So I watched Doctor Who earlier tonight with my mother. For those who don’t know I’ve been a HUGE fan of Doctor who since I was as young as I remember. We used to watch it on Public Television before I was even in kindergarten. When I was young I loved sitting in our living room watching the adventures of this amazing man. I loved Dalek and Cyberman stories the best. In many ways I idolized him and hoped one day to be even a fraction as brilliant, as clever, as wise as he. Maybe even more so I wished (and secretly still do) that one day I would walk around a corner to find a strange blue box, and an equally strange yet special man wating there to take me with him on some grand adventure
Anyways I watched the new episode “Forest of the Dead” with my mom tonight and it was really awesome. I have to say they continue to do amazing work with the new series and David Tennant is a wonderful Doctor. To avoid spoilers about this episode my review is hidden below….
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Forest of the Dead is the second half of a two part story, the first half being “Silence in the Library”. I may as well review them as one episode seeing as I never reviewed “silence”. I have to say this is Doctor Who at it’s finest. The Doctor is in Classic form protecting a group of people from their own stupidity while still managing to solve a mystery and keep his companion alive all at the same time. Wit in the face of danger and brilliance under pressur the doctor never dissapoints.
The story was brilliant and well crafted. Although I did pretty much nail that the little girl was the computer core from the scene right after the doctor and Donna find the camera. That aside the story was engaging and had a good mix of mystery and action. It reminded me very much of the classic serials and that is assuredly much a good thing. I have to say I was very moved and sad the first time they showed “ghosting” when Miss Evangelista dies. I did (rightly) assume this knowledge would be important later as they often introduce new concepts like this for a reason.
The Vashta Nerada are an interesting new entity to add to the Doctor Who universe and are quite a terrifying concept to be sure. What made them truly great is they were used well, and not just as a blunt instrument to move the plot.
The most interesting, although potentially worrisome thing about these two episodes was the new character River Song. She apparently Knows the Doctor in the future (his personal future) and therefor he has not met her yet and gone traveling and adventuring with her. It was a very interesting story idea and leads to some very interesting meta plot possibilities. It does however mean that barring some paradox issues she will have to be introduced into the show and presumably while David Tennant is still the Doctor as she seems to recognize him (albeit she says he looks younger). The only concern i have is the nature of their relationship and the fact that she knows his name. As no one, not even Rose has ever known the Doctors real name (perhaps the master did) this implies an extraordinarily close relationship. Now does this mean they are in love, even potentialy lovers in the future? The doctor was clearly in love with Rose, and this was Quite unusual for the Doctor. Other companions in the past may have had feelings for him, but he had never returned them except for with Rose and possibly with Romana (though she was a time lord so the doctor probably felt more free to love and less likely to get hurt as she was also long lived). This made her (rose) clearly special. The likelihood of another relationship of that type seems low from what we know of the Doctor. But beyond that the deeper issue is the name. This is concerning not just from the standpoint of the relationship that leads to him divulging it, but also because of the fact his name has neevr been said before. part of the Mystique of the doctor is his lack of a name and the fact that he uses the name he chose. He is The Doctor, the one who helps everyone. Where as his Best enemy, the Moriarty to his Holmes, chose the name The Master (of all things).
in any case aside from my few concerns this was a great couple of episodes, and I am VERY excited about where the meta plot is going. I’m really hoping to get some more answers on whats happening with rose appearing and why have they has so many mentions of the Shadow Proclamation this season. It seems like these may both somehow be tied to the meta plot. There are alot good plot hooks floating around. What with the Doctors Daughter out in space, River Song now being “alive” in the library computer core, Jack still working for Torchwood and there still being at least one Dalek out there. well I’m starting to ramble a bit so before I REALLY get going I better wrap this up. Goodnight all!
