The Doctor's Wife Review: "I'm alive..."

[dweomeroflight]

Sorry for such a late write up flist but this was too good an episode to not rewatch and have a think about. Bloody hell Neil Gaiman. I love you for writing this. This was my favourite episode of s6 so far. Pirates of the Whoniverse was too meh for me and kind of fillerish and the opening two parter is too much of an unknown quantity. The problem with the two parter is that it asked more questions than it answered which means depending on how the episodes are resolved will depend on my enjoyment on future rewatches (but by the way in Moffat I trust).

I haven't enjoyed a Who episode this much since... oh wait... The Big Bang lol. I've noticed that my preferred episodes are always the ones which emphasise the fairy story like quality that Dr Who holds, refers back to previous show canon, and reminds me of just how adventurous, lovable, ludicrous and well silly but endlessly fun this show really is.

Review under cut



I didn't look at any spoilers so I had no idea that Idris was the TARDIS till it was spelt out for me. I liked the actress playing the TARDIS a lot and she reminded me of a curious mix of Miranda Richardson (voice, facial features) and Helena Bonham Carter (the hair, make up and outfit and sometimes the kind of 'fruity' accent). Someone else pointed out the symmetry of her saying Goodbye when she meant Hello at the start and how this was reflected in turn at the end and I loved how at the end we didn't get anymore lame proclaiments of love but rather a simple, "Hello Doctor... it's so very, very, nice to meet you." And the whole 'sad word' and 'alive' bit was also lovely. I admit to crying.

I liked the idea of the TARDIS stealing The Doctor as much as the other way around and I also loved the fact that we learnt that the TARDIS always takes him where he needs to go, not where he wants to go. Very cool.

I thought Matt Smith was exceptional in this, from the anger, to the sadness, to the mad man without his box, to the obtuseness about sex, to the old man in a young man body vibe. One of my favourite parts in the whole episode was The Doctor talking to the TARDIS at the end, the TARDIS moving him where he needs to go, and The Doctor kind of dancing around full of this utterly insane joy that had me grinning like the Chesshire Cat. Another favourite part was when The Doctor said about House, "you know what you're problem is, as big as a planet, and yet on the inside so very... small." Or something like that. It was a very well delivered line. I also liked the "bigger on the inside" comparison between TARDIS and a human being. Very clever.

Rory and Amy in the TARDIS was terrifying but again made me happy to see how much Amy/Rory love each other. Somebody else pointed out to me that the 'old man Rory' who had waited another bunch of years for Amy was a reflection of her subconsciousness and her guilt over "The lonely centurion," which I think is a pretty neat observation. By the way, I also have Rory 'lonely centurion' fic here if anyone is interested:

http://eleven-fic.livejournal.com/7137.html

I also loved the lovely sequence of "Crimson, eleven, delight, the smell of dust after rain." That delight equalled laughter at Amy's wedding to Rory, indicates to me that regardless of how Amy acts, deep down she will always love Rory. I also loved the bunk bed stuff. Oh Doctor. Keep on being clueless.

Finally, I shall leave you with the quote about Doctor/companions/TARDIS. "Oh you and her. You two will be here long after the rest of us have gone." Doctor Who in five seconds? I think so. To quote Amy from The Big Bang, "very clever... very, very clever," Mr Gaiman. Very clever indeed.

Even if the rest of series six is rubbish, I will always love this episode. Beautiful, touching, horrific, uplifting and overall full of hope, one of my most favourite episodes of Doctor Who ever...

Comments

[squint13.livejournal.com]

It was such a wonderful episode. I have to say, on my first watch I didn't cry all that much, maybe because I was so caught up in it all, and so happy he had made the Tardis human like I had hoped and wished for (I had read people hoping for either Romana or the Tardis, and I was firmly in camp Tardis, because - well, look at her! *grins*), but the second time around I cried almost as much as in TPO *sniff* And now I can't even stop getting teary eyed just from readin about the episode :') I mean, it's both in a sad-sad way and a happy-sad way, because the ending was sad but in a happy way (him asking her if she could hear him and she answering and then him twirling around, just *cries* :D )

Sexy was amazing. I adore her, she was just perfect in her quirkiness and madness, and just, yeah. Suranne Jones was most definitely a brilliant choice for the Tardis, she played the part just perfectly. I couldn't have wished for something better, truly. <3

I liked everything about it, not just the Doctor and Tardis parts, but it's the parts that made me the most happy, because of how well done and beautiful it was, and because even if just a one time thing, the Tardis was made human and it was amazing. <333

Sorry, I'm more rambly than usually, I think (didn't know that was possible, but there you go XD), so if this makes no sense whatsoever, well, blame Neilman. :D (I hope he gets to write for Who next year aswell, that'd be awesome!)

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

This comment is the greatest... if only for the addition to my vocabulary of the word "Neilman."

I loved Doctor dancing at the end! It was like OMG COULD THIS EPISODE GET ANY GREATER... OH MATT... YES IT CAN!

