Dalek Part 1

[meganlynn09]

I promised nina_ds a while ago that I would do a picspam of "Dalek", sort of showcasing my love Christopher Eccleston's facial expressions in that particular episode from series one of Doctor Who.  I had sort of forgotten about it until she starting threatening me with pointy objects reminded me.  So, here's part one, because I have over 300 caps to post.  I think, I didn't really count.

This is definitely one of my favorites of CE's episodes on DW, although I'm surprised.  This really isn't the Doctor you want your children to know, so I feel very lucky that we as an audience were able to get this episode, even if the script wasn't at it's strongest.  This is one of those episodes that you really need to watch more than once because it's not as good on it's first viewing, you get too caught up in everything else that you don't know how much the Doctor really is breaking.  

I also talk a lot about other episodes in season one, so beware if you haven't watched all of season one.  Thanks.  Oh, and my language my not be at it's cleanest, although there are no f-words here.  Yet.

There are 82 pics under the cut, so NOT DIAL-UP FRIENDLY.  Enjoy!

Sneak peak:

When he spots the Cyberman head in the museum, it's one of my favorite moments because he has this moment of horror and then this feeling of being old (which he is) and extreme loneliness.














































Just to be able to touch.  It's amazing really, how much this episode is echoed in other episodes.  This instance of reaching out, to touch something is like Jamie in "The Empty Child", he doesn't want to be left out in the cold, alone without anyone, so he calls out, just like the Dalek does here, that brings the Doctor to this museum.


I love when he's showing van Statten how to use the musical instrument.  Again, it's about that touch, and here it's about having the right kind of touch, which written sounds really dirty.  When I mean to say is that it's that one certain contact that someone needs, like the Doctor holding Rose's hand.
















An expression he should try out more often.


It's another thing about this scene, CE's expressions are everywhere, it's like, as the Doctor, he doesn't know how to hide anything.  People have said that Nine had a tighter hold on his emotions, didn't express them as such, but boy howdy!  Watch season one again, he doesn't need to be the most talkative person for one to understand what he's conveying. 














He's so beautiful.  He's not David Tennant, he's not Brad Pitt he's just this big-earred, big nose beautiful actor whom I seem to adore quite a bit.  Look at him, seriously, this is one of my favorite caps of him now.


I skipped over the pissing contest between the Doctor and van Statten, because it is just that, and it sort of annoyed me because of the camera cuts.  So, I went straight to the next scene.






I just love that little moment when he tells them that he won't touch it, when they tell him to wear gloves.






Because he's cocky, and unfortunately is about to get a kick to the stomach.


I'm not really going to comment on his expressions here, because they're plain as day.  I'll let CE do his work.






I'm so glad I like angst.


One of the coolest shots ever.


















I just...I don't know how to explain what it is about the Doctor in this scene, he makes me want to hug him, here because he looks like he's about to break down crying, he makes me want to scream back at him and he makes me want to hide under my bed.  It's this scene that I thank RTD so much for casting CE (and surprisingly, it's this scene that makes me question how RTD got away with this episode, it's dark, questionable for a "children's show").



















The caps didn't come out well, but right here, I love when he throws his head back to say fantastic.  It's one of the worse things about capturing CE in caps, he has these amazing expressions, but his face is so animated when he speaks, expecially when he yells and rants that you get some creepy and funny caps.  I'll definitely share those when this monster is done.







Here, right here, is where the Doctor's gone.  He's lost it, there' s nothing else that matters, he can't think, can't see beyond this one Dalek and he's terrifying.  But you all already knew that!


















To be continued in part 2, 3 and 4.  Yes, I have that many caps to share with you all.  Hopefully I'll have the next part up tonight and than the next two tomorrow.

All caps by me, they are snaggable (and come in bigger sizes), let me know and credit me, please!

Comments

[sure-i-am.livejournal.com]

Ah, how I love my Doctor. If I ever figure out how to make icons, rest assured, I know where to go for my Doctor Who caps! XD

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

My love for Nine knows no bounds.

