Dalek

[meganlynn09]

I'm a little late posting this, I was busy yesterday.  And I'm a little sick, so I'm only doing one episode.

So, the Doctor and Rose continue and in "Dalek" and there's little progress in their relationship.  But enough to move on.  This will be much different than the others, but please enjoy anyway.  May include references to future series one episodes.

All screencaps taken from Stakes and Stones Screencaps.

Enjoy!

When you watch an episode like this, it makes you wish that you'd seen previous Doctors, because it's hard to imagine that they were all like this.  I know better now, that Nine wasn't like any of the other Doctors, far from them I've heard.  But I still love him.  It doesn't taint my view, doesn't make me wish I had seen another Doctor first, just that I wish I was better informed before this episode.

No matter what anyone tells me, Chris Eccleston was amazing in this episode.  I don't remember the last time I was so impressed by an actor on TV.  So, while I'm doing these reviews about Doctor/Rose, this will mostly be about the Doctor, just like "Father's Day" will most likely revolve around Rose.


I figured out pretty fast that this wasn't going to be some fun episode, because immediately the mood is somber.  His tone at the beginning when the Doctor said "I'm getting old" and Chris is able to portray this through the episode.  This shot, he looks so old, and I don't mean in the face.  He's seen so much, no doubt, and the audience knows that he has lost everything.  And to face the very thing that caused this is...I don't know, I don't think I can name it.

I just wanted to point out my favorite scene, acting wise.  The scene where the Doctor is alone with the Dalek, he terrified me.  I was afraid for and of the Doctor because right there, he was not the Doctor.  He was so alien and so human that I don't think he could have recognize himself.  It was superb and perfect and made the episode for me.


And of course, while the Doctor is going through hell, Rose gets to flirt with the resident nerd.  Who I never found cute.  But I can see why Rose might want to be around him.  He's around her age, shows an interest in her, and she thinks he's cute.  I had hoped that she wanted to be where the Doctor was, but she never mentioned that.  She seems content to look at junk (until he showed her the Dalek being tortured) and that didn't seem like Rose.


I didn't pity the Dalek in this scene, I pitied Rose.  I think it was a ploy the Dalek was using, he didn't even answer her until after she mentioned the Doctor.  I pitied Rose because she was played so well in this scene, the Dalek seemed to know what emotional buttons to push. 


I liked that the Doctor called Rose to check on her progress, but at the same time I had wished that she just hung up on him so that she could run.


I felt so bad because I knew she wasn't going to make it in time, and the Doctor didn't need this.  This thing has killed too many people already, for the one person he knew and cared about to be another number was not something he needed.


And then for the Dalek to come up behind her and we hear the words, the Doctor hears the words and the audience probably knows she's not, but for that moment, she's dead.  

I think this is what I like about seeing people in danger, having the main characters in danger because while we the audience know there's a 99% chance they'll survive, I just love to see how the hell they can get themselves out of the mess.


And it hurts the Doctor so much that not only did this thing take one more thing from him, but he caused it.  It's not his fault, I will never blame him for closing that vault, whether or not Rose had really died, because he had to do that.  He had to find a way to destroy this thing before it was able to kill any more people.


But it sure was lovely to see his joy at her being alive.  Not just his companion, but another deatht that's off his chest.

The line, "What use are emotions if you cannot save the woman you love."  The Dalek only took DNA from Rose, so maybe he picked up what love was from her.  But I'm thinking it was some kind of guess he was making.  He knew that Rose is traveling with the Doctor, so he made a guess that the Doctor probably felt this strong emotion for Rose.  But at this point, that Dalek could have said anything and the Doctor would have opened that door.  Like he said, he wasn't going to "kill" Rose twice.


I get why she reasoned with him, but I don't know if I agree with it.  The thing should have been destroyed and for Rose to forget what this thing did just because it wanted "freedom" rang extremely wrong to me.  But then she did what it wanted and ordered it to die.


I sort of wished they had kept the intense hug that I've heard about and seen on the internet, but at the same time, I understand why they cut it.  But it would have been nice if there was something, maybe a different hug, something to show both Rose's and the Doctor's relief that it's over. 


"A little piece of home."  Doctor/TARDIS, you can never go wrong ;).  This was probably my favorite line in the episode because not only is it what he says, but it means something else.  It's not just a reminder, it is his home.  It's all he has to call his own, and Rose comes to see that as well, in time.


And the look he gives her after she tells him "Good thing I'm not going anyway" is so adoring and the soft way he says "Yeah" is just so sweet.  He's so glad to have someone there, and someone that is like Rose, it's nice to see in the episode that follows that the companionship they picked up wasn't lost in this episode.

So, please let me know what you think.  I didn't intend to make this one so Doctor heavy, but it couldn't be helped.

"The Long Game" should hopefully be put up tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll be over this cold soon because it sucks.  Thanks!

ETA: There is discussion of the 2nd season (or series 2) in the comments. 

