Doctor Who - 305 - Evolution of the Daleks

[retro_eidas]

Or are HUGE fans of James Whale. "They're alive ALIVE!!!!" The Daleks, Doctor, humans and their hideous progeny. Holy crappola, things were very Frankenstein, even down to the suspended conductive beds I remember from Branagh's version. Hell the Doctor even got electrocuted. Again! (Shout out to ole Ben?)

Although gamma radiation? Marvel should sue if that wasn't the go-to means of mutation for several golden era comics (which is actually more what this ep reminded me of. Some old school sci-fi comic book and a bit old school Who). And a bit of "Back to the Future" ("1.21 jigawatts!!!") Doc jokingly talks about getting electrocuted in ep1, then gets electrocuted in ep5. In ep2 Doc name-drops "Back to the Future" where a character uses lightning as Macguffin and someone does this very thing in ep5. Probably means nothing, but I just found that amusing. Hmmm, any other random or pop cult references in ep3 or 4 that'll be literally re-enacted to advance the plot in later eps?

But... Daleks mastered genetic memory? Too much Shelley and too much Clarke? Ok then. ::will not think of grossly blatant dodgy skience::

I'm going to have to take conference with the old-new school fans, but despite all the anvilly parallels made last week of Solomon=the Doctor (and Diagoras=, erm, someone else but let's say Dalek Sec)? Solomon's speechifying didn't make me think of the Doctor... but Romana (+wiki aid for the non-old school knowledged). AKA, the Lady President of Gallifrey (and a former companion of the Doctor's), possibly president during the Time War or the beginning of it. IIRC, in the 2006 Annual (I think?), Rusty gives a bit of backdrop of (his version of) the Time War, President Romana tried to make peace with the Daleks to evade a war... obviously she failed. In theory, like Romana's efforts, Solomon's - leader of Hooverville - were equally futile. Despite the Doctor's advise against it (likely in both cases). Is that how it was in the last vestiges of the Time War? All the Time Lords huddled together by a campfire Eye of Harmony?, desperate with their numbers dwindled and dying and Romana's last attempt to save lives on both sides, only to get shot down (either figuratively or literally) like Solomon? The Doctor (grief-stricken probably much like Frank was) tried to step up to stop the war himself - maybe as a sacrifice - as the reverberations of it were effecting worlds far beyond Skaro or Gallifrey, but it all horrifyingly ended up in M.A.D. Possibly leading to M.A.D. because of a betrayal on the side of the Time Lords? Not unlike what happened vis-a-vis Dalek Sec (Doctor?) vs. the other Daleks (Time Lord of Iscariot?).

"I'm sorry Martha, but you've got to fight!" AND SHE DID!! WEEEE!! Martha? You are so very made of win. She's not only made of win, but the Doctor has enough faith in her ability to figure things out, he hands her the psychic paper. She also has enough heart to feel remorse for her actions. She was so very smart and effective. Kept her wits together even facing piggy carnage. Not to mention, I'm very glad to see she's still not taking any of the Doctor's shit. "What are you then, some sort of Dalek?" Oh, so much love. It was adorable (however brief) Martha's relief at seeing the Doctor in both parts and she even got some hugpr0n out of it. Adorable... until the Doctor opens his mouth of course.

I really hope all this Doctor jerkfaced dismissiveness of Martha's clear and present awesome is leading up to some kind of compensation (and maybe a bit of hubristic smackdown for him). All this giving her emo/made to feel second-best or a substitute? I mean, Rusty has made the Doctor's not-so-kind demeanor with her so frakking obvious man? Not in the least bit subtle. It's GOT to be leading somewhere (and pleasant for Martha). How else are we supposed to react but want him to acknowledge her? Leave us with the hope that glaring line of clue-by-four in TSC wasn't all for not and he finally sees what's right in front of him but can't due to being blinded and drowning in his sea o' emo or... does Rusty really want us all breaking toes kicking screens in? Throw the Ten dolls across the room? Well, if a pig and a showgirl can find love or whatevs (not that I want the Doctor getting any EVER until he learns to acknowledge what's in front of him and stop treating Martha in such a way, otherwise he and his sea o' emo can just go on and piss off).

