The rewatch continues...

[fogsblue]

I'll be completely honest, it's actually only afternoon. I could probably be doing something more productive with my time, but, well, I really just don't feel like it....


So picking up where I left off. The first 2 parter... Any final thoughts will follow after both I think.

1x04 -  Aliens of London

• Yes Doctor, 12 hours... All sure and smug about that. Typical man, never stop and ask for directions, or you know, checking the date.
• Poor Jackie, though I like that we see that Rose has a family and people who miss her.
• Oh look, Bad Wolf on the TARDIS.
• The Doctor looks rather guilty while Jackie lays into Rose. But the question from the cop about a sexual relationship always makes me giggle, mostly cause of the 'Stitch this' comment from Jackie. Poor Doctor... 
• Description of the year 'Middling'. I'm with Rose, he's rather useless sometimes.
• Ahh, the childlike excitement of someone who's over 900 years old... Again, Rose has a point, he's so helpful to have around. He knows nothing about what's happening, but he's happy about it at least.
• TOSH!! I love Tosh. Ok, so technically we don't know her name yet, but she's so adorable.
• Aww, Harriet Jones MP for Flydale North. You don't give her much thought at first.
• Smart!Rose is great, knows the Doctor is lying, even if she's not sure how. But I do like that you see her nervousness about her place in the Doctor's life. Of course, he's still going to lie through his teeth sometimes...
• Mickey, sadly turned into comic relief. Though, at this stage it's not really that surprising.
• Harriet is a clever character, I think. She reminds people that no matter the huge events that might be happening, the little things still matter and keep the world running.
• Tosh checking out the strange noise and the Doctor smiling like a loon at a bunch of armed soldiers, perfectly normal day....
• But there's that softer side of the Doctor, checking on Tosh. And then the little space pig. That gets shot. Poor thing.
• The Doctor really doesn't like small or harmless creatures being messed with.
• Look, I understand MIckey being upset, but wow, he really is an arse when he sees Rose again. I think what makes it worse is he's angry and he's trying to guilt her when she already feels guilty. But he also also knows the kind of things to say to hurt Rose, like playing on the idea that she's been left behind.
• It's nice when you start seeing the protective side of Jackie, realise she's got more depth than you thought.
• Seriously, the Doctor and Mickey just need to whip 'em out and measure. They're so typically male.
• Mickey and Rose talking is nice, you can see Rose feels guilty and Mickey does actually care. But I think in some ways it's a more obvious beginning of the end.
• Seriously though, the Doctor so timed his 'Ah hah!' moment, just to disrupt Mickey and Rose, I'm sure of it.
• Got to give Mickey credit for looking into the Doctor, makes sense. Of course, Mickey rather loses it when he runs off.
• 'Take me to your leader'. I swear Nine makes the worst jokes.
• Rose trying to calm Harriet down is a good moment, shows her strength and compassion.
• And there's the Slitheen... Dealing with annoying little assistant. Poor little guy, don't think he deserved that.

1x05 - World War Three

• No Doctor, saying the Prime Minister is an alien is probably not going to help. Of course the classic 'in front of the lift/door/window' always works too. Actually the whole setup with the Doctor and Rose and Harriet running around is well done if slightly cartoon-ish.
• I do always feel a little sorry for the security guys, they're clueless.
• Introductions while spraying aliens with a fire extinquisher, all class that.
• Sonic device, increaing flammability of the alcohol, talk about a hell of a bluff. Also the conversation going on between Rose and Harriet behind the Doctor as he tries to get information is amusing.
• "You pass it to the left first" Always polite and classy, is Harriet Jones.
• And there's the Doctor forgetting the obvious, the Slitheen may be held out, but they're stuck inside.
• The Doctor might have a big green thing inside him... Riiiiiiiightio. And then, Mickey trying to comfort Jackie is rather bloody amusing. He's terrible at it. But credit for trying.
• Poor Doctor, even if he's in no real way connected to someone's death, he still hurts over it. Like the secretary/assistant, he feels bad about it.
• "You get used to the stuff when you're friends with 'im" And she has no idea how much stranger it's going to get. I think Harriet might have it right, calling it a strange friendship.
• Doctor, calling Mickey stupid constantly does not actually make you look like the better man. And asking fgor his help won't kill him. Also, you eventually just come across as rather jealous. Just sayin'.
• Poor Jackie, you can understand where she's coming from. This is when you start to really see how much Rose really means to her, how much she really wants to keep her daughter safe.
• Pardon the word, ahh, Harriet is rather adorably polite. She gets worried about saying fart.
• Love how excited the Doctor gets saying 'Raxicoricofallipatorius'. Mind you, awesome word!
• It's not me imagining it, I'm sure, there's a small shake of Rose's head when the Doctor asks her if she kisses Mickey. It makes me giggle, though, given what was pulled out of his cupboards...
• The Doctor has a point, people get scared, they lash out. It's a very true thing.
• It's quite clever the way that as the door shuts on the Doctor, that the Slitheen stop looking so confident in the face of the Doctor's surety that he can stop them. Even from his 'little box'.
• Rose and Harriet trying to get out while the Doctor stands brooding in the corner I think emphasises something the Doctor loves about humans, they never give up.
• But what really makes the moment... Rose's absolute faith in the Doctor. And knowing that he needs to do what's right. Even if she's at risk.
• "I could save the world but lose you." That moment when the Doctor, even if only for a brief minute, hesitates to do what he has to because he's scared of losing Rose. The emotion on his face... Mind you, I think Rose is starting to realise what it means too. Judging by that small slight smile on her face.
• Good thing Harriet takes the decision out of his hands in a way. And this is when Jackie starts to show so much more depth, realising no matter how much she loves Rose, the world is more important than one person.
• It's a sign of Rose's humanity that, again, she chooses to not just give up and stand around to die, but tries to find a way for them to survive.
• Now, who hasn't wanted to blow up their government's buildings at least once?
• If only real politicians were like Harriet, things might occasionally get done.
• Jackie says Rose is infatuated with the Doctor. Well, she's not exactly wrong...
• Manipulative!Doctor. Hmm, avoiding domestic is one thing, but manipulating your companion, that's just... Sigh.
• I'll give the Doctor credit for realising Mickey is more than he seems, actually, now that I think a about it, kind of follows the audience realising there's more to Mickey. Inviting him along however does not make up for manipulating Rose. Good on Mickey for knowing that he's not ready yet.
• I notice the Doctor looks slightly guilty as Rose calms Jackie down. But not enough to say anything, but then I think he wants or needs Rose too much to say anything.

