Verity! Episode 14 – Nightmare in Quicksilver

Neil Gaiman has returned to Doctor Who! Was it a triumph, a colossal failure, or something in between? Join Deb, Erika, Kat, and Tansy as we discuss Mr. Gaiman’s sophomore Who effort. Were the Cyberman scarier or overpowered? Was the addition of children a bad idea or a wasted opportunity? Are cybermites cute? Or really cute? We tackle these questions and more.

^E

Also covered:
More than 30 Years in the TARDIS! and Queers Dig Time Lords!
South Park Doctor Who fanfic: Unlocking South Park!
Meglos! and Underworld!
Philadelphia Comic Con!

Download or listen now (runtime 1:03:33) 

Erika’s Last Word – Episode 14

Nightmare in Silver

As I said on the podcast, I felt (and still feel) quite ambivalent about this story.  It certainly winds up in the positive column, if for no other reason than I feel a happy glow when I think about watching it.  Note that this glow is less glowy than the one that suffuses my soul when I think of something like “Hide.”  Still though, glow.

I did manage to get in most of what I thought about “Nightmare in Silver” on the podcast, but there were a few bits and bobs left over that I shall spill out here.  Most of it deals with Clara, so let’s get to that first, shall we?

Clara

I had slightly mixed feelings about Clara this time.  I still adore her, but as I said, her utter competence seemed a bit of a surprise.  Surprise aside, she did great.

As usual, she had me hooked from really early in the episode.  When the Doctor flashes his psychic paper, we get a brief close-up on Clara, in which she displays a truly amazing smile.  It’s happy and slightly proprietary, with just a hint of shaking-her-head at the Doctor’s antics.  Or “her” Doctor’s antics–as I said, there’s a hint of ownership–or perhaps simply partnership–in that look.  In this one brief moment, I think I learned more about their relationship than in the rest of the story.  But let’s be clear: I’m still not on team-romantic-Doctor.  I read this as deep, deep affection, but not of the sexytimes variety.

I do agree with Deb that her reaction to the children’s plight isn’t nearly freaked-out enough.  Does she trust the Doctor that much by this point?  If so, it’s too much, as she’ll likely find out.  To her credit, she’s not totally blind: “Do you think he knows what he’s doing?”  “I’m not sure I’d go that far.”  Brilliant.

Another touch I loved was when the Doctor returns, partially Cybernized, and says he has bad news.  Clara immediately points the big Cyber-gun at him.  Subtle bits like that are why I scoff at the Clara-haters.  I’ve seen folks say they think she’s bland and boring.  I beg to differ.  She’s not a collection of quirks, she’s a realistic person who behaves in a consistent manner.  “Characteristics” do not equal “characterization.”  Clara has few of the former, and crap-tons of the latter.  The show has a long history of providing role models for young girls (and boys!).  I think if I was still a young’un, Clara would be the companion I’d've gravitated to.  I’ve always been drawn to the companions who are less caricatures and more characters.

Oh, and as for the complaint that she’s another mystery, I see that as a completely separate issue.  Yes, there’s a mystery surrounding her, but she’s very clear that she wants to be seen as her own person.  I’m happy to do that.  It doesn’t matter what’s revealed about her on Saturday, she’s still the person we’ve been watching, and I’m loving that person.  One’s history (or future or chemical makeup or existential origin) doesn’t stop me from judging them based on their current actions and personality.  I hope that’s something I can always say about myself.

Her response when the Cyber-Planner tells her she’s impossible is so very Clara (a phrase I couldn’t well use if she didn’t have a personality to speak of).  You can tell she’s processing it and not sure what to think, but she immediately comes back with a very firm “Why am I impossible?”  She’s not taking crap from this Clever fellow any more than she does from the Doctor.

She’s incredibly quick, but as we discussed, she’s not infallible.  Another example is when Mr. Clever says the kids’ve got a better chance at getting out of there alive, and Clara immediately twigs.  “Which one of you said that?”  But then later, she rattles off their weapon strength without bothering to check to whom she’s speaking.  She’s smart enough not to hand over the detonator, but not wise enough to stay out of arm’s reach.  It’s rare to get that sort of realistic balance in a tv character.  So often when someone’s clever, they’re always clever—so much so that it becomes tiresome.

