Forest of the Dead review
Jun. 8th, 2008 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
measiSince I promised this before the end of the weekend...
I enjoyed it. It's not my favorite Moffat episode (Blink still wins - but honestly, I don't expect much to ever top Blink), but there are scenes in this episode that I absolutely adore.
I've now watched the episode twice, and I do think it's important that it's seen a couple times to get the different subplots moving through this. My first time viewing, I was so focused on the Doctor and River that I didn't really appreciate the subplot with Donna, as important as it is to the episode.
So I do recommend a rewatch, regardless of how you felt about it.
One thing that I appreciate with Moffat's writing is that he plays with some of the mysteries of Who, incorporating them and expanding them, but never ruining the mystery with some firm fact that would evaporate the fun of it all.
In this episode, we have the Doctor's name - and that "only moment he could say it." Moffat flirts with this, but leaves it open. What is that moment? Just like what the Doctor's name is, do we ever really want to have the truth of when he could say the name revealed? I don't. I love that each viewer gets to interpret that moment for him/herself. For some, it's clearly that the Doctor married River, and because of that, he reveals his name to her (by marriage certificate, or whatever). Others on the DWF think that he told her his name when he gave her the sonic screwdriver, knowing that it would force his younger self to believe her. And others think he told her in a matter of life and death, knowing that she would hold his fate in her hands.
I'll freely admit to being the soppy, psychic!sex fanfic dork, so my brain tends to lean toward that theory, even though I know it's VERY soppy and silly and far too mushy for Doctor Who. :)
But I absolutely adore that it's left open and unsaid, letting the fans translate and discuss (and argue) what that moment is into infinity.
I do think that the Vashta Narada are a bit underdeveloped in this half, and while I think the spores in the pages of books is a brilliant idea, I just don't buy that they'd willingly give up their food supply like that to the Doctor. That's my one nitpick in this episode. If I cared enough about it, it could unravel the whole episode.
But I was entertained by the episode, so it doesn't. Just thought I'd note my one issue with the episode, lest I be accused of thinking that everything Moffat does is perfect (I don't. I just don't need to let it destroy what I otherwise enjoy).
Donna's subplot here was heartbreaking - falling in love with who she considers to be the perfect man, only to think he's not real, for the audience (and him) to discover that they are both real? But most likely never to meet again? Ugh, cruelty. And the scene where her children disappear? That's about where I started losing it. I can't imagine anything more horrid. Donna's screams just were so deep there... *shudder*
But above all, Tennant's final scene with Alex Kingston just made me weep. I find it both gorgeous and tragic that the Doctor and River would be lovers (of whatever relation to each other... whether married or not, I can't honestly tell... it's unconventional regardless because it's the Doctor), but they meet each other and celebrate their lives together in such a disjointed order. Moffat ties in the eyes appearing so young at the beginning of Silence in the Library perfectly - of course the Doctor's eyes would appear much older if he already knows how River will die when she meets him. But it's so appropriate for a Time Lord's life, where things don't quite happen in the correct order.
Just beautiful. And it broke me.
But what REALLY broke me? That smile when the TARDIS doors opened at the snap of his fingers. Broke me with tears and a desire to cheer. Dead perfect.
Very well done. A 4.5 out of 5.
I enjoyed it. It's not my favorite Moffat episode (Blink still wins - but honestly, I don't expect much to ever top Blink), but there are scenes in this episode that I absolutely adore.
I've now watched the episode twice, and I do think it's important that it's seen a couple times to get the different subplots moving through this. My first time viewing, I was so focused on the Doctor and River that I didn't really appreciate the subplot with Donna, as important as it is to the episode.
So I do recommend a rewatch, regardless of how you felt about it.
One thing that I appreciate with Moffat's writing is that he plays with some of the mysteries of Who, incorporating them and expanding them, but never ruining the mystery with some firm fact that would evaporate the fun of it all.
In this episode, we have the Doctor's name - and that "only moment he could say it." Moffat flirts with this, but leaves it open. What is that moment? Just like what the Doctor's name is, do we ever really want to have the truth of when he could say the name revealed? I don't. I love that each viewer gets to interpret that moment for him/herself. For some, it's clearly that the Doctor married River, and because of that, he reveals his name to her (by marriage certificate, or whatever). Others on the DWF think that he told her his name when he gave her the sonic screwdriver, knowing that it would force his younger self to believe her. And others think he told her in a matter of life and death, knowing that she would hold his fate in her hands.
I'll freely admit to being the soppy, psychic!sex fanfic dork, so my brain tends to lean toward that theory, even though I know it's VERY soppy and silly and far too mushy for Doctor Who. :)
But I absolutely adore that it's left open and unsaid, letting the fans translate and discuss (and argue) what that moment is into infinity.
I do think that the Vashta Narada are a bit underdeveloped in this half, and while I think the spores in the pages of books is a brilliant idea, I just don't buy that they'd willingly give up their food supply like that to the Doctor. That's my one nitpick in this episode. If I cared enough about it, it could unravel the whole episode.
But I was entertained by the episode, so it doesn't. Just thought I'd note my one issue with the episode, lest I be accused of thinking that everything Moffat does is perfect (I don't. I just don't need to let it destroy what I otherwise enjoy).
Donna's subplot here was heartbreaking - falling in love with who she considers to be the perfect man, only to think he's not real, for the audience (and him) to discover that they are both real? But most likely never to meet again? Ugh, cruelty. And the scene where her children disappear? That's about where I started losing it. I can't imagine anything more horrid. Donna's screams just were so deep there... *shudder*
But above all, Tennant's final scene with Alex Kingston just made me weep. I find it both gorgeous and tragic that the Doctor and River would be lovers (of whatever relation to each other... whether married or not, I can't honestly tell... it's unconventional regardless because it's the Doctor), but they meet each other and celebrate their lives together in such a disjointed order. Moffat ties in the eyes appearing so young at the beginning of Silence in the Library perfectly - of course the Doctor's eyes would appear much older if he already knows how River will die when she meets him. But it's so appropriate for a Time Lord's life, where things don't quite happen in the correct order.
Just beautiful. And it broke me.
But what REALLY broke me? That smile when the TARDIS doors opened at the snap of his fingers. Broke me with tears and a desire to cheer. Dead perfect.
Very well done. A 4.5 out of 5.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-09 04:27 am (UTC)Yes. Yes yes yes yes YES.
And, in case that didn't adequately express my agreement... YES! :-D
(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-09 04:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-09 01:20 pm (UTC)Feel bad for Donna, but I feel like it'll end up being a good experience for her.
The TARDIS door bit was a really good. If it came from any other source, it would have been hokey, but from River and as a memory of her it wasn't.
re: ep09
Date: 2008-06-09 06:32 pm (UTC)David Tennant is unbelievably amazing. He almost made me cry.
Ten SO needs a hug.
luv jackie