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Post by jjpor on Jun 6, 2010 21:38:11 GMT
Er, well, there wasn't a thread about this week's ep, so I thought I'd make one. Please white everything out in the interest of avoiding spoilers, otherwise Newton might be forced to do something...terrible to you...
*I'm sure this one will divide opinion, for quite a few reasons, but... I've commented before on sentiment and angst in NuWho, usually with a sneer and a flippant remark, but this week's... I don't mind telling you, I "got something in my eye", bigtime, just before the end there. This wasn't a perfect story, by any means, not even the best of Eleven so far, although I'm sure some people will differ on that, but it was touching to me in a way that stuff like Rose on the beach in Doomsday just wasn't. Maybe because it was about something real, maybe because it didn't try and foist any pat answers or contrived happy endings on the audience. So yeah, I liked this one. A lot better than Chris @#!&ing Chibnall and his Silurians, anyway. Richard Curtis can come again, I'd say.
Be interested to know what other people thought of this one, because there were some "issues" raised which I'm sure may cause differences of opinion*
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Post by librarylover on Jun 6, 2010 22:25:51 GMT
I just finished watching it.
** Although I agree with JJ that it wasn't a perfect episode, it was funny, sweet, touching, and sad; I really enjoyed it. Tony Curran and Bill Nighy were both great. The fact that he painted 2 of my all-time favorite paintings makes me especially glad that Vincent got to see how important his work became. The starry night scene was total win. I eagerly await the fanvids to the song "Vincent" by Don McLean. **
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lostspook
Auton Daisy
(Icon made by bibliophile1887)
Posts: 503
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Post by lostspook on Jun 7, 2010 7:00:50 GMT
I absolutely agree with both of you. (I was even moved enough to write what might be a reaction post on LJ, so i won't repeat myself here.)
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Post by merrythemad on Jun 7, 2010 14:00:42 GMT
LL, I'm working on right now, the VId you mentioned, lol!
Okay, YES there was usual "HISTORICAL EARTHLING IS SO PERFECT DOCTOR DROOLS" there was "THE ANGRIFYING PLOT HOLE FROM HELL" (painting over Irises grrrrr) but this episode was LOVELY even when they shoved how beautiful Amy is (AGAIN) down our throats,I also loved that they weren't able to fix it, my favourite part was Vincent weeping in his bed over how they would be gone again and he would be SO alone. Sure it was a bit contrived, but in a lackluster series, this little gem shines! I have more to say but I can't remember just now, so reply to me so we can discuss!
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Post by librarylover on Jun 7, 2010 23:57:57 GMT
LL, I'm working on right now, the VId you mentioned, lol! Bless you Merry! I really would love to do it, but I'm a video neophyte and I just don't have the time. I actually listened to that song multiple times today, and imagined what scenes I would use.
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Post by jjpor on Jun 8, 2010 21:27:06 GMT
*The thing about this story was that there were so many reasons why I shouldn't have liked it - dodgy plot, slightly rubbish monster, bad, bad structuring (climax about 15 minutes before the end, just like Rusty sometimes used to do), but none of that seemed important. The central story about the Doctor and Amy meeting Van Gogh was just so well done; it moved me, in a way NuWho almost never has. In fact, never has, full stop. Tony Curran was ace as the guest star - Bill Nighy was ace too in what was a small part really. He really sold that speech at the end which could have come across as gushing and jarring - really sold it. Matt Smith was great too, and there were some nice little character points in the script. And we'll agree to disagree on Karen Gillan, Merry; for me, she's still doing a good job. ;D But yeah, all round it was lovely, and I look forward to seeing that vid.*
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Post by clocketpatch on Jun 8, 2010 22:46:31 GMT
Tonight on a Very Special Episode of Doctor Who...
I am in awe of the Moff, his writing team, and the actors. Because they just pulled off something that is nigh impossible and did it with sensitivity and subtly... two things that the show isn't always so well known for.
The bit where Van Gogh explained that he was actually happy. The Doctor explaining that depression is a complex thing (only to get cut off before it started REALLY turning into a Very Special Episode). The Doctor dancing around waiting for paint to dry. Okay, so the plot was basically non-existent and full of holes the size of giant space chickens but like JJ says that wasn't the point. I'm guessing it probably wasn't particularly historically accurate either (and, personally, I'm made just a little bit uneasy by the fact that this is about a real person... something that hasn't happened to me with any of the other Doctor Meets a Historical Figure stories of NuWho)... but, that wasn't really the point either. The fact that they dealt with the stigma of mental illness and didn't shy away from showing the good and the ugly without going over the top...
Like I said, this. THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!
The absence of Rory and the way that was played kept getting something in my eye.
The starry night scene got it out, but in a good way. The "there's nothing so beautiful..." line. Oh, how I love this show sometimes. (granted, I also couldn't help thinking that it woul suck to listen to this episode if you were blind and depressed but, moving on...)