Comments

[kitg.livejournal.com]

woot, you did more :) (dances around the room like a Dalek on NOS)

it was great, loved it. am looking forward to the long game. ;)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Great! I'm glad you like these :)

[rosetylerrox3.livejournal.com]

That was a really good analysis! I agree, that episode was VERY Doctor-heavy and had a gorgeous link to his past, Chris played that all brilliantly! I didn't realise that Rose was OOC, but i still think that out of all the guest writers, she was written as tied for first with Paul Cornell (is that his name? Well the writer of Father's Day anyways).

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

I didn't quite feel that Rose was OOC here either, but then I dunno. The Dalek did kinda play her, and Rose has always struck me as the kind of person who looked for the good in everybody. For example... in EotW, she told the Doctor to help Cassandra, even knowing that Cassandra had killed people. And another example... in T&C Rose was the only one (on screen anyway) who actually bothered to talk to the Wolf when he was in human form. My personal impression here was that she kinda wanted to help him, despite being scared.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not that she was OOC, it's that I don't think I can agree with her choices throughout. At the end, I don't think I would have stood in the way of the Doctor. But, I am glad she did because goodness knows what that would have done to our dear Doctor.

Thanks for responding!

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Yay, I just love these.

I sort of wished they had kept the intense hug that I've heard about and seen on the internet

Can you point me in the direction of this? I've never seen it. (Behind the times being in the US and all.)

You know... these recaps make me think. I'm always comparing the first series to the second, and comparing Nine to Ten, and I probably shouldn't do that, but I liked the Nine/Rose dynamic so much more. Nine and Rose *both* flirted harmlessly with other people, and it was fun and playful and there would always be those scenes that, I dunno... almost let you know that they both always preferred when it was just them. Ten/Rose... I dunno... it's like they both go off with other people, but it's been more serious, not fun and playful, and it's missing that whole bit with them coming back to each other. (I didn't feel that way so much with TCI, NE, and T&C, but SR and GitF definitely made me feel that way.) That probably made no sense at all. Sorry to ramble on.

Hope you feel better soon! Looking forward to the next part. (I heart the elevator/lift scene, hee.)

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

I found a fanvid with the missing hug scene in it. This fanvid is AMAZING too. Never seen one this well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EfIG638Fs

The missing hug scene is at about 2:24. They shouldn't have taken that scene out, demmit! So sweet.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Well, you beat me. I was going to actually point out the same video. I love that video, it is very well done and I'm in love with that song now. I listen to it all the time.

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

Just want to thank you for linking to that vid. It was gorgeous. :)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Ten/Rose... I dunno... it's like they both go off with other people, but it's been more serious, not fun and playful, and it's missing that whole bit with them coming back to each other.

Most definitely, except it's been mostly the Doctor in series two. A lot of emphasis on Rose's feelings about the Doctor, and how she kinda wants him all to herself has been played. Having not seen the old series, I can only guess that sometimes when the Doctor regenerates sometimes his feelings change, so maybe his feelings for Rose aren't as intense but he still loves her. I don't know. I guess we'll just have to wait and see :)

Thanks for commenting! I hope I feel better soon as well, thanks! Glad you're still enjoying these!

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

As usual, this is FANTASTIC! BRILLIANT!
And you really get me thinking about the eps in differnt lights.
I wihs I could comment more on this one, but I am so behind in work right now, I need to get back to work!
Hopefully I will remember and Add more later!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you very much! I'm glad these can be enjoyed.

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

Well, it turns out that the work is on hiatus for a while as they load more for us to do so now I can comment more!

Yeah, some knowledge of prior Doctors might have been helpful, but I don't think my complete oblivious to anything DW that is not the Ninth Doctor hindered me. And yes, Christopher (and really everyone) played this so brilliantly. Chris and Billie were the keys and so often it was just their acting that made the scenes and showed you the emotion behind the actions... and just how hellish the Doctor has had it in the past. The Anguish what so much more real because of how Christ showed it in looks and his eyes that it made it all that much worse (how much he had to be hurting at the past) and truly made you (as the audience fell his pain).

Yes, Adam annoyed the hell out of me even in this ep. I didn't find him cute at all.
BUT I don't think she was content looking at junk... she found out fast he knew nothing and was almost trying not to laugh at him, I felt. Because he has all this high talk about space travel, yet he's never been and she has. I don't think she was all that impressed with his genius bs... but then he showed her the Dalek and she was all set to save the world, searching for the Doctor to help.

I completely agree about pitying Rose and not the Dalek cause you could just tell what was gonna happen and she had no idea what she would unleash! And I also concur about the Dalek knowing exactly what buttons to push with her.

The whole next arch of running, I was sitting there screaming at them from when they tried to lock it in the vault until she didn't make it for them to RUN! I mean what the hell! don't just watch it unlock the vault like you already know it can and will and get the hell OUT of there!
But this whole sequence also just brought home everything with the Doctor's past. You don't know exactly what happened, but the sadness, desperation and fear are so clear, you can't help but feel what the Doctor is feeling, knowing he's killed another.
(And also... WTF Adam! You *left her* behind?! You never, ever, leave a man behind! Especially Rose! twit!!!)

The pure and absolute joy on his face at finding her alive was just awesome!

