Doctor Who Club of Australia

Beatly · Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 375 Location: London

I wasn't really looking forward too much to this episode. Something about it just didn't grab me - pre-Republic France? Yawn. Clockwork robots? Yawn. The most promising aspect was the fact that it was Mickey's first proper episode as a companion.

Bloody hell - how wrong can one person be? This was excellent - on only one viewing so far, I didn't spot a single flaw, hole or error.
Pre-Republic France? Visionary! It seemed a pretty arbitrary choice of historical period throughout, until a revelation at the end, but that didn't matter. It worked.
Clockwork robots? Astounding! Possibly a hole in the plot ("why clockwork?"), but it also didn't really matter. It could be explained away quite easily. The effects on them were perfect - not a cog out of place.
Mickey's first proper episode as a companion? Oh, yeah. He fits in perfectly already, and he didn't really get much air time - I suspect next week is to be "his". But he works well alongside the Doctor and Rose, of course, and wasn't really unfazed by the new sights he's seeing. It probably helps, of course, that he isn't exactly new to the Doctor's world.

I need to watch this one again, and soon, just to swim in it again. As surprisingly amazing as last year's Boom Town (my opinion, of course). Is it the best of the 2006 series so far? Possibly, possibly.

Tegan · Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject:

**Spoilers about the end** Don't read on if you don't wish to know.

Yes, but what did you think of the music? (Ducks for cover) Embarassed

I liked Mickey's line when he looks out into space "It's so realistic!" as if he still doesn't quite believe he is there.

I was a little apprehensive about the setting also, but they pulled it off well. And the denouement made everything click into place, so to speak.

Another sad ending to an episode. I think they may be setting us up for a very "down" series.

Have you noticed that everyone so far (series one and two) that either knows or learns the Doctor's deep secret dies very soon after they meet?

Daleks, Mr Finch, Reinette. OK, until now they've been the bad guys, but the mould has been broken with Mme de Pompadour.

Despite the comedic exterior, DT's Doctor might turn out to follow the CE Doctor in that he is capable of being very dark in deed. He's already said things such as "I used to have to much mercy" implying by word and deed that he doesn't any more. It seems to me that he is at his darkest when there is a threat to unmask his past.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Rose is slowly working out the Doctor's secret. Enlightenment will come at the end of series two and she will either "leave" early in series 3 or at the end of this. SJS last week alerted Rose to one of the limitations of being a “companion” of the Doctor.

The Beeb are going to start filming series 3 soon, if they haven't already done so. It's my guess that the climax of series 3 will be the Doctor's lonely secret exposed.

In order to get to that point, it might be that there will be some clunky episode along the way. “The Girl In The Fireplace” could have been one of these, but generally it worked for me.

Clockwork robots? Next week is it appears to be an alternate London, Zeppelins etc. The spaceship may have been from an alternate 51st century with French interstellar exploration. Amongst other things, the French are VERY good at clocks. Why not clockwork robots?

dave · Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject:

I loved it, but I was expecting a good story. Steven Moffat, writer of Coupling as well as The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances from the first season wrote this, so I had high expectations. Which he certainly fulfilled. Although it felt a bit rushed at times, I found this to be a great science fiction story, with interesting concepts behind it. And it all worked together really well. And, has been noted, another sad ending.

As for the clockwork, I thought that was just so that, once they fell to pieces, there wouldn't be any paradoxes created by the remains of advanced technology - circuits and the like. Just cogs and stuff. Maybe. Maybe it was just to be stylish...I thought those robots looked great. And the ticking sound in the first 'robot' scene was quite spooky. Seems Moffat likes to play with sound, like he did with the type writer in one scene in The Doctor Dances. It creates a nice sense of tension in the scene.

I think the clockwork men work well almost as a foreshadowing of what they're about to come up against in the next two episodes. If they thought clockwork robots scary...they're about to come up against much worse, I'd imagine.

Didn't see as much in the 'next week' preview bit as I'd have liked. Sad

Can't wait to see the new Cybermen in action.

Dazza · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 106

Not sure what to make of this one. After the Empty Child/Doctor Dances I had high expectations and it started off very well. But towards the end it became a bit messy.

The clockwork robots were very spooky but were too easily disposed of to create any real menance.

I've only seen it once and I'm left with some questions:-

- What was the "complete" thing about?

- I assume the dancing thing meant that the Doctor slept with Madame De Pompadour - Not sure how I felt about that - I wouldn't like to see this as a trend in the series

The ending was riveting and quite sad.

Not as good as Tooth and Claw and School Reunion but better than the ordinary New Earth. I think the story would've benefited as a two parter and might make more sense on repeated viewings.

Gee, isn't Tennant great. He could be one of the best Doctors.

Looking forward to next week. Although we only seen snippets of the Cybermen my kids recognised them instantly.

Dazza · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 106

PS - Beatly and Dave, you guys always seem to have the first post. Any chance of putting a poll at the top of the thread?

Beatly · Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 375 Location: London

The 'complete' thing was about Mme de Pompadour's age - the ship was 37 years old when it needed the repairs, and so by the robots' quirky logic, they could only use her brain when that too was 37 years old.

I had a bit of a think about "why clockwork?", and maybe that would be a good failsafe in case the ship falls into some situation in which electronics become unusable.

Okay, Dazza. From next week I'll pop a poll in if I'm starting the thread. A one-to-five "what did you think?" sort of thing.