I will say that I’m not sure how to read the shenanigans with Mr. Clever professing romantic feelings on behalf of the Doctor.  It could be that he stoops to subterfuge and pretends to have feelings that aren’t really in the Doctor’s head, simply because he thinks that’s what Clara wants to hear.  This could make sense on the basis that the Cyber-Planner is (supposedly) non-emotional and doesn’t really have a true grasp on how people react to complicated emotions.

On the other hand, he could be pulling out real feelings the Doctor’s hiding and using those as a tool to get what he wants.  (Again, his lack of emotional maturity would hinder him from anticipating Clara’s reaction.)

Though to be fair, he never does get around to saying exactly what kind of feelings they are because Clara slaps him.

But then we have Clara’s reaction to what he said.  Jenna Louise Coleman plays this perfectly down the middle.  We can’t tell if she was secretly hoping for those very emotions or if she’s pretty darn sure they’re nonexistent and is perfectly happy with that state of affairs.  (Or lack of affairs, as the case may be.)  I know which I’m hoping for, but well done Jenna for keeping us guessing!

Ok, now on to all the non-Clara (and thus less important) stuff…

The Good

• I love that Porridge ended up being the emperor.  I was incredibly slow and didn’t pick up on that at all.  I love it when a show can surprise me like that.  (Unlike last week, I knew the Doctor was “the monster” from the moment Ada uttered the word monster.)
• There were some fun Doctorish bits in this.  I loved the “somebody tie me up” line.  And I positively adored how he wrote “Hit me” with his left hand while Mr. Clever was talking.  That’s so Doctorey.

(Yes, those are the only nice bits I didn’t already mention on the ‘cast.)

The Bad

• Spacey Zoomer is kind of a silly name.  It would be fine for a roller coaster, but a thing that just lets you jump up and down weightlessly?  Seems incongruous.  And a little boring.
• As I said, I wish the upgrades wouldn’t’ve happened so fast.  One scene in particular could’ve been much more effective.  Clara’s clever idea to electrify the moat really didn’t pay off.  I’d’ve loved to see a few Cybermen go down before the upgrade kicked in.  We’d have gotten to see more relief and celebration from Clara and the soldiers, and it would have been all the more scary when they overcame it and continued their march.  Like nearly everything else in this story, that scene felt rushed.
• As I briefly mentioned on the podcast, Matt Smith didn’t quite do it for me in this episode.  I think this is the first time I’ve ever said that, and it makes my heart hurt a little bit to do it, but there it is.  He was acting his little heart out as the Doctor and the Cyber-Planner, but it just never quite gelled for me.  There wasn’t enough nuanced difference between the characters for my liking.  (I do understand the need for some similarity in order to trick Clara later, but a stronger delineation between the two wouldn’t have precluded a Clara-fooling scene or two.  One could always imitate the other.)  As I said, the physical bits of it were brilliant—Matt Smith always shines there, but the raw performance let me down.
• I like the idea that the Doctor uses a tricksy bluff to take down the baddies in the end.  That’s another very Doctorish move, but I’m not sure chess was the best way to achieve that.  I know it’s a complicated game, but there are still a finite number of possible moves—especially if you only have to calculate out to three!  How many Cyberbrains should realistically be needed to figure out conclusively that there’s no way the Doctor can legally win?  I’m thinking just a handful.  It should not have taken as much time as it did.
  • I’ve chosen to handwave this particular issue by telling myself that because the Cyber Planner was residing in the Doctor’s head, he was able to use sheer force of personality to convince it that he truly had the winning moves, so it was a bluff wrapped in a brute-force trick.
  • (Sadly, I’m not really buying this explanation.)

The Bit I Messed Up

I totally got the director’s name wrong in this ep.  It’s Stephen Woolfenden.  I knew it started with “Wolf” but I totally cocked it up from there.  Apologies to Mr. Woolfenden.  And nicely done on this story!

