Doctor Who - Army of Ghosts
Jul. 1st, 2006 08:18 pmWow. That was really, really good.
No, it really was! I didn't like the prologue very much - I thought it was a tad schmaltzy - but I think it might shift into context after next week's. We shall see. But for now, stuff I liked specifically about that one:
-Jackie kissing the Doctor, heee. And he's such a boy about it, wiping it off disgustedly. Heh.
-the ghost effects. I thought they were marvellously creepy, especially as they look all elongated and naked, like full-size versions of the Roswell greys.
-the montage on television that the Doctor flicks through! I liked the flashes of Hindi - understandable Hindi, at that! - and Japanese interspersed with Trisha and Peggy Mitchell! It was so, so note-perfect and well-observed.
-the two Torchwood minions, Gareth and Adi, having their little clandestine rendezvous, and Yvonne letting them!
-Yvonne in general, in fact. What a good villain - irritating, subtly menacing (Her saying, "Oh, yes," when the Doctor asks if he's a prisoner was pretty creepy), and with amazingly bouffant hair. And with moments of humanity, like above where she approves of Gareth and Adi.
-In fact, the Torchwood Institute in general. I like the bright white light and the glass, all very twenty-first century, juxtaposed with imperial units and scary imperialism!
-The Doctor explaining that Rose looked into the Time Vortex and aged herself fifty-seven years. Heh.
-the Sphere. I think that's a great idea - something that doesn't exist, and creeps everyone out in the process. I love the concept of things that subconsciously make people frightened, and this was a great take on it. Again with the funky juxtaposition - I like this sinister artefact juxtaposed with Rajesh, who is so bored he's on Su-Doku book no. 509.
-the computer saying "Online" at the start of the Ghost Shift. I just like the details.
-the Doctor's explanation of what the Void is. The mention of hell was intriguing - Satan Pit reference? - but it really got me when he cracked the glass. Surprisingly for Doctor Who, this makes sense. Of course, it makes sense as in the hairline-cracks-in-reality-oh-so-bad-science type of sense, but still. The shattering glass is pretty damn good.
-MICKEY! Oh, lovely, lovely Mickey, defending the earth! Rose is a bit useless in this - although he does try - but he is just marvellous. The reveal that "Samuel" is him - look at that grin! - is the most marvellous part.
-"They're dead." Before, the Doctor wouldn't have killed them like that, even if he did apologise. This is a newer, ruthless Doctor. I like it.
-the Cybermen! All over the world! And killing the newsreaders! Ohmygod so good.
-And the Daleks are in the Sphere! Ohmygod.
In conclusion, yes! It was really, really good! Roll on next week!
No, it really was! I didn't like the prologue very much - I thought it was a tad schmaltzy - but I think it might shift into context after next week's. We shall see. But for now, stuff I liked specifically about that one:
-Jackie kissing the Doctor, heee. And he's such a boy about it, wiping it off disgustedly. Heh.
-the ghost effects. I thought they were marvellously creepy, especially as they look all elongated and naked, like full-size versions of the Roswell greys.
-the montage on television that the Doctor flicks through! I liked the flashes of Hindi - understandable Hindi, at that! - and Japanese interspersed with Trisha and Peggy Mitchell! It was so, so note-perfect and well-observed.
-the two Torchwood minions, Gareth and Adi, having their little clandestine rendezvous, and Yvonne letting them!
-Yvonne in general, in fact. What a good villain - irritating, subtly menacing (Her saying, "Oh, yes," when the Doctor asks if he's a prisoner was pretty creepy), and with amazingly bouffant hair. And with moments of humanity, like above where she approves of Gareth and Adi.
-In fact, the Torchwood Institute in general. I like the bright white light and the glass, all very twenty-first century, juxtaposed with imperial units and scary imperialism!
-The Doctor explaining that Rose looked into the Time Vortex and aged herself fifty-seven years. Heh.
-the Sphere. I think that's a great idea - something that doesn't exist, and creeps everyone out in the process. I love the concept of things that subconsciously make people frightened, and this was a great take on it. Again with the funky juxtaposition - I like this sinister artefact juxtaposed with Rajesh, who is so bored he's on Su-Doku book no. 509.
-the computer saying "Online" at the start of the Ghost Shift. I just like the details.
-the Doctor's explanation of what the Void is. The mention of hell was intriguing - Satan Pit reference? - but it really got me when he cracked the glass. Surprisingly for Doctor Who, this makes sense. Of course, it makes sense as in the hairline-cracks-in-reality-oh-so-bad-science type of sense, but still. The shattering glass is pretty damn good.
-MICKEY! Oh, lovely, lovely Mickey, defending the earth! Rose is a bit useless in this - although he does try - but he is just marvellous. The reveal that "Samuel" is him - look at that grin! - is the most marvellous part.
-"They're dead." Before, the Doctor wouldn't have killed them like that, even if he did apologise. This is a newer, ruthless Doctor. I like it.
-the Cybermen! All over the world! And killing the newsreaders! Ohmygod so good.
-And the Daleks are in the Sphere! Ohmygod.
In conclusion, yes! It was really, really good! Roll on next week!
no subject
on 2006-07-02 07:41 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-07-02 08:00 am (UTC)