![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
DW: 7x1 Asylum of the Daleks
MY SHOW IS BACk. Lemme try not to flail too much...
I assume some of you might remember my thoughts on Daleks? (namely: overblown, and really annoying in more recent media--Big Finish, as well as Newskool has made them annoyingly "THE UNIVERSE WILL END IF THEY'RE NOT STOPPED" and while that was a bit of a thread in oldskool, it was off-set by the campiness of PEPPERPOTS that went insane a lot)
Well.
Um.
This episode actually managed to make me gleeful about the Daleks. They were ridiculous in the beginning, true. But then they were creepy. AND SO MANY ERAS. SO MANY DALEKS from other, ancient episodes. I was beside myself. And possibly doing that thing where you wave your hands and you're like "OMG!!!!" I just. All the callbacks to old episodes made me happy.
And it's funny, because I thought about how the last Dalek-episode in this era (the one in WWII) was less a Dalek vehicle and more "here's WWII! And Churchill! And spitfires in spaaaaace!". Then there were new toy Daleks, but. They weren't all that. And they served tea. (and I know, it's not the most amaaaazing episode, but it was till entertaining--as long as I ignored the Daleks).
(oh, OK, Big Finish's Jubilee is also amazing and a masterpiece of horribleness and awesome all wrapped in a bow of cynicism and Virgin NA sensibility)
So, um. I liked the Daleks again. And I'm sort of terrified about them not remembering the Doctor now (of course, I suppose it covers various continuity errors where they didn't remember who he was. If there were any, once upon a time).
I didn't really intend to start out talking Daleks, but I was distracted by my icon (SERIOUSLY, I miss Daleks when they'd do stupid things like that, ngl. Also, BLEW UP A DALEK PATROL ALL ON HER OWN. Planet of the Daleks, how are you so amazing despite the idiot Thal commander?)
ahem.
Oswin. I really liked her--my initial thought on meeting her was that she was the redheaded lady's (who is called Darla? I think?) lost daughter, trapped in a Dalek camp. A concept I may have to write fic for at some point. I thought her quarters and her situation were interesting, and I loved that she was keeping a log. I knew there would be something wrong, something horrible (perhaps she wasn't on the planet at all).
That she was a Dalek was heart-breaking, but made so much sense for why they wanted to destroy the planet. On some level, Oswin terrified the Daleks--she could hack into every one of their networks, she was broadcasting Carmen. She was something unknown and something they couldn't understand at all.
I sort of wondered why she was familiar, but didn't give it much thought until the credits ran. And, and, I am glad that she is the actress playing the new companion, as, even all on her own, with no one to react to, she had great chemistry and presence.
(speaking of chemistry, Oswin/Nina fic is highly tempting)
Darla was entertaining, too. Depressing and sad for being nothing but a Dalek drone--but she still had a personality. Her aside to the Doctor "I've read my file" was said with such a smirky look, and I want to saaaaave her or something. idk. She was also a redhead, and that was amusing to me.
The set for Skaro, with the gigantic, dead Dalek, and the ruins--that gave me a slight shiver, as it was sort of ridiculous and epic.
The asylum itself gets top marks from me. I loved it, and possibly made happy squeaky noises over it (and the Daleks! SPIRIDON. omg)
On to the Ponds. Oh, Ponds. Oh. SUCH a horrible cliche, but something that really does fit them (and Amy's inability to talk about shit, even now---she is so bad at it, though she's getting better). I sort of feel like them breaking up/getting back together was Moff trolling fandom and the whole "married people are boring" meme being mocked. But that's possibly just me.
Like, I can easily let it make sense--
And I love that Amy misses the adventure, and that her first thought is of Rory (because it is. In both the post-signature moment, and the woke-up-in-snow moment, she's very much focused on Rory). It's obvious that she regrets the decision, but it's Amy, and she never backs down (even if that would be best).
This episode was a delight for me, as it had so many things that tickled my id. Splitting up! Zombies! Daleks being about something other than destroying the universe! And being Creeeeeeeeeeeepy! I love disused asylums and cobwebs and plots that aren't always what they seem--and I'm wondering about something Eleven said to Amy. "Make them remember you." Did he mean himself? Did he mean something about Amy specifically?
As for the Ponds getting back together, Seven would be very proud of Eleven. Though he might find it a bit, well, slapdash. Tsk.
There is nothing I didn't like about this episode (aside from having to wait a week for a new episode).
no subject
This was the first time I ever found the Daleks even remotely creepy so that was really cool. And I loved everything with Oswin and her utter awesomeness and ITA that the breakup storyline was very much in-character for the Ponds, even if I did think it was unnecessary.
BUT WHO IS BACK AND NOTHING HURTS!!!
no subject
I've seen a commentary that Oswin has Jenny's chair. And we kind of know Jenny can sort-of regenerate. And...hmm. Sort of interesting?
I think, obviously, there's a reset in Oswin's future, because she didn't recognize the Doctor. Which...says there's a reset in the Dalek's future as well, I guess?
I'm riddic happy about the new season. It's been too long!
no subject
no subject
no subject
They are creepy, (is it just me, or are Dalek's creepiest when they're just being quiet and watching you?) and they have an agenda which does not involve invading Earth (YAY!).
I love that when they have a problem they can't crack, they kidnap the Doctor (LOL!). And I really loved the idea that maybe the reason they've never been able to kill him is because he represents some ideal of hate or destruction that they admire. O_o
And the reveal that Oswin was a Dalek blew my mind. Loved it!
However, despite all the fantastic ideas, I did find myself frustrated with all the plotholes. So many things, while awesome, didn't make sense. Like, when was this story set? Is this before Skaro was destroyed? And if so, how are there New Paradigm Daleks there?
When did the Daleks become democratic? Why would you put the key to a prison inside it? If the forcefield is impenetrable, how are they going to get the Doctor and crew in? And if they can get them in, why not just send a bomb?
It was just little things that bugged me. So I rewrote the episode. Well, not rewrote, re-edited. Just little changes that, while keeping the same story, made it make more sense.
If you'd like to read it, you can see it here - Asylum of the Daleks REVISED (http://betawho.livejournal.com/116858.html)
no subject
no subject
Oooh. Does she? That is actually not a thought I'd had (I'd had the Romana one, though, as I'm predictable). I am so hoping we get more of her--she made me laugh more than I expected.
And the milk bit, just--I vaguely wondered that, too. But assumed it would be forgotten or end up as some useless supplies thing. *happysigh*
no subject
Basically: all the femslash for Oswin.
no subject
I wasn't to happy about the whole divorce thing - probably because it seemed like such an overnight thing. When you have a paper to sign it means it took large amount of time, money and effort and then it just got solved with one talk. I would prefer if they didn't need Doctor for that. I, however, loved their fight about who loves who more. People always talk about how Rory always follows Amy, agrees to anything she wants and, of course, guarded her for 2000 years but she is completely mad about him - in her mind he is handsomer, smarter and braver and can do anything. She doubts Doctor sometimes but never Rory. I have a thing for happy couples in love and Amy/Rory are among my favouritests :)
no subject
Also, Dreamwidth tells me it was your birthday on the 4th? Happy belated Birthday :D
no subject