I'll probably have more to edit in later on, but I'll leave this with... "Empty human beings ready to be converted" and "genetic template"? Heh. You know, entrepreneuring alien races perhaps aiming to restore their vastly dwindled numbers could use that idea. Nick it like Shakespeare. Foreshadowing, maybe? Although Martha got the first "genetic transfer" so HA-ha all Nelson Muntz to you Dalek-Humans!! :P

Comments

[cedara]

I'm starting to bet the whole genetic engineering stuff and genetic transfers might point towards the "you are not alone" line and the finale three parter.

But then, I can be wrong and it's all just about that other guy...

[eido.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to bet the whole genetic engineering stuff and genetic transfers might point towards the "you are not alone" line and the finale three parter.

That could very well be, even if it is all about that other guy one way or another as it will probably be. Although I'd still wish it was more than that. I mean, there is just no surprise left in that other guy thing anymore, is there?

[cedara]

If that other guy really thinks everyone thinks he is. It's cool, and I'm delighted about it, but... yeah... no surprise left.

[eido.livejournal.com]

It might have actually had a chance at a good shock if the Beeb were at all able to keep a damn secret.

[darenothope.livejournal.com]

Word (jeez, coming from me that sounds lame) to your whole second last paragraph. There has to be some sort of payoff for Martha. At some point she's going to call him on his emo-ness (? - btw, I find it hilarious in people's review that they're describing him as emo) and realise what a twat he's being. Sometimes I just want to smack him. And not in a good way.

[eido.livejournal.com]

There has to be some sort of payoff for Martha.

Srrsly, because I just can't imagine Rusty would let the Doctor act so twatish unless he was actually Going Somewhere with it all, you know? The thing is, I was fine in the ep (he was all apprenticing of her and showing he had faith in her smarts/abilities to deal with and fight thru the situation and she proved him right again and again).... right up until the end and the Doctor could apparently barely contain this "meh" response to Martha's line about someone for everybody. UGH!

[a-caged-heart.livejournal.com]

Dang, the genetic transfers are just flying around all over the place this season. You think old Ten would practice "safe" genetic transfer, wouldn't you? He's old enough to know better, and to have seen a commercial or two on the subject, right? (is it wrong of me to think he has a condom or two in those ginormous pockets of his?)

How the heck could I actually feel sorry for Dalek Sec? How is that possible in the matter of a few minutes? (although that breathless voice was irksome after about 30 seconds).

Go Martha!!!! Way to hit the ground running!!! And Go Lazlo and Tallulah too!!!!

As to how Ten treats Martha, yeah, he's being a punk, but really, I can almost see what his rationalization is. Almost. In his mind, he doesn't want anyone to get too close. He needs someone (being that lonely figure, last of his kind blahblahblah), but he can't allow himself to get too close. It's dangerous to get close to him. In the past all his companions have come and gone, some left him, he left the others, and all the time they were in some sort of danger, simply by traveling with him. He may be alien, but he certainly feels responsibility, and he feels pain as well. He made a mistake with Rose in that he allowed himself to grow too close to her. And they both paid the ultimate price for it. Here he was, playing the hand-holding-skipping along-you and me forever-bit, then WHAM!!! Rose is gone from his life. He's an open wound now. I'm sure in his mind that he's resisting all temptation to get close to anyone, and perhaps he's making an effort to keep her from wanting to get close to him, all the while "needing" her there by his side. In a way he's protecting her, but more importantly he's protecting himself. I feel for the Emo-Doctor, (he's still being a jerk though), but in a small way, I can see why he's doing what he is doing. It'll be a long road, but in the end I think both he and Martha will come to terms with the situation, however hard and painful those terms are. It may even be a difficult thing to sit back and watch, but that's why this is a drama after all, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

[eido.livejournal.com]

he has a condom or two in those ginormous pockets of his?

