The Doctors Wife

[vervet_monkey]

I loved this ep. That seems a good way to start a review right? A review that will be full of pictures because that has got to be one of the most beautiful pieces of television in the world, ever. Right, here goes, I apologise for my unabashed love now... 

I know, I've said it already, but the first thought I have is how beautiful it all looked. Very Tim Burton-esque (yes, I'm sure there is a proper term for the kind of shot/et etc that is better than Tim Burton-eque, but that's all my uninformed brain has, sorry...) I mean look:

Right... OK then, LJ gallery is going to be stupid... we will do this without images then. But it is beautiful, honest.

The TARDIS scene was cute. And quite telling, 11 has obviously been a lot more forthcoming about the Timelords than the previous incarnations, probably something to do with them trying to kill him again I guess. And Timelords can change gender! I love the throwaway lines to solve the questions everyone's asking. Means you can get through a lot without the fuss. Although I'm waiting for the 'The next Doctor should be a girl' up cry to begin again.

And we land. On a junkyard full of old things. Which later we learn are really old TARDIS(s) (What's the plural of TARDIS?), I want to know how a TARDIS as a bath would work, do you have to squeeze out of the tap? And the Doctor meets Idris. I love that she calls him her thief, even if apparently she was his too. And that the first thing she does is kiss him, because that's what she should do. She hasn't worked out what she's called, but she knows who he is, and how he is connected to her. Her dialogue is amazing. All whirlwind and a little confused, like everything is happening all at once but in the right order, all at the same time. 

 

And our planet is sentient. And speaks through creepy creepy disembodied voices. Which apparently doesn't phase the Doctor, I guess he must have seen them before, or 700 years of travelling means he doesn't really mind any more. Am intrigued over Aunties 'House likes you' to Amy, but maybe it's just throwaway. 

 

Off to find the boxes. Again the Ponds have a lot more knowledge of the Timelords. Although clearly our Doctor is not completely at peace, he still wants forgiveness. And still doesn't know what's good for him, Ponds are useful. And it means they don't get nearly eaten, which is generally a good thing. 

 

Eleven is a much obviously scary Timelord than the others. Much quicker to threaten and to break. He's a lot scarier. Smith's delivery of the line 'Cry for help from the long dead' is spot on creepy, sends shivers down my spine. I think more so because he can be so joyful and childlike. Slightly bipolar Doctor is worrying.

 

'I stole you' 

'And I stole you'
 

Love. The TARDIS is as much of a rebel as our Doctor is. As her Doctor is rather. Again with the dialogue.

 

'Are all humans like this, bigger on the inside?'
 

*dies* There's something sweetly innocent about her. But knowing too. 

 

'You call me sexy'

'Only when we're alone!'

'We are alone'

 

Meanwhile in the TARDIS... Ponds are in trouble. 'Hold my hand' is incredibly sweet. 

 

The Doctor and Idris build themselves a TARDIS. Bickering like an old marry couple. Pull to open.

 

'You didn't always take me where I wanted to go'

'But I always took you where you needed to go'

 

And the description of bringing home 'strays'. I have this image of an old married couple. She's sitting home making dinner and cleaning, sewing curtains and calling all the kids to make sure they're OK, while the Doctor is outside with some project or other, always finding animals that need caring for and make a mess of her house, but he's all sweet and cute so she doesn't mind really, even if she does scold him.

 

But... they are in mortal danger over here, so you know 'Safe is relative'

 

And in the TARDIS house is having merry fun with the Ponds. Am I the only one after they first get separated thinking that the hand holding mentioned earlier might have been a good idea? Silly Ponds. Old Rory is creepy! And oh, look, he's dead. Yeah that would be a lot more effective if he didn't die every week. Please, stop killing him now... no really, stop.

 

Awwww, Idris thinks Rory's pretty. And he gets all the instructions while Amy has to follow along behind. That's a nice change! Until they get to the door, then Amy steps in to save the day. But very pleased with the image for delight. No Doctor in sight Rory, it's all you. Yay!

 

Old TARDIS! Awww. Although, odd seeing Amy and Rory in it. And it looks a bit bare too, compared to the new one (not that I don't love it to pieces!) 

 

Introducing Amy and Rory to Idris. 

 

'Did you wish really hard?'

'Shut up, it's not like that'

'Hello, I'm sexy'

'Still shut up!'

Love.

 

The Doctor tires to save the day. And again Eleven is different. He doesn't do chances. He wasn't trusting house, he was banking on not trusting him. Ten would have asked to be let go, would have offered some alternative. Eleven didn't. He relied on his lack of trust. And it worked, I'm just not sure I like it as much. 

 

'Fear me, I've killed hundreds of Timelords'

'Fear me, I've killed them all'

 

Again Smith delivers perfectly. Creepy and beautiful all at once. A little like Idris returning to the TARDIS. Beautiful and sad all at once, and Smith acts his heart out. It's the first time I want to wrap him up and look after him. Alive. And hello. 

 

The last part continue to play on the Doctor and his wife

 

'Where shall we take the kids?'

 

It kind of reminds me of a husband looking after his dying wife. She can't communicate with him any more, but he can to her, and he just has to be a bit creative to get her responses. And Amy and Rory are clearly the kids, they have bunkbeds! Oh how I wish the camera had followed up to their bedroom, I want to go TARDIS exploring!

 

'The only water in the forest is the River'

 

Well... I can't be the only one making the connection to 'The forest of the Dead', but I'll leave speculation to those much better at it and stick with marvelling over what may be my favourite stand alone ep.