The Bits My Cohosts Schooled Me On

• We touched on the kids briefly, and Deb mentioned how people would likely have problems with the daughter Angie.  *raises hand*  I was one of those people.  Wandering off on a strange planet and entering a bunker full of soldiers seemed pretty unrealistic to me.  Deb set me straight there (kids! who knew?), but I still had no fun watching her snottiness.
• I liked that the Cybermen could turn their heads around so fast (and remove them), but then Kat pointed out that means the last vestiges of their humanity seem well and truly deleted.  I think that does make them slightly less effective for me.  Perhaps having full humans that were only a wee bit Cyberized on the surface was an attempt to balance this out, but it didn’t quite work for me as well as a former-person-in-a-cyber-suit.  Why bother being humanoid at all anymore?

The Clues(?)

• I’m a bit worried that Angie is going to return in a future episode.  Her line about being queen of the universe someday seemed a little forced–like it was placed there for a reason.  And she does have a brand new phone, courtesy of the TARDIS.  (What?!)  I just hope that if the character does reappear, she’s much older, wiser, and less of a brat.
• I noted the dialogue about the Doctor erasing himself from history, and I suspect that will lead into the coming finale, though I am carefully avoiding specific speculating.  I’m just excited to watch it and be (I hope) delightedly surprised.

Erika’s Last Word – Episode 13

The Crimson Horror

When I sat down to watch Doctor Who last week, I really wanted to like it.  I always want to.  I’m most certainly not a “fan” who delights in picking apart every episode and finding things to complain about.  I’d rather make a list of the bits I love.  When I sat down to write this “Last Word” post, I wanted to focus on those happy bits.  But as I looked over my notes and mulled over what I felt, I realized that would be disingenuous.  Much as I hate to admit it, I sometimes just don’t like an episode of Doctor Who very much.

Nits to Pick

Some of my problems are nitpicky—so incredibly nitpicky that they’re laughable.  Or they would be if they didn’t irritate me like sand in my shoes.  Let’s zip through those and get them out of the way.

• When the Doctor is locked up as Ada’s “monster,” we see his clothing in a heap on the floor.  His bow tie sits atop the pile, perfectly tied.  How did that happen?  Did they cut it off him?  Did someone re-tie it after removal?  Or has the Doctor started wearing clip-on bow ties?  (If so, it was recently ‘cause we saw him untie his bow tie in the forest in “Hide.”)
• How long has Ada lived at Sweetville?  She doesn’t move around like my blind friends do when they’re in familiar circumstances.  Blind folks can be positively graceful.  I feel like that was a small failure in directing—having her over-act the blindness.  It wasn’t necessary, and it kind of ticks me off a bit for making the sight-impaired look so maladroit.
• Did the optogram of the Doctor match from scene to scene?  I forgot to go back and check, but it seemed like what we saw in the developed picture didn’t quite match what we later saw reflected in the poor fellow’s eye.  Please correct me if I’m wrong here.
• How much did Ada know about her mother’s plans?  I think Deb might be right about Ada’s moral failings.  When the Doctor asks her who Mr. Sweet really is, she says she can’t betray her mama.  But if she truly has no idea, then there’s nothing to betray, and she could have said she didn’t know.  Perhaps she knew (or suspected) and was mostly on board with the plan.  I think I’d like to see Ada reappear some time as a villain—picking up not quite where her mother left off, but following in her footsteps.  (Preferably in a more sinister and less cartooney fashion.)
• I will admit that by the end of my second viewing of this story, I was very cranky indeed.  (I almost turned it off.)  So that’s probably why I noticed (and was bothered by) the fact that when Ada bashes Mr. Sweet’s guts out, there are two problems:
  1. There are far more gooey guts flying about than there should be, given the volume of his tiny body.
  2. Perhaps it’s a trick of the camera angle, but it looks like she’s smacking too high with her stick.  It’s as if she’s hitting resistance well before the stick should have reached floor level.

General Gripes

Okay, let’s move on from those admittedly ridiculous complaints and talk about some of the more thematic issues I had trouble with.

Dialogue

In the last few episodes, I’ve found myself jotting down lines that I really really like, even when I don’t much dig the story itself.  This story had me doing the opposite.  Things came out of characters’ mouths that felt so forced and cardboard that I worried they’d get paper cuts (or cardboard cuts, which are much worse).  The bit about ignoring all keep out signs, running through every locked door…  What is this?  A commercial for the show?

