Doctor Who 4.5x01 - The Next Doctor

[butterfly]

The Next Doctor

I thought that this episode was beautiful and delicate and very well-done.

A couple of moments really hurt my heart -- when Jackson Lake, having been told that his son gives him a reason to live, asks the Doctor, "You haven't?" and the Doctor's silence is so telling. Him saying to Ms. Hartigan, "The question is, what do you make of me? This is what you make me," just before he sends the wave that lets her realize the extent of what she's done, causing her suicide.

And, of course, "I suppose that they break my heart." His reason for not having a companion along with him anymore. The nod to Donna, his most recent heartbreak, but also to all the others.

There were some really lovely, heartwarming moments -- tiny squee at him calling Rosita 'a good name', all of his allusions to previous companions. Him agreeing to stay to Christmas dinner. I was so glad about that. I loved the glimpse we had of all ten Doctors in the Cybermen's imprint device (and, while the sketch in HN confirmed that the Eighth Doctor was canon, it's nice to have that reaffirmed here).

The story of Jackson Lake and how he'd imprinted on the Doctor was really sad and lovely and he was a great character (compare and contrast: Jackson's 'corrupt' and very full of memory holes imprinting versus Donna's full exposure to the Doctor's mind... Jackson can't handle staying in the TARDIS for too long). Rosita was also really wonderful.

All in all, I just really loved every moment of the special. And it just reminded me that... oh, for all that I'm glad that David is getting to do other things to stretch himself and how thrilled I am for him, I'm going to miss his Doctor. So much.

David M. did such a good job as Jackson Lake/'the Doctor' and he did have all the chemistry that I was hoping he would still have with David T.

Comments

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

The Davids really have such fabulous chemistry with each other, don't they? I found myself wishing that Jackson could stick around as companion. Or really be Eleven, because he was Just That Good.

This episode was jut wonderful, wasn't it? And it didn't completely rip your heart out like the last two specials, thank goodness. :-)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

The Davids really have such fabulous chemistry with each other, don't they? I found myself wishing that Jackson could stick around as companion. Or really be Eleven, because he was Just That Good.

He really was! He did such a great part with the role and made all the different emotional beats feel so natural and lovely.

This episode was jut wonderful, wasn't it? And it didn't completely rip your heart out like the last two specials, thank goodness. :-)

Yes. Christmas dinner, in remembrance of what's lost. It felt very fitting. It's not the giddy joy of the end of TCI, but it's not the fresh pain of TRB or VotD. He can sit and remember. No invitations, because he's not ready for that again, but there's still hope, because he changed his mind and said yes.

[solitude-82.livejournal.com]

i thought the same. david m really had that doctor feel to him and i would've loved to have him as eleven. but at the same time, i sort of love the rumours going around that james nesbitt could be considered for the doctor. i love that man

[unfolded73.livejournal.com]

Agreed on all counts. They struck a perfect balance of sad and hopeful with the Doctor, didn't they?

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

They really did! I loved the emotional places that they took him here. He's still carrying all that weight, but he bounces back, the way he does.

[carpenyx.livejournal.com]

I was simply blown away by this special. The chemistry between both Davids was perfection. The acknowledgments of the previous companions... and heartbreak line really threw me. I loved it. And agree with everything you said.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It was utterly fabulous! I hope that all of the RTD specials are just as good!

[calicokat.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm going to give it a go. You're the first person on my flist who's had anything nice to say about it at all. But if I don't go in expecting too much I can't be too disappointed, either. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised?

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

That's funny -- I don't think there's anyone on my flist who didn't at least enjoy it, though not everyone loved it the way that I do.

[solitude-82.livejournal.com]

this is probably my favourite special out of all of them. i loved it to bits. i did tear up a few times though...one being when jackson asked ten if he had no one and he was eerily silent and then at the end when he talked about companions breaking his heart. it almost makes me think he might go companionless for the season 5 specials and just meet someone different in each one. i haven't read any spoilers on s5 so that's just pure speculation.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It was a very enjoyable episode! I still like "The Christmas Invasion" a bit more, but this was very close to beating it.

it almost makes me think he might go companionless for the season 5 specials and just meet someone different in each one. i haven't read any spoilers on s5 so that's just pure speculation.

I'm not sure whether or not they've announced casting information, but based on this episode, I would agree with you.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I loved that special too. Just finished watching it and I think I'm going to do it again before I go to bed tonight! The chemistry between the two davids was a joy to see, I so agree. I thought it was both intense and very sweet. They made such a great team!

And I ached for them both too throughout the episode.

In conclusion: a great episode!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It really was! I had a lot of fun watching it and it ended on a much more cheering note than the last two Christmas specials. David T. and David M. make a great team.

[pluckyyounggirl.livejournal.com]

I thought it was alright. There were some really wonderful moments, and you've already mentioned most of them; but I did feel that the second half was dragging a bit. A lot of others have said that they're happy it was cheery for once, but I really didn't get that from it. I thought it was mostly sad, but appropriately so.

The Davids together are, of course, teh Awesome. No arguments there.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

They have a lot of chemistry together!

I think that it was happier than both of the previous Christmas specials (though certainly not just plain happy the way TCI was). Or, at least, much less raw and painful for the Doctor. He still has a lot of grief here, but mostly subdued.