[squint13.livejournal.com]

Haha, omg, I knew there was something I wrote wrong XD I guess I was gonna write Neil then changed my mind to Gaiman and it turned into a mix and I didn't notice *laughs* So typically me *G* But whatever, YES TO NEW WORD IN YOUR VOCABULARY XD

IT WAS SO AMAZING, THE ENDING, I CRIED, BUT IT WAS A HAPPY KIND OF CRY *sniff* Also, Matt is amazing, such a brilliant actor. I wish for him to stay as the Doctor forever <3 Well, actually, no - I want a Twelve, of course I do, but I don't mind if Matt stays as Eleven for, oh I don't know, one or two, or maybe even three, more seasons. ^^

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on Eleven's longevity. I think I will cry when he regenerates! I finally understand the Tennant lover's pain. I think you can only understand the feeling once you have found "your Doctor."

[squint13.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. Nine was my favorite before, even if I did adore Ten, but I never thought of him in terms of 'my' Doctor. And then Eleven showed up, and I just, I knew. That sounds silly, probably, but yeah. He's definitely 'my' Doctor ^^ <3

Also, I forgot to say so in my first comment, but I knew you'd find Sexy a bit similar to HBC, and was fairly certain you'd like her ^^ I did see some similarity to HBC myself, so, yeah. :)

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

I always liked Ten's companion's more than I liked Ten himself lol. Tbh he never really did it for me. Nine was a diff. story however...

Yeah... I think a couple of us did! It was kind of unnerving. There's been talk of HBC as a who guest star for awhile. I hope they get her eventually... hopefully which Matt is still around :)

[the-silverdoe.livejournal.com]

Oh, you finally watched it!
Fantastic episode indeed, And yes, I cried.
So many awesome elements, but you pointed all of them, so I'm just going to say I agree with you! =)

[welshgirl15.livejournal.com]

It was such a brilliant episode! I agree with everything you've said here. I loved Idris as a character, and the fact that it was the TARDIS that stole the Doctor was fantastic!

That line that Amy said at the end, shows that she understands the Doctor more than any of the other NewWho companions imo. All the others very much wanted to think they'd always be with him, whereas Amy completly knows that the Doctor will carry on after she has gone.

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

Amy's end line was so good! Yes, she is fast becoming one of my fave companions :)

[novindalf]

I think this post merits a rewatch. I enjoyed it a lot, but I said I'd have given it 4/5 stars. I'm thinking a rewatch might well boost that up now that I'm appreciating more of the nuances =P

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

Glad to have assisted ;)

[themirrorofsin.livejournal.com]

it WAS such a good episode and Suranne (?) Jones is totally a mix of HBC and MR in that - though more HBC who would have been an epic TARDIS
I'm also so glad that the Amy/Rory bits were done to show that Amy DOES really love Rory and that delight was their wedding <3

Now the quote the TARDIS kept syaing about water - ie River... I WANT TO KNOW MORE!

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

I remember reading an interview with Matt where he said one of his most wanted guest stars was HBC. Seeings as Burton is a Who fan, I'd say its only a matter of time till she crops up as a guest star. That may just be the happiest fandom moment of my life :P

That "the only water in the forest is the river" was weird. No idea what that was about. Is it something new or a reference to Forest of the Dead or even Time of Angels? There were references to metaphorical forests in both.

I freaking love Gaiman for the Rory/Amy loving!

[themirrorofsin.livejournal.com]

would be the most AMAZING thing ever cause then we'd have: ALex Kignston, Raquel Cassidy and Helena BC in one show!!!

Yeah and abour River herself I think like she's super vital... and the Tardis likes River so... idk hurts my brain XD

<3 the best!

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

IT MUST HAPPEN. HBC AND MATT SMITH GO TOGETHER LIKE TOAST AND MARMALADE DAMN IT. SURELY IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES THIS. THEY ARE BOTH DELIGHTFULLY ECCENTRIC AND A LITTLE BIT DIRTY.

PLEASE SANTA MOFF. ARE YOU LISTENING?

[themirrorofsin.livejournal.com]

would make LIFE!
:D I hope so!

[impetusofadream.livejournal.com]

I totally cried during this episode. and when I watched it again last night. And it's HARD for tv shows to make me full on cry, because of the commercial breaks and everything.

I absolutely loved that the Doctor finally got to talk with his one constant companion and how absolutely in sync thier mad little brains are.

I love the bit when Amy said *or along the lines of* 'Doctor, did you wish really REALLY hard." That had me LOL so hard! And when "Idris" and Eleven are all 'What you always call me: Sexy." ..."Only when we're alone." "We ARE alone."

Really, truly, I think one of the best episodes of all 6 seasons of NuWho. I do kind of wish though that the Doctor could figure out how to let Sexy talk to him all the time. It's really unfair.

[dweomeroflight.livejournal.com]

I cried too! yay for us!

I heart Saranne Jones solely off this role. It was AMAZING!!!

Yeah I lol'd too. Oh Amy. Great delivery!

I agree. It's probably one of my favourite new who ep's too. As I said, even if all of s6 went to shit, I would love this episode forever (bdw s6 WON'T go to shit...)

[impetusofadream.livejournal.com]

Pretty much Neil Gaiman needs to write more shit for Doctor Who!!!!!