Planet of the Dead or at least the really sandy and sunbaked.

[intrikate88]

I think this post probably needs pictures: time to hotlink the BBC since I suspect I can't be arsed.

• I don’t mind Christina, I rather like her. This is probably a reflection on having watched too much Alias and spy things. Somebody on my flist, I forget who, made the comment that she was selfish, which yes, and that her thievery tendencies don’t really recommend her. Again, I like thieves too much to really critique that, but I think it understandable that the Doctor likes her; I think he sees some of himself in her. He, too, is separated from his people and class, he has some pretty light fingers himself when it comes to appropriating things (he even mentions he stole the TARDIS) and he is just out looking for adventure and to never stop running. Yes, it’s not the time for the Doctor to pick up someone new, not at all. But I can see why he said they were meant for each other. They have a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses. That doesn’t exactly lend itself to good Companionship, though, since he needs someone that more complements him than reflects him. The Doctor has some times where he’s not exactly sensitive to the needs of the humans around him; that’s why he needs Rose, and Martha, and Donna so much. Christina hears that there’s bodies in the sand… and complains that it’s in her hair. She lacks a bit of that human sympathy as well.

• I was so sure everybody was going to die. After all, the Doctor did promise to get them all out of there.

• Okay, that “science”? About how the stingray things fly around the planet so fast they generate a rip in the universe, creating a wormhole? There is NOTHING in all the laws of physics that I know that even suggests that as a possibility. ninamazing ? Anything you can think of? Because all the evidence suggests we live in a flat universe anyway, which makes wormholes pretty difficult to start with, but the closest thing that I can think of is that all that rotation creates energy/radiation (which, no, they’re not moving anywhere NEAR that fast) and a buildup of mass from protons, thereby creating enough mass to make a rupture in spacetime. Guys… you need a lot more speed (like faster than 95% of the speed of light, if I remember correctly) and a whole lot more mass to even make that a remote theoretical possibility. I’m sure they were reversing some polarity somewhere, of course.

• Oh, Malcolm and his little Scottish accent. RTD really likes showing how much of a fanboy he is in not-so-secret ways. I liked seeing how he grew, though, from being merely excited to really helping as a person. Also, I was thinking when the Doctor was smiling at Malcolm at the end that he would say something like, “Oh, Einstein? Yeah, nobody’ll think he’s as cool once this bloke figures out a unified quantum mechanical theory, which he will in… what’s today’s date?”

• Snoggage. Oh, Doctor. andi_horton and I have a sneaking suspicion that, considering his lifespan, he hasn’t actually gotten snogged all that much. He always looks so bemused when it happens. I know plenty of people always get upset when he kisses somebody that isn’t Rose, but I don’t really think it’s that big a deal. He’s NOT human. He wasn’t raised human. And even among humans, the sexual meanings ascribed to various actions vary. Some cultures view kissing as merely a greeting, some view it as a more intimate act reserved for lovers. Some cultures cover up their women, some the women go bare-breasted without it being viewed as highly sexualized. As someone who also generally lives outside sexual norms, I can understand not really feeling or expressing affection in such a way; the Doctor would not have been raised or excessively acclimated to such norms, and also might not necessarily ascribe the same meaning that our culture does. So the fact that while he loved Rose he didn’t go around snogging her all the time, and he happens to kiss plenty of women he isn’t in love with, doesn’t really mean anything at all in terms of intimate relationships, I think. (And that was your not-so-daily dose of asexual cultural critique, we'll be back next week with-)

• On seeing the episode a second time, Christina does grate a little. And it’s not really her fault. It’s her lines- they’re so cocky, it’s kind of annoying, because there’s no reason revealed for her cockiness- is she psychologically protecting herself from something? Why does she feel the need to almost one-up the Doctor when it comes to doing things, taking charge, etc? So I feel like her character wasn’t written strongly enough and fleshed out enough, as much as it could have been. This is why there should be a spinoff series: member of British peerage that has adventures in magical flying bus. IT WOULD BE AWESOME.

