Doctor Who - Silence in the Library (Watch the episode before reading this thread)

[Cymbeline]

My DH has been away so I can’t watch BSG until he returns (our little routine would be upset). So, I can’t read the regular boards for fear of spoilers. I therefore decided to start a chat on what I consider the best episode of this season, by far. I can hardly wait for part 2.

Written by Steven Moffatt, soon(ish) to be the new Producer of NewWho, this episode was as terrifying as one of his previous outings, “Blink”. The man knows suspense.

Areas of possible discussion.

1. Prof River Song. Appears to me to be a future lover. Another one of those timey wimey things. She carries a diary around of her previous meetings with the doctor – more the better to handle having a time bouncing time lord as a beau. She has a fancier dancier sonic screw driver. She obviously likes him in a more than platonic way. I am really enjoying her character. Hope this doesn’t mean she must die.

2. The little girl. Any guess as to who she is? I am starting to think that she is the computer and for some reason she has constructed this elaborate reality for “herself”. Dr. Moon’s last comments lead me in that direction most definitely.

3. The communication badges that can temporarily hold a human consciousness.  This one really bothered me -- in a "I'm totally creaped out" sort of way.  Wonder if this plot device is only for the creap value or somehow plays a part in part 2.  Can the computer grab part of the dying consciousness and keep it somehow?
   

4.  Where are the 4200 missing people from 100 years ago?  Have they been "saved" into the computer by the little girl?  Since I am pretty sure Donna doesn't die off in this episode, something has the ability to take her and make her, as the little girl said, "safe".  Does the transmat beam play a roll. 
   

Anyone interested in helping me keep my mind off BSG for the next few days can jump onto this line. I’d love to hear opinions on this episode.

[BadgerSpoon]

My DH has been away so I can’t watch BSG until he returns (our little routine would be upset). So, I can’t read the regular boards for fear of spoilers. I therefore decided to start a chat on what I consider the best episode of this season, by far. I can hardly wait for part 2.

When is the next episode? Today or tomorrow?

Written by Steven Moffatt, soon(ish) to be the new Producer of NewWho, this episode was as terrifying as one of his previous outings, “Blink”. The man knows suspense.

Heh. I watched Blink a few days before my uncle’s funeral. Even though it’s “just a TV show”, being around all the stone angels in the cemetery really did creep me out a good bit. :eek:

Areas of possible discussion.

1. Prof River Song. Appears to me to be a future lover. Another one of those timey wimey things. She carries a diary around of her previous meetings with the doctor – more the better to handle having a time bouncing time lord as a beau. She has a fancier dancier sonic screw driver. She obviously likes him in a more than platonic way. I am really enjoying her character. Hope this doesn’t mean she must die.

They do like killing his girlfriends, don’t they? My first thought was that she was a Time Lady. With the “birth” of the Doctor’s daughter, I think the stage is set for the Time Lords to return. It only seems fitting that the one who ended the Time War would father a newly reborn Gallifreyan race.

2. The little girl. Any guess as to who she is? I am starting to think that she is the computer and for some reason she has constructed this elaborate reality for “herself”. Dr. Moon’s last comments lead me in that direction most definitely.

I think you’re right on the money.

3. The communication badges that can temporarily hold a human consciousness.  This one really bothered me -- in a "I'm totally creaped out" sort of way.  Wonder if this plot device is only for the creap value or somehow plays a part in part 2.  Can the computer grab part of the dying consciousness and keep it somehow?
   

My thought as well. Probably it will have some relevance to the people who are “saved”. It was pretty creepy, especially the way they all stood around and listened to it.

4.  Where are the 4200 missing people from 100 years ago?  Have they been "saved" into the computer by the little girl?  Since I am pretty sure Donna doesn't die off in this episode, something has the ability to take her and make her, as the little girl said, "safe".  Does the transmat beam play a roll.
   

I think that’s exactly the case. Maybe the little girl’s “reality” is populated with the people she’s “saved”.

