Um...Play along...

[meganlynn09]

Okay, I'm bored and my "daily" posts about Doctor Who are temporarily postponed.  Until Thursday.  I think.  Anyway, I came up with this all by myself with loads of help from reading other LJ archives.  So, yes, I stole the idea.

Anyway, I would like you all to put a comment here with your favorite series (currently) and your top 5 or 10 (depending on how long the series has run) favorite episodes of that series.  Extra points and cookies if you tell me why!  But you really don't have to.

I'll go first, and since it's so appropriate, right now my favorite series is Doctor Who.  Since I'm American, I'll name my top 5 episodes from season one:

1.  The Doctor Dances
2.  The End of the World
3.  Father's Day
4.  The Empty Child
5.  The Unquiet Dead

These aren't like, the best episodes ever, these are just the episodes that I could watch over and over again, the most.  Because for me, they're all re-watchable.  And these could all switch.  I just named them as I saw them.  

But, my top 5 would change if I were to include season 2:
1.  School Reunion
2.  The Doctor Dances
3.  The End of the World
4.  New Earth (it's the campiest episode ever, but oh so watchable over and over again)
5.  Father's Day

Not many changes.  But those I listed, I just adored.  And again, it's not that these are the best in terms of direction and story.  Not even acting, because if I went by that, the list would look something like this (series one only):

1.  The Parting of the Ways
2.  Dalek
3.  Father's Day (actually, this one is tied with Dalek, I just gave Christopher Eccleston the edge)
4.  Bad Wolf
5.  The End of the World

So, quite a few lists.  Can't wait to see yours!

BTW, *points to icon* how hot was the Doctor in Boom Town?  For those that don't know Doctor Who, you are missing out.  Cause you know what?  Not only was Chris Eccleston hot as Nine, David Tennant as the Doctor?  Very hot.  When wearing glasses, when wet.  And when drying off.

More evidence needed of the Doctor's hotness in Boom Town?  How about here and here.

And for others: Captain Jack and Rose.

Screencaps from:
Stakes and Stones Screencaps and Leave Me the White and time-and-space.co.uk.

Comments

[syven.livejournal.com]

I'm an American living in Germany with a satelite dish that lets me watch the BBC live... so... I'm going to cheat though and pretend I'm just an American stuck with the SciFi channel, okay? :D

My favorite series is Doctor Who. Since I'm a pretending American, I'll name my top 5 episodes from season one:

1. Rose
2. The Empty Child
3. The Doctor Dances
4. Dalek
5. World War III

If I were to include season 2, my Top 5 would only change once:

1. Tooth and Claw
2. Rose
3. The Empty Child
4. The Doctor Dances
5. Dalek

Now, I know these aren't the best shows and I've picked them more because I'm in line with Megan Lynn that these are episodes that hold something for me that makes me want to watch them repeatedly.

Now, if I went with Acting pure and simple, like Megan Lynn, then the list for Season 1 (in all honesty, I love Ten and think he's a terrific actor but seriously, I would be lying very badly if I insinuated that Nine wasn't the consumate Actor in every sense of the word and there's nothing in Season 2 that would even remotely tempt me to consider putting it on this list anyway) would look like:

1. Rose (the earth is spinning bit makes the hair on my neck stand up every single time I watch it. I *believed* Nine from the minute he spoke. *That's* acting, babe.)

2. Dalek (Nine enraged. /shiver)
3. Father's Day (Sean, Camilla, Chris, Billie - perfect)
4. The End of the World
5. Bad Wolf

You know, I've said from Day One that CE was an ugly **ck and seriously, those accents are the only thing getting Brit men laid and I really do still stand by that statement but if, in all honesty, I had to pick Nine or Ten to spend a guilt free 24 hours with... I'm sod on hopeless because I'd pick Nine - ugly mug that he is, he's got *something* that even DT's utterly lucious Scottish accent cannot overcome.

So... one last list. From Season 1 & 2, what's your "do" list?

1. Nine
2. Ten
3. Mickey (seriously, have you seen him without a shirt?)

I know you are all saying "But what about Jack?" and seriously, I love the Jack character but entirely in a platonic, brotherly way.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I love CE. I do think he's handsome in this really unique way. He also holds this presence that draws every ounce of attention to himself without him even trying. It's awesome.

My "do" list:
1. Nine
2. Ten
3. Jack
4. Mickey (who knew he needed his shirt off more often)

The speech from "Rose" is amazing for the fact that you really do believe in it. It's what he feels. And in "Dalek"? I've never been more impressed with an actor than I was with CE when Nine first saw the Dalek.

Thank you for you wonderful answers! Loved them all!

