Doctor Who: The Unquiet Dead Rewatch
July 9, 2014 11:53 AM - Season 1, Episode 3 - Subscribe
The Doctor and Rose travel into the past, Cardiff 1869 where the dead are more lively than they ought to be.
Spoilers?
This episode features a distant relative of Torchwood's Gwen Cooper.
Spoilers?
This episode features a distant relative of Torchwood's Gwen Cooper.
I think this episode stands out more clearly in my memory than it probably merits, mainly because, while watching it, I kept thinking that their depiction of Charles Dickens looked nothing at all like Dickens. And then I couldn't figure out what made me think that, or even if it was actually correct. So I googled Charles Dickens, and found a few pictures, and learned that I was indeed mistaken, and that the Dickens on the show did look like the real author.
It took a while for me to figure out who I'd been picturing. Turns out it was Charles Darwin. D'oh!
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:02 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
It took a while for me to figure out who I'd been picturing. Turns out it was Charles Darwin. D'oh!
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:02 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
I liked this episode. It is one of the better ones that Mark Gatiss has written for Doctor Who.
I have always liked that the TARDIS doesn't always take the Doctor where he intends to go. Instead of Naples, they arrive in Cardiff (the start of Cardiff jokes scattered throughout the season). The episode "The Doctor's Wife" is where the TARDIS personified tells the Doctor something along the lines of she takes him where he needs to go, not always where he intends to go. That's a great explanation.
posted by cwest at 8:26 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have always liked that the TARDIS doesn't always take the Doctor where he intends to go. Instead of Naples, they arrive in Cardiff (the start of Cardiff jokes scattered throughout the season). The episode "The Doctor's Wife" is where the TARDIS personified tells the Doctor something along the lines of she takes him where he needs to go, not always where he intends to go. That's a great explanation.
posted by cwest at 8:26 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Spatial-genetic multiplicity! Funny old world.
Let me quote for you from Kage Baker's "Mendoza in Hollywood:"
"Joseph calls it the English Character Actor Phenomenon. Have you ever had occasion to watch a lot of British cinema, or look at British portraits or photographs? You may have noticed that many of the faces are identical, though separated by decades or even centuries.... there's no need to grope for a mystical reason to explain the resemblance, either. It's a simple matter of genetics on a rather small island. There are only so many faces, only so many physical types in that gene pool."
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:53 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Let me quote for you from Kage Baker's "Mendoza in Hollywood:"
"Joseph calls it the English Character Actor Phenomenon. Have you ever had occasion to watch a lot of British cinema, or look at British portraits or photographs? You may have noticed that many of the faces are identical, though separated by decades or even centuries.... there's no need to grope for a mystical reason to explain the resemblance, either. It's a simple matter of genetics on a rather small island. There are only so many faces, only so many physical types in that gene pool."
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:53 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
I rewatched that recently and was struck by how much Eve Myles sparkled on screen, and the slow disappointment when that didn't carry over to Torchwood. I'd also forgotten how much Rose tried to save herself and being brave and fun, early in the series.
posted by viggorlijah at 1:05 AM on July 10, 2014
posted by viggorlijah at 1:05 AM on July 10, 2014
I think this is the first (of many) times where an actor has played a part in NewWho and then gone on to have a regular gig.
But it only gets half a point, because they went on to Torchwood rather than main Who.
Keep an eye out for Fires of Pompeii for probably the highest scoring episode for this though.
(Or Arc of Infinity if we include old who)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 6:32 AM on July 10, 2014
But it only gets half a point, because they went on to Torchwood rather than main Who.
Keep an eye out for Fires of Pompeii for probably the highest scoring episode for this though.
(Or Arc of Infinity if we include old who)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 6:32 AM on July 10, 2014
I really enjoyed this one, far more than I expected to. If you asked me, "Hey, want to watch an episode of Doctor Who that's a Victorian ghost story with banshees?" my answer typically would be "Nah…" It was much more though.
Aside from the fact that the ghosts are actually aliens, they introduce the Time War and the notion that The Doctor has done something terrible. There's also the additional layer of intrigue in that gas light in 1869 is a rough historical analogue to computing in 2005. To me it seemed like some of the older characters gave off a sense of distrust for the "newfangled" technology that had been ubiquitous for almost generation, which amused me.
I don't think I saw it when it originally aired. It really reminded me of those Fourth Doctor episodes I hated when I was 12 because they didn't have spaceships and robots, but have come to appreciate more now. Plus, I have a typically American affection for Dickens. It made the ending so bittersweet.
I've come to a new appreciation for Eccleston's Doctor and Davies' idea of the character. I'm not sure Tennant and Smith wind up as popular as they are if Eccleston didn't lay the groundwork. His portrayal of The Doctor, still plucky and optimistic but emotionally wounded, doesn't get enough praise.
posted by ob1quixote at 6:41 AM on July 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Aside from the fact that the ghosts are actually aliens, they introduce the Time War and the notion that The Doctor has done something terrible. There's also the additional layer of intrigue in that gas light in 1869 is a rough historical analogue to computing in 2005. To me it seemed like some of the older characters gave off a sense of distrust for the "newfangled" technology that had been ubiquitous for almost generation, which amused me.
I don't think I saw it when it originally aired. It really reminded me of those Fourth Doctor episodes I hated when I was 12 because they didn't have spaceships and robots, but have come to appreciate more now. Plus, I have a typically American affection for Dickens. It made the ending so bittersweet.
I've come to a new appreciation for Eccleston's Doctor and Davies' idea of the character. I'm not sure Tennant and Smith wind up as popular as they are if Eccleston didn't lay the groundwork. His portrayal of The Doctor, still plucky and optimistic but emotionally wounded, doesn't get enough praise.
posted by ob1quixote at 6:41 AM on July 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
the start of Cardiff jokes scattered throughout the season
Could someone explain what the joke is about Cardiff? Is there an American reference that would help me get it? It really doesn't seem like such a bad place...
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:23 AM on July 10, 2014
Could someone explain what the joke is about Cardiff? Is there an American reference that would help me get it? It really doesn't seem like such a bad place...
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:23 AM on July 10, 2014
I think it is that Cardiff is considered unexciting.
Perhaps the equivalent might be if you can travel anywhere in time and space and you go to Delaware.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 9:27 AM on July 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Perhaps the equivalent might be if you can travel anywhere in time and space and you go to Delaware.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 9:27 AM on July 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
I was thinking of Cleveland, but the gist is the same.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:09 PM on July 10, 2014
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:09 PM on July 10, 2014
(Also Doctor Who is produced in Cardiff)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:09 PM on July 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:09 PM on July 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
It took a while for me to figure out who I'd been picturing. Turns out it was Charles Darwin. D'oh!
On the origin of Christmas ghosts.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:20 AM on July 14, 2014
On the origin of Christmas ghosts.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:20 AM on July 14, 2014
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Spatial-genetic multiplicity! Funny old world.
This is the first historical story of NuWho, and the first one to be based around a fantasy/horror concept instead of a straight-up SF story. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites, or even the one that sold me on Who (that's coming up in a couple of weeks) but it is the first one that showed me the breadth of topics the show could cover. Plastic golems, the far future, both neat, but a single show that could easily feature both of those and a Dickensian ghost story co-starring Charles himself was a new thing entirely.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:29 PM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]