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

[trobadora]

I actually disliked him a lot in The Christmas Invasion, mainly for his treatment of Harriet Jones. New Earth I was indifferent about; in Tooth and Claw I found him and Rose and their giggling extremely unlikeable again. School Reunion won me over a bit - it's a great episode, even moreso in retrospect - and then there was The Girl in the Fireplace, and suddenly he actually was the Doctor for me. I think I needed to see him without Rose to actually get there - their dynamic was so offputting for me. So yeah, I'm with you on liking Ten much more from s3 on!

[auroracloud.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hated his treatment of Harriet Jones, too, but I liked his energy in the special. It annoys me he's never properly called out for his treatment of Harriet, as though it's entirely okay. I'd like to see Jack give him a mouthful for that - hmm, hey, fic idea!

And the first couple of episodes of the series proper weren't that great, and I agree he and Rose were really annoying in Tooth and Claw. School Reunion and The Girl in the Fireplace were definitely the first where he got to shine and be more interesting. But my favourite parts with him start only after he's lost Rose. I don't entirely dislike their dynamic - Tennant and Piper have some kind of energetic chemistry that I personally warmed to, but the problem is that it becomes so romantic and so worshipful on both sides and this "exclusive mutual appreciation society" that some review mentioned, and they're basically really annoying towards every single other person. The first time around I was so sorry that Jack wasn't around in S2, because I'd have liked to see him, Rose and Ten together, but after a bit more distance, I'm glad I didn't have to watch him get sidelined for that two-person Mutual Adoration Society.

And though I like Rose, I don't entirely get why so many people find her the best companion ever. She has a great arc in S1, but after that her story and actions revolve so totally around the Doctor and it seems like for her, there can be no life without him, and she's only ever badass for him, not for any other reason. People blame Martha for being too clingy about the Doctor, but heck, in the end she walks the Earth through a catastrophic year on her own, and after that has the strength to walk away and live a life of her own, honouring what she has learned from in but not getting stuck on him forever. And Donna's dynamic with Ten is just the best - they're best friends, with no romantic attachment for once, and she's initially met him at one of his worst moments, and sees him for who he is and loves him (as a friend) anyway, sticking by him loyally while having the guts to challenge him and not put up with his crap. She's awesome.

Aaand I could go into Jack's relationship with the Doctor, of course, but that needs a whole post of it's own. I tried, but the sentences wouldn't come out sensibly now. :-)

[trobadora]

It annoys me he's never properly called out for his treatment of Harriet, as though it's entirely okay. I'd like to see Jack give him a mouthful for that - hmm, hey, fic idea!

I like the way you think. :D

I don't understand the "Rose is the greatest" people either, though I think a lot of them came to Doctor Who with her. First companion and all that? I don't know. There were a lot of Rose/Ten shippers around, anyway, and so many of them just couldn't allow for the Doctor to care as much for anyone else, ever, in all his lives. It turned really ugly when Rose left. (

(I wonder if Jack's presence could have mitigated some of the worst excesses of the Ten-and-Rose dynamic. I don't think they could have stayed in that bubble with someone there to force them out of it ... Either that, or it would have been a million times more unbearable; you're right about that. But Rose and Jack had a good dynamic themselves, so ...)

Personally I never cared much about her; she was a
But I intensely disliked her giggly dynamic with Ten, and I hated the way she was constantly intruding on Martha's and Donna's tenure. I agree, Donna's dynamic with Ten was the best.

Aaand I could go into Jack's relationship with the Doctor, of course, but that needs a whole post of it's own.

I'm all in favour! :D

[auroracloud.livejournal.com]

Rose was the first Companion for me, too, yet she didn't remain my favourite though I liked her. But then, I'm not one of those people who imprint on the first thing they saw and think that must stay. I liked her well enough - she did some stupid stuff, but I liked her thirst to see the world and the way she in the first series cared about the people she met (in S2 that tended to be replaced by "what, the Doctor is talking to another woman? How horrible!"). And Billie had this shiny energy I enjoyed. But both Rose fans and the show itself raise her into something more amazing than she ever really was, it bugs me. RTD massively plays favourites when it comes to her, and I'm contrary enough that it makes me like her much less. *sighs* And yes, I hate the way she intruded on Martha and Donna's seasons. Especially Martha; the Doctor didn't even accept her as a full companion before almost halfway through the series, and Martha had to give herself the "I'm not second best" talk because the Doctor never would. All of her series was overshadowed by the fact that she wasn't Rose, and I hate it that it colours many fans' reactions to her as well. Though I sometimes am sorry I wasn't in the fandom when all those series were coming out the first time, on the other hand I'm massively glad to have been spared the Rose vs. Martha wars.

At least the Doctor properly appreciated Donna, but her story got a bit too sidetracked at times by the constant references to Rose returning - especially considering Rose didn't do that much special when she got there, in the end.

It is an interesting question whether Jack would have made the Ten/Rose dynamic better. He probably would have told the Doctor off for Harriet, and I'm pretty sure he'd have said something to them in Tooth and Claw - no matter how much he may mess around at times, he's a good soldier when things really have to get done, and I doubt he'd have shirked back from telling them to behave. And he's not someone who lets himself be ignored, so... either he'd have burst their bubble a bit, or he'd have gotten fed up and... left? I don't know?

It would be tempting to write an AU of S2 with Jack around; I've read a few of those in the past, but they tended to have too sunny an interpretation of Ten and his dynamic with Rose for my liking, so sometimes I'm tempted by the idea of writing my own. And Rose might, on the other hand, soften Ten's reaction to Jack's "wrongness". Possibly.

I definitely do want to do a Jack/Doctor relationship post some day, but I've no idea how long it will take me. I have too many thoughts. :-D