Doctor Who: The Seeds of Death
May. 6th, 2008 07:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethAm watching Doctor Who. Yaays!
"Seeds of Death"
costumes? Um, how to say... very few people very little of the time look good in PVC. And only the big S can look good with the pants on the outside thing. Okay, so it's only a couple of stripes, but they're rather poorly placed.
I like the wobbly effect when the Bad Things shoot people. I pretend I do not know what the Bad Things are cause we haven't seen them yet.
I like this space museum bit. The guy who'll put his gun down to show off his cool rocket toy. Heh.
And people losing interest in space travel after they got as far as the moon. That's... depressingly accurate, really.
Miss Kelly has shiny hair in a cone and a shirt that looks like black bubble wrap.
... Zoe isn't wearing very much skirt. It's difficult not to notice. But, fair enough, Jamie isn't either. Well, okay, about twice the length, but. Heh.
"About Time" made a timeline of future history. But they think there's only one history, and the BBC website reckons there's at least two and probably three after the Time War.
Still, the 21st century has space stations and teleport. Shiny.
Mind you, the UNIT era had all sorts of science that doesn't ever turn up again.
Oh, cliffhanger - we see the monsters and they shoot right at us!
... okay, would be more impressive if they didn't look like their helmet fell down from being too big.
I read from AT also how the opening credits were done. They're way more impressive when you realise all the fiddling about people had to do to get the FX. Now? Couple of clicks on the computer. Which, actually, as a writer I like better cause it's like you can just think things up and make it so, even just at home, but it was pretty cool.
... Rubber suit men with crocodile texture ought to work, but the more I see old school monsters the more I appreciate new school monster choreography. The way weevils move works way better than this. Not that there's any perfect way to do it.
All these textured jackets make people look quite a lot like the monster costume. Nifty.
... heeee, Zoe mocking the TARDIS accuracy.
Doctor: "I'm afraid the TARDIS is not suited to short range travel."
... yes, dear, and neither is it wonderful at longer range, if where you want to go is in fact an issue.
... Now Zoe is perched on a desk and appears to be wearing only boots on her lower half. It somewhat distracts from the story parts of the story.
Jamie's legs, also not bad.
this era has interesting.
(Zoe is not 12. I mean, there's some written stuff that suggests she is 12, but the actress started as 20. So she's not 12.)
Hmmm.... no, monster suits don't work much better from butt level.
I don't think the wobble and wave monster stomp is particularly impressive. Traditional, yes, and understandable given the guy apparently just got stuck in the doorway from costume overlarge, but not impressive.
... did someone just hide by looking very scared and standing still? Yes they did. That's... interesting hiding, that is.
Ah, now there is work happening and Zoe is wearing actual clothes. Win.
... there's one person who really understands a system crucial to the entire world?
... you know, I'd like to find that less believable, but...
huh, new distraction - those helmets are really tall. like, really.
Future tech looks a lot like then tech only with more of it.
Also, these things are a bit slow. I find myself plotting fic while stuff doesn't happen.
These subtitles are of suck. I'm sure they've got the wrong names on them entirely. There's no excuse for that.
Hey look, teeny tiny model rocket!
I like the big eyeliner with the pointy edges.
I'm less impressed with the seating system in this rocket. they couldn't find big lounger chairs? They had them in the TARDIS before. Now they're sitting upright going up in a big many g force rocket launch... making silly faces. Okay, that part is fun.
The rocket is flying. You can tell cause the pointy bit tilts against a darkening background.
Oooh, shiny Earth background with sadly small square of stars.
But much tension in the lost contact bit.
And now they have gravity control? Um, why have it after liftoff and not during?
more oh noes - circuits burn up! Smokey fire!
Jamie: Oh no, this is worse than the TARDIS.
heee, the most advanced Space-Time vehicle ever = standard for wonky tech.
Miss Kelly rocks. Even when people are yelling at her she's Miss Kelly. No first names for her. And she's the boss of them. Take charge! And she knows more tech than anyone.
"If we lose her, nothing can save us."
Okay, so they might as well write DOOOOOOOMED on her head in big letters. *sigh*
I like the transmat. They have phone booths that go places. But only their insides. shocking twist!
... this big croc monster dude stands there nodding a lot. Headbanger croc!
Fixing the comm thing up takes so long I feel vaguely like there's a 'try this at home' component. Like you could have a kit and follow along.
Hmm, the stupid sidekick asks the smart sidekick many questions so the audience at home can learn what them on screen should know. Familiar.
Oooh, cool, solar weapon!