Anyone interested in helping me keep my mind off BSG for the next few days can jump onto this line. I’d love to hear opinions on this episode.

I don’t think it’s as strong as Blink or as creepy, but then again, we’ve only seen the first half, so I’m withholding judgment for now.

[Cymbeline]

When is the next episode? Today or tomorrow?

Heh. I watched Blink a few days before my uncle’s funeral. Even though it’s “just a TV show”, being around all the stone angels in the cemetery really did creep me out a good bit. :eek:

They do like killing his girlfriends, don’t they? My first thought was that she was a Time Lady. With the “birth” of the Doctor’s daughter, I think the stage is set for the Time Lords to return. It only seems fitting that the one who ended the Time War would father a newly reborn Gallifreyan race.

I don’t think it’s as strong as Blink or as creepy, but then again, we’ve only seen the first half, so I’m withholding judgment for now.

(edited for length)

Hey, how do you do that splitting up the quote thing? Very handy. Tried it and failed. (I think I’m the only luddite that loves Sci-Fi)

Program starts on Saturday out of the UK, I believe.

I don’t think River Song is a time lady, or the Doctor would have sensed her (unless she is in a fob watch – though that would be a bit much at this point). Since the Doctor is Jenny’s “father” I think it lets out a future family. Also, as Jenny is a clone, I wonder if she hasn’t been gibbled somehow. Perhaps that is a story for another season.

Blink was a bit more hair raising to me as well, but my kids were terrified of this. My son stopped at the top of the steps the other day and noticed that at that spot he threw three shadows on the wall. Not a happy time. He’s been walking around stiff legged all week saying “Hey, who turned out the lights!”

I’m still hoping for a River Song survival. I’m wondering if Donna is out for much of the episode of if we will see her meeting the little girl. That would be a dead give away.

Looking forward to tomorrow. Oh, and your absolutely right. Ron Moore does have pretty hair.

[BadgerSpoon]

(edited for length)

What are you trying to say???

Hey, how do you do that splitting up the quote thing? Very handy. Tried it and failed. (I think I’m the only luddite that loves Sci-Fi)

Put [noparse]

[/noparse] at the beginning of what you want to quote and then [noparse]
[/noparse] at the end. Make sure you have them in pairs (with whatever you’re quoting between them) or the quotes and your replies will go all screwy. Oh, and it’s important to note that the “slash” tag ([noparse][/QUOTE][/noparse]) is always the “end-quote”. For more info, click here.

Program starts on Saturday out of the UK, I believe.

Thanks. That’s what the version I saw said, but it said it was in Scotland, so I wasn’t sure if theirs just airs later or not.

I don’t think River Song is a time lady, or the Doctor would have sensed her (unless she is in a fob watch – though that would be a bit much at this point).

Maybe. We don’t really know how that works. If she’s his descendant in one way or another, he may not be able to differentiate her presence from his own.

Since the Doctor is Jenny’s “father” I think it lets out a future family.

Not necessarily. They’re time travellers; Riversong could be hundreds of generations into the future.

Also, as Jenny is a clone, I wonder if she hasn’t been gibbled somehow.

She’s not exactly a clone, though. The DNA sample was jumbled up to create differences. Arguably, she’s different enough that they could be no more related than any other two random people on Earth.

Perhaps that is a story for another season.

Let’s hope. I miss not having other Time Lords around. These last two Doctors get so mopey sometimes.

Blink was a bit more hair raising to me as well, but my kids were terrified of this. My son stopped at the top of the steps the other day and noticed that at that spot he threw three shadows on the wall. Not a happy time. He’s been walking around stiff legged all week saying “Hey, who turned out the lights!”

I could see that. I’m a creature of the dark myself, so it didn’t really bother me. I long ago gave up the fear that I was likely to be eaten by a grue. :rolleyes:

I’m still hoping for a River Song survival.

Me too. It might be nice to have people actually return for a change when they’re on the show.

I’m wondering if Donna is out for much of the episode of if we will see her meeting the little girl. That would be a dead give away.

