Booze is odd, Who is ood

[mhalachai]

Doctor Who episode reaction and theories for Silence in the Library. But first, read about booze:

In North America, Goldschläger is frequently mixed in equal proportions with Jägermeister, 70 proof (35%), and occasionally peppermint schnapps to make a cocktail called Liquid Cocaine, Golden Elk or JägerSchläger. --Wikipedia

Okay, gross.

I have a theory about that character from Doctor Who's Silence in the Library (which I will lj cut; no spoilers or anything just speculation). We were presented with Dr. River Song, who knows the Doctor (an older Doctor than we have know but still in the same body), has a little blue book of adventures they've been on, has a Sonic Screwdriver given to her by the Doctor, and seems to know Donna's horrible fate.

None of which she has yet explained. Is it Saturday yet?

So I figure there might be two other possibilities as to her fate:

1) She dies at the end of the episode and the Doctor goes back in time to "live their life" together in order to maintain the timeline, and those "old eyes" are him knowing it's all going to end before it begins. Then the Doctor goes and picks up Donna a moment after he left her on the floor of the no-longer-dangerous library and they carry on with their lives and the Doctor has lost yet another person.

This would echo the themes in Girl in the Fireplace, in which the Doctor was unable to live a life with a woman he loves because he has to maintain the timeline (all that timey-wimey stuff). And it would be all mofo tragic and all that and wouldn't drag the Rover Song story on forever.

2) The more interesting story would be: River Song lived that life with the Doctor, but River dies and the Doctor cannot go back and live the life with her and the timeline breaks into PIECES and (as the Doctor is fond of explaining as to why he has to keep things in their timey order) the universe begins to explode (for other reasons, let's not blame River Tam Song for that one) and the planets start to blink out and the parallel universes merge into each other and Rose comes back but the Doctor never gets to live that life with River.

After all, as the Ood said to the Doctor on Hath, "Your Song is ending."

In any event, I'm not totally sold on River Song -- I'm usually fine with all characters on all shows, but something about this one is just sort of annoying. I know it's because she's written this way, but I still have to go "dunno." We'll see on Saturday.

I will say this -- I don't think we can expect the River Song story to stretch on past the next episode as she expressly stated that Ten is her Doctor, and they can't be sure that David Tennant will be brought back beyond this season (in any event, they are being uber coy about it.)

I have nothing else to add at this point. How is everyone doing?

ETA: I lie. I've decided to re-watch Babylon 5. Damn, but I loved that show. I don't think I've seen this since it was on the air the first time.

Comments

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Me? I hate Tony bloody Stark! He's making me write fic I had no freaking intention of writing! I've written over a 1000 words already [wails pathetically]

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I totally have to see that movie! It's sad, really, because I want to see the movie but haven't gotten to it. On a scale of 1-10, how motivating is the movie?

And writing is good! We like motivation :D

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

It's so motivating that it's the first time in years I've felt compelled to write in a new fandom [g] And the wretched man is pushing his way into all my other stories!

Writing is good except I'm working on a Highlander fic that I had to pause to get Tony to shut up!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

The best kind of motivation tears us away from the established fandoms. New ideas, baby :) At least that's what I find, the energy from new ideas is just amazing.

So Iron Man is good for crossovers? (Man, I really need to watch this movie!)

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Well, the first one I wrote was straight Iron Man, but I had the urge for Tony and Methos to meet, so I went with it. Now he's butting into Highlander again. He's an attention slut :)

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Robert Downey Junior playing a character who craves the attention? Say it ain't so?

And all things are better when mixed up with Methos. Trufax.

[slythhearted.livejournal.com]

(Man, I really need to watch this movie!)

Yes! Yes, you do! I had heard it was good, but it's been a long time since I had that much fun at the movies. I've now seen it twice, bought the novelisation based on an earlier script to see what changes were made, and have binged on Iron Man fic like you wouldn't believe.

I think there is a lot of crossover potential. I am waiting for the fic where Ianto and Pepper commiserate over having to look over egomaniacal but secretly adorable bosses. Tony and Jack would instantly stop flirting with each other to seethe with jealousy over their assistants bonding. Okay, Tony would - Jack would be considering the orgy potential.

[booster17.livejournal.com]

8.5/10 - Probably the best superhero 'origin' movie out there so far. And a lot of that is solely down to Downey who is magnificent.

[amelora.livejournal.com]

Liquid Cocaine is one of my fav shots.... mmmmmm burny goodness.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I haven't ever tried it and the idea alone scares me (mostly with the addition of the peppermint schnapps). Of course, I tend to drink Jager as a medicinal b/c my tastebuds are warped or something.

Do you add the schapps or do you just stick with the Jager and Goldschlager?