But here at the end is where we diverge... Rose was herself here when trying to save the Dalek... first, as pointed out, she did this with Cassandra. Second... I think she didn't want the Doctor to kill it because she knew what it had done to him and would do to him. She was protecting the Doctor here, although secondly she cares for the Dalek itself because it is changing and she doesn't like to kill ever.
BUT that is of course my thoughts!

"A little piece of home" is an awesome line! And the look is soooo sweet and caring!

Stupid Adam.

I really like these reviews... and it is an awesome way to discuss the ep! :)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I love hearing everyone's thoughts on things. As for the end, I don't think I described it correctly. Thinking one it, and I posted a comment earlier that said this as well, that it's not that I think Rose was out of character, it's that I don't necessarily agree with what she did. I don't know if I would have stood in the Doctor's way. But I'm glad she did, because like I said in the earlier comment, who knows what it would have done to out Doctor.

Thanks for you insight! It's always welcomed. Glad you like!

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

Yup, I agree... Rose stood in his way more for the Doctor and to save him than for any6 other reason.
:)

[brianna-aisling.livejournal.com]

That was good.

I was very confused by this episode. I mean, I got what happened and all that, but I knew Daleks were in the old series and hadn't learned yet that the whole Time War thing was supposed to have happened before this regeneration, so I didn't get the strength of his emotions about the Dalek. I really wish I had, and I want to see this episode again, because it's a completely different perspective.

What hug? And where can I see it?

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it.

Apparently there was a hug filmed between Rose and the Doctor right after the Dalek exploded that was quite intense and I think that's why it was cut out. The Doctor like literally clings to Rose. Anyway, I saw it in a video. a_cricket posted the link a few comments ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EfIG638Fs
About 2:24 in, it's a fan video made to James Blunt's Goodbye My Lover.

[brianna-aisling.livejournal.com]

Wow. You aren't kidding about intense.

Thanks for the link. :)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

No problem. ;)

[countrylyman.livejournal.com]

Stumbled on to this via time_and_chips. These are fantastic! I absolutely loved this episode and I think you did a great job. I was blown away by Chris' acting in this episode. This is the episode that sold me on the show, so it's got a nice little place in my heart. :)

And I wished they had kept that hug in, too!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks! I'm glad you like it!

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Icon love! Did you make that?

I still haven't mastered the art of animated icons.

I'm glad that everyone loved the intense deleted hug as much as I did.

[countrylyman.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking that about your icon! Very hot.

I actually didn't make it (I wish I had, though). It's made by blancwene. I'm loving it. :)

I actually saw a picture of the hug online somewhere right after I saw the episode and I was really disappointed they cut it. I always find myself wondering, "What did they cut out this week?" The eps are still fantastic, but I want it all. Lol!

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Me too. I hope this is the stuff that shows up on the DVD. (I'm left waiting for the DVD's to come out here in the US...) I'd love some deleted scene goodness. Especially with Nine.

[countrylyman.livejournal.com]

Me too! I can't wait for the DVD to come out here, but I don't know if they are the original eps, or if it's the SciFi version.

Mind if I Friend you? I definitely need more Doctor Who fans on my flist. :)

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Friend away! :)

(I'm so in love with your icon.)

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

The DVD didn't have any deleted scenes :/ Annoyingly some of the commentaries mention scenes that were cut, with the assumption that they will be included, but not one to be seen

[pinkmarshmello.livejournal.com]

Yay! You made another one. I love these. Get well soon!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I'll try to get better ASAP and I'm glad you like these. I hope to continue!

[whywastewords.livejournal.com]

Yknow, I just can't count the many ways in which I love this episode. I think my main reason for liking it is that the daleks are legendary. Legendary. Especially in Britain. And this episode was their first appearance on TV in 20 some years. However, the writers didn't have a big overblown thing. It was simple. It was one dalek. Just one and yet, one dalek with the power to bring down everyone in that compound and the surroundings areas, and so on and so on.

I LOVED how they kept this claustrophic, confined feeling going throughout the episode. The entire 45 minutes were tense, tense, tense and this was because of the ingenuity of just one dalek trapped with a small number of people in locked-down underground compound. Brilliant.

And whoa, the fear, the sheer fear on the Doc's face when he's put in that room with the dalek. I was riveted to the screen when he panicked and started banging on the door. Amazing. REALLY makes me wish we'd seen just a little of the Time War. It would've been spectacular viewing.

And I totally had an Adam crush. Still do. The actor was on TV over her for yonks and yonks, so I squeed big time when I saw him in Doctor Who. Complete surprise. And I thought Rose's flirtation with him was cute. Foreshadowed the flirting she did with Jack a few episodes later.

Yep. Definitely one of my favourite episodes of series 1. This and Father's Day, and The Empty Child / Doctor Dances two-parter.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Wow, such a wonderful comment. I was just telling someone earlier how awesome this episode was. :)

I didn't know one thing about this show before it aired here in the US in March, so the Daleks were new to me, and the sheer panic of the Doctor was astonishing, he was weak and powerful at the same time.

I wish we knew more about the Time War.

I actually didn't like Adam that much, but "The Long Game" could be tainting my view, since I knew what he did before I saw "Dalek".

Thank you for your thoughts on the episode!