Doctor Who 5x13, "The Big Bang"
Jun. 26th, 2010 03:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kindkitI loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it. The marvelous, complicated plot tied the season together into one timey-wimey package. And it was exciting and funny and full of beautiful moments for the characters.
I don't know if Moffat was deliberately trying to upstage RTD, but the Eleven's goodbye scenes were a thousand times more effective, and more affecting, than Ten's. And I say this as someone who really liked the Tenth Doctor. But Moffat's writing and Smith's understated performance conveyed grief without the self-pity or self-congratulation the marred all of RTD's numerous farewell episodes.
And then the ending. I actually gasped at the "something old, something new" connection (I wish people weren't quoting it above the cut, because that risks spoiling a great moment for those who haven't been able to see the episode yet), then got teary-eyed when the TARDIS materialized; I cried through the rest of the scene. In a good way.
And the Doctor dancing at the wedding! Really really badly! And Amy and Rory running off with him, yay! (God, I hope they keep Rory around and don't write him off next season, because the team TARDIS dynamic is so much better when he's there.) And the fez! Oh, Doctor, you are such a wonderful dork. *hearts* I hope he gets another one, or some kind of silly hat anyway.
I still think the season as a whole was on the weak side, but it was bookended by such fabulous episodes that it's easier to forgive the stuff in the middle.
I don't know if Moffat was deliberately trying to upstage RTD, but the Eleven's goodbye scenes were a thousand times more effective, and more affecting, than Ten's. And I say this as someone who really liked the Tenth Doctor. But Moffat's writing and Smith's understated performance conveyed grief without the self-pity or self-congratulation the marred all of RTD's numerous farewell episodes.
And then the ending. I actually gasped at the "something old, something new" connection (I wish people weren't quoting it above the cut, because that risks spoiling a great moment for those who haven't been able to see the episode yet), then got teary-eyed when the TARDIS materialized; I cried through the rest of the scene. In a good way.
And the Doctor dancing at the wedding! Really really badly! And Amy and Rory running off with him, yay! (God, I hope they keep Rory around and don't write him off next season, because the team TARDIS dynamic is so much better when he's there.) And the fez! Oh, Doctor, you are such a wonderful dork. *hearts* I hope he gets another one, or some kind of silly hat anyway.
I still think the season as a whole was on the weak side, but it was bookended by such fabulous episodes that it's easier to forgive the stuff in the middle.
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Date: 2010-06-26 09:34 pm (UTC)... although I now feel bad I am one of the quoting people. I didn't think it would be spoilery, but I will go and edit.
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Date: 2010-06-27 04:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-27 05:22 am (UTC)*falls over exhausted*
As first seasons go, I think it lays down a good foundation - the good was really good. And the bad wasn't the worst I've ever seen. I am really interested in where the Moff takes it from here, since he's obviously building up more plot already.
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Date: 2010-06-27 04:49 pm (UTC)*nods* Multi-season arcs! I love Moffat's ambitious storytelling, and I don't care that much if the result is occasionally a plothole. Lately I've been watching Star Trek: Deep Space 9 on the recommendation of various people, and every episode is competently plotted and hole-free . . . and it's never half as wondrous to watch as Doctor Who can be.
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Date: 2010-06-27 05:36 am (UTC)I think that portraying the Eleventh Doctor as old (in a young and funny-looking body) was a wonderful choice and makes so much of a difference to the shape of the storylines.
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Date: 2010-06-27 04:54 pm (UTC)Thanks!
I completely agree about the old-Doctor-in-young-body thing. One of the things I'm most impressed with in Matt Smith's performance is how clearly he conveys that. When he was cast, I doubted he had the ability to do anything with the role; I'm glad I was wrong.