The Long Game

[meganlynn09]

More Doctor/Rose, from "The Long Game".  While this isn't everyone's favorite episode, it's perfect for a go-between with "Dalek" and "Father's Day".  It's really a fun, enjoyable episode, and Rose and the Doctor's relationship is so simple here that analysis is almost unnecessary.  But pictures are pretty.  May include references to future episode.

All screencaps from Stake and Stones Screencaps.

Enjoy!

I really enjoy this episode, it's kinda this fun, hip one that gives the audience a chance to breathe before "Father's Day".


I really like that he tells her everything first so that she can seem in the know for Adam.  The Doctor never seemed jealous to me, just didn't like Adam very much.  Which, who can blame him?


Never not make me laugh.  He's such a girl.  Which makes me wonder about Rose's tastes...luckily they mature.


"He's your boyfriend"  "Not anymore"   It's a joke.  I don't understand why some people took the term boyfriend seriously.  The Doctor is teasing her, and she knows it.  She's the one that wanted Adam to come along, but the Doctor didn't want him to come (sorry, but again, understandable).  Unlike Mickey and later Jack, Rose just seemed to get really tired of having Adam around.


But the Doctor at least tries.  He's very friendly towards Adam and I liked that.  If Adam hadn't screwed up, maybe things would have been different.  Although, if he hadn't screwed up, I think Rose would have asked him to leave.  She definitely didn't enjoy having him around as much as she wanted to.


Aw, she gets such a kick out of the Doctor.  No wonder she would rather spend her time with him.


It's cute, really.  The way they talk to one another and banter, it just shows how damn comfortable they are with each other and it just makes me so happy.  I would have dreaded it if all the time there was this tension between them and all you wanted was for them to just make out.  But with them, it was easy to just either want them as friends or more.  Of course I did just want them to start making out some of the time, but that's just me.  I've never watched a show that had this sort of relationship between two people, where they could be friends or more.  I adore it.  I really do.


I love how she like sort of skips towards him.  Like, there's no fun without the Doctor.  If that makes any sense.


They just look for trouble.  And like it.  This episode actually foreshadows series two.  They are very confident in this episode, that they know what they are doing and that it's the best for everyone.  He doesn't say it, but the Doctor acts like the highest authority.  Although he seemingly does what is best, he doesn't look for the consequences, doesn't check on the progress and look how that turns out by the end of series one.  


Aw, it's just too cute.  He'll hug anyone.  And in series two, that's continued by Ten in "New Earth" when he hugs the girl at the end.


"You'd rather be with him"  Yes, that's been true the whole series.  And I can actually get into this more in-depth with "The Doctor Dances".


See how comfortable they can be, without second thought.


Just look at them...


I don't think I've ever gushed over a pair of fictional people like I have with these two.  Or the Doctor because I don't think I've ever fallen for a character as fast as I did him. (Except for Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls, but they ruined that so I don't speak of it anymore)


He looks annoyed that she didn't listen to him when he said "You should go back".  I like how he didn't make a big deal out of wanting her to go back and she didn't make a big deal about staying.  I look again and he actually looks a little worried.


Not only is this picture, this scene, kinda disturbing, but what the Editor says when he goes to touch her is as well.  "Oh, yes!  The last of the Time Lords in his traveling machine.  Oh, with his little human girl from long ago..."  There's just something wrong with that and oddly phrased.


He looks annoyed that she was freed and he wasn't.  I don't remember the context for this look from the episode, but the cap is funny.

And I think they run out of the wreck hand in hand.  That could possibly be a hazard.


Is she grabbing his jacket?


I know this whole scene was serious and everything, but come on.  Look at her.  Tell me you would be worried about that, or care.  It's a mean look and everything, but it's just unnatural on her face.


And she's not just pleased that the Doctor considers her one of the best, she's proud.  Unfortunately, not for long.