*flashy effects*
No more bad thing.
that's kind of like Blue Beetle's flash gun, only fatal. So not like much at all.
... they really don't think highly of people's ability to figure out what the problem is. "You mean we'll crash?" "Either that or drift on endlessly through space!"
because clearly we'd never think of that if we weren't told.
the drift on line works better second time around.
food and water for three days... air for longer than that even after a smokey fire?
"We've been invaded. Aliens have taken over."
So is this unknown aliens, aliens in general, or oh wow there's aliens?
Oooh, now there's two of the lumpy crocodile version and one tall head.
I still like the wobbly gun.
Two dead, no waiting.
Those transmat booths look a bit Bill and Ted.
Jamie identifies Ice Warriors from their description. Nifty.
We get the recap on their stats. "Heat they can't stand."
The music is a bit more dramatic than the talking.
approach trajectory just got subtitled as "approach to deck area". This is making me *facepalm* instead of following story.
... I could, of course, turn the subtitles off.
"I'm sure we're going to be all right" zoom in on Doctor with xfingers.
... he has to change a lightbulb to make the signal work?
... I'm too high tech for this story, aren't I?
They got a whole episode out of a rocket trip to the moon. and wondering if they'd get there.
... funny how everyone nearly ends up in Zoe's lap when they land.
They're an hour in before the aliens get their plan rolling. It's all about calling out the repair guys for the first hour. That's... unusual.
The music is a bit silent movie.
They're planning to bring 4 people back in a 3 person rocket?
Oh, right, the rocket is useless so that doesn't come up.
Lots of running around corridors. Are they on wonky vision or is my laptop sliding?
... infinity mirrors clearly add a lot to that chase sequence.
Oh well, they've got a lot of up and down to play with, that's unusual.
Heee, Doctor's face when he runs into more of them.
You know, when I remember DW, I remember stuff like the Dalek Invasion of Earth.
I wonder if people who think it is dumb remember mostly those corridor bits?
"humans are our enemies" isn't answered with "not human", just "I'm a genius"
"What was that thing?" Er, turning around to look for who just spoke? :eyeroll:
Yes, television hiding at its finest.
The whispery hissy breathing kind of works but its right weird.
Seeds of Dooooooooooom!
seed pod bursting works plenty.
heeee... Big Tension as they try and plug all the plugs in the socket before the bad thing gets in. Win.
Spaceman helmet noise from the Ice Warriors. Hiss breathe. Is interesting but not for all these minutes in a row.
oooh, the stand to hold the seed up is much more interesting.
... they've got severe food shortages in that little time? Millions are going to die? Er, most people can go without food for a day or two. I guess they could be worrying longer term.
And it can't be it took them longer to get up there, cause they only had 3 days food in the rocket.
"It's alive" is the response to a balloon blowing up big? Er... okay.
... no, actually, can't really go there.
You know, given the weapon potential of this t-mat thing, and the usual behaviour of humans, the whole thing where there's only one centralised system and yet the world hasn't destroyed itself is really rather remarkable.
Well, it's one system with only a few cities on it, maybe they're an alliance.
oh look, they crawl around through tunnels big enough for crawling. surprise.
I liked it in a book I read where they were half in a magic world so the air vents were for crawling in because everyone believes air vents are for crawling in.
16 t-mat reception centres.
says the names, suggests a pattern. get your globe out!
heh.
ooooh, spooky poison smoke.
and foam! Lots of foam in a bubble that bursts!
actually poison gas is plenty scary. I guess I have too much time to sit around and not be scared of rubber monsters seen from seat level.
Heh, dude, when you're rolling not-the-doctor over to pick up, maybe to be rolling so his face is away from the camera? Yes.
Guess who had a week off?
"You dispatched the seeds. In so doing you destroyed your entire species. What is the death of one man compared to that?"
Bit theatrical but a rather good moment.
A whole this is what appeasement gets you thing? AT had a lot to say about the cultural pervasiveness of that idea.
Tension - they unscrew a grill! And... find another one behind it! That's pulling the moment out as far as you can, that is.
You know the usual actor justification for the need for different acting styles on TV talks about how television is right up in your face and you can see all the small movements. But this style of filming is mostly long shots and on little black and white fuzzy screens, so it's sort of intermediate between theatre (sitting at the back) and TV as we know it.
I wonder if HD is going to change acting as well as makeup.
So now the heating control is on a wheel on the opposite side of the room and he can't even get out of the strangely trimmed gap. Yeah, I'm not feeling the tension.
