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Doctor Who - Family of Blood
Another good episode, nicely tying up the story from last week. But then we knew it would - it's Doctor Who, after all!
I started to jot down a recap, but then I started to think about the things that had really stood out for me in this episode, and wanted to say something about those instead. So, as far as the plot goes, like I just said, it's DW - everything worked out okay in the end.
I think this two-parter was probably the highlight of the season for me, so far. The writing was excellent, and the themes addressed were adult and complex, whilst the show remained accessible and entertaining for children.
So - firstly, the poignancy of the boys at the boarding school, in 1913, hauling out guns and ammunition to fend off the "army" of scarecrows unleased on them by "the family." The looks on their faces - fear, uncertainty - some of them in tears as they repeatedly fired at the enemy. Because of course, the following year some of them (and yes, I'm aware these were fictional characters) would be doing this for real - some, never to return. I thought it was a wonderfully drawn parallel, underscored beautifully by a hymn - "To Be a Pilgrim" sung by a boy's choir. Beautifully done.
But the real meat of the episode was the Doctor's conflict - between his desire to remain human and his desire to stop "the family" from flattening the village and killing everyone around them. He couldn't do the latter without relinquishing the former, and this is where David Tennant got the chance to remind us that there's more to him than just a manic grin. His desperation as he insisted that his journal was nothing more than a collection of stories, as he repeatedly asked "why can't I stay?", "why can't I be him?" (John Smith). But he knew, you could tell he knew he was really the Doctor, and he was clinging to the last hope that he could turn his back on that and have a "normal" life - as we saw in the flash-forward he and Joan saw when they were both holding the watch - all the things he could never have as the Doctor, all the things he wanted to have and could have had as John Smith.
But of course, he's a hero, and does the right thing in the end - well, the right thing for everyone else, anyway, changed back into a Time Lord and saves the universe.
But that wasn't the end of it. In a voice over, Baines explains that "the family" now knew why it was that the Doctor chose to hide from them. It wasn't because he was scared of them - he did it to be kind. Those scenes where we see him disposing of the individual members, "mother of mine" into a vortex in space, "sister" into a mirror, every mirror - she's the thing you catch moving out of the corner of your eye when you glance into a mirror - setting up Baines as a scarecrow, forever guarding the fields of England - all very chilling and reminding us again that there's a brutal side to the Doctor, one who will stop at nothing when he has to. It's the first time we've seen that side of him in a long while - possibly back as far as the Season 1 finale.
These episodes showed us again just how good this show can be. They seem to do about three two part stories per season - maybe they should think about doing more and fewer one-offs. After all, Doctor Who began life as a weekly serial, and there's certainly time for more story and plot and character development in an hour and a half than in forty-five minutes. And the one-offs this season, with the exception of "Shakespeare Code" haven't really been all that great.
Oh, and by the way - best line of the night went to Martha.
God, you're rubbish as a human!
I started to jot down a recap, but then I started to think about the things that had really stood out for me in this episode, and wanted to say something about those instead. So, as far as the plot goes, like I just said, it's DW - everything worked out okay in the end.
I think this two-parter was probably the highlight of the season for me, so far. The writing was excellent, and the themes addressed were adult and complex, whilst the show remained accessible and entertaining for children.
So - firstly, the poignancy of the boys at the boarding school, in 1913, hauling out guns and ammunition to fend off the "army" of scarecrows unleased on them by "the family." The looks on their faces - fear, uncertainty - some of them in tears as they repeatedly fired at the enemy. Because of course, the following year some of them (and yes, I'm aware these were fictional characters) would be doing this for real - some, never to return. I thought it was a wonderfully drawn parallel, underscored beautifully by a hymn - "To Be a Pilgrim" sung by a boy's choir. Beautifully done.
But the real meat of the episode was the Doctor's conflict - between his desire to remain human and his desire to stop "the family" from flattening the village and killing everyone around them. He couldn't do the latter without relinquishing the former, and this is where David Tennant got the chance to remind us that there's more to him than just a manic grin. His desperation as he insisted that his journal was nothing more than a collection of stories, as he repeatedly asked "why can't I stay?", "why can't I be him?" (John Smith). But he knew, you could tell he knew he was really the Doctor, and he was clinging to the last hope that he could turn his back on that and have a "normal" life - as we saw in the flash-forward he and Joan saw when they were both holding the watch - all the things he could never have as the Doctor, all the things he wanted to have and could have had as John Smith.
But of course, he's a hero, and does the right thing in the end - well, the right thing for everyone else, anyway, changed back into a Time Lord and saves the universe.
But that wasn't the end of it. In a voice over, Baines explains that "the family" now knew why it was that the Doctor chose to hide from them. It wasn't because he was scared of them - he did it to be kind. Those scenes where we see him disposing of the individual members, "mother of mine" into a vortex in space, "sister" into a mirror, every mirror - she's the thing you catch moving out of the corner of your eye when you glance into a mirror - setting up Baines as a scarecrow, forever guarding the fields of England - all very chilling and reminding us again that there's a brutal side to the Doctor, one who will stop at nothing when he has to. It's the first time we've seen that side of him in a long while - possibly back as far as the Season 1 finale.
