Love me some RTD

[kalleah]

Midnight scared me. And I loved it. This is what Russell T. Davies is capable of writing and I hope it bodes well for his skill with the next three episodes and then the specials for next year. Oh Rusty, I think I even forgive you for Dobby!Doctor after this episode.

My husband called it RTD's Twelve Angry Men, which is high praise from him. I remember seeing somewhere that it's Tennant's favorite movie, also.

He was utterly amazing in the episode -- the scenes where he was repeating were so wrenching for me. It was similar to but worlds better than his possession in 42, which he was able to fight. In this, he simply couldn't do anything except emote, and good grief, did he ever do that. The sheer betrayal of the people around him was horrible to watch -- he clearly enjoyed their company and would have done anything to help them, and they went so far into fear and groupthink as to turn on him. It's the worst human act in his eyes since LotTL and his revelation about the Toclafane, I think.

Can't wait for next week.

Comments

[salienne.livejournal.com]

I agree with every bit of this entry.

Mix a terrifying story/message together with wonderful exectution and David Tennat's spot-on acting, and you come out with a rather bleak but brilliant episode.

It was similar to but worlds better than his possession in 42, which he was able to fight.

Exactly! I was having trouble figuring out why I liked this possession more/was actually scared and more disturbed by this one, but that is exactly why. Because this time, the Doctor wasn't writhing about fighting the urge to kill and almost holding himself in check. Instead, he was losing himself, utterly and quietly and with no basically hope, while around him, hardly anyone noticed or even cared.

...Really disturbing episode, but, as I just said, brilliant. :D

Also, next week's episode needs to come on, like, now.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

Instead, he was losing himself, utterly and quietly and with no basically hope, while around him, hardly anyone noticed or even cared.

You've summed it up perfectly. The moment I got scared was when the Doctor realized he had no sway over this group of passengers -- when his charisma and his cleverness failed him, and they began to view him as the enemy. He's not Superman and he doesn't have the physical prowess to prevent them from throwing Skye out the door (or himself, even before his possession). That's the scariest thing of all -- seeing the Doctor helpless.

[nonelvis]

It really was an incredible episode. I still haven't forgiven RTD for LOTTL, but at least "Midnight" was an excellent reminder that when Davies is good, he is really good.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

I think I can move past LotTL now, although I'm not inclined to watch it again in the near future, either.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

I'd call it more a retelling of the Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street"

I had forgotten about that episode! Yes.

[measi.livejournal.com]

Erich's comment after the episode was "If there's one thing Doctor Who has shown, it's that the scariest monster in the universe is a mob of terrified humans."

Oh, he's so right.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

Erich's comment after the episode was "If there's one thing Doctor Who has shown, it's that the scariest monster in the universe is a mob of terrified humans."

God, yes, and the Doctor knows it better than anyone.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Brilliantly, brilliantly done. I'm still in awe.

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

Yep, we called it Eight Angry Passengers, too. And I liked the way he brought some of it on himself by demonstrating his faults, without a companion to temper them.

I also thought the character development of everyone in the ensemble was an interesting contrast to Stephen Moffett's approach. I found every one of RTD's supporting cast lingered in my mind and had a unique voice.

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

And I liked the way he brought some of it on himself by demonstrating his faults, without a companion to temper them.

Exactly.

I found every one of RTD's supporting cast lingered in my mind and had a unique voice.

Yes, they certainly did. Supporting characters continue to be one of the best things about this show.

[blackcat-1.livejournal.com]

It was a great and disturbing episode. Brilliantly acted by all those in it. Very welcome after the previous two episodes, which promised so much, but IMHO, just left me feeling rather confused and none-the-richer.
RTD does the human psyche so well, and as you have mentioned, DT pulled it off marvellously.
Can't wait for the next three episodes; and yet, I'm so apprehensive...

[kalleah.livejournal.com]

RTD does the human psyche so well, and as you have mentioned, DT pulled it off marvellously.

And Lesley Sharp as well. She was just amazing.