Much better than last week. This was more like classic Dr Who. And also a bit like Babylon 5. (Thank god RTD has finally figured out how to story arcs!)
"She is returning."
Obviously a reference to R***.
"There is something on your back!"
See "Planet of the Spiders", although it could just be a red herring for the fans. Something is definitely "not quite right" about Donna... note the look the Doctor gave her in the previous episode when she told him she felt cold inside the TARDIS. I suspect we'll get more hints as the series goes on.
Lots of continuity references in this story, including the TARDIS translation circuits, the destruction of Gallifrey, great fire of london, Barcelona.
The story had a great twist when it was revealed who caused the volcano to erupt and killed the people of Pompeii.
I wonder though if the Doctor changed history, as hinted by the last scene.
"She is returning."
Obviously a reference to R***.
"There is something on your back!"
See "Planet of the Spiders", although it could just be a red herring for the fans. Something is definitely "not quite right" about Donna... note the look the Doctor gave her in the previous episode when she told him she felt cold inside the TARDIS. I suspect we'll get more hints as the series goes on.
Lots of continuity references in this story, including the TARDIS translation circuits, the destruction of Gallifrey, great fire of london, Barcelona.
The story had a great twist when it was revealed who caused the volcano to erupt and killed the people of Pompeii.
I wonder though if the Doctor changed history, as hinted by the last scene.
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 7:16 AMlol not that effects me but people get all iffy if you don't put hte word SPOILDERS on this stuff.
1) I'm very curious about the thing on her back reference.
2) the "she's returning" could be either R*** or T** R*** but we'll see
3) that sound you just heard was me jumping on the Cathrine tate band wagon. I was actually against it until this episode. It was really well written I think even GORdon will have to agree (maybe). -
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 8:23 AMI think that if the title of the episode is in the subject line then the spoiler adverse have only themselves to blame if they click the link.
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Sat, April 26, 2008 - 10:16 AMI agree. I think the reference to "she is returning" is The Rani.
Can't wait.
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 7:30 AMYes a lot of reference to the Doctors last visit as well ... and yes what is on Donna's back? hmmm.
Small Spoiler alert.
Its look like the Doctor has made up his mind to be a Timelord in all the that made them think of them selfs more than anything or one.
The Doctor was running away as soon as he saw what was coming and Donna was like "we have to try to save them"..
this wasn't like a Quantum Leap eps where they would have change everything (oh look it doesn't have to happen that way lets fix it)I would have hated that and in all ways we knew that it would end still in fire and death
the was only one way out that could be reached .. and the Doctor is again faced with more torment ... That would drive me mad to have to face that much guilt. This was very good eps I will have to watch it again later today.
As for the end only time will tell what will come of what doctor did.
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Tue, April 15, 2008 - 5:08 AM>As for the end only time will tell what will come of what doctor did.
That was the strongest element of the arc of Christopher Eccelston's run on the show-- the Doctor having to repeatedly come to grips with the sometimes disasterous consequences of his actions. I hope that we see that continue.
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 4:19 PMAll in all, a nice episode.
I especially enjoyed the scene where Evelina and Lucius looked into the minds of the Doctor and Donna. That scene was perfectly punctuated by the music and the rising tremors of Vesuvius.
The scene in the TARDIS at the end with D&D arguing about whether to save the citizens of Pompei was inspiring as well.
I really, really like the dynamic between D&D. It's nice to have a companion who is in awe of time travel, and not necessarily of the Doctor. It reminds me of when Adric would call the Doctor to task.
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Tue, April 15, 2008 - 2:41 AMSPOILER TALK BELOW
donna is clearly related to the folks she saved (her last name noble, their's being noblis) and that reminded me of the episode with Dodo caplet's family from the classic series where the Caplet family was not saved from the massacre but in the next episode you meet Dodo and are given the idea that someone in the family survived the massacre.
Really like the character of Donna and she has a nice mixture of curiosity with altruism that neither rose nor martha had. Her aditude and manner keep her from being a mary sue. I really hope she doesn't die later in the season.
the bad guys were cool in some ways-mind control, using the magma to fuel themselves but being killed with water should stay in the Wizard of Oz.
I liked this one with the doctor knowing that volcano has to happen but not knowing he is responsible for it. wonder what other "fixed" events he is responsible for. -
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Sun, April 20, 2008 - 3:17 PMSpoilers Below!
I thought this episode had quite a few things in common with one of my fav old episodes, "The Aztecs". Especially with the companion (Barbara) trying to change history. It was an uneven episode, but MUCH more enjoyable than both of the previous (Early season historical earth episodes) Tooth and Claw & The Shakespeare Code (my least favorite of last season). If they are going to be on Earth, I definitely prefer this style.
A positive element: The space of some of the sets (the cave in Mt. Vesuvius & the hilltop over the city) looked and felt great! I'm a CSO & suit (anti-cgi) purest, but I have to admit the work on the lava/mud flow over the city was beautiful for a television show budget.
(The creatures would be a great computer game enemy, but that's about it. Oh well, can't complain...too much)
The Planet of the Spiders idea is a fun one. I'd like to see the spiders return. Actually, I really liked the way they told that Pertwee arc, with the Doctor going off on his own for a bit, grabbing the gem as a gift and getting in trouble for it later. I don't remember there being much foreshadowing either (unlike RTD, where everything is foreshadowing), just a sense of wonder.) I'd like to see some segments in episodes that are like the montage at the end of season 2 (I think) where it showed some of the things Rose and the Doctor had seen. Oh, Some not Earth planet, non-Earth Spaceships would be nice.
I agree that Donna's character writing was much better this episode too. Another note, I would like to see a companion that doesn't meet ALL of the following qualifications:
A) From modern day Earth.
B) Young (or fairly young).
C) Female
For example:
A & C could give you Evelyn Smythe, one of my favs.
A & B = Harry Sullivan, or someone more interesting.
B & C = Romana I, Nyssa
Off topic:
What would be your ideal choice for the next companion? (Actor/Actress?) -
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Sun, April 20, 2008 - 10:49 PMCaptain Jack, Mickey Smith, and Adam Mitchell did not fit those criteria. To be fair, they did not last as long as companions either. -
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Re: 4.2 Fires of Pompeii
Mon, April 21, 2008 - 2:08 AMGood point - Fair enough, but I guess I didn't consider them as actual companions since they always seemed more of supporting characters since the MAIN companion was Rose. In other words, I wouldn't have minded a few episodes (3+) with just the doctor and Mickey.
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