Dr. Who Series 9 - The Girl who lives
Added 2024-02-18 15:00:11 +0000 UTC
Comments
"I'm just passing through like fish in the night.", The Doctor, "The Woman Who Lived" The Doctor mentioned that the person who would normally have hit him (i.e. Clara) was taking the year-seven school class to tae-kwon-do. It was quite interesting to have a companion-lite story again that wasn't a Christmas special. I agree - I can't see this story working if Clara were around. I'm not sure about the "Me" name. I liked the joking/delaying that Sam Swift makes with the crowd in front of the gallows. The Doctor says that he wasn't sure if Sam would become immortal or whether the energy had be used up, so Me might actually be alone as she passes through time now - which makes her use of the spare Mire repair kit on Sam a bit tragic. (Not for Sam, of course) Me said that she had fought at the Battle of Agincourt. This episode was broadcast the day before the 600th anniversary of the that battle. On the other hand, there are so many battles in history that it's not too surprising that there is an episode reference like this occasionally - but it's still interesting. I did like the callback to Captain Jack. BTW: great post-episode comments. Thank you! "I live in the world you leave behind.", Me, "The Woman Who Lived"
Andrew Vignaux
2024-02-24 01:46:05 +0000 UTCI would like to make it clear that I have never cast a vote or given a rating on IMDB. But I suspected that the score would be quite low as I have heard quite a few people say that they don't like this episode. For me, it's a bit of a mixture. The discussions between The Doctor and Me are intense and the account of her long life in her journals (plus the flashbacks we see) are heartbreaking. The highwayman who nearly gets hanged is a very lightweight, fun character which would normally be fine but he does change the tone a bit. The Lion King alien and the rubbish special effect when the sky opens are both things I could have done without. In fact I sometimes wonder if we could have had an alien threat that isn't seen at all. Some disembodied entity that can't manifest itself might have been better than the rather silly costume that we saw, But overall, I do like this a lot more than the IMDB contributors. It develops an ongoing story, it gives us more insight into the effects of immortality and it leaves us with an intriguing, tantalising ending. Not just with Me's promise to "look after the ones you leave behind" and her appearance in Clara's photo. But also the conversation and the looks that The Doctor and Clara give each other at the very end. Thanks for the bonus reaction! I had forgotten that you said there would be one!
Stephen Males
2024-02-18 21:55:46 +0000 UTCI'm wondering if it's the same reactor Ian mentions but a reactor who watched this recently actually turned it off less than half way through because he found it boring. counting the two episodes as a whole I don't dislike it but I'd probally say it's average for me. On first viewing I'd given it 2/5 but now I give it 3/5 and mainly my feeling is it's this episodes that drags it down. That said you are absolutely right. I love your take on it. It's a great story exploring the problems with immortality and the contrast between the doctor's life and Me's. The part about her losing her babies is heart breaking. That said I rank it 78th/140 so a good placing for the story. Maybe it's because the two episodes are jarring unlike the previous two stories. I wonder if this might have faired better had there been another story in between.
Jade Ellis
2024-02-18 21:03:16 +0000 UTCI liked parts of this episode more than others, the comedy is a bit silly. Sam Swift is played by an actual British comedian called Rufus Hound, and I suppose they let him do a few jokes. What I really liked is the exploration of the doctor and Ashildr and the consequences of him saving her last episode. It really is quite sad what she has had to go through, losing loved ones especially her babies, and having to carry on living. Also I would like to congratulate you on your summing up of the episode. I really wouldn’t have believed that English is not your first language. Your comments were very insightful. You made me think more deeply about the episode, and see it in a better light. I know that others have marked it down for some of the silly plot details. The space lion, and the hanging scene. These are valid points, but the subtext of it is very moving and I would rate it high because of this. Also you are so right that Clara needed to be absent for most of this episode as her presence would have detracted from the theme. I would rate this episode 8.5.
Jenny Smyth
2024-02-18 17:00:14 +0000 UTCI recently watched a YT reaction of this episode where the reactor, in his brief summing up, used the word 'awful' five times! I feel that was a little excessive,as it's far from the worst Dr Who episode (it features Peter Capaldi being typically excellent,for one thing); but I certainly believe that the words 'disappointing' and 'inconsequential' would be appropriate. For me, the comedy falls flat; and the threat is daft. There are some nice moments between the Doctor and Ashildr/Me,and a neat ending - but..."one of the Top 5 episodes"? Ouch!! :D
Ian Smith
2024-02-18 16:22:19 +0000 UTCWhat a lovely surprise! I'm glad you liked this episode, I love Me's character and how they are a reflection of the Doctor when he doesn't have a companion. I also absolutely LOVE it when they go in depth with the Doctor, how they show how much the Doctor is really hurting and feeling. It also gives alot of room for the Actors to shine. Peter is a phenomenal actor, aswell as the lady who played Me. I think the reason why the rating is so low is because its not exactly a memorable episode I guess? When I think of Doctor Who, this is not an episode I think of, honestly I completely forgot about this episode until now ahaha. Either way I do very much enjoy this episode and I think the low rating is harsh. I would rate it a 8/10.
KrispyKrushems
2024-02-18 16:19:17 +0000 UTC
