Dr. Who Season 4 Episode 10: "Midnight" SPOILERS

[Angel Tarragon]

The transformation of the passengers from people who were having fun together to a mob was very real and, as others have mentioned, frightening.

Yeah, it reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode 'The Monsters are due on Maple Street'.

 

[Villano]

This episode reminded me of The Thing From Another World. Unfortunately, the Doctor isn't the hero of that film, but Dr. Carrington.

In that movie, the alien needs blood to survive and it kills one of the sled dogs and some of the men. It later disables the camp's fuel supply. With no way to escape, the men set up a trap to electrocute the creature. Enter Dr. Carrington. Throughout the film, Carrington tried to persuade the soldiers to try to reason with the creature, even after it begins killing people. Now, with the trap about to be set, he cuts the power. Then he runs into the trap to warn the alien. Of course, the alien kills him.

This was the Doctor. He wasn't the hero of the story, he was the complication. The Hostess was the hero. She recognized the threat and came up with a plan to deal with it. She saved the Doctor. She was willing to sacrifice herself. Two people were dead and the Doctor put curiosity before the safety of the other (non-immortal) passengers. The only thing he accomplished was killing an innocent person and almost getting killed himself.

I don't like this incarnation of the Doctor very much. I think his actions go beyond arrogance into complete narcissism.

Look at what he did to Harriet Jones. When we meet her, the Doctor says that she will lead Great Britian into a Golden Age. After she destroys the alien fleet, the Doctor maneuvers to have her removed from office. So, he destroyed the positive future of millions of people because he was offended? No one should question the great and mighty Doctor.

And it turns out his actions had far reaching consequences. According to Davies, this led directly to the Master taking over as Mr. Saxon.

The Doctor defines the universe from his own viewpoint. He's always right. If you carry a gun when aliens are invading, you are wrong. But, if you have to use a volcano to stop an alien invasion, that's okay. If you try to kill a person who is possessed by an alien that has already killed two people, you are wrong. If you drown a bunch of alien babies, well, it's just something you have to do. Only the Doctor has the moral authority to kill (innocent people and entire species included).

I know some people are going to complain that I said that, but, let's face it, this Doctor can be a jerk. I actually think Donna is the best companion for him because she's willing to call him on it.

 

[Silver Moon]

Yeah, it reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode 'The Monsters are due on Maple Street'.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

This episode reminded me of The Thing From Another World. Unfortunately, the Doctor isn't the hero of that film, but Dr. Carrington.

In that movie, the alien needs blood to survive and it kills one of the sled dogs and some of the men. It later disables the camp's fuel supply. With no way to escape, the men set up a trap to electrocute the creature. Enter Dr. Carrington. Throughout the film, Carrington tried to persuade the soldiers to try to reason with the creature, even after it begins killing people. Now, with the trap about to be set, he cuts the power. Then he runs into the trap to warn the alien. Of course, the alien kills him.

This was the Doctor. He wasn't the hero of the story, he was the complication. The Hostess was the hero. She recognized the threat and came up with a plan to deal with it. She saved the Doctor. She was willing to sacrifice herself. Two people were dead and the Doctor put curiosity before the safety of the other (non-immortal) passengers. The only thing he accomplished was killing an innocent person and almost getting killed himself.

I don't like this incarnation of the Doctor very much. I think his actions go beyond arrogance into complete narcissism.

Look at what he did to Harriet Jones. When we meet her, the Doctor says that she will lead Great Britian into a Golden Age. After she destroys the alien fleet, the Doctor maneuvers to have her removed from office. So, he destroyed the positive future of millions of people because he was offended? No one should question the great and mighty Doctor.

And it turns out his actions had far reaching consequences. According to Davies, this led directly to the Master taking over as Mr. Saxon.

The Doctor defines the universe from his own viewpoint. He's always right. If you carry a gun when aliens are invading, you are wrong. But, if you have to use a volcano to stop an alien invasion, that's okay. If you try to kill a person who is possessed by an alien that has already killed two people, you are wrong. If you drown a bunch of alien babies, well, it's just something you have to do. Only the Doctor has the moral authority to kill (innocent people and entire species included).

I know some people are going to complain that I said that, but, let's face it, this Doctor can be a jerk. I actually think Donna is the best companion for him because she's willing to call him on it.

I hadn't thought of this, but yeah, it's a pretty darn good analogy. And the rest is pretty accurate too. At least about half the time. More - less?

 

[Wycen]

I guess I'm in the minority. I didn't like it and found myself hoping they'd all get eaten.