We shall see.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Me too. After tonight’s BSG, of course. Oops, sorry. Didn’t mean to rub it in.

Oh, and your absolutely right. Ron Moore does have pretty hair.

Thank you! They are some stunning locks, aren’t they?

[Cymbeline]

Put at the end.

Weeeee haaaa. It works.

Make sure you have them in pairs

I could do this all day!!

Maybe. We don’t really know how that works. If she’s his descendant in one way or another, he may not be able to differentiate her presence from his own.

I thought it had been establed in “Utopia” and elsewhere that timelords could sense each other. Doesn’t the Doctor put his hand on the back of his head at one point and say that he knows there are no more timelords because he cannot “feel” them?

Also, historically, time lords seem to have their own linear time line and only meet each other in sync, as it were, unless under rather unusual circumstances. Not sure if this is some “law of time travel” – perhaps someone with more Whovian background would know. Otherwise the Master could just pop back in time and take out the Doctor while he gurggled in his crib.

She’s not exactly a clone, though. The DNA sample was jumbled up to create differences. Arguably, she’s different enough that they could be no more related than any other two random people on Earth.

By clone-ish issues, I meant that if you make an animal from the DNA of an adult, you can have some problems including a shortened life span and difficulty preproducing. Even if this technology was beyond all of that, it was not meant to deal with time lord physiology. There is only so much randomness it could put in without making Jenny something other than a time lord. If she has been gibbled, she may not be able to produce little time lords and may have other unforseen problems.

Of course, if you go by the books time lords are made by mixing genetic material at the Loom – which presumably has been destroyed with the rest of Gallifrey. Of course, this isn’t cannon.

Let’s hope. I miss not having other Time Lords around. These last two Doctors get so mopey sometimes.

Me too. <sigh> Me too.

After tonight’s BSG, of course. Oops, sorry. Didn’t mean to rub it in.

<Weeps softly and sniffs>

[BadgerSpoon]

I thought it had been establed in “Utopia” and elsewhere that timelords could sense each other. Doesn’t the Doctor put his hand on the back of his head at one point and say that he knows there are no more timelords because he cannot “feel” them?

But he was wrong. The Master existed in some time and place before he used the fob watch, yet the Doctor never felt him. He also insisted that the Daleks were wiped out, but that was inaccurate as well.

Also, historically, time lords seem to have their own linear time line and only meet each other in sync, as it were, unless under rather unusual circumstances. Not sure if this is some “law of time travel” – perhaps someone with more Whovian background would know.

My understanding is that the Time Lords themselves created rules that governed how they interacted, creating a sort of “Gallifrey Standard Time”. With Gallifrey’s destruction, maybe that separate timeline no longer exists. We’ve already seen how the lack of the Time Lords has changed a lot of the rules in the universe (often surprising even the Doctor).

Otherwise the Master could just pop back in time and take out the Doctor while he gurggled in his crib.

Again, that may just have been the way things used to work.

By clone-ish issues, I meant that if you make an animal from the DNA of an adult, you can have some problems including a shortened life span and difficulty preproducing. Even if this technology was beyond all of that, it was not meant to deal with time lord physiology.

It seemed to work well enough to raise Jenny from the dead. And there seems to be some sort of racial memory, since she was able to to make use of technology that others of her world didn’t seem to understand. So who’s to say that she couldn’t adapt the cloner tech to her own needs?

There is only so much randomness it could put in without making Jenny something other than a time lord. If she has been gibbled, she may not be able to produce little time lords and may have other unforseen problems.

Who knows? It’s hard to speculate how such a device would actually work.

Of course, if you go by the books time lords are made by mixing genetic material at the Loom – which presumably has been destroyed with the rest of Gallifrey. Of course, this isn’t cannon.

I’ve never really explored much of the extended materials beyond the shows. AFAIK, they shows at least have been pretty vague about Gallifreyan reproduction.