[amelora.livejournal.com]

it is just Jager and Goldschlager for me, anything else just muddies the taste. It is one of those shots that you need a few minutes before you can do another one. You need to convince your taste buds that it really didn't taste what it thought it just tasted.
A lot of people find Jager medicine-y because it is an herbal liqueur. A friend of mine swears it is the Germans attempt at Buckly's

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

You need to convince your taste buds that it really didn't taste what it thought it just tasted.
That's what a friend of mine said about all things Jager. He's not totally wrong.

And I heard a rumour that some people swear by Jager when they have a cold, which is odd but hey, all things to all people. Herbs and spices, baby.

[amelora.livejournal.com]

well once you reach a certain level of drunk a cold no longer matters. And then there is the Jager hangover - anything including colds are pleasant in comparison to a Jager hangover.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there isn't anything quite as horrible as a hangover generated by something as like Jager. Or maybe a hangover from Jager and malt liquor. Or any mix including Jager.

[lurkslikefox.livejournal.com]

I never picked up on the 'your song is ending' aspect of her name *ponders* I really hope she isn't relivant in the future, as I can't help but find her rather annoying.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I think that part of the reason I find her annoying is that she's so obviously being set up as the mysterious character in this part, with the reveal in the next -- if one could watch both parts of the 2-parter back to back, then I suspect there wouldn't be so much irritation.

Of course, I get to find out tomorrow :)

Is that an American Psycho icon?

[lurkslikefox.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is.

Maybe she isn't that annoying for people who haven't read enough fanfiction to see where this whole thing is going in the first 10 seconds... I doubt it. For instance, there was the whole 'You don't know me yet' thing, which is a pretty interesting conceit. Except that they felt the need to explain it at leats 3 times as if it were really complicated, which I'm pretty sure it isn't. Grrr...

[booster17.livejournal.com]

I just believe that Moffat can't resist making Ten's first meeting with River her last one, so yeah, River next week : joining the dodo.

If it wasn't that Moffat is the new show-runner for S5, and we already know he talked RTD out of killing Jenny, I'd be a lot more certain, however...

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

I have written 56 words of my very first fanfic. Thanks to you and all the others :) Or is that, thanks to you and all the others :( *snigger*

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Fanfic for all! By all!

And I prefer this emoticon :S
It is the world's most ambivalent smile.

[shadowartemis.livejournal.com]

I cannot even begin to think about your River theories because every time I see the name, my mind perks up and goes "Doctor Who/Firefly??? Yes, plz." and then it is disappointed. How sad. I say the character should die in a nice bit of time-line destruction if only for that, but also because I quite like the return of Rose idea. OTP all the way. ♥

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

I've been leaning towards theory #2, actually. I'd theorized previous to this episode that Donna would part ways with the Doctor either A)by slipping through a dimensional rift, or B) because the Doctor goes missing, and his Companions must band together to find him.

After watching "Silence in the Library", both situations are plausible, and could happen concurrently. River Song Theory #2 is more in tune with how the classic series went. On rare occasion, the current Doctor would meet his past selves (for example, a villain took each incarnation out of the time stream, and it caused all sorts of chaos when they were brought together). The universe nearly imploded and reality had begun to break down. Much like the rift in Cardiff, these tears in reality allowed things to slip through. It's quite possible that in order to seal this potential leak, River is the price.

*is too tired to explain self fully*

[seadreamer.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I adored B5. One of the first things I did when I got Netflix was to start re-watching that. I loved every /minute/ of it, and am not at all ashamed to say that I wept myself breathless at the finale. Then I watched it with the JMS commentary and wept even more. I love a lot of Sci-Fi, but B5 was something extremely special, and I don't think we'll ever see anything even close to it again. So... enjoy! ^_^

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's not probable that we'll see another B5 -- getting a story arc that long on TV would be difficult at the best of times.

[rhianona]

B5 is one of those shows that just remains with you, sort of like Farscape. I mean, the first season was pretty rocky, but there were a lot of really good elements to it. And then the plot actually started in season 2 and wow. Socks blown off. What I love abut B5 is that the secondary characters are just as interesting, if not more so than the main ones. Good times.

[sweetinsanity90.livejournal.com]

I always loved the attachés more than the ambassadors at times. For example - the time when Liner built Garibaldi's motorcycle? That was priceless.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Vir was my fave attache. Because Vir is made of awesome. All the characters were so rounded :)

[rhianona]

I love Lineer. And the Vreer? (The centauri attache). I think my favorite subplot was the Centauri/Narn one over the entire series, because Lando and G'kar were absolutely amazing and heartbreaking.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

The calibre of the actors on the show in the supporting roles knocked my socks off. Going "international" as they did to get those guys was the best idea since sleep.

[sweetinsanity90.livejournal.com]

The best thing Vreer ever did was the whole underground railroad thing for the Narns. Na'toth had some good come backs and such, but she was never really a plot mover liek the others.

I agree - that subplot was the best. I also like how Lando and G'kar were responsible for the coming of the Shadows, just because they hated each other for that long.

