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weewarriorShort: loved it!
Slightly Longer:
The Dickens-on-sugar-overload look, something I normally despise, worked great in contrast to the cold, industrial cybermen settings.
I usually hate Cybermen, even more so than Daleks, but ohh, Cybershades! I have no earthly idea what they are supposed to be - apes? Dogs? Bears? They were adorable! (And no, I don't want to think about how they were probably created.)
I guessed who David Morrissey was fairly quickly, but was positively surprised that they solved the riddle quite early. I generally loved how they dealt with the story, Jackson Lake's trauma, and how he held onto The Doctor's identity to escape from it. I thought Morrissey sold it really well, too, even though his Doctor persona was quite larger than life. And I liked how he stayed a Victorian gentleman throughout, even though it made me want to kick him occasionally. 19th century men have that effect on me. (Speaking of which, the look Ten shot him after he said he thought of Rosita as a great nursemaid really spoke volumes.) He and Tennant had great chemistry again, but I wouldn't have doubted that after Blackpool.
Rosita was truly, truly fabulous, and she did not die! I doubt she'll really be Little Frederic's Nanny (at least not for very long), that would be such a waste.
I don't think the Doctor goes thankless all the time to be honest, but I filed that under Unavoidable Christmas Kitsch. Little Frederic went there, too, btw - that kid was mostly hired for his big blue eyes, wasn't he?
Miss Hartigan was somewhat of a mixed blessing: I could have lived without her constant declarations of hating men, as making that her sole reason for becoming evil was both rather flat and came across as anti-feminist at various points, and her ending was rather been there, done that, but nonetheless Dervla Kirwan was truly fabulous, and I bet Hartigan would wipe the floor with any previous villains, including the Master. I for one would definitely welcome her as our new evil overlord. (And I think she's instantly compatible with Ms. Wormwood from Sarah Jane Adventures.)
And finally, the part which would probably have made me love this episode even if everything else had sucked: The Cyber-King! Everyone else whose reactions I looked at so far hated it, but I don't care, because GIANT STEAM-PUNK ROBOT!! Squee!!!
Slightly Longer:
The Dickens-on-sugar-overload look, something I normally despise, worked great in contrast to the cold, industrial cybermen settings.
I usually hate Cybermen, even more so than Daleks, but ohh, Cybershades! I have no earthly idea what they are supposed to be - apes? Dogs? Bears? They were adorable! (And no, I don't want to think about how they were probably created.)
I guessed who David Morrissey was fairly quickly, but was positively surprised that they solved the riddle quite early. I generally loved how they dealt with the story, Jackson Lake's trauma, and how he held onto The Doctor's identity to escape from it. I thought Morrissey sold it really well, too, even though his Doctor persona was quite larger than life. And I liked how he stayed a Victorian gentleman throughout, even though it made me want to kick him occasionally. 19th century men have that effect on me. (Speaking of which, the look Ten shot him after he said he thought of Rosita as a great nursemaid really spoke volumes.) He and Tennant had great chemistry again, but I wouldn't have doubted that after Blackpool.
Rosita was truly, truly fabulous, and she did not die! I doubt she'll really be Little Frederic's Nanny (at least not for very long), that would be such a waste.
I don't think the Doctor goes thankless all the time to be honest, but I filed that under Unavoidable Christmas Kitsch. Little Frederic went there, too, btw - that kid was mostly hired for his big blue eyes, wasn't he?
Miss Hartigan was somewhat of a mixed blessing: I could have lived without her constant declarations of hating men, as making that her sole reason for becoming evil was both rather flat and came across as anti-feminist at various points, and her ending was rather been there, done that, but nonetheless Dervla Kirwan was truly fabulous, and I bet Hartigan would wipe the floor with any previous villains, including the Master. I for one would definitely welcome her as our new evil overlord. (And I think she's instantly compatible with Ms. Wormwood from Sarah Jane Adventures.)
And finally, the part which would probably have made me love this episode even if everything else had sucked: The Cyber-King! Everyone else whose reactions I looked at so far hated it, but I don't care, because GIANT STEAM-PUNK ROBOT!! Squee!!!
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 02:33 pm (UTC)19th century men have that effect on me. (Speaking of which, the look Ten shot him after he said he thought of Rosita as a great nursemaid really spoke volumes.)