Please, help yourself to the caps! No hotlinking though. *thinks* Thank you!

[sure-i-am.livejournal.com]

Haha, there shall be no hotlinking. I always save a copy of graphics to my computer... I've lost things before on the internet. > _

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean!

yes!!

[domsouth.livejournal.com]

this is exactly why ce is the better doctor!! rock on

Re: yes!!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

Re: yes!!

[domsouth.livejournal.com]

just wish he could do just one more... for proper closure

Re: yes!!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I would die happy if he came back.

Re: yes!!

[prchung.livejournal.com]

I'd just made a comment on another journal stating the same... Oh how I wish he'd do at least one more-- of course I'd want more, but I'd deal with it.

The Four Doctors (or however many) would be stupendous.

Re: yes!!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I think it would be really cool to have a multiple Doctor story, I just don't know if I trust RTD with that. ;)

[lafemmedarla]

Fantastic picspam! This is one of my favorite eps :D

It's another thing about this scene, CE's expressions are everywhere, it's like, as the Doctor, he doesn't know how to hide anything. People have said that Nine had a tighter hold on his emotions, didn't express them as such, but boy howdy!

CE's facial expressions never fail to blow me away. He can say so much without words! Seriously, I am in awe of him.


He's so beautiful. He's not David Tennant, he's not Brad Pitt he's just this big-earred, big nose beautiful actor whom I seem to adore quite a bit.

Yes, yes and YES!

I just...I don't know how to explain what it is about the Doctor in this scene, he makes me want to hug him, here because he looks like he's about to break down crying, he makes me want to scream back at him and he makes me want to hide under my bed. It's this scene that I thank RTD so much for casting CE (and surprisingly, it's this scene that makes me question how RTD got away with this episode, it's dark, questionable for a "children's show").

I never really feared the Daleks until this ep, but when I saw the Doctor's reaction, I was freaked out and I felt bad for him and wanted to protect him and yet at times I didn't know if I feared him or the Daleks more.

This was indeed a chilling and dark ep and I ponder as well how RTD got away with it. Anyway he did it, I'm grateful. CE will always be my Doctor and his acting in this ep is just one of many reasons why.

Might take a few caps - I'm doing Ninth Doctor icons for icons100 - will credit.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting, I'm always trying to share my Nine love, glad to know it's appreciated!

I think the Doctor scared me a bit more than the Dalek did, to be honest. But then, the Dalek went and mass murdered everyone and he didn't seem so innocent.

Might take a few caps - I'm doing Ninth Doctor icons for icons100 - will credit.

No problem, I'll be posting the next part soon, and two more parts, so they'll be plenty of caps to snag. If you want any that are bigger, let me know, I sized these down by half.

[wish-girl.livejournal.com]

I LOVED Nine for his 'glass face'. He was bottled up really tightly with his emotional speech, but his expressions are so beautiful and so open for anyone to read on ihs face. One of the reasons I adore 'Dalek' is his absolute terror when he realizes exactly what they've locked him in there with.

I so wish I could write Nine. I just can't. *sigh* I love him but I can't seem to quite get inside his head. I'll leave Nine to the experts I guess. ^_^

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I loved "Dalek" because it showed us why RTD wanted CE. And I'm glad he did.

I wish I could write Nine as well. I'd love to write fic with him in it.

Awesome icon BTW.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

I love the scene where he discovers the Dalek. I had never seen past seasons of DW, and knew them as a bit of a joke. And CE made one lone Dalek an utterly terrifying prospect in that moment

And then the angst with the Dalek suffering as well. Good stuff

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Angst is good. :)

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

::puts away pointy stick::

Wow, this far exceeds what I thought you were going to do! (It makes my spammy Othello post look positively anemic.) This is beautiful.

I get chills even in the beginning when he sighs softly, "I'm so old." (And beautiful, beautiful shot composition, putting him into the Cyberman mask, making an analogy that he is equal to an old enemy even before we meet the Dalek.) There's so much weight there. It's not just a line.

