I've watched "An Unearthly Child" about a million times, but for some reason I've never gone beyond that. Mostly because of the received wisdom that this first serial is pretty dull and stupid.
RECEIVED WISDOM WAS WRONG.
I mean, yes, it was a bit of a culture shock going from Community to HELLO 1963, and I sort of had to set aside everything I learned in Anthropology 101. But it was a nice, tense character drama, and I liked that. The stylised dialogue of the cave people worked for the most part, although I got a bit tired of hearing "I, Kal".
Mostly the biggest surprise was how much Barbara screamed and panicked. She's such a dignified presence in the first episode that it's almost shocking how she falls apart and has to slowly pull herself back together.
One thing I noticed, that I never spotted before: "She can't be foreign," says Ian in regard to Susan's unfamiliarity with the currency. In "Remembrance of the Daleks", Ace's Fascist Boyfriend of the Week assumes she's foreign for the same reason.
Also, Barbara's hair is magnificent. Once I'm done here, I'm planning to go off and craft my own bouffant.
Oh, the caveman episodes are where you really see the characters begin to develop, I think. Not just Barbara, but we even get to see the Doctor, who's first impression is a crotchety, suspicious old man (not without reason, I've always maintained, what with people busting into his house and all) to someone who can feel and express genuine fear and panic. Ian, too, shows up as more heroic as the serial progresses, I think. Kind of neat!
Barbara's hair must be fantastic on a windy day, the way it holds it's shape.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-10-23 02:39 am (UTC)RECEIVED WISDOM WAS WRONG.
I mean, yes, it was a bit of a culture shock going from Community to HELLO 1963, and I sort of had to set aside everything I learned in Anthropology 101. But it was a nice, tense character drama, and I liked that. The stylised dialogue of the cave people worked for the most part, although I got a bit tired of hearing "I, Kal".
Mostly the biggest surprise was how much Barbara screamed and panicked. She's such a dignified presence in the first episode that it's almost shocking how she falls apart and has to slowly pull herself back together.
One thing I noticed, that I never spotted before: "She can't be foreign," says Ian in regard to Susan's unfamiliarity with the currency. In "Remembrance of the Daleks", Ace's Fascist Boyfriend of the Week assumes she's foreign for the same reason.
Also, Barbara's hair is magnificent. Once I'm done here, I'm planning to go off and craft my own bouffant.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-23 05:17 pm (UTC)Barbara's hair must be fantastic on a windy day, the way it holds it's shape.