Showing posts with label Sonic Screwdriver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonic Screwdriver. Show all posts

Sunday, February 17, 2013

The time vortex and the grim reaper

The time vortex and the Doctor's constant brush with death.

The Doctor travels in the TARDIS through time and space via the time vortex. The vortex is a set of pathways through time and space.

I know, duh.

But I think the vortex represents brushing with death constantly. Space is deep, dark, and lonely. The deepest parts of space are almost like death continuously coming after the Doctor. Maybe that's why he is always on the run, traveling, helping. Yes, part of that is because it was his adapted name due to his constant desire to help and heal. However, I think he needs to run because he travels through the time vortex. Perhaps traveling through the vortex changes you internally. Well, we know it does. In fact, it was looking into the time vortex that created the race of time lords.

Perhaps as death chases the Doctor through his long life, the Doctor must always continue to zoom past the grim reaper, in the tardis, in the other direction. Perhaps it's simply because death can't catch the Doctor, that the Doctor lives so long. Maybe even a higher power provides him with the ability to regenerate. Maybe the Doctor, and the entire race of time lords, are some sort of miracle.

Maybe sometimes, just sometimes, Death is able to clip the Doctor as they cross paths. Perhaps it is this that brought the Doctor and Rose back to Satellite 5 in the Bad Wolf episode. Actually, a few times the Doctor is either running from predators (the Family of Blood) or getting swept into dangerous situations (psychic container anyone?). These seem random at times. Perhaps it's death nudging the Doctor just a little bit, before he loses him again.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

My favorite Doctor Who episode : Midnight

Doctor Who: Midnight

Note:Spoilers, soooooo.....watch the episode Midnight, season 4, episode 10, doctor 10

I decided to launch this officially by blogging about my favorite episode of the recent Doctor Who.

In MIDNIGHT, the Doctor tries unsuccessfully to get Donna to come along on a sight-seeing shuttle to the Sapphire Waterfall. He then enthusiastically boards the shuttle himself and sets out on the adventure with a handful of other people from all walks of life.

Right away this episode grabs me. The Doctor gets on the shuttle and everyone is starting to get lost in their own little world, as travelers often do. The fellow passengers are plugging in and tuning out, but not the doctor. The Doctor wants to engage his fellow travelers. With a flick of the 'ol sonic screwdriver, he shuts down all the entertainment and suggests they all get to know each other.

This reminds me of going to punk rock shows in the years before cell phones. When you would meet cool people in line while waiting to get in, then you'd meet more cool people when you all settled your places in the crowd. Back when you used to be able to smoke at all indoor concerts here in NY, these little circles would form throughout the general admission floor crowd. Simply getting into a circle or two would almost guarantee you a new friend or two. Back then, you'd actually have to TALK to each other to pass the time. I've met some great people chatting it up with fellow punkers between bands. In fact, it's how I've met some absolutely amazing people.

So, the Doctor settles in with everyone and they all get to know each other. Then the tide of the episode starts to turn. It isn't often that the Doctor is out, alone, away from the Tardis, and gets himself into a situation that is so sticky you can't see his way out from your couch. This episode strikes that chord dead on. Within minutes, the Doctor is on the verge of being thrown out of the shuttle and to his certain death. These passengers do not know him, or the wonderful things he has done, they only know they are afraid and will do whatever they can to survive. Just when it looks like it's all over for Doctor Who, the flight attendant grabs the real enemy and throws them both out the door. She saves the Doctor's life.

It's rare that a person, who is not a companion, saves the Doctor from certain death. Every time it happens is magic, but this one was really something. She saw through the situation and saved him, at the cost of her own life.

Then the Doctor returns to Donna, who has been relaxing and getting pampered, and gives her a solid hug. The relief is written all over him and it hits you just how close even he believed he was to death. He then sits with Donna and tells her everything so they can reflect and assess what happened. This moment reminds me of the end of the "Turn left" episode, where one of the main characters has been through an incredibly traumatic experience. It is refreshing to see that a series based on leaders and companions can still branch out and give our heroes separate mountains to climb and conquer.