New Doctor Who Series Discussion *Spoilers*

[Mercury]

Older Amy was hostile, but in her defense, she spent 36 years alone and she thought she was abandoned.

This is one of the things that bothered me. Her hostility. It came across to me as way out of character. Also that old Amy remembered having this conversation with herself when she was young and that old Amy told her she wasn't going to help the Doctor save the young Amy. So at that moment, she knew she wasn't abandoned. She knew it was going to take 36 years. She also knew that after the 36 years had passed, if old Amy helped, it'd be like it never had happened. To me, Amy should be mad at her old self, at least in part, for making her live those 36 years alone. Very timey-wimey stuff but what isn't when dealing with the Doctor. Reminded me a bit of the guilt trip thrown on Amy by House in The Doctor's Wife when House made Amy think Rory blamed her for abandoning him to grow old and be tortured nightly.

Karen and Arthur gave some great performances for sure but I honestly have no desire to watch that episode again. :lol It came across as the Doctor is an inconsiderate, irresponsible, bad person with no regard for anyone and he was only in a small portion of it.

This is, of course, just my personal take on it and everyone should watch it and decide themselves.

 

[Noeland]

Yeah, I thought this was the best episode of the show in some time. It was funny, scary, tense, emotional, and had some very effective storytelling. It reminded me of an old school science fiction story you'd read in Worlds of Tomorrow, or Omni.

My favorite episodes are usually the stand alone, unexpectedly awesome stories. Like Blink, for example.

 

[Noeland]

This is one of the things that bothered me. Her hostility. It came across to me as way out of character. Also that old Amy remembered having this conversation with herself when she was young and that old Amy told her she wasn't going to help the Doctor save the young Amy. So at that moment, she knew she wasn't abandoned. She knew it was going to take 36 years. She also knew that after the 36 years had passed, if old Amy helped, it'd be like it never had happened. To me, Amy should be mad at her old self, at least in part, for making her live those 36 years alone. Very timey-wimey stuff but what isn't when dealing with the Doctor. Reminded me a bit of the guilt trip thrown on Amy by House in The Doctor's Wife when House made Amy think Rory blamed her for abandoning him to grow old and be tortured nightly.

After 36 years of fighting those robots, and being alone, I think that rational thought was very difficult for her. She was just defensive, angry, and very damaged emotionally. At first. This is why she changed the more she was around Rory.

She was a little nuts, and she was basically fighting a one person war against an army of robots. That would make anybody hostile.

And remembering a moment in your life from 36 years ago, and having the same feeling you may have had then is just not probable or likely.

 

[protokev DMD]

I concur. Absolutely fantastic episode.

 

[greatwazoo42]

Actually older Amy's hostility makes sense if you look at it from the theory of emotional displacement. She had to live in anger to survive but had no one other than an infinite army of polite hand bots to take it out on. When you do something for 36 years solid sans distraction (part of the containment system nullified your need to eat and therefore your need to...well, that too and possibly sleep as well) you kinda do that automatically. Since she lived in hatred so long she simply directed it at anyone when in her presence. Rory and the Doctor got it because of that despite it being everyone's fault which led to that situation.

You saw how uncomfortable older Amy became after laughing at Rory's Fez joke. It was out of her routine of hating 24/7.

 

[letmebestormy]

I loved it. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if the Mona Lisa had "This is a fake" written on the back of it.

That would have been epic.

A lot of touching parts but maybe the most was Old Amy even after 36 years instinctively reaching to put on lipstick for her husband...and then stopping herself. Damn.

 

[Mercury]

Actually older Amy's hostility makes sense if you look at it from the theory of emotional displacement. She had to live in anger to survive but had no one other than an infinite army of polite hand bots to take it out on. When you do something for 36 years solid sans distraction (part of the containment system nullified your need to eat and therefore your need to...well, that too and possibly sleep as well) you kinda do that automatically. Since she lived in hatred so long she simply directed it at anyone when in her presence. Rory and the Doctor got it because of that despite it being everyone's fault which led to that situation.

You saw how uncomfortable older Amy became after laughing at Rory's Fez joke. It was out of her routine of hating 24/7.

Ok, this makes sense. I hadn't considered her hostility being a survival mechanism. The blaming the Doctor totally for what I saw as not entirely his fault overshadowed that for me I guess. I think I do need to watch it again then.

Sent from my AS740 using Tapatalk

 

[timelordjedi777]

I loved it. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if the Mona Lisa had "This is a fake" written on the back of it.

That would have been epic.

It was an awesome episode, very well written and it made more sense than the last one. I totally agree about wanting to see "This is a fake" written on the Mona Lisa.

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

Visually incredible, fantastic performances and story. This episode is a prime example of how rich in variety the show can be! I am continually impressed with the increased production value we have seen in series 6. We've come a LONG way since "Rose".

 

[Kerr Avon]

That was a surprisingly good episode. One I wouldn't expect to see from the current head writer and Matt Smith. I think it did better because it was so Rory and Amy specific and kind of 'light' on the Doctor. Hopefully this is a turn around for the series and it'll be getting better.

 

[timelordjedi777]

That was a surprisingly good episode. One I wouldn't expect to see from the current head writer and Matt Smith. I think it did better because it was so Rory and Amy specific and kind of 'light' on the Doctor. Hopefully this is a turn around for the series and it'll be getting better.

I agree I was surprized at how good it was. I don't think Moffat wrote it.

 

[Jsphere]

xxxxxx

 

[greatwazoo42]

The one thing I really, really wish they'd bring back to science fiction is some science. I'd love to see the Doctor, who is supposed to be a scientist among other things expound some science while he saves the day with science.

 

[Organic Mechanic]

I loved it. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if the Mona Lisa had "This is a fake" written on the back of it.

That would have been epic.

*snip*

Oh absolutely! I said as much while watching it. The wife looked at me like I was from Mars. :lol

 

[Risu]

Yea, that would be nice, but we'll never see that from Moffat. (science)

After watching this last episode, it felt like the finale should come next. If Amy and Rory are leaving at the end of the series, this would have been the perfect event to inspire their departure. I feel like the next 2 episodes are going to be bland Moffaty filler like most of S5.

 

[Organic Mechanic]

Yea, that would be nice, but we'll never see that from Moffat. (science)

After watching this last episode, it felt like the finale should come next. If Amy and Rory are leaving at the end of the series, this would have been the perfect event to inspire their departure. I feel like the next 2 episodes are going to be bland Moffaty filler like most of S5.

I fear you'll be proven right, but I really hope not.

 

[letmebestormy]

Amy's coming back next season (at least Karen has confirmed that in interviews). Whether that's full time/part time remains to be seen.

 

[Risu]

If she does come back, Rory better be there as well. I'd prefer they left, though. It doesn't feel like Moffat is letting Smith stand on his own. At this point I don't even know if he could. It would be nice if he gave him a chance, though.

 

[kursosawa]

If she does come back, Rory better be there as well. I'd prefer they left, though. It doesn't feel like Moffat is letting Smith stand on his own. At this point I don't even know if he could. It would be nice if he gave him a chance, though.

While I certainly think Smith can hold a show all on his own, It would take some of the fun out of it for me. A huge part of my enjoyment of the show is the dynamic between the companion(s) and the Doctor.

 

[greatwazoo42]

It reminds me of the time the 5th Doctor had a full house of companions...only with a must faster pace and certainly a lot less polite.