This is the episode that probably sparks more division in Doctor Who fandom than the re-edited Shada. It polarized a number of the Doctor Who fan boards where people either loved it or hated it with the passion of 1000 suns. Some found it totally pointless and a waste of time and money. Others thought it rated as one of the best Doctor Who episodes ever. I think this is an episode that is very personal as to how you react to it.<\/p>\n
A couple of things you should know. An English schoolboy named William Grantham as part of the Blue Peter Doctor Who competition created the villain’s design for the Abzorbaloff. I am a die-hard Electric Light Orchestra fan. They were one of my first bands as a teen and I can’t tell you how many times I danced around my room to “Mr. Blue Sky” or “the Diary of Horace Whimp” or even “Rock and Roll is King”. ELO has deep meaning for me. (On a side note: Yes, the Monster ad does bother me). Shirley Henderson is an amazing character actress who really needs someone to give her the lead. Some of you might recognize her as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films.<\/p>\n
Spoilerish stuff behind the cut and in the comments.<\/p>\n
Now pardon me as I go off and dance to ELO with Caroline.<\/p>\n
I am grateful that this episode renewed my interest in ELO.<\/p>\n
\nThis is an episode about fans as in fanatics not fanciers. These people are brought together because of the Doctor and through this they find friendship and comrades. One wonders if Clive was part of the group at one time. This episode is told from one character’s point of view that being Elton Pope and in doing so you have to “forgive” some of the illogic of the episode.<\/p>\n
For me it worked on so many levels, both as a fan and as a pro. I mean how would you react if you found out that the Doctor is real? I could sure empathize with all the member of LINDA which is a bunch of people who would have never met in real life except this one thing that brought them together. Reminds me of a number of fan groups I have belonged to over the years.<\/p>\n
Yeah the villain was a classic over the top Doctor Who rubber monster but considering what the episode was about it made the sense.<\/p>\n
The biggest complaint seemed to be where was the Doctor and Rose in this episode but I really think they didn’t need to be in it any more than they were. This was not an episode about the Doctor but more about how people are affected by him without his knowledge, as he is the Oncoming Storm. It works because the Doctor is the b-plot in this one. The a-plot is what happened to Elton and the rest of LINDA.<\/p>\n
And the “just because our love is different” subtext to Elton and Ursula after the Doctor brings her back is just a stitch to me. They have found a way to make their relationship work despite the odds against them. I found that delightful when I consider a number of fans who have gotten together against the odds and are much happier for it.<\/p>\n
This episode just hit all the right notes for me. Not my absolute favorite of the season (that would be School Days) but close to the top.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is the episode that probably sparks more division in Doctor Who fandom than the re-edited Shada. It polarized a number of the Doctor Who fan boards where people either loved it or hated it with the passion of 1000 suns. Some found it totally pointless and a waste of time and money. Others thought […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t