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chicafrom3UGH, NO, DOCTOR, CLARA HAS THE CUTEST NOSE EVER.
Ahem.
But seriously, how is it that Neil Gaiman manages to tap into, like, everything that appeals to me? It's like he writes directly to my id. Thank you for that.
Abandoned theme park = excellent set for creepy base-under-seige episode. (Seriously. Have you ever spent time in an empty theme park? Because I have. And it's kinda terrifying. I actually did find myself puzzling out where I would hole up to defend myself if zombies descended upon the park, so seeing that enacted with Cybermen in the place of zombies was kind of great.)
Matt Smith should get awards for his performance in this episode. Fascinating, how bits of the Doctor's verbal mannerisms bled into the Cyberplanner; "fantastic", and "allons-y", and "Mr. Clever." (And loved the Doctor tricking the Cyberplanner into borrowing processing power from all the Cybermen attacking Clara and the platoon.)
I enjoyed the kids! Artie's whole "I'm not scared, I think you should know that, I just think I should turn the lights back on" routine, and Angie's unwillingness to admit to being impressed or frightened by anything, and Artie's forthrightness about things like "I think outer space is really interesting, Clara", and that Angie is the one to solve a key mystery.
But this episode really belonged to Clara.
I mean. I could picture any number of companions being given that responsibility by the Doctor. It's kind of a stock thing, "I'm putting my companion in charge of this group of people while I go deal with other things". But the way Clara handled being in charge seemed uniquely Clara-esque to me. She doesn't try to imitate the Doctor, and she doesn't try to disclaim her ability to do it; she simply takes charge, asks questions when she doesn't know the details, asserts her authority all over the place, and charges into the fray with everyone else.
And slapping the Cyberplanner for trying to pretend to be the Doctor confessing his love for her. BRILLIANT.
As for Porridge's marriage proposal, that was one of my favorite parts of the episode; it actually felt believable, in that he both genuinely had connected to Clara during their time together in the park, and didn't want to rule alone; not that he's in love with her, but that he believes he could love her. And I love that she tried to let him down gently. (And that Angie couldn't believe she said no. "You wait, one day I'll be queen of the universe." Fic where grown-up Angie travels with the Doctor and winds up leaving the TARDIS to become queen of the universe, please?)
Oh, and next Wednesday? NEXT WEDNESDAY? Does she have him on a schedule? Wednesdays are her day off from nannying so that's when he gets to take her to see the universe? I AM TAKING THIS TO MEAN THAT CLARA HAS PUT THE DOCTOR ON A SCHEDULE.
NEXT WEEK EVERYTHING BLOWS UP.
Ahem.
But seriously, how is it that Neil Gaiman manages to tap into, like, everything that appeals to me? It's like he writes directly to my id. Thank you for that.
Abandoned theme park = excellent set for creepy base-under-seige episode. (Seriously. Have you ever spent time in an empty theme park? Because I have. And it's kinda terrifying. I actually did find myself puzzling out where I would hole up to defend myself if zombies descended upon the park, so seeing that enacted with Cybermen in the place of zombies was kind of great.)
Matt Smith should get awards for his performance in this episode. Fascinating, how bits of the Doctor's verbal mannerisms bled into the Cyberplanner; "fantastic", and "allons-y", and "Mr. Clever." (And loved the Doctor tricking the Cyberplanner into borrowing processing power from all the Cybermen attacking Clara and the platoon.)
I enjoyed the kids! Artie's whole "I'm not scared, I think you should know that, I just think I should turn the lights back on" routine, and Angie's unwillingness to admit to being impressed or frightened by anything, and Artie's forthrightness about things like "I think outer space is really interesting, Clara", and that Angie is the one to solve a key mystery.
But this episode really belonged to Clara.
I mean. I could picture any number of companions being given that responsibility by the Doctor. It's kind of a stock thing, "I'm putting my companion in charge of this group of people while I go deal with other things". But the way Clara handled being in charge seemed uniquely Clara-esque to me. She doesn't try to imitate the Doctor, and she doesn't try to disclaim her ability to do it; she simply takes charge, asks questions when she doesn't know the details, asserts her authority all over the place, and charges into the fray with everyone else.
And slapping the Cyberplanner for trying to pretend to be the Doctor confessing his love for her. BRILLIANT.
As for Porridge's marriage proposal, that was one of my favorite parts of the episode; it actually felt believable, in that he both genuinely had connected to Clara during their time together in the park, and didn't want to rule alone; not that he's in love with her, but that he believes he could love her. And I love that she tried to let him down gently. (And that Angie couldn't believe she said no. "You wait, one day I'll be queen of the universe." Fic where grown-up Angie travels with the Doctor and winds up leaving the TARDIS to become queen of the universe, please?)
Oh, and next Wednesday? NEXT WEDNESDAY? Does she have him on a schedule? Wednesdays are her day off from nannying so that's when he gets to take her to see the universe? I AM TAKING THIS TO MEAN THAT CLARA HAS PUT THE DOCTOR ON A SCHEDULE.
NEXT WEEK EVERYTHING BLOWS UP.