These episodes showed us again just how good this show can be. They seem to do about three two part stories per season - maybe they should think about doing more and fewer one-offs. After all, Doctor Who began life as a weekly serial, and there's certainly time for more story and plot and character development in an hour and a half than in forty-five minutes. And the one-offs this season, with the exception of "Shakespeare Code" haven't really been all that great.
Oh, and by the way - best line of the night went to Martha.
God, you're rubbish as a human!
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Well, the other two-parter this year is easily the low-point of the season for me - and the worst two-parter since Aliens of London/World War III. So I don't think two-parters are necessarily a good idea.
Whereas these two episodes are definitely the highlight of the year so far - reaching the heights of the best of New Who.
The weakest standalone this season might just be "Smith and Jones" - even though it was enjoyable enough.
Paul Cornell has set a high quality mark for this year. But if anyone can top it, it will be Steven Moffat next week or Russell T Davies three final episodes of the season.
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Actually, I remembered that after I'd posted :) But you're right, having more time is no guarantee of quality; it's having good writers and ideas, and given those a 45 minute ep can be as good as a longer one. I just meant that it allowed more time to explore some things and themes that could get pushed aside in shorter ones.
The trailer for next week looked interesting -it would be great to have a good springboard into the final three.
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I could have done without all the "I love him to bits" stuff from Martha though. Will that girl ever learn..?
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And Martha is really getting on my nerves. The chemistry between the Dr and Rose was better. It was more of a slow burn from her. For Martha she is just starting to look really desperate and that isn't a good look on any girl
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But maybe she'll have a change of heart when she meets Jack! :-)
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I saw that he was back in the preview. I cannae wait!!
But again they kinda did that with Rose and Jack and the Dr. I wonder if they can do it any differently?
Okay, now I need to go dr icon shopping.
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If you go look at
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Look what I found. For some reason it makes me think of tessa
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The foreshadowing of WW1 was just so sombre and poignant. Forgot to check who wrote this episode but he's finally achieved what has been sadly missing so far - secondary characters that we actually care about. I even felt sorry for the stereotypical public school boys as they were firing into the army of scarecrows.
Martha appealed to me more in this episode but her crush on the Doc is beginning to wear. Does everyone have to fall in love with the Doctor? I mean I know its David Tennant and I'd sure fall in love with him but let's not labour the point. This is a quibble though and not restricted to this episode.
Jessica Stevenson (has she changed her name or something?) was truly outstanding. Very understated, true to character and just a wonderful performance all round.
But as you said the shinging star was DT as John Smith struggles with his desire for a normal life and almost hating Martha for asking him to return to life as the Doctor. And to go from the meek school teacher to merciless tyrant within a couple of scenes really raised the hairs on my neck - those scenes were genuinely chilling, especially given Baines' narration of what happened; the idea of the little girl in the mirror realy captures the imagination.
I could've done without the grand music over the Remembrance Day sequence. I think it would've held more gravitas if there had been no music, just DT's voice over. It was a little too King and Country for me; at odds with what the message of the ep seemed to be, but I guess I can live with it.
But yeah overall a superb episode. Let's hope we see more of this before the season is over.
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Martha still isn't really doing much for me to be honest. She's pretty bland - and it's not that I was a great fan of Rose either (I liked her better with CE) - I just don't think they should have followed a young, pretty companion with... another young, pretty companion; it's too hard to make them different, and they're not succeeding. And the whole "I love him but he'll never love me" thing was explored far, far better with Sarah-Jane in School Reunion - I'm getting a bit fed up with it each week and also - where else is there for the character to go? She's either got to accept it and put up with it, or move on. I get that 'shippiness' is a big draw for viewers, especially the younger ones, and I'm no Whovian purist - I liked it when there was the occasional 'frisson' between the Doctor and his companion - but I think the way they're playing this one has ruined whatever potential there was in this relationship.
Hey - maybe she'll change her mind when she meets Jack! :)
Jessica whatever has changed her name - there was something about it in RT - but I thought she was fantastic. It's amazing how many actors who start off in comedy are also fabulous in the more serious stuff.
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I've always thought that they should've done a complete 180 with the companion this season and either made her older or went with a guy. It just starts to get a bit samey after a while.
Looking forward to the future eps with Jack and positively drooling over the thought of John Simm as the Master. My squee shall know no bounds!
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Yup - you read my mind! Actually, you know who I thought would have been good, 'cause she'd have slapped him around a bit? The woman in the 2 part finale last year who was in charge of wherever it all went down... I think she was played by Tracy-Ann Oberman (?) but she was a bit of a cow and it would have been fun!
And yes - JB! John Simm! Can't wait!
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First I found Sally Sparrow (or the actress who played her) to be very familiar. I couldn't place her so I searched her online. I saw her in Bleak House a year or so ago. She was very good.
I really enjoyed this episode. It was clever and fun and felt very Who-like. I was wondering what you thought of it Caz.
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I can't remember the girl's name either :)
They seem to do an episode per season where the Doc is almost 'incidental' - sometimes they work, like this one, and sometimes they don't, like the one last season with Marc Warren and Peter Kay. (Which I liked for the quirkiness, and Warren was great, but it wasn't a great ep.)
So now you're up to the final 3 - which are fantastic - enjoy!
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Yes! I saw Captain Jack in the previews for next week too. B-)
The girl's name was Carey Mulligan.
I agree about the Doc-less one from last year. Great quirkiness but not quite satisfying. But Blink was great. :-)