The Forever Trap and Other Who Things

[meddow]

I've been listening to the Forever Trap the past few nights. It's one of BBC's Doctor Who made-for-audio books and it's actually the second time I've listened to it, but it is so much win. The wonderfully Who-ish (i.e. delightfully bonkers) premise is the Doctor and Donna get conned into becoming residents in the trans-dimensional luxury apartment block from hell which has through an negligently indiscriminate housing policy become a anarchic disaster area. The resolution I think is a bit weak, but I think it's brilliant because firstly, Catherine Tate reads it, and she's always brilliant (and she gets to do lots of voices) and secondly, because it's pretty much two hours of the Doctor and Donna wandering around together and bantering. Even though there's no David Tennant, the chemistry comes through.

I was thinking about how those two are my favourite TARDIS team, and possibly my favourite television duo and I've decided my biggest criticism of the season four is that after TUATW, they were barely together. But then, thinking about it, the Midnight and Turn Left split was unavoidable and because those plots were about one coping in the absence of the other, and I loved both episode, so that’s okay and they were together through TSE/JE, sort of. So actually, my bone to pick with Silence/Forest since it did split them up for what seemed like the majority of the two-parter, and when they were together, it was all about River.

I don't mind River. I could have liked her a lot more if she hadn't come so shortly after The Doctor's Daughter and if we knew that it was actually going to be a storyline in the future, rather than another one-off character seemingly inserted just to die and make the Doctor a bit more miserable (they really shouldn't do that more than once a season). And while Alex Kingston and David Tennant acted their socks off, they just didn't seem to have as much chemistry. I do think it would be awesome if we meet one of his future companions out of chronological order, although the seeing them die and then getting to know them may be a bit too depressing.

Speaking of two-parter Doctor romances, with the Doctor regenerating, can they please bring back Joan Redfern? I adored her, and I'd love an episode in which they're accidentally reunited and there's the awkwardness of the Doctor running into someone who doesn't want to see him when he's got a new face. Actually, I just want to see what she got up to afterwards. Of all the characters of the new series after Donna, she's the one I want the most to be revisited. Their parting scene was so heartbreaking. Maybe I should write it as fanfic. (Damn, now I have an eleventh Doctor plot bunny, but since I have no idea what he's going to be like, I can't write it.)

Anyway, I'm at the phase where I'm doing season four retrospective. I'm going to say these two things it again, because maybe if I say it enough, it will happen. They should really bring back Donna before Ten regenerates. And I hope David Tennant and Catherine Tate work on another project together because those two are magic.

Comments

[lounge-lily.livejournal.com]

A hearty 'hell yes' to this whole post but in particular

They should really bring back Donna before Ten regenerates. And I hope David Tennant and Catherine Tate work on another project together because those two are magic.

From your lips to Gods (Russells) ears! I'm actually banking on Donna being with him for the regeneration after they've had a fabulous two-parter adventure! If we keep wishing for this out loud the the universe may just come through for us on this one.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

It does seem that everybody wants it to happen (I can't think of ever reading someone say they don't want Donna back). Hopefully that's enough.

[hibernate.livejournal.com]

I love The Forever Trap. :)

Donna and the Doctor were quite often separated, weren't they? Aside from the ones you mentioned, there's also Partners in Crime, in which they don't meet up until half-way through the episode. And in The Sontaran Stratagem / Poison Sky they were also apart for quite a lot of time.

There is pretty much nothing I want more than for Donna to come back in the Specials.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to do an episode count to see how Donna and Ten compare to Rose and Nine/Ten and Martha and Ten, because, thinking about it, I'm not actually sure if they were separated that much more often than the others. But, possibly, the appearance of Martha, Jenny, River & Companionapalooza made it feel like they had less time together.

I really want her back as well. I can't wait until they start filming and casting spoilers emerge.

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

I think Donna should be there when Ten regenerates. Just because she can't remember about their past travel, why can't he get to know her *again*? (There is probably some obvious canon reason, or will that make her burn too?). If they can get around that, I'd love to see it. Because lets face it, Ten is going to regenerate, and for the best dramatic effect, it is usually best if someone else is there (a companion). They have noted that Ten isn't going to have a regular companion for the specials, therefore, it is going to be weird having them react to a regeneration when they have only just met the guy. Even weirder if he regenerated alone. They should at least have Jack, or Martha or someone around who knows what the hell is going on! I don't like the idea of a one-off companion being the one to witness it... it is too epic for that. Or if they witness it, they have to stay on, kind of thing....?

I'm talking myself in circles now.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you. I'd much rather have a character who knows what's going on and is upset by it there than just some one-episode random going 'WTF!?' because, as you say it is to epic. They could stay on, but that would mean RTD's writing Moffat's first companion's openning episode, which I think would be unlikely to happen. I think the first episode of season five should introduce the new companion.