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I am so with you on that "the earth is turning" speech. CE does that so brilliantly, not many people are going to realize how difficult a speech like that is, but he finds the rhythm in it - much like the "nebula" seduction in WWIII. (As adorably dorky he is as a dancer, one thing he does know is where the beat is.)

I've always said that CE is the epitome of the beautiful ugly man. But sometimes he can be ridiculously pretty. He looks like Ralph Fiennes with fire in his soul:

(http://photobucket.com)

(Sorry about the size! I don't have any software to resize the picture with me...)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Wow! I never would have noticed how much he looked like Ralph Fiennes! Nice pic, btw.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's from Othello. He's playing Iago, does a lot of talking to the camera, and he just rips it apart - he has one rant that was voted TV Guide's moment of the week when it aired, which I thought was pretty impressive for a Brit mostly unknown in the US in a Masterpiece Theatre production! Also crouches naked on the edge of a bathtub at one point, which is impressive for the balance alone...

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Most definitely!

I hate that I missed this actor before Doctor Who!

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I've been watching him since Shallow Grave and have never been disappointed. In fact, I just saw him in a sitcom, playing twins, and he surprised me again. I love actors like that. My other current favourite TV show stars a baby version of that kind of actor, David Krumholtz, who's been impressing me since he was a geeky 13-year-old. I knew he'd turn out to be a great actor, but despite the big brown eyes, I didn't think he'd turn out to be quite so beautiful.

Billie Piper has also been my saving grace for S2 of DW. She never hits a wrong note, even given that the scripts have been so weak - that "We are not amused" thing from T&C was irritating, but she committed to it.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I think I know David Krumholtz from some movie, "10 Things I Hate About You", a movie I adore, and I loved him there. I don't remember anything else I've seen him in.

BP has been a gem from the first episode. I was stunned to find out she was some kind of pop singer in the late '90s. When I first watched T&C, I didn't hear their bet, so I really didn't know why the hell she kept doing the "We are not amused" thing, so it was a little more annoying for me the first time around. But it was meant to be, I hope.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Yes, DK plays Michael in 10 Things, and he really controls the whole thing! Not surprising that he ends up going to the party as William Shakespeare... He's been in a wide range of movies from The Santa Clause to The Ice Storm, and he's fabulous at comedy but is also terrifyingly good at drama - he played the psychotic law student who stabbed Carter and Lucy in ER, and it was a brilliant performance, very like CE in Shallow Grave, going from a meek, bemused character to murderous. In Numb3rs, he plays a math genius who has some difficulty dealing with real life. The first season was terrific, but like DW, there were some script issues in S2, though still 5-6 excellent episodes.

And oh, yes, I remember Billie Piper when she was 15, singing "Because We Want To", a sort of subpar Britney Spears (although she emerged just before Britney). You can find some of her videos at YouTube if you're a masochist! She wasn't much of a singer, or dancer, but she did have screen presence. I have to admit being blown away by her in "Rose". I never, ever would have predicted how good she was going to be, or the fantastic chemistry with CE - although come to think of it, he does seem to be very good at chemistry with very young women... without being predatory.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Yes! I remember him in The Santa Clause and on ER, those were some of my favorite episodes.

I love the chemistry between BP and CE, it's hard to find in a lot of shows where it's just this very natural thing and they don't play on it for tension, it's just there.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I was amused to read that DK was worried about his part on ER because Noah Wyle is about 6'2", and DK is about 5'3"-5'4", and he didn't think he could scare anyone. He underestimated the frightening power of crazy!

And the chemistry between BP and CE is phenomenal. I've even gotten some old-school X-Philes admitting that they're better than Mulder and Scully. What impresses me is the range of the chemistry. It's not just the romantic "will-they-or-won't-they", it's also the relaxed, we-have-no-personal-space jostling (and her penchant for going through his pockets), the banter, the I-would-die-for-you, the giggling, and the I-want-to-throw-you-against-the-nearest-wall, not to mention the ease with which they move between them. I've never seen anything like it, and probably never will again. I'm not surprised people thought they were carrying on a torrid affair, although I know enough about him to know he would never mess with a married woman. OTOH, I just got no chemistry off DT and Sophia Myles at all, so it's just proof that what you see on camera has nothing to do with RL.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

That's funny that he was nervous about that because he scared me. When you're a good actor, height doesn't matter.

It's not just the romantic "will-they-or-won't-they", it's also the relaxed, we-have-no-personal-space jostling (and her penchant for going through his pockets), the banter, the I-would-die-for-you, the giggling, and the I-want-to-throw-you-against-the-nearest-wall, not to mention the ease with which they move between them.

