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[hafital]

~ Probably my favorite episode of series 5 so far.

~ There were things I didn't like about it, though -- I didn't like the monster. I dunno, it was the juxtaposition of a silly CGI monster in a masterpiece such as a Vincent Van Gogh painting. That didn't work for me. I liked that only Vincent could see the monster while the monster itself was blind, and that at the end of the day the monster was just as lonely and scared as he was, but I wish they'd gone with a more understated monster, something to match the art and artist.

~ I liked that Amy is into art, and seems excited by it -- It's not something I would have guessed about her before.

~ It was interesting and difficult to watch Vincent cry and hurt and break down and how powerless the Doctor was to help him. It's kind of a delicate thing to show on what's basically a kid's sci-fi tv show, but, although I was uncertain how they would handle the depiction of a tortured artists depression without minimizing it, or waving it away, or just telling it and not showing it, they managed pretty well. Mostly because of the actor playing Vincent, and how well all the others acted off of him.

~ I don't know how I feel about the enactment of a wishfulfilment like that -- the chance to give Vincent Van Gogh (or any hero, any great love) something no one else can give him, show him how wonderful and beautiful his art is. At the start of that scene when the Doctor takes him into the TARDIS, I was really, I dunno, worried, I guess, that they would reduce Vincent a caricature, but that scene with Bill Nighy in the Museum more than made up for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Bill Nighy should be in every episode of Doctor Who. He doesn't even have to be the Doctor, he can just show up and speak and say wonderful things.

~ All the Rory references were beautifully understated. I especially loved that Vincent knew the song of Amy's pain even though she couldn't know. And also the Doctor, and his expressions of remorse. I didn't comment on "Cold Blood" last week, mostly because I didn't really know how I felt about it. Overall, "Cold Blood" underwhelmed me, and the whole Ambrose plot I found to be extremely aggravating, but I did like the Doctor and some other bits, and Rory until he was erased, and Amy here and there when she wasn't expressing her insecurities by needling Rory (the only thing I truly find distressing about her character, but then I have never been fond of put-down teasing as a sign of affection, if that's what it is).

~ I really liked all the hugs. Lost of hugging. More hugs! It was a very huggy episode, and that's all right. Hugs for everyone! Man, they just couldn't stop hugging, it was kind of awesome.

In other DW news, Doctor Who morphs into a stage play. whut?