rainshaded (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rainshaded) wrote2007-12-25 08:07 pm
rainshaded) wrote2007-12-25 08:07 pm
Voyage of the Damned
Hopefully I will soon get used to the new theme tune.
Yay for aliens on an alien spaceship! *sigh* for being in orbit around contemporary Earth.
My main objections are 1) RTD's restating his rather strange view on relationships and b) The way characters were carelessly discarded and instead of making an emotional impact, it got me annoyed about how they were so carelessly discarded.
Okay, that couple who won their tickets? They were fun. They were good characters to watch and they did care a lot about each other. But then the guy dies, because the floor crumbles under his weight. And from then I knew that the woman was going to die very soon, because she was now redundant, cut adrift from her partner, and besides, two deaths have more emotional impact than one, right? I suppose it was noble and all, taking that angel with her, and she was heartbroken at his death and terrified at the prospect of fighting for a life that now had no meaning, but meh. Please, RTD, the end of a relationship does not, however much it may feel like it, mean the end of your life.
And the cyborg died because he ran out of power. I was fully expecting the Doctor to be all 'No problemo (never saying that again), not letting you die after you saved us all' and sonic him up. Instead he died for hisplot device spare part.
I am quite glad that Astrid is not the TARDIS, although I wouldn't put it past someone in the future to write it so that she is. And she apparently will not be doing a 'Donna' for as soon as the Doctor accepted her as the new companion, when we knew full well she was not the companion in Series 4- that was her fate sealed whereas Donna turned him down and was left alive.
I did like Astrid's glee at being on a different planet and how strongly this attracted the Doctor to her as a companion. Also, the idea that everyone in London would vacate the city for Christmas is...quite amusing and I'm sure the Queen will appreciate 'her' cameo. (Incidentally, how does the Queen fit with the King in Battlefield?)
Thankfully, very little time was spent on their romance. My dad wishes to know how I can accept that he travels in a police box (that's only a disguise) and is 903 (I believe he's much older, at least 1200) yet question how he can kiss something akin to a hologram. Oh, Astrid stood on a box to kiss him, that was very cute.
The excessive cinematic shots? Rather ridiculous, in my opinion. All that fire billowing in the background. Also STOP WITH THE RELIGIOUS IMAGERY, NOW! Yes, I'm talking to you, RTD. We suffered enough with glowy-Tinkerbell-Jesus Doctor. This time, we had the Doctor ascending to heaven with angels at his side. STOP IT.
Too right, the Doctor would be a monster if he chose who lived and who died. But I can all too easily imagine that if he was given the option to bring Astrid back in exchange for the life of one of the survivors, he'd happily sacrifice them. Isn't there something wrong when it seems possible that the Doctor could be a monster? Manipulative, yes, but a monster?
My favourite character was probably the old man with that very fake degree, especially at the end. (The Doctor says he travels alone. It might be easier, but it's an impossible state of being for him.) He was wonderful, being all gleeful at the prospect of having plates etc. I hope he picks up things very quickly and forgets all that nonsense he was spouting, although he will doubtless gain a reputation of being an eccentric old man. It might be helpful to him to buy a house next-door to an old companion who will realise he's alien within the first minute and, reassured and convinced of his harmlessness, teach him the basics of human culture.
Honestly, I don't know what they're complaining of. Sure, they have an alien incident every Christmas. But they get a white Christmas every year! (Whether it's ash, artifical or ballast.)
Overall, it was quite enjoyable. But not my favourite Christmas special.
Yay for aliens on an alien spaceship! *sigh* for being in orbit around contemporary Earth.
My main objections are 1) RTD's restating his rather strange view on relationships and b) The way characters were carelessly discarded and instead of making an emotional impact, it got me annoyed about how they were so carelessly discarded.
Okay, that couple who won their tickets? They were fun. They were good characters to watch and they did care a lot about each other. But then the guy dies, because the floor crumbles under his weight. And from then I knew that the woman was going to die very soon, because she was now redundant, cut adrift from her partner, and besides, two deaths have more emotional impact than one, right? I suppose it was noble and all, taking that angel with her, and she was heartbroken at his death and terrified at the prospect of fighting for a life that now had no meaning, but meh. Please, RTD, the end of a relationship does not, however much it may feel like it, mean the end of your life.
And the cyborg died because he ran out of power. I was fully expecting the Doctor to be all 'No problemo (never saying that again), not letting you die after you saved us all' and sonic him up. Instead he died for his
I am quite glad that Astrid is not the TARDIS, although I wouldn't put it past someone in the future to write it so that she is. And she apparently will not be doing a 'Donna' for as soon as the Doctor accepted her as the new companion, when we knew full well she was not the companion in Series 4- that was her fate sealed whereas Donna turned him down and was left alive.
I did like Astrid's glee at being on a different planet and how strongly this attracted the Doctor to her as a companion. Also, the idea that everyone in London would vacate the city for Christmas is...quite amusing and I'm sure the Queen will appreciate 'her' cameo. (Incidentally, how does the Queen fit with the King in Battlefield?)
Thankfully, very little time was spent on their romance. My dad wishes to know how I can accept that he travels in a police box (that's only a disguise) and is 903 (I believe he's much older, at least 1200) yet question how he can kiss something akin to a hologram. Oh, Astrid stood on a box to kiss him, that was very cute.
The excessive cinematic shots? Rather ridiculous, in my opinion. All that fire billowing in the background. Also STOP WITH THE RELIGIOUS IMAGERY, NOW! Yes, I'm talking to you, RTD. We suffered enough with glowy-Tinkerbell-Jesus Doctor. This time, we had the Doctor ascending to heaven with angels at his side. STOP IT.
Too right, the Doctor would be a monster if he chose who lived and who died. But I can all too easily imagine that if he was given the option to bring Astrid back in exchange for the life of one of the survivors, he'd happily sacrifice them. Isn't there something wrong when it seems possible that the Doctor could be a monster? Manipulative, yes, but a monster?
My favourite character was probably the old man with that very fake degree, especially at the end. (The Doctor says he travels alone. It might be easier, but it's an impossible state of being for him.) He was wonderful, being all gleeful at the prospect of having plates etc. I hope he picks up things very quickly and forgets all that nonsense he was spouting, although he will doubtless gain a reputation of being an eccentric old man. It might be helpful to him to buy a house next-door to an old companion who will realise he's alien within the first minute and, reassured and convinced of his harmlessness, teach him the basics of human culture.
Honestly, I don't know what they're complaining of. Sure, they have an alien incident every Christmas. But they get a white Christmas every year! (Whether it's ash, artifical or ballast.)
Overall, it was quite enjoyable. But not my favourite Christmas special.