Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

[lizbee]

Spoiler-free review: I laughed. I squeed. I may have something in my eye.



Seriously, the worst thing you can say about this ep was that Abigail was a bit reminiscent of Astrid Peth (wide-eyed! Innocent! Blonde! Played by a woman a fraction too old for the type of character! Literally refrigerated!) and the sound mixing on her singing scenes was distractingly studio-esque. Maybe Katherine Jenkins really does sound like that, I don't know. It sounded a bit over-produced.

But those are really minor complaints, and I didn't even mind Abigail's blandness because everything around her was so vivid and lively, and also there were fishies. And a flying shark. It's Sharkmas! And the Doctor got engaged to Marilyn Monroe. I SHIP IT, I'M JUST SAYIN'.

EPIC FLAILY SQUEE! I love that we had a Christmas special that didn't leave an awful taste in my mouth. "900 years in time and space, and I've never yet met anyone who wasn't important" felt like a delightful "up yours" to the latter days of the Tenth Doctor. And I love that the Doctor went, "A Christmas carol. A Christmas Carol!" and then, presumably, stopped off to fanboy Charles Dickens again before setting out to do his thing.

"This will certify that I am a responsible, mature adult."

"..."

"Finally, a lie too big."

Also, I pointedly did not wonder what happened to the Blinovitch Limitation Effect, because I didn't want to be That Kind of Fan, but then I was amazed that the two Kazrans could touch each other. So I guess I'm still That Kind of Fan. Oh well.

I wonder if a million British children are now traumatised by Dumbledore being Scrooge? Not that I can judge; I was speculating on how much more AMAZING Gosford Park would have been if Eleventy had turned up. I expect that children cope with difficult concepts like Actors Playing Different Roles better than fanpersons.

My final thought: this needed MOAR AMY. I don't know how I'll cope when Karen Gillan leaves. I LOVE HER SO.



Now, I was going to do a trailer picspam (RIVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!) but I have to shower and get ready for Another Day With Family. Ah well, tomorrow, perhaps.

Comments

[capri0mni]

I have been waiting all day for a Christmas Special review (Hey, it's how I keep the holiday, such as it is). And yours was the first on my reading list.

So: thank you!!

[lizbee]

I've only seen two so far! Is everyone else stupefied by Christmas or waiting for it to air in their timezone?

(I had planned to watch it properly on TV, but then Dad said something about seeing penguins, and there was an overlap.)

[capri0mni]

I even looked on YouTube for vlog reviews from Random Strangers -- and I only found one -- I mean, "Wht?!"

Maybe people are waiting for it to air in more timezones, or something.

Or maybe they're distracted by family dramas.

Or maybe they're zoned on on Turkey Overload?

*shrugs*

It is odd. In past years, my reading/friends lists were swamped with DW-squee by this time of the night.

[gominokouhai]

> I pointedly did not wonder what happened to the Blinovitch Limitation Effect, because I didn't want to be That Kind of Fan

Join. Ussssss.

I became that kind of fan about seventeen years ago, it was inevitable, and I've never looked back.

> MOAR AMY

I'm pajh and I approve of this comment.

[neadods]

I pointedly did not wonder what happened to the Blinovitch Limitation Effect, because I didn't want to be That Kind of Fan, but then I was amazed that the two Kazrans could touch each other. So I guess I'm still That Kind of Fan.

When I saw that, I said "Fandom just exploded." Because you know that there are enough of That Kind of Fan to argue about it for the next three years...

[aella_irene]

I felt a bit sour after the Doctor's dismissal of Abigail: seriously? All of time and space at your disposal, and you can't whisk her off to get a cure?

And I want more middle!Sardick/Abigail, but that is just me being shallow. And more of the crew.

[lizbee]

I feel like it would have been a bit cheap to cure her just like that. Over-egging the pudding, maybe. She's not afraid of dying, it's everyone else who has a problem with it.

[kerravonsen]

This. Absolutely. I was giving it a 50/50 chance that the Doctor would cure her anyway, and I was preparing to vomit from saccharine overload if that happened.

On the other hand, Abigail looked remarkably healthy for someone who was going to die in a little over a week.

[slybrarian]

I wonder if a million British children are now traumatised by Dumbledore being Scrooge?

Never mind that. Spiders, with baby faces, that live in your closet but move into your mattress in the middle of the night.

[kerravonsen]

True.

[danni]

Space Klappar Haj!

[trouble]

I really really really enjoyed this. I thought it was going to get soppy and over the top, but instead it just made me clap my hands with glee. I'm so glad I watched it! :D