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DW Rewatch - 4x02, The Fires of Pompeii
As usual, the TARDIS hasn’t quite ended up where it should have done. This is yet another of those always-unanswered questions in Who – how come the TARDIS will sometimes end up in the right place at the right time, but other times, it’s way off? Not that I’m complaining – I’m not that much of a stickler – it’s just something I ponder from time to time.
So here we are -
Ancient Rome!
One of the perks of being the Doctor (!) must be to see the reactions of his companions the first time they arrive somewhere like this.
You can tell he’s getting as much of a kick out of Donna’s reaction as he is from actually being there himself.
Finally!
Are we in Epcot?
I think this is a wonderful episode. Apart from the (as usual) fabulous interaction between Donna and the Doctor, he has to face an incredible moral dilemma. I’ve said elsewhere in these recaps that the show is usually about the decisions that the Doctor has to make on his travels; some of them are more difficult than others and this one definitely falls into that category.
There were moans, I think, at the time about the language used by the ‘Romans’ in the episode, in that it was too colloquial or something like that.
Well, okay, so having Phil Cornwell as a classical version of Del Boy might have been pushing it, but the bit about Donna speaking Welsh was funny.
Volcano day
Although James Moran is credited as the writer for this episode, it appears that Rusty did in fact write a fair amount of it, because Moran's script wasn't ready in time. In The Writer's Tale RTD reprints (with Moran's permission) both his and Moran's version of the opening scene, together with Moran's reaction to the rewrite. It must be so hard, as a writer to have that happen, but Moran is very complimentary - and Rusty's version is about ten times better. The dialogue is snappier and the Doctor and Donna are completely them from the outset. As EP and head writer, it's not uncommon for RTD to have 'polished' scripts; it's just interesting to find out that some of them received more than a mere surface veneer. Also - the water pistol was completely his idea!
DONNA
You're kidding. Don't tell me the TARDIS is gone.
THE DOCTOR
Okay.
DONNA
Where is it then?
THE DOCTOR
You told me not to tell you.
DONNA
Don't get clever in Latin.
Such an old joke, but they work it wonderfully
The interaction between the members of the Caecilius family may have been a bit ‘modern’, but hey, this is Doctor Who, not I, Claudius.
This bit - Positions! always reminds me of Glynis Johns in Mary Poppins!!
Something lurks below…
Donna’s looking for a bell to ring. I’m sure there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere…
You want a what?
THE DOCTOR
Pompeii is a fixed point in history. What happens happens. There is no stopping it.
DONNA
Says who?
THE DOCTOR
Says me.
DONNA
What, and you're in charge?
TARDIS, Time Lord... yeah.
Donna, human... no! I don't need your permission. I'll tell them myself.
Love the way they mirror each others’ actions there
Typical bloke. Flounces off in the middle of a domestic. Is it any wonder people think they’re married?
Meanwhile, at the temple, the members of the Gene Simmons fan club are genning up on the blue box and its inhabitants
Mr and Mrs Spartacus
Brother and sister? Eeew… (worse than being married!)
The marble inspector
Caveat emptor
Oh, you're Celtic. There's lovely. The way Peter Capaldi says that (complete with Welsh accent) always cracks me up!
The Doctor is all for buggering off as fast as possible - but Donna thinks he should prescribe a holiday for everyone
Uh-oh. The eye-rub. He’s getting annoyed
But it’s still his fault. (Oh, Donna…)
Time for some pretty. Just ‘cause.
But here’s the local soothsayer. Come to… er… say some sooths.
We’ll be off then
Ooh – shiny!
This is a really great scene that flips from being, well, flippant to spooky at the same speed as one of Ten's mood changes.
She’s from Barcelona :-P
They’re laughing at us. Those two, they use words like tricksters. They're mocking us.
And now it’s a case of one-up-soothsaying- er... manship
EVELINA
Doctor. That's your name.
THE DOCTOR
How did you know that?
Man from… Gallifrey
And you, daughter of London… there is something on your back
Even the word "Doctor" is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars of the cascade of Medusa herself. You are a lord, sir. A lord... of time...
Poor Evelina. She should get some ointment for that.
What’s up with the central heating? (Also - pretty)
Our hero is all for heading over to Lucius’ to find out what’s going on.
And he’s not above a bit of bribery
A bit of girl-talk. TK Maximus. Heh.
Donna tries to tell Evelina about Vesuvius, but the sisters get to hear all of it as well. They’re not pleased.
The Doctor makes a discovery
He just has to work out what exactly he's discovered
Busted
THE DOCTOR
What have you got?
LUCIUS
Enlighten me.
THE DOCTOR
What? The soothsayer doesn't know?
LUCIUS
The seed may float on the breeze in any direction.
THE DOCTOR
Yeah, I knew you were gonna say that. But... it's an energy converter.
