Doctor Who - The Caretaker

[byslantedlight]

Well, that was interesting... *g*

The Doctor goes to school - dressed as a caretaker, because Coal Hill School (which was also the school that the Doctor's granddaughter Susan went to, and where his first companions were teachers (I need to watch my Series I dvds all the way through from start to finish!)) is where Clara is now teaching. I hadn't sussed this until it was pointed out via the Radio Times (see above, I need to watch my Series I dvds...), and I find it quite interesting... *g* It's also very close to where there's a Big Baddie, which seems an odd coincidence, but I gather the Doctor's been back there before too, and I'm totally able to make sense of it having had a concentrated dose of magic powder artron energy which attracts that sort of thing. *g* I'm less convinced by the parent's evening - have any of the writers actually been to one in a comprehensive...?!

It was all very let's-get-sorted-out this ep, I thought - the Doctor dealing with an alien at the school meant he also had to deal with Clara's new boyfriend, who she'd not told him about. I loved who he thought it was, and why - so very Doctor! (Though being me, I didn't get the resemblance until it was pointed out either... *headdesk*) *g* So... the Doctor didn't like him when he found out, cos he'd been a soldier, and that made sense to me, from his reaction to soldiers earlier this season. Which of course mean that Danny had to do something brilliant to prove himself - and I wasn't totally convinced that he could really have done what he did (though I'd love to know someone who could!)

The other thing I struggled a bit with was Danny's acceptance of Clara timetravelling - I mean honestly, he was mostly peeved because she'd kept it a secret from him? Hmmn - maybe I take that back, he is a bloke, of course he thinks its all about him... Although perhaps I can also take it back a bit because of the history of the world according to DW - all those aliens etc, particularly at Christmas. Maybe Danny did his shock back then, and never forgot. But still - he has to ask why Clara goes with the Doctor? He has to ask why someone goes travelling through time and space when they're given the chance? What is wrong with that man?!

I rather liked Courtney - though I'm a bit sorry she got her come-uppance by being space-sick at the end... I liked that that the Doctor was far more interested in her when he thought her name was Disruptive Influence, and I wish she'd been kept around for him to tease Clara with when she got too bossy... *g*

Clara's had another wee growth spurt on me - the Doctor putting her in her place now and then with You look nice - you've washed! and the like is still helping. *g* And she's getting things wrong now, which makes her a bit more human. Although I'm not mad keen to see her submit to Danny (even though he was right to an extent about the secret thing) the way she did.

So... yeah, overall I liked this one well enough too. And I'm curious about the whole paradise thing... Yeay Doctor Who - remembering that it was on today gave me something to look forward to! *g*

Comments

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I really disliked this episode, but won't harsh your squee by going into all that.

The Doctor has had a number of adventures in and around Coal Hill over the years - namely the 6th and 7th Doctors. The 6th's visit was fairly fleeting, he had a brief moment of nostalgia outside the junkyard but didn't go near the school, but the 7th had a whole adventure centred around both the junkyard and the school - Remembrance of the Daleks, well worth watching. And Coal Hill was, of course, where it all started, way back when Susan decided she wanted to enrol at a local school (because Susan loved to learn and longed for companionship) and two of her teachers got curious about her. The 1st Doctor era is wonderful, especially when watched in order, as an ongoing story rather than standalone adventures - primitive, yes, but I'll take those character dynamics and development any day over the mean-spirited offerings we're getting today.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Lol - I had a feeling you wouldn't like this one (I have looked at your post now, and I was right! *g*)!

I've watched the first ep and a half of the first Doctor's first series, and then I got distracted and for some reason didn't pick it up again. As soon as I've got my own place though, I'm going to set up my dvd player... *g*

"mean-spirited" seems a bit harsh, but looking at Clara alongside my current roommate experience, I wonder how much it has to do with the dynamics of age as well. Maybe all the internet-focus, and the me-me-me/children-are-the-most-important-things culture is coming home to roost...

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Watching last night's episode, it didn't feel as if Clara even likes the Doctor, she treats him more like a responsibility she can't get out of. Yet she did admit enjoying the wonders he shows her, which is a step forward from the Christmas special when, under the influence of a truth filter, she flat out said she was only with the 11th because she fancied him. But still. I could see what they were trying to achieve, with the character dynamics, but the execution of it came across as if everyone disliked everyone else rather intensely - it does feel as if Clara is building up to leave, and at this point I can't wait to be rid of her. Her personality is not right at all for this Doctor. I think he'd do better with someone like that Courtney, a troubled kid he could take under his wing and be a mentor for, someone who'd draw out the softer heart of the old grouch, whereas Clara and her control freakery only seems to set him prickling all the more. Again, there just isn't enough of a relationship there for me to see what keeps them together at this point.

Best of luck with the (continued) house hunting. I really love the 1st Doctor's 1st season - all 8 adventures and 42 episodes of it! Even the 7-episode adventure that no longer exists - or maybe especially the 7-episode adventure that no longer exists, because I'd have sworn I could never watch a reconstruction and then sat spellbound through all 7 episodes! It takes a lot of adjustment at first, but I love the characters and the way they develop and the sense of it being an ongoing story, and I love the freshness of it - there was no set formula, no tried and tested mythology to play with, so the writers and directors were free to experiment, to find out what did and didn't work. Funny how something so primitive can work for me and win my heart in a way that something so slick and current simply doesn't. Maybe I'll feel better about this era once we've got some distance from it.