Spoilers for "Father's Day": 
Because there could have been a chance, and because I like reading fics, I was wondering if anyone knows of one or could write an after-FD fic where Rose blames the Doctor for all the things that happened, and blames him for dying, just because she's angry at herself and doesn't really want to blame herself even though she's sorry.  Did that make any sense?  Cause even though she's sorry for what she did, I think she would be upset enough that at first she would be angry.

Anyway, what do you all think?  "Father's Day" might take me a little longer to put together, but I'll have it up no later than Monday.

Comments

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Squee.

I'm totally with you on this episode. I've never gushed so much.

At the beginning when the Doctor's telling Rose what to tell Adam -- so cute -- then he watches her and he's all proud. I just love watching him watch her, hehe.

Since I'm in the US and thus behind, I missed people being annoyed in the internet fandom that the Doctor said "he's your boyfriend". I took it as a joke too, and Rose played along. The "boyfriend" reference has been used before, and always in a playful manner if you ask me.

The lift scene. OMG. *GUSH* So cute. Probably the cutest scene between Nine/Rose in the whole series. The way they bump shoulders when the Doctor grabs Rose's hand. *GUSH* I just love love love that scene with all my Nine/Rose shippy heart, hehe. (You sooo know they made out on the way to floor 500.)

And this is what I mean (cuz I've said it before in your LJ) when I say that Nine/Rose always "came back" to each other. Rose may have flirted or spent time with Adam, and the Doctor hugged that chick (can't remember her name), but in the end the Doctor and Rose ended up back together solving the riddles and saving the day. The second series has mostly lost that feeling (for me) OR its come across as inappropriate. (Example, Rose/Ten hugging because they saw a warewolf, which alone is cute, but hullo, one of the Queen's guards just got eaten/ripped to shreds/killed. Ten may be more rude, but that rudeness didn't need to rub off on Rose.)

Anyway, lovely as always!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love your comments!

Since I'm in the US and thus behind, I missed people being annoyed in the internet fandom that the Doctor said "he's your boyfriend".

Oh yea! I'm in the US as well. Just started watching this past March. And I found the annoyance on the internet on TWOP after "The Long Game" aired. I think a lot of people took it seriously, and I never did. Glad I'm not the only one.

The second series has mostly lost that feeling (for me) OR its come across as inappropriate. (Example, Rose/Ten hugging because they saw a warewolf, which alone is cute, but hullo, one of the Queen's guards just got eaten/ripped to shreds/killed. Ten may be more rude, but that rudeness didn't need to rub off on Rose.)

I really need to watch T&C again because during the episode I didn't get that feeling. I'll have to see again. My problem with Ten is that he is much harder to read than Nine, which is sort of weird, but not. I just really hope that what's being done with him this season is purposeful and they are going somewhere with it.

Anyway, lovely as always!

Thank you very much!

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

I just really hope that what's being done with him this season is purposeful and they are going somewhere with it.

ME TOO! I'll be really disappointed if they aren't. I don't *want* to dislike Ten. I adore DT like a twelve year old fangirl, but the writing for most of series two has just not sat right with me for whatever reason.

I've been thinking maybe it's because DT is a wee bit younger (and looks even younger than he actually is) than EC was, so EC looked more "authoritative". So even when EC's Doctor did something goofy, he still LOOKED like he could kick your ass. When DT's Doctor does something goofy, he still looks goofy when he stops. Does that make sense? I think this might be why Ten is so much harder to read, because I completely agree with you there.

Never thought I'd complain about pretty! LOL. But EC's age gave him a definite edge.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Actually I was thinking that he's always so hyper that you can never know when to take him seriously and when he's upset or something, he shuts Rose out differently. You can never predict his reactions, whereas after a little while, Nine became just a little more predictable. Hopefully he gets easier as the season goes on.