“Do you know what these are?  The wrong hands!”  Despite the perfectly loony delivery of that line, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.  Now that I think about it, my other least-favorite line was also fitting for Mrs. Gillyflower’s character: “Now Mr. Sweet, now the whole world will taste your lethal kiss.”  Ick.  Over-the-top hackneyed flowery language.  Do not want.

Okay, so I did like a couple of lines, though I’m not sure if it was the writing or Matt Smith’s delivery of them.  (Probably the latter.)  “Attack of the supermodels” made me snigger, and when he revives Clara and says (in a northern accent) “Haven’t you heard, love? There’s trouble at the mill…..She’s a lizard,” I near guffawed.

Are We Missing Something?

Was this episode cut down from something longer?  When Clara (FINALLY) appears, she tries to get in a word about a chimney that doesn’t blow smoke.  The way she delivered the line sounded like she was referring back to something she and the Doctor noticed before.  I realize we didn’t see their entire adventure, but her delivery there made me feel like I was missing part of the story.  Until that moment, I was fine with the sepia-toned recap.  After it, I was cross that I didn’t see the chimney bit when she first noticed it.  If I’m way off track here and that was the first time she said anything about it, then it’s my first complaint about JLC (or another complaint about the direction) because it was misleading.

I also wondered why the line about the end of days and judgement raining down upon us all stuck out so much to the Doctor.  It’s pretty run-of-the-mill fire-and-brimstone claptrap.  Why did he perk his ears at it?  This, too, had me wondering if there was an earlier scene that was cut.

Oh My Ears!

Even the music and sound effects got to me in this one.  From the wacky tune underlining Strax’s silliness to the goofy sound effect of the “monster” hand reaching out to grab Jenny’s throat, it grated on my nerves.  I admit these elements fit well with the slapstickishness of the episode, but that’s precicelsy what I didn’t like about it.  If I want The Three Stooges, I’ll….scratch that.  I’ll never want The Three Stooges.

Disney Does Gruesome Horror

I found the mood of the climax scene very disturbing.  While incredibly dark and full of death, it was still shot and acted as if they were all in the middle of a madcap romp.  Strax appears over the lip of the chimney, and everyone laughs like they’re on a cheesy 80s sitcom.  And their faces as they watch Mrs. Gillyflower tumble to her demise?  The word “wacky” springs instantly to mind.  Maybe I’m a prude, but I found that distasteful.  I’ll say it again: I felt like I was watching a bad Disneyland ride.

Out of Left Field

As I mentioned, I quite disliked that last tacked-on scene.  It played like the worst kind of afterthought.  In the classic series, I used to love it when one story’s end led into the start of the next.  This did not have that feeling at all.  It was like, “Whoops! There are kids in the next episode!  We forgot!  Quick, somebody do something!”

And that’s not even my biggest complaint.  What I really don’t like is that Clara suddenly becomes stupid.  They’ve spent so much time emphasizing how clever she is (she IS!), and suddenly she’s tricked into admitting she’s a time-traveller by a 12-year-old using a gag that’s about as old as Moses’ toes and twice as corny?

Clara!

I did not get enough.  End of.

The Bright Side

I really really hate being this negative, so I’m taking pains to end on a positive note.  Here are some of the things I liked about this episode.

• Diana Rigg was great.  I didn’t like the character, but she played it very well indeed.
• Same goes for Rachael Stirling.  Her performance was lovely.  And I did like Ada a bit better than Mrs. Gillyflower (especially early in the episode).
• I think the idea of an optogram is really nifty, and I love that it’s “a silly superstition” unless the body has been altered chemically.  Great clue!
• I liked that Madame Vastra recognized the red liquid as something from her past.  I don’t mind delving a bit into her personal history (or that of Silurians in general).  I hope we get to do more of that someday.  (I honestly would like it if they had a spin-off.  I want an origin-story episode for them!  But not in Doctor Who.)
• I loved the giant Victrolas (or whatever they were) that played the loud sounds of a mill in that giant, empty room.  A clever touch!