If it's about choices, it should work. That guy running the t-mat had some bad choices going on. But this sort of oh-no doesn't work for me when drawn out.
I like how the 'fungi' report is jazzed up by Ice Warrior attack.
I do not so much like how feet noises detract from the general level of scary.
"The guards. It's killed them. It's killed them all."
... 'the extras. we could afford one. we tell you of the others'
Ice warriors almost work even though they're clunky. Big rubber lumpy suits sort of get more appealing. Or my brain slowly tones down.
... okay, now they're striding through foam. um, less good.
Ah, the silhouette works really really well. That spiky head shape, good one.
The defence guys getting in a foam fight... I'm trying not to think the obvious about an out of control reproductive process that sprays white everywhere, but...
ANYway
... did someone actually think the foam stuff made scary?
The 'I'm smaller I'll go' is a bit inevitable.
But I do rather like the guy cracking up and Zoe going all practical at him.
Hmmm, when they stand still in this better light the costumes work better too. Wonder why.
The big clear helmets though... I mean I can see some point to writing your role on your head, lots of official hats do it, but then why make everything else clear? Can't see through the writing.
and the quiz about the cities gets answered. all cold.
Ice Warrior on the horizon, almost scary even with the walk.
Now there's Zoe having memorised stuff. Which is clearly as special as doing maths.
*lol*
now they're standing there trying to zap an Ice Warrior with a thing that doesn't work and having one of those silent conversations across the room at each other all "come on!"
It's not quite like in 4-01 though.
... oh that's a bit useless. It still doesn't see them. It's not very tense if it's just going to wander off and not see them.
... she's silhouetted against a big glowy flashing backdrop and it *still* doesn't notice?
... at this point almost all suspense is lost.
Good thing the heating control goes all the way up to boiling. There's so many uses for that.
ooh, that was almost scary, he goes "Look out Zoe" and the thing fires and there's whole seconds you don't know which one got shot.
Then there's time for her to stand there yelling 'help me' while flattened against the glowy backdrop (which looks like a cheap club disco thing). That's not scary. Usually things with guns that shot on sight just, you know, shoot.
Okay, that's one of the basic rules, along with Stormtrooper aiming. Must learn to ignore.
Up to Episode 5 now.
I like the cliffhangers, but I can't help feeling if they were squished together to be ad breaks in a modern episode then very little would be lost.
Now the guy is going to get himself killed trying to help? Oh, no, he delays it long enough he survives.
Oh look, the Ice warrior in the room doesn't go away, because the Doctor wakes up with anti=perfect timing.
... did he just call for Victoria? Or possibly call it Victoria... Flattering.
Fight! Jamie brave but defeated!
And now it melts. Useful.
You know, even though the carapace could easily be clothes for them, it just doesn't help to see where the seam is undone.
These stories, they work better once distilled in your head afterwards.
It's interesting the times fighting works - when it involves clever gadgets you just constructed - and when it doesn't - when it involves off the shelf technology, or just your bare hands.
Now some grey hair guys recap the plot for us.
"incredible story about some monster from outer space"
... they have teleport, but monster from outer space is 'incredible'? Do they mean just compared to ordinary tourists? Or has Torchwood remained effective for a reeeeeaally long time?
You know, the thing with watching them all in a row is, they weren't designed for that. They took weeks. The 10 parter at the end of the season took almost as long as a new series season. Does a lot to the story. including make it sort of difficult to keep track, I guess. So the repetetive bits on DVD rewatch.
... I still like the gun effect every time they do it. Wibbly!
... okay, you can tell this is an important sort of tech, everything is glowy and flashing.
... hang on, they have levers with knobs on to control the whole place?
Melty levers with knobs on.
time switch?
oh, he's doing quiet self sacrifice, the time switch doesn't work. neat.
Doctor disappointed because there's no sensation. (giggles)
Guy trapped on the moon now. Those on screen conclude he's working for the enemy. But that's not how the story works, cause we all know the whole redemptive self sacrifice belongs around here somewhere, right?
Oh, but he let the bad thing turn the heater off. Less good.
"So you hope to live longer by staying here."
... yeah, not believing here.
... Why land on the moon? Maybe they need to refuel or something.
The Doctor knows the plan from his smartness.
"We've attacked in every possible way"
"But have you tried to understand it" long suffering snark
Jamie is in this scene for such a good reason - sitting and rocking and drinking through a straw! That's a classy and demanding day's work that is.
... urgh, the Doctor got caught out by the spore burst again. He said he'd be careful! Well given it didn't kill him maybe his breathing is on bypass.