• Oh, it's okay to bash the hell out of the gold coronation cup from Hwyll or whoever. IT'S ONLY WELSH, AFTER ALL.

• Majority of dead not white/English-speaking? Check. Black people that help white people but ultimately have no real part in the plot? Check. There are some things I will not miss about the RTD era. Okay, Magambo is the Rather Awesome exception. Though... she didn't really accomplish a whole hell of a lot, either. *sigh*

Comments

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Magambo is the new Harriet Jones. She may not be right all the time, but damn if she isn't afraid to stand up for what she thinks is right.

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

Oh, I SO agree. That is exactly it. I kind of really like her for that.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

I love Magambo and her awesome and would like more of her in the future, plzkthanks.

So the fact that while he loved Rose he didn’t go around snogging her all the time, and he happens to kiss plenty of women he isn’t in love with, doesn’t really mean anything at all in terms of intimate relationships, I think. (And that was your not-so-daily dose of asexual cultural critique, we'll be back next week with-)

Hee. I think this is very true. Mostly because it's a bit mind-blowing to think the Doctor was in love with everyone he's kissed. Since he's kissed a lot of people and all. I think what's GRATING about it is that RTD is obviously doing it as a running gag, and it's just not THAT funny. (Or maybe it is? And I just don't see the hilarity?) Also, when he goes around kissing people all the time, it's difficult to figure out which kisses are meaningful romantic gestures. I mean, I think the JE Ten II/Rose kiss was supposed to be, but then, it's also A Thing The Doctor Does. So I dunno.

And I like your asexual cultural critique. XD

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

Since he's kissed a lot of people and all. I think what's GRATING about it is that RTD is obviously doing it as a running gag, and it's just not THAT funny. (Or maybe it is? And I just don't see the hilarity?)

I've kissed people for shits and giggles. Generally it's more humorous than this. To me, anyway.

I mean, I think the JE Ten II/Rose kiss was supposed to be, but then, it's also A Thing The Doctor Does. So I dunno.

Well, she latched onto HIM, not the other way around. When all the action is on his side, and not simply a response to this human method of expression that he understands when it's Rose (GLEE), there's instances like the Extraction Of Time Vortexes and Acquisition Of Human DNA and practical things like that. I think overall he can understand and see and participate in kissing as a meaningful human gesture, but it doesn't necessarily mean that, naturally, to him.

And I like your asexual cultural critique. XD

YAY THANKS. I'm embracing it these days and realizing it's only the fictional side of my brain that gets Teh Secksy. The real side of me only wants people as friends and interrupts actual snogging to say she's bored, can we please talk about dinosaurs or something, plzkthx. :P

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

Oh, and this bit:

That doesn’t exactly lend itself to good Companionship, though, since he needs someone that more complements him than reflects him. The Doctor has some times where he’s not exactly sensitive to the needs of the humans around him; that’s why he needs Rose, and Martha, and Donna so much. Christina hears that there’s bodies in the sand… and complains that it’s in her hair. She lacks a bit of that human sympathy as well.

Is spot-on, I think. I didn't love Christina, but I did like what she represents. That is, even the Doctor hadn't been a good place for new companions, I'm doubtful she WOULD have been a great TARDIS companion. She does lack that human sympathy and concern for others that seems so important to being the Doctor's companion. Not that she doesn't care, but you could see her getting him into MORE trouble rather than helping him save the day.

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

She does lack that human sympathy and concern for others that seems so important to being the Doctor's companion. Not that she doesn't care, but you could see her getting him into MORE trouble rather than helping him save the day.

Oh yeah. And the thing about that is, it could be FUN, it really could be. But if any characterization were done, it would be a short trip to realizing that the Doctor leaves a big enough trail of destruction even with somebody keeping an eye out for him, and this is rampant chaos.

I know there were all sorts of fic ideas back after LotTL about 'what if the Master traveled with the Doctor?' and the chaos that would come out of that. I see Christina as something similar, but much more childish and wholesome- but still not the height of maturity and responsibility.

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

I do mean the aliens, yep. Their deaths are kind of glossed over- they're "Other" in both appearance and language so they have less importance, it seems to me.