(no subject)

[rynne]

Dear Moffat,

There's this thing, maybe you haven't heard of it? It's called ORIGINALITY. Look it up some time.

No love,
me

I wanted to like this episode, I really did, but it mostly went back and forth between "meh" and "dislike".

Apart from River Song, the ensemble just isn't distinctive. It's like Moffat disregarded everyone else so he could give her more attention, and it was obvious. And it's not like it's impossible to create a well-fleshed ensemble, where everyone gets their own personality and history--see TIP/TSP for lessons.

But seriously, List of Things I Recognized That Moffat Has Done Before:
--51st century, thus far only not mentioned in Blink
--squareness gun
--using said squareness gun to open a hole in the wall to escape from a zombie
--random love interest
--zombies infected with something chasing after people
--creepy little kids, both of whom are sympathetic in some way as well as creepy
--talking to someone out of a TV/computer screen
--episode openers whose scenes we get to later in the episode
--the Doctor being something of an idiot (in GitF, he forgot about the difference in time passing; here he wanted to know about his personal future--note that both of these have something to do with time travel, which is his area of expertise, supposedly)
--little girl linked to the future
--mechanical things masquerading/being like people (clockwork robots, statues with faces)

And that's only the things I noticed, while trying not to get bored. Because, that's right, I was also trying not to get bored. And normally, if I can say one thing about Moffat, it's that he does write pretty gripping stories--but not this time. This really got rather repetitive. Okay, let's play a few rounds of "The Doctor is cryptic, people don't want to listen, and he needs to repeat himself!" Also, while the ghosting thing with Miss Evangelista was sad and all, it felt drawn out far too long. I kept wanting things move.

Also, hold on, the Doctor lied about why they ended up in the library? Why would he do that? He's gotten cryptic messages with the psychic paper before (New Earth) and had no problem saying so. Then, not only did he lie, but Donna apparently had no problem with it. What? Donna would not let that go without saying something. Feels like another example of Moffat's somewhat...skewed notion of gender relations.

...How do these Vashta Nerada (sp?) manage to have enough mass to animate the suit?

And I just...didn't like River Song. I was willing to give her a chance, but I just didn't like her. Once she figured out that this was the Doctor before he met her, nearly everything she said and did along the lines of "spoilers" felt rather...smug. Especially the diary and the sonic screwdriver thing. And I just don't know why Moffat would introduce her now. I don't know if he knew he would be the next showrunner when he wrote it (I assume he would have found out awhile before the public did, but it still might have been too early), but it just doesn't seem something appropriate to introduce in a season where there's so much focus on and build-up for Rose coming back.

ETA: Also, I just have no reason to care about River Song. The Doctor isn't invested in her, so neither am I, really. We don't know her, and pretty much everything she said is designed specifically so we don't get to know her--spoiling us spoils the Doctor. So, Moffat, why should I care about this random woman who thinks she's something special to the Doctor?

I think the only ways Moffat might save her for me are if she's A: Romana, or B: Jenny. Otherwise, no.

This episode just...didn't seem as clever as Moffat usually is. Very disappointing.

Comments

[shinyopals.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I'd be the first to admit I'm not exactly what you'd call a Moffat fan, but I usually appreciate him for his plots and his humour and while it was still funny, the plot felt very recycled.

I didn't dislike River, but I just didn't feel anything for her. Why am I supposed to care about this random woman?

[rynne.livejournal.com]

I didn't even think it was that funny. :( This episode just seemed a total flop, really.

And yes. I have no reason to care about River. The same thing that prevents the Doctor from getting to know her also prevents the audience, which seems rather like shooting yourself in the foot.

I'm so, so glad the last four episodes are all RTD!

[avoria.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Oh, agreed, SO much (although, granted, I haven't got to the end of what you were saying yet).

For starters:

Dear Moffat,

There's this thing, maybe you haven't heard of it? It's called ORIGINALITY. Look it up some time.

BEST. RESPONSE. EVER. Really.

*reads more*

I wanted to like this episode, I really did, but it mostly went back and forth between "meh" and "dislike".

Yup, same. I avoided spoilers just so I could really really enjoy it. That didn't work.

And normally, if I can say one thing about Moffat, it's that he does write pretty gripping stories--but not this time.

Yup, agree with that, too. I outlined a couple of reasons at my own journal, but really, this plot was too weak. I think he bit of fmore than he could chew. Conceptually, it's an amazing idea. It just wasn't filmed in accordance. Also. Plastic skeletons just do not scare me. Skeletons are "scary" anyway. Walking statues, until Blink, weren't.

And I just...didn't like River Song. I was willing to give her a chance, but I just didn't like her. Once she figured out that this was the Doctor before he met her, nearly everything she said and did along the lines of "spoilers" felt rather...smug.

That's it! That's it exactly. I didn't like her either, and I really wanted to -- oh, how I wanted to. But she was... smug! All the bloody time! The way the Doctor is, but we don't know her well enough for her to pull it off, so she just comes across as an up her own arse arsehole. Eugh.

