What did you think of this episode?
Sonic!
Good!
Bumpy-wumpy!
Exterminate!
I love this one, I love it even though I feel it doesn't quite fit into the series. The first time I watched this I had tears in my eyes, and a couple of times after as well.
The issues I have are two-fold:
1. The Doctor and Rose is what series 2 is all about, a love story through time and space. Yet here, he doesn't seem to give a shit about her;
2. Mickey seems to go back to being Series 1 Mickey.
That said, I still adore this one.
"It is customary, I think, to have an imaginary friend only during one’s childhood. You are to be congratulated on your persistence."
As mentioned the more I think about this the more I don't think it fits in with the series at all. That might be with hindsight though. For example in only the next episode Mickey goes his own way a much stronger person than he was before, yet here he seems to be a bit more comic relief and a nuisance to Rose and the Doctor.
All that being said, this is beautiful. The clockwork androids look superb, and with their 18th century clothing and masks they are terrifying as well. That is especially when we first meet them hiding under Reinette's bed, and then standing over her. That would give any kid nightmares wouldn't it?
This is such a hint at the future to come of Steven Moffat. Lots and lots of timey-wimey shenanigans. This felt like a real novelty first time around as well, it is quite surprising how little Doctor Who plays around with time travel other than getting them to the point in time and space for an adventure, but here we are shooting back and forth.
"Mickey, what’s pre-Revolutionary France doing on a spaceship? Get a little perspective."
When the Doctor sees Reinette for the second time - my how she has grown - is when I really enjoy this episode. When Reinette sees into the Doctors mind it is such a great scene. It makes you gasp that she knows who he is, then smile when you realise how she knows. It is great how she knows how lonely he is - but again this does somewhat shit on the Doctor/Rose vibes running through the series.
Is Rose not enough for him?
As a standalone episode this is all amazing stuff, and it is a brilliant episode, but it always comes back to Rose Tyler. Why is the Doctor so blasé at being stuck in France, why does he so willingly jump through the time window/mirror, he doesn't even give Rose a second thought? Not only is he leaving her behind, but he is leaving her and Mickey stranded on a spaceship ran by body parts!! Come on Doctor, have a heart.
I still think as a standalone episode this is Doctor Who at its best, its funny, emotional and scary in parts.
"A door once opened may be stepped through in either direction. Oh Doctor. My lonely Doctor. Dance with me."
I love the ending to this episode. I don't cry easily, but this one still gets me. Just the way the Doctor says absolutely nothing for most of it as he learns Reinette has died before he could take her to the stars, the quite right to comment from the king, and then the letter. Marvellous!! Even Mickey just asking Rose to show him round the TARDIS so the Doctor is alone is well done.
This is top tier for me!!!!
RATING: Sonic!
BEST LINE: "The monsters and the Doctor. It seems you cannot have one without the other."
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