<Weeps softly and sniffs>

muhuhhaahhahahaha

[Cymbeline]

But he was wrong. The Master existed in some time and place before he used the fob watch, yet the Doctor never felt him. He also insisted that the Daleks were wiped out, but that was inaccurate as well.

I was under the impression that the Master ran off like a chicken in the middle of the Time War and was hiding out at the end of the universe. I had assumed that he hid in the fob watch to avoid being found and dragged back to the front by the other timelords and thus was already “off the grid” by the time Gallifrey was destroyed. Perhaps I’m wrong. Good excuse to watch Utopia again.

My understanding is that the Time Lords themselves created rules that governed how they interacted, creating a sort of “Gallifrey Standard Time”. With Gallifrey’s destruction, maybe that separate timeline no longer exists. We’ve already seen how the lack of the Time Lords has changed a lot of the rules in the universe (often surprising even the Doctor).

Could be, could be. I’m never quite sure how these timey wimey things work.

It seemed to work well enough to raise Jenny from the dead. And there seems to be some sort of racial memory, since she was able to to make use of technology that others of her world didn’t seem to understand. So who’s to say that she couldn’t adapt the cloner tech to her own needs?

Good point. I would like to see Jenny pop back every once in awhile. It would be fun to see exactly how much of a timelady she is.

I enjoyed part two of this episode, though it was not as scary as the first part. [spoiler] I guess those that thought River Song would live were as wrong as those that thought she would die. I wonder if he married her in his future. Can’t think of any other reason he would tell her his name other than some timey wimey thing where he knew she needed some special info to get his trust on this occassion. [/spoiler] We will have to watch for a time when the doctor is without a companion and there is a little break in the continuity so we can shove this whole River Song story in.

My DH is back and I am finally caught up with BSG again (yaaa!). Thanks for joining me on this thread though. Seems like we’re the only two here who watch the Doctor on “UK” time. Off to the BSG threads to see what I missed.

[BadgerSpoon]

I was under the impression that the Master ran off like a chicken in the middle of the Time War and was hiding out at the end of the universe. I had assumed that he hid in the fob watch to avoid being found and dragged back to the front by the other timelords and thus was already “off the grid” by the time Gallifrey was destroyed. Perhaps I’m wrong. Good excuse to watch Utopia again.

I think you’re right. Still could be some other fob-watched Time Lords out there, although I don’t think that they’d do that same storyline over again.

Good point. I would like to see Jenny pop back every once in awhile. It would be fun to see exactly how much of a timelady she is.

I certainly hope she comes back. I can’t imagine that she’s just out there but is never seen again.

I enjoyed part two of this episode, though it was not as scary as the first part.

No, I didn’t think so either. Although I did recommend to my friend whose kids watch Doctor Who that she should watch these episodes before letting the kids watch them. It’s still a little intense for little ones.

[spoiler] I guess those that thought River Song would live were as wrong as those that thought she would die. I wonder if he married her in his future. Can’t think of any other reason he would tell her his name other than some timey wimey thing where he knew she needed some special info to get his trust on this occassion. [/spoiler]

Yeah, that was an interesting twist.

We will have to watch for a time when the doctor is without a companion and there is a little break in the continuity so we can shove this whole River Song story in.

I would hope that they’d take care of that within this season. I’d hate for it to get dragged out too far and possibly never really get resolved.

My DH is back and I am finally caught up with BSG again (yaaa!).

Finally! Was it worth the wait?

Thanks for joining me on this thread though.

Thanks for starting it.

Seems like we’re the only two here who watch the Doctor on “UK” time.

Or later that evening. :rolleyes:

Off to the BSG threads to see what I missed.

Quite a bit, I’d say. This past episode was pretty chock-full.

[Apollymy]

Thanks for joining me on this thread though. Seems like we’re the only two here who watch the Doctor on “UK” time. Off to the BSG threads to see what I missed.

Nope, I do too, just haven’t been around here much cause work has kept me pretty busy!

All I can say about this two-parter is if there was ever an episode deserving of an OMGWTFBBQ! :eek: this is it!

