It’s another evening with the Doctor and the TARDIS… well, sort of.
What did you think of tonight’s episode, which was written by some guy named Gaiman. (Apparently has written a bunch of books and won Hugos, World Fantasy Awards and Newberry Prizes. Never heard of him.) Let us know what you think in the comments section.
We expect the TARDIS file will materialize by next Tuesday, provided the House hasn’t eaten it.
Posted by Graeme on Saturday, May 14 at 3:00 pm
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15 Comments...
I thought it was incredible, and I’ll be honest - I wasn’t expecting to think that. Gaiman has been connected to writing a DW episode since about 2008, and there’s simply no way, I thought, that an episode would live up to the high expectations that were set. Certainly William Gibson’s X-Files episode didn’t (using an example of another long-awaited story).
The Doctor’s Wife proved me wrong. This is the new “Blink” as far as I’m concerned - the episode to show people who’ve never seen DW before. Yes, to them it would be slightly baffling. But not too much - the humanity in the episode is terrific.
As for the things we learn - questions answered after decades - I lost count. I’m going to Spacecast.com every 5 minutes anxiously awaiting the streaming version so I can watch it again.
The only problem I had with the episode was this should have been a two-parter. Or a 90-minute special. That said, it certainly felt longer than 45 minutes, and that’s a good thing.
It’s sad Gaiman has been quoted as saying this story is the type that can only be done once. I suppose that’s true. But would anyone really complain if they found a way to bring Suranne Jones back?
It’s interesting that last season the celebrity writer was Richard Curtis and he delivered the romantic, heart-wrenching Vincent and the Doctor. And now the second celebrity writer does it again with The Doctor’s Wife.
Posted by Alex on 05/14 at 04:21 PM
WOW!!! This episode was worth the wait! Great work!
It had a touch of “Coraline” (which makes me think Neil Gaiman may be related to Tim Burton).
Rory now has me thinking different questions from the first two episodes about how Amy’s future will effect the Doctor’s.
It also has me thinking about how we each have a “butterfly effect” on other people’s lives. Please remember to use your powers for good…
Posted by TinDog2005 on 05/14 at 04:35 PM
Case in point about catching things on the second go. I just saw the last few minutes again (thanks to them being YouTubed - they won’t be up for long
and I honestly never heard what it was Idris said when she was disappearing at the end. That will definitely get some people talking!
Posted by Alex on 05/14 at 05:11 PM
Best episode of the season so far. Loved the creepy cyberpunk-Beckett vibe of Auntie & Uncle. Best bit: the Tardis calls the Doctor her thief. Now that’s hot!
Posted by Jimmy on 05/15 at 03:21 AM
I just watched Spacecast.com’s streaming version. You can’t hear the TARDIS say “I love you” when Idris vanishes (and I know I couldn’t hear it during the broadcast), but it’s clear as day on the YouTube version taken from the BBC showing. Interesting…
Posted by Alex on 05/15 at 07:06 AM
Alex - you could hear it on the SPACE broadcast…but very very faintly with the volume cranked up high!
Loved the episode overall. Although, I’m beginning to wonder if we should start taking bets on the method of Rory’s demise in next week’s episode, lol.
Hopefully Ryan is a little less sad this week…the Doc was somewhat calmer and introspective, and I must say I do prefer him this way - a nice compromise.
And it made me so happy to see the Tenth Doctor’s control room again!
Neil Gaiman had said this episode would “make you cry”...and I cry at the drop of a hat. Must admit I actually didn’t cry the first time, but on my second viewing I was tearing up.
Very nicely done, the whole thing.
Posted by Julie on 05/16 at 02:24 AM
Good episode, but the battle is on for the most death scenes in Doctor Who. There’s The Doctor himself, Captain Jack, and Rory.
Posted by Doug Grandy on 05/16 at 06:17 AM
@Julie Yeah, they definitely used a different sound mix on Space in that scene. I watched the Spacecast streaming version and you could barely hear it. But again the BBC version it’s quite clear. I’ve noticed very few North American reviews have referenced a rather key statement - we’ve only heard the L-word used once before in addressing the Doctor and in much the same context, actually, which I’d have thought would have been picked up on.
Re: They Keep Killing Rory (with apologies to Torchwood). I wouldn’t put it past Moffat establishing a somewhat sick running gag, but part of me wonders if this isn’t part of a larger game plan.
