DW 613--Reaction Post

[amberfocus]

Well, that was a bit of a mess, wasn't it? Very sloppy story-telling. Although I guess that can pretty much sum up this season, huh? I mean, there were bits that I liked, some quite a lot, but most of it was just...well, if someone had written fanfic like this I would have abandoned it after the first couple of chapters because so much in it was a rehash of previous work and so much of it was nonsensical to ridiculous. There was no clear plot, characterization was massively shifted once again, and for no very good reason that I could see, the Doctor gets married to River. I just don't get that. I don't buy that he's in love with her. I'm not even sure that he loves her though I think he's got affection for her. I like River, mostly season five River, but I think Moffat messed her up a lot with this goofy storyline. I just want Doctor Who to make sense again. I want some plots that start at the beginning, then go to the middle, and then follow through with an ending. And we just aren't getting them. I'd say maybe next year, but not with Moffat still in charge. That man needs a lesson in linear story-telling, stat. And also, Doctor Who as the question? Seriously? That play on words is older than the Doctor practically.

I did like the hot air balloon cars, but that does not a shining episode make.

Comments

[who-in-whoville.livejournal.com]

Not much else to add to the positive side other than the filming and production values were really gorgeous. Mr. Who, who is a brand new Who-watcher and doesn't GET the back story AT ALL really likes Eleven, and thinks River "carries her femininity well." I think he just has a thing for Alex Kingston. He also mentioned that River would have been a good character on Firefly.

I liked the Amy/Captain Williams flirtation and the "Pond, Amelia Pond" line. Area 52 was humorous.

I really don't see the love anywhere.

This is an astute observation -- obsession versus love, brainwashed to believe she had to marry the Doctor...

When River meets Ten in the Library, it is almost like she is a *different* River than we have seen either season 5 or 6. When does this shift occur?

From everything she had said, and from the flirtatious comments, I always assumed that her marriage to the Doctor happened VERY MUCH in the future, perhaps even after Eleven had regenerated or well beyond. I thought it was going to be one of those Who mysteries. The "You're so young!" and was a reoccurring theme in her banter.

It seems like Moff decided, "I need to get them married now" because people wanted it. (I do concede that there are many Eleven/River shippers out there, I'm just not one of them, obviously.) It felt so rushed.

However, the fact that season 1 - 4 characters (Rose, Donna, Martha and Jack) have been mentioned in two episodes now also implies that he is getting pressure to acknowledge that these seasons actually do MATTER to many if not most Who fans.

Bottom line? I just don't think he really knows where he is taking the series, or if he does know, it is a really HUGE almost unmanageable mess of stories that has snowballed almost out of control. It just feels like he is flying-by-the-seat-of-his-pants...