Miss Kelly still owning all.
reduce oxygen content of Earth atmosphere = martianforming!
... yay, I figure it out at least as quickly as the Doctor! I has smartness like ... small child.
Now I want to know what he threw on it! Suspense!
I like how Jamie jumps like he reckons he's touched something.
... hang on, WATER???
... no.
Though it do make sense of the 'dry' bit, just, no.
Too much water! Planet of water!
I like these weird stands for tech they have. Ice warrior tech looks weird and cool. Shame they mostly don't.
That wall of throbbing lights doesn't really help.
Oh look, now they creep around avoiding Highly Hazardous Foam.
Yes, Jamie, close the door in case the warrior is outside... and don't wonder why it is open.
Hands on hips + skirt = ...
Now the hissing is helpful early warning system. Yeah, I can totally see small children playing Ice Warriors. The asthmatics must have been in such high demand.
... the Grand Marshall has sequins on his helmet.
... win!
That bit from before where the Doctor was in danger in the rocket sets up that now the Ice Warriors are all in similar/same danger.
Ice warrior boss stares at the camera! Busted! Cool. Make you jump. :-)
See this is a pretty good ending. If everyone thinks you're on the bad guy side, use it!
And then the shooting the camera bit. Scary! Shoots us!
Doctor running! Convincing!
... sorry.
Okay, so now there's some very scary foam... I'm having visions of small children at bath time making such a mess... and highly tense walking through scary foam.
I just can't find foam that menacing. Even big heaps of it. Gas was scarier.
Foam just looks like fun.
Or slightly odd club nights.
Heh, cliffhanger of funny faces as a balloon inflates = LOL.
... the Ice Warrior has white stains around the crotch area. Ice Guano? *facepalm*
Now they're racing for the front door? Because any race against an Ice Warrior, even a stealthy one, gets rather unlikely if you lose.
Jamie jumps out and goes "Hey" and runs away? Oh that's sensible. Well, it worked.
Zoe gets the door open, and the foam floods in. Yeah, at this point scary is not relevant. "Oh, that was a dangerous situation". Yes, I'm totally able to believe that.
You know, in my head, Doctor Who is more easy to play along with than this.
"Ah, there we are, its got 'shut' on it" got several minutes of tension?!
If water fixes this foam thing shouldn't they send a fire engine?
Nope, half a dozen guys in those weird see through helmets with small vacuum cleaners strapped to their backs and hoses to their mouths. Presumably clean air.
Now the Doctor is making a weapon that has to stay plugged in. Clearly this will go well.
I like the way the Ice Warrior just shrugs off a bullet. And the wibbly effect again. But the way the guy goes into the foam, it looks like he's diving for cover even after being shot. Which could work.
Now the Doctor is stalking around with a couple of big lightbulbs in reflectors with cables dangling out the back. Yep, scary weapon this.
... roughly the same one as Warriors of the Deep, innit? Only Solar and not UV.
Got it though.
Now Miss Kelly makes a clever gadget to save the day.
Have I mention I like her?
She isn't doooooomed yet. I like that too.
Heee, pulls the spaghetti out and says it's just about sorting it out. Yeah, we're believing the confidence there.
... I'm trying to ignore it, but... why do they need a signal when there's a huge great planet to aim at?
I like the Doctor wandering around with all the wires around his neck. Amusing.
Now he's all smug about his solar battery.
I'm also trying to ignore how 'solar' does not mean 'electric generated by the sun' so much as 'small portable sun'. It is comics logic.
... the flashy effect when the Ice Warriors die is considerable more nifty than the hairdryer sound.
Oh look, he had to put his weapon down to do things, clearly this could not be anticipated.
Do Ice Warriors have pointy teeths? I can't hardly tell from this. Is a pity.
I like the Highly Technical Satellite.
... so, this thing with the signal: Basically they just followed the satnav to their doom?
:-D
Pulled into the orbit of the sun... and then the signal goes away. Er, orbit is where we all are.
"The heat of the sun will kill them"
Ice Warrior staggering and throwing a tantrum, not impressive.
Ooooh, the Doctor shot him??? Made them shoot each other. And then plugged one in to the light terminal.
Jamie did rescuing. Mostly by distracting.
And the bubbles washed away. Yeah, that's a useful game that is.
The closing argument... hang on, isn't that the Doctor's astral map? ANYway, they sneak out before there's questions. Traditional! And the TARDIS fades away, after yet more teasing about doesn't know where it's going.
