Because my dad just reminded me in the comments for the last post, here's your regular Doctor Who discussion thread for the episode that was shown tonight on Sci Fi, "Midnight." Usual spoiler policy, yadda, yadda, yadda...
"Midnight" was actually one of my favorite episodes this season. It had a really simple but genuinely creepy monster, and a chance to see the Doctor without a companion -- or anyone on his side, for that matter -- for a change. If I had a complaint, it's maybe that the motivation for that monster were pretty paper-thin -- and ultimately of a "I feed on negative energy so I'll turn you all against one another" kind of twist that I feel like I've seen way too often before. But, in all, a really great episode.
I had weird reactions to this episode, myself... I like the concept of what it's trying to do a lot, and it seems like the sort of episode that ought to be right up my alley, but it just didn't work for me quite the way it should have, especially on first viewing. I think it's because I found both the passengers and the alien more annoying than creepy or disturbing. I spend a lot of time gritting my teeth and desperately wanting to smack people, including wanting to smack the Doctor for not doing a better charge taking control of the situation. I guess that's really just not a good emotional place from which to appreciate a creepy psychological drama. :)
What's interesting is that I finished watching the episode feeling mildly dissatisfied, but almost every one else on the internet seemed to have loved it, and the more they tried to defend it, the more I started hating it. I finally watched it again, though, and, really, it's not bad. I can certainly see what other folks appreciate about it. I just wish it hadn't somehow rubbed me the wrong way, so that I could appreciate it that much, too.
a "I feed on negative energy so I'll turn you all against one another" kind of twist that I feel like I've seen way too often before.
I think part of what bugged me, also, is that it's not even entirely clear that that's what's going on. Add that to the fact that everything else about the monster goes entirely unexplained and the really bad scientific nonsense about "exitonic sunlight" or whatever it was, and the whole premise seems, well, a bit unsatisfying to me.
I did like that we (at least I) understood the Doctor's frustration at meeting an unidentified species with an unknown motive which he was unable to help or to vanquish.
I also would like to see how Jethro turns out, after realizing his parents would be willing to consider murder (even as a result of the pack-survival mentality).
Oh, yes, something I completely neglected to point out!
It's been quite a year for relatives of former Doctors! In addition to him and Peter Davison's daughter, the husband of a former companion has a brief cameo coming up next episode.
"Midnight" was actually one of my favorite episodes this season. It had a really simple but genuinely creepy monster, and a chance to see the Doctor without a companion -- or anyone on his side, for that matter -- for a change. If I had a complaint, it's maybe that the motivation for that monster were pretty paper-thin -- and ultimately of a "I feed on negative energy so I'll turn you all against one another" kind of twist that I feel like I've seen way too often before. But, in all, a really great episode.
ReplyDeleteI had weird reactions to this episode, myself... I like the concept of what it's trying to do a lot, and it seems like the sort of episode that ought to be right up my alley, but it just didn't work for me quite the way it should have, especially on first viewing. I think it's because I found both the passengers and the alien more annoying than creepy or disturbing. I spend a lot of time gritting my teeth and desperately wanting to smack people, including wanting to smack the Doctor for not doing a better charge taking control of the situation. I guess that's really just not a good emotional place from which to appreciate a creepy psychological drama. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat's interesting is that I finished watching the episode feeling mildly dissatisfied, but almost every one else on the internet seemed to have loved it, and the more they tried to defend it, the more I started hating it. I finally watched it again, though, and, really, it's not bad. I can certainly see what other folks appreciate about it. I just wish it hadn't somehow rubbed me the wrong way, so that I could appreciate it that much, too.
Oh, and...
ReplyDeletea "I feed on negative energy so I'll turn you all against one another" kind of twist that I feel like I've seen way too often before.
I think part of what bugged me, also, is that it's not even entirely clear that that's what's going on. Add that to the fact that everything else about the monster goes entirely unexplained and the really bad scientific nonsense about "exitonic sunlight" or whatever it was, and the whole premise seems, well, a bit unsatisfying to me.
I did like that we (at least I) understood the Doctor's frustration at meeting an unidentified species with an unknown motive which he was unable to help or to vanquish.
ReplyDeleteI also would like to see how Jethro turns out, after realizing his parents would be willing to consider murder (even as a result of the pack-survival mentality).
Oh, and it's worth noting that Patrick Troughton's son David plays Professor Hobbes in the episode.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, something I completely neglected to point out!
ReplyDeleteIt's been quite a year for relatives of former Doctors! In addition to him and Peter Davison's daughter, the husband of a former companion has a brief cameo coming up next episode.