LUCIUS
An energy converter of what?
THE DOCTOR
I don't know. Isn't that brilliant? I love not knowing, keeps me on my toes.
It must be awful, being a prophet. Waking up every morning, "Is it raining? Yes, it is. I said so." Takes all the fun out of life. But who designed this, Lucius? Hmm?
Yeah. The armless gag. We all knew it was coming :-)
Suspicious rumblings underground
Get out!
Nobody listens to him. Again.
Talk to me!
While the Doctor is distracted…
Quintus to the rescue!
Just as well they hung around…
Where’s Donna?
As you’d expect, she’s giving her captors what for - This prattling will cease
That’ll be the day
To my mind, this little exchange is quintessential Ten and Donna. They’ve been together for what, a day or two at this point? – and they’re already comfortable enough with each other to joke around in a situation like this.
You alright, love?
Yeah, yeah... what time d'you call this?
*shrug* Bloody traffic
The high priestess
The whys and wherefores – but despite the newfound gift of prophecy, the sisters still can’t see tomorrow’s eruption.
I’m armed! Look at Donna’s face :-)
He’s armed… but not dangerous (well, not with the water pistol, anyway)
Best line of the episode. You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you.
A choice. Someone must make a choice. The most terrible choice.
Donna still wants to know why they can’t evacuate Pompeii
THE DOCTOR
Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed.
DONNA
How do you know which is which?
THE DOCTOR
Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was... what could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. I'm the only one left.
*wibble*
Even after that, she still can’t let it go.
Rocky IV. Heh.
He can’t resist a bad joke, can he?
Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you, that's all I needed to know.
THE DOCTOR
There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power. They're gonna use it to take over the world.
DONNA
But you can change it back.
THE DOCTOR
Well, I can avert the system, so the volcano will blow them up, yes, but... that's the choice, Donna. It's Pompeii or the world.
And there we have it. The terrible choice. This scene is the highlight of the episode, the emotional centre. It really brings home to Donna – and to us – that nothing is ever black and white and that everything is a tradeoff. The bigger picture.
Oh my God.
If Pompeii is destroyed, then it's not just history, it's me. I make it happen.
His face as the realisation hits kills me
This bit gets me every time. After all the arguing, Donna steps up to the plate wonderfully. She doesn’t moan, she doesn’t give him any more grief. She thinks they’re about to die, but she knows what’s at stake and she knows what they have to do.
But even more importantly – she’s not going to let the Doctor shoulder the burden on his own.
(The FX shots here of the smoke and ash rolling through the skies are pretty damn awesome.)
Our heroes have escaped the blast -
- but they’re not out of the woods yet.
You’d think that having just survived the equivalent of a nuclear explosion, Donna would want to get the hell out of there
But after all that, she wants to help. She’s panicked, bewildered, shocked… but she’s not thinking about herself.
Back at the villa
This scene makes the Doctor look like an utter bastard. I think it’s meant to to an extent – to remind us that he’s not human, and of course to draw such a stark contrast with Donna’s compassion, empathy and humanity. But I think there’s a bit more to it. He’s still obeying the rules, even though he hates them; he’s seen so much death, he’s caused so many deaths – not just today, but throughout his life – that he just wants to get away and not see any more of them. There’s another twenty thousand people on his conscience as it is, and he just wants to get the hell out.
I can’t think that there was anyone in doubt of Catherine Tate’s abilities as a “serious” actress after this. I remember being totally stunned. She’s amazing.
Your own planet. It burned
If I could go back and save them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back! I can't! I just... can't
You’ll note that I’ve been admirably restrained with my fangirly comments due to the weightiness of the subject matter. But seriously… guh.
Come with me.
Thank you
This is his “I’m about to admit I was wrong” face
You were right. Sometimes I need someone.
Welcome aboard.
Screencaps from Sonic Biro, The Medusa Cascade and Demon-cry.net.
So here we are -
Ancient Rome!
One of the perks of being the Doctor (!) must be to see the reactions of his companions the first time they arrive somewhere like this.
You can tell he’s getting as much of a kick out of Donna’s reaction as he is from actually being there himself.
Finally!
Are we in Epcot?
I think this is a wonderful episode. Apart from the (as usual) fabulous interaction between Donna and the Doctor, he has to face an incredible moral dilemma. I’ve said elsewhere in these recaps that the show is usually about the decisions that the Doctor has to make on his travels; some of them are more difficult than others and this one definitely falls into that category.
There were moans, I think, at the time about the language used by the ‘Romans’ in the episode, in that it was too colloquial or something like that.
Well, okay, so having Phil Cornwell as a classical version of Del Boy might have been pushing it, but the bit about Donna speaking Welsh was funny.
