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Carnival of Majesticalness!

  • Apr. 12th, 2007 at 4:57 PM
pontisbright: pontisbright (Default)
I have finished Carnival of Monsters, and can at last cheerfully declare that I love all the Doctors. Phew.


Rehabilitating Six and Seven had pushed Three to the very bottom of my Doctor Top Ten, and much as I loved the Quorn/wasps/Wales fun of The Green Death, he remained a patronising arsewit with a silly car and a tendency to tut. Which I could probably have overcome if he had some fabulous sidekick to make him less annoying, but instead he had Jo, who was a bit shite, and otherwise he has Liz, who I have to try really hard to like, or Sarah, who I haven't actually seen with him (erm...) but who had rubbish hair until the Tom-era (aha! Super-convincing argument, you must agree). Not even UNIT could redeem him, since their persistent air of win kept making Three look even more like a pompous git in need of a technobabble bypass. 'Smug twat' may be as much a character staple as 'eccentric' and 'prone to picking up young women', but somehow Three was failing to add any of the daft charm to it. And he was Worzel Gummidge when I was wee and that makes me feel a bit nauseous to this day. Irrelevant and unfair, but true.

But now I am filled with glee and love for him, hurrah! Despite him being exactly the same irritating snot as before.

In part this is because Carnival of Monsters contains multiple Things About Who That I Love, including:
- a tiny little shrunken TARDIS you can put in your pocket
- a tiny little shrunken Doctor, also with pocket potential
- rubbish plastic monsters chasing them through a bit of Wales
- a comedy double act who have dressed as if planning to introduce The Sweet on Top of the Pops that evening
- a civilisation whose structure is indicated by colour (they're all grey! it means they're boring! Do you see?)
- multiple opportunities to play the 'didn't he go on to be...?' game, especially with tiny wee Ian Marter
- a time loop
- a stupid running gag about Metebilis 3
- the 1920s
- gay wrestling
- loads of bits which are like other stories (it's basically Vengeance on Varos without the embarrassment and the big evil fly, innit?)
- a Doctor who worries terribly about his endangered companion, while also worrying about the other people who are endangered at the same time *cough ahem not talking about The Idiot's Lantern at all*

But really I think it was Jo that swung it. She is smart and perky and asks sensible questions, and even though he still treats her like a slightly backward nine-year-old, she pwns through the power of being able to identify a chicken better than a 700-year-old Time Lord. She proves him wrong and he gets sulky, and then she gets stuck in a bog and he rescues her, and they are having adventurous fun and it's all a bit of a giggle. She is indeed, as has often been noted, S1 Rose. And just as I don't think I would like Nine very much without Rose there to press his buttons and kick him when appropriate, I think Three is in his element when accompanied by a daffy young thing with a Mick Ronson cut and gogo boots, stumbling half-blind through time holding his hand and making him enjoy the universe all over again without bitterness.

And did I mention the gay wrestling?


I need to watch some more Three. And construct that 'Five Things of Who' doodah. And write some Twofic. And tag [livejournal.com profile] torch_wood. And make a new header. And possibly some icons. Oh, fandom, you waste my time so beautifully...

Comments

[identity profile] livii.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 05:28 pm (UTC)
Oh, I am SO PLEASED to see the Three love. Because I love him madly and I love Jo madly and you are DEAD ON re: "making him enjoy the universe all over again without bitterness" - YES! They are teh adorable together.

I knew you'd love "Carnival of Monsters", but did not know it would make you love Three and Jo as well. Win! (Oh, now I want to watch it again, for wee baby sailor!Harry who mouths dirty things to girls in the 1920s and fights the Doctor. And Three'n'Jo having escapades. Bless).

[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:07 pm (UTC)
Yay for Three love! And Jo love! It was bothering me that I still didn't really feel inclined to watch him much, even though it was only on going back and rewatching some Seven that I realised I don't dislike him anywhere near as much as I thought I did.

I know it doesn't fit perfectly, because of course Liz comes first and all, but I do think of the Three era as a restart in a way, rather like Nine: colour, and a different set up with UNIT and the no-time-travel, and some low-level emo about Gallifrey and so on. And Jo just seems to fit him somehow, in a way that makes no sense but just works.