Anyway, as I see it the episode has probably sparked two major fan debates: 1. Should we now consider the TARDIS an actual companion? After all, she’s more sentient than Kamelion and arguably K-9 and THEY count. And 2. I’ve already seen a couple of websites referring to the TARDIS by the name given to her by the Doctor - it’s there on screen, in canon - “Sexy”. I actually would get a kick out of seeing all the online databases - the TARDIS Index File Wiki, Wikipedia, the BBC official website, changing all the references to the TARDIS to “Sexy”! It also, ironically, might now be incorrect to use “The” in the name, too. The Cushing films and some of the early comic strips referred to the ship simply as Tardis. Keep your ears open to see if the drop the article in future episodes (or indeed refer to her as Sexy again).
Posted by Alex on 05/16 at 09:50 AM
Dr. Who just keeps getting better! The Doctor’s Wife was a really creative and hilarious way for ‘Ms. TARDIS’ to get her say. AWESOME!
Posted by Abeth on 05/17 at 02:12 PM
Best Episode this season. I love the small little quips like Amy’s comment about Idris “the TARDIS a woman did you wish really really hard”. Also in Season 4 Rose said to Sarah Jane “Do you two want to be alone?” Fun stuff like that in the middle of serious drama makes for a great show.
I also liked the possible satire of “House” toward the American TV show House. The patchwork people, House fixes you when you break, and the mean person that plays mind games all seemed to play into this satire. I have an over active imagination here so don’t get any ideas. By the way I love it when the TARDIS annihilated House.
You got to love the bunk beds playing into the male rivalry. This brings back memories of Noel Clarke (Mickey) and David Tennant.
Thanks for the info about Idris saying “I love you” I totally miss that.
Posted by Alan on 05/18 at 04:44 PM
I loved this episode! It’s pretty much how I pictured the way for the TARDIS to talk. I am a tad disappointed they didn’t throw in a tidbit that suggested Idris knew the Doctor’s real name. And if I’m not mistaken, the scenes inside the TARDIS, with madness/hallucinations are a nod to Edge Of Destruction.
Posted by Ray on 05/19 at 05:04 PM
@Ray - Good catch! I never noticed the Edge of Destruction similarities. As for the TARDIS knowing his real name, maybe she does, but respects his wish it not be uttered. Or she doesn’t know it. The episode reveals, rather amusingly, that she doesn’t keep track of silly details like names.
Having now watched it 4 times this week (thank you Spacecast), one thing that strikes is that although it’s played for laughs, the scene where the TARDIS runs at the Doctor, kissing him, biting him, and then wanting to kiss him again, could go down as one of the all-out sweetest scenes in the show’s history. Think about it - the first thing that occurs to the TARDIS when she sees her Thief isn’t asking him what happened, or berating him for pushing the doors open - it’s to shower him with (awkward) affection. I thought that was rather cute.
Posted by Alex on 05/20 at 03:51 PM
Did anyone else notice that when the Doctor and Idris are in their TARDIS console room, the switches that the Doctor presses make the same sound as the TARDIS console of classic Who?
Posted by AndyBob on 05/21 at 05:59 PM
Nice catch Andy Bob about the lever. I am not sure of the sound of the new lever but that is the old sound. Speaking of sound I love the music in this episode. Great emotional stuff!
I will have to check out The Edge of Destruction. Thanks Ray. The name that Idris used did not correspond to the name given by Drax in the Armageddon Factor episode 5.
You have some great points Alex! That whole scene has to be one the all time sweetest scenes ever and it could be she was holding his name out of respect.
Posted by Alan on 05/22 at 11:59 AM
I’ve been thinking about it and I think the reason I find MS rather annoying is because he really is about as the exact opposite you can get to Peter Davison in terms of an actor playing the Doctor.
Davison’s performance is my favourite because it feels so real and true to me. His performance is at once understated by rich and full. His performance isn’t about overdoing things and being over the top times 11 likes MS’s is.
Davison is working the camera as a performer while Smith is more like MG’s music. An overt, broadway stage style. MS in front of a live crowd on stage would be fine because you are playing to the crowd but on TV the camera can pick up so much you don’t need to overplay it. I just watched Robot on the weekend and while Tom does overplay things in that story at times he doesn’t all the time to the degree the new series does with the Doctor be it MS or DT. Besides that’s only Tom’s first and he wasn’t quite as manic as that near as much after.
I’m not saying MS’s version of the Doctor isn’t a valid one as an interpretation of the role. Just one I don’t find particularly appealing. Who knows how much it is really just him alone or how the character is written? There is a combination between the two that is balanced off. Some of the lines and things he has to do don’t exactly leave a lot of room to maneuver. When you are given lines like “_____ are cool!” and “Spacey-Wacey.” there is only so much you can do!
Posted by Ryan on 05/24 at 05:56 AM
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