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radiantbabyI caught up listening to the Verity! Podcast* over the weekend and even decided to drop a comment on their related post about the Eleventh Doctor. For those who don't know, as a tribute to the 50th anniversary, they are doing a show on each Doctor and talking about what episode defines that Doctor best. Obviously, we are still in the midst of Eleven's run so it's hard to give a definitive answer, but they still gave it a go.
The most popular choice on the show was 'The Eleventh Hour' and while I love that episodewith the fire of a thousand suns (seriously, I couldn't count the amount of times I've rewatched it), when I closed my eyes and thought of what episode most fit Eleven for me, I went straight to 'Amy's Choice'. Now, it's a given that's also my favorite story of new!Who, so I'm a bit biased, but it's more than that.
Anyway, I go into more in my comment on their post below (I decided to repost it here as well, as I'm still trying to work on posting more on LJ this year):
Just finished listening to the podcast (yes, I'm late -- I'm catching up on them all). And I thought about what my choice for episode would be and, as I mentioned on Twitter, I have to say for me it would be 'Amy's Choice' (which is, also, my favorite new!Who episode, actually).
A lot of people find it a pretty meta episode focusing on Amy, but for me I find it more of an excellent character study of the Doctor. Further, while obviously there are some character points that the Dream Lord touches on that are true of many/all Doctors (such as not keeping in touch with his friends and whatnot, for example), here we have something new: a Doctor that is truly openly acknowledging his guilt to the audience over such things.
In a way, it's almost like cleaning up such things as the Tenth Doctor being so harsh to people (especially Martha, who is my favorite, FWIW). It's like the Eleventh Doctor has grown up finally, that he is putting his emo manpain aside and respecting those around him in his life for the first time...well, since the Time War probably.
He's also openly acknowledging his faults and how he's hurt people. He's also trying to figure out who he is and how he fits into the universe. Amy is the mouthpiece for this, such as when she implores him to save Rory and when he can't she demands 'Then what is the point of you?' or how she is an example of him luring away people from their more 'mundane' domestic lives and how its hard to compete with that. There are just so many great character moments, especially with the Dream Lord, that just make me fist pump with joy and just weep with the way the laid the Eleventh Doctor bare for all to see.
* If you haven't checked out the Verity! Podcast, I would highly recommend it. It's a group of all-females talking about Doctor Who, both classic and new, with rather varying opinions. And while I don't always agree with them, it's nice to have a podcast that isn't a total sausage-fest (not that I don't love sausage too) all the time. Women are obviously in fandom too and here they are truly getting heard.
The most popular choice on the show was 'The Eleventh Hour' and while I love that episodewith the fire of a thousand suns (seriously, I couldn't count the amount of times I've rewatched it), when I closed my eyes and thought of what episode most fit Eleven for me, I went straight to 'Amy's Choice'. Now, it's a given that's also my favorite story of new!Who, so I'm a bit biased, but it's more than that.
Anyway, I go into more in my comment on their post below (I decided to repost it here as well, as I'm still trying to work on posting more on LJ this year):
Just finished listening to the podcast (yes, I'm late -- I'm catching up on them all). And I thought about what my choice for episode would be and, as I mentioned on Twitter, I have to say for me it would be 'Amy's Choice' (which is, also, my favorite new!Who episode, actually).
A lot of people find it a pretty meta episode focusing on Amy, but for me I find it more of an excellent character study of the Doctor. Further, while obviously there are some character points that the Dream Lord touches on that are true of many/all Doctors (such as not keeping in touch with his friends and whatnot, for example), here we have something new: a Doctor that is truly openly acknowledging his guilt to the audience over such things.
In a way, it's almost like cleaning up such things as the Tenth Doctor being so harsh to people (especially Martha, who is my favorite, FWIW). It's like the Eleventh Doctor has grown up finally, that he is putting his emo manpain aside and respecting those around him in his life for the first time...well, since the Time War probably.
He's also openly acknowledging his faults and how he's hurt people. He's also trying to figure out who he is and how he fits into the universe. Amy is the mouthpiece for this, such as when she implores him to save Rory and when he can't she demands 'Then what is the point of you?' or how she is an example of him luring away people from their more 'mundane' domestic lives and how its hard to compete with that. There are just so many great character moments, especially with the Dream Lord, that just make me fist pump with joy and just weep with the way the laid the Eleventh Doctor bare for all to see.
* If you haven't checked out the Verity! Podcast, I would highly recommend it. It's a group of all-females talking about Doctor Who, both classic and new, with rather varying opinions. And while I don't always agree with them, it's nice to have a podcast that isn't a total sausage-fest (not that I don't love sausage too) all the time. Women are obviously in fandom too and here they are truly getting heard.