Love this reaction, anyway. Seems to be a general standard :P

ETA: Sorry, didn't realise how much I rambled all over your journal; let me clean that up XD

[rynne.livejournal.com]

SERIOUSLY. I know Moffat likes to reference himself, but here it felt more like he was just taking things from old episodes because he couldn't think of anything better.

I kept reading spoilers, to prepare myself. And maybe I was semi-prepared for River Song, but not for the sheer flatness of the episode.

Moffat usually does a good job with making things creepy that aren't usually creepy, like little kids in gas masks, or clockwork robots, or statues of angels. Here, he has shadows and skeletons, both of which are utterly cliche.

That's it! That's it exactly. I didn't like her either, and I really wanted to -- oh, how I wanted to. But she was... smug! All the bloody time! The way the Doctor is, but we don't know her well enough for her to pull it off, so she just comes across as an up her own arse arsehole. Eugh.

Yes. Complete and utter word. We can forgive the Doctor's smugness, because we know he has reason to be smug. We don't have reason to be so forgiving with this random new character.

[ivydoor.livejournal.com]

Also, hold on, the Doctor lied about why they ended up in the library? Why would he do that? He's gotten cryptic messages with the psychic paper before (New Earth) and had no problem saying so. Then, not only did he lie, but Donna apparently had no problem with it. What? Donna would not let that go without saying something. Feels like another example of Moffat's somewhat...skewed notion of gender relations.

Not only that, but he lies again later and tells her it was to get her to shut up. And Donna SAYS NOTHING. That is NOT the Donna I know and love. Their relationship was so OCC and it infected my viewing of this episode with discomfort.

Also, I do agree that River Song was smug. And I didn't feel a thing for her when she was waxing misery about how he doesn't know her yet. I felt nothing for her.

Oh! Now, I hadn't thought of the Jenny thing. My pet theory is she's Romana, but I doubt that's going to happen. Jenny, especially in light of Moffat specifically requesting she survive, makes a LOT more sense. I'm adopting that, if you don't mind.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Not only that, but he lies again later and tells her it was to get her to shut up.

Ugh, did he really? I must have blocked it out of my mind. That's not Donna, and that's not even the Doctor. The only time I can recall him admitting he lied is in Gridlock, and that was for a much better reason. The relationship was rather OOC. *sigh*

Also, I do agree that River Song was smug. And I didn't feel a thing for her when she was waxing misery about how he doesn't know her yet. I felt nothing for her.

Yes. We have no history with her, no reason to especially care when she's sad the Doctor doesn't know her yet, since we also don't know her. And I'm not sure we'll be able to get to know her, if she continues to be intent on the "no spoilers" policy.

I'd like her a lot better if she were Jenny. Then we'd have a reason to be invested in her. I'm just...really hope the whole love interest implications are a giant red herring.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yes, to every single thing that you said. It's like, now that Moffat knows he's going to be the show runner, he's not even trying anymore. There wasn't an ounce of original thought in this entire episode.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

I still hate GitF, but at least that was interesting. Frankly, the only redeeming qualities I see this having are the title and a bit of witty dialogue!

[tsukara.livejournal.com]

Not only recycled from himself, but recycled from other people's ideas as well. Not outright theft mind you, just that everything he did in the episode has been done before in some form or another.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed some of that too. *sigh* It was just...not a good episode.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I was in chat with a bunch of people last night, bitching about the episode, and we pretty much agreed with everything you said. Especially,

It's like Moffat disregarded everyone else so he could give her more attention, and it was obvious.

Yeah. None of the other new characters were the least bit interesting, and Donna and the Doctor were almost relegated to the background themselves. Then, River Song wasn't even interesting enough to actually have that much attention.

I think the only ways Moffat might save her for me are if she's A: Romana, or B: Jenny.

And I just don't think he's going to do that. He seems to prefer his own characters.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

The new characters were all generic, insert-name-here, except for Horror Movie Cliche girl and River Song. And River totally felt like she was stealing the show, since it seemed like the Doctor's only purpose was to give warnings that everyone disregarded until River said to believe him. *sigh*

I doubt she's Romana or Jenny. I agree that he seems to prefer his own characters, but I can always hope he makes some effort at continuity...even if I'm pretty much bound to be disappointed.

[midnightzstorm.livejournal.com]

Oh, I completely agree. Why can't the guy just pick a different century. After RTD leaves the whole series will take place then and the Doctor will have a different girl in every episode.

Also I would think that Moffat and the other writers would catch on that River Song isn't very likable. She seems kind of Mary Suish. Hopefully she will be evil/fake or something like that.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

I just don't want her to be exactly what she seems. As it is, this episode really just wasn't very interesting. I doubt she's the little girl, though--or if she is, I think the rest of the expedition would be too, with them all in her mind or something.

[midnightzstorm.livejournal.com]

Oh, just came up with something, sorry for the double post, but what if the little girl is River Song.... They never say the kid's name.