Always a day behind on that new episode...

[fogsblue]

Not that I'm particularly worried about that. Good thing too. I'm not likely to change my habits now.


Right, so A Town Called Mercy eh? Well, let's give it a go...

• Wonderful accent there... Do Americans actually sound like that?
• Mean guy, shoots people. Wants to shoot the Doctor. Does everyone want to kill him? Wait. Stupid question... Then again, doesn't actually have to be talking about the Doctor, could just be an actual doctor. (Yes, I may have no trust in anything... Oh well, it was still a stupid question).
• I'm 99.7% sure a 'Keep out' sign is a literal invitation to the Doctor. Ahhh, suggestion. Channeling Pirates of the Caribbean perhaps? "More like guidelines"
• Rory was in Henry VIII's ensuite? Umm, why?
• "Tea. The strong stuff" Is it wrong that I approve of this? And that was a terrifyingly bad American accent (and that's coming from an Aussie).
• Because it always goes well when people know who the Doctor is before he arrives...
• Alien doctor wanted for... death? The Gunslinger. Well, logical name and all. And doesn't like the town.
• "Why would he want to kill you? Well, unless he's met you." I think I actually love Amy a little bit for that comment!
• Ahhh look, another doctor. With a name. And the Doctor is acting like a fanboy again. Yep, alien doctor that isn't THE Doctor.
• "I'm 1200 years old now." Does that mean that 200 odd years of travelling almost alone actually happened then?
• SUSAN?? Hehehe, a horse with life choices! So ridiculous but I love it.
• An actual reference to the fact Amy is a mother??? Wow. Unexpected. I was wondering if that was ever going to be mentioned. You know, without River showing up.
• Swearing horse? Yeah, I still love it. And instead of a companion, it's a horse asking the questions. (I always knew Arthur would have made a decent companion).
• No damage... Reckon that other Doctor had something to do with the Gunslinger's existance?
• The other doctor is rather not good. Well, I did kind of wonder about that, and what he did. Because the way he talked about the past with Amy suggested something terrible had happened.
• Angry!Doctor? Wonder if that's a theme this season?
• I KNEW IT! He created the Gunslinger. Ah, weapon of war.
• And there's the comparisons between the Doctor and Jex and that's not going to end well. It never does. Mention the Time Lords and for once there's some kind of reaction? Definite change from the previous 2 seasons.
• Though, the gun thing again....
• So, he actually mentioned the Master and the Daleks? Seen Daleks, but some reference to an enemy that hasn't been seen since the RTD era. Does this mean they might occasionally acknowledge the show existed before Moffat took over?
• Also, the note about him travelling alone. Didn't he drop Amy and Rory off at the end of the last episode? Does he just go back and pick them up sometimes or something?
• Well, the Doctor would have experience with lynch mobs. And talking people down from the metaphorical ledge... And he'd know all about violence and the effects of it.
• "Give me a Dalek any day" Well, of course, they never kill you and you never kill them. The Doctor is Bond and the Daleks are the villian and there's the elaborate death trap he can always escape from. Plus, predictable. People, less so.
• Self-destruct had to play a part. Given the Doctor has at times seemed to give-up, it's not really surprising. The Gunslinger is going to become the Marshall isn't he? Or something like that, right?
• And there's Amy and Rory, going home again. So each episode the Doctor just picks 'em ep? (Yes, I'm confused by this point, so I repeat myself).
• Look, Marshall's badge and the story. Gunslinger protects the town. I was right.

Overall, for me. It was average. Had some good moments, the horse named Susan for example. But there was nothing particularly great about it. Mot an episode that's going to stand out amongst the rest, in otherwords it'll be like a lot of S5/6. Though, probably better forgotten than remembered for being terrible... Still, I found it better than Asylum, but I much preferred Dinosaurs.

On that note... Next week we get to see Rory and Amy interacting with humans? Well, could be interesting. Is it wrong I'm more excited to see Rory's dad again?

Comments

[country-who.livejournal.com]

I'm so looking forward to seeing Rory's dad he's amazing.

Wonderful accent there... Do Americans actually sound like that?

I've never net anyone over here that talks like that, granted I've never been out West, and accents vary here a bunch! went down to Florida for a Model UN meeting and had people making fun of my Georgian Accent--keeping in mind it was only an few hours drive away. There's a historical difference as well from the "modern accent" accents changed a lot in both the South and West after the Civil War because they wanted to distinguish themselves from the North. The actor's accents did seem to vary a lot though, maybe it was because they were the Town Mercy and let a whole mess of different types of people into it, and it was sort of symbolic. Anyways, that was the strangest comment I've ever made on the internet...

Hee! I love the horse. My head canon says that the Doctor kept Arthur and now has Susan/Joshua in the TARDIS pasture with him, and they are like best friends.

Dinosaurs was such a fun episode, and this one was so serious. I think it would have turned out better if it had been stretched over two episodes so that it wouldn't have to have been so fast paced and we might have become more emotionally attached to the characters, like the marshal, instead of it being, 'Oh hey, he's dead and now the Doctor's marshal now, so the town is probably going to fall to pieces now..."

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Ok, so I understand there can be different accents, some just sounded so... forced, I guess would be the word. I admit, I haven't talked directly to a lot of Americans, but none of those I've met have sounded a thing like that.

My head canon says that the Doctor kept Arthur and now has Susan/Joshua in the TARDIS pasture with him, and they are like best friends.
Hehe, possibly the best head canon. Though, I think I might kind of ship them Arthur/Susan now :P

I think you're right about the pacing. Would have worked better if they'd made it a two parter. I might have cared a bit more about the characters. I didn't care at all really when the marshall got shot except that it meant the Doctor was now marshall.