YES. Took all the words out of my head, lol.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I'm American, but I have lived in Britain, so it makes it easy to get the goods of the new series!

Top 5 favourites:

1. The Doctor Dances
2. Father's Day
3. The End of the World
4. Parting of the Ways (but I can't watch it very often!)
5. Boom Town (need the comic relief)

Since so far, only School Reunion has held my attention in S2, that wouldn't change, nor would the best acted choices:

1. Dalek (for CE's scene with the Dalek alone)
2. Father's Day (for the ensemble)
3. Parting of the Ways (because they'd earned that relationship)
4. Rose (for the way CE and BP just clicked, and for that "turning of the earth" speech)
5. Boom Town (for the dinner between CE and AB, and for BP even when Rose is being a twit - and for the easy chemistry between the fantastic trio)

And yet one of my favourite moments of acting is in The Doctor Dances, right before he de-masks Jamie, when he says, "Oh, give me this one. Just give me this one," and then his elation when he's "on fire - red bicycle when you were 12."

School Reunion might break the top 10 for BP and Elisabeth Sladen. (I see the cute in David Tennant, but I'm not too impressed with his acting, I have to say.)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Wonderful choices on both lists!

When the Doctor pleads for a good day? It's heartbreaking and joyus when he finally gets that day. It really is a wonderful moment.

And with David Tennant, I think most of us were spoiled with CE. ;) Not that that was a bad think. But I like him, and School Reunion was definitely one of my faves to watch again and again. Which is funny seeing as I've never seen an older episode of DW ever so this was my first time seeing Sarah Jane Smith!

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

And with David Tennant, I think most of us were spoiled with CE. ;)

That's probably true - it could hardly help it, given that CE is probably the actor of his generation - although I did think DT was going to be better than he is. The writing is also not helping. So not helping!

School Reunion was definitely one of my faves to watch again and again. Which is funny seeing as I've never seen an older episode of DW ever so this was my first time seeing Sarah Jane Smith!.

I know exactly what you mean. I loved Sarah Jane. As with Girl in the Fireplace, I was actually most moved by the scenes between Rose and the Guest Star of the Week. Elisabeth Sladen was remarkable. I even liked Mickey, realizing he was the Tin Dog, sat in the back of the class with the safety scissors and glitter. Best line of the new season by a mile! :-)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

As with Girl in the Fireplace, I was actually most moved by the scenes between Rose and the Guest Star of the Week.

Oh, that was definitely one of my favorite scene in that episode. One of the only things that disappointed my in that ep, was the relationship they tried between the Doctor and the girl. It just didn't work.

Mickey, realizing he was the Tin Dog, sat in the back of the class with the safety scissors and glitter. Best line of the new season by a mile! :-)

OMG, that line had me in stitches. It would have been funny without the glitter add-on, but with it? Hysterical.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

one of the only things that disappointed my in that ep, was the relationship they tried between the Doctor and the girl. It just didn't work.

I loved the idea of "The Girl in the Fireplace", but you're right, it just didn't work. Some of the problem was the writing (and I can't believe how Stephen Moffat did such a beautiful job on "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances", and such a sloppy job in this - script editor problems?); probably there were direction issues in terms of pacing, too. But you're right, the real, crippling problem was that the relationship didn't work. There was no chemistry, and I didn't buy his big "angsty" moment at the end. This is really my problem with DT's acting - he's either yappy-dog hyper (it reminds me of that Simpsons episode where hyperactive Bart darts around going, "Look at me! Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!" until you're ready to strangle him), but then when he goes quiet, there's no resonance. He's got these big, beautiful brown eyes, and yet they seem dead. So many people are saying, "I can't get a handle on this Doctor," and I think that's the problem. Especially coming after an actor who lets you see everything, even when he's "hiding". That's not his fault, but it amplifies the problem. Ditto on the chemistry with Rose.

It would have been funny without the glitter add-on, but with it? Hysterical.

Brilliant line, and the rhythm really does matter. I loved that whole scene with Mickey and K-9 (even though K-9 makes me cringe on principle). I also loved "We're in a car." Over and over again, until the penny drops. It's Mickey's finest hour, I think, even more than in ROTC/AOS. I loved seeing Shaun Dingwall again (he'd actually come above Ten and even Jack on my list of "to do"s), but it felt as if that episode somehow cheapened "Father's Day", and that hurt.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

my problem with DT's acting - he's either yappy-dog hyper (it reminds me of that Simpsons episode where hyperactive Bart darts around going, "Look at me! Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!" until you're ready to strangle him), but then when he goes quiet, there's no resonance.