Do either of you listen to the BBC commentary podcasts for Doctor Who? The “Forest of the Dead” commentary was done by RTD, Stephen Moffatt and David Tennant. I never laughed so hard!

[BadgerSpoon]

Nope, I do too, just haven’t been around here much cause work has kept me pretty busy!

All I can say about this two-parter is if there was ever an episode deserving of an OMGWTFBBQ! :eek: this is it!

Do either of you listen to the BBC commentary podcasts for Doctor Who? The “Forest of the Dead” commentary was done by RTD, Stephen Moffatt and David Tennant. I never laughed so hard!

No, I didn’t know that they did one. Downloading now. Thanks for the tip.

[BitshiftNull]

Just finished Silence in the Library and Forest of the Damned, and GREAT episodes! =D

Now I’m sure this has probably been commented on in other places, as there’s no way I’m the first to bring this up, but I don’t go to much of any other sources for Doctor Who (or any Sci-fi) info. But thought I’d draw some attention to the fact the episodes written by Steven Moffat “The Girl in the Fireplace”, “Blink”, and “Silence in the Library” / “Forest of the Damned” have played with the timey-wimey thing a bit more than usual; the interleaving of timelines of the characters.

Personally I think all of these episodes have been quite interesting and fun in that aspect. And with Steven slated as executive producer for the 5th Season, I suspect things are only going to get crazier =)

Also, just speculation here… Swan recognized the Doctor when she first saw him (implying the Doctor meets her before another regeneration) and Steven Moffat’s taking over in Season 5. So I feel pretty confident that Steven introduced the companion for the next Season and intended us to see (kinda) the end before the beginning of her story

And OMG! Only 4 episodes left of the season… Of course don’t want it to end with our almost Galactica-long hiatus right around the corner, but can’t wait to see WTH is up with the Rose clues

[BadgerSpoon]

Just finished Silence in the Library and Forest of the Damned, and GREAT episodes! =D

Agreed!

I recommend downloading the podcast that Apollymy mentioned. Very entertaining and informative.

Now I’m sure this has probably been commented on in other places, as there’s no way I’m the first to bring this up, but I don’t go to much of any other sources for Doctor Who (or any Sci-fi) info. But thought I’d draw some attention to the fact the episodes written by Steven Moffat “The Girl in the Fireplace”, “Blink”, and “Silence in the Library” / “Forest of the Damned” have played with the timey-wimey thing a bit more than usual; the interleaving of timelines of the characters.

Personally I think all of these episodes have been quite interesting and fun in that aspect. And with Steven slated as executive producer for the 5th Season, I suspect things are only going to get crazier =)

Good point. Those are some of the most complex, need-to-think-about episodes of the whole series.

Also, just speculation here… Swan recognized the Doctor when she first saw him (implying the Doctor meets her before another regeneration) and Steven Moffat’s taking over in Season 5. So I feel pretty confident that Steven introduced the companion for the next Season and intended us to see (kinda) the end before the beginning of her story

Another good point, although she might recognize him in some other way. If she knows his real name, she may also know some other way to identify him, no matter what face he has.

And OMG! Only 4 episodes left of the season… Of course don’t want it to end with our almost Galactica-long hiatus right around the corner, but can’t wait to see WTH is up with the Rose clues

I know. I can’t believe that there are so few episodes left. This, BSG, and Lost are my favorite shows, and they’re all going to make me wait until 2009 for more episodes! :mad:

[Anders_Fan]

Info about the next couple of episodes of Dr. Who and a couple of HUGE spoilers on there so enter at your own risk

http://io9.com/5016105/new-official-doctor-who-faq-includes-shocking-revelations

[TheFifth]

I was a little disappointed by the overall rosiness (not that Rose) of the big Moffat 2-parter… wasted awesome guest stars… (perhaps too many spoiled the broth. The best actors had too few lines and I really wanted more of the adorable Talulah Riley), and shambling zombie walk just doesn’t play anymore… (running is a hallmark of doctor who… but why run when you can push over a bumbling space suit with sticks or heavy objects?).