I guess I should close by saying that while there are a few legitimate complaints sandwiched in here, most of my problem with “The Crimson Horror” derives from the fact that this is simply not a story for me.  It does what it sets out to do, and for the most part, it does it well.  Bravo for that!

For the umpteenth time, I’ll say how awesome it is that Doctor Who is the kind of show that changes so much and so often.  I wasn’t happy this week, but there’s a chance I will be next week or the week after that.  And as always, I’m very glad this story made so many people happy.  Even if those people don’t include me.

Verity! Episode 13 – King Crimson Horror

Saturday brought us Mark Gatiss’ sophomore series 7b story. Savvy? Join Deb, Erika, Liz, and Tansy as we cover “The Crimson Horror.” One of us really didn’t like it, and it may not be who you expect. See who thinks what about the Victorian trio. Find out who doesn’t know who The Wiggles are. Marvel that Erika bought a Doctor Who audio. And if you’re like Lynne when she’s not on the episode, yell at the recording for being so wrong!

^E

Also covered:
POSSIBLY SPOILERY 50th anniversary set photos! And TARDIS Tavern’s multi-Doctor (2-, 3-, 5-) podcasts!
Peter Cushing on a “Great Britons” stamp!
A Celebration of Doctor Who! And Doctor Who purchases: Deadline! and Running Through Corridors!
Doctor Who, Project Who? BBC Audio!

Download or listen now (runtime 1:13:51) 

Erika’s Last Word – Episode 12

Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

I realize I’m getting this post in just under the wire.  (New episode tomorrow covering ”The Crimson Horror”!)  I simply haven’t felt much like writing this week.  I still kinda don’t, so this time, you’re getting a straightforward list of things I noticed about this story.  I think Verity! Episode 12 does a fine job of analysis and critique, and I don’t think I have much to add in that department, so on with the randomness!

The Good

• The Cult song at the beginning reminded me of the scene in Mission to Mars when they’re listening to Van Halen.  Radio Free Skaro’s Warren has complained about that scene (and that movie) many times, claiming that listening to Van Halen so far in the future is highly unlikely.  I, however, did not have a problem with it at all.  It made me smile.
• The scene where the mechanical arms bring the TARDIS onto the salvage ship looked a bit off effects-wise.  It actually reminded me of my TARDIS Yahtzee quite a bit.  So in the end, that made me happy too.
• I LOVED the Doctor’s entrance—just appearing behind the fellows, seemingly out of nowhere.
• More cloister bell!
• I like when the Doctor refers to the vastness of the TARDIS.  It gives me goosebumps.  “Picture the biggest ship you’ve seen….forget it ‘cause this ship is infinite.”  SQUEE.
• The trailer had me thinking the Doctor kept some crazy monsters trapped in the TARDIS.  I’m SO glad that wasn’t the case.  For a moment during the episode I even thought the Doctor had gone throughout time collecting failed-Claras and that’s what they were.  Eep!  I’m pleased they were time-zombies and not something else.
• Hooray for the TARDIS screwing with hooligans who try to mess with her!  I was rooting for the TARDIS.
• <3 the line about the Time lords: “no dress sense, dreadful hats, but smart.”  Hats.  *snicker*
• Jenna Louise Coleman turned in a great performance.  When the Doctor pulls Clara from one echo-console room to another, she goes off on him.  I appreciated her righteous anger.  The scene when the brothers are arguing (and coming clean about Tricky’s humanity) was great too.  She looks so awkward at having to witness that intimate family moment.
• “Wiggly button trick”  *grin*
• Corridors!  Yay!  (Yes, seriously.)
• The idea that the TARDIS is “leaking time” is a fascinating one.  And the fact that the echoes are talking about the TARDIS itself struck me as interesting.  Could that have been intentional on the part of the TARDIS?  To bring attention to something?

The Neither Good Nor Bad

• The architectural reconstruction system was a neat idea, but I somehow liked it better not knowing *how* the TARDIS reconfigures things.  It seems less powerful now that I know it’s a big metal tree.  It’s pretty though.  It reminded me of the trees in Avatar.
• The heart of the TARDIS reminded me of the loading program from The Matrix.

