the doctor meets yet another historical figure

[violacea]

Well, that was a lot of silly fun, wasn't it? And wow, was Shakespeare HOT. Seriously.

The Rose references are getting a little heavy-handed, but I think that's a point of the season ... yes, I've probably read too many of Jacob's recaps over on TWoP, but my guess is that 'family' and those the Doctor has left behind is the underlying arc of the season. Specifically, dealing with what he's done in the past, things that can't be undone, and moving on. We'll have our ultimate resolution of this when Jack shows up at the end of the season, and possibly an even more serious thread of this if John Simm is playing the character everyone thinks he is. (Which I think is a certainty, but I've been avoiding specific spoilers, so I'm still allowing a small bit of wiggle room. :)) So, we start out the season with the Doctor still dealing, emotionally, with the actions that led to Rose and family living in the alternate universe. Martha's presence will help him move on. And then, we get more faces from the past to deal with. If that's the way we're heading for the season, then I think we've got a really good story coming.

I like the way that Martha takes all this in stride. I was a little skeptical at first, but then I remembered - the world Martha knows is very different than the one Rose knew when she signed on, isn't it? Spaceships over London and Daleks and Cybermen and all that ... enough evidence for someone logical and unwilling to take the easy answer to somewhat easily accept that there are more things in heaven and earth, et cetera. Though, you know, I would have liked a bit of a nod to the same thinking that had him putting Rose in a dress in "The Unquiet Dead", and the same attitude that had everyone remarking on Rose's nakedness in "Tooth & Claw". Red leather and jeans should have caused even more of a stir than her skin color, really.

So, he's pissed off Queen Elizabeth, eh? He apparently needs to find a playing ground that isn't historic England. Heh.

All in all, a good romp. Loved the Harry Potter references and bisexual Will and more electric interactions between the Doctor and Martha. I wonder, though, how we're going to explain the fact that Martha doesn't go home after this? TARDIS malfunction? Perhaps the TARDIS knows that he needs a companion, and makes sure he keeps a good one? Okay, now I have a plot bunny about the Doctor trying to take on a companion that the TARDIS doesn't approve of, and suddenly the companion keeps getting bonked on the head and locked out. "I swear, that key worked yesterday!" Hee.

Comments

[donna-c-punk.livejournal.com]

I stopped trying to figure out them running around in non-period clothing in period episodes. I gave up after the Fifth Doctor serial "The Visitation", which took place in 1666. It's just ... not even an issue in the old series, so I don't even notice it when the Doctor and Rose/Martha run around in different time periods in jeans and what not.

As for how Martha doesn't go home, it'll probably be a bit like a reverse-Tegan Jovanka situation. Except Martha really doesn't want to leave, but the Doctor keeps getting dragged into different adventures, either by accident or the TARDIS not making it to where he wants it to go. After a while, he'll probably realize he likes to have Martha around and ask her to stay. That's just all speculation on my part, however.

[seimaisin.livejournal.com]

That's a plausible theory. He hasn't quite admitted to himself that he wants here there yet, so there needs to be some outside force that makes them stick together for a while.

[azarsuerte.livejournal.com]

*grin* When we were watching the episode, I turned to wolfryder and commented, "He seems to have a knack for offending England's greatest queens."

[seimaisin.livejournal.com]

Doesn't he just? I wonder when we'll get to figure out what he did ... :)

[dragonsinger.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved this episode! So much fun. And Martha continues to be a great addition. The idea of the witches being from a different planet was awesome...a planet that depends on words (as it should be). ;)

And, hey, wasn't the lead witch the chick from Hex? How appropriate.

[seimaisin.livejournal.com]

It was the girl from Hex! It took me a while to figure it out - I knew I'd seen her somewhere. :)

I need to go hunt down Shakespeare icons now ...

[dragonsinger.livejournal.com]

Yes...hunt me down some, too.:)