I agree on the hyper moments. In "New Earth", when he's jumping up and down yelling "Pass it on", I cringed so bad I thought I popped something. That was terrible. And he needs to improve on the yelling, I just can't buy his anger sometimes, whereas with Nine? I would have pissed myself if I had to face him when he was angry.

But on his more quiet moments, like when Sarah Jane was trying to get him to say goodbye or asking him why he left her, and even the end of GiTF, I bought that. IMHO, I believe he sells his quiet moments a lot better than some of his others.

I loved seeing Shaun Dingwall again (he'd actually come above Ten and even Jack on my list of "to do"s), but it felt as if that episode somehow cheapened "Father's Day", and that hurt.

The way they let Rose act, it did cheapen "Father's Day", because personally, I would have thought that Rose would want to run far away. But instead she wants to see him and talk to him, and then tells him she's his daughter in another world. But when they had him run away after that, that made up for it. Now I see why Ten was so proactive in trying to stop her.

Aw, Mickey. You'll actually be missed. :)

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I cringed so bad I thought I popped something.

I know what you mean. ;-) Have you seen "The Idiot's Lantern" yet?

And he needs to improve on the yelling, I just can't buy his anger sometimes, whereas with Nine? I would have pissed myself if I had to face him when he was angry.

Goodness, yes. I love that moment in POTW where he barks at the Daleks and they move back - too right! And he gives new meaning to "getting into the grill" in Dalek, which is so lovely juxtaposed to that first moment where he's actually shaking in terror. He can change on a dime, but even when he's being soft, you can tell there's fire there. There's a moment in an interview segment on the DVD of A Revenger's Tragedy, where they're asking the various people involved if they'd ever taken revenge on anyone, and they all faffed around and said various shades of "nah," whereas CE grins, a little sheepishly, a little steely, and says simply, "Yeah." I don't know if he was acting, but it was an interesting sweet-scary moment.

I was actually going with Tennant up until the end of the Christmas Invasion (although he was a wee bit too panto with the new body), but when he was supposed to get angry, I started to laugh. My first thought was "If the Daleks met this Doctor, they'd call him 'The Oncoming Tantrum'."

He's definitely better when he's quiet, although those are the moments that make me miss CE the most - things like the speech about being old and merciless in School Reunion, I couldn't help thinking of that soft little moment in Dalek when he's looking at the Cyberman helmet and says, "I'm gettin' old." And to me, that had more weight, even though it's probably Ten's best moment so far.

it did cheapen "Father's Day",

I hate it when that happens - and that's not being funny. They had a beautiful tapestry, seriously, one of my Top 10 episodes of television ever, and splashed bleach on it. And to a certain extent, I thought GItF did that to some of The Doctor Dances.

But when they had him run away after that, that made up for it.

I was happy to see that. Probably my favourite moment in the entire double episode.

I'm not sure I'll miss Mickey, but I'm so glad for him and Rose to let go of each other, because that was unpleasant.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I cringed so bad I thought I popped something.


Hmmm. What happened to my comment that I thought that was a very funny expression!?

LJ is being weird again. I actually had one comment come up with all the paragraphs in the wrong order. How does that happen?

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

LJ needs to sort out their problems so we don't have to deal with them.

I'm glad though that you thought that was a funny expression. That line delivery is just terrible, DT is much better than that.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Have you seen "The Idiot's Lantern" yet?

Yeah, I did. I liked it, quite a bit, but I had definite problems with it. And it had to do with Tennant's yelling. I want so bad to do a review on it, with screencaps, but I have to finish season 1 first, and I don't know when that'll be. When I get "Boom Town" out of the way, the last two will be easy.

I love that moment in POTW where he barks at the Daleks and they move back - too right!

Oh hell, I remember that I actually rewatched that moment a couple times, he was scary when he said that. CE does anger so well, like in "Bad Wolf", after he and Jack break out of the jail, when they are in the elevator and he has that gun ready? Jesus H. Christ(is that offensive? Sorry if it is), I really would have thought he would use it.

things like the speech about being old and merciless in School Reunion, I couldn't help thinking of that soft little moment in Dalek when he's looking at the Cyberman helmet and says, "I'm gettin' old." And to me, that had more weight, even though it's probably Ten's best moment so far.

Oh, both those moments were beautiful. When DT delivered that line, it was perfection. Have you seen "The Idiot's Lantern"? Because there's a line delivery in there that was just as wonderful. And his comedic timing in that one is really good as well.

I'm not sure I'll miss Mickey, but I'm so glad for him and Rose to let go of each other, because that was unpleasant.