Final thoughts on Aliens of London and World War Three - Farting aliens aside, these 2 episodes have some seriously good moments. AoL focuses a lot on the consequences of someone just up and leaving in this day and age. It's noticed. And if they have a family/friends, they're missed. I think it was a clever choice to point that out. It's also a great way to show more about the companion, in this case Rose, who she is and the people that have played parts in her life. But more than that, these two episodes also start developing Jackie and Mickey. They're not seen much in 'Rose' and what we do see of them does not make them very sympathetic characters.
Of course, the one thing that's never forgotten is the scene in the Cabinet room. There is still something amazing in the emotion and despair that is put into the delivery of "I could save the world but lose you." As much as I ship Nine and Rose (well, Rose and the Doctor really) I'm not sure how much of this was love and how much was the Doctor realising he needed Rose. Someone who was willing to stand up to him, even if he wasn't yet listening. Someone to remind him to care, that there's more the universe than running through it saving people, but there's seeing what's out there and letting people care about you. I do think it's definitely a step in the direction of love, the realisation that what he feels is more than just friendship.

Whoa... That was a ramble. That's it. If I decide to watch Dalek today, I'm doing so in a new post.

Comments

[develish1]

I admit, these are not among my fav eps, mainly because I find the Slitheen ridiculous and not even remotely scary, but they do do one thing incredibly well, and that's character development.

You understand a lot more about not just the Doctor and Rose, but Jackie and Mickey too, by the end of this.

SM could learn a lot from a rewatch of these two, but then he's clearly decided Amy's family are of no importance, so I guess he wouldn't care to, lol

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

I agree, these would never rank among my favourites, but they stand way about so many of the S5/6 episodes for the reason you state. We learn so much a about the characters. ALL the characters. It's what is missing in so much of S5/6.

Are you sure Amy has a family? Or Rory for that matter? They can't possibly, I think they just appeared under a cabbage somewhere :P

I'm kind of thinking SM could learn a lot about character development from Twilight...

[develish1]

well there was a brief glimpse of a family at her wedding, but I guess he put them back in a box after that, lol

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that... Isn't there meant to be an appearance by Rory's family, or part of it in S7? I guess it's their turn to be let out of the box briefly?

[six.livejournal.com]

Jackie slapping the Doctor and the Doctor whining about it to Rose on the rooftop always makes me giggle.
I love that confused look on his face when Rose suggests they do what everybody's doing and watch TV. So cute! XD
Seeing the Torchwood people in early Doctor Who episodes also makes me giggle. (I am so easy to please. XD)

These two episodes aren't at the top of my faves list, but I agree that they have some seriously good moments. And not even big moments, just little ones, like Mickey looking back at Jackie from what he was doing on the computer when she asked the Doctor if Rose was going to be safe. (Did he make Emergency Program One in response to her speech about getting stuck on some moon away from home?) Or that moment of Jackie having too much pride to apologize to Mickey for suspecting him of murdering Rose, even though she was thankful for him saving her. XD

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

I love that confused look on his face when Rose suggests they do what everybody's doing and watch TV. So cute! XD
Definitely agree with that. It's such a dopey!Doctor moment :D

(Did he make Emergency Program One in response to her speech about getting stuck on some moon away from home?)
Hmm, hadn't considered that. But I do wonder... It would make sense actually. *Starts pondering this*

But yep, they'll never be favourites, but I'll always like the characters moments in them. The basic story isn't too bad I think, it's just... Farting aliens?

[six.livejournal.com]

lmao yes, the first time I saw it I had to force myself to finish watching. The time they spent cowering and waiting for the blow to strike made me so frustrated. XD

[annissamazing]

I gotta say, I watch only the first several minutes of Aliens of London. I turn it off after the slap. But you're right that it does have some good moments and character development in them.

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

I can understand the turning these ones off. But maybe it's just because I love seeing all those character moments, I'm willing to overlook the problems.

I actually think the idea behind the story wasn't too bad, I just think they went the wrong way about it.