I'd bet he does, but they probably have jellybabies stuck on them or something.

How the heck could I actually feel sorry for Dalek Sec? How is that possible in the matter of a few minutes? (although that breathless voice was irksome after about 30 seconds).

I did feel sorry for him... for like a second. Then I remembered mass murder & forced eugenics... then the sympathy kind of faded right quick. Although Sec was closer to Getting It then the other Daleks, but he still wasn't anywhere near. I was also fairly disturbed by some of those Sec=Doctor parallels in the ep... I'd wonder what is being implied. First Sec+Diagoras make wit teh babiez... then it's Hybrid Sec+Doctor. Do I even want to know what that might be foreshadowing if there's foreshadowing?

And Go Lazlo and Tallulah too!!!!

They were really sweet. Too bad plastic surgery is still so arcane back in the 1930s (the Doctor may have hooked him up with some whizbang future cosmetic surgery, but I suppose that would have been a superfluous trip and the Tardis can be unpredictable at times... or something).

As to how Ten treats Martha, yeah, he's being a punk, but really, I can almost see what his rationalization is.

I can understand why it's there, it's just a bit... frustrating to watch it unfold. But I suppose that's a sign of Rusty/the writer doing the job well enough as it can invoke these emotions in you (as it was supposed to... unless you're supposed to like the Doctor ignorantly treating someone, a companion no less, this subpar and that's highly unlikely).

He made a mistake with Rose in that he allowed himself to grow too close to her. And they both paid the ultimate price for it. Here he was, playing the hand-holding-skipping along-you and me forever-bit, then WHAM!!! Rose is gone from his life.

Although speaking of Rose, there is some spec going around that perhaps all the (anvil-dropping) Rose refs this season may not necessarily be all about Rose (even if you're led to think they are predominantly as she was the last), however, the Rose refs = Lost Love. Combine that into the bigger picture (with the *ded* planet/people emo and that glaring "I was a dad once" line) and the Lost Love/Lonely God emo (from "School Reunion"/GITF)? That makes some sense. Now here he is with Martha and the Doc hasn't only got a reminder of Lost Love emo, but the Gallifrey!emo (and all that goes with it) on top of it all. Then there's this girl and the more awesome she proves herself being, the more likely Ten feels he could love this girl... but he's afraid and reluctant to. However, as Martha is a girl that has shown she won't take things lying down... she may end up forcing him from this security blanket he's hiding under and learn to take happiness when/wherever it comes. We know that Ten & Martha have to have some sort of break-thru in their relationship next ep as she is finally back home but there must be some reason she's still travelling with him in 7-13... unless they dump the companion mid-season and I doubt that very much. So what happens in ep6?

[a-caged-heart.livejournal.com]

So what happens in ep6?

I don't think Mama Jones likes the Doctor too much, if that stink eye she gives him is any indication. (But Mom, he's a Doctor after all, every mother's dream for their daughters to find. But...Pleeeease don't have her be another Jackie) All in all the preview didn't give away all that much that I could see. But we did have an around the corner running into each other Ten/Martha moment. Wonder what the resulting conversation will be like?

I'm waiting for Human Nature myself. That could be defining as well. Have no idea what </>Blink and 42 are going to show us. Whew, the speculations lately have me exhausted. And I really am not looking forward to "you know who" coming up, if that's who it is going to be.

[eido.livejournal.com]

But...Pleeeease don't have her be another Jackie

I think that's kind of impossible already. There are so many things about Mama Jones life that differ considerably from Jax. Mama looks to be a professional/executive of some sort, also seemingly putting her in a higher class status, she's also estranged from her husband not a widow and has three kids as opposed to the one child.

But we did have an around the corner running into each other Ten/Martha moment. Wonder what the resulting conversation will be like?

Hopefully really really good... and maybe with some Ten acknowledging her awesome for once and perhaps just a bit of begging on his part.