This is part of the reason "Boom Town" will for a long time make the bottom of my episode lists. They never gave us good enough reasons as to why they couldn't let go. I always thought, "Why would she miss him?" The writers (or writer in this case) really dropped the ball on that one. Instead they both come across as horny assholes.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I think The Idiot's Lantern is the best episode this season by quite some way - School Reunion had more emotional beats, but the A story and the B story didn't actually connect very well. The Idiot's Lantern felt like a whole episode, for the first time in quite a long time. Actually, the only one I've thoroughly enjoyed (well, except for that one big cringe...) this season.

I had definite problems with it. And it had to do with Tennant's yelling.

I know exactly where you mean. Alas, yes, cringe. I don't know if it's an acting choice or a script choice, but surely someone realizes this isn't working?

CE does anger so well,

He does, and moral outrage is kind of his "default" as an actor so connected with political drama, but I think sometimes his ability to do vulnerable, and even ordinary, is waaaaay underestimated because he's so intense. I was just rewatching Second Coming today, and there are scenes where he's just so emotionally exposed, it's like watching someone stripped naked in public. (OTOH, in the outtakes, there's a scene of him wearing nothing but a strategically placed sock, so he's not exactly shy, physically, and obviously goofy.) Even in something like Doctor Who, he has some stunning moments, the tear for the loss of his people in The End of the World, his shock at thinking Rose was dead in Dalek, even his "I never had a life like that" in Father's Day, or "Oh, give me this one," in The Doctor Dances. And the way he just shuts down in Bad Wolf. I love Jack screaming, "Don't you touch him!" Jack was such a surprise...

like in "Bad Wolf", after he and Jack break out of the jail, when they are in the elevator and he has that gun ready? I really would have thought he would use it.

Absolutely. And he would have done in Dalek, if Rose hadn't been there. Have you seen the little outtake of the hug afterwards? I sometimes wonder if that wasn't cut because it was intense and vulnerable.

Jesus H. Christ(is that offensive?

Not to me. Sometimes, strong words are needed!

This is part of the reason "Boom Town" will for a long time make the bottom of my episode lists.

I always think it will until I see it (same with The Long Game, and Aliens of London, my three least favourite from S1) - and yet, the banter, the terrible trio (somehow their cliquey-ness never quite offends me as much as Rose and Ten, but it's teetering on the edge there for just a moment when Jack slaps Mickey), and Jack and Nine geeking out over the cosmic surfboard like it was a '65 Mustang. But, yeah, the Rose/Mickey stuff is quite icky, even though Billie gives a tremendous performance and does look absolutely gorgeous. Actually, everyone looks fairly fabulous in that episode. The Doctor changed his jumper an' all.

They never gave us good enough reasons as to why they couldn't let go. I always thought, "Why would she miss him?"

Exactly. Since she's clearly getting all the attention she could possibly want back on the TARDIS - I've never seen a three-way relationship that seemed stable, but darned if they don't pull it off, somehow, someway.

The writers (or writer in this case) really dropped the ball on that one. Instead they both come across as horny assholes.

Alas, 'tis true. Do you ever read Television Without Pity? The recapper continuously resorts to pointing out that teenagers are wretched creatures. It's a shame Mickey and Rose seem so intent on proving that time after time. I did think they'd put it all behind them here when she lets him go and says, "He deserves better." But then darned if they don't dredge it all up again in TCI, so big groan there.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I think The Idiot's Lantern is the best episode this season by quite some way

Oh, I liked it a lot. They seemed like a team, in fact, the relationship here was very close to that of "The Long Game", which was the same numbered episode as this one last series. Except for the yelling, which was overdone, DT was really well done here. I absolutely loved when he saw Rose's face on the TV screen, and he told her he was on his way? That's the way he should have handled this. Seeing what happened to her and then finding out she was left on the street was sort of breaking him, and some of the moments showed that quite well.

Alas, I still liked "School Reunion" better. Although I liked Rose a lot more in this episode than that one. She was a lot like the Doctor, when she threw that manic grin at Mr. Connelly before running out of his house. I busted out laughing.

I need to see the other work CE has done, BOO, the downfalls of being American and living solely in the US.

And the way he just shuts down in Bad Wolf. I love Jack screaming, "Don't you touch him!" Jack was such a surprise...

'Tis very sad, and I loved Jack there. He's pissed about what they did to Rose, and trying to protect the Doctor and avenge Rose at the same time. It's heartbreaking and touching. Jack was always a surprise.

Oh god, that hug from "Dalek", amazing. I never understood why they cut it out. It's like, okay, 200 people were just murdered but this HUG is too much for TV. Get rid of it. Silly people.