Baby Harry was wondrous. He looks so wee! And yet is still in uniform and being posh! I loved their fight: so much meta it hurts. Such glee :)
ext_10830: Jewellrey (Default)
[identity profile] glitterfairy25.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 05:33 pm (UTC)
what is fandom for??! XD
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:07 pm (UTC)
Procrastination, woo!

(Oh, and yay: will go and poke Kingmaker soonest, thank you!)
[identity profile] bibliophile1887.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 05:38 pm (UTC)
Pocket potential Doctors, wee Ian Marter and gay wrestling. What more could a fangirl possibly want?!

Yes, this is one of my favorites from three's era. It's just terribly fun.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:08 pm (UTC)
I really only bumped it up the viewing list so I could see Baby Harry, and fully expected to find the rest of it a bit dull. And then it was lovely!

I am such a sucker for a big plastic monster.
ext_10830: Jewellrey (Default)
[identity profile] glitterfairy25.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 05:42 pm (UTC)
Kingmaker's up, BTW :)
[identity profile] bienegold.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 08:42 pm (UTC)
Mmmm. Kingmaker!
ext_10830: Jewellrey (Default)
[identity profile] glitterfairy25.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 13th, 2007 02:37 pm (UTC)
you're telling me! That audio is proper LOVE.
[identity profile] snowgrouse.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 05:44 pm (UTC)
HOORAY for Three love. Finally!

I wonder which ones you would like. The Time Monster is embarrassingly long and completely changes to fucking win in its last two episodes (the first four are UNIT bumbling about) and The Master gets a shag and it's just lovely. I'm trying very hard to think of Three stories where he isn't being a pompous git all the time, but I can't get my brain in gear because I'm thinking of The Master and how he makes everything perfect by being there and having a beard of evil. Except Colony In Space because that's boring shite. Hm... Frontier In Space is win? And if a Robert Holmes one worked for you, how about Terror of the Autons?
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:11 pm (UTC)
I know: I am slow on the uptake sometimes.

Ooh, recommendations, yes please! I have seen Green Death and Spearhead from Space, and I saw the Daemons and The Mind of Evil about ten years ago (and for the latter while very drunk, so it really doesn't count as viewing). I definitely need some Delgado master, though.

I do tend to like Robert Holmes: I know sometimes he's a bit long-winded, but I do rather like overblown dialogue. I shall contemplate all your fine advice and go poking about the internets for goodies. :D
[identity profile] ionlylurkhere.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:22 pm (UTC)
Oooh, does this mean you haven't seen Inferno? You must see Inferno. It is the Best Who Ever IMO, even though I'm not a Three fan. It also has evil fascist doubles of all the UNIT people, including Liz. And this massive sense of tension that keeps the pace up over seven episodes. And it is on DVD for ease of obtaining and quality pictures.

I must try Carnival of Monsters again. I only ever saw it on UK Gold at Too Early In The Morning when I was too sleepy to find the comedy aspects anything other than annoying.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:42 pm (UTC)
I must indeed see Inferno. Anything that involves an evil Brig with an eyepatch can't be anything but brilliant. And woo for it being on dvd so I can watch it properly instead of squinting at Youtube, too.

Carnival of Monsters is probably not actually up there in terms of Finest Examples of Quality Programming, but I loved it.
[identity profile] snowgrouse.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:41 pm (UTC)
Yeah, Delgado ones are usually good, at least towards the end. Avoid Pertwee Dalek stories though, they're all rather boring and shite. Ooh, ooh, Mind of Evil is fucking ace even if you're sober, and I have a soft spot for Sea Devils (DOCTOR/MASTER DUEL WITH SWORDS DAMMIT) and its incredibly trippy muzak. And lizards in string vests and the Master building a doomsday device out of an old sewing machine. WIN. Although Time Monster has the craziest gadgets. There's a TARDIS-sniffer-outer in a cock-and-balls shape and something Three builds out of forks, mugs, a lamp and tea leaves, MacGyver-stylee. Although that particular story is an acquired taste, I admit. BUT IT HAS INGRID PITT'S NORKS and the Master shagging her after a long and bitter bitch-fight with Three and comments on Jo's arse and shit. God, I love Time Monster far too much.

