Watching Doctor Who

This is, at last, the Review for the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas Special - Voyage of the Damned. Whew! Here’s hoping that my computer doesn’t go all “Blue Screen of Death” again before I finish this. Growl! Anyway, this is the episode that featured Kylie Minogue, and what a fine job she did! I hope that she had all kinds of fun being on Doctor Who. This episode has finally aired in the US, so on with the review. To discover my slightly more structured opinion (than one usually finds on my Reaction Posts) on this episode, click past the spoiler barrier.

Episode: Voyage of the Damned by Russell T. Davies
Rating (1 to 5): 2.8 (Too frickin’ depressing to get a higher score. Sorry.)
Time: Christmas! (2007?)
Place: Earth (London) and on the Titanic (the spaceship version)
Baddie: Max Capricorn, the Angelic “Host” Robots, and Captain Hardaker
The Doctor enjoys: Taking the side of the downtrodden. Saying “take me to your leader.” Saying “Allons-y Alonzo.”
The Doctor dislikes: People acting mean to others. Losing his new friends. Being unable to get Astrid back.
The Doctor apologizes to: Foon after Morvin dies.
Doctor-y Strangeness: Explains that it’s hard to keep still with all of that life out there to see. The Oncoming Storm with the flames behind him, using the angels to get into the ship’s bridge.
Scary Stuff: The “Host” going about killing people. Meteors headed for the ship. The look on the Doctor’s face when he is walking through the flames.
Does someone local help out?Bannakaffalatta sacrifices himself to save the others. Astrid Peth sacrifices herself to save the day/Earth/Doctor. Midshipman Frame (Alonzo!) keeps the ship going, even with a gunshot wound. Mr. Copper does his part, too.
What we learn: Something can crash into the TARDIS if you leave the shields down but the effects can be fairly easily reversed. Earth is a “level 5″ planet. The cruise ship is from the planet Stowe. Londoners have figured out that Christmas in London isn’t safe. This Titanic has a nuclear storm drive for an engine. The TARDIS ia programed to lock onto the nearest center of gravity if it’s set adrift. The Doctor is the next highest authority to Max Capricorn as far as the Host are concerned.
My Favorite Bits: Passenger 57? The Doctor being nice to Astrid after her encounter with His Meanness. A stowaway on a ship from the planet Stowe. The champagne explosion. So many wings on those buffaloes. (Don’t forget…2 Fs, 1 L.) The Doctor taking Astrid with him to Earth. The tour guide’s erroneous stories about Old London Town. London deserted, as the folks have figured out that it’s not safe at Christmas. “Information: you are all going to die.” “Bad name for a ship. Either that or this suit is really unlucky.” “I’m the Doctor. I’m a Time Lord. I’m from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I’m 903 years old, and I’m the man who’s going to save your lives and all six billion people on the planet below.” “You might be a Time King from Gallibey, but you still need to eat.” “-You should see me in the mornings. -Okay.” Max’s tooth really makes that twinkle. “Allons-y Alonzo” “Thank you, Doctor. Thank you. Happy Christmas!”

Observations and musings:

The Doctor really has to remember to put his shields back up. Also…what becomes of the “hand in a jar” after this ep? How fabulous was the “I’m the Doctor” speech? With all the sparks and such going on behind him. This episode really pushed a lot of the Doctor’s buttons, didn’t it? Astrid would have survived just like he said if she hadn’t decided to sacrifice herself to save him. Mind you, if she hadn’t been there, no one might have survived. Sniffle. It’s true, though, that if the Doctor could decide who lives and dies it would make him a monster. (And I expect that’s what he thinks he is some of the time.) I’m glad that Mr. Copper survived, at least. Morvin and Foon wont have to pay off that debt now. Ah, well.

Fifteen minutes into the episode…it starts turning dark. And the deaths certainly pile up in the “tiny bridge across the chasm” scene. I understand that this is supposed to be a disaster movie, but seriously. It’s really depressing. Astrid Peth would have been quite the companion. Sigh. At lest this episode also had some funny bits. The Doctor got to say two things that he’s always wanted to say. His gift of gab saves his life yet again. Apparently a double dead-lock is no match for a couple of angel robots coming up through the floor. Who knew? Also, it would seem that Queen Elizabeth II is much more in favor of the Doctor than some of her predecessors. I wonder why Bannakaffalatta looked like he did and not like the rest of the folks on the ship. Perhaps he was from another planet?

What did you all think of this episode?

Image Source: http://www.time-and-space.co.uk/

Voyage of the Damned, Doctor Who, Russell T. Davies