402:The Fires of Pompeii

Age : 35 Joined : 19 Jun 2007 Posts : 241

Please keep in mind that that this episode has already aired in the UK. This thread will probably contain LOTS of spoilers. If you don't want to ruin the fun, you may want to come back once the episode airs on SciFi in a few weeks.
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I'm the Doctor. I'm a Timelord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 900 and 3 years old and I'm the man who's gonna save YOUR lives and ALL 6 billion people on the planet below......You got a problem with that? Voyage of the Damned

Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 224

I'm gonna be vague until the episode has gotten around a bit.

Now we're talking. Donna rocks in this episode. While the story itself wasn't that great, the character moments are what make it shine, and any reservations I may have had about Catherine Tate are out the door.

This was good Who.

"Tardis. Time Lord. Ya."
"Donna. Human. No."

Some great lines throughout.

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 365

Wow. That balanced out every bit of silliness in episode 1.

Fantastic baddies (they'll make great figures), hard decisions, beautiful sets, and more series foreshadowing (at least I think so).

Donna had a few of those awkward "how can you honestly not understand that you need to shut up" moments, but overall I think she's a perfect change of pace for the Doctor's companions.

Anyone else notice the 2nd reference to the shadow proclamation in as many episodes?

Age : 37 Joined : 20 Oct 2007 Posts : 300

Hey Don't read further if you have not seen...do not want to spoil anything or make you cry...

I loved this episode... it was all about making a choice. As I said a while back about Donna that she could be good...this episode will probably change a few doubters. Of course they throw in a the teasers like the prophets telling Donna to that there is something on her back...of course I'm thinking of Sarah and the spiders from Metabilus but I doubt that is the case. I was wrong about the Rani in the first eppy because I saw Ms. Foster with a Sonic but really a sonic device does not have to be a timelord thing...Cap't Jack had a sonic gun.

Oh yes cjs schmidt...the shadow proc. bits...I love the teasers they drive me crazy at times but it also gives one a reason to really pay attention to the little details either visual (rose, Henrick's) or verbally like Donna's prophecy.

Age : 35 Joined : 19 Jun 2007 Posts : 241

Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 224

I think Donna works because the other companions tended to follow the Doctor without question, but she is asking the questions I hope I would in that situation.

She's also way in over her head, and while we'd like to think we'd be cool and not blow it when the Doctor is trying to tell us to shut up, I've been to enough parties with my sig oth where I said things I shouldn't even when she was giving me the evil eye.

It's a nice human element to remind us that the Doctor is absolutely not human without having him yell Time Lord over and over again. It reminds me of some of the exchanges between Sarah Jane and the 4th Doctor in Pyramids of Mars. He's so engaging, we forget who he really is.

As for the Shadow Proclamation, I remember Rose pulling it out of her hat when trying to face down the Sycorax. It would be cool if she actually knows that it is when she returns. Smile

Admin Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 365

Another item that might tie in: missing/lost/destroyed planets.
The Adaposian nursery planet, the Pyrovile planet, maybe even the Auton homeworld (which was mentioned the first time we heard about the shadow proclamation). Maybe whatever the Doctor used to destroy Gallifrey (Medusa Cascade?) is spreading across the universe. Maybe the Last Time Lord will have to answer for a terrible decision he had to make - maybe he'll have the opportunity to change his decision, or make it again.

ARRGHH!!! :-)

It amazes me how much depth this "family" show has compared to the "adult" Torchwood. I love it.

Joined : 01 Feb 2007 Posts : 224

Or maybe . . . Galactus!

Age : 37 Joined : 20 Oct 2007 Posts : 300

Yeah you fellas are mentioning the shadow proclamation. Wonder what is the shadow proclamation...any guesses?

The only shadow in doctor who I remember was the shadow from the armageddon factor. Seriously doubt that one.

When they say she is back everyone assumes Rose and yes that is going to be true but there could be another she...
Mel returns!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhh!

As for the medussa cascade... a riddle with stone? Or let's be totally weird...remember rokenback(sp) falls you sherlock holmes fans.... could the medussa cascade be a grand finale later? Heck...I'm usually wrong...I do not have the sight...got to talk to the oracle.

Joined : 05 Feb 2007 Posts : 344

Could the shadow proc. have something to do with Black/White Guardians?
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"I reject your reality and subsitute my own"- MYTHBUSTERS

Joined : 16 Jul 2007 Posts : 286

I liked how this episode was so cheesy yet it actually worked so well.

Age : 37 Joined : 20 Oct 2007 Posts : 300

It was a nice slow build up of the plot...to the chaotic climax. It so so full of emotion. I went to the Field Museum in Chicago 2 yrs ago and they had a Pompeii exhibit- the memory of those plaster images of people trying to flee the disaster added chill factor for me for this episode. So far it is still my favorite of series 4.