They aren't exactly thrilling to watch, but that was a fun story. Or at least will be in my head.
"Seeds of Death"
costumes? Um, how to say... very few people very little of the time look good in PVC. And only the big S can look good with the pants on the outside thing. Okay, so it's only a couple of stripes, but they're rather poorly placed.
I like the wobbly effect when the Bad Things shoot people. I pretend I do not know what the Bad Things are cause we haven't seen them yet.
I like this space museum bit. The guy who'll put his gun down to show off his cool rocket toy. Heh.
And people losing interest in space travel after they got as far as the moon. That's... depressingly accurate, really.
Miss Kelly has shiny hair in a cone and a shirt that looks like black bubble wrap.
... Zoe isn't wearing very much skirt. It's difficult not to notice. But, fair enough, Jamie isn't either. Well, okay, about twice the length, but. Heh.
"About Time" made a timeline of future history. But they think there's only one history, and the BBC website reckons there's at least two and probably three after the Time War.
Still, the 21st century has space stations and teleport. Shiny.
Mind you, the UNIT era had all sorts of science that doesn't ever turn up again.
Oh, cliffhanger - we see the monsters and they shoot right at us!
... okay, would be more impressive if they didn't look like their helmet fell down from being too big.
I read from AT also how the opening credits were done. They're way more impressive when you realise all the fiddling about people had to do to get the FX. Now? Couple of clicks on the computer. Which, actually, as a writer I like better cause it's like you can just think things up and make it so, even just at home, but it was pretty cool.
... Rubber suit men with crocodile texture ought to work, but the more I see old school monsters the more I appreciate new school monster choreography. The way weevils move works way better than this. Not that there's any perfect way to do it.
All these textured jackets make people look quite a lot like the monster costume. Nifty.
... heeee, Zoe mocking the TARDIS accuracy.
Doctor: "I'm afraid the TARDIS is not suited to short range travel."
... yes, dear, and neither is it wonderful at longer range, if where you want to go is in fact an issue.
... Now Zoe is perched on a desk and appears to be wearing only boots on her lower half. It somewhat distracts from the story parts of the story.
Jamie's legs, also not bad.
this era has interesting.
(Zoe is not 12. I mean, there's some written stuff that suggests she is 12, but the actress started as 20. So she's not 12.)
Hmmm.... no, monster suits don't work much better from butt level.
I don't think the wobble and wave monster stomp is particularly impressive. Traditional, yes, and understandable given the guy apparently just got stuck in the doorway from costume overlarge, but not impressive.
... did someone just hide by looking very scared and standing still? Yes they did. That's... interesting hiding, that is.
Ah, now there is work happening and Zoe is wearing actual clothes. Win.
... there's one person who really understands a system crucial to the entire world?
... you know, I'd like to find that less believable, but...
huh, new distraction - those helmets are really tall. like, really.
Future tech looks a lot like then tech only with more of it.
Also, these things are a bit slow. I find myself plotting fic while stuff doesn't happen.
These subtitles are of suck. I'm sure they've got the wrong names on them entirely. There's no excuse for that.
Hey look, teeny tiny model rocket!
I like the big eyeliner with the pointy edges.
I'm less impressed with the seating system in this rocket. they couldn't find big lounger chairs? They had them in the TARDIS before. Now they're sitting upright going up in a big many g force rocket launch... making silly faces. Okay, that part is fun.
The rocket is flying. You can tell cause the pointy bit tilts against a darkening background.
Oooh, shiny Earth background with sadly small square of stars.
But much tension in the lost contact bit.
And now they have gravity control? Um, why have it after liftoff and not during?
more oh noes - circuits burn up! Smokey fire!
Jamie: Oh no, this is worse than the TARDIS.
heee, the most advanced Space-Time vehicle ever = standard for wonky tech.
Miss Kelly rocks. Even when people are yelling at her she's Miss Kelly. No first names for her. And she's the boss of them. Take charge! And she knows more tech than anyone.
"If we lose her, nothing can save us."
Okay, so they might as well write DOOOOOOOMED on her head in big letters. *sigh*
I like the transmat. They have phone booths that go places. But only their insides. shocking twist!
... this big croc monster dude stands there nodding a lot. Headbanger croc!
Fixing the comm thing up takes so long I feel vaguely like there's a 'try this at home' component. Like you could have a kit and follow along.
Hmm, the stupid sidekick asks the smart sidekick many questions so the audience at home can learn what them on screen should know. Familiar.
Oooh, cool, solar weapon!