It did, and I thought they struck the right balance in that scene; on the one hand, Jackson wasn't presented as unrealistically ahead of his time, on the other, it was clear the Doctor (or the show) didn't approve of the attitude.
..and I think the fannish name for this one will definitely be The Two Davids, yes.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 03:36 pm (UTC)That's where they got it from! (I have to reread the first one. I've recently acquired the sequels and wasn't all that enchanted, but the original one rocked.)
It did, and I thought they struck the right balance in that scene; on the one hand, Jackson wasn't presented as unrealistically ahead of his time, on the other, it was clear the Doctor (or the show) didn't approve of the attitude.
I've since read a few comments remarking critically on Rosita's presumed fate, calling it sexist, but I think that's giving RTD too little credit. It would have made Jackson a bit unrealistically modern if he had decided to marry her on the spot and he didn't treat her like an equal before, either. And like you said, it was clear Ten didn't approve of it.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 06:00 pm (UTC)Really? Hm, I forget; I read it a few years ago. I guess it was different to see it in motion. It felt like something I'd always wanted to see but never knew.
And like you said, it was clear Ten didn't approve of it.
I did like that. The Doctor was obviously, "Dude, you should totally hit that," and Jackson was all, "Ooh, a HOUSEMAID, AWESOME." *headTARDIS*
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 07:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-27 08:00 am (UTC)It was a bit Godzilla-esque. I mean, in a fun, robotic way. I think it was Miss Hartigan being disappointed that her subjects weren't rejoicing while she trampled their houses which gave it that special edge.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 07:24 pm (UTC)No, he didn't. It was clear he liked her and appreciated her, needed her, but he always had the gentleman-talks-to-inferior tone in his voice. (I've also by now read complaints Ten didn't set him straight verbally. Which makes me wonder: do we have examples of the Doctor telling someone off for displaying period-inherent prejudices if the someone wasn't a villain whose displays were actively hurting another person? Because I don't think. The only example that comes close is Seven in Ghost Light and there he was being sarcastic to the Reverend in general; he didn't tell him how wrong he was about Darwin specifically, or something like that.)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 05:58 pm (UTC)ME NEITHER! In fact, I am almost positive he's been thanked. I mean, the Ood totally thanked him, didn't they?
I for one would definitely welcome her as our new evil overlord.
Me too! She was sort of like an evil Julianne Moore.
GIANT STEAM-PUNK ROBOT!! Squee!!!
THERE IS NO HATE FOR THAT. IT WAS TOTALLY FUCKING SWEET!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-27 07:54 am (UTC)They did! They put him in their song!
Me too! She was sort of like an evil Julianne Moore.
She reminded me of Miranda Richardson. And herself, I believe, for I'm sure I've seen her elsewhere.
GIANT STEAM-PUNK ROBOT!! Squee!!!
THERE IS NO HATE FOR THAT. IT WAS TOTALLY FUCKING SWEET!
You would think so, but every other post I opened was all "Waah, FAILBOT!" And I was like "You have no heart for mechanics, fandom, you just don't!"
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 06:18 pm (UTC)I loved David Morrisey too although ever since The Deal, he is always Gordon Brown to me until proved otherwise. (I can't help it - some actors stick to a role in my brain). I thought he was great with his pomposity never overwhelming his vulnerability and essential kindliness and bravery. I would definitely want to read further adventures of him!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-26 09:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-27 12:17 pm (UTC)I wondered before wether david Morrissey was to be the next Doctor; I wouldn't exactly mind, although of course you are quite right in what you said. But I admired the way he remained quite the Victoran bigot very much; Especailly in that last scene with Rosita (well deserved, that dirty look, ne?).
I'm glad Rosita survived, but I would have loved to see a bt more of her.
I also thought the Cyber-cuddlies, well cuddly. Can I have one, please?
Miss Hartigan - well, I would have whished for her to be a less clichéd evil woman, but she was indeed very well played and truely scary.
And yay for the stam-punk Mecha Cyberking, whoa, those exhaust vents at it's back!!! *flails*
Sorry, I know that my comments aren't so far from yours, but I wanted to give my fifty cents about ths special very badly, and for once, we 're obvously of the same opinon...
*hugs*