Comments on: TV Review: Doctor Who 4.16 – “The Waters of Mars”

By: Summer Suzuki

Summer Suzuki — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:26:50 +0000

Thanks for the comments, all!

Obviously, his actions will/should have reprocussions down the line. That would be the storytelling equivilent to a monster turd sandwich if it didn’t, so that’s my fault for making it sound like I didn’t think this would have anything to do with what happens in the Christmas special.

I can buy that the reapers didn’t show up because Adelaide still died in the end; however, I would counter how did they know she would still die that day, whereas Rose’s dad wouldn’t? Did Rose’s dad *have* to die that particular way in order for the future NOT to change? Why is that not so for Adelaide’s death? I guess having the other two witnesses to tell the story of what happened could still ensure that her granddaughter would be inspired to go to space, but for some reason that doesn’t work as well with me as her wanting to go out there because no one knew what happened with her grandmother. Of course, that’s speculation on my part as to why the granddaughter went to space in the first version of history.

I think this is one of those times in a time travel story where you just have to let it go (talking about myself) because it’s never going to have a 100% satisfying explanation.

beres_ford: Totally, to each his own in tastes! I don’t think any less of people who don’t agree with me on tv shows (I’m sure some of my fav eps are on the stink list for others). :)

By: Jason Dorough

Jason Dorough — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:57:44 +0000

My opinion about the reapers is that they only appear when something is going to be prevented from happening at the time it’s supposed to happen. I don’t think space is especially important to them. I think the day on which Adelaide died was the important thing that was a fixed point. The circumstances and location could be changed without upsetting the balance.

By: beres_ford

beres_ford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:43:19 +0000

I think these last specials have been great, of course that’s just my opinion and I think that there’s going to be half of us who love these new episodes and half who don’t.

It’s the same for every single episode isn’t it?

The whole thing with the reapers not appearing at the end is something that I’ve debated with my friends since monday morning. And I personally think that the Doctor has done something else, perhaps worse. Although I could be completely wrong, but it does seem a little odd that nothings happened.

But then when I think about it in more detail I wonder whether the reapers didn’t come because she was going to die anyway and they knew that. Like the Dalek knowing she was going to die… perhaps it’s the same thing?

In any case, I think that there’s more about this still to come. I wonder whether Ten has brought about his own death because he changed history slightly.

I’m sure chirstmas will be an interessting watch.

By: Celeste Monsour

Celeste Monsour — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:13:48 +0000

Couldn’t agree more. I was so sad when I heard Tennant was leaving DW, and these specials have been absolutely underwhelming. I definitely liked this one better than the last, but still, it sucks to think this is how he’s going out — I hope the Christmas special is better.