The library setting was great… hope to see more of that in future episodes.

Blink remains one of my favorite 40 some odd minutes of sci-fi ever… (that includes all of the BSG episodes) It even plays well to my friends who hate scifi.

[Anders_Fan]

I was a little disappointed by the overall rosiness (not that Rose) of the big Moffat 2-parter… wasted awesome guest stars… (perhaps too many spoiled the broth. The best actors had too few lines and I really wanted more of the adorable Talulah Riley), and shambling zombie walk just doesn’t play anymore… (running is a hallmark of doctor who… but why run when you can push over a bumbling space suit with sticks or heavy objects?).

The library setting was great… hope to see more of that in future episodes.

Blink remains one of my favorite 40 some odd minutes of sci-fi ever… (that includes all of the BSG episodes) It even plays well to my friends who hate scifi.

I agree. I liked the last two episodes but it just seemed like all that unknown stuff with River was too much. It came together alright in the end but I felt like it could have been more, ya know. The idea of there being monsters in the dark, well that is just classic but the way it turned out was just kind of anti-climatic for me. I am not a huge Donna fan. She is growing on me but honestly, I am Rose hold out so Donna could get skin-zipped by a Sleeven as long as the Doctor walked away from it with Rose and I would be cool with that.

[BadgerSpoon]

I am not a huge Donna fan. She is growing on me but honestly, I am Rose hold out so Donna could get skin-zipped by a Sleeven as long as the Doctor walked away from it with Rose and I would be cool with that.

Ouch. Harsh. :eek:

I definitely think we saw a lot more range from Donna in the second part than at any other time in the series. Personally, I thought that she really humanized the Pompeii episode (not that Rose or even Martha couldn’t have); the Doctor came off particularly cold and alien in his laissez-faire attitude. But, in general, I think she’s a fun companion, something the Doctor needs right now. Whenever she does end going, I’d hope that they’d reunite her with her stammering virtual husband. I’d say that she deserves at least that much of a happy ending, even if he was originally supposed to be a young fat girl.

[Lali]

Ouch. Harsh. :eek:

I definitely think we saw a lot more range from Donna in the second part than at any other time in the series. Personally, I thought that she really humanized the Pompeii episode (not that Rose or even Martha couldn’t have); the Doctor came off particularly cold and alien in his laissez-faire attitude. But, in general, I think she’s a fun companion, something the Doctor needs right now.

Donna is slowly becoming my favorite companion. (Martha’s hyperventilating was extremely annoying, so she’s not even in the running, really.) I do really love Rose, of course, and I’m waiting for them to give us some more screentime of the Rose Ghost, but IMO Donna is giving her a run for the money. Initially I was very skeptical when I heard that Donna’s character would be returning to be the new companion, but I really like the dynamic that she has with the Doctor. They’re more peers than the others were, what with her always calling him out on things, teasing him, and not being hopelessly in love with him. I find it a refreshing change. Maybe I can say that Rose is my favorite romance-included companion and Donna my favorite romance-not-included companion?

Whenever she does end going, I’d hope that they’d reunite her with her stammering virtual husband. I’d say that she deserves at least that much of a happy ending, even if he was originally supposed to be a young fat girl.

Was that from the podcast? Oh, man, I’ve got to download those. I usually watch Doctor Who Confidential, but I’ve never gotten the podcast commentaries. I too hope they make a way for Donna to meet up with him again. When Donna inevitably ends her run as the Doctor’s companion, I really hope it’s for that reason. I like her, and I somehow feel like she deserves a bit of happiness like that.

[Apollymy]

Donna is slowly becoming my favorite companion. (Martha’s hyperventilating was extremely annoying, so she’s not even in the running, really.) I do really love Rose, of course, and I’m waiting for them to give us some more screentime of the Rose Ghost, but IMO Donna is giving her a run for the money. Initially I was very skeptical when I heard that Donna’s character would be returning to be the new companion, but I really like the dynamic that she has with the Doctor. They’re more peers than the others were, what with her always calling him out on things, teasing him, and not being hopelessly in love with him. I find it a refreshing change. Maybe I can say that Rose is my favorite romance-included companion and Donna my favorite romance-not-included companion?

