Flesh And Stone

[poliphilo]

I believe I understand why Stephen Moffat's episodes are not as individually memorable this season as they were when he was writing under RTD. It's because those stories were self contained- and now he's constructing a season-wide arc. That said, the two episodes he's just given us are as scary as anything in the show's very long history. Clever too. When Moffat plots an episode he plays fair with the audience. He doesn't introduce us in the very the last moments to a button that will destroy all the daleks, but creates a situation in which the instrument of the bad guys' downfall is hidden in full view and continually referenced. 

The final scene between the Doctor and Octavian was an example of how well he rises to the emotional occasion- and the sudden twist in the relationship between Amy and the Doctor was cheeky and iconoclastic. A lot of people won't like it- Dr Who's companions just don't behave like that. Ah, but they do now!

And then there's River. I do like River.

Comments

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Yes. The bad guys downfall was purely because of the Doctor's sense of timing - when River Song called him a genius at that point, she was right.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Stephen Moffat's writing satisfies on a lot of different levels.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Amy pouncing on him didn't bother me at all - I thought it perfectly plausible for someone who's just been through one life-changing experience and is getting cold feet about another.

I was a bit concerned about the way he changed the rules for the angels on so many fronts. It's not just that they've given up sending people back in time favour of neck-snapping. In "Blink", they were unable to stand in each other's line of vision without getting quantum-locked (in fact, that's how they were defeated): now, they go around in a charabanc, standing in front of each other like supporters on the terraces, with no ill effect. And I didn't buy this idea that they could be distracted by the crack, or fooled into thinking someone was looking at them - quantum locking isn't a matter of choice, surely, or even instinct? It's hardwired into their very substance.

But there was an awful lot to admire here, too. Octavian's death, the disappearing clerics, some of the dialogue, Amy's countdown, Smith's Doctor (who reacts just unlike a human enough to remind you that he's not one, and has ears to match), 'umble Angel Bob. And even if the angels were cheating, they were still bloody scary.

I like River too, even if she's just a bit smug at times with her Sekrit Knowledge - but who wouldn't be?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I thought it was cleverer- and perhaps scarier too- when the angels sent you back in time instead of just routinely snapping necks. But they're Moffat's monsters and he could probably give an entirely plausible reason for all the changes if pressed on the matter.

I'm thinking they only get quantum locked if you look them in the eyes- and by avoiding that sort of direct gaze allows them to flock together. Well, it's as good an explanation as any.

I don't mind River being smug. After all, it's not at all clear yet whether we're supposed to like her or not.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Something else that's occurred to me about River's smugness. We've seen her at an advantage, meeting the Doctor when he doesn't know who she is, while she already knows quite a lot about him. But in her own timeline, the boot must once have been on the other foot. The first time she met the Doctor, he'd already met her at least twice. Maybe there's an element of getting her own back?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Gosh yes. This timey-wimey stuff is enough to give one a headache.

[redatt.livejournal.com]

"or fooled into thinking someone was looking at them"

That in particular annoyed me. There was a perfectly good reason why they might not attack Amy --she had an Angle trying to get out of her-- that would, I think, have worked better there.

[redatt.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I thought it was cleverer- and perhaps scarier too- when the angels sent you back in time instead of just routinely snapping necks. But they're Moffat's monsters and he could probably give an entirely plausible reason for all the changes if pressed on the matter."

The plausible reason was given last week. They were to weak and close to death to be able to jump and had to resort to snapping necks, they also want to stay around the source of energy they were feeding on.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

OK, that works....

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes that was very weak. I suppose Moffat thought we'd be so thrilled by Amy having walk through the middle of them that we'd forget to ask awkward questions.

These stories must go through an editing process. I wonder sometimes that it's not more rigorous.

[redatt.livejournal.com]

Angel not Angle, d'oh!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

You and Pope Gregory, both.