The Not-So-Good

• I wasn’t thrilled to see the Doctor’s/River’s cradle.  I’m sure it evoked squees from some folks, but whatever is the opposite of that happened to me and brought me down.  I experienced “anti-squee.”
• I’m also not certain how I felt about Amy’s homemade toys.  Did the Doctor swoop into the Pond’s house after they disappeared and take those?  I suppose he must have.  I guess that’s kinda sweet in a way, but it feels a little weird to me.  Does he have mementos from all his companions?
• The TARDIS was throwing rods?  Really?  I’d like to think the TARDIS is a bit more advanced than my ex-boyfriend’s Dodge Lancer.
• I’m still not sure I understand what the Doctor was getting at when he asked Clara if she felt safe at the end.  Why wouldn’t she?  None of the other Claras seemed to be worried about their safety until it was too late.  Did he mean something else by it?  Or was that just a clunky line?  I did like her response when he said that anything could happen to her.  “That’s why I’m here.”  Good girl.

Deb’s Last Word – Episode 12

 

Kyle Anderson (@FunctionalNerd on twitter) posed an interesting question:  At what point does your displeasure at a TV show’s present regime outweigh your loyalty to it? Can you ever just stop watching?

This caught my attention because of the nature of Verity!  In case you haven’t noticed, we disagree.  We critique, we discuss and we don’t always like everything we see.  And that’s okay because not every minute of every episode is going to everyone’s  hearts’ sing.  Well, except for maybe Katrina but she is in Clara’s thrall and Kat + Series 7B = OTP* so that’s okay.    But the rest of us typically turn a critical eye to Doctor Who – not out of some malicious desire to tear down the show or to make it lesser, but because we absolutely love it.

I spend more time thinking about Doctor Who than any other television show.  Wrapped up in a neat and tidy “family entertainment” package is show that explores time, history, morality, sin, joy, depression, family, good, evil, all the “-isms” and nearly anything else you can come up with.  I cannot view this show dispassionately and it is only because of this great affection and respect that I give it the brain time necessary to critically think about what is happening on my screen.  This show fascinates me in ways that other “good” television doesn’t.  Justified?  An amazing show with fantastic actors.  I watch it every week but when the television turns off I simply don’t think about it any more.  I’m sure there are people out there who do think of Justified in a critical way.  There are probably forums where the Shakespearean elements of the show are examined and the loose morality of the characters debated but for me it’s simply an entertaining hour of television.  I’m sure there are some people who feel the same way about Doctor Who, but I’m not one of them.

If you are one of those people for whom Doctor Who is just a fun 46 minutes of television you’re not doing it wrong by any stretch!  We all take different things from media and each experience is just as valid.  But for me, and I suspect for my co-horts as well, we look at this show deeply.  We enjoy peeling back the layers and looking at the good and the bad and filtering that information through our individual lenses.

This week we talked about silly things as well as more serious racial and gender issues.  We didn’t agree while talking and we certainly don’t expect all of our listeners to agree either,  but at least some of our thoughts resulted in conversations that made people think about these issues as well.  And whether you watch Doctor Who for 46 minutes of fun or with a more critical eye, it’s these conversations that absolutely fill me with delight.  (Deb + interesting Doctor Who conversations = OTP!)

But to get back to Kyle’s original question – is there ever a point where your displeasure overides your desire to watch?  My answer was “when the bad far outweighs the good”.  Yet, despite the occasionally negative critique in our conversations (and I love that the negative critiques rotates among us.  Well, except for maybe Kat.  See Also: Paragraph Two), there has not been an episode of this show EVER in which I have not found something good, something interesting and something worthwhile to take in.  Every week I am surprised.  Every week something new comes across my desk that is tangentially related to the show – whether it is a book release, a Big Finish audio, a podcast or a fan creation.  Every week I look forward to what this show will reveal and how I will react to that.  And if one episode, one actor, one writer, etc. doesn’t make my heart sing – another one is right around the corner.  Like an addict, it’s the next hit that keeps me going and I can’t ever imagine walking away.

*OTP: One True Pairing

Lynne’s Last Word — Episode 12

Kamelion touches the TARDIS.

Source: Blogtor Who

*mike drop*