I like Donna, just not as much as I liked Rose. Martha I can take or leave. I don’t love her, but I don’t hate her.

I think she’s a fun companion, something the Doctor needs right now. Whenever she does end going, I’d hope that they’d reunite her with her stammering virtual husband. I’d say that she deserves at least that much of a happy ending, even if he was originally supposed to be a young fat girl.

I know! That was so sad, as she walks away and he can’t get the words out to stop her… Poor Donna!

Was that from the podcast? Oh, man, I’ve got to download those. I usually watch Doctor Who Confidential, but I’ve never gotten the podcast commentaries. I too hope they make a way for Donna to meet up with him again. When Donna inevitably ends her run as the Doctor’s companion, I really hope it’s for that reason. I like her, and I somehow feel like she deserves a bit of happiness like that.

It was. RTD, Stephen Moffatt, and David Tennant were talking about it in the commentaries. In an early version of the script, the “real world” version of Donna’s husband was supposed to be an overweight young woman with a stammer.

[BadgerSpoon]

Donna is slowly becoming my favorite companion. (Martha’s hyperventilating was extremely annoying, so she’s not even in the running, really.) I do really love Rose, of course, and I’m waiting for them to give us some more screentime of the Rose Ghost, but IMO Donna is giving her a run for the money. Initially I was very skeptical when I heard that Donna’s character would be returning to be the new companion, but I really like the dynamic that she has with the Doctor. They’re more peers than the others were, what with her always calling him out on things, teasing him, and not being hopelessly in love with him. I find it a refreshing change. Maybe I can say that Rose is my favorite romance-included companion and Donna my favorite romance-not-included companion?

I’d have to say I agree. It’s sort of refreshing to have a companion treat him like an equal and not a god. Their interaction reminds me a lot more of the way that Jackie treated him. That look of childlike awe does get a little old after a while. And I’m still on the fence about the whole idea of romance between Doctor and companion. It’s been fairly tasteful up to this time, but it could start playing like a dirty old man, trolling time and space for tail.

Was that from the podcast? Oh, man, I’ve got to download those. I usually watch Doctor Who Confidential, but I’ve never gotten the podcast commentaries. I too hope they make a way for Donna to meet up with him again. When Donna inevitably ends her run as the Doctor’s companion, I really hope it’s for that reason. I like her, and I somehow feel like she deserves a bit of happiness like that.

Particularly considering how she and the Doctor first met. Having her get married to someone who actually loves her and doesn’t want to feed to giant spiders will be a nice end to her story arc.

I like Donna, just not as much as I liked Rose. Martha I can take or leave. I don’t love her, but I don’t hate her.

I feel the same about Martha. I do like Rose, although considering the romantic overtones of their interaction, having her around has to end badly. Either she eventually grows old and dies, leaving the Doctor miserable and alone, or he uses the fob watch again to be with her, thereby ending the show. I can’t really see either choice being great TV…

I know! That was so sad, as she walks away and he can’t get the words out to stop her… Poor Donna!

Yeah, that was heart-breaking. Maybe they’ll end up in that time period again when the Doctor finally meets River Song.

It was. RTD, Stephen Moffatt, and David Tennant were talking about it in the commentaries. In an early version of the script, the “real world” version of Donna’s husband was supposed to be an overweight young woman with a stammer.

They were right to leave it out. They didn’t explain the differences between the real world and the virtual world enough to have it make sense. Plus this way leaves a potential love interest for Donna out there somewhere.

[Lali]

Particularly considering how she and the Doctor first met. Having her get married to someone who actually loves her and doesn’t want to feed to giant spiders will be a nice end to her story arc.

Always nice to find a man who doesn’t want to feed you to giant spiders.