But, yeah, the Rose/Mickey stuff is quite icky, even though Billie gives a tremendous performance and does look absolutely gorgeous. Actually, everyone looks fairly fabulous in that episode.

Oh, Billie always gives her all. It's why I can forgive her(Rose). And they were all HOT in that episode, I'll give you that.

Alas, 'tis true. Do you ever read Television Without Pity? The recapper continuously resorts to pointing out that teenagers are wretched creatures. It's a shame Mickey and Rose seem so intent on proving that time after time.

Yeah, I'm always reading their reviews. And I remember that, and I take it almost as an insult, as I'm Rose's age. Maybe it's the way I was raised and the fact that I don't have a boyfriend, but I would never act like that. Actually, if it were me, I'd be a bit too hung up on the Doctor to really notice anyone else. lol

I was disappointed in TCI for that alone. They have Rose admit in TPOTW that she has nothing left, and here they bring it back. In fact, I heard about a deleted scene or something where it was implied that she slept with Mickey in TCI. It really appalled me.

Lovely conversation BTW, mind if I friend you?

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

They seemed like a team, in fact, the relationship here was very close to that of "The Long Game", which was the same numbered episode as this one last series.

I agree that they seemed like a team. I never see their chemistry coming close to that of Rose and Nine, but I'm actually quite happy with them being "just friends" - in fact, I feel a little weird when they try to make it a romantic relationship in this incarnation because it doesn't work for me. I thought Ten had more chemistry with Sarah Jane, to be honest, and even Mrs. Moore. Maybe it's because David Tennant is just one of those people who doesn't "do" conventional girl-boy chemistry. David Krumholtz, for instance, is great with older women, and with men/boys, but rarely really sparks with women his own age or younger - that said, he was surprisingly effective with Milla Jovovich, but then she was 28 and he was 23, and at those ages, that's more of a gap.

I was quite moved by School Reunion, but the whole Scooby-Doo/Buffy thing left me cold, so all in all, I was more pleased with this one.

She was a lot like the Doctor, when she threw that manic grin at Mr. Connelly before running out of his house. I busted out laughing.

Yeah, that was very cute. I do think a lot of the problems this year are down to writing. Rose has been sidelined and reduced to being petty for a lot of the episodes. Even with Lynda-with-a-Y, she didn't seem so...pissy. Just genuinely jealous. If looks could have killed, Lynda would have had a dagger between her shoulderblades when she nearly got a kiss.

I need to see the other work CE has done, BOO, the downfalls of being American and living solely in the US.

Quite a lot of good stuff is available from Netflix. Including Second Coming, which was also written by Russell T. Davies. And Othello, which is scarily good in places, and although in both, he's radically different from the doctor, he's also radically different from himself (Steve is a videostore clerk and virgin who "downloads" God; Ben Jago is a rapacious, scheming political animal who'll use sex to get anything. Sadly, neither Hearts and Minds nor Our Friends in the North are available anywhere anymore... Luckily I have Our Friends (which also stars new James Bond Daniel Craig) on DVD.

Jack was always a surprise.

He really was. I didn't like him at first - too obvious, and that, of course, was how John Barrowman played him. Interestingly, I don't think JB is a great actor (I find his parts of BW kind of weak), but he just comes alive when it's the three of them together. His chemistry fits with theirs in very interesting ways. Very delicate manouever, that, and it could have gone so horribly wrong.

Oh god, that hug from "Dalek", amazing. I never understood why they cut it out. It's like, okay, 200 people were just murdered but this HUG is too much for TV. Get rid of it. Silly people.

Strangely, the most logical reason I've heard from that is that it makes the Doctor look too dependent on Rose. Because as much as he looks like he's relieved, and protecting her, he also looks like he's clinging on for dear life. See, I liked that. When you've got a big, strong, alpha male actor who can do that for you? Grab it while you've got it.

I take it almost as an insult, as I'm Rose's age.

Please take this as a compliment, but I'm very surprised to hear that you're that young. You come across as much more mature. I'm older than you, but I deal with college-aged people all the time - very few of them can express themselves as eloquently in writing.

I was disappointed in TCI for that alone. They have Rose admit in TPOTW that she has nothing left, and here they bring it back. In fact, I heard about a deleted scene or something where it was implied that she slept with Mickey in TCI. It really appalled me.

I heard that, too, but I think I repressed it. It was appalling. I was shocked enough that she was going to go to a hotel with him in Cardiff, given that he was going out with someone else (that said, her bitchy little, "She's a bit...big," didn't exactly endear her, either).

mind if I friend you?