[spicandspan89.livejournal.com]

I'm 99.7% sure a 'Keep out' sign is a literal invitation to the Doctor. Ahhh, suggestion. Channeling Pirates of the Caribbean perhaps? "More like guidelines"
lol I thought of PotC too.

I appreciated the reference to the fact that Amy is a mother. If only that had come about earlier, say post-Demon's Run.

Yeahhh Amy and Rory's deal with the Doctor is kinda weird. He dropped them off at the end of TGC because it was too dangerous, but then picks them up with no warning whenever he pleases? IDGI.

I love Rory's dad! He was one of the best parts of DOAS. :D

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

If only that had come about earlier, say post-Demon's Run.
And not as part of an attempt to joke about the 'wedding' of her daughter to the Doctor.

Exactly! It's kind of like Moffat decided he hadn't changed enough of the show, that he'd completely change the Doctor/companion dynamic as well. Now it's like the Doctor is that weird uncle who drops by and takes the kids to a zoo/park/racetrack...

Rory's dad was awesome. And I wish he was the new companion!

[spicandspan89.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess he decided the exit in TGC wasn't dramatic enough. Which is understandable. But why not have a 30 second conversation establishing the new travel arrangements? Oh right, CHARACTERIZATION AND CONTINUITY ARE BORING LET'S LOOK DOWN THIS DEEP DARK HOLE. OOH SHINY.

Bahaha the weird uncle... gross. XD

Agreed!

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

CHARACTERIZATION AND CONTINUITY ARE BORING LET'S LOOK DOWN THIS DEEP DARK HOLE. OOH SHINY.

This is Moffat, who actually said that or close enough, sooooo... Yep. Characterisation is something that happens on other shows. His has timey-wimey complications that mean each character is a rewritten as often as the universe is now.

[spicandspan89.livejournal.com]

Looking for Moffat quotes is dicey since a lot of them are rage-inducing, lol. So yes, Moffat figures characterization is unneeded. Which is bad enough for a regular contributor, and TERRIBLE for a showrunner. It's pretty standard to have character growth and emotional development in dramas nowadays. So even though Moffat is ~bringing back the old style~ it feels really jarring to me.

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Many things about Moffat are rage inducing. Including his trolling of the fans. Which bugs me. If there's one group of people (well, all, but ykwim) anyone in that industry should treat with some kind of decency it's the fans. He assumes every fan is an idiot.

I've heard this 'bringing back the classic feel' thing. But it doesn't work now , if it even is the classic feel, which some people seem to argue with, because a lot of people fell in love with the show in it's new run. And what worked 30 years ago, doesn't work now for one thing, women can't be written the same way as the 60's and 70's. They have thoughts and feelings that might have NOTHING TO DO WITH MEN.

His actual quote...
"There’s no need for character development, or chat, it’s straight into: ‘There’s something wrong here, let’s look into this deep, dark hole.'"

As you say, fine for a one off or occasional contributor even. Not for a main writer or showrunner.

[spicandspan89.livejournal.com]

Yeah, IDK about the classic feel. After the disaster that was S6, I'm fine with a more episodic style. Buuut as you said, he has also brought back the casual sexism. Bleah.

His actual quote...
"There’s no need for character development, or chat, it’s straight into: ‘There’s something wrong here, let’s look into this deep, dark hole.'"

That quote is so very telling. Argh I just can't with that BS.

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Argh I just can't with that BS.

THIS! Very much this.

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

Channeling Pirates of the Caribbean perhaps? "More like guidelines"
Haha, I didn't even think of this :D that's brilliant.

Bring Arthur back, I say. Him and Susan can live together happily ever after on a planet made entirely of grass and hay :D

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Bring Arthur back, I say. Him and Susan can live together happily ever after on a planet made entirely of grass and hay :D

Oh yes! And they can tell stories and be bestest friends. Or more. We don't know much about Arthur. He might like Susan more... :D

[six.livejournal.com]

lolol, so apparently, the TARDIS translates languages in a British accent, except for American ones. XD
I kinda wonder if the writers had a meeting and agreed on having ~life choices/phases~ mentioned at least once per episode. Oswin, the Rory/Doctor kiss, and Susan the horse. 3 for 3, DW! Can't wait to see more of Rory in his pants in the next ep. :3

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Maybe the TARDIS can't understand the American accents and decided not to try and change 'em? ;)

Ooo, maybe it's leading up to the announcement that the TARDIS was born male, but identifies as a woman and that's why she thought that Rory was the pretty one...

[six.livejournal.com]

I think you're on to something there! XD Also, more than the "twist" they're putting on UNIT, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Martha and/or Mickey cameo/mention. I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC OKAY.

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Since Mickey and Marth went freelance, I doubt we'll see them. And given it's Moffat, a mention, while possible doesn't seem likely. I mean he's mentioned RTD era companions, 2 or 3 times maybe?

But you should stay your happy little bubble and ignore me.... :(

[six.livejournal.com]

I'll just imagine some of the UNIT guys gossiping and they'd be like
1: "Hey, it's another Companion, like that Martha Jones who used to work with us."
2: "Oh I heard she quit after she got rid of some super top secret project, and became a freelancer with her husband. And they were awesome."

*covers ears lalalalalala inside happy little bubble*

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

I like you're little bubble, I admit :)