psubrat | SciFi Friday

I TiVo'ed the entire Doctor Who marathon last Friday while I was away, including "Runaway Bride" and "Smith and Jones". It took me until yesterday to get to the series 3 episodes. I would have just cut and pasted my review of both eps, but I found that I didn't review them except in other peoples' comments. Bad DW fan. Bad.

This was only my second viewing of the Christmas special and I have to say, I liked it much better this time. The first time, I think I was still upset about Billie Piper leaving so I just wanted to hate Catherine Tate's Donna. Actually, I think I would have hated any one who was taking Billie/Rose's place. Before, I thought Donna screeched too much and was just all around annoying. I don't think that now. I liked her character a lot -- I think that has a lot to do with the Catherine Tate/David Tennant skit I've been watching non-stop.

While I didn't think this Christmas special was as well done as the last, this one did have its own merits: Ten flashing back to times with Rose; the look of loss on his face as he watched the reception attendees dance; the way he grabbed Rose's top away from Donna; And the way Donna refused to let Ten get away with anything -- especially just standing there watching the Racnoss die. It's obvious that Ten was mourning Rose leaving him, knowing that she will never return and that he'll never see her again.

You can also see the foreshadowing for the next thirteen episodes -- Mr. Saxon being mentioned while they shoot down the ship, and the darkness in Ten that would be so prevalent during his time with Martha. I really love how Russel Davies builds on threads through the previous Christmas special, series one of Torchwood, this Christmas special, and series three. It's brilliant plotting on his part.

Now on to "Smith and Jones"...

I really liked this Martha. She was strong and smart and full of snark. She was everything that Rose wasn't, at least not in the beginning. As an introductory to Martha episode, I thought it was well done -- giving us a glimpse into her life by showing us her work and her family.

I thought it was interesting that before Ten kissed her for the genetic transfer, he told her repeatedly that it meant nothing. Yet, she thought it meant something, even going on to say at the end that he was the one that kissed her and that they were on their first date. We should have known then that this companion was going to be very different. She fell for the Doctor immediately and he was completely oblivious because he laid down the ground rules for their relationship right then and there. She would never be Rose and he would never treat her as such. I'm not sure if this makes him a bad person or just some one who was so hurt by loss that he couldn't act appropriately.

As for the Judoon, they were funny but scary at the same time. I mean, how are we supposed take talking rhinos seriously? Definitely the cheese moment for this episode. Oh, and the Plasmavore was pretty gross. The whole sticking the straw in the neck squicked me right out.

Again, there was foreshadowing with the "Vote Saxon" posters. The subtle things that I never picked up the first time in either this episode or the episodes that followed.

Even though I've seen every episode of this series, I cannot tell you enough how much I'm looking forward to watching them on my TV instead. There's just something about a bigger screen to give you more of a perspective.

And more Who tonight!!