*flashy effects*
No more bad thing.
that's kind of like Blue Beetle's flash gun, only fatal. So not like much at all.
... they really don't think highly of people's ability to figure out what the problem is. "You mean we'll crash?" "Either that or drift on endlessly through space!"
because clearly we'd never think of that if we weren't told.
the drift on line works better second time around.
food and water for three days... air for longer than that even after a smokey fire?
"We've been invaded. Aliens have taken over."
So is this unknown aliens, aliens in general, or oh wow there's aliens?
Oooh, now there's two of the lumpy crocodile version and one tall head.
I still like the wobbly gun.
Two dead, no waiting.
Those transmat booths look a bit Bill and Ted.
Jamie identifies Ice Warriors from their description. Nifty.
We get the recap on their stats. "Heat they can't stand."
The music is a bit more dramatic than the talking.
approach trajectory just got subtitled as "approach to deck area". This is making me *facepalm* instead of following story.
... I could, of course, turn the subtitles off.
"I'm sure we're going to be all right" zoom in on Doctor with xfingers.
... he has to change a lightbulb to make the signal work?
... I'm too high tech for this story, aren't I?
They got a whole episode out of a rocket trip to the moon. and wondering if they'd get there.
... funny how everyone nearly ends up in Zoe's lap when they land.
They're an hour in before the aliens get their plan rolling. It's all about calling out the repair guys for the first hour. That's... unusual.
The music is a bit silent movie.
They're planning to bring 4 people back in a 3 person rocket?
Oh, right, the rocket is useless so that doesn't come up.
Lots of running around corridors. Are they on wonky vision or is my laptop sliding?
... infinity mirrors clearly add a lot to that chase sequence.
Oh well, they've got a lot of up and down to play with, that's unusual.
Heee, Doctor's face when he runs into more of them.
You know, when I remember DW, I remember stuff like the Dalek Invasion of Earth.
I wonder if people who think it is dumb remember mostly those corridor bits?
"humans are our enemies" isn't answered with "not human", just "I'm a genius"
"What was that thing?" Er, turning around to look for who just spoke? :eyeroll:
Yes, television hiding at its finest.
The whispery hissy breathing kind of works but its right weird.
Seeds of Dooooooooooom!
seed pod bursting works plenty.
heeee... Big Tension as they try and plug all the plugs in the socket before the bad thing gets in. Win.
Spaceman helmet noise from the Ice Warriors. Hiss breathe. Is interesting but not for all these minutes in a row.
oooh, the stand to hold the seed up is much more interesting.
... they've got severe food shortages in that little time? Millions are going to die? Er, most people can go without food for a day or two. I guess they could be worrying longer term.
And it can't be it took them longer to get up there, cause they only had 3 days food in the rocket.
"It's alive" is the response to a balloon blowing up big? Er... okay.
... no, actually, can't really go there.
You know, given the weapon potential of this t-mat thing, and the usual behaviour of humans, the whole thing where there's only one centralised system and yet the world hasn't destroyed itself is really rather remarkable.
Well, it's one system with only a few cities on it, maybe they're an alliance.
oh look, they crawl around through tunnels big enough for crawling. surprise.
I liked it in a book I read where they were half in a magic world so the air vents were for crawling in because everyone believes air vents are for crawling in.
16 t-mat reception centres.
says the names, suggests a pattern. get your globe out!
heh.
ooooh, spooky poison smoke.
and foam! Lots of foam in a bubble that bursts!
actually poison gas is plenty scary. I guess I have too much time to sit around and not be scared of rubber monsters seen from seat level.
Heh, dude, when you're rolling not-the-doctor over to pick up, maybe to be rolling so his face is away from the camera? Yes.
Guess who had a week off?
"You dispatched the seeds. In so doing you destroyed your entire species. What is the death of one man compared to that?"
Bit theatrical but a rather good moment.
A whole this is what appeasement gets you thing? AT had a lot to say about the cultural pervasiveness of that idea.
Tension - they unscrew a grill! And... find another one behind it! That's pulling the moment out as far as you can, that is.
You know the usual actor justification for the need for different acting styles on TV talks about how television is right up in your face and you can see all the small movements. But this style of filming is mostly long shots and on little black and white fuzzy screens, so it's sort of intermediate between theatre (sitting at the back) and TV as we know it.
I wonder if HD is going to change acting as well as makeup.
So now the heating control is on a wheel on the opposite side of the room and he can't even get out of the strangely trimmed gap. Yeah, I'm not feeling the tension.
If it's about choices, it should work. That guy running the t-mat had some bad choices going on. But this sort of oh-no doesn't work for me when drawn out.