Please do!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I never see their chemistry coming close to that of Rose and Nine, but I'm actually quite happy with them being "just friends"

Oh most definitely. It'll be hard for most TV couples to beat Rose and Nine's chemistry. It was amazing. Ten with Sarah Jane was just wonderful, and I think the problem mostly lies with the way he acts with Rose, which comes down to the writing, as you noted.

Even with Lynda-with-a-Y, she didn't seem so...pissy.

Oh this is great, I'm right now going through screencaps of POTW to make icons to post very soon, and I noticed why her jealously is so much more poignant in POTW, Rose never says anything. She never pushes Lynda out of the way, or accuse her of using her "big, sad eyes". She just very quietly acknowledges that she doesn't like Lynda and she doesn't like Lynda with the Doctor. I think what I really loved about PoTW was that Rose wasn't trying to hide her feelings, she wasn't coming right out with it, but she wasn't hiding that she was where she wanted to be, with the Doctor.

Another funny thing, after Jack kisses Nine, she has the most hilarious facial expression and I can't decipher it. It's just really funny to me.

It's so wonderful to find an actor like CE because he's so versatile. I've heard of so many fans that were very wary about CE stepping into the Doctor's shoes and being very surprised that he was able to pull off that kind of humor. It's hard to do humor, but he does it so well and his intensity is pitch perfect for the type of Doctor RTD wrote.

The trio of Jack, Rose, and the Doctor was a very delicate balance and the threesome element was perfectly played. And I think it has a lot to do with JB acting and how he decided to play a lot of it. Like the identical kisses he gives them both. He had a funny interview where he was saying he thought about giving some tongue. JB is so cute.

he also looks like he's clinging on for dear life. See, I liked that. When you've got a big, strong, alpha male actor who can do that for you? Grab it while you've got it.

There is no other actor that I know of that can be do vulnerable at the drop of a hat and turn around and demand so much authority. It's truly amazing the screen presence that CE brings.

Please take this as a compliment, but I'm very surprised to hear that you're that young. You come across as much more mature.

*blushes* Oh, thank you very much. I very much take that as a compliment.

I was shocked enough that she was going to go to a hotel with him in Cardiff, given that he was going out with someone else (that said, her bitchy little, "She's a bit...big," didn't exactly endear her, either).

I already didn't like that she was going to a hotel with him, but when he did mention he had a girlfriend, Rose won some points by stalling. And that comment was not endearing at all, it was downright mean and very unexpected of Rose to say.

I really found it funny that Rose went from how she was to Sarah Jane in "School Reunion" to how nice and sympathetic she was to Reinette in GiTF. It struck me as odd until I found out the writer of GiTF didn't really know how Rose acted in SR. Many that's the biggest problem with the episodes this season, the writers aren't getting together to discuss what's going on in what episode. And if they are, somethings going wrong at those meetings.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I think the problem mostly lies with the way he acts with Rose, which comes down to the writing, as you noted.

Some of it is writing; some of it is acting style/body language. A friend of mine is quite an accomplished actress, and she pointed out in the end scene of EOTW and again in The Long Game, in moments where Rose/Billie is being so adorable ("you're asking for a smack, you are"), a great deal of it is the way CE is giving her the energy. The very best actors do that - Alan Rickman once said, "I'd never do a one-man show - what's that about? Acting is a team sport."

I noticed why her jealously is so much more poignant in POTW, Rose never says anything.

Billie says in the commentary that playing that jealousy was the director's idea, but she really did make it work.

Another funny thing, after Jack kisses Nine, she has the most hilarious facial expression and I can't decipher it. It's just really funny to me.

I love her kind of embarrassed/surprised expression when Jack kisses her. It's so hard to know who to watch during that scene! I know JB said that he wanted to kiss them identically, but actually, you watch his face, and you can tell there is quite a difference. It may just be a brief kiss, but he looks like he's kissing his baby sister when he kisses Rose, and the love of his life when he kisses the Doctor. Did you hear about the last take? The piece of film every fan wants to see... JB just laid one on CE, tongue, clinch, the whole thing, and they ended up rolling around on the floor, with Billie laughing, I'm sure, the whole time.

It's so wonderful to find an actor like CE because he's so versatile. I've heard of so many fans that were very wary about CE stepping into the Doctor's shoes and being very surprised that he was able to pull off that kind of humor.

It was actually my worry, too, but he had me at "Run!" He's not exactly light with the comedy, but he's got great rhythm, and a good sense of the absurd. Plus, his ability to shift on a dime also helps enormously. And he has no sense of vanity; in fact, he could use a little more vanity. He's more attractive than he thinks he is, which a number of colleagues have commented upon. In the commentary of Second Coming RTD and the director Adrian Shergold talk about how he can look like a movie star, or be über-nerdy, or be transcendantly beautiful, all in the blink of an eye. Ears notwithstanding.