For some reason it really stuck with me that Amy's first reaction when she learned that they hadn't changed history was to mourn the loss of the painting that could have been. Not the man she's just met, but the painting she might have enjoyed. Except, she clearly did feel very broken about Van Gogh. It's led me back to my earlier assumption that some thing's just slightly off with Amy. She knows it. Rory knew it (and kept trying to warn the Doctor about it). I think the Doctor might have figured it out by this point. Also, I think Amy might have just realized that travelling with the Doctor isn't an instant cure-all. It's just a good bit.
Anyway, if what I'm thinking about Amy isn't all in my head, then I'm also thinking that Team Moff just proved that they can handle it.
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Post by Stripes on Jun 8, 2010 23:00:44 GMT
Clocket, because I love, LOVE Richard Curtis who wrote this episode, please not do put Richard as part of "the Moff team". Richard has never wrote a DW epsiode, this was his first and only epsiode. He wrote it to prove to his kids he could write Scifi.
I love Richard... I love his work, do not call him ""the Moff team." *protects on of her favourtie writers.
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Post by clocketpatch on Jun 8, 2010 23:14:03 GMT
Eh? I'll take him off the Moff Team if you like, but I think he's on it by default now (for this one episode anyway... I mean, I'm just lumping everyone who worked on this episode together for the sake of complimenting them all). Because they deserve complimenting. Each and every single person who worked on this is getting compliments in spades from me. I really, really, really liked this episode (I had issues with it as well which will probably come out in a rant later, after I've watched it again and lost the rose glasses).
Also... for some reason I didn't make the Richard Curtis was the writer connection. My knowledge of him and his work, it is small. I's heard his name being bandied about... but I'd though he was the actor playing Van Gogh. No, really. *hangs head in shame*
Yes, I can be clueless with the best of them.
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Post by Stripes on Jun 8, 2010 23:20:19 GMT
You have point, it did take a team to create the episode. Still. Richard should get his credit, he WROTE it after all.
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Post by clocketpatch on Jun 8, 2010 23:22:36 GMT
YES! And now that I realize he is the writer and not the actor (I'd honestly had no idea who the writer was previously, hence me saying "Moff Team" vaguely) I will throw much love and in his direction. Though, I'd also like to throw some love at the camera men and visual directors because GAH that cinematography was beautiful. Finally, I am KICKING myself for not going to d'Osay in Paris. I wanted too SO BAD. Stupid Paris flu ruining everything (that and my room mate who had no interest in the impressionists bah. Being sick I didn't want to argue it. That's okay though. It was still fun)
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Post by librarylover on Jun 9, 2010 2:45:01 GMT
YES! And now that I realize he is the writer and not the actor (I'd honestly had no idea who the writer was previously, hence me saying "Moff Team" vaguely) I will throw much love and in his direction. Though, I'd also like to throw some love at the camera men and visual directors because GAH that cinematography was beautiful. Finally, I am KICKING myself for not going to d'Osay in Paris. I wanted too SO BAD. Stupid Paris flu ruining everything (that and my room mate who had no interest in the impressionists bah. Being sick I didn't want to argue it. That's okay though. It was still fun) I totally agree with you that the production team deserves major kudos for that episode. It was visually magnificent. As for missing the D'Orsay, I'm sure it would be wonderful, but it's not like all of those paintings are actually in one museum. For example The Starry Night is part of the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York. So if you love that one (like I do) you are actually far closer to it than you may have thought!
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Post by jjpor on Jun 9, 2010 20:58:58 GMT
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Post by Stripes on Jun 16, 2010 16:38:36 GMT
I have only watched 10 minutes of this and I can't help but laugh. WTF that is not a Dutch Accent. "Are you dutch like me?" WTF NO NO NO We don't sound Scottish at all. Oh man oh man i lol so much.
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Post by jjpor on Jun 16, 2010 21:28:51 GMT
Yes, I LOL'd at that bit too, but I think you were meant to; I think it's supposed to be like the bit in Fires of Pompeii where the Doctor's explaining to Donna about the TARDIS's translation thing.
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Post by merrythemad on Jun 17, 2010 17:12:09 GMT
WAIT!! Do not get me wrong, I like Amy, I like KAren GIllam, I like the character even! I just don't like that every blessed week someone or another is gushing over how very lovely Amy is and the weeks they arent gushing Amy is busy saving the day, it's THE WRITING I dislike the writers are shoving how pretty and how smart and how great she is down our thraots rather than just letting the character (and it IS a good one) speak for itself.
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Post by timeywimeyding on Jun 17, 2010 19:04:43 GMT
Yeah, I'm guessing that whatever it is translates words and things in the TARDIS also translates accents.
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Post by Stripes on Jun 17, 2010 21:40:22 GMT
Yeah, I'm guessing that whatever it is translates words and things in the TARDIS also translates accents. you know, I never thought about that. It makes sense that the tardis would be also do accents, then again, some people have noticed that the doctor and his companions are foreigners, and part of it must be due to lack of natural accent.
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