It relates to this: CE's expressions are everywhere, it's like, as the Doctor, he doesn't know how to hide anything. People have said that Nine had a tighter hold on his emotions, didn't express them as such, but boy howdy! Watch season one again, he doesn't need to be the most talkative person for one to understand what he's conveying.

This is the thing. I think sometimes there are people who watch TV and film like "radio", they listen to lines, they take in actions and interpret them as they are presented on the surface, they believe what they're told. And 9 times out of 10 (even 99 times out of 100), that works. But when you have an actor like Christopher Eccleston, that's not even half of what he's giving you. I have never seen anyone work a camera like he can, the transparency of his emotions, the way he can tell you one thing, and yet you know there is not only something else going on under the surface, but maybe 3 or 10 other things. (BTW, although he was always good at this, he does seem to have kicked into another gear in his late 30s.) It's not just that he shifts from one thing to another, it's that he's got so many balls in the air, he's juggling the whole time, always looking like it might spin out of control, and the beauty is he can let it all go and still deliver the kill shot. Or pull back and just tremble with all the potential. One of the things you can't capture in a cap that just floored me when I saw this was that he was shaking when he realized he was locked in with a Dalek. And yet within seconds, he's up, literally in the Dalek's grill, with spitting fury and then taunting, teasing, toying, dancing, laughing, manic, and finally dead still. The skill level is phenomenal, but the impact is devastating. He never seems like he's "acting" as the Doctor (unlike some we might name).

As for beauty, Brad Pitt is standard to the point of bland, and David Tennant may get mistaken for Jarvis Cocker, but Christopher Eccleston gets mistaken for Ralph Fiennes, so...

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you like, I did this with you in mind!

I get chills even in the beginning when he sighs softly, "I'm so old."...There's so much weight there. It's not just a line.

Oh, I know. He says it like it's his vulnerability, like it's a weakness that he's so old now. I always figured his age and experience was his strength, but it seems like maybe he didn't.

The skill level is phenomenal, but the impact is devastating. He never seems like he's "acting" as the Doctor

That's it. I point out that the Doctor is feeling this, just by looking at the facial expression, and then it hits me, wait, CE's just acting, he's not really the Doctor. He makes me feel what he's going through, I sometimes forget to give him credit for being this tremendous actor because I get completely engulfed in his performance.

but Christopher Eccleston gets mistaken for Ralph Fiennes, so...

Really? CE's features are so distinct, it's hard to think that he would be mistaken for anyone. I find DT cute, and I personally feel he can be quite handsome, but I've never found him beautiful. That's such a distinct thing for me, I've hardly found actors that I call beautiful. One other that I think of like is Eric Bana.

I'm so mad, my paid account with LJ expired because of a problem with my VISA card, and now I can't use all my icons! *wails* I miss my other CE icons!

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

He says it like it's his vulnerability, like it's a weakness that he's so old now. I always figured his age and experience was his strength, but it seems like maybe he didn't.

I think it's a double-edged sword. I don't know that he feels it's a weakness so much here, at least, as a realization that he has so much history, and here's an old, feared enemy in a glass case. Where he could be. It's nicely rich!

I sometimes forget to give him credit for being this tremendous actor because I get completely engulfed in his performance.

That's what makes him so phenomenal. I've seen very few people who can really do this, and that's what makes them great actors, IMO. Even some people who are very highly respected (Robert de Niro and Anthony Hopkins come to mind or me) always make me aware of them working. It's not something I enjoy very much, unless it's raging camp (see The Revenger's Tragedy, although there are some staggeringly "real" moments, too).

CE's features are so distinct, it's hard to think that he would be mistaken for anyone.

It's not too surprising when he's looking like this:

(http://pics.livejournal.com/nina_ds/pic/000b9hwy)

or this (http://pics.livejournal.com/nina_ds/pic/000ba1kr). A friend's husband watched The Constant Gardener last weekend and was sure it was CE! But RF is like the softer version of CE. I can see CE doing all of RF's roles (except maybe Quiz Show, but I can't see RF doing all of CE's, if that makes sense.