So, yeah. Delgado>Daleks.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:44 pm (UTC)
Dude, Ingrid Pitt's norks! YESSSS! And Macgyverness. Although Sea Devils are pretty tempting too. Such joy. I foresee many an evening spent giggling in my near future.
[identity profile] snowgrouse.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:46 pm (UTC)
WIN! Time Monster may be hard to find as the Restoration Team hate it and released it last, like Nimon. Bastards. I saw a rip of it online at some point, so it's still not impossible to find. Hooray!

Oh, and Time Monster ends by the whole UNIT team laughing at a naked Benton. Poor guy.
[identity profile] vandonovan.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:19 pm (UTC)
I'm totally surprised you liked Carinval of Monsters so much! I thought it was all right, but certainly not a favorite. Ian Marter, of course, makes it all worth it, but I mostly thought it was hilarious. I think the serial that got me was The Daemons . . . or Invasion of the Dinosaurs, hahahaha. but I agree that it took a while for me to warm up to Three, and even then I don't like him as I should, I just like him sometimes. Hahahaha. But yay for liking him at all! :D
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:40 pm (UTC)
Oh, it's totally my kind of Who. The more daft plastic monsters and crappy effects there are, the happier I'll be I'm here for the latex and the running around in corridors, really. (And the ginger minxes, but hey, he can't be in all of them.)

Yay for Three. He's a wanker, but then so's Ten, and I still tune in every week.
[identity profile] vandonovan.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 12th, 2007 07:46 pm (UTC)
I quite though the monsters in Carnival were quite ace, actually. The Drasniks or whatever they were? Considering how rubbish the Dinosaurs from "Invasion of the Dinosaurs" and the Lochness monster from "Terror of the Zygons" look, they were awesome, hahaha. But fair enough. XD I like Three more than Ten, currently, which is a surprise.
[identity profile] jaydeyn-sitari.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 13th, 2007 02:11 am (UTC)

Oh yes, Carnival of Monsters is totally made of Winnage. :D And I love Jo - she took a little getting used to, but once I did? Love. And her running off to get married to that lovely Welsh bloke was far more believable than some (*squints at Peri and Leela of all people*).

And wee!Harry is simply adorable, isn't he? :D

:)
Jaydeyn
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 13th, 2007 04:41 pm (UTC)
Little Ian Marter is just wonderful. I love how he is a naval chap with a penchant for running about a bit hopelessly. However did they think of him when casting Harry?

Jo gets a lovely send-off, yes. Especially with the whole 'he reminds me of you' business, and the closing shot of him driving off. *sniffles*
[identity profile] jaydeyn-sitari.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 14th, 2007 01:03 am (UTC)

Ooh you changed your layout! :D Pretty... though where's the ginger minx? *is sad*

*giggles hopelessly* I have no idea how they managed to think of him... ooh there's a thought - I'm so totally in love with Harry and I'm sure he did other work *shakes fist at sky* prior to him passing away... the bastard.

Oh man, you just feel his I'm-so-lonely-angst as he drives off... *sigh* poor Doctor. And then Sarah comes along and kicks that right in the ass! Whoo SARAH!

:)
Jaydeyn
[identity profile] --kali--.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 13th, 2007 02:45 pm (UTC)
I have been rubbish at the tagging lately. Sorry. No internets at home and work don't see tagging as worthy of paying me to do. Woes.
[identity profile] pontisbright.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 13th, 2007 04:43 pm (UTC)
Me too! Was on holiday and before that was just being a bit lazy. I did about 5 pages' worth last night, and the bits in between will just have to survive untagged: hardly the end of the world. I should be able to keep up with it ok while you are internetless though (arg, what a terrible ailment!).

Silly work. Of course LJ time is valuable use of their resources, the ninnies.
[identity profile] --kali--.livejournal.com wrote:
Apr. 13th, 2007 06:15 pm (UTC)
The nice man from virgin has been to fix the internets and it seems to be working *crosses fingers*