Doctor Who: The Planet of the Ood

[butterfly]

The funny Donna season is not supposed to make me tear up every single episode.

Absolutely loved this. I love that the Ood actually had everything well in hand -- it was a chance for the Doctor to see that the universe doesn't always lean all of its weight on him, that other people and other species can pick up the slack and save themselves.

Once again, there's that damnable hope rising up. What does the Doctor's song ending mean? And they played his song, the one that means his home and his nature (the one that was interwoved into the sounds that represented Rose's determination, and we heard that part of the Doomsday good-bye song again in Partners in Crime -- the two elements are still separated, for now). He's allowed to share in the joy of freeing the Ood and hearing their song.

Donna hearing the full weight and pain of the Ood's captivity -- seeing the horror of the Doctor's world and longing to back away, as she did in The Runaway Bride. This was supposed to be her holiday and she's seen a city burn, a species in captivity, and dozens of people (human and Ood) killed. But she's also seen grace and new beginnings. Which burns stronger for her right now -- the wonder or the horror?

Comments

[pluckyyounggirl.livejournal.com]

Heh! We posted almost at the same time. :-D

The funny Donna season is not supposed to make me tear up every single episode.

Oh, man, I KNOW. It kind of makes me love it even more. Much more than I was expecting to love it, anyway. *pats show*

Absolutely loved this. I love that the Ood actually had everything well in hand -- it was a chance for the Doctor to see that the universe doesn't always lean all of its weight on him, that other people and other species can pick up the slack and save themselves.

That's a really good point - I hadn't even thought about it like that, but you're absolutely right, of course. And now that I'm seeing it, I'm loving that aspect of it, too.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Heh! We posted almost at the same time. :-D

And you've got an Ood icon over on your post! Lovely. Yay for the Ood (and yay for Donna).

Oh, man, I KNOW. It kind of makes me love it even more. Much more than I was expecting to love it, anyway. *pats show*

It continues to surprise me. That makes me very happy.

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

I'm really liking Donna's character arc right now. The pacing is working for me. Much better than last year's with Martha.

What does the Doctor's song ending mean?
The sad song that reminds me of Doomsday will end and will be replaced with something that won't make me cry? It's too early for me to spec.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I'm really liking Donna's character arc right now. The pacing is working for me. Much better than last year's with Martha.

Yeah. I'm not sure what kind of crack they were pulling with that. Because parts of her arc were good and then there were these bits that went far too fast and other bits that just dragged on forever. Very badly-paced, Martha's character arc.

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

I'd liked to think they're learning because the Donna character arc and her relationship with the Doctor is moving at a really good pace. I'm also really excited for Martha. I'm pretty sure there is a reason she's going to be there. So I don't think they'll waste her.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- it looks like Martha has an actual plot all her own. I'm quite looking forward to it.

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

And with UNIT. I can't wait to see how they develop.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yes! After everything we've been seeing with UNIT, I'm vastly curious about what else we're going to learn about them.

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

And how they've affected Martha. I cannot believe I'm so excited about her showing up.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm also really excited for Martha. I'm pretty sure there is a reason she's going to be there. So I don't think they'll waste her.

I am, too. I actually cheered when I saw her in the promo. I look forward to seeing Unit, and seeing how Donna & Martha interact. And how the Doctor deals with them interacting. ;-)

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

I cannot wait until the Doctor answers the phone and talks to Martha. I think it'll be really cute.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Companions interacting is love! Well, we've only had a couple of examples so far, but I'm looking forward to seeing more. Especially if the Doctor gives them that face.

[freeze883.livejournal.com]

The funny Donna season is not supposed to make me tear up every single episode.

I just knew you would react like this, and I'm totally with you of course

Oh I just loved this episode so much for Donna caring about people, she reminds me of Rose and Sarah Jane (and Jack, Gwen and Ianto) in that respect.

I couldn't help but think of Rose (like Donna) reacting like I would to the horror of the Ood being slaves while the Doctor has to be told before he gets it. He's too busy running from the "red eyes" at the start. Not that I can blame him there I guess but it's all very Dalek for a moment which is nice.

I remember complaining a lot last year that Martha didn't do this enough for my taste, well not until the end where caring for people and bringing them hope became her mission

What does the Doctor's song ending mean?

Oh that bit was interesting, I'm kinda looking forward to your posts on that (I just assume it will happen)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Oh I just loved this episode so much for Donna caring about people, she reminds me of Rose and Sarah Jane (and Jack, Gwen and Ianto) in that respect.

Yeah. It really reminds you of why the Doctor needs companions (especially humans). He gets so caught up in whatever he's doing that he misses the people. It's not that he doesn't care when he notices... he just forgets to notice, sometimes. The companion is good for (metaphorically) smacking him upside the head.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I had a scary thought that what if the Doctor's song ending means a regeneration is coming? I know the regeneration is coming sooner or later, but frankly I'd rather put it off as long as possible.

So I think I'd rather stick to the better option, which is that his sad song is ending, because Rose is returning.

And poor Donna. She thought she was going on holiday, and instead she's seen catastrophe and slavery. She's very good for the Doctor, though.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I possibly have hopes that are far too high regarding Rose, but only months ago, anyone who thought Rose might come back someday was deemed 'delusional', so I'm actually feeling rather chipper about my hopes.

They're based in analysis of canon, what RTD says about character motivation, the fact that Billie loves Rose as much as we do and probably wouldn't have signed back on if something truly horrible was planned, and the weight of the Doctor's grief in S3. And the episodes we've had thus far in S4 seem to be weighted much more towards new beginnings and second chances than loss and tragedy. And the Doctor's been having much less weight placed on his shoulders this year as well -- Donna helped him take some off in the first two episodes and then the Ood were pretty much entirely responsible for their own freedom in this one.

And poor Donna. She thought she was going on holiday, and instead she's seen catastrophe and slavery. She's very good for the Doctor, though.

Like Martha, Donna is definitely having her moments of regretting that she came along -- but she's definitely very good for the Doctor and I think that traveling with the Doctor has already helped her. She was looking for purpose and a way to travel that was off the beaten path and now she's got that in spades ('be careful what you wish for', yeah?).

[whowhore.livejournal.com]

One of the highlights of the episode for me was Donna wanting to hear the Ood slavery song and then unable emotionaly to deal with it and realising that the Doctor couldn't have the song taken away from him :-(
Loving the 'doctor mind-meld' thing
Those emotional dramatic moments between the Doctor and Donna make me keep tuning in each week, last weeks Pompeii end scenes were equally as emotional
Having said that I found Donna's 'over-egged' awe at arriving at the Ood sphere a bit annoying. I'm not saying there wouldn't be awe but it was just a bit too much, I guess a bit like new companion must get excited over new planet 'by numbers'
Still preferring Donna to early season Martha atm
Martha 'written' in LOTTL & Torchwood was very good & looking forward to her next week

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

The Doctor and Donna have really great chemistry together -- they make marvelous friends. I'm really enjoying them.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

I need to watch again -- but did they mean the Doctor's song, or Donna's?

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

They appeared to be addressing the Doctor, however they also kinda addressed them as one unit 'DoctorDonna - Friends of the Ood'. So, it could be about her.