Volcano day
Although James Moran is credited as the writer for this episode, it appears that Rusty did in fact write a fair amount of it, because Moran's script wasn't ready in time. In The Writer's Tale RTD reprints (with Moran's permission) both his and Moran's version of the opening scene, together with Moran's reaction to the rewrite. It must be so hard, as a writer to have that happen, but Moran is very complimentary - and Rusty's version is about ten times better. The dialogue is snappier and the Doctor and Donna are completely them from the outset. As EP and head writer, it's not uncommon for RTD to have 'polished' scripts; it's just interesting to find out that some of them received more than a mere surface veneer. Also - the water pistol was completely his idea!
DONNA
You're kidding. Don't tell me the TARDIS is gone.
THE DOCTOR
Okay.
DONNA
Where is it then?
THE DOCTOR
You told me not to tell you.
DONNA
Don't get clever in Latin.
Such an old joke, but they work it wonderfully
The interaction between the members of the Caecilius family may have been a bit ‘modern’, but hey, this is Doctor Who, not I, Claudius.
This bit - Positions! always reminds me of Glynis Johns in Mary Poppins!!
Something lurks below…
Donna’s looking for a bell to ring. I’m sure there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere…
You want a what?
THE DOCTOR
Pompeii is a fixed point in history. What happens happens. There is no stopping it.
DONNA
Says who?
THE DOCTOR
Says me.
DONNA
What, and you're in charge?
TARDIS, Time Lord... yeah.
Donna, human... no! I don't need your permission. I'll tell them myself.
Love the way they mirror each others’ actions there
Typical bloke. Flounces off in the middle of a domestic. Is it any wonder people think they’re married?
Meanwhile, at the temple, the members of the Gene Simmons fan club are genning up on the blue box and its inhabitants
Mr and Mrs Spartacus
Brother and sister? Eeew… (worse than being married!)
The marble inspector
Caveat emptor
Oh, you're Celtic. There's lovely. The way Peter Capaldi says that (complete with Welsh accent) always cracks me up!
The Doctor is all for buggering off as fast as possible - but Donna thinks he should prescribe a holiday for everyone
Uh-oh. The eye-rub. He’s getting annoyed
But it’s still his fault. (Oh, Donna…)
Time for some pretty. Just ‘cause.
But here’s the local soothsayer. Come to… er… say some sooths.
We’ll be off then
Ooh – shiny!
This is a really great scene that flips from being, well, flippant to spooky at the same speed as one of Ten's mood changes.
She’s from Barcelona :-P
They’re laughing at us. Those two, they use words like tricksters. They're mocking us.
And now it’s a case of one-up-soothsaying- er... manship
EVELINA
Doctor. That's your name.
THE DOCTOR
How did you know that?
Man from… Gallifrey
And you, daughter of London… there is something on your back
Even the word "Doctor" is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars of the cascade of Medusa herself. You are a lord, sir. A lord... of time...
Poor Evelina. She should get some ointment for that.
What’s up with the central heating? (Also - pretty)
Our hero is all for heading over to Lucius’ to find out what’s going on.
And he’s not above a bit of bribery
A bit of girl-talk. TK Maximus. Heh.
Donna tries to tell Evelina about Vesuvius, but the sisters get to hear all of it as well. They’re not pleased.
The Doctor makes a discovery
He just has to work out what exactly he's discovered
Busted
THE DOCTOR
What have you got?
LUCIUS
Enlighten me.
THE DOCTOR
What? The soothsayer doesn't know?
LUCIUS
The seed may float on the breeze in any direction.
THE DOCTOR
Yeah, I knew you were gonna say that. But... it's an energy converter.
LUCIUS
An energy converter of what?
THE DOCTOR
I don't know. Isn't that brilliant? I love not knowing, keeps me on my toes.
It must be awful, being a prophet. Waking up every morning, "Is it raining? Yes, it is. I said so." Takes all the fun out of life. But who designed this, Lucius? Hmm?
Yeah. The armless gag. We all knew it was coming :-)
Suspicious rumblings underground
Get out!
Nobody listens to him. Again.
Talk to me!
While the Doctor is distracted…
Quintus to the rescue!
Just as well they hung around…
Where’s Donna?
As you’d expect, she’s giving her captors what for - This prattling will cease
That’ll be the day
To my mind, this little exchange is quintessential Ten and Donna. They’ve been together for what, a day or two at this point? – and they’re already comfortable enough with each other to joke around in a situation like this.
You alright, love?
Yeah, yeah... what time d'you call this?
*shrug* Bloody traffic
The high priestess
The whys and wherefores – but despite the newfound gift of prophecy, the sisters still can’t see tomorrow’s eruption.
I’m armed! Look at Donna’s face :-)
He’s armed… but not dangerous (well, not with the water pistol, anyway)
Best line of the episode. You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you.
