DW S4 Ep 8 & 9 Review

[tromana]

*flails a lot*

I really liked River as a protagonist. In fact, all the guest characters seemed well developed and pretty memorable - especially compared to some earlier in the series. (I can't remember anyone from Planet of the Ood, for example, apart from Ood Sigma and being rather annoyed by the GIANT BRAIN.) The cliffhanger at the end of Silence in the Library was great - was rather disappointed with the solution and using the 'squareness' gun. It seemed a little cop-outtish to me.

Liked the fact that people saved in the computer world landed up being what was represent on the Nodes. 

However - at the beginning there were more than 2 lifeforms in the library. Even if it is totally hygenic and 'Dr' Moon is able to eradicate every bacterial cell living in the library - there's plenty living *in* Donna and the Doctor. There's more bacterial cells in the human body than human cells.

I adore Steven Moffat's obsession with Timey Wimey Relationships. I found it rather poetic when River was describing the last time she'd seen 'her' Doctor and how upset he was and the fact she wasn't particularly impressed by this 'young Doctor'.

I get the impression it wasn't altogether liked - but I loved the running joke about spoilers. Who fandom is terrible with them, with half of us desperate to find out every tiny detail before the episode and half desperate to avoid anything. Plus, I'm worried about Donna now, I thought this last week before Donna brought it up in yesterdays episode, but the look on River's face when she found out who she was.

Ghosting seemed to be quite a horrific thing to watch, and it doesn't surprise me that Donna thought it was the worst thing she'd ever seen. Mainly due to the fact that despite the fact Miss. Evangelista had the IQ of plankton (in the first episode), she was sweet, and an innocent. The use of reversing her traits entirely between episodes was intruiging, but harsh. People can be pretty & intelligent. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The use of ghosting to make the walking swarms was nicely done.

Definately my favourite episodes of the series so far - but another nitpick - if he still had her data, why couldn't he download her like everyone else who had previously been 'saved'. Also -- I could imagine someone like River getting fairly bored in that 'perfect' computer simulated world fairly quickly.

And Romana in Doctor Who Confidential last night. I became incredibly hyper. Despite the migraine. Oh well.

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

You remind me that I must watch the Confidential as I've not done so yet !

I think we're meant to assume that whatever she did on the "throne" with the "crown" destroyed River's body. But I'm not buying it, 'cos we didn't SEE her body (I've watched the ending again twice since I saw the ep this morning) - my batshit, let me show you it ! :P

[tromana.livejournal.com]

I didn't watch all of Confidential. I saw Romana, flailed like a madwoman, then put on Tomb of the Cybermen.

I really didn't get that. Obviously. The thing is, theoretically other 'saved' peoples bodies may have been destroyed and then they got resurrected.

Not seeing her body means it didn't happen. I like that theory.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I didn't watch all of Confidential. I saw Romana, flailed like a madwoman, then put on Tomb of the Cybermen.

I see !

I really didn't get that. Obviously. The thing is, theoretically other 'saved' peoples bodies may have been destroyed and then they got resurrected.

Well exactly - that's why I'm not buying it...

Not seeing her body means it didn't happen. I like that theory.

LOL ! I can be as batshit as the next person (well nearly as - depending on who the next person is of course !)

[tromana.livejournal.com]

I haven't sat through an entire Confidential for ages.

LOL ! I can be as batshit as the next person (well nearly as - depending on who the next person is of course !)

If it's (almost) anyone in Who fandom, that is very batshit!

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

haven't sat through an entire Confidential for ages.

I watch them then tend to forget them...

If it's (almost) anyone in Who fandom, that is very batshit!

This is very true - OK, I'm not AS batshit as the next person, but I can be fairly batshit !! :D

[tromana.livejournal.com]

This is very true - OK, I'm not AS batshit as the next person, but I can be fairly batshit !! :D

Batshit when you want to be. I think that is very healthy. :D

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Aye.

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

Romana was in the Confidential???

*runs to download it now*

I normally watch Confidential but we were getting ready to go out during Doctor Who, so I missed it.

[tromana.livejournal.com]

Yes!

Russell even spoke about her briefly. :D

I flailed like a madwoman... then got bored of Confidential and put on Tomb of the Cybermen

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

OMG!!!!

*yells at internet to download faster*

I think I will flail a lot too.

[tromana.livejournal.com]

=D

It was unexpected and awesome and if there were a lot of people here, I would have embarressed myself. Thankfully, there was only Nick.

Saying that, next week, I've been told I'm dressing up as Princess Astra for No. Apparrant. Reason.

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

I'm used to embarassing myself around my housemates, but neither of them watch old Doctor Who, so its probably best that I watch this on my own. hehehe.

Dressing up as Princess Astra eh? Well you don't really need a reason!

[tromana.livejournal.com]

Hehehe, fair enough. I think even my mum and brother, who LOVE Who, would have thought I was mad with my response. (Even more exciteable than the episode).

Well, I suppose not. But it wasn't exactly high on my list of priority of Lalla!Who costumes to try to replicate poorly...

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

Fortunatly, I can geek out with Sarah about Rose's return. Stacie thinks we are both mad. But I wouldn't be able to explain my reaction to Romana in Confidential.

Its an easier one to replicate, I guess. Which ones have you done already? I might try and persuade my housemate to make me a similar copy of the Shada costume (shes a costume maker, amongst other things) She wants to practice making costumes and I keep telling her that she can use me as a model.

[tromana.livejournal.com]

My Mum thought Lalla was Nicola Bryant, I was appalled. I'm slowly educating (or re-educating her, should that be? She was alive when they were first broadcast!). I'm going to miss the Rose return. I have Woodstock. Needless to say I'll be straight onto laptop and waiting for i-player for it.

I don't have any Romana ones, yet. I have some red tights, and some similar shoes to the Leisure Hive outfit. I want to try to get together a City of Death outfit (theoretically easy) and my friend (who told me to dress up as Astra) wants me to get a Leisure Hive one. I would love to commission someone to do a Destiny of the Daleks one, one day and maybe Shada too. Oh and Full Circle (I think).

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

*shakes head* Well atleast you mum knows Lalla's name. My mum has no idea who she is (and I kind of prefer it that way...less embarassing for me)

Right, I'm off to watch Confidential. I doubt I will be back online till sunday/monday. Thanks for the chat!

[tromana.livejournal.com]

She doesn't... she calls her Romana.

Enjoy! Thanks and take care til then.