Eighth Doctor: Stranded 1 (spoilers begin p20)
Mar 11, 2021 19:37:34 GMT
mark687, tuigirl, and 1 more like this
Post by barnabaslives on Mar 11, 2021 19:37:34 GMT
Finally finished up the set with Divine Intervention so I can move on to some of Stranded 2. I really have enjoyed Stranded 1 more with each story and it's wonderful how natural the whole thing feels by the end of it even for how different it is from previous series. I think it's provided some wonderful opportunities for character development and perspective and the set has made very good use of that.
I think this works very well for Liv - I really should have guessed because we're 3/4 of the way through The Robots and I've somehow been really enjoying that in spite of feeling like I had Liv fatigue from the Eighth Doctor stories, but it seems very apparent now it's because she's getting to have some life besides just being that annoying person who follows the Eighth Doctor about making sure there's enough sarcasm in the room. I turns out that rather than finding the persona grating at all, its that the character has felt very unbalanced in that direction until given the opportunity to be more rounded. It's as if Big Finished realized this would the ideal change of pace for keeping Liv as part of Eight's adventures. Now if we can get more of that to happen for Helen, but one thing at a time is fine.
I enjoyed The Doctor as a quiz show contestant much more than I'd have expected. It feels a bit New Series to me, I can't picture classic Who doing something like that unless it had been a complete send-up with a point to make about quiz shows. It might have been a minor niggle that it seemed out of character for The Doctor to have to have game shows explained to him, that they don't want to give away all their money every week, lol - I'd have thought he'd have that much cynical savvy - but I won't give it a second thought.
I don't know why, but The Doctor being on a game show and me not thinking it was silly manages to remind me that whatever I may think of this or that episode, the New Series really has seemingly restored the sense that anything can happen, something that has always been very attractive about both Doctor Who and Dark Shadows.
I thought it played out very well for The Doctor to have to have it suggested to him to take the tenants out to dinner. I would think it would be the first thing he'd think of himself if he weren't distracted nearly to the point of OCD about the TARDIS and getting UN-Stranded, and that really hit home that way. Seems to give a good sense of contrast to the Third Doctor's tenure as an Earthbound, and highlights the sense of Eight as a freedom-loving free spirit who is really taking it particularly hard having his wings clipped, steering things away from the sense of someone being pouty because their favorite toy was broken that I was starting to develop a touch of from the previous episodes.
I think seeing that kind of character development with an already well developed character like the lead role really underscores the point about Stranded 1 being a much appreciated opportunity for that sort of thing.
I was also very happy to getting a touch of the more usual. I had worries this set was going to be all about "Timelord becomes Landlord, yawn", lol, but I really like the way the sense of mystery built up about that, and I was very pleased to have Andy along for another story. I hope we'll be seeing more of him and that the possibilities there live up to some of their potential.
Stranded 1 really has managed to end up as one of my favorite releases of its year. Emphatic complements to the chefs.
I think this works very well for Liv - I really should have guessed because we're 3/4 of the way through The Robots and I've somehow been really enjoying that in spite of feeling like I had Liv fatigue from the Eighth Doctor stories, but it seems very apparent now it's because she's getting to have some life besides just being that annoying person who follows the Eighth Doctor about making sure there's enough sarcasm in the room. I turns out that rather than finding the persona grating at all, its that the character has felt very unbalanced in that direction until given the opportunity to be more rounded. It's as if Big Finished realized this would the ideal change of pace for keeping Liv as part of Eight's adventures. Now if we can get more of that to happen for Helen, but one thing at a time is fine.
I enjoyed The Doctor as a quiz show contestant much more than I'd have expected. It feels a bit New Series to me, I can't picture classic Who doing something like that unless it had been a complete send-up with a point to make about quiz shows. It might have been a minor niggle that it seemed out of character for The Doctor to have to have game shows explained to him, that they don't want to give away all their money every week, lol - I'd have thought he'd have that much cynical savvy - but I won't give it a second thought.
I don't know why, but The Doctor being on a game show and me not thinking it was silly manages to remind me that whatever I may think of this or that episode, the New Series really has seemingly restored the sense that anything can happen, something that has always been very attractive about both Doctor Who and Dark Shadows.
I thought it played out very well for The Doctor to have to have it suggested to him to take the tenants out to dinner. I would think it would be the first thing he'd think of himself if he weren't distracted nearly to the point of OCD about the TARDIS and getting UN-Stranded, and that really hit home that way. Seems to give a good sense of contrast to the Third Doctor's tenure as an Earthbound, and highlights the sense of Eight as a freedom-loving free spirit who is really taking it particularly hard having his wings clipped, steering things away from the sense of someone being pouty because their favorite toy was broken that I was starting to develop a touch of from the previous episodes.
I think seeing that kind of character development with an already well developed character like the lead role really underscores the point about Stranded 1 being a much appreciated opportunity for that sort of thing.
I was also very happy to getting a touch of the more usual. I had worries this set was going to be all about "Timelord becomes Landlord, yawn", lol, but I really like the way the sense of mystery built up about that, and I was very pleased to have Andy along for another story. I hope we'll be seeing more of him and that the possibilities there live up to some of their potential.
Stranded 1 really has managed to end up as one of my favorite releases of its year. Emphatic complements to the chefs.