Dazza · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 106

I caught on to the same age as the ship, but don't know why?. Why did the ship have all those connecting walls when the robots preferred to transmat. I will watch again.

1 to 5 or Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor would be ok. Although I can't imagine anyone giving an episode of this series a Very Poor at this stage.......

Beatly · Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 375 Location: London

Tegan · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 9:24 am Post subject:

charlie · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject:

This one was wwwaayy too trekie. With the transmating robots that were without transmats. And the vulcan mind meld that the Doct did with Madame P (especially since he had two fingers behind her ears and two in front, similar to that 'live long and proper' thing.) However during one shot he had three fingers in front of her ear. I dont know if you can that a continuity error or not but oh well.

The clockwork robots, I thought, were a nod to the classic series or Charmeleon or something so that didnt bother me. I didnt like the nonsensical ending when the Doctor said "You broke the connection when you had it moved. But then, it still exists physically so I'm going back" Confused

It's good the horse had a purpose, and a comical one at that.

OMG will the Doctor never get off Earth. This is REALLY frustrating. I know they can, why won't they?

I rank this Very Good

As for they poll options, instead of 1 to 5, why not the old:
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Turkey

rundoctoritsthegatherer · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:47 pm Post subject:

I haven't been in here a lot this year, and I've been avoiding spoilers like the plague, so even after watching the first three episodes, I didn't want to come in here and discuss the episodes I have seen in case someone spoils an upcoming one.

I couldn't help myself after this one though. I forgot Steven Moffat was writing this one (and I'm not sure if my expectations would've changed too much even if I had), so I thought something slapped in between School Reunion (which I loved) and the Cyberman story, both episodes probably the stories everyone was waiting for the most, was doomed to failure. Filler material, maybe a bit of season story arc stuff (read: mention Torchwood somewhere) and that's about it.

Despite the fact there was quite a few snippets from this episode in trailers, I really had no idea what to expect going into this one, except maybe some boring old time fugitives from the future infiltrating the past for some obscure and largely trivial reason storyline.

As Beatly said, how wrong can a person be? It was different, it was funny, it was sad and I absolutely LOVED IT.

arturo · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Toowoomba

I'm with Dave here, knowing it was written by Moffatt this was bound to be a decent episode. I agree that this ne didn't have the too convenient endings that have plagued some of the earlier episodes and everything seemed to make sense.

My only complaint is that I think the horse (Arthur) should have been given a chance to continue as a new companion (that way Jackie wont be the ugly one on board the Tardis). The comment that the Doctor should be allowed to keep it as Rose gets to keep Mickey had me in stiches.

Loved the Robots, loved the plot, loved the script, loved to see the doctor invovled so heavily in the plot.

I missed the dancing reference as a euphemism for sex, I guess I must be too innocent.

Hiruma · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Australia

I have noted in other topics in this part of the forums my dislike for first two stories in this second season. However the last 2.. School Reunion and Girl in the Fireplace have been superb. I think you dont have to look far at all and if you want to , to compare new dr who and old dr who. Look at the attention to detail given to costuming in this current version of doctor who to the level of costuming in the classic series. It was simply fantastic in the new version, but I guess when you have a budget you can do such things.

Ill be honest, when the Doctor told Riennette he would be right back and for her to go pack her bags I knew what was going to happen. Character death. ( some might say a character dies when the Doctor has 3 travelling companions but thats a little bitter of me Smile

)

However I think the part of the Madame was very well cast. I empathised with that character and lets face it.. she was absolutely beautiful.

A Great Episode. Im a huge fan of the Cybermen (These guys are so much cooler than the Daleks/better), but after such a great episode as this, The plot had better be damn good Smile

Matt

meglos · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 670 Location: Perth

Brilliant! What more can one say.

Hiruma · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Australia

Doh... knew I should of seen the Chemistry between Reinette and the Doctor for more than it was... David Tennant is currently dating Sophia Myles. I guess I could kinda see it.

charlie · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:01 pm Post subject:

It's good to see the Doctor in his first legitimate relationship since Camecca.

"It translates every language in the universe"
"What? even French?" Laughing

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4566

Michael Idato in the SMH Guide gave the episode a thumbs up with a glowing review. He said it was stunning, a standout in an already impressive series and it is easily one of the finest scripts in the entire opus of Doctor Who.

The episode being shown on August 5 comes fifth place in TV WEEK's highlights of the day. Interestingly it got beaten by two places by the season 2 finale of The Last Detective starring Peter Davison which came in at third place.

Also TV WEEK has placed David Tennant as the Doctor as the What's Hot on TV saying he is cheeky, funny and the sexiest Doctor ever.

Theta Sigma · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 4566

Last night saw the trailer of it which had the voiceover saying "Could the Doctor be stranded in time?" and I quite liked it.

charlie · Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 9:26 pm Post subject:

Noticed that the ship was called SS Madame Pompadom. SS officially meaning Steam Ship but I guess they could change it to Space Ship in the next 3000 years.

Dazzler · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:55 am Post subject:

Great episode! I was unenthusiastic as I saw it was based in history, and on Earth yet again. But when I saw the start "Doctor! Are you there?" when she speaks into the fireplace, I was hooked. I had to know more about this girl who knew the Doctor.

I thought the ending was really sad but I liked the fact the Doctor was deeply affected by it. It showed his humanity. I also loved the fact Mickey and Rose were together, and having fun as a pair. About time Mickey was used properly. I can't wait for next week, Doctor Who is the best TV show on TV right now.