And I think you meant CE instead of EC ;) And yeah, DT does look so much younger and different. It's just so hard to tell! Too much of the pretty! :)

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

And I think you meant CE instead of EC ;)

Olp. Of course I did. Dyslexics UNTIE!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

lol Yeah! I do that all the time.

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Sorry...

Had to comment on Luke Danes. They soooo RUINED him by adding that dumb daughter, didn't they?

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

OMG, didn't they? I started WATCHING that show because of him. It made me terrible sad.

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

I accidently read a spoiler before seeing the episode that they were throwing a daughter into the mix, and I thought it was a terrible idea. But the writers said that the story line was so good, and the actress who played the daughter was so good, blah blah blah. But they SO did not sell me on that story line.

I was actually happy that Lorelai shagged Christopher last week, and I NEVER thought I'd say that EVER!

Unfortunately, I don't think they ever wrote Lorelai/Luke ***as a couple*** in that happy comfortable bubble (like Nine/Rose were always in) like they wrote Lorelai/Christopher as being in.

Sorry for the GG babble, but I don't go into fandoms very often. I only had to find myself a DW fandom because of being across the pond and behind the times, hehe.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've always enjoyed Lorelai/Luke, I disliked Christopher for a long time. The only time I didn't like what they did with L/L was this season, and the fact that Lorelai went back to Christopher makes me ill, not because it was Christopher, who has been written very well this season, but because I don't want her and Luke back together now. That was quite unforgivable and I don't think I'll look at Lorelai the same.

Sorry about that. I was into GG fandom heavily for a while and then left. Then I got sucked into DW fandom and it doesn't seem like I'll ever leave :)

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

but because I don't want her and Luke back together now. That was quite unforgivable and I don't think I'll look at Lorelai the same.


Me neither. And yep, it was. Pretty... typical though, for Lorelai. Amazing that Rory's romantic relationships have been more adult and mature than most of her mom's.

I figured they were gonna end GG with a L/L wedding (or maybe a L/C wedding) but now I think either of those options would suck. Lor needs to see that shrink weekly. LOL.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

lol Most definitely. Although now, maybe she can be single, figure out herself alone and then maybe she'll know what she wants. Even though they said it wasn't true, and I can't help but think that the writers were screwing us over before they left. It just plain sucks.

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I can't say I'm very happy with the original writers. It feels like a big eff you to the fans that they won't stick around for the last season.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it would almost be poetic justice if GG wasn't picked up for next season.

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

Haha. Except that I think all of the actors have contracts for one more year. Which is why it feels like an even bigger eff you from the original writers. Now, six years in, the writers will walk off because the network wouldn't give them more than a year long contract, when the actors only have one more year anyway. Makes you wonder why the writers and actors didn't all have the same length contracts.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I actually think the writers only had a five year contract, because this almost happened last year, but they came back. This year they decide to leave. Take one more year to make everyone quit watching GG, because you can't tell me that even the Lorelai/Christopher fans enjoyed that, she looked miserable with him at the end.

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

True. L/L fans and L/C fans both got screwed. I didn't look at it that way. Probably because I was never a huge shipper with GG. I started watching it for the writing and banter. It had so much clever dialogue I was sucked in. But even the writing this year was mostly blah, I think... so bad writing on top of both ships getting screwed... *shudder*

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have to look at it from every way, how would anyone be happy with an ending like that? Unless you're a Logan/Rory fan, then you might want to continue. But like you said, the writing wasn't good this year. I remember watching and laughing and crying with the show and this year, the writing just plain wants to make me cry. I should write a post on how most of my shows let me down this year. The only ones that I'm happy with, either nobody watches (hardly anyone watches Veronica Mars) or it's not from the US (Doctor Who)!

Re: Love your screencap recaps

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like!

I really like Ten and I'm worried about where they seem to be taking the relationship because I enjoyed Nine and Rose's relationship. We just have to wait.

I am fine getting only an occasional ambiguous reference to deeper feelings if I can have a joyous Doctor and Rose.