I will say, my little aside wasn't a dig at DT (or rather, only DT). The Doctor has tended to be played quite archly. I've not seen everything by a long shot, and I've never seen any of One at all, but Patrick Troughton (Two) is the only other one who really seems to be "inhabiting" the part - scarily, he just arrived on screen in The Omen, which I'm watching as I type, and he's darned good.

As far as "beautiful" actors, for me, that transparency means almost more than the actual physiognomy. For sheer physical beauty, I'd be tempted to say Dylan McDermott, but he's ten times better-looking when he's acting well - he's somewhat erratic, sometimes on, sometimes not. The standard-looking guys bore me. There are so many of them, nothing makes them stand out.

As for icons, at least you saved the one with all the pretty pictures animated in! Can you fix the LJ before you lose all your settings?!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

at least, as a realization that he has so much history, and here's an old, feared enemy in a glass case.

In a musuem of types as well! I see what you mean.

That picture is a fine example of how he does indeed look quite like RF at times. I really haven't seen much of his(RF) work, although I've wanted to see The Constant Gardener.

Sadly, the only other Doctor I've seen besides Ten and Nine is Five. Currently trying to watch one of Four's with Romana II.

I'm definitely getting my LJ fixed, I want my icons back!

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. May I quote you?

::chuckle::

Sure.

But it is true, at least in great part, that beauty comes from the inside - and if someone can show you all that from the inside, then... Not that it doesn't help if there are big grey eyes and cheekbones worthy of Lucifer.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I did too. :( But at least we got it at all.

[prchung.livejournal.com]

He's so beautiful. He's not David Tennant, he's not Brad Pitt he's just this big-earred, big nose beautiful actor whom I seem to adore quite a bit. Look at him, seriously, this is one of my favorite caps of him now.


*Swoon*
You did a beautiful job capturing his expressions. I have a devil of a time because he's just always in motion!

No, he's not Brad Pitt or David Tennant... Still, he's a beautiful perfect package, big ears, nose and manic emotions in all!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed. I have so much love for CE, I'm pretty blind to his faults. So, what big ears? What big nose? ;-)

[prchung.livejournal.com]

Yep, walking cane and braille for me as well when it comes to him.

What is this power he has to completely turn us into puddles with a smile? It's magic, simply magic!

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I don't know what it is about him, but I really can't complain!

Did you ever see my post:http://meganlynn09.livejournal.com/28835.html

Has two videos on YouTube that are about him, and shows clips from his various works. Gorgeous.

[kammgirl.livejournal.com]

Oh God that was wonderful. You hit exactly why I loved CE's Doctor so much. I adore 10, but I always missed Nine.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed.

[ed-zeppelin.livejournal.com]

Scroll down fast enough and it's practically animation :)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Oh really? Makes for an interesting post.

[lafemmedarla]

I thought I was the only one doing that ;)

[ed-zeppelin.livejournal.com]

Everyone who ever looked at that page thought they were the only ones doing that :)

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the add to memories!

I can quite literally get lost in Chris Eccleston's face for hours.

Having been making these posts, I literally have. Not complaining.

Everytime I watch this episode I still want to do that. I just want to hold him and give him my strength and tell him how much I love him.

Oh, I know what you mean! As much as I am afraid of how the Doctor behaves and acts here, it's why watching it a second time, and even more, is important because you catch more and more moments where he's open and vulnerable and breaking where you just want to scoop him up in your arms like a child in pain.

[romanticizing.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love this episode. When I first saw this, I was just blown away, because how much TV have you seen that's like this? It's just amazing. (Except for the stereotypical loud and arrogant Americans, haha. And that one guy with the weird fake American accent.)

Anyway, yeah. CE is beautiful. He's so amazing in this episode. There's just so much there. And I love how he portrays it all. How did we get someone this good for this show?

Wasn't that scene where they're trying to analyze the Doctor in this part somewhere? That part makes me sad. It seemed a little rushed the way they did it, though.