A choice. Someone must make a choice. The most terrible choice.
Donna still wants to know why they can’t evacuate Pompeii
THE DOCTOR
Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed.
DONNA
How do you know which is which?
THE DOCTOR
Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was... what could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. I'm the only one left.
*wibble*
Even after that, she still can’t let it go.
Rocky IV. Heh.
He can’t resist a bad joke, can he?
Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you, that's all I needed to know.
THE DOCTOR
There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power. They're gonna use it to take over the world.
DONNA
But you can change it back.
THE DOCTOR
Well, I can avert the system, so the volcano will blow them up, yes, but... that's the choice, Donna. It's Pompeii or the world.
And there we have it. The terrible choice. This scene is the highlight of the episode, the emotional centre. It really brings home to Donna – and to us – that nothing is ever black and white and that everything is a tradeoff. The bigger picture.
Oh my God.
If Pompeii is destroyed, then it's not just history, it's me. I make it happen.
His face as the realisation hits kills me
This bit gets me every time. After all the arguing, Donna steps up to the plate wonderfully. She doesn’t moan, she doesn’t give him any more grief. She thinks they’re about to die, but she knows what’s at stake and she knows what they have to do.
But even more importantly – she’s not going to let the Doctor shoulder the burden on his own.
(The FX shots here of the smoke and ash rolling through the skies are pretty damn awesome.)
Our heroes have escaped the blast -
- but they’re not out of the woods yet.
You’d think that having just survived the equivalent of a nuclear explosion, Donna would want to get the hell out of there
But after all that, she wants to help. She’s panicked, bewildered, shocked… but she’s not thinking about herself.
Back at the villa
This scene makes the Doctor look like an utter bastard. I think it’s meant to to an extent – to remind us that he’s not human, and of course to draw such a stark contrast with Donna’s compassion, empathy and humanity. But I think there’s a bit more to it. He’s still obeying the rules, even though he hates them; he’s seen so much death, he’s caused so many deaths – not just today, but throughout his life – that he just wants to get away and not see any more of them. There’s another twenty thousand people on his conscience as it is, and he just wants to get the hell out.
I can’t think that there was anyone in doubt of Catherine Tate’s abilities as a “serious” actress after this. I remember being totally stunned. She’s amazing.
Your own planet. It burned
If I could go back and save them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back! I can't! I just... can't
You’ll note that I’ve been admirably restrained with my fangirly comments due to the weightiness of the subject matter. But seriously… guh.
Come with me.
Thank you
This is his “I’m about to admit I was wrong” face
You were right. Sometimes I need someone.
Welcome aboard.
Screencaps from Sonic Biro, The Medusa Cascade and Demon-cry.net.
no subject
But even more importantly – she’s not going to let the Doctor shoulder the burden on his own.
That in a nutshell is what makes Donna stand apart as a companion. She wasn't in awe of him, but saw herself as his equal and partner. And instead of standing unhappily back and watching him make that choice, which is what any other companion would have done, she *accepted* everything it meant to be his equal and partner -- facing the challenges and dilemmas of time travel along with the danger and adventure, and sharing them with him.
That's why I love writing them more than any other pair.
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I have to say I love your analysis of the episode. Obviously, there's more that can be said, but you really do a wonderful job covering the important aspects. Also, you are right about all the stuff you said about the Doctor. I don't know how familiar you are with old DW, but the Doctor has made many hard choices, had to watch many people die (some he ever cared about), and weighed decisions in a way that definitely was more alien than human. So you are sooo BANG on!
And I really liked you added details about Donna and accents of the actors. I have to say not being from the UK, I often can't tell which accent is which, so thank you for that input and the other UK references. ;)
Thank you so much for this picspam! It so made my day. :D
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(Anonymous) 2010-03-07 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)The first time round i applauded the water pistol line. I think he's pretty dangerous with it.
Yeah Donna. And she is even more amazing with the Ood..
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But even more importantly – she’s not going to let the Doctor shoulder the burden on his own.
YES. They are true partners in crime, aren't they? ♥
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Thank you for this bit - it makes it so much clearer for me why she spends so much of the episode not getting it, cos I came to the episode with that understanding even the first time and it had honestly never occurred to me that she wouldn't have it...
But then I thought about why I understand it, and a large part of it is being a Trekker and general SF fan from way back so I sort of have that idea burned into me already, that you (usually) can't save everyone and you have to choose. And while we know that Rose and Mickey have at least some SF background and have been exposed to this sort of trope too, and Martha seems like she might have as well - well, what are we told Donna's into? Reality TV and celebrity gossip and all the shallow sides of the media and that seems to be it. I'm not calling her shallow herself, I'm just thinking that maybe she's not primed for this. So the deep end is deeper for her than it otherwise might be.
Feel free to pick that apart, obviously, I'm just speculating here.
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