And Donna's the best candidate because there is unfinished business, and in my mind, Donna is Ten's definitive Companion. Although, I also wouldn't mind Wilf being there in her stead. But Martha, Jack, Sarah or Mickey (not Rose, Rose's story needs to end) would be lovely as well.

If Ten regenerates alone, it's pretty much a given I'm going to ball my eyes out. I can't think of a sadder, more upsetting way to end his life than to have a lonely man die alone. Although, I wouldn't put it past RTD to go there.

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Yea, I wouldn't put it past RTD either. The man is known to look into the hearts of fans, and pick the thing that will most upset them and then WRITE IT.

[adroidmortox247.livejournal.com]

I think you hit on one of the main reasons I disliked the Moffat story- not enough of Ten/Donna.

I will also say that I do agree with you on both your last points, particularly Donna coming back.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

I felt like he squandered them a lot. It was their last proper story together and he was more interested in his OC, which irritates me. And while I don't think they were the worst episodes of season four, it's the ones I like the least partly because of that.

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

This is my general problem with Moffat. He is a brilliant writer, I won't deny that, but his stories always tend to have his own character dominating over the Doctor/Companion relationship - which lets face it, is a huge part of the dynamic that I watch for. He has written *good* OC's as well, but there is always a tendency for them to overshadow. Let's look:

Jack Harkness - lets face it, Jack is very domineering as a character. He is fascinating, and clever, and he sweeps Rose off her feet for a bit. He is a very essential part in his two introductory episodes. That said, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances seem to be pretty spot on with the balance of Doctor/Companion/OC, and probably why it is such a beloved episode.

Madame de Pompadour - Moffat has Ten acting really out of character here. Sure, I may ship Ten/Rose, but even if I didn't, Ten's reaction here is still a bit odd. He just leaves Rose and Mickey to fend for themselves, and swans off with someone who is he seemingly attracted to (even though he spends half of School Reunion trying to explain why he can't ever get attached to anyone). Sure, you can argue this is Ten's way of dealing with Rose - showing her that she isn't the be all and end all.

That said, still a really good, well written episode. Rose only just ceases to become almost irrelevant in this episode because of the presence of Mickey. Once again, they both get pushed aside in favour of Madame de Pompadour.

Blink - Naturally, this is a Doctor-lite, so I can't quibble with this at all. I liked Sally Sparrow. She wasn't perfect, but she was pretty good for a character who had to have the WHOLE EPISODE on her shoulders. It was a damn good episode though, and faired a lot better (in my opinion) than Love and Monsters (as much as I adore Marc Warren in that).

Forest of the Dead, etc: RIVER SONG. ACK. She totally takes over, and she isn't even that charismatic or interesting and I can't see *why* the Doctor finds her special in the least. If you are going to write someone into the Doctor's chronology at least make her *likable* to the viewer. Most people I've come across in fandom do NOT like her at all. Whether that is poor casting or poor writing, I don't know. But once again, the Companion/Doctor dynamic is rendered completely in the background, because Moffat splits them up, and proceeds to pair them off with different people.

Hopefully now that Moffat can create his own companion from scratch this won't be so much of an issue any more.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm hoping with him running the show and creating the companion himself, that trend will end as well.

Jack was well balanced. I though actually, the romance with Rinette perfectly fit in after School Reunion and the Doctor saying he couldn't be with people forever because they grow old and die. By having Rinette grow old and die in an episode, it gives the audience a (near to) immortals perspective on a human life. So while School Reunion gave the Companion's perspective through Sarah and Rose, GitF, gave the Doctor's. (I view those two episode as a thematic two-parter).

But yes, still, while it lent some wonderful insight onto the Doctor's relationship with humans in general, it did distract from the Ten/Rose/Mickey relationship (and that was the one episode those three were properly travelling together as a team as well).

I don't get why fandom loves Sally so much. She was refreshing and the actress was brilliant, but I didn't find her particularly interesting as a character. And yes, I just did not understand why River was so special that she got to know his name (that was what bugged me about her. Not the relationship thing, but the name thing. He'd never told anyone his name up to that point, ever, which automatically makes her more special than any other friends, lovers & companions up to that point, which sets off a kneejerk reaction of me not liking her because it implies the others (many of whom I adore to pieces) are not as good as her. (It's the same reason there's a lot of Rose hate).

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Not the relationship thing, but the name thing. He'd never told anyone his name up to that point, ever, which automatically makes her more special than any other friends, lovers & companions up to that point, which sets off a kneejerk reaction of me not liking her because it implies the others (many of whom I adore to pieces) are not as good as her. (It's the same reason there's a lot of Rose hate).


A THOUSAND TIMES YES.

I think you've basically described why I don't like her! I could have tolerated her if she was just another companion, or even an important companion. The name thing made her trump everyone EVER and I couldn't see why, nor did I want her to.

DONNA

[(Anonymous)]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ~ NOT DONNA, I just couldn't stand her. I know I am a voice crying in the wilderness but I will be happy with ANTONE else (preferebly Rose) but NOT Donna