I love the moment when he reaches out to touch the Cyberman in the case. It's just the sort of thing he'd know better than to do, but obviously the emotional response overrode that.

I like how he says "fantastic" at that one point, too. It's just a whole range of emotions. I'd seen pictures of Daleks online, and I knew some of the history behind them, but I was wondering how in the world they were going to scare everyone--but that scene was scary. He's so scared, and I love the way they did that shot, zooming out from the Dalek, when it says, "Exterminate! Exterminate!"

Wow, I didn't even realize that the camera puts his face in the outline of the Cyberman:



Oh, and I love this:

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

And that one guy with the weird fake American accent

Which one was that? The only weird fake American accent I heard was from the woman Goddard.

I love the moment when he reaches out to touch the Cyberman in the case. It's just the sort of thing he'd know better than to do, but obviously the emotional response overrode that.

Oh I know, just reaching out to touch, and he can't get close. It's such a beautiful episode to analyze, the way everything's shot. The director was fantastic.

Wow, I didn't even realize that the camera puts his face in the outline of the Cyberman

*headdesk* I didn't either. What is wrong with me?

Thank you for the comment! Glad you like the pics.

[romanticizing.livejournal.com]

Which one was that? The only weird fake American accent I heard was from the woman Goddard.

That was the guy in charge of everyone attacking the Dalek--that one scene where the Dalek comes in and hovers and sets off the sprinklers and all. Before the Dalek comes in, the Doctor is telling that guy what to do, and the guy is just like, "I know what to do blah blah." And he had this weird accent--it was like he was trying to do a Schwarzenegger accent but kept switching to a standard American accent.

It's such a beautiful episode to analyze, the way everything's shot. The director was fantastic.

Yes! There are some really great shots in this show, a lot that just stand out. I could make a whole post full of those. But yeah, I was looking through your caps and thinking, "Oh, my cinema prof would have a lot to say about these.."

I do like the pics--thanks for doing this post! I often get so wrapped up in the episode that I don't notice individual shots or details, so this was nice. I bet there's a lot of stuff I missed from season one, little things maybe, but still.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

That was the guy in charge of everyone attacking the Dalek

Huh, I hadn't even noticed that! Good hear.

There are some really great shots in this show, a lot that just stand out. I could make a whole post full of those.

Maybe you should! Great way to past the time.

It's really why I like making this pic posts, show everyone those little expressions they may have missed in the first place. :)

[romanticizing.livejournal.com]

Huh, I hadn't even noticed that! Good hear.

Of course, then I had to watch that bit a million times and laugh at the poor guy. There was some Confidential I was watching recently--yeah, it must have been the one on companions--where they showed some clip of Peri, who was supposedly American, with the most ridiculous accent. Ha!

It's really why I like making this pic posts, show everyone those little expressions they may have missed in the first place. :)

And I'm sure we could all use further analysis of the episodes ;) But yeah, it is great to catch those missed moments.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

where they showed some clip of Peri, who was supposedly American, with the most ridiculous accent.

Yeah, I remember that. I remember that a lot of people thought van Statten had a horrid American accent, before they found out he is American! I thought it was funny.

And I'm sure we could all use further analysis of the episodes

Always!

[romanticizing.livejournal.com]

I remember that a lot of people thought van Statten had a horrid American accent, before they found out he is American! I thought it was funny.

Haha, I didn't know that guy was American, but his accent seemed fine to me.. thought I did read a lot of people's complaining about it on OG. I thought the other accents in the episode were OK, though. Botched American accents are amusing, but I'm sure there are worse British accents on TV here that I'd probably never notice but UK people would hate, I'm sure.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

I'm more often fooled on British adopting an American accent then the other way around, so I'm sure when we Americans adopt British accents, it can be quite annoying. I really don't know why the fuss though. They do their best.

[meganlynn09.livejournal.com]

Thanks muchly!

Man, that laugh scares me everytime. And I think you're completely right.

I miss CE as well, I'm using the fact I'm American to that I can continually talk about him and his Doctor.