Vincent and the Doctor

[auroracloud]

I just want to say that Vincent and the Doctor is one of the best Doctor Who episodes I've seen, and unquestionably one of the most moving emotional ones. The way they handled the character and life of Vincent Van Gogh, the way they handed depression, mental illness, fragility and creativity and beauty of the world, was something unbelievably touching. It got into some really powerful place in me and did something so right.

Also, I thought it made the story even more powerful that the monster mostly couldn't be seen. And not only because of not needing to worry about bad CGI, but also because there was something really moving about that in itself. And I suppose it makes it even more powerful in handling the mental illness/depression, and on the other hand the ability of art to make you see more things in the world, that really were the themes of the episode.

And one of the final comments of the Doctor - that life is a pile of good stuff and bad stuff, and the good stuff doesn't always soften the bad but the bad stuff also doesn't spoil the good - that was something a lot of us need to hear. I definitely needed it now. (Not getting deeper into that because public post.)

The Eleventh Doctor is one of the best antidepressants I've come across.

Can't do more detailed commentary now, not quite done crying. But it's a good sort of crying, mostly.

Also, loved the sunflowers.

Comments

[auroracloud.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's wonderful to have something like this on TV. Popular stories so rarely deal with something like this in such a way, and it's wonderfully merciful about the fact that everything's not always going to be all right but that doesn't cancel out what's beautiful.

I skimmed that post, but I'll read it properly when I'm in the right mainframe for not starting to cry again or something, yeah. Thanks for the link. :-)

[elisi]

Like I said elsewhere - am jealous that you get to watch it all for the first time...

[auroracloud.livejournal.com]

I can understand what you mean! I'm a big rewatcher, but there is something particular about the magic of discovering something for the first time. And Eleven is doing something particularly magical to me; I'll try to be able to put words into it some time, but something very particular has been clicking in me when watching his episodes.

And this one came just the right time for me.

(Almost none of my local friends who like Doctor Who care at all for Eleven or any Moffat era stuff. So glad that I can find people here who like them!)

[elisi]

And Eleven is doing something particularly magical to me; I'll try to be able to put words into it some time, but something very particular has been clicking in me when watching his episodes.
I have never been able to explain it either, beyond he is *my* Doctor. But there is something about him. Something truly magical.

So glad that I can find people here who like them!
I have endless meta/fic/time to chat. <3

[auroracloud.livejournal.com]

Every Doctor I've seen so far does something very special to me and gives me their own angle to the story that I love, but there is something about Eleven I've definitely been missing - that mad dash of adventure and at the same time the willingness to learn from his mistakes and sort of... kindness and forgiveness. I don't know, maybe it's unexplainable, and I can't name a favourite Doctor right now, but I do know Eleven's exactly the one I need in my life right now. <3 Maybe I'll get more articulate as I progress with my watching.

I have endless meta/fic/time to chat. <3

And I'm sure I'll be taking advantage of that! To the extent I have energy, anyhow - at the moment it's sporadic, but the interest is there and growing. :-)

[elisi]

Well I've never been able to quite articulate what makes Eleven so very special for me, so don't worry. If he's what you need now, then that's the most important thing!

And I'm sure I'll be taking advantage of that! To the extent I have energy, anyhow - at the moment it's sporadic, but the interest is there and growing. :-)
Yeah, it's not going anywhere, so whenever you feel like it. :)