YES!!

Thanks again.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I rewatched The Long Game recently and it's much better than I remembered it. It's never going to be anyone's top favourite episode, but it was a fun adventure. And I thought Adam's sub-plot was handled well.

I loved how Rose/Nine never had the jealousy angst, so much as fun flirting all tying back to the ship. If that makes sense. ("I think you're experiencing Captain Envy", or "he's a bit pretty" "I hadn't noticed")

SR and TGITF made Ten's reaction be more on someone other than Rose, and it not all tying together to make the Doctor/Rose ship cuter. I mean even with Jack, who came the closest to attracting Rose, it ends up with Rose and the Doctor dancing at the end :D Season 1 felt like no matter what flirtations went on in the episodes, it was still always about the Doctor/Rose having fun together

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Oh most definitely. In season 1, they just enjoyed the ride and thanked whatever deity that it was with each other.

Thanks for commenting!

[a-cricket.livejournal.com]

I mean even with Jack, who came the closest to attracting Rose, it ends up with Rose and the Doctor dancing at the end :D Season 1 felt like no matter what flirtations went on in the episodes, it was still always about the Doctor/Rose having fun together

That's exactly how I felt. I'm so glad that other people are feeling the same way as me.

The flirtations were always just fun and innocent. It was almost as if, sometimes, the Doctor and Rose *liked* watching the other flirt with other people. Like it was a game. And having them always come back to each other in the end made it SO good.

I feel like they've really lost that with season two. Especially in SR and GITF. At least there was a bit more of it in yesterday's eppy. I'm just... not digging the story lines overall quite as much as I dug series one. But... hopefully it'll get better. Plus DT is so pretty!

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Plus things like Jack turning out to fancy both of them, and then a bit of threesome fun in the Tardis *g* It all helped to make the ship different from what else was out there. Whereas with Sarah-Jane say, the characters themselves note it's Rose being jealous of the ex. The ship feels more familiar to a lot of what you get with other tv couples now at times. Even down to them flirting more obviously, using the possessed kiss in NE (my other ships Spuffy and Lexana had fake kisses while building up toward pairing. most shows do it)

I suppose I miss the hand-holding, and Rose getting Nine to prove he can "dance". Not knowing if Rose is attracted, them not being a couple you would conventionally put together. It felt special and more unique

[goodisrelative.livejournal.com]

Excellent, as usual!
I thought this was a great "light" ep and loved how it really showed the true compainionship of the Doctor & Rose's relationship. Plus it bashed Adam, so it had to be good to me!
And I completely agree on never having fallen for such a complex, multifacited couple before... and The Doctor has, since Rose, become my favorite, all-time fictional character... with the Doctor/ROse relationship the best fictional TV relationship! :)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks! I'm glad people can enjoy these and understand my babble. Glad you can enjoy!

[roxane66.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever gushed over a pair of fictional people like I have with these two. Or the Doctor because I don't think I've ever fallen for a character as fast as I did him. (Except for Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls, but they ruined that so I don't speak of it anymore)

First, love your Long game comments and totally agree. Second, ditto on the Doctor love. I fell hook, line and sinker for this man - the Doctor AND CE - and it's not ending any time soon. (Though season 2 is trying my patience with the ship, I must say.) Third, you may not speak of it, but damn those writers for ruining Luke. And Lorelai. And the show. to think I went from OMG SQUEEE! to OMG HATE! in one short season.

As for this episode, my favorite moment is when they ride in the elevator. they're just so very happy to be together - alone - and I love the way he sort of yanks her over when he takes her hand. So very adorable and squeeworthy.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I fell hook, line and sinker for this man - the Doctor AND CE - and it's not ending any time soon.
Oh, don't I know it!

RE: Luke/Lorelai And the show. to think I went from OMG SQUEEE! to OMG HATE! in one short season.
I know, it's unbelievable.

And Nine/Rose will always be love!