I like how the 'fungi' report is jazzed up by Ice Warrior attack.
I do not so much like how feet noises detract from the general level of scary.
"The guards. It's killed them. It's killed them all."
... 'the extras. we could afford one. we tell you of the others'
Ice warriors almost work even though they're clunky. Big rubber lumpy suits sort of get more appealing. Or my brain slowly tones down.
... okay, now they're striding through foam. um, less good.
Ah, the silhouette works really really well. That spiky head shape, good one.
The defence guys getting in a foam fight... I'm trying not to think the obvious about an out of control reproductive process that sprays white everywhere, but...
ANYway
... did someone actually think the foam stuff made scary?
The 'I'm smaller I'll go' is a bit inevitable.
But I do rather like the guy cracking up and Zoe going all practical at him.
Hmmm, when they stand still in this better light the costumes work better too. Wonder why.
The big clear helmets though... I mean I can see some point to writing your role on your head, lots of official hats do it, but then why make everything else clear? Can't see through the writing.
and the quiz about the cities gets answered. all cold.
Ice Warrior on the horizon, almost scary even with the walk.
Now there's Zoe having memorised stuff. Which is clearly as special as doing maths.
*lol*
now they're standing there trying to zap an Ice Warrior with a thing that doesn't work and having one of those silent conversations across the room at each other all "come on!"
It's not quite like in 4-01 though.
... oh that's a bit useless. It still doesn't see them. It's not very tense if it's just going to wander off and not see them.
... she's silhouetted against a big glowy flashing backdrop and it *still* doesn't notice?
... at this point almost all suspense is lost.
Good thing the heating control goes all the way up to boiling. There's so many uses for that.
ooh, that was almost scary, he goes "Look out Zoe" and the thing fires and there's whole seconds you don't know which one got shot.
Then there's time for her to stand there yelling 'help me' while flattened against the glowy backdrop (which looks like a cheap club disco thing). That's not scary. Usually things with guns that shot on sight just, you know, shoot.
Okay, that's one of the basic rules, along with Stormtrooper aiming. Must learn to ignore.
Up to Episode 5 now.
I like the cliffhangers, but I can't help feeling if they were squished together to be ad breaks in a modern episode then very little would be lost.
Now the guy is going to get himself killed trying to help? Oh, no, he delays it long enough he survives.
Oh look, the Ice warrior in the room doesn't go away, because the Doctor wakes up with anti=perfect timing.
... did he just call for Victoria? Or possibly call it Victoria... Flattering.
Fight! Jamie brave but defeated!
And now it melts. Useful.
You know, even though the carapace could easily be clothes for them, it just doesn't help to see where the seam is undone.
These stories, they work better once distilled in your head afterwards.
It's interesting the times fighting works - when it involves clever gadgets you just constructed - and when it doesn't - when it involves off the shelf technology, or just your bare hands.
Now some grey hair guys recap the plot for us.
"incredible story about some monster from outer space"
... they have teleport, but monster from outer space is 'incredible'? Do they mean just compared to ordinary tourists? Or has Torchwood remained effective for a reeeeeaally long time?
You know, the thing with watching them all in a row is, they weren't designed for that. They took weeks. The 10 parter at the end of the season took almost as long as a new series season. Does a lot to the story. including make it sort of difficult to keep track, I guess. So the repetetive bits on DVD rewatch.
... I still like the gun effect every time they do it. Wibbly!
... okay, you can tell this is an important sort of tech, everything is glowy and flashing.
... hang on, they have levers with knobs on to control the whole place?
Melty levers with knobs on.
time switch?
oh, he's doing quiet self sacrifice, the time switch doesn't work. neat.
Doctor disappointed because there's no sensation. (giggles)
Guy trapped on the moon now. Those on screen conclude he's working for the enemy. But that's not how the story works, cause we all know the whole redemptive self sacrifice belongs around here somewhere, right?
Oh, but he let the bad thing turn the heater off. Less good.
"So you hope to live longer by staying here."
... yeah, not believing here.
... Why land on the moon? Maybe they need to refuel or something.
The Doctor knows the plan from his smartness.
"We've attacked in every possible way"
"But have you tried to understand it" long suffering snark
Jamie is in this scene for such a good reason - sitting and rocking and drinking through a straw! That's a classy and demanding day's work that is.
... urgh, the Doctor got caught out by the spore burst again. He said he'd be careful! Well given it didn't kill him maybe his breathing is on bypass.
