A Couple More Thoughts on “The Unicorn and the Wasp”

[rusty_halo]

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A couple more thoughts after a rewatch of “The Unicorn and the Wasp”:

* The moment I started shipping Doctor/Donna is when she comes out of the TARDIS in that awesome outfit and he tells her she looks nice. He seems kind of surprised but pleased at the realization. And then when they kiss, I sort of the think the surprise isn't just the kiss but the fact that he enjoys it.

(I should note that for me, "ship" = "enjoy the way the characters interact and can see the romantic angle." I don't do OTP-to-the-death shipping. I just mean I won't automatically skim past all fic marked Doctor/Donna.)

* Donna was awesome when investigating the mysteriously preserved room. I loved her wielding the magnifying glass as a weapon and yelling about the REALLY REALLY BIG wasp. I think she's tied with Rose as my favorite companion. It's not a contest, neither has to be better. They're just different and awesome in their own ways.

* The plot, of course, made no sense. It wasn't supposed to, honestly. I don't understand why people are getting upset about it. Sometimes shows decide to change their tones and do funny episodes. Just enjoy it and stop worrying about how a magic necklace can transmit Agatha Christie's stories as read by an aging socialite into the mind of her half-wasp alien lovechild. You're never going to find logic in it. Just enjoy the good actors playing off of each other, and count the clever references to Christie's books and to Clue, and squee over the comedy. It's way more fun that way.

* The charades scene gets funnier every time I watch it. Of course it's pure crack, but it's hilarious, and the actors are having such fun. I also completely loved the magic-flashback-chair, giving the colonel a double flashback and sending the Doctor into a reverie about saving Charlemagne from an evil computer in the forests of Belgium. What other show would give you that kind of awesomely absurd humor?

* Also awesome: Donna's inadvertent summary of the plot of "The Unquiet Dead." As others have pointed out, this season is loaded with references to previous episodes. I wonder if this is part of the ongoing mythology theme? Kind of a meta version, with the mythology of the show itself? Because the show has had the occasional self-reference before, but they're taking it to extremes this season.

And Agatha's stories going down in history is also part of that theme. So far this season, we've got:

• Agatha Christie's stories living on throughout the future of humanity. (And her memories of the mystery of the giant wasp showing up in her work even though she doesn't consciously remember it.)


• The Doctor setting up the nonviolent foundation for the society in "The Doctor's Daughter." And inspiring Jenny to put down her gun and reach for the stars.


• The Doctor's effect on Martha--did he ruin half her life, turn her into a soldier, or leave her better for traveling with him? And his effect on Luke Rattigan, leading to Rattigan's redemption.


• The Doctor and Donna going down in Ood history for helping free them from slavery.


• The Doctor and Donna becoming household gods for saving the "Fires of Pompeii" family.


• The Doctor inspiring Donna to seek him out for more adventures in "Partners in Crime."

So what's it going to come to as the season culminates? Something about the impact the Doctor has had on history, and on the lives of the people he's interacted with. (He seems to think he's got a negative impact--he got Astrid killed, doesn't want to bring Mr. Copper along, ruined Martha's life, warns Donna of the risks of coming with him--but what we're seeing is that he has an amazing impact, that he saves and inspires. Maybe he'll learn that?)

(I'm unspoiled. Don't spoil me. Don't even drop hints, okay?)

Current Mood: thoughtful

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