The trio of Jack, Rose, and the Doctor was a very delicate balance and the threesome element was perfectly played.

I never, ever for a moment would have thought that it could work without destroying what Rose and the Doctor have. But I think the trick is that Jack, in addition to being in love with each of them, is in love with them as a couple.

There is no other actor that I know of that can be do vulnerable at the drop of a hat and turn around and demand so much authority. It's truly amazing the screen presence that CE brings.

The only two people I know who come close are Cate Blanchett and Alan Rickman; I never thought I'd say this, but CE seems to have hit another gear around 40 and is probably now better at it than Alan Rickman. It's interesting that they're both working class boys, but Rickman "lost" his working class ethos, whereas CE rolls around in his like a pig in mud! ;-)

it was downright mean and very unexpected of Rose to say.

I don't like not liking Rose!

Many that's the biggest problem with the episodes this season, the writers aren't getting together to discuss what's going on in what episode.

They're on a longer schedule this year (since they nearly killed CE last year, at least they learned something!), but they're clearly not spending that time on writing. There was some dicey writing last year (The Long Game is probably the worst written - AoL/WWIII is the worst directed), but everything else was clicking along so beautifully, they were able to pull it off. Quite honestly, it's sheerly the chemistry between Chris and Billie that makes The Long Game bearable. I love that in that scene in the Spike room, where he's in the big chair, there's such ease and comfort in the way she leans across the back of his chair. It shouldn't be sexy, and yet it is.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

in moments where Rose/Billie is being so adorable ("you're asking for a smack, you are"), a great deal of it is the way CE is giving her the energy.

I can definitely see that. I always think it's interesting to watch an actor (and I'm not talking about a particular one, and definitely not BP), and think, "Oh, they're ok," then have an different actor work with them and all of a sudden, this mediocre actor is amazing. A lot of times it is a certain actor that brings an element to another's work. Luckily, BP doesn't really need that, I think she does work well alone, it's just with CE, she gave a...I really don't know how to explain it. lol

It may just be a brief kiss, but he looks like he's kissing his baby sister when he kisses Rose, and the love of his life when he kisses the Doctor.

See, when I first saw it, I did notice that difference. I'm so glad to know what I'm not the only one to think Jack was a little more into the Doctor than he let on. I think what really did it was the different reactions to Jack's kisses. Rose treats it like she's being kissed by her brother, and the Doctor just smiles at Jack. Knowingly. It's a great moment.

Did you hear about the last take? The piece of film every fan wants to see... JB just laid one on CE, tongue, clinch, the whole thing, and they ended up rolling around on the floor, with Billie laughing, I'm sure, the whole time.

OMG, do they know how much money the fans would pay to see that? Man, CE sounds like this really relaxed, easy going guy, and I wouldn't really expect it. It's wonderful to hear about these outtakes from his various films and from Doctor Who. Of course, I would figure JB would do that after his interview I mentioned. And he had to say goodbye to CE in some way. Why not fulfill most fans' fantasies? ;)

And he has no sense of vanity; in fact, he could use a little more vanity. He's more attractive than he thinks he is, which a number of colleagues have commented upon.

It really didn't take me long to figure out that this man was beautiful. He really is. He's hot, and he should know it. But it's nice that he really doesn't have vanity, because how he appears is how he appears, no qualms about it.

The only two people I know who come close are Cate Blanchett and Alan Rickman

I've liked Alan Rickman for a long time, and he's good. I like Cate Blanchett as well, she seems like a chameleon sometimes with her roles.

I like to like Rose!

Quite honestly, it's sheerly the chemistry between Chris and Billie that makes The Long Game bearable. I love that in that scene in the Spike room, where he's in the big chair, there's such ease and comfort in the way she leans across the back of his chair. It shouldn't be sexy, and yet it is.

Sometimes, I'm really easy to please, and I like "The Long Game", and sometimes I'm really hard to please, like the fact that a lot of people I've talked to loved "Boom Town", I just can't warm up to it.

I have to say though that the scene you point out is very sexy, especially with how comfortable they are with one another.

I think that's another problem with "Boom Town" I have. Emotionally, between Rose and the Doctor, the episode belonged somewhere around this episode. Probably just after or just before. But because Jack's there and it's supposed to take place 6 months later, it couldn't though. I dunno. There's a lot that I like about the episode, but the things I don't almost drown out that good. Argh, my stupid head!