Century.
;)
I kept expecting Nicholas Parsons to crop up but he already cameoed in "Wolves of Fenric".
Other than this - it was a fantastic episode :D
no subject
on 2006-05-21 12:53 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-20 10:00 pm (UTC)Mickey has Rose's phone, though. That can't be meaningless, right? (My current theory is that all the parallel universes are going to merge at the end of the series. Then, this might be a consequence of over-exposure to
no subject
on 2006-05-20 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-20 11:56 pm (UTC)I miss Jack too! *pouts*
no subject
on 2006-05-20 10:35 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-20 11:57 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-21 02:48 am (UTC)I need to get away from this history gig.
no subject
on 2006-05-21 09:46 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-21 08:46 am (UTC)We need angsty Jake/Mickey in which they save the world one city/cyberfactory at a time.
Just saying...
no subject
on 2006-05-21 09:46 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-21 09:12 am (UTC)*squee*
I liked it!
Apart from the silly TARDIS machine doodad saving them that was bad I agree, wouldn't it have been better if maybe Mrs. Moore had crashing into some of them in GIANT van and then they hopped in...
But then again maybe that wouldn't work...
OH WELL.
Did you see the lottery after?
no subject
on 2006-05-21 09:47 pm (UTC)(And yes! Mrs Moore in her van! Would have been awesome. *g*)
no subject
on 2006-05-21 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-21 09:47 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-21 06:27 pm (UTC)I'm no scientist, but liked the idea that the emotional inhibiter was placed next to the heart, a concept which seemed very appropriate.
no subject
on 2006-05-21 09:48 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2006-05-21 10:42 pm (UTC)I totally called Mrs. Moore dying. Of course she did; I liked her. Would've liked seeing her as a companion.
However, I didn't think Jackie would have been turned into a Cyberman (Cyberwoman?). When she spoke and revealed herself, I thought for sure it was just the Cybermen trying to manipulate Pete and Rose, and they'd find Jackie, unconverted, at any moment after that. Huh. Guess not.
no subject
on 2006-05-23 10:45 pm (UTC)Everyone seems to have liked the Cyber!Jackie moment. I liked it myself; it was a very interesting use of the idea.