Doctor Who: The Girl In The Fireplace

Reinette: "Godspeed, my lonely angel."

After last week's episode, I wasn't expecting another emotionally charged story so soon. But that's what we got. And somewhat surprisingly, it was an absolute delight! It didn't resonate in quite the same way as "School Reunion;" Sarah Jane was a well known and much loved companion, whereas Jean Antoinette Poisson (apart from clanging some vague historical bells), was a bit of an unknown quantity. But by the end of the 45 minutes, my heart strings definitely felt moderately jangled.

This was very much the Doctor's episode. I think he even fell in love, didn't he? It wasn't explicit, but it was certainly implied. Not that I'd blame him. Reinette was unquestionably lovely. And on top of her beauty, she was intelligent, romantic, eloquent and possessed a charming sort of dignity. Not a bad combination if you can pull it off. She also adapted to the improbability of her situation with surprising ease. Clockwork men and time travel are a notoriously difficult sell. But she absorbed the Doctor's words and the reality of her situation both thoughtfully and calmly. Why, I'm not sure. Did she truly believe the Doctor was an angel? I suppose that would explain her absolute trust in him.

It was interesting too to watch Rose's reaction to the Doctor and Reinette's burgeoning relationship. There was definitely a pained expression or two. But in the end, and maybe somewhat reluctantly, Rose seemed to accept that there was something going on between them and let them get on with it. She was actually quite sweet to Reinette. It would have been easy for her to have turned on the cattiness (as she did last week with Sarah Jane). But she acted with caring compassion; and after the silliness of "Tooth and Claw," I actually found myself warming to Rose again. It felt as though she'd grown up a little.

Tennant, again, was a revelation. He seems to be growing into his role episode by episode. I've really enjoyed his portrayal of the Doctor so far. He's so multi-faceted. He's a dab hand at the humour, has an edge when required, and makes a plausible romantic figure you could actually believe someone would want to fall in love with. Plus, he oozes boyish charm. And the history they're wrapping around his Doctor... this lonely god stuff... him being a lonely angel... the Oncoming Storm. I love all that! I know it's essentially meaningless. But it all helps to give the Doctor gravitas and history.

I was a little concerned at first by him falling in love so quickly. Then I remembered the whole Vulcan mind meld thing and it all began to make sense. When you've wandered through someone's mind, no doubt you do feel a certain closeness. I'm not sure exactly which doors Reinette left open for him, but my imagination tells me they were pretty naughty doors (of course, my imagination tells me this about a lot of things... and is usually wrong). And of course, Reinette saw inside the Doctor's head too, so there was an intimate bonding of sorts for her also; hence their unnatural closeness.

I was a little upset that he lost Reinette at the end. One moment she was there, the next she was gone. But she never gave up hoping in the Doctor. In her letter she called him "my love" and "my lonely angel," and expressed her heart's desire to see him again, one last time. But six years passed in the blink of an eye, enough time for her to succumb to tuberculosis (according to history) and to pass out of existence. A beautiful closing sequence too, with the Doctor watching the fire go out and the time window close forever.

And surprise, surprise, I actually enjoyed Mickey again this week; although someone obviously ballsed up with the continuity. Wasn't Rose supposed to be pissed at the Doctor for taking Mickey along with them? What happened to that plot thread? Regardless, Mickey was fun. He actually fitted in quite well and, dare I say it, even enhanced the story?

So another great yarn from Steven Moffat, soon to be head writer of Doctor Who. More scripts from him can only be a good thing methinks.

Bits and pieces:

-- No Torchwood reference this week. Thank goodness for that!

-- David Tennant and Sophia Myles started dating not long after the filming of this episode. They've since split up... so I think I'm in with a chance (kismet or what?). I just need to sort myself out some time traveling skills...and maybe get me space ship... oh, and some good looks too ;-)

-- This was Mickey's first trip as a proper companion.

-- Some funny dialogue this week. Just as Rose is building the Doctor up to be some kind of fearsome legend, in he stumbles half drunk. Rose's reaction? "Oh, look at what the cat dragged in -- The Oncoming Storm." Priceless!

-- Was Reinette's offer to "dance" the same kind of "dancing" referred to in "The Doctor Dances?" He did turn up not long after, saying he'd been to a great party. I wonder what made it so great? Well?

-- I assume that the Tardis was translating Reinette's speech, hence her sounding so English. But why didn't it translate her saying "monsieur"?

Billie says...

Paul and I must have a psychic link, because I loved this one, too, and for all the same reasons. It was an oddly beautiful and effective mix of science fiction and French costume drama that shouldn't have worked, but it did.

I was a big fan of the short-lived and much maligned Moonlight, and part of the reason was Sophia Myles. She was wonderful in this episode. And what a companion Reinette would have made. Interesting how she made Rose look like a kid. Rose was demoted from love interest to the peanut gallery, a naughty child playing with Mickey.

And this episode was when I started falling in love with David Tennant. He was funny, exuberant, romantic, daring, and finally, tragic. Everything a leading man should be. That final scene with the King and the letter made me cry.

Quotes:

Doctor: "Must be a spatio-temporal hyperlink."
Mickey: "What's that?"
Doctor: "No idea, just made it up. Didn't want to say 'magic door'."

Reinette: "Reason tells me you cannot be real."
Doctor: "Oh, you never want to listen to reason."

Doctor: "No, no, no, no way. Reinette Poisson. Later Madame d'Etioles. Later still, mistress of Louis XV, uncrowned Queen of France. Actress, artist, musician, dancer, courtesan. Fantastic gardener!"
Man: "Who the hell are you?"
Doctor: "I'm the Doctor. And I just snogged Madame de Pompadour."

Mickey: "Is this, like, normal for you? Is this an average day?"
Rose: "Life with the Doctor, Mickey. No more average days."

Rose: "Oh, here's trouble. What have you been up to?"
Doctor: Oh, this and that. Became the imaginary friend of a future French aristocrat. Picked a fight with a clockwork man. (Horse whinnies in the background) Oh, and I met a horse."
Mickey: "What's a horse doing on a spaceship?"
Doctor: "Mickey, what's pre-revolutionary France doing on a spaceship? Get a little perspective."

Rose: "The Queen must have loved her."
Doctor: "No, she did. They got on very well."
Mickey: "The King's wife and the King's girlfriend?"
Doctor: "France. It's a different planet."

Rose: "No, you're not keeping the horse."
Doctor: "I let you keep Mickey."

Doctor: "I think I just invented the banana daiquiri a couple of centuries early."

Reinette: "This is my lover, the King of France."
Doctor: "Yeah? Well I'm the Lord of Time."

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