[rhianona]

I agree - that subplot was the best. I also like how Lando and G'kar were responsible for the coming of the Shadows, just because they hated each other for that long.

But the end of the series is my favorite part, b/c they are just there for each other and in the end, trust each other over no one else.

[sweetinsanity90.livejournal.com]

Was it Sinclair who said "If you want to know someone, fight them. Then you see the real person" (or something like that. I think it was Sinclair.) Lando and G'kar fought each other so fiercely, with so much chutzpah, they were forced to each each other's true sides. And then, there's the whole "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" thing, since they both fought against the Shadows.

Another beloved story arch of mine was the one with Byron and the rogue telepaths. The love he had for his people, and for Leta was beautiful done.

[rhianona]

I never got into the telepath plot line. I kinda watched season 5 halfheartedly b/c I didn't really enjoy it. Except the finale, which had me in tears within the first 10 minutes or something like that.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I hear you on the staying power :) Season 2 remains my fave.

I've only seen one season of Farscape, I should get around to seeing the rest.

[rhianona]

Farscape hits its stride in season 2, then falters a bit in 3. Season 4 is amazing, though the beginning is a bit rocky. and then, the final episode which broke my heart and had me not watching skiffy until Peacekeeper Wars aired. *ahem* But I adore Farscape and have a huge girl crush on Claudia Black and a crush on ben browder.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Claudia and Ben are awesomesauce -- seeing them on SG1 in other roles is totally rocking. They play off each other so well.

[silverblade219.livejournal.com]

I resently just got into Babylon 5. So far I'm about half way through season one.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

As story arcs go, B5 remains one of the best ever. Season 2 is where things really get good, imo :)

[millylicious.livejournal.com]

Yeah, just gonna point out that I don't think Girl in the Fireplace was about not being able to live with the woman he loved, to preserve timelines. I don't think he loved her, a bit enthralled by the big historical figure (such a fanboy), but he never showed, on his own, romantic interest towards her (she kissed him, she pulled him on the dancefloor, etc). But that's beside the point. I think, really, the theme of Girl in the Fireplace was about how fleeting human life is for the Doctor. We got that in a very quick dose, she lived her entire life while he only lived a day. It was especially important given the talk between Rose and the Doctor ('Humans decay, you wither and you die, and I can't watch that happen to someone I...') we had the week prior, because being told that is one thing, but being shown that same thing is another.

And if she does end up being a romantic partner, wife, etc (which, I was excited about him having a wife and the possibilities that brought, but I don't know, not sold on her or them being together in the future, they didn't quite connect in this ep, even though they should have given that she, at least, cares a lot for him), then it's just so odd to me that they would hop all over the place in her timeline - his one problem in relationships, romantic or not, with humans is that they decay and wither and die so quickly. Then why cheat himself of so many days he could spend with her by just hopping all over her timeline? It's exactly as happened with Reinette, but he's doing it to himself. Not that he should settle down or anything, but it doesn't make sense to me.

Also, what doesn't make sense is that she would introduce herself to him at the start, before she knows he's from before he met her.

But really, though, she said 'judging from your face, it's early days for you' - so she might have meant he looked younger, but she might have also meant that he met her as Ten, but has since regenerated.

[millylicious.livejournal.com]

I don't think the 'Your song is ending' bit relates to her (though that would have been really interesting - really, I'm a bit sad because I think it was a *great* story idea, but the execution is lacking. Oh well, that's Moffat for you ;)). They used the Doomsday music behind it (and not the Doctor's theme as many thought), so I would think it realted to that somehow.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Good point about the themes - I'd missed that the first time around. I do so love the Doomsday theme, it's like epic

(please pardon the lack of coherence in my words, I've been writing job applications for days and it sucks out my soul :(

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I must admit I was rather confused by Girl in the Fireplace and was watching that season of Who in a rush, so I probably missed the underlying themes and all that. What I got from that ep is that the Doctor can find people and then lose them again, and that such a thing might happen with River.

This whole ep felt weird to me, and I'm starting to like the idea that she's his biographer (as seen on some of the Who-comms) as opposed to a love interest. But all in all, the character just feels strange.

I hadn't thought about her knowing the Doctor's next incarnations, which would make sense. And keep her around for a while.

I should know better than to try and dissect half of a Moffat 2-parter -- we'll see how next week plays out (hopefully with more Donna)

[millylicious.livejournal.com]

I think half of the fandom was confused with Girl in the Fireplace, for various reason. I just didn't get how the character developments fit in the rest of the season, but the story itself I quite liked.

Having her be something completely unexpected would be a nice twist. I do like the idea of him finding someone, but I just don't...get that vibe between the right now.

[obtabius.livejournal.com]

I just hope River Song doesn't end up being Rose...somehow. Steven Moffat is just tricky enough to pull something like that.