I'm waiting for Human Nature myself. That could be defining as well.

Oh definitely, Human Nature looks very intriguing. Apparently it was based on a spin-off novel of the same name based on the 7th Doctor's era. It was hosted for free at the BBC site, but last time I checked it wasn't there.

Have no idea what 'Blink'

Should be interesting though as that's Moffet's ep. The man can't not write the awesome.

And I really am not looking forward to "you know who" coming up, if that's who it is going to be.

Honestly, I have little expectation of it being anyone else ... I am holding out hope for some shock perhaps from other parts of the plot. I mean, everyone is so focused on "you know who", it would be awesome the Beeb actually used this as a distraction then Rusty actually sprang a real surprise on us for a change.

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

I'm finally caught up again! The Husband misses Eccleston, I think, and will only watch Tennant in certain moods. Silly man! Or maybe he's guessed that I think Tennant is cute and is trying to keep me away from him. ;)

I think if an episode has Daleks in it, I'm just about guaranteed to like it. They just bring out the dark sides of the Doctor, and I really really love the themes. Plus they make me laugh when people make their eloquent speeches about change, and then go off into, "EX-TERM-INATE!" and their hyper Dalek rants...

You know, in the first part last week I was starting to think I wasn't loving Martha so much, because in a way I felt like her very obviously being taken with him was somehow diminishing her intelligence and just turning him off...(And oddly, I was thinking that as annoying as Rose could be with stringing Mickey along, and all her other little boy toys throughout the series, the hard to get thing was the one thing that almost made me ship her and the Doctor -- because he was driven crazy, and you wanted him to get the girl. But I digress.) But yes, in this part, when he pushed her to take action, and she did it, I felt the vibe again. And the hug. Greatness. :)

[eido.livejournal.com]

There you are! ;) I'd been wondering if you'd show up to my ramblings of Who. heee

Or maybe he's guessed that I think Tennant is cute and is trying to keep me away from him. ;)

His acting has improved this season (which kind of adds to the sex quotient for me, Eccles was attractive to me not so much for his looks but his crazy acting skillz), but really, I think hubby is asking a bit much for conspicuousness when Ten is having contests trying to out-HAWT his new companion. Indeed, what a silly man!! Quite impolitic of him as well! heee

Although brace yourself, it's fancy dress up next week (http://freemaagyeman.com/news/2007/04/30/lazarus-experiment-pictures-preview/1/), so the hawt contest charges on (Martha is just a bit in the lead I think, yes? If only cuz we've already seen Ten in a tux.)

Plus they make me laugh when people make their eloquent speeches about change, and then go off into, "EX-TERM-INATE!" and their hyper Dalek rants...

Ah yes, poor Solomon. Someone didn't inform him Daleks and liberal bleeding heart speechifying tend not to go together so well.

But yes, in this part, when he pushed her to take action, and she did it, I felt the vibe again. And the hug. Greatness. :)

He totally deputised her in this ep and had all this faith in her ability to figure things out on her own. They are the new Steed & Peel my friend. UST that shouldn't be there but totally is even if Ten would completely deny it all.

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

And how have we not talked Heroes yet??

[eido.livejournal.com]

I. don't. know. That should be rectified forthwith as, per usual, the ep was the roxxorz. Summer Popcorn Movie every week dude.

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

I so have a crush on Bennett. I'm going to be devastated if anything happens to him or he's not on next season .

[eido.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think he wouldn't get offed, but his character originally wasn't supposed to be around this long. They may off him if they couldn't find a way to work him into the framework in the other seasons.

However, death doesn't necessarily have to be a permanent thing. Not that I condone that sort of retconning... unless of course they do decide to off Bennett, then they can go right ahead and Linderman him back. ;) They also seem to be pretty good at reworking their story (last season, for example, was supposed to have fairly major changes in the cast but they apparently reconsidered it to keep the current formula). At least I'd like to think they'd do whatever they could to keep Bennett, he's too good a character dude.