Miss Kelly still owning all.
reduce oxygen content of Earth atmosphere = martianforming!
... yay, I figure it out at least as quickly as the Doctor! I has smartness like ... small child.
Now I want to know what he threw on it! Suspense!
I like how Jamie jumps like he reckons he's touched something.
... hang on, WATER???
... no.
Though it do make sense of the 'dry' bit, just, no.
Too much water! Planet of water!
I like these weird stands for tech they have. Ice warrior tech looks weird and cool. Shame they mostly don't.
That wall of throbbing lights doesn't really help.
Oh look, now they creep around avoiding Highly Hazardous Foam.
Yes, Jamie, close the door in case the warrior is outside... and don't wonder why it is open.
Hands on hips + skirt = ...
Now the hissing is helpful early warning system. Yeah, I can totally see small children playing Ice Warriors. The asthmatics must have been in such high demand.
... the Grand Marshall has sequins on his helmet.
... win!
That bit from before where the Doctor was in danger in the rocket sets up that now the Ice Warriors are all in similar/same danger.
Ice warrior boss stares at the camera! Busted! Cool. Make you jump. :-)
See this is a pretty good ending. If everyone thinks you're on the bad guy side, use it!
And then the shooting the camera bit. Scary! Shoots us!
Doctor running! Convincing!
... sorry.
Okay, so now there's some very scary foam... I'm having visions of small children at bath time making such a mess... and highly tense walking through scary foam.
I just can't find foam that menacing. Even big heaps of it. Gas was scarier.
Foam just looks like fun.
Or slightly odd club nights.
Heh, cliffhanger of funny faces as a balloon inflates = LOL.
... the Ice Warrior has white stains around the crotch area. Ice Guano? *facepalm*
Now they're racing for the front door? Because any race against an Ice Warrior, even a stealthy one, gets rather unlikely if you lose.
Jamie jumps out and goes "Hey" and runs away? Oh that's sensible. Well, it worked.
Zoe gets the door open, and the foam floods in. Yeah, at this point scary is not relevant. "Oh, that was a dangerous situation". Yes, I'm totally able to believe that.
You know, in my head, Doctor Who is more easy to play along with than this.
"Ah, there we are, its got 'shut' on it" got several minutes of tension?!
If water fixes this foam thing shouldn't they send a fire engine?
Nope, half a dozen guys in those weird see through helmets with small vacuum cleaners strapped to their backs and hoses to their mouths. Presumably clean air.
Now the Doctor is making a weapon that has to stay plugged in. Clearly this will go well.
I like the way the Ice Warrior just shrugs off a bullet. And the wibbly effect again. But the way the guy goes into the foam, it looks like he's diving for cover even after being shot. Which could work.
Now the Doctor is stalking around with a couple of big lightbulbs in reflectors with cables dangling out the back. Yep, scary weapon this.
... roughly the same one as Warriors of the Deep, innit? Only Solar and not UV.
Got it though.
Now Miss Kelly makes a clever gadget to save the day.
Have I mention I like her?
She isn't doooooomed yet. I like that too.
Heee, pulls the spaghetti out and says it's just about sorting it out. Yeah, we're believing the confidence there.
... I'm trying to ignore it, but... why do they need a signal when there's a huge great planet to aim at?
I like the Doctor wandering around with all the wires around his neck. Amusing.
Now he's all smug about his solar battery.
I'm also trying to ignore how 'solar' does not mean 'electric generated by the sun' so much as 'small portable sun'. It is comics logic.
... the flashy effect when the Ice Warriors die is considerable more nifty than the hairdryer sound.
Oh look, he had to put his weapon down to do things, clearly this could not be anticipated.
Do Ice Warriors have pointy teeths? I can't hardly tell from this. Is a pity.
I like the Highly Technical Satellite.
... so, this thing with the signal: Basically they just followed the satnav to their doom?
:-D
Pulled into the orbit of the sun... and then the signal goes away. Er, orbit is where we all are.
"The heat of the sun will kill them"
Ice Warrior staggering and throwing a tantrum, not impressive.
Ooooh, the Doctor shot him??? Made them shoot each other. And then plugged one in to the light terminal.
Jamie did rescuing. Mostly by distracting.
And the bubbles washed away. Yeah, that's a useful game that is.
The closing argument... hang on, isn't that the Doctor's astral map? ANYway, they sneak out before there's questions. Traditional! And the TARDIS fades away, after yet more teasing about doesn't know where it's going.
They aren't